Part 32 (2/2)
”Hear me!” said he: ”the governor and his council are nowhere to be found, they have fled, and left us in the lurch; we'll therefore seize these two, and keep them as hostages. And now to the Red Hill gate; our true Duke stands before it: it is better to open the gate of our own accord than that he should use force to do so. Who's a good Wurtemberger, let him follow me.”
He descended from his position, and was joyfully received by the crowd.
The two advocates of the League were bound and led away before they had time to look about them. The stream of burghers now flowed from the marketplace through the upper gate and over the broad ditch of the old town leading to the field of tournament, and, pa.s.sing the fortification, arrived at the Red Hill gate. The Leaguist troops, who occupied it, were soon overpowered, the gate was opened, the drawbridge fell, and laid over the town ditch.
The leader of the Duke's infantry had, during these occurrences in the town, stationed his best troops at this gate, as it was doubtful what steps the League would take at the approach of the Duke. Ulerich himself had examined the post. In vain did Albert von Sturmfeder endeavour to persuade him that the garrison of Stuttgardt was too weak to make any formidable resistance, in vain did he represent to him the desire the burghers had to see him again, and would willingly open the gates, the Duke looked darker than the night, pressed his lips together, and gnashed his teeth in anger.
”You don't understand these things,” he muttered to the young man; ”you don't know the world; they are all false; never trust any one but yourself. They accommodate themselves to every change of wind. But I have them this once under my thumb. Do you suppose I have been obliged to turn my back upon my country to no purpose?”
Albert was unable to comprehend the Duke's meaning. He had seen him firm in misfortune, yea even mild and gentle, and in speaking of the many beneficent plans for the good of his people, which he intended to put into execution when he returned to his country, he had seldom manifested any violent fits of pa.s.sion in talking of his enemies, and scarcely ever betrayed any ill will towards his subjects, who had deserted him. But whether it was the sight of his country that awakened the feeling of vexation stronger in him than usual, whether he was irritated that the n.o.bility and representatives of his estates had not come forward to welcome his arrival after he had pa.s.sed the boundary of Wurtemberg; whatever was the cause, his spirits were no longer cheerful and buoyant. His look appeared as if troubled by a thirst for revenge, and a certain severity and harshness in giving his opinion, struck those about him as indications of alteration in his temper. Albert von Sturmfeder, in particular, could not account for this new turn in Ulerich's manner.
The town had been summoned more than half an hour. The time which had been given was nearly expired, and still no answer had arrived. The hum of voices was heard in the town, and a restless moving about the streets, shewing that the besieged were doubtful whether their terms would be accepted or not.
The Duke rode up to the lansquenets, who were resting on their halberds and match guns, headed by their leaders, who were each occupied in preserving discipline among their men. Albert remarked the countenance of the Duke by the light of the moon. The veins of his of his forehead were swollen beyond their common size, his cheeks being deeply flushed, and his eyes sparkled like fire.
”Hewen! get the scaling ladders ready,” said the Duke with a stern voice. ”Thunder and lightning! I stand before my own house, and they will not let me in. The trumpets shall sound once more, when, if they don't open the gates instantly, I'll fire the town and burn it to the ground.”
”_Ba.s.sa manelka!_ that's what I like,” said Long Peter to his comrade, who stood in the front rank near the Duke. ”The ladders are going to be brought, we'll climb up like cats, and drive those fellows from the walls, and then the musqueteers will pepper them properly, _canto cacramento_!”
”Ah! yes,” said the Magdeburger, ”and then we'll sally into the town, set fire to all corners--plunder--burst open the doors--that's the fun for us lansquenets!”
”For G.o.d's sake, my Lord Duke,” said Albert, who had heard his last words, and had observed the rapacious spirit which animated the soldiers, ”only wait a short quarter of an hour longer; recollect it is your own capital. They are most likely still deliberating.”
”What have they got to consult so long about?” replied Ulerich with ill humour: ”their rightful lord stands before his own gate, and demands admittance. My patience is already exhausted. Spread my banner to the light of the moon, Albert; let the trumpets sound; summon the town once more for the last time; and if the gates are not opened by the time I have counted thirty after the last word, by the holy Hubertus, I'll storm the walls. Be quick! Albert.”
”O sir! consider your town, your best town! Having lived so long in it, would you now give it to the flames? Give them a little more time.”
”Ha!” laughed the Duke in anger, and struck the armour of his breast with his steel glove, which sounded through the stillness of the night, ”I see you are not inclined to enter Stuttgardt, and merit your wife thereby. But no more words now, at the risk of my displeasure, Albert von Sturmfeder. Obey my order quickly: unfurl my banner, let the trumpet sound! sound and frighten the dogs out of their sleep, that they may know a Wurtemberger stands here, and will enter his house in spite of the Emperor and Empire. I say, summon them again, Sturmfeder!”
The young man obeyed the order in silence, and riding close up to the ditch, unfurled Wurtemberg's banner. The rays of the moon appeared to welcome it back to its country, and shone full upon it, whereby the four fields with their charges were plainly exhibited to view. On a large flag of red silk were wove the arms of Wurtemberg, with its escutcheon and four fields. In the first were the stag horns of Wurtemberg, in the second the b.a.l.l.s of Teck, the third had the storming flag of the empire, which belonged by right to the Duke as banner-bearer of the empire, and in the fourth were the fish of Mompelgard: the whole being surmounted by the crown and the bugle of Urach. The strong arm of the young man could scarcely hold the heavy flag in the breeze. He was attended by three trumpeters, who now sounded their wild tones before the closed gate.
A window above it opened, and a voice asked their business. Albert von Sturmfeder answered, ”Ulerich, by the grace of G.o.d Duke of Wurtemberg and Teck, Count of Urach and Mompelgard, summons for the second and last time his city of Stuttgardt, to open its gates willingly and instantly to him, else he will storm the walls and treat the town as an enemy.”
During the time Albert was delivering his message, a confused noise as of a crowd in motion mingled with voices in the streets was heard, which approaching nearer and nearer, at length broke out into tumult and shouting.
”May my soul be punished, if they are not about to make a sortie!” said Long Peter, loud enough to be heard by the Duke.
”Perhaps you are right,” answered the Duke, turning abruptly to the startled lansquenet: ”close in together, present your pikes, and have the matches ready, that we may receive them as they deserve.”
The whole line retreated some distance from the ditch, leaving only the three first companies at the point where the drawbridge fell. A wall of pikes bristled in formidable array against a sudden attack, the guns were presented and the match held at the touchhole ready to fire. The dead stillness of expectation which reigned without the walls was broken by the tumultuous noise within the town. The drawbridge fell, but no enemy sallied forth to repel the invaders: three old grey-headed men alone proceeded through the gate, bearing the arms of the city, with its keys.
When the Duke saw the peaceable mission approach, he rode towards them in a friendly manner, followed by Albert. Two of these men appeared to be councillors or magistrates: they bent their knee before their lord and master, and tendered him the proofs of their submission. He gave them to his attendants, and said to the amba.s.sadors, ”You have kept us waiting somewhat long outside: truly we should very shortly have mounted the walls, and have lighted up your town with our own hands, and made your eyes smart with the smoke of it. Why did you keep us waiting so long?”
”Oh, my Lord!” said one of the old men, ”as far as the burghers were concerned they were ready to open the gates instantly; but we have some few princ.i.p.al members of the League still among us, who held long and dangerous speeches to the people to instigate them to rebellion against your grace. That is the true cause of the delay.”
”Ha! who are those men?” said the Duke. ”I hope you have taken care not to let them escape, for I would like to say a word to them.”
”G.o.d forbid, your highness! we know our duty to our lord, and therefore seized them immediately and put them in confinement. Is it your wish to see them?”
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