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■^1 oc. 



1 



I 






\ 



KING ERIC 



▲ND 



THE OUTLAWS. 



VOL. 1. 



KING ERIC 



▲ND 



THE OUTLAWS. 



VOL. I. 



NOTICK 

TO 

HOOKHKLLKUH, 
IMiOPKIETOKH OF CIRCULATINC; Li»RAIiIKN, 

AKU TfiR vvnua. 



Thk VuhVutlunn <7f UiJii w<>rk give notice ttiat it U (^;fiyright, 
iind that in cam of infringcftncnt they will »vftil theniMlvcfi 
of th(f Protectiofi now granted by i'Arliaminit tii Knglit^h 
Litorature. 

Any pernon having in hiii p<iwKM»ion for HaU< or ftn hin* a 
Foreign edition of an Kngliwh (^;fiyright in liable Ui a penalty, 
which the I'tibliAherM <^thi« work intend to enforc«% 

it in neceMwry alwi U9 inform the i^ublic generally, that 
•ingle Copies of Kuch work* import4»d l»y travel Iitm for their 
own rea«ling are now prohibited, and the ('ii»Umi-houM: 
officer*! in all tmr ptrrU have utrict ordem to thix (rffect. 

The above regulati<m« are eciually in force in our Ue- 
IHmdencie* and C/olonial I'oMCMiionw. 

I^rndtm, Junr, IMJ. 



I/OKDONl 

Frfnt«d by A, HromnwtfOPu. 
K«w-IHrMC-fkiU4r«. 



^./^ 




KING ERIC 



AKD 



THE OUTLAWS; 



OR, 



THE THRONE, THE CHURCH, AND THE PEOPLE, 

IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY. 



.1 / *^ BY 
TBANSEATED FROM THE DANISH BY 

JANE FRANCES CHAPMAN. 



IN THREE VOLUMES. 

VOL. I. 



LONDON : 

LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, & LONGMANS, 

rATXRNOfTBR-ROW. 

1843. 



, 9 • * ^ - 



• - » 



■» • • 



t 



THE NEW YORK 

PUBLIC LIBRARY 

ASTOR. LENOX ^ND 
TILDEN FOU N DATIONS 

R 1923 L 



• * > ■ • 



« ' » 



» * 



• > 






TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE. 

The historical records and traditions of 
Denmark, as well as the modem produc- 
tions of Danish genius, are almost equally 
unknown to the general reader is England. 
While German, Swedish, and Italian works 
of any recognised merit, readily find trans- 
lators, and the ancient ballads of Spain 
have received their English dress from an 
able and poetic pen, it appears somewhat 
singular that so little notice has hitherto 
been bestowed on the literature of a 
country, whose rich historical recollections 
are so closely interwoven with those of 
Anglo-Saxon England. 

Though but little known In other lands, 
the ancient traditional lore of Scandinavia 
is nevertheless the source from which some 
of the most distinguished Danish writers of 
the present day, have selected their happiest 
themes, and drawn their brightest inspiration. 
The influence of the Saga, or traditional ro- 
mance of Scandinavia, and of the ** Kjcempe 



vi translator's preface. 

Vise/' or heroic ballad, is peculiarly appar- 
ent in the works of M. Ingemann. 

The close adherence to historic outline — 
the development of character by action 
and dialogue — the delineation of scenery 
by brief though vivid sketches, in preference 
to elaborate description, are characteristics 
of Saga romance which M. Ingemann has 
been eminently successful in imparting to 
his own delineations of the chivalrous age 
of Denmark. 

The Kjoempe Vise, or heroic ballads 
which succeeded to the Saga in the North, 
and bear the impress of a kindred spirit, 
contain a store of historic tradition, and 
poetic incident, equally valuable to the 
antiquary who delights to trace the customs 
and manners of a remote age, and to the 
poet who seeks his inspiration from the 
historic muse of his Fatherland. 

These vivid and truthful records of the 
middle ages of Denmark are to the mo- 
dem writer of romance, what the oral tra- 
ditions of the heroic age were to the chro- 
nicler of the Saga. They relate not only the 
exploits of northern warriors in their own. 



translator's preface. vii 

and in distant lands, but are also espe- 
cially interesting, from the light they throw 
on the personal history of Denmark's most 
chivalrous monarchs. Their joys and sor- 
rows, their sterner passions and gentler 
affections, are described by the national 
minstrel in a strain of simple and touching 
earnestness, which wins the full sympathy 
of the reader. This power of delineating 
human passion lends a charm even to some 
ballads, handing down the wildest super- 
stitions of a superstitious age. In Ger- 
many the Danish ballads are known through 
the translations of Professor Grimm, who 
has entered with the enthusiasm both of 
an antiquary and a poet, into the spirit of 
Scandinavian lore. In the preface to his 
version of the ** Kjoempe Vise,*' M. Grimm 
dwells with peculiar pleasure on those ballads 
which have not only supplied M. Ingemann 
with much of the incident, but have also 
suggested the individual colouring of the 
historic portraits of ** Eric and the Out- 
laws.'* All the prominent characters in- 
troduced into this romance from King Eric 
himself, down to Morten the cook, are his- 



viii teanslatob's pbeface. 

torical, and enacted scarcely less romantic 
parts in the drama of real life, than those 
assigned them by M. Ingemann. 

The struggle with papal authority -— the 
encroachments of the Hanse towns — and 
the invidious attempts of the " Leccarii," 
(the socialists of the ISth century) were 
important features of that interesting period 
which this work is designed to illustrate. 

The translator is aware of the difficulty 
of attracting attention to a romance drawn 
from Danish history ; the work also makes 
its appearance without any of those adven- 
titious advantages which sometimes ensure 
a favourable introduction to the public — 
it is translated by an unknown pen — is 
unaided by patronage of any kind — and 
has solely its own merits to rely on for suc- 
cess. It would afibrd no slight gratification 
to the translator were these to be appre- 
ciated by the reading public of a nation, 
which not only in its early history, is closely 
connected with Denmark, but which has 
inherited from Scandinavian ancestors, that 
indomitable spirit which rendered them in 
olden time masters of the seas. 



KING ERIC 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 



CHAPTER I. 

On the north-eastern coast of Zealand, 
about two miles from Gilleleie, is situate 
the village of Sjobei^, where the spade and 
the ploughshare occasionally strike against 
the foundations of ancient buildings, and 
traces yet remain of the paved streets of 
towns, the names of which are no longer 
known, and over which the com now 
grows or the cattle graze. Towards the 
close of the thirteenth century there was 

VOL. I. B 



2 KING EBIC 

Still standing a small town, built on the 
ruins of the ancient Sjoberg. On a hill, 
surrounded by the water-reeds of the now 
nearly dried-up lake, fragments of walls of 
hewn free-stone lie buried in the earth, and 
mark the site of the strong and well fortified 
castle, which in the thirteenth and four- 
teenth centuries served as a place of con- 
finement for state prisoners of importance. 
The spot on which the castle stood was 
then entirely surrounded by the lake, which 
thus formed a natural fastness, rendering 
artificial moats superfluous. The castle 
was surrounded by ramparts. It was built 
of massive free-stone, and had a strong 
si^uare tower, in which the most dangerous 
state prisoners were confined. The air was 
close and bad in the subterranean dungeon 
of the tower, where no ray of light could 
enter; but the upper dungeon, at the 
height of thirty-six feet from the ground, 
admitted light and air through a small 
round grated window. In this upper prison, 
towards the close of the year 1295, was still 
confined one of the chief accomplices in 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 3 

Marsk* Stig^s conspiracy t, the turbulent 
and imperious Archbishop lens Grand. 
He had been imprisoned here during the 
minority of Eric Menved, as an accomplice 
in the murder of Eric Clipping, and as the 
protector of the outlawed regicides. 

This dangerous prelate had many ad- 
herents in the country, and possessed 
powerful friends among the potentates of 
Europe, as well as at the papal see. Ac- 
cording to the famous constitution of Veile 

* '* Marsk^" a militaiy title, corresponding in 
some degree to our field marshal. This office, how- 
ever, comprises civil as well as military duties, the 
marsk being also one of the principal ministers of 
state. 

t The private wrongs committed by Eric the 
Seventh, sumamed Glipping, against his Marsk, Stig, 
a nobleman of high rank, had rendered him his 
deadly foe. Stig headed a band of conspirators on 
the 22d of November, 1286, disguised as Franciscan 
monks, ,and murdered him while asleep in a bam at 
the village of Finnerup, where he had taken refuge 
from their pursuit The king's chamberlain, a kins- 
man of Marsk Stig, conducted the assassins to the 
place where the king lay concealed. — Translator's 

B 2 



4 KING BBIC 

{cum ecclesicB Daciance) ^vfYiicYi had been 
the cause of such dangerous disputes be- 
tween the kings and clergy of Denmark, 
the nation was immediately laid under an 
interdict prohibiting the performance of 
divine worship throughout the kingdom, 
on the seizure and imprisonment of a bishop 
by the king or any temporal authority. 
This, however, was not carried into effect 
on the seizure and imprisonment of Arch- 
bishop Grand. Not only love of their 
country and dread of the ungodliness, 
profligacy, and confusion, the certain con- 
sequences of a national punishment of this 
nature, had prompted the greater part of 
the Danish clergy to appeal to the pope 
against the enforcement of this penalty, but 
also their fears of temporal power and the 
people's wrath. The closing of the churches 
might have been followed by perilous con- 
sequences to the clergy themselves^ at a 
time when the agitation caused by a regi- 
cide had not yet subsided, and the excited 
passions of the populace often broke out in 
scenes of blood and violence. This im- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 5 

portant question remained undecided at 
the court of Rome. Divine worship mean- 
\vhile was continued as usual, but fears 
were reasonably entertained, that, should 
the archbishop not speedily be set at liberty, 
the interdict would be confirmed by the 
pope, and the nation consequently plunged 
into a state of the greatest misery. 

ICing Eric Menved had attained his 
majority, having completed his twenty- 
first year. The circumstances under which 
he had passed his childhood had conduced 
to the early formation of manly character, 
and to the development of his intellectual 
qualities. The outrage committed on the 
royal person, to which he had been witness 
in his childhood, had early awakened the 
consciousness of authority within his breast, 
and imparted something of passionate ear- 
nestness to his zeal in the administration of 
justice. He was deeply imbued with the 
chivalrous spirit of the age. The care with 
which he upheld the dignity of the crown 
was deemed by many a necessary policy in 

B 3 



6 KING EMC 

SO perilous a time, but this anxiety for the 
maintenance of royal splendour, joined to 
his natural gaiety of disposition, had in- 
spired the young monarch with a love of 
pomp and outward show, which was often 
censured as ostentatious vanity. The ear- 
nest solemnity with which he assumed the 
regal sceptre indicated a manly and reso- 
lute temper, early disciplined to firmness 
in the school of adversity j and the bold- 
ness with which he issued his first royal 
mandates bespoke a master spirit, conscious 
of kindred affinity with Waldemar the 
Victorious, the model as well as the an- 
cestor of the young king,* Eric*s first ex- 
ercise of royal power was a bold attempt 
to assert the authority of his crown against 
the mightiest of earthly potentates, who 
from St. Petei'^s chair swayed kings as well 
as people in all Christian lands. This the 
young monarch dared to do, even at a time 
when his personal happiness was in a great 

• * .Wal4eipar the Victorious was Eric Menved^i 
great-grandfather. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 7 

measure dependent on the favour of the 
papal see. He had despatched his oldest 
and most experienced councillor of state, 
Ion Little, as well as Drost Hessel*, to 
Rome, to justify as an act of lawful self- 
defence the proceedings against the arch- 
bishop, contrary to ecclesiastical law, and 
to demand his condemnation as a traitor 
to the crown. But besides this important 
mission, the aged councillor was entrusted 
with another, which at any other time 
would not have been attended with diffi- 
culty, although at the present juncture its 
favourable issue seemed doubtful, in pro- 
portion to its being of moment to the king. 
Little had been commissioned to obtain 
from the pope, and forward to Denmark 
with all possible dispatch, the long pro- 
mised dispensation, empowering Eric to 

* Drost, the prime minister of state in Denmark 
im the middle ages ; all state ministers however, in 
that age, were required to serve in the field as well 
as in council. When the Drost was present, he 
saperseded the Marsk in the command of the army. 
— Translator's Note. 

B 4 



8 KING ERIC 

wed the beautiful princess IngeboFg of 
Sweden, to whom he had been betrothed 
in infancy, and had long loved as the com-^ 
panion of his childhood, and whom he now 
adored with all the devotedness and fervour 
of first and youthful love. 

While the Danish embassy was detained 
at the papal court by all the artifices of 
tedious investigation and diplomatic ambi- 
guity, the papal nuncio. Cardinal Isamus, 
had been dispatched to Denmark, for the 
purpose of threatening the young Danish 
sovereign with excommunication in case 
he should refuse to release the archbishop 
unconditionally from imprisonment. The 
wily cardinal brought with him no letter 
from the pope touching the dispensation 
and permission for the royal marriage ; but 
expressed himself on the subject in so du- 
bious and enigmatical a manner, that it 
was evident the court of Rome designed to 
work upon the inexperienced monarch's 
feelings in a matter so nearly concerning 
his personal happiness, in order the more 
effectually to secure his submission to papal 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 9 

authority and his clemency towards the 
ecclesiastical offender at Sjoberg. 

This mode of proceeding, however, was 
so far from producing, its intended effect 
on the young and impetuous King Eric, 
that it appeared to rouse him to such a 
pertinacious defiance of papal authority, as 
might be followed by dangerous conse- 
quences both to himself and the kingdom. 
The afl&ir still remained undecided — the 
cardinal had quitted Denmark with fearful 
menaces, and was now at Lubec. 

The haughty Archbishop Grand, who 
was alone the cause of this suspense and 
impending danger, was detained mean- 
while in close captivity. During the first 
thirty-six weeks of his imprisonment he 
was confined in chains in the dark, deep, 
subterranean dungeon of the tower, and 
was left to suffer great misery and want, 
although most persons acquitted the young 
king (then in his minority) of having been 
accessary to this severity of treatment. 
The archbishop's fellow-prisoner, the trai- 
torous and malevolent provost Jacob, had 

B 5 



^ 



10 KING ERIC 

been released from prison on the plea of 
illness, but had immediately availed him^ 
self of this act of clemency to hasten to 
Rome, where he zealously laboured to stir 
up hostile feelings towards the king, and 
neglected no means of forwarding the liber- 
ation of the archbishop and their mutual 
revenge. 

The preceding Christmas the king had 
visited Sjoberg, and had himself offered to 
give the archbishop his freedom, on the 
condition of his vacating the archiepiscopal 
chair, of his quitting the kingdom, and 
swearing to renounce all revenge, and give 
up all connection with the enemies of the 
crown. Notwithstanding the haughty de- 
fiance and scorn with which the archbishop 
had rejected this proposition, the rigour of 
his captivity was mitigated by the king's 
command, and he was placed in the upper 
dungeon he now inhabited, where he 
wanted neither light nor air, but where, 
as yet, he remained closely guarded and 
strongly fettered as before. As soon, how- 
ever, as the king had left the qastle, the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 11 

condition of the captive became once more 
extremely miserable. The steward, Jesper 
Mc^ensen, was notorious for his avarice, 
his cruelty, and hypocritical bearing ; and 
the king's brother. Junker t Christopher, 
was accused of having had a great share in 
the severity of the archbishop's treatment, 
although the prince took every opportunity 
of blaming the king's conduct in this mat- 
ter, and counselled him to make any sacri- 
fice and submit to any humiliation, to avoid 
a formal breach with the church and the 
papal see. 

One evening in the month of October 
the steward of Sjoberg, accompanied by the 
cook and an old turnkey, ascended the 
winding stairs which led to the archbishop's 
prison and to the turnkey's chamber imme- 
diately above it. The strong light of a 
dark lanthom, which the cook held up be- 
fore him, fell full upon the countenance and 

* Junker (pronoonced Yanker) was the title of 
the fODft of the kings of Denmark in the middle 
age«y corresponding to that of Infant in Spain. — 
Translaixn^M NoU. , . 

B 6 



12 KING ERIC 

form of the steward : — he was a short, 
strong-built man, with a true hangman's 
visage, in which the expression of ferocity 
and malice was combined with an air of 
wily hypocrisy ; a shaggy cap was slouched 
over his low and narrow forehead ; he wore 
a dirty coat of sheep's skin, and tramped 
up the stone stairs in heavy iron-shod 
boots, apparently in great wrath and alarm. 
" That limb of Satan ! that ungodly priest ! ** 
he muttered, " if he hath dealings with the 
Evil One, chains will be of no use here.** 

" As I tell thee, master,** answered the 
portly, round-faced cook, with an air of im- 
portance, **he talks with invisible spirits, 
and no turnkey dares any longer watch by 
him. He is as regularly bound to the 
Evil One as I am to thee, saving that he 
cannot shift his service, and leave his master 
when he pleases ; you remember, no doubt, 
I gave you warning at the right time, and 
am free to be off either to-day or to-morrow, 
if I please. The devil take me if I stay 
longer here, since — since be is here al- 
ready, I was near saying.** 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 13 

** Pshaw, Morten 1 thou shalt stay here 
till I get another cook : that thou didst 
promise me. But what hath given rise to 
all this talk about his sorceries ? " 

*' There is something in it," answered 
the cook. ** No one knows the Black Art 
out and out as he does. You know your- 
self that Junker Christopher's folk found 
the book on the Black Art among the letters 
from the outlaws, when they ferreted the 
bishop's secrets out of the chest in Lund 
sacristy. The book burned their fingers, 
and vanished instantly out of their hands. 
Such a devil's book always comes back to 
its master. That he hath not got it as yet, 
I am certain ; but I fear he has it all at his 
fingers* ends. They said he never wearied 
of studying it at Lund, and he knows all 
the heathen and Greek books better by 
heart than his Paternoster, the ungodly 
hound 1 " 

" Thou art right, Morten I He is a 
limb of Satan, and one cannot watch him 
too narrowly. His confounded learning 
never hit my fancy." Here the steward 



14 KING ERIC 

paused thoughtfully near the door of the 
archbishop's prison. 

** Yes, take care, master 1 " resumed the 
cook ; <^ he will soon fill the house with 
his devilries, and set all the imps in hell to 
plague us, if he doth not get his prison 
cleaned, and better meat and drink. It 
would please me right well were he to die 
of hunger and be eaten up of vermin. Such 
end would still be a thousand times too 
good for such an accursed traitor and 
wizard ; but when the Evil One is in the 
house, it is wisest to remember one's own 
little transgressions, and not use a captive 
devil worse than we would he should use 
us.'' 

" Pshaw, Morten 1 the devil is not our 
neighbour," interrupted the steward with 
a suspicious look. <^ Had I not myself heard 
thee curse and mock the archbishop, I 
should almost suspect thou wert in league 
with him." 

** Nay, master I I can soon clear myself 
of that ; I would sooner league with Beelze- 
bub himself. The turnkeys can bear witness 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 15 

there is not one among them all that takes 
such delight in plaguing and vexing him as 
I do. When he is forced to drink muddy 
water, and eat mouldy bread like a swine 
yonder, I sing drinking songs below in the 
kitchen, and throw open the window that 
he may snuff up the scent of the roasting ; 
and I never come nigh his door without 
singing one thing or another, which I know 
will make him turn yellow, black, and green 
with rage. I made a song last spring, all 
about freedom and fair green woods, that 
always enrages him. Now you shall hear, 
master :*' and he sang loudly before the 
prison door,— 

" A blithe bird flits round Sjoberg's tower, 

Right merrily sings he, 
Rise, captive, if thou hast the power. 

Rise up and flee with me ; 
And then thou'lt breathe the fresh spring air. 

And roam in greenwood gay ; 
Then speed we to thy castle fair. 

To Hammershuus away." 

** Hast thou lost thy wits, Morten ? *' 
interrupted the steward. "Wouldst thou 



16 KING ERIC 

stir him up to flee to his castle at Born- 
holm ? '' 

^* He may let that alone while he is 
here. Heard you not how deep he sighed ? 
It was from rage and grief to think the least 
spring bird can fly to its castle and build 
its nest, while he can stir neither hand nor 
foot. I made that song on purpose to 
plague him." 

" Thou art right, Morten 1 it did plague 
him/' said the steward with a look of satis- 
faction. << Thou art an honest soul ; I heard 
myself how deep he sighed : nevertheless, 
thou shalt not sing him any more such 
songs ; they only serve to put fancies into 
his head. Thou art a good, well-meaning 
fellow, Morten 1 I know it well ; but thou 
art somewhat simple. If the bishop knew 
the Black Art, he would not have been here 
so long. I rather incline to think his brain 
is cracked." 

" Have a care, master ; that fellow hath 
all his wits about him ; there is not a 
bishop in all the country can beat him at 
Latin." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 17 

** It matters not to me whether he be 
mad or wise/' muttered the steward, who 
mounted the stairs leading to the turnkey's 
room. He opened the door of this cham- 
ber, which was the uppermost in the tower, 
and directly above the archbishop's prison. 
Here two turnkeys were always on guard, 
and watched the prisoner through a chink 
in the floor. During the night two others 
were usually stationed in the captive's dun- 
geon, and sat beside his couch, when it 
was their wont to plague him, and by their 
talk often to prevent his sleeping ; but 
the report which had recently been spread 
abroad of the archbishop's sorceries, had so 
terrified the inmates of Sjoberg, that none 
dared any longer remain at night in the 
captive's chamber. The two sentinels were 
seated before a backgammon board, and 
were throwing the dice when the steward 
entered* They hastily concealed them, and 
rose re^ectiiiUy. 

" This is doing duty finely," muttered 
the steward : <* while ye sit here and game, 
ye soflSnr him below there to play with 



18 KING EBIC 

Satan for his soul. Ye had best keep your 
eyes upon him, I counsel ye. If he gets 
loose, ye may make as sure of being hanged, 
as if ye had already the halter round your 
necks, and the clear air for a footstool. 
Now let's see what he is after.'* So saying 
the steward stooped down to the hole in 
the floor and peeped below. " He surely 
sleeps/* he whispered ; " he lies on his back 
without stirring." 

" That he is well nigh forced to do, 
because of his chains and the pestilent 
smell," said the cook. 

"Well," answered the steward, "one 
should not despise any means which might 
save an erring soul. It is for this reason, 
seest thou, I suffer the hardened sinner 
below there to lie in such swinish plight. 
Ignorant folk would call it cruel ; it is in 
truth pure compassion. How long thinkest 
thou the most hardened offender can hold 
out such captivity without repenting of 
his misdeeds and creeping to the cross ? " 

"Ay, there doubtless you are in the 
right, master I You have treated him in a 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 19 

pious and fatherly manner, and even gene- 
rously exposed yourself to the risk of draw- 
ing down on you the king*s wrath a second 
time, simply for the sake of exercising 
true Christian compassion, and saving the 
sinner's soul ; but he is insensible to it, 
the scoundrel. His obstinacy is matchless. 
Could you believe it, master? Notwithstand- 
ing all you do to bring him to repentance 
and conversion, he curses you, nevertheless, 
every hour of the day, and wishes you may 
come to suffer a thousand times more tor- 
ments in hell than you have here caused him 
to undergo out of pure Christian charity I '^ 

** I can well believe it, Morten ; from 
such sort of folk one should never look for 
gratitude > but the roof and ceiling are in 
too sorry a plight,'* muttered the steward 
looking around him : ^* under the blue sky 
he needs not to sleep, either j it might be 
dangerous besides/' 

*^It was done according to your own 
order, master," resumed the cook in a 
credulous tone, and staring with an air of 
simplicity at the holes in the ceiling and 



So KING ERIC 

the roof, ** else it could never have rained 
down on that confounded Satan. Of a 
surety he will let alone flying with the 
owls through the roof; and when the 
nights are cold, a little rain and hail are 
right proper means of bringing him to 
reflection and confession of his sins." 

** Well, it is true, Morten ; I myself 
partly commanded it : but one should have 
moderation in all things; it should not 
appear as if the roof had been uncovered 
on purpose. Evil tongues will have plenty 
to talk of as it is. To-morrow the roof 
shall be repaired. Some small holes may re- 
main — they will not catch the eye — fresh 
air is wholesome ; even a little rain and 
snow may have their use. Not a rain-drop 
falls to the earth, Morten, but it may prove 
a means for the conversion of a hardened 
sinner.*' 

" Ah, master, '* said Morten, with a 
tremulous voice and clasped hands, " you 
should, by my troth, have been a bishop : 
you often speak so touchinglyand edifyingly 
that the tears start into mine eyes.'' 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 21 

**Well/* answered the steward with a 
self-satisfied smile, ** I was, indeed, once 
intended to become a churchman, and 
though I got not the tonsure, I never- 
theless learned many pious and useful 
truths during my noviciate ; but it is not 
sufficient to know the truth, we must, by 
my troth, know how to use it for one's 
own and one's fellow-creature's salvation." 

** Ah, yes, master," resumed Morten, 
with a devout look, " who is there can say 
that with as good a conscience as yourself ? 
'Tis a hard calling for a pious Christian 
conscience and a compassionate soul like 
yours, to be forced to play such blood, 
hound and hangman's tricks on a poor 
captive ; but what will' not one do for duty 
and precious virtue's sake, and to save an 
erring soul I Such a pious bloodhound and 
hangman " 

" Hold thy tongue, Morten," interrupted 
the steward ; ** thou must never use such 
words in speaking of thy master, however 
well and honestly thou meanst it. But 
hark I he speaks below there : canst hear 



22 KING ERIC 

what he says ? It seems to me it is Latin 
or Greek.** 

The cook threw himself on his stomach 
and laid his ear close to the hole in the 
floor. " Our Lady preserve us 1 '* he whis- 
ered with a look of afiright, ^* he is calling 
on Aristoteles, the devil's schoolmaster, and 
is giving him directions about you ; he 
swears that you are right ready to enter 
his school.'* 

** Ay, indeed, it is just like the ungodly 
scoundrel I but I thought I heard another 
voice — there is surely no one with him ? ** 

Morten listened again. ** Master I heard 
you thatV^ he exclaimed, springing up with 
a look of terror, and looking towards the 
door as if he meant to escape. 

** How now ? What's that ? What hath 
possessed thee, Morten? What heardest 
thou ? ** 

** Stoop down your ear to the hole, 
master, and you shall hear. Our Lady 
graciously preserve us 1 The Evil One is 
manifestly with him. He is to fetch you 
at midnight if you do not presently give his 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 23 

good friend, the archbidiop) meat and wine 
and clean garments. Only listen yourself 1 '^ 
The steward cast a suspicious look at the 
cook, yet stooped to listen at the hole, 
keeping his eye all the while on Morten 
and the terrified turnkeys. Hie had not 
remained long in this position, ere he rose 
up deadly pale, and the name of Jcsper 
Mogensen, accompanied by the sound of 
smothered and unnatural laughter, rung 
hollow as from an abyss, and in a voice 
wholly unlike the archbishop's. " Heard 
ye it not yourself, master ? '* said Morten ; 
" he who now calls on you I desire not to 



see near me." 



** Silence \ " whispered the steward, 
stooping again with a look of alarm towards 
the crevice in the floor. 

"Jesper Mogensen 1" said the same 
terrific voice as if directly under his feet, 
*^ cherish my learned master and customer, 
or I will break thy neck, and turn inside 
out thy h}rpocritical soul.** 

While this voice rang through the cham- 
ber the turnkeys lay flat on their faces on 



24 KING EBIC 

the floor, and repi^ted their Avemaria. 
The steward trembled and shook; but 
Morten's cheeks now glowed crimson, and 
his eyes watered, as if affected by some 
secret exertion, while his lips were firmly 
compressed, and he stood apparently speech* 
less with terror. 

" Then let him have what he wants," 
stammered forth the steward. " If there 
are such tricks in the game, neither Junker 
Christopher, nor any one else, can require 
me to peril my life and soul any longer. 
Set thee to roast for the bishop in Satan's 
name, Morten I Let him eat and drink 
himself to death if he pleases I but escape 
he shall not, let him have ever so many 
devils for his friends." 

** You will find it hard to hinder him, 
master," said Morten in a timid tone ; 
**he who so can roar would deem it a small 
matter to fly through the key-hole with a 
bishop." 

" I must see that, ere I believe it," said 
the steward, who appeared to have regained 
his self-possession, and recovered from his 



AKD THE OUTLAWS. 25 

fright. ** Thou art* an honest fellow, 
Morten, but thou art somewhat credulous 
and simple — there is perhaps some trick 
in this* But this I would have thee, and 
all of ye, to know — if I smell a rat, or if 
any of ye have the least hand or part in 
this devilry, ye shall rue it dearly : ye shall 
be burned alive, or broken on the wheel, 
as surely as there is law and justice in the 
land.'^ 

** Our Lady preserve us, master I '* ex- 
claimed the terrified turnkeys in the same 
breath* 

"1 tell ye,'* continued the steward, ** 'tis 
nought else but trick and treachery. To 
try him below there, I will let him have 
good cheer and cleanliness for a time ; 
but if he kicks up any more riots of this 
kind, he shall below in the dungeon again : 
and this I tell ye, knaves t if any of you 
dare help him to flight, one for all, and all 
for one, ye shall be hanged t Ye shall all 
three watch here to-night/' 

'* Alack I we dare not, master I" said 
the old turnkey. *< If there is sorcery in 

VOL. I. c 



26 KING EBIC 

the tower, we dare not stay here^ unless 
Morten the cook stay too, to keep up our 
courage." 

^* Stay, then, with these stupid knaves 
to-night, Morten I '* said the steward. 
^' After all thou art the wisest among them* 
I shall owe thee for it, and to-morrow I 
shall get fellows enough with some spirit 
in them/* 

" It is all one to me, master I" answered 
Morten. " I will keep up their spirits to- 
night. He who, like you and I, hath a 
good conscience, need not fear a few devil's 
tricks." 

" True enough, Morten I thou shalt 
first follow me down stairs. I am some- 
what dizzy from stooping ; and then thou 
canst at the same time fetch meat and 
drink for the prisoner and all of ye." 

** Come, master, take hold of my arm I" 
said Morten, following the steward out of 
the door. ** All is quiet and orderly," he 
continued, as they descended the stair. 
** I thought it would be so — one good 
turn deserves another. You'll find, we 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 27 

shall get at last so used to these impish 
tricks that we shall not care a rush for 
them ; and why should not one learn to put 
up with two or three little devils, when 
they choose to behave themselves cour- 
teously, and live in Christian concord and 
sweet family union with us ? ** 

When Morten had attended the steward 
to the bottom of the stairs, he ran into his 
chamber, and from thence to the kitchen and 
pantry. He presently mounted the tower 
stairs again, and returned to his comrades 
with a bundle of clothes, two baskets of 
provisions, and a couple of flagons of wine. 
*^ Take thou the meat and wine and clothes 
to the hound below. Mads!'' said he to 
the old turnkey ; ** but steal not aught 
thereof on the way ! Master says the 
chamber is to be made clean and neat. A 
guard will henceforth be placed outside the 
door night and day, so that thou need'st 
not load him with all the fetters. Mean- 
while let us here get something to keep 
life in us. Look, comrades ! I have both 
mead and German ale with me. Only g^ 

c 2 



28 KING EEIC 

thee gone, Mads; we will surely leave some- 
thing for thee, if thou comest back sober.** 
The old man cast a longing look at the 
wine and good cheer he was to take to the 
captive, and departed. Morten now busied 
himself in placing the provisions on the 
table, and presently began to carouse mer- 
rily with the two younger turnkeys. The 
one had borne arms, and styled himself 
Niels the horseman ; he was a lover of 
strong drink, and had rather a red nose. 
The other was a timid and cautious per- 
sonage, with a cunning and miserly cast of 
countenance. He sat with the dice in his 
hands, and counted the number of marks 
he had won from his comrades. 

" Thou art an excellent fellow, Morten,*' 
said Niels the horseman, pushing back the 
cap which shaded his sun-burnt and martial 
visage, while he drained his cup of mead, 
and seized on the flagon of ale. " Thou 
knowest well how to furnish a guard-room 
when one is required to keep one's eyes 
open and one's spirits up. By my soul I I 
would rather keep guard in a camp over a 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 29 

whole army of captives than sit here, es- 
pecially if the confounded bishop under- 
stands the black art, and such-like devilry. 
What dost think of all this, Morten ?** 

" Truly, that is not for laymen to judge 
of,'* answered Morten. " 1 know neither 
the white nor the black art ; but this I 
know, henceforth let there be ever such a 
stir below there, / budge not from my seat. 
When we keep our noses out of mischief, 
and strive to mind our duty, we shall be 
left in peace, and can sit here as quiet as 
though we lay in Abraham's bosom. Now 
drink, Niels I And thou, Jorgen, what art 
thou thinking of?" said he to the man 
with the dice. " I warrant thou wouldst 
rather kill the time in gaming, than in 
honest and innocent drink. Now, by our 
Lady t every man hath his crotchets in this 
world, but we must ever sing with the 
birds we live with. First, comrade, sing 
and drink with us, and we will play after- 
wards with thee. We have bright silver 
pieces in plenty." So saying, the merry 

c 3 



80 KING BBIC 

cook threw a handful of silver money on 
the table, and began to sing a joyous drink- 
ing song. Jorgen looked covetingly at 
the silver, and shook the dice. ** Come, 
good Morten, let's play first,'' said he, in 
a coaxing tone, and with a crafty smile, 
" and we can sing and drink afterwards." 
** Darest thou throw for a silver piece?" 
** For twenty, if thou wilt," answered 
Morten; <^but I snap my fingers at dice 
and silver pieces, as long as I can get aught, 
to moisten my tongue ; it is the most 
important member in the world, seest thou, 
and well deserves to be cherished. That 
little instrument can turn whole kingdoms 
topsy-turvy. I am already half drunk, I 
perceive, and thou hast not lifted the cup 
to thy lips as yet. The man who games 
with me must be as jovial a soul as my- 
self." 

** Well, then, pour me out half a can 
of ale, if it be not too strong," said the 
cautious Jorgen. ** Mead instantly gets 
into my head : when one would play a fair 
game, one should always be able to count 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 31 

to six ; besides, we are not sent here to 
drink ourselves drunk, I trow/* 

*< Just as much to drink as to game," 
answered Morten ; << but leave that to me I 
I know the strength of the ale well, and 
what four fellows can stand, provided they 
be not carlines/* * The turnkeys drank, 
and Morten replenished their cups. — 
" Know ye the news, comrades ? '* he con- 
tinued, raising his voice, as he seated him- 
self at his ease, with his arms resting on 
the table ; " we may presently expect the 
king here at the castle ; then will there 
be no lack of drink. Money, and mead, 
and wine, and Saxon ale, will flow here, 
as in blessed Paradise.*' 

" The king 1 " said Niels the horse- 
man ; ** then of a surety will there be fine 

* Baron Holberg supposes that the word " car- 
line" (kierlinge in Danish) had its origin in the easy 
victories obtained by the Northmen over the French, 
or Carlines, the subjects of Charles the Bald : the 
word carline or kierlinge now signifying in Danish 
an old woman, and applied in derision to the faint- 
hearted of the other sex. — Translator. 

C 4 



32 KING ERIC 

doings here ; he will, by my troth I give 
the huntsman something to do." 

" You will see, then, the bishop will get 
loose," said J6rgen*the turnkey, rolling 
the dice as he spoke, ** for he is surely not 
so mad as to put the king in a rage again, 
as he did the last time." 

** He cares not for the King's wrath," 
answered the cook ; " that fellow minds 
neither king nor emperor ; and if it be 
true that the pope in Rome sides with 
him, the king may go to the wall at 
last." 

" What can the pope do to our king ?" 
asked Niels the horsemen ; ** he dwells in 
Italy, far over the sea yonder, and hath 
neither horsemen nor ships to send hither.'* 

<<But he hath that which stands him in 
better stead," said Morten ; " he hath got a 
bunch of keys, so heavy that a hundred men 
can't carry them, and with those he can both 
open and shut heaven and hell, to each one 
of us, just as it likes him. Hell-gate he 
willingly leaves open, for there is ever a 
throng in that quarter; but heaven's gate, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 33 

by my troth I he locks every evening him- 
self, and lays the keys under his pillow.** 

" But St. Peter keeps the gate/* re- 
sponded Niels ; "he must ever stand sen- 
tinel there night and day.** 

" Right, Niels I but St. Peter is the 
pope*s cousin only; besides, the pope keeps 
him under finger and thumb, and takes 
the keys from him every evening, as soon 
as it grows dark, just as the steward takes 
the keys from thee : the pope, moreover, 
is the Lord*s stadtholder, as thou surely 
know*st ; and when he is wroth, he is able 
by a single word to shut up all the churches 
in the country, and give all of us, body 
and soul, to the devil.** 

" Our Lady preserve us I** said Niels, 
crossing himself; " and think*st thou he 
durst act thus by our king and all Chris- 
tian folk here in the country ? ** 

** Yes, he threatens hard to do it, they 
say. The devil take the confounded bishop 
below there! he is the cause of all this ill 
luck ; 'twere better for king and country 



c 5 



34 KING ERIC 

had he long since shown us a pair of clean 
heels." 

" Think* St thou so, Morten I 'tis arrant 
folly, then, to pen the fellow up here as 
they do?" 

** That's the king's business," answered 
Morten ; "he surely knows what he is 
about ; and hath doubtless his own reasons 
for what he does. The bishop had a hand 
in the game when they made away with his 
father in the barn at Finnerup — 'tis true 
King Clipping was worth little enough, but 
he was king nevertheless, and the murder 
was a lawless business : our Lord forbid I 
should defend it I No one can think ill of 
our young king because he can't forgive the 
bishop ; but, as I said before, state and coun- 
try would fare better were the king less 
strict, and the bishop gone to the devil." 

While this dialogue was carrying on, the 
old turnkey returned half intoxicated, and 
threw himself on a bench before the drink- 
ing table. 

" How now, Mads I what red cheeks 
thou hast got," said the cook, laughing; 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 35 

'* thou must surely have accredited the 
bishop's wine : thou didst right ! who could 
know whether it might not be poisoned ? *' 

•* Death and pestilence, Morten I what 
art prating of? *' lisped forth the old man in 
a fright, and spit upon the floor. " I have 
not so much as tasted a drop of his wine ; 
nevertheless, thou shouldst not jest about 
such things/* 

** Be easy, old fellow 1 '' said Morten, 
in a soothing tone; *^ I myself drank of it 
on the stairs. Well I what said he to the 
change ? *' 

** Not so much as yon stone flask, com- 
rade 1 The hound would sooner let him- 
self be spitted than speak a fair word to 
any man: perhaps, too, he thought it was 
poison I brought him, — but, death and 
pestilence I " — here he paused and spit 
again — "I can never believe ** 

" Make thyself easy, Mads' I thou 
knowest thou hast not tasted a drop ; at any 
rate here is something to rince thy throat 
with, which I warrant thee is good and 
wholesome. I will sing thee a merry song 

c 6 



36 KING ERIC 

the while ; which will do the bishop good 
as well/' While Morten again replenished 
his comrades' cups, he cleared his throat 
and sang : 

" In Sjoborg tower a spider's web 
Holds sure a struggling fly ; 
He once was king and country'wi dread. 

And held his head full high. 
Then strive and toil, and toil and strive, 
That web thou'lt never leave alive." 

<* What song is that ? *' asked Niels the 
horseman ; " 1 never heard it before.** 

** It was made to mock the bishop below,** 
said Morten ; *^ and lit was who made it. 
"Now ye shall hear ; for to plague him 
properly, and mock his useless learning, I 
have managed to cram a little Latin into 
it that I learned of Father Gregory :** and 
Morten continued, — 

<< For Crimen laesae majestatis, 
The spider's web doth prison thee. 
Custodibus inebriatis, 
A thief shall catch a thief, thou'lt see. 
Then strive and toil, and toil and strive, 
That web thou'lt never leave alive." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 37 

While the cook thus sang in a loud 
voice, the clanking of chains was heard be* 
low in the archbishop's dungeon, and the 
two half-drunken turnkeys started from 
their seats, while Jorgen, who was still 
sober, took the opportunity of conveying a 
couple of the cook's silver pieces into his 
own pocket. " Let him writhe in his 
chains, the hound I '' said Morten, remain- 
ing quietly seated ; ^^ he hears well enough 
how I mock him in the song, and that en- 
rages him ; but it does him good/' 

** Right, Morten I " said Niels the horse- 
man, as he peeped through the chink in 
the floor. ** He twists in his chains, as 
though he were possessed — thou may'st be 
sure it is the Latin that vexes him — but 
no matter for that. I would have him 
hear, that we lay folk know a thing or two 
as well as himself." 

** Come, let's drink, comrades I " called 
the cook, and continued to sing, as he rose 
from the bench, and staggered, as if half- 
intoxicated, about the chamber : — 



38 KING EEIC 

" Thy Latin hast thou clean forgot ? 
And canst not catch the blithe bird's lay ? 
Then dark and dreary be thy lot, 
Within these walls thoult pine away. 
Then strive and toil, and toil and strive, 
Thtit web thou'lt never leave alive. 

<< Hast thou a' message to Rome ? 
Hark I the bird sings right cunningly ! 
Or farther yet, from my greenwood home ? 
Speak I and I'll haste far o'er the sea. 
Then strive and toil, and toil and strive, 
That web thou'lt never leave alive." 

As he sang the last verse, he fell down 
flat beside the hole, above the archbishop's 
dungeon, and peeped through it. 

" The false knave mocks me," he heard 
the captive murmur with a deep sigh. 

<< Then strive and toil, and toil and strive, 
Thoult never leave that web alive," 

sang Morten at the top of his lungs, while 
he reeled about, and continued to repeat 
the burden of the song, in which the turn- 
keys joined with loud laughter. 

" Thou art gloriously drunk, Morten I '* 
said Niels the horseman, in an inarticulate 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 39 

voice, and fell under the table. '< Thou 
shouldst bethink thee, we are on guard 
here, and not at an ale-house : ** so saying, 
the man-at-jums rested his heavy head on a 
stone flagon, which lay on the floor, and 
fell asleep. 

<< But what hath become of Niels the 
horseman ?" said the old turnkey, who had 
in the meantime drained a large flagon of 
potent Saxon ale (noted for its intoxicating 
properties). " I'll be hanged if I can see 
hhn.** 

** He is snoring under the table there, 
the guzzling hound ! " answered Jorgen ; 
** ye are pretty fellows, truly, to keep a 
night watch : I shall have to watch and be 
fober for ye all. Come, Morten I let us 
two keep our wits about us, and mind our 
duty I There lie thy silver pieces swim- 
ming in ale and mead — let's clear the table 
— shall we venture a throw for them ? he 
who gets the highest throw shall pocket 
them ; thou mayest throw first, an thou 
likest.'' 

*« Done I** said Morten ; " but we must 



40 KING ERIC 

play fair.*' As he said this, he took the 
dice and threw. 

" If thou canst count, count, Jorgen,? 
he stuttered, without looking at the dice. 

** Two, three — seven thou hast only 
got,'* answered Jorgen, hastily sweeping 
up the dice ; ** look, it is my turn now : '* 
he threw the dice, which turned up a high 
number. " I've won I the money is mine I 
look thyself I" — he swept the money to- 
wards him. 

" I doubt thee not — thou art an honest, 
fellow,'* answered Morten, reeling, as he 
filled his comrade's cup, " the money is 
thine, but, by my soul I thou shalt now drink 
to the health of my true love, and then I 
will lie down to sleep. If thou drink not 
that cup clean out, I shall hold thee for a 
rascally cheat." 

" Well, then, good Morten, here's to the 
health of the pretty Karen Jeppe of Gille- 
leie ! see'st thou, I am a man of my word," 
said Jorgen, and drank — *< There is not a 
drop left in the can." 

<* That's right I Thou art an honest 



AND TUB OUTLAWS. 41 

soul after all/' lisped the cooki tumbling 
on the floor, where he soon began to snore 
louder than any of the others. 

" The dull brute I " muttered Jfirgen, 
. who began to feel somewhat muddled i 
** one may lead him by the nose as much 
as one likes." It was not long, however, 
before he leaned his head on his arms upon 
the table, and slept soundly. Hardly had 
he begun to snore, ere the cook rose, per- 
fectly sober, and narrowly scrutinised the 
faces of the three sleeping turnkeys by the 
dim light of the lamp. As soon as he was 
satisfied that they slept soundly, Morten 
crept softly to the hole in the floor, and 
looked down on the prisoner. 

** Venerable sir!** he whispered, ** I 
have managed to drink them all three dead 
drunk} they are sleeping like logs — you 
need not doubt me. I have always been 
true and devoted to you. I was forced to 
plague and vex you, to throw dust in the 
eyes of others. I will do your bidding, 
wherever you please to send me.'* 



42 KING ERIC 

** Is this earnest, Morten?" whispered 
the captive archbishop. 

" It is, by my soul and honour ! *' an- 
swered the cook ; " you saved ray life, and 
concealed what you well wot of; therefore 
have I vowed to Saint Martin to save your 
life — at whatever cost," 

** In the Lord's narae, then, I will be- 
lieve thee," said the prisoner. *' If thou 
wouldst save my life, hie thee to Copen- 
hagen, to my canon Hans Kodis, and con- 
suit with him I Bid him send me pen and 
ink — a file — and a ladder of ropes." 

^* Hans Rodis is at Esrom, my lord," 
answered the cook ; ** he bade me put this 
little sausage into your pious hands. If the 
chains will let you, hold up your hands, 
just as you lie there I Look, now ! see how 
well we have hit the mark ! " In saying this, 
the cook pushed through the aperture a 
thin rolled-up packet, concealed in a sau- 
sage ; it was fastened to a string, by which 
he lowered it, holding the end fast in 
his hand. " I have it," said the captive, 
" praised be the King of kings ! My 



AKD THE OtJTLAWS. 43 

faithful servant hath sent me what I need 

— let not go the string/* he contmued, 
after a pause ; ** bring the lamp to the hole 
— but one single ray of light I ** The cook 
obeyed in silence. 

** I am vnriting a word of moment to my 
commandant at Hammershuus ; wilt thou 
put it faithfully into his own hands ?*' 

*• I will, by my soul I only make haste." 

*' Thy reward will be great in Heaven, 
as on earth ; but give me light, light ! ** 

** All is arranged,** whispered Uie cook, 
holding the lamp closer to the hole ; *^ let 
us but make sure of Hammershuus, and 
all will be well ! The fitting time will be 
when ye see me again ; meanwhile use the 
file with caution. I and the canon will 
care for the rest ; Niels Brock and his 
friends will help us. Johan Kyste and 
Ole Ark are here. Be of good courage, 
venerable sir! you may depend on me. 
But haste I those drunken dogs are stirring 

— I fear they will awake.** 

" One moment morel** whispered the 
captive. «* Pull up — all is ready,** he con- 



44 KINO ERIC 

tinued, after a short pause. Morten hastily 
drew up the string, and found a sheet of 
parchment rolled up in the skin of the sau- 
sage, which was fastened to it : he carefully 
concealed it. '* Hushl they wakel" he 
whispered. " I must set to work again/* 
So saying, the portly cook rolled himself on 
the floor among the intoxicated and half- 
awakened turnkeys, and began to belabour 
them with all his might. '^ Hollo, there I 
now for a beating of meat 1 " he shouted, 
" now for a pounding of pepper 1 How 
come we by this lump in the porridge ? It 
must be well beaten out." 

" Oh, oh 1 Art thou mad, Morten 1" 
cried Niels the horseman. 

" Have done with thy chatter, I know 
what I am about," continued Morten, still 
laying about him. ^* I am neither mad 
nor drunk ; but the devil take me if I stay 
longer here 1 — must you, clod-pates, have 
your say too, and fancy yourselves wiser 
than the cook ? Would you make me be- 
lieve I have horsemen in the pot ? " 

While Morten thus shouted and talked. 



AKD THE OUTLAWS. 45 

as though intoxicated to an exceUf he 
orertumed the lamp, reeled in the dark 
out of the chamba*, and rolled hinuelf 
down the stairs. When the keepers^ on 
the following morning, had recorered the 
full use of their 9en%e%f the cook had dis- 
appeared^ and was nowhere to be found in 
the castle. 



46 KING ERIC 



CHAP. n. 

At sunrise next morning, the brisk broad- 
shouldered cook, with a large club in his 
hand, took his way through the wood skirt- 
ing Esrom Lake*, accompanied by two 
other wanderers. It was a foggy morn- 
ing ; large flocks of wild geese flew with 
shrill cries over the lake, and the fallen 
leaves of the forest were swept along the 
path by the sharp morning breeze. The 
cook and his companions proceeded in si- 
lence and with hasty steps ; and it was not 
until the sun began to disperse the cold 
mists of morning, that Morten cleared his 

* Esrom Lake, situated about eight English miles 
from Elsinore, is a fair specimen of the placid lake 
scenery of Zealand. The monastery is still in part 
in a habitable state. 



AND THE OUTLAWS* 47 

throat, and sang a merry ballad. His com- 
panions were two strong broad-shouldered 
fellows, with red wadmal cloaks, over dirty 
leathern breeches, and with broad swords 
and daggers in their thickly padded belts, 
which also appeared to serve them as purses* 
They had the appearance of deserters or 
dismissed men-at-arms ; they both wore 
beards in the fashion of king's horsemen, 
but seemed to have long n^lected all at- 
tention to cleanliness and personal neatness. 
Their unwashed faces betokened want of 
sleep and fitting rest. The heads of a 
couple of flails served tliem as walking staves. 
They bore on their backs lai^ bundles of 
rich attire, from which pieces of smoked 
meat and otlier provisions protruded. Their 
long uncombed hair hung about their 
slioulders ; the skin and hair of both were 
so dark, and their countenances had so 
little of a Danish cast, that they would have 
passed for foreigners, had not their dialect 
proclaimed them to be peasants from Lol- 
land } who, at any rate, could not prove 
their evidently \'audal extraction in the 



48 KING EBIC 

first generation. The taller of the two had 
lost an eye, and the other had a huge scar 
between his nose and mouth, which looked 
like a hare lip, and his sharp projecting 
teeth gave him a ferocious appearance, re- 
sembling that of a wild boar. 

The three wanderers occasionally looked 
behind them, as if they apprehended a 
pursuit ; but they only beheld the white 
gable ends of Esrom monastery, which they 
had passed a short time before. 

" Now, thanks for good companionship," 
said Morten, as he halted at a cross road 
in the forest. ** It were best we part com- 
pany for the present ; ye understand what 
I said to you — ye are to hide yourselves at 
Gilleleie, and watch every night, until ye 
see the skiff with the black pennant, then 
push off with Jeppe's boat, and set me on 
shore : meanwhile watch narrowly all that 
goes on here, and who goes in and out of 
the castle. What Niels Brock and the arch- 
bishop have promised, you may make sure 
of. But then ye must not be self-willed ; ye 
will never be able to get him out by force, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 49 

and if the king and Marsk OlufFsen come 
hither to-day or to-morrow, ye might 
lightly get hanged and ruin every thing/' 

** Leave that to us, sly Morten," said the 
man with the one eye. *^ Johan Kyst6 well 
knows what he is about. I committed but 
one folly in my life ; *twas on that Easter 
eve I deserted from the Marsk, and took 
the palfrey from the pious clerk ; I did 
but knock a little hole in his skull, but it 
was large enough for his bit of a soul to 
slink out of: one should let holy men go 
their way in peace ; for this, I am now 
forced to put up with one eye. I vowed, 
therefore, to our Lady and St. Joseph, to 
become pious and God-fearing from that 
very hour, and never more to lay my hand 
on other than laymen.'' 

** A pious resolve," said Morten : ** wert 
thou not such a bloodhound and cut- 
throat, I could almost believe thy soul 
might be saved as yet, even shouldst thou 
steal and rob in a small way at times." 

" It bids fair to be so," answered the one- 

VOL. I. D 



50 KING ERIC 

eyed. "I have a letter of absolution from 
the archbishop, within my woollen jerkin, 
that will stand me in good stead when all 
the world besides marches to hell. Truly I 
served the learned Master Grand faithfully 
by night and day these many years, therefore 
hath the pious archbishop given me freedom 
from fasting, and absolution for sins for ten 
whole years : he hath not spared his silver 
pieces either ; and shall I now suffer them 
to shut up such a man, and thereby rob so 
many honest fellows of a living ? What 
sayest thou, Ole Ark ? Shall we suffer it 
any longer ?• hath Master Grand deserved 
it of us r 

" Pshaw ! Kyste ; who says thou art to 
suffer it, and leave him in the lurch?*' in- 
terrupted Morten. *' We all want to have 
him out ; but we would not be as fools, 
trying to burst open the doors with their 
own thick skulls. Force will not help us 
here — do but as I bid thee, and keep thy 
courage until we want it/* 

** Morten is right, Kyste," began the 
other LoUander, with a hideous grin. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 51 

which displayed his projecting teeth. 
^* Thou art a mad bull, and art ever ready 
to push with thy horns. Why haste so 
desperately to get him out ? he was a good 
and generous man of God while he was 
in power, 'tis true, but since he hath lain 
in Sjoborg we have heard no great things 
of him, and have not been blessed with 
the sight of a stiver from his hand.'' 

** Dull cod-fish I " replied Johan Kyste, 
hastily ; *' believest thou not what honest 
Morten hath vowed and promised us in the 
bishop's name ? As soon as we get him out 
we are his steersmen at Bomholm, and get 
leave to catch what we can throughout the 
king's dominions." 

•* Hold, comrade," said Morten, correct- 
ing him. ** It is only so long as the breach 
lasts between the king and the archbishop, 
that he gives you leave to drive that trade : 
it is only in the service of the church, and 
the pious bishop, that it may be lawful and 
Christian for a time ; afterwards ye must 
content yourselves with what he gives you 
of his own, and lead quiet lives : but ere 

D 2 



52 KING ERIC 

this day twelvemonth, you may feather 
your nests finely. Now begone, and neg- 
lect not what ye have taken upon ye, for 
the sake of other desperate pranks I I will 
not have you longer with me : if any one 
caught me in such fair company, they might 
take a fancy to hang me up by the side of 
you, for honest companionship's sake.** 

" Ho I ho I wouldst thou play the lord- 
ling, Morten ? '* said the one-eyed ; " what 
higher honour couldst thou look for, thou 
turnspit 1 — But harkl what was that ? are 
there hunters in the wood so early ? " 

The sound of hunting-horns, the tramp 
of horses, and the baying of hounds, was 
heard in the neighbourhood: the three 
wanderers hastened forward a few paces, 
but soon suddenly sprang aside in different 
directions. 

^' Sdeath I the king and all his cour- 
tiers 1 " exclaimed Morten, sheltering him- 
self behind a large beech tree by the 
road side, while both his suspicious-looking 
comrades hid themselves among the thick 
brushwood. 



AND THE OUTLAWS, 53 

A numerous hunting train drew near ; at 
the head rode the young king, between the 
Drost and the Marsk : it was a noble sight 
to see the young chivalrous King Eric on 
horseback. He rode a tall milk-white 
horse, which seemed proud of its burden, 
and often fell into the artificial dancing- 
pace to which it was used in the tilt and 
toumay. Its bridle and saddle accoutre- 
ments glittered with gold and precious 
stones : the silken rein with which the 
king managed his steed was the only com- 
pulsory means to which it would submit ; 
the slightest touch of the golden rowel in 
the king's spur caused it to rear almost 
upright, and for any other than the king 
it seemed rash and dangerous to bestride 
the proud animal. The king himself was 
a noble-looking youth, with a manly and 
determined, almost a stem, cast of counte- 
nance ; but his long fair locks imparted a 
softness to this expression, which, in Eric's 
milder moods, called to mind the portraits 
of the Saviour's best beloved Apostle, lean- 
ing his head on his Master's breast. The 

D 3 



54 KING EBIC 

young king had a dignified and chivalrous 
deportment, the eflFect of which was height- 
ened by the almost dazzling splendour of 
his attire, which appeared indeed unsuited 
to a hunting party. The tall white plume 
in his hat sparkled with small silver stars ; 
and the green hunting dress, bordered with 
ermine, was so richly broidered with silken 
lions, and golden hearts, that it resembled 
a shining suit of armour. 

The splendour in which the young king 
appeared to delight was also conspicuous 
in his train. Drost Aag^, who rode at the 
king's right hand, was of. the same age 
with King Eric, and had not yet attained 
his twenty-second year. He had been the 
king's playmate and confidant from child- 
hood upwards, and now possessed his entire 
confidence and favour* There was a mild 
but almost melancholy seriousness in the 
expression of Drost Aage's countenance, 
which gave him the appearance of being 
older than the king. He had thrown his 
dark blue mantle over the back of his 
smoking palfrey, by way of covering ; and 



XSD THE OCTLAWa. 53 

his rich silken dress was be^rinkled with 
the foam of the king's restless and chafing 
flteed, upon which he appeared to keep a 
watchful eye. 

Marsk Niels Oluffiien, who rode at the 
king's left hand, was a tall strong-built 
man, of about thirty years and upwards, 
with a sharp, rough, warrior-like counte- 
nance, and stiff deportment. Next to 
Drost Aage, he was the king^s most indis- 
pensable counsellor, and was^wi exceed- 
ingly brave and doughty knight; but there 
was a tinge of haughtiness and sererity in 
his lodu and manner which frequently 
aroused the feelings of independence, and 
wounded the self-love, of his inferiors. 
Even the king and Drost Aage, who were 
fully his equals in knightly prowess, and far 
surpassed him in tact and talent, often felt 
unpleasantly repulsed by his rough and 
Uunt bearing, of which he was himself so 
unconscious that nothing astonished him 
more than whenever his uncouth roughness 
and self-confidence drove friends as well as 

enemies from him. 

D 4 



56 KING ERIC 

Among others of the king's train were 
two celebrated German minstrels — Master 
Rumelant, from Swabia, and Master Popp6 
the Strong, who, in their national dress 
of German minstrels, attracted much at- 
tention. Master Rumelant's stature was 
insignificant, but he had a lively and en- 
thusiastic expression of countenance; he 
was a lover of argument, into which he 
was ever ready to enter with warmth and 
vehemenceT especially on theological sub- 
jects, on which he entertained his own 
very peculiar opinions. His countryman, 
Poppe the Strong, well deserved his cog- 
nomen : he was a gigantic figure, with long 
coal-black hair and beard. His appearance 
often terrified old women and children, by 
whom he was even sometimes taken for a 
wizard. He spoke in a tone of emphatic 
decision, which would have better beseemed 
a commander-in-chief. He rode a lean 
grey horse, and always wore a black feather 
in his hat, in token of a sorrow he desired 
should be noticed and respected by others. 
These two strangers had been for some 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 57 

time the honoured guests of the young 
Danish monarch, who himself possessed a 
knowledge of the arts, and showed special 
favour to talented artists and men of learn- 
ing. The king was also attended on this ex- 
cursion by the famous Danish philosopher, 
Petrus de Dacia, who was accounted the 
greatest astronomer and arithmetician of 
his time, and was as renowned for his theo- 
logical learning as for his eloquence and 
profound knowledge of Greek and Latin 
philology. Clad in his black canon's dress, 
he rode a quiet palfrey, between the two 
German minstrels; and always acted as 
mediator when, in the heat of argument, 
they became vehement, and seemed disposed 
to exchange hard words. He was still in 
the prime of life : on his journey through 
Germany he had become acquainted, at 
Cologne, with Christin6 Stambel, the nun, 
80 renowned for her sanctity; and the 
enthusiasm with which he always spoke of 
this lady would have subjected him to the 
suspicion of a secret passion, had he not 
in his writings, as well as in his conversa- 

D 5 



58 KING EBIC 

tion, lauded with still greater enthusiasm 
the blessed Virgin Mary, as preeminent in 
beauty and sanctity, and exalted her to 
supreme rank among the saints in the 
calendar. He had proved, with irresistible 
eloquence, that the gracious confidence the 
Lord showed to St. Peter, in intrusting 
him with the care of his flock, was even 
vouchsafed in a far higher degree to St. 
John, the beloved apostle, who, as the 
Lord's best- loved disciple, was appointed 
the protector and guardian of the blessed 
Virgin. 

His vehement theological controversy 
on this point with the learned and famous 
Aldobrandino Papparonus Venensis, of the 
Dominican order, was in a great measure 
the foundation of the esteem in which he 
was held by the learned. It was only 
when the conversation turned on this his 
favourite theme that his equanimity was ever 
disturbed ; excepting when this occurred^ 
his discourse was calm, clear, and collected. 
The latent energy which lay in his full and 
ardent eye, with its expression of somewhat 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 69 

visionary enthusiasm, was calculated to in- 
spire kindly attention and confidence, and 
(what was a phenomenon among the learned 
of his time) he was altogether free from 
pedantry and pride. 

The king and his train now approached 
the cross road and the tree behind which 
Morten had concealed himself: from this 
spot opened the finest view on Esrom lake. 
" Halt I '* said the king, springing from 
his horse : " this is a lovely spot ; we will 
tarry here and take our repast. They will 
surely come this way from Elsinore.'* 

" No doubt they will, my liege,*' an- 
swered Marsk Oluffsen, while he and the 
Drost dismounted at the same time from 
their horses, and gave them into the charge 
of the king's groom. " Hei'e lies the 
high road to Esrom and Sjoborg. But, if 
I know the margrave right, he will not 
ride through Elsinore ere all the pretty 
maidens are awake and can admire his fair 
presence and horsemanship. As yet, his 
head is full of nought but love adventures 
and such nonsense.'* 

D 6 



60 KING EMC 

" Call you love * nonsense,' my brave 
Marsk ? '* interrupted the king. «* Do you 
forget I am a bridegroom ? and I trust 
not one of the coldest." 

" Bridegroom, my liege ? ** answered 
the Marsk: <'in Danish we call no man 
a bridegroom until his marriage day, and 
much must be done ere that day comes." 

" Much ?" rejoined the king, and his 
joyous animated countenance became sud- 
denly stem and grave — ** well 1 much 
may be done in a short time, but if they 
make the time too long, the day I long 
for may come when I will.'* 

" The Lord and our blessed Lady for- 
bid I *' said Drost Aage, in an under tone, 
casting a glance at the king, full of anxious 
and heartfelt sympathy. 

** Let the horns play, Aag6,** said the 
king, as if desirous to prevent more ex- 
clamations of this kind, which seemed to 
displease him. " The day will be fine : 
we will begin it joyously." 

At a signal from the Drost, the musicians, 
who followed the hunting train,, struck up 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 61 

the air of the well-known ancient ballad of 
"Axel Thordson and Fair Valborg,"* 
which they knew was a favourite with the 
king. 

" Well, this is sweet music if it be not 
lively/* said Eric : ** where are Rumelant 
and Poppe ? 'tis pity they cannot sing 
Danish ; their skilful lays are but ill-suited 
to these tones." 

" They are disputing again on spiritual 
matters/' said the Marsk. " They are 
better fitted for a council of clerks than 
a hunting party." 

" Let us listen," said the king: << I 
dare wager Master Poppe is in the right ; 

• " Axel and Valborg," one of the gems of Scan- 
dinavian poetry. The interest of the poem turns on 
the separation of the hero and heroine (who had 
been betrothed from childhood) by an interdict of 
the church, on the plea of the parties standing within 
a forbidden degree of affinity to each other. This 
affinity, however, consisted merely in having one 
common godmother. Circumstances like these, 
however trivial, were frequently made available by 
the church for the extension of its power, and the 
furtherance of its secular interests. 



62 KING EMC 

but Master Rumelant nevertheless will be 
victor in the controversy/' 

While the music continued, and the 
atte.ndants converted a low pile of wood into 
a table for the repast, the king's attention 
was attracted by the dispute of the two 
eager minstrels : each stood with the bridle 
of his horse in his hand, and spoke in a 
loud tone, while the grave Master Petrus 
sat calm and attentive on his palfrey, gazing 
on the lake. 

" I will defend my opinion before the 
whole body of clerks, and all tine believers 
in Christendom,'* said the vehement little 
Rumelant, striking his saddle with the 
handle of his whip as he spoke : " our 
sinfulness is assuredly better security for 
our salvation than all our paltry virtue — 
that is as true as that our blessed Lady's 
prayers avail in heaven, and she shows us 
no favour when she obtains grace for us ; 
she shows us love and gratitude^ which she 
is downright owing us for our sin's sake, 
for it is not the world's virtue, but its sin 



A5D TBS OUTLAWS. 63 



akme, she hath to thaok fcr all her honour 
and glory/' 

''What are you driTing at, my good 
Master Rumelant ? ^ shouted the gigantic 
Master Poppe. '' How is the holy Virgin 
honoured by our being a set of sinful 
icoundrels ? that is no honour to us, or any 
one else/' 

** Not so, my self-sufficient sir I ** shouted 
his of^Kment; ''truly the case is dearer 
than the sun : it is assuredly not of our 
perfection we diould boast, but, on the 
contrary, of our weakness. Would our 
dear blessed Lady ever have become that 
she became, had not Adam and Eve sinned, 
and all of us sinned too in them ? ^ 

"No, assuredly not, my dear friend: 
but how the devil ^ 

"Ergo, she hath man's sin to thank 
for her honour and glory I and ergo, she 
nrould be most ungrateful were she not to 
protect sinners, and bring us all likewise 
to honour and glory for our sin's sake/' 

"You drive me mad. Master Rume- 
lant," shouted Master Poppe, stamping in 



64 KING EBIC 

wrath ; ** I know not what to answer you, 
but you are wrong, by my soul 1 as I will, 
like an honest German, show you with my 
good sword if you desire it. What if I 
should now commit the sin of slaying you 
on the spot, would the blessed Virgin bring 
me to honour and glory because of that f 
or would it be so small a sin that it could 
not be imputed to me as a great merit ? '* 

*< Worthy sirs,'* interrupted Master Pe- 
trus, gravely, ^* talk not of spiritual things 
with sophistry, or in an angry spirit ; least 
of all of our blessed Lady, who is truth 
and heavenly calm itself. You exchange 
spiritual for temporal weapons. Master 
Poppe ; and you darken the fountain of 
light, Master Rumelant, when you would 
make grace to proceed from sin on earth, 
instead of from incomprehensible love and 
mercy in God's kingdom.'' 

^< It seems to me it is of sin and grace 
those learned disputants are talking," said 
the king, seating himself by the side of 
Drost Aage on the trunk of a tree at a 
little distance* '^Well, that is a never- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 65 

ending chapter, and truly one I ought to 
reflect on when I wend to Sjoborg/' 

''Most certainly, my liege/' answered 
Aage, looking with glad sympathy on the 
king's noble countenance. ''When we 
think on the great mercy we all need, we 
diould wish rather to be able to forgive 
our enemies than to execute the most 
lawful sentence upon them." 

" Him thou meanest will I not forgive 
throughout all eternity I " burst forth the 
king impetuously. " He sat chief in council 
among my father's murderers, he ought to 
sit lowest among criminals in my kingdom. 
If the pope will not condemn him, /will. 
His blood I ask not, but outlawed and 
dishonoured shall he remain all the days 
of his life." 

"The pope, however, hath alone the 
right to pass sentence on him, my liege," 
observed Aage. " So long as he remains 
captive here he cannot defend his cause 
before his lawful tribunal, therefore it 
seems to me but reasonable " 

"No, Aage I" interrupted the king. 



66 lONG EBIC 

** neither just nor reasouable would it be 
to let loose the captive murderer, that he 
may perjure himself, to go forth free and 
honoured among his equals; but it were 
wise perhaps for my own peace and hap- 
piness.'* 

<< And perhaps for state and kingdom 
also,'* replied Aage. " This much is cer- 
tain, my liege : so long as that dangerous 
man is detained captive at Sjoborg, neither 
Drost Hessel nor Counsellor Jon can ob-^ 
tain the dispensation for your marriage ; 
and if I understood the wily Isarnus 
aright, he is already privately empowered 
by the pope to enforce the unhappy con- 
stitution of Veile against both you and the 
kingdom/' 

** And were it so," said the king, rising, 
^' think'st thou I and the kingdom would 
be really harmed by it ? Would Denmark's 
bishops and priests dare to excommunicate 
their king, and all their countrymen ? Hast 
thou not thyself, because of thy love to me, 
been for two years already under the baa 
of the archbishop ? And art thou not well 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 67 

and sound notwithstanding? Hath any 
priest in Denmark dared to shut the church 
door against thee when thou earnest by my 
side, or to deny thee the holy sacrament 
in my presence ? '* 

" My sentence is not yet confirmed by 
the holy father/' said Aage ; *^ and yet, 
my liege I I shudder, notwithstanding, to 
think of it — many of my noble country- 
men r^ard me with looks which sadden 
and well nigh dismay me. The thunder- 
bolts of the church are dreadful even in the 
hand of the chained criminal— -they would 
have crushed me to the earth, did I not 
even yet hope that the ban, which a regi- 
cide hath proclaimed against me, is not 
accounted of by the merciful Lord in 
heaven. The holy father also will surely 
be moved by the righteousness of my cause, 
and by your intercession in my behalf, to 
recall it.** 

" He shall, he must do so,** answered 
the king with warmth, " or I will teach 
thee to defy the might of injustice — 
perhaps also, my faithful Aage, 1 and aU 



68 KING ERIC 

Denmark may have to share thy fate ! but, 
with the help of the Lord and our blessed 
Lady, we will not therefore be cast down, 
or stoop to humiliation. 1 stake my life 
and crown upon it I " 

"For heaven's sake, my liege 1'* ex- 
claimed Aage, in alarm ; but what he was 
about to utter was suddenly cut short by a 
significant look from the king, who, at that 
moment, had caught a glimpse of a round 
ruddy face, peering forth with a look of 
rapt attention from behind the tree be- 
side which they were standing. " Who 
is^hat ?'* asked the king. " It is none of 
our huntsmen — art thou playing the spy, 
countryman ? ** 

" A stranger I '* exclaimed Aag6 j 
" come hither ; who art thou ?" 

** Would ye aught with me, good sirs ?*• 
said Morten, the cook, stepping forward* 
" I thought ye spoke to me. I am deaf, 
ye must know ; if ye have any commands, 
ye must shout at the top of your lungs.*' 

** Who art thou ?" asked Aage, raising 
his voice, while he gazed on him with a 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 69 

gearching look. << What wouldst thou 
here?'* 

" Fear f ** said the cook, assuming a 
simple look. << I will not deny I was some- 
what afraid of your horses, and cared not 
to meet them on a fasting stomach." 

" A poor crazy fellow,** said the king, 
*< let him go his way in peace, Aage ; had 
he even heard what we spoke of, what 
would it signify ? ** 

" Yes, by my troth, horses do sigm'fy 
something!*' said Morten, looking at Eric 
with evident interest. " The white horse 
signifies victory and speedy judgment on 
the Lord*s enemies — says Father Gregory.** 

" So much the better I ** said the king, 
gaily, giving him a couple of gold pieces. 
*^ Go thy way in peace, I would fain hope 
thou hast spoken truth in thy simplicity. 
The white horse is mine.** 

*' But the dark red signifies rebellion 
and the yellow pestilence,*' continued Mor- 
ten, seemingly touched, as he received the 
king's gift, and kissed his hand. ** Mark, 
it was therefore I got frighted, when I saw 



70 KING EMC 

ye between those two beasts. I am other- 
wise a poor sinner, at your service. I am 
going a pilgrimage for my own and other 
folks' sins. I will now pray for a blessing 
on you, noble sir I ** — so saying, he strode 
hastily across the road, and disappeared in 
the wood. 

" How would he interpret the red and 
the yellow horse ?*' said the king, gravely. 
" Those pioiis men of the cloister fill our 
country and people full of superstition/' 

** The fellow perhaps was neither deaf 
nor half-witted,** answered Aage ; " to you 
he naturally said fair words, in order to 
escape. Our stern Marsk is not liked by 
vagrants ; the bay horse he rides to-day is 
one he lately got in exchange from your 
brother Junker Christopher. • My cream- 
coloured horse is well known, and since 
I fell under the church's ban the people 
look on me as the emblem of pestilence 
and misfortune by your side.*' 

These serious comments on the cook's 
words were now interrupted by the sudden 
baying of the hounds, which dashed for- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 71 

ward in couples towards a thick bush of 
white thorn, in full cry. 

" Game I game! " shouted the huntsman ; 
but, instead of the supposed deer, the two 
concealed wanderers sprang out of the 
bush : they had cast aside their peasants' 
mantles and their bundles, in order the 
more easily to save themselves by flight in 
their light cuirasses, but by so doing they 
had betrayed themselves, and awakened 
suspicion. By order of the Marsk they 
were instantly seized, and brought before 
the party of hunters. 

" What means this?*' called the king in 
surprise : " we are not come hither to hunt 
men.'* 

" A couple of deserters from your Lol- 
land horsemen, my liege," answered Marsk 
Olufisen. " I know them ; we have long 
been on the look-out for them ; it is they 
whom the Count of Lolland hath sought 
after as robbers and murderers." 

** Then send them to Flynderborg* to 

* Flynderborg, tbe castle at Elsinore, of which 
no vestiges now remain. Its site was not far from 
that of the present castle of Cronberg. 



72 KING EBIO 

await their doom I '' commanded the king. 
" What would they here I they shall be 
strictly brought to account.** 

The captured deserters were instantly 
led off to be bound and conducted to the 
fortress. They had until now stood still 
and downcast, like convicted criminals; 
but, on finding they were to be bound, 
they suddenly started forward and defended 
themselves with all the desperation of de- 
spair. They wounded three of the king's 
huntsmen with their daggers, and, amid 
the confusion and tumult occasioned by 
their unexpected onset, contrived to tear 
themselves loose, and instantly plunged 
into the lake. Some hunters pursued them 
on horseback, and a couple of hounds, 
trained to hunt the wild-duck, were let 
loose after them ; but the. fugitives dived 
and swam with such skill and vigour that 
none could see them until they landed on 
the opposite shore of the lake, where they 
quickly disappeared in the brushwood. 

The king and his train had gone down 
to the water's edge to look at this singular 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 78 

sight. Some hunters were ordered to ride 
round the lake, in order if possible to 
overtake the fugitives. Drost Aage would 
also have despatched some one after the 
pretended deaf man, whom he now be- 
lieved to be in league with the deserters. 

" No r* said the king, " he shall not be 
pursued. I use not to put gold into a 
man's hand one hour, and fasten iron round 
it the next.** 

The party now returned to partake of 
the repast which was spread for them. As 
soon as they had refreshed themselves they 
mounted their horses, and were about to 
proceed further, but the sound of hunting- 
horns was now heard on the road from 
Elsinore, and three riders in rich attire, 
with several knights and huntsmen, ap- 
proached at full gallop. It was the king*s 
brother, Junker Christopher, with the 
young Margrave Waldemar of Branden- 
borg, who was at this time the king's 
guest, and the brave Count Henrik of 
Mecklenborg, who had lately entered the 
king's semce as commander of the army. 

VOL. I. E 



74 KING EBIC 

They had been at Elsinore» where Prince 
Christopher had received a Swedish royal 
embassy on the part of the king. The 
margrave, it was said, had accompanied 
him for his amusement, and to enjoy the 
beautiful scenery of Elsinore, but had in 
reality joined the expedition at the request 
of Prince Christopher, who anxiously 
courted the young margrave's friendship. 
The prince seemed inseparable from him, 
and generally contrived to secure his com« 
panionship whenever he was charged with 
any important mission by the king, that it 
might give him opportunities, which he 
eagerly sought, of raising his consequence 
in the eyes of the people. 

Prince Christopher, or the Junker, as 
he was generally called, was two years 
younger than the king. Though tall and 
strongly built, his figure was far from being 
so well proportioned as his brother's. His 
large features and long visage, shaded by 
coarse long black hair, had a gloomy and 
sinister expression, which reminded the 
people but too much of his detested father. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 75 

His brother, the king, on the contrary, bore 
a greater resemblance to his mother, the 
&ir and talented Queen Agnes, who, during 
the king's minority, had been for the most 
part at the head of state affiiirs, but who 
now led a happy private life with her 
second consort. Count Gerhard of Holstein, 
at the castle of Nykjdping. The popu- 
larity which the chivalrous King Eric * had 
enjoyed from his childhood appeared little 
pleasing to his brother, and many believed 
that the prince secretly exerted himself to 
form a powerful party of his own in the 
country. In the event of the throne be- 
coming vacant, he was in fact the member 
of the royal house who might first expect 
to be called to the crown, but of this there 
was no reasonable prospect. Notwith- 
standing that some differences had existed 
between the brothers on the affair of the 
archbishop's imprisonment, King Eric was 
so far from showing any mistrust of his 
brother, that he even promoted his conse- 
quence by investing him with considerable 
fiefs in the country. But Drost Aage 

E 2 



76 KING ERIC 

strongly suspected the prince of entertain- 
ing ambitious and treacherous projects, and 
the Drost*s suspicions of Christopher were 
rather increased than diminished by the 
zeal with which, the prince seemed to enter 
into the negociations respecting the king's 
marriage. As well on this subject, of such * 
moment to the king, as on that of the 
Swedish King Birger's marriage with the 
king's and Christopher's sister Meret^, 
there were at this time frequent communi- 
cations between the Swedish and Danish 
court. The young King of Sweden was 
only in his sixteenth year, and wholly de- * 
pendent on his state council, which was 
composed of men of very opposite opinions, 
and Drost Aage feared that Prince Chris- 
topher's object in receiving the embassy was 
to increase if possible the obstacles to this 
double alliance. Aag6 was, however, de- 
terred from imparting his. doubts to the 
king by the fear of occasioning a dangerous 
misunderstanding between the brothers; 
and Eric was so far from suspecting his 
brother of any dishonourable design, that 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 77 

he considered his anxiety to meet the 
Swedish embassy as a proof of fraternal 
affection. The young king welcomed both 
Christopher and the margrave with much 
friendliness ; and as soon asi he had greeted 
them, and the gay Count Henrik, turned 
towards the Swedish ambassadors, who, 
with some Danish knights, followed the 
princely comers. In the most dignified 
of the two Swedish nobles Eric joyfully 
recogaised King Birger's faithful coun- 
sellor, the Swedish regent and Marsk, 
Sir Thorkild Knudson, a tall middle-aged 
man, of a grave and noble countenance ; 
but it was not without a feeling of uneasi- 
ness that the king beheld his companion, 
a withered shrunken figure, whose cold 
and wily countenance wore a perpetual 
smile, and whose grey, staring ostrich-like 
eye had an expression of sinister scrutiny. 
It was the Swedish statesman and Drost, 
Sir Johan Bruncke, who, next to Thorkild 
Knudson, was the most influential states- 
man in Sweden, and appeared to stand as 
high in favour with the weak King Birger 

£ 3 



78 KING ERIC 

as with his ambitious brothers, while he 
gained a knowledge of the individual foibles 
of each, and well knew how to work upon 
them for his own advantage. 

When the king had greeted the stran- 
gers, he proceeded with his augmented 
train to Esrom monastery, where he con- 
versed with the ambassadors, and received 
letters from King Birger, Princess Inge- 
borg, and his sister Merete, who, according 
to an earlier agreement, had been brought 
up, as the future Queen of Sweden, at 
the Swedish court. Eric seemed unusually 
joyous and animated after he had perused 
these letters. His anxiety to hasten his 
marriage, and to have it fixed for the en- 
suing summer, had met with the entire 
approbation of the royal house of Sweden, 
and Princess Ingeborg's letter breathed the 
most tender and devoted affection. 

The difficulties and objections stated by 
the ambassador principally regarded the mis- 
understanding with the court of Rome, and 
the dispensation which was yet withheld, 
to which the king, wisled by the ardour 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 79 

of his feelings, did not attach the import- 
ance it deserved. 

He invited the ambassadors to be his 
guests for some weeks, as he hoped very 
shortly to remove all difficulties. The 
afternoon was spent pleasantly in hunting, 
and in the evening the king, with the whole 
of his train, repaired to Sjoborg, where 
several ears, conveying the cooks of the 
royal kitchen, and domestics of every de- 
scription, had arrived during the day. 



E ^ 



80 KING ERIC 



CHAP. IIL 

The ancient fortress soon presented a scene 
of splendid festivity. The spacious halls 
glittered with regal pomp, and resounded 
with the stir and bustle which are the ac- 
companiments of a court. With the excep- 
tion of the tower, the whole of the castle 
had been recently fitted up as a royal resi- 
dence. The king's principal counsellors 
had accompanied him, and though he occa- 
sionally hunted, he did not therefore neg- 
lect state affairs, which frequently occupied 
him until the night was well nigh spent. 

The king never inquired after the 
captive archbishop, whom he appeared to 
have forgotten. A reconciliation, on suit- 
able conditions, with this important person- 
age, was, however, doubtless the secret 
object of the king's sojourn at Sjoborg. 
The adjustment of this vexatious affair 
was never of more consequence than at 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 81 

this juncture, as it was not only a present 
hindrance to his marriage, but threatened 
to prove dangerous both to state and king- 
dom. The kingy however, was desirous 
that no one should know the real purport 
of his visit, least of all the captive arch- 
bishop, who would probably take occasion 
thereby to raise his demands to the utter- 
most. Besides, Eric himself appeared not 
to have decided what course to pursue 
in this matter. Although revenge had 
never been his failing, and on the contrary 
he had often manifested the most generous 
temper, the remembrance of his father*s 
murder had rendered him stern and almost 
implacable towards everyone connected with 
the regicides, and he felt it was impossible 
for him to make the first advances towards 
a reconciliation with Archbishop Grand. 
He apparently expected the haughty cap- 
tive would himself petition for an inter- 
view, and pave the way to reconciliation 
by a humble acknowledgment of his guilt. 
One week after another, however, passed 
away, without any thing of this kind taking 

£ 5 



82 KING ERIC 

place. The number of guests was daily 
increasing at Sjoborg. The presence of the 
Margrave of Brandenborg and the Swedish 
ambassadors, as well as that of the hunting 
party and Prince Christopher's retinue, 
imparted an appearance of life and gaiety 
to this otherwise dreary castle, which 
almost painfully contrasted with its gloomy 
destination, and the many dark recollec- 
tions connected with the place. 

One day in November, a singular pro- 
cession approached the castle of Sjoborg. 
From two Hanscatic merchant vessels, 
which had anchored off the fishing station, 
there landed a number of foreign seamen, 
who, carrying the Rostock flag, and with 
large broad swords at their sides, pro- 
ceeded to the castle, amid the dissonant 
sound of pipes and trumpets. At the head 
of the procession marched a tall stout man, 
in a burgher's coat of fine cloth, trimmed 
with broad borders of costly fur. It was 
the rich trader, Bemer Kopmand of Ros- 
tock, well known at the great fairs of 
Skanor and Falsterbo, whither he was wont 
to bring rich cargoes of cloth and costly 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 83 

spices. He was notorious for his authori- 
tative and overbearing deportment, and 
for the ostentatious pomp by which he 
sought to acquire the reputation of a mer- 
chant prince. By his side walked the 
almost equally noted Henrik Gullandsfar 
of Visbye, also one of the most influential 
Hanseatic merchants, and an adroit and 
politic negociator between the Hanse towns 
and the northern princes,* They announced 

* At this period the Hanseatic merchants were 
absolute masters of the whole trade of the Baltic. 
The Danish fleet was in a reduced state, and the 
Hanse were therefore under the necessity of guard- 
ing the seas themselves, for the security of their 
tiade. This was peculiarly the case during the dis- 
turbed reign of Eric Clipping, when the northern 
piratCy Alf Erlingsen, infested the Danish seas. This 
is the subject of a ballad still preserved among the 
Danish peasantry, — 

** The German men they sailed up the sound, 
With meal and with malt sailed they« 
But Erlingsen's ships there to meet them they found. 
And theirs he took all for hb prey.** 

In the time of Eric Clipping the Hanse had no 
less than thirty armed vessels stationed in the sound 
at Ebinore. — Translator's Note. 

£ 6 



84^ KING ERIC 

themselves at the castle as Hanseatic am- 
bassadors, and were admitted into the 
upper hall, while their train was served 
with refreshments below. 

A long conference took place between the 
kingmnd the foreign merchants, in the pre- 
sence of the Drost and council, during 
which Berner Kopmand was especially loud 
tongued, and the king preserved his patience 
for an unwonted length of time. The great 
privileges which had been granted by the 
king to the Hanseatic towns four years 
before, and which he had since augmented 
and confirmed at Nyborg, had not satisfied 
the expectations of the Rostockers ; who 
demanded besides, the recognition of their 
self-assumed right, to pronounce and exe- 
cute sentence of death on board their own 
vessels upon every Danish subject who 
had injured them, and fallen into their 
hands. The Vandal towns, together with 
the merchants of Mecklenborg and Lubec, 
were unanimously agreed, on their own 
responsibility, and without distinction, to 
hang every knight and noble who should 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 85 

molest them on their journeyings through 
Germany. 

•* Enough/' said the king, at last, break- 
ing oflP the conference, and rising in wrath, 
" I i^anted but to hear how far ye would 
push your impudent demands, and there- 
fore let ye have your say. This is my 
answer. My former promise to the towns 
I have hitherto kept ; if they content ye 
not, we Danes may easily learn to fetch 
what we want from foreign lands, and ex- 
port what we want not. When guests and 
strangers are injured here they can com- 
plain ; there is law and justice in the land ; 
but they who take the law into their own 
hands on Danish ground or on the Danish 
seas shall be condemned as traitors and rob- 
bers, whether they be knight or burgher, 
whether they be native or stranger." So 
saying, the king turned his back upon the 
merchant ambassadors. Without heeding 
their angry looks, he hastened to join his 
princely guests, and the Swedish lords who 
awaited his coming, to set out on a hunt- 



86 KING ERIC 

ing expedition^ and left the Hanseatic 
burghers to the care of the Drost. 

The incensed merchants instantly quitted 
the castle with their followers, who had 
become intoxicated and unruly during 
their stay in the lower hall. The Marsk 
(to the merchants still greater annoyance) 
had taken upon himself to disarm them, 
as with bold presumption they had ven- 
tured on liberties which outraged both 
law and custom. Their weapons, however, 
were returned to them on reaching the 
shore, whither Drost Aage and some other 
knights accompanied them, with cold 
courtesy, partly to protect them from the'' 
assembled rabble, which had crowded round 
the intoxicated seamen, to gaze at and de- 
ride them. On their way to the strand the 
wrathful traders spoke not a word, but 
the blood appeared ready to start from Bar- 
ner Kopmand's crimson visage, while there 
was a calm cold smile on the countenance 
of Henrik GuUandsfar. 

When these important personages, with 
their reeling train, had entered the boat, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 87 

and pushed off' from the shore, in order to 
row to their ships, the portly Rostocker 
suddenly raised his voice, and shouted with 
unrestrained wrath and bitterness, " Bring 
King Eric Ericson our parting greeting, 
Sir Drost I Tell him from me, Berner 
Kopmand of Rostock, and from Henrik 
Gullandsfar of Visbye, in our own and in 
the name of the great and mighty Hanse 
towns, that we threaten him with deadly 
strife, as the enemy of our liberty and of 
all noble burghership I *' 

Henrik Gullandsfar nudged his col- 
league's elbow in alarm ; but the proud 
choleric Rostocker continued, " Tell the 
King of Denmark, dearly shall he rue the 
scorn and contempt he hath this day shown 
us ; he shall rue it, as surely as I am called 
the rich Berner Kopmand of Rostock ! and 
as surely as I am the man to ask what is 
the price of this state and country, and 
how many pounds a king is worth, in our 
times, when the lightnings of excommuni- 
cation play above his head 1 " 

" Such greeting and defiance you may 



88 KING ERIC 

yourself bring my liege and sovereign/' 
answered Aage, ** if you fancy being sent 
back to Rostock with your hands tied be- 
hind you like a madman/' So saying, he 
turned contemptuously on his heel, and 
returned with his knights to Sjoborg. He 
afterwards joined the king and the hunting- 
party, but made no mention of this impu- 
dent defiance, which, though it seemed to 
him indeed to be paltry and powerless, 
he yet could not but regard as a striking 
instance of the insufferable pride of these 
monied aristocrats, and of the boldness 
with which the equivocal position of the 
king at the court of Rome had inspired the 
ill-affected and discontented. 

After a hard chase the king rode back in 
the evening to Sjoborg, with Drost Aage 
by his side. It was already dark. The 
cold November blast whirled the fallen 
leaves around them as they rode through 
the forest. The moon now rose behind 
the trees, shining with an unsteady light 
from out the flying clouds, through 
the leafless boughs of the forest. Behind 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 89 

them rode Marsk Olufl&en between Hen- 
rik of Mecklenborg and the Swedish 
regent, whose return to Sweden was fixed 
for the following day. Some hunters 
followed with the game caught in the 
chase. The rest of the train remained at 
Esrom monastery. The king, as well as 
Drost Aage, had been remarkably silent 
during the day. Since the arrival of the 
Swedish ambassadors, tidings had been 
daily looked for, but in vain, from the 
Danish embassy at the papal court. The 
king had not as yet taken any step towards 
a reconciliation with the captive archbishop. 
The journey of the Swedish ambassadors 
could no longer be delayed, and the 
obstacles to the king's marriage were not 
in any measure removed. The king and 
his faithful Aage now rode in silence by 
each other's side, apparently occupied with 
a presentiment which they could not 
banish from their minds, but to which 
neither liked to give utterance. It was 
the unfortunate St. Cecilia's day, which 
yearly brought with it to the king bitter 



90 KING ERIC 

recollections of the dreadful murder of his 
father at Finnerup. Marsk Oluffsen ap- 
peared not to remember what day it was ; 
he jested merrily, after his fashion, with the 
German and Swedish guests, and lauded 
the pious and frugal manner in which King 
Birger's tutor, a certain Carl Tydsker*, 
had a few years since restored his young 
sovereign to health, namely, by making the 
same vow to three saints at once, and after- 
wards drawing lots to determine to which 
of the good saints the vow should be kept. 
" I have since wondered,** said the Marsk, 
laughing, ** whether the victory over the 
Karelest was thrown into the bargain, and 
was one of St. Eric's miracles ; if so, I must 
acknowledge that Carl Tydsker was worth 
his weight in gold.** By this unlucky jest 
the Marsk wounded at the same time the 
national pride of both his German and 



* Carl the German. 

f The Kareles were a heathen tribe of Livonia, 
conquered by the Swedes, under the command of 
Marsk Torkild Knudson. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 91 

Swedish companions, without appearijig 
himself in the least to perceive it. 

** When my countrymen as well as my- 
self serve your king here in the north, Sir 
Marsk," answered the brave Count Hen- 
rik, "I feel we deserve thanks, and not 
mockery,, whether we help him with 
prayer or with sword." As he said this 
he struck his hand with some violence on 
the hilt of his sword. . 

The Marsk looked astounded. He was 
silent ; but his perplexity increased on Thor- 
kild Knudson, also addressing him in a se- 
rious tone. "Deem ye my victory over the 
brave heathen to be a miracle, Sir Marsk?** 
said the Swedish knight, with a calm smile. 
" Every thing is a miracle, if ye will. With- 
out heavenly aid no victory is won on earth ; 
that even your victorious King Walde- 
mar was forced to acknowledge, yet that 
detracts not from his glory. I reckon 
the victory of Wolmar with the heaven- 
sent banner, to be that which gained him 
his fairest laurels. Our times are more 
chary of laurels. Sir Marsk 1 we will not 



92 KING ERIC 

rob each other of those we win with 
honour/' 

** By all the martyrs!'* exclaimed the 
Marsk, with wide oped eyes and crimson 
cheeks, "who ever thought of oflFending 
either you or the brave Count Henrik ? 
By my soull I understand ye not/' he 
continued in an impatient tone ; ** were 
my brains as dull as those of other people, 
I should he badly qAF indeed." 

Count Henrik could not suppress a 
good-natured laugh at the absurd contrast 
between the Marsk's words and his angry 
tone. The misunderstanding was soon set 
to rights, and the conversation turned on 
former and recent warlike expeditions. 

Without thinking of what might awaken 
bitter recollections in the king's mind, es- 
pecially on this day, the Marsk now 
talked in a loud voice of the feud, with 
Marsk Stig, and the taking of Hjelm, at 
which he himself had been present, under 
David Thorstensen's banner. 

"Yet you took not the daring Marsk 
Stig, either dead or alive," said Count 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 93 

Henrik; ** *tis a strange story they tell 
here of his disappearance.*' 

'^His death, as his life, is shrouded 
in darkness and mystery,'* observed the 
Swedish knight. " With us also he hath a 
dreaded name." 

" He was a great general, though,*' said 
Count Henrik. " I would have given 
much to have seen him. Was he as tall as 
Sir Niels Brock or the Duke of Langc- 
land?" 

** He had a finer presence than either 
Niels Brock or Duke Longshanks, if he 
measured not the same length. In that 
point, perhaps, both you and I might have 
been bis match ; but he was a very devil 
of a fellow, — truly, I believe neither Ger- 
many nor Sweden could boast of one like 
him." 

*< It is true we cannot boast of so highly 
esteemed a regicide," said Count Henrik, 
in an offended tone. '* I desire not to 
rival his fame." 

*< But, by all the martyrs 1 what is the 
matter now?" exclaimed the astounded 



94 KING ERIC 

Marsk; "think ye I wished for aught 
better in the world than to have knocked 
out his confounded brains ? Therefore I 
may surely say without offence, that neither 
you nor Marsk Knudson have seen his 
match/' 

" For that both Count Henrik and I 
should thank the Lord," said the Swedish 
knight solemnly. ** The country which 
gives birth to such heroes may have to pay 
dearly for the boast. In our country we 
have storms also, at times ; and alas I have 
to deplore the devastations they cause. It 
is the same case here probably ? I suspect 
that l)enmark hath dearly bought this sad 
experience, and learnt that one daring 
hand can make a deeper wound in a nation's 
heart than a whole century can heal." 

A rather embarrassed silence ensued. 
The king had heard the conversation which 
had been carried on by the party behind 
him, and sighed deeply. 

" It was on this night, Aage," he said, 
in a low voice. " For nine years have I 
now borne Denmark's crown, and as yet I 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 95 

have not fulfilled that I vowed when I saw 
Um last.** 

"Whom, my liege?'* asked Aag6, ab- 
sently. 

** My murdered father ! *' said the king. 
"Rememberest thou not the hour they 
Kfted the lid from his coffin in Viborg 
cathedral, and laid the sacrament on his 
bloody breast ? It was then I bade him my 
last farewell. What I vowed to him was 
heard only by the all-knowing God ; but 
assuredly I will either keep that vow, or 
lose my life.*' 

" At that time you were, as I was, a 
minor, my liege. If your vow to the dead 
Was other than a pious and Christian vow, 
you ought not now, as a knight and sove- 
reign, to keep it.'* 

Eric was silent. The moon shone full 
on his noble form, and as he sat calm and 
orect on his fiery steed, with the white 
plume in his hat, and the purple mantle 
over his shoulder, he almost resembled the 
oliivalrous St. George, about to strike his 
lance into the dragon's throat. His manly 



96 KING ERIC 

countenance was pale, and expressive of 
lofty indignation. ** That I vowed to the 
dead I must perform/' he said, after a 
thoughtful pause. " A wise monarch should 
disperse the ungodly.'* 

As the king uttered these words an 
arrow whistled past his breast, and stuck 
in Drost Aage's mantle. 

" Murderers 1 traitors I'* shouted the 
king, drawing his sword, while he reined 
in with difficulty his restless steed. Aag6 
rushed with his drawn sword to that side 
of the king whence the arrow was sped ; 
the three other knights rode up in alarm. 
**An arrow I robbers! traitors 1" was 
echoed from mouth to mouth. They looked 
around on all sides of the moon-lit road, 
but no living being was to be seen. 

** Accursed traitors!*' shouted Marsk 
OlufFsen, and dashed in suddenly among 
the bushes on the left side of the road, 
where he had perceived some white object 
moving. A shriek was heard, apparently 
from a female voice, and the Marsk's horse 
started aside. At the same moment two 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 97 

young maidens, in the dress of peasant girls, 
with long plaits of fair hair hanging low 
over their shoulders, ran, hand in hand, 
across the road, while a man of almost 
giant stature, in the dress of a Jutland 
peasant, with a large broad sword in his 
hand, sprang forward, and placed himself 
between the Marsk and the fugitives. 

"Keep ye to me T* shouted the man. 
"It was I — it was Mads Jyde who shot. 
I mean not to show a pair of clean heels : 
let the maidens flee, they have done no ill, 
but I am the man who dares tilt with ye 
all.** So saying, he brandished his sword 
wildly around, and wounded the Marsk*s 
horse on the muzzle. The animal reared 
and snorted. 

"Yield thee I" shouted OlufFsen, vainly 
aiming to strike his daring and gigantic 
foe; "Yield thee captive, or thou diest I" 

On hearing this affray, the king would 
instantly have hastened to the spot, where 
he saw swords glittering among the bushes 
in the moonshine ; but Aage and the 
Swedish knight sought to detain him, while 

VOL. I. F 



98 KING ERIC 

Count Henrik immediately surrounded 
the copse with the huntsmen, and dis- 
patched a party of them after the fugitives. 
The Marsk had sprung from his intract- 
able steed, **Cast thy sword from thee, 
stupid devil I Seest thou not thou art 
caught ? " shouted he to the tall Jut- 
lander. 

" By St. Michael will I not," retorted 
the man. " None shall take Marsk Stig*s 
squire alive ; keep but your ground, Sir 
Knight, and thou shalt feel what Mads 
Jyde is worth.*' He now rushed frantically 
upon the Marsk, but the warlike chief was 
his superior in swordsmanship, and after a 
short but desperate fight the Jutlander 
fell, with his skull cloven, to the ground. 
He half-raised himself again, and tried to 
lift both his hands to his wounded head. 
" It was for thee, little Margaret,'* he 
gasped forth ; " let but my master's child- 
ren flee, and you are free to ** More 

he was unable to utter ; his hands dropped 
from his head, and he fell back lifeless on 
the ground. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 99 

Meanwhile the king and his train had 
ridden to the spot. Some of the hunters 
had overtaken the fugitive maidens, and 
brought them captive into the circle of the 
king's train. All looked at them with 
surprise, for as they stood there in the 
moonshine they had the air of princesses in 
disguise. Their peasant's attire could not 
hide the delicate fairness of their com- 
plexions and their singular beauty. The 
taller of the two, who seemed also to be 
the elder, held the lesser and highly agi- 
tated maiden by the hand, as if to protect 
her. She was herself calm and pale. She 
looked in deep sorrow on the dead body of 
the man at arms, and appeared not to heed 
the standers by. The younger maiden 
seemed to be both frightened and curious. 
Though she could not be considered a 
child — for she appeared to be about seven- 
teen or eighteen years of age — her de- 
portment was quite childlike. She hid 
herself, weeping, behind her sister, from 
the sight of the king and his knights, while 
she nevertheless occasionally peeped, with 

F 2 



^^^^* 



100 KING EIIIC 

looks of eager observation, at their splendid 
attire. 

•* Speak out — who are ye?" asked the 
king, riding up to them. 

The younger maiden drew baek, and 
seemed preparing for flight, but the elder 
held her fast by the hand, and turned to 
the king, with calm self-possession, looking 
him steadily in the face with her large 
dark blue eyes. ** King Eric Ericson/' 
she said, ** thine enemy's children are in 
thine hand : we are fatherless and per- 
secuted maidens ; no one dares to give us 
shelter in our native land ; and our last 
friend and protector hath now been slain 
by thy men. Our father was the unhappy 
outlawed Marsk Stig." 

** Marsk Stig*s daughters I — the regi- 
cide's children 1 " interrupted the king, 
casting on them a look of displeasure. 
** Ye meant then to have completed your 
father's crime ? Are ye roaming the coun- 
try round with robbers and regicides ? *' 

"We are innocent, King Eric I*' an- 
swered the maiden, laying her hand upon 



^ 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 101 

her heart. " May the Lord as surely 
forgive thee our father*s death, and the 
blood which flows here I Vengeance be- 
longeth to the Lord. We wished but to 
quit thy kingdom." 

" And ye would also have me depart 
this world," interrupted the king. ** They 
must be taken to Kallundborg castle/' said 
he to the huntsmen. " The aflPair shall be 
inquired into ; if they can clear themselves 
they may leave the kingdom. Away with 
them ; I will not look on them.'* So 
saying, the king turned his horse's head to 
avoid the sight of the fair unfortunate, who 
for an instant appeared to have softened 
his wrath. 

No one had viewed the captive maidens 
with more compassion than Drost Aage. 
"My liege," said he, in an under tone, "how 
could the innocent maidens help ? " 

** That the arrow slew none of us ? " 
interrupted the king hastily. " I dare 
say they were not to blame for that. 
WolPs cubs should never be trusted j they 

F 3 



102 KING ERIC 

shall meet with their deserts. Away with 
them/' 

" Then permit me to escort them, my 
liege," resumed Drost Aage. " If a 
knight's daughters be led to prison, knightly 
protection is still owing them on their way 
thither." 

" Well, go with them, Drost," answered 
the king aloud, waving his hand as he 
spoke. " They shall be treated with all 
chivalrous deference and honour; ye will 
be answerable for them on your honour 
and fealty." The king then put spurs 
into his impatient steed, and galloped off, 
followed by the Marsk, the Swedish 
knights, and the whole of the train, with 
the exception of Drost Aage and four 
huntsmen. 

The elder of the captive maidens still 
held her sister's hand clasped in her own. 
She had approached the body of the slain 
squire, beside which she knelt, bending 
over his head. Drost Aage had dismounted 
from his horse, and stood close by with the 
bridle in his hand, and with his arm on the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 103 

saddle-bow. It seemed as though the sight 
of the kneeling maiden had changed him 
into a statue. 

The restless movements of the younger 
maiden did not attract his attention ; his 
gaze dwelt only on the kneeling form : she 
seemed in his eyes as an angel of love and 
pity praying for the sinner's soul. He 
observed a tear trickle down her fair pale 
cheek, and could no longer restrain the 
expression of his sympathy. " Be com- 
forted, noble maiden 1 *' he exclaimed, with 
emotion ; " no evil shall befall you. • The 
man you mourn for may perhaps have been 
true and faithful to you, but (were he not 
struck with sudden madness) he fell here as 
a gi*eat criminal. Carry the dead man to 
Esrom," he said to two of the huntsmen ; 
" entreat the abbot in my name to grant 
him Christian burial, and sing a mass for 
his soul." They instantly obeyed, and 
bore away the body. The kneeling maiden 
arose. 

" Let me provide for your safety," con- 
tinued Aage. " Ere your case has been 

F 4 



104 KING ERIC 

inquired into according to law, you cannot 
quit the kingdom ; but I pledge my word 
and honour King Eric will never permit 
your father's guilt to make him forget 
what is due to your rank and sex/' 

** If we are really your prisoners. Sir 
Knight/' said the elder sister, " then, in 
the name of our blessed Lady, lead us to 
our prison ; promise me only that you will 
not separate us, and that you will not be 
severe to my poor sister/' 

** Neither for yourself nor for your sister, 
noble maiden, need you fear aught like 
harsh treatment; and if you, as I hope 
and believe, can justify yourselves, your 
captivity will assuredly not be a long one/' 

" Our life and freedom are in the Lord's 
hand — not in man's," said the eldest sister, 
in a tone of resignation. " In this world 
we have now no friends. Our father's 
meanest squire sacrificed his life for us ; 
he whom he made a knight forsook us in 
the hour of need," she added in a low 
voice. 

Drost Aage now gazed with increased 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 105 

sjonpathy on the calm pale maiden, and 
was cut to the heart by the expression of 
dignified sorrow in her countenance, called 
forth by the consciousness of her desolate 
condition. 

" I will be your friend and protector so 
long as I live 1 ** he exclaimed with visible 
emotion. " That I pledge myself to be 
on my knightly word and honour." 

" The Lord and our dear blessed Lady 
reward you for that/* answered the fair 
captive. " You seem to wish us well ; but 
if you are King Eric's friend, you must 
certainly hate us for our father's sake.** 

** Assuredly I am King Eric's friend ! '* 
said Aag6, the blood mounting to his cheek 
as he spoke, " but I cannot therefore hate 
you. If you, as I fully believe, are innocent 
of what hath just now happened, as a knight 
and as a Christian also I owe you and all 
the defenceless friendly consolation and 
protection.** 

The horses of the two huntsmen who 
had quitted the party had been meanwhile 

F 5 



106 KING ERIC 

Jed forward, and had their saddles arranged 
so as to admit of the maidens riding with- 
out danger or diflSculty. The younger 
sister was first mounted. She had not as 
yet uttered a word, but had gazed restlessly 
around, occupied apparently in forming 
conjectures of the most contradictory na- 
ture. At one moment she appeared de- 
jected and ready to weep, at another her 
bright eyes sparkled with animation, and 
she seemed to meditate a venturous flight, 
while the next she looked with an air of 
queen-like authority at the courteous young 
knight and the two huntsmen, as if she had 
but to command to be obeyed. It was not 
until she was firmly seated in the saddle, 
with the bridle in her hand, that she seemed 
fearless and at her ease. " Let us speed 
on then," she said with sportive gaiety. 

« What though full small the palfreys be, 
Tis better to ride than on foot to flee." 

" If this knight is our guardian and 
protector, it is of course his duty to de- 
fend us. At a royal castle, besides, they 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 107 

must know how to give us royal enter- 
tainment." 

" We wend not to yon dark castle as 
honoured guests/' replied her sister ; " but 
keep up thy spirits, Ulrica, all the hairs of 
our head are numbered." So saying, she 
allowed herself to be placed on horseback ; 
and Drost Aage was presently riding be- 
tween his two fair captives through Esrom 
forest, followed by the two huntsmen. 



I. G 



108 KING ERIC 



CHAR IV. 

The party rode on for some time in silence 
and at an easy pace through the dusky 
forest. The elder sister sat with droop- 
ing heady and seemed lost in melancholy 
thought ; but on reaching an open place in 
the forest, from whence they had an un- 
clouded view of the star-lit heavens, she 
looked up, and the star-light seemed to be 
reflected in her soft blue eye, while her 
countenance was irradiated by an expres- 
sion of that inward peace which springs 
from the stedfast hope of a blessed immor- 
tality. " God's heaven is vast, and beau- 
tiful, and calm, indeed," she exclaimed, 
in a gently tremulous tone. " In God's 
kingdom above no one is outlawed or per- 
secuted." 

" And no soul shut out from love and 
mercy," added the young Drost, painfiiUy 
reminded of his separation from the church. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 109 

which he felt but too deeply ; " yet, even 
here, noble lady ! " he continued, with 
calmness — " even here, God*s kingdom can 
and will come to us — that we daily pray 
for. But what avails it, that we look for 
the peace of Heaven ere we have it within 
our own hearts I It is my belief that God's 
kingdom may be found every where.** 

" Assuredly you are right,** said the 
gentle maiden, regarding him with friendly 
sympathy ; " you must likewise have known 
what sorrow is, noble knight ! but Christ 
and our blessed Lady have given you the 
grace to overcome evil with good. This 1 
can see in your eyes, and hear in your 
voice, though you are a brave and re- 
doubted knight.** 

** Would you were right touching such 
victory, noble maiden!** answered Aage, 
*• but evil is so mighty in the world, that 
no knight should vaunt himself of having 
overcome it ; the noblest of monarchs over- 
comes not evil in his own kingdom, and 
scarcely even in his own heart.** 

*i Yes, in his own heart he surely must I ** 



110 KING ERIC 

said the maiden ; " but you are right after 
all, the power belongs not to man/' They 
rode on for another hour in silence, and 
drew near to Esrom monastery. 

" The young King Eric looked as 
though he were good," resumed the elder 
maiden, at length ; " sternly as he spoke to 
us, I still could not fear him ; and our 
just rights he would not deny us; only thus 
doth anger beseem a king." 

" My liege and sovereign is impetuous," 
said Aage ; *^ he is strict, but just ; and 
there is assuredly no knight in Christen- 
dom who more faithfully observes all the 
noble laws of chivalry.*' 

" If that be true,'* exclaimed the maiden, 
with a suppressed sigh, '< then I am thank- 
ful even for the misfortune which now 
brings us this way ; had I even been my- 
self the cause of our faithful foster-father's 
death," she added, after a pause, " his 
blood will nevertheless not be upon my 
head." 

" How mean ye, noble maiden?" asked 
Aage, starting. *< I understand you not." 



AM) THE OUTLAWS. Ill 

** Had my father's faithful squire but 
hit the mark he aimed at/' answered the 
maiden, " you and all King Eric's faithful 
friends would now have had more to sor- 
row for than we. His arrow never missed 
the eagle in his flight" — she paused, as if 
hesitating to say more : " yet you shall know 
it," she continued — " had not my sister 
shrieked, had I not clung to the archer's 
arm, he would surely have been alive and 
safe among us at this moment, while ye 
wept the death of your liege and sove- 
reign. But praised be St. Cecilia! it 
were better it chanced as it did, were even 
King Eric not so good and just as you say 
he is." 

" Assuredly, noble maiden I " exclaimed 
Aage, in astonishment, ^^you have been 
the means of averting the greatest miseiy : 
knew ye that miscreant's intention ? " 

" I knew he had sworn the king's death, 
for our fi^ther's sake, and that he would 
keep his vow. He meant to flee with us 
out of the country ; but when the hunting 
train approached, we hid ourselves: he 



112 KING ERIC 

recognised the king, and instantly seized 
the cross-bow*' — she stopped and burst 
into tears. 

" You have followed a fearful guide/' 
said Aage, in a low voice ; " weep not for 
his death. Although you knew his fell 
purpose, your soul hath been rescued from 
sharing his crime, and the king hath to 
thank you for his life. Yet would you had 
been ignorant of that madman's purpose I 
Such dangerous information you should 
never have confided to me." 

** Why, then, did you question me of it, 
Sir Knight 1" 

The colour mounted to Aag6's cheek, 
and he paused for a moment. " A crazed 
murderer was, then, your only friend and 
protector," he resumed ; ** his accursed 
scheme of revenge could not have beea 
frustrated had you not known it I Had you 
but other witnesses, besides yourself and 
your sister, of your conduct towards him I 
yet, I dare confirm your testimony with my 
blood, and with my sword : be comforted I 
With the Lord's blessing, you shall never 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 113 

need to fly from Denmark ; — instead of 

the captivity to which I am now forced to 

lead you, my just sovereign owes you 

thanks and honour/* 

" That We can never look for from 

King Eric," answered Margaretha ; " all 

doors and all hearts here are now shut 

against Marsk Stig's children ; if the king 

^lU but grant us permission to quit the 

country, we will thank him, and pray for 

him in our exile. The world is wide, and 

there are Christian souls in other lands 
also/' 

** Courage, Margaretha 1 " exclaimed 

the youngest sister, who had listened with 

^*8er interest and sparkling eyes. ** If 

^ing Eric be as just and chivalrous a prince 

^ lie looks to be, and as this good knight 

^ys he is, there cannot be the least doubt 

^l^^t he must acquit us, and restore to us 

®^ir inheritance, with royal compensation 

^^^ all we have lost." 

•*Alas, dear sister I" answered Marga- 
^tha, in a melancholy and beseeching 
^^tie, "gold and lands cannot replace 



114 KING EBIC 

what we have lost. The happiness and 
honour which this world and its rulers can 
give us we should no longer seek, but 
rather aspire to higher blessings/' 

" You hear, Sir Knight I that my pious 
sister is already half nun and saint/' said 
the younger sister, gaily playing with a 
sparkling rosary of rubies and diamonds, 
which she had until now concealed under 
her neck-kerchief. " If you will defend 
our cause like a brave knight, she will as- 
suredly pray piously for you in a nunnery ; 
but if 1 ever come, by your help, to the 
station which is my birthright, I will not 
forget you either in my prosperity.*' 

Drost Aage was startled ^ he bowedl 
courteously, in answer to this address^ 
while he turned his horse aside in silence^ 
leaving the sisters to ride side by side. 

** Hush, hush, good Ulrica I" whispered 
Margaretha, who glowed crimson at hei 
sister's speech ; *' thou knowest not thyseli 
what thou sayest, but it doth disgrace us 
in the eyes of the stranger knight." 

" I know well enough what I say,'^ 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 115 

answered the capricious maiden, with a 
scornful toss of the head, ** and if thou 
wilt not yaunt thyself of our high descent, 
depend on it, / will ; charity begins at 
home, and I have often heard that no 
knight's daughter in Denmark's kingdom 
hith ever had a greater man for a father." 

" Alas I that greatness is our mis- 
fortune," said Margaretha, with a sigh ; 
^ dearest sister, repeat not to any human 
being what you have just now said ! Ask 
iH>t my reasons ! I can never tell them thee ; 
but thank God thou knowest not all !" 

** Art thou beginning with thy riddles 

•gain?*' said her sister, pettishly, as she 

looked inquisitively at her ; *^ what in all 

4e world canst thou know, which I know 

^ot. If thou wilt not confide every thing to 

^e> when we two are alone, I will never 

^ore be so foolishly fond of thee. Thou 

^ indeed, quite insufferable at times, 

however pious and excellent thou may'st 
be.** 

^ile this little dispute was passing 
'^ween the sisters, Aage's attention was 



116 KING ERIC 

diverted from them by the sound of the 
tramping of horses' hoofs, and of loud 
talk. They were just then passing the 
gate of Esrom monastery, from whence a 
party of richly attired knights rode forth, 
with some ecclesiastics among them. It 
was Prince Christopher and the Margrave 
of Brandenborg, with the Swedish Drost 
Bruncke and the Abbot of Esrom, who, 
with several priests and knights, accom- 
panied a tall ecclesiastic of foreign appear- 
ance, and wearing the red hat of a car- 
dinal. Aage instantly recognised the papal 
nuncio. Cardinal Isarnus. The sight of 
this powerful prelate inspired Aage with a 
feeling akin to dread, and with a presenti- 
ment of coming evil, he was, besides, ill- 
pleased to see him in Prince Christopher's 
company ; he -desired not to encounter 
them, and would have hastily turned into 
a bye-road, but the unusual sight of two 
peasant girls on horseback, accompanied 
by a knight and two of the king's hunts- 
men, had already attracted the prince's 
attention } he hastily rode up, followed 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 117 

by two knights, to ascertain who they 
were. 

** Ha I indeed ! Drost Aage/' said the 
prince, in a scornful tone, " the preacher 
of our strict laws of chivalry, are ye carry- 
ing off two pretty maidens at once? I 
think you might content yourself with one 
— if I see aright, these fair ones are of a 
somewhat higher class than they care to 
pass for ; speak, who are they ? " 

** The unfortunate daughters of Marsk 
Stig, noble junker ! ** answered Aage ; " I 
am escorting them, by the king's orders, 
as state prisoners, to Kallundborg." 

" The viper brood of the regicide ! " ex- 
claimed the prince, while a dark crimson 
hue suddenly overspread his countenance. 
**WellI this is an excellent capture. Throw 
them into the subterranean dungeon j they 
shall never more see the light of day." 

The younger sister shrieked in alarm 
at this wild threat, but the elder made a 
sign to her to be silent, and endeavoured 
to tranquillize her fears. 

" They are to be treated with justice. 



118 KING ERIC 

and with all chivalrous deference and 
honour," answered Aag6, calmly; ** such is 
my sovereign's will and express command, 
which I shall punctually obey." 

"/am governor of Kallundborg, Drost!" 
called the prince, in wrath ; ** the state 
prisoners sent thither are under my con- 
trol. Ride with them, Pall6I give my 
orders to the jailor! you are answerable 
for their being obeyed ! " He now said a 
few words to one of his train, but in so low 
a tone as to be unheard by every one 
else, and then turned his horse, and rode 
back to his party. Each now pursued 
their separate road, but the knight who 
had received the prince's private orders 
joined Drost Aage and his prisoners. 

This unwelcome companion was a fat, 
short-necked personage, with a repulsive ex- 
pression in his crimson-coloured full-moon 
visage. He was generally called the rich Sir 
Pall6, and made himself conspicuous by the 
costly, but not tasteful, splendour of his 
dress and riding accoutrements, which he 
prided himself on being able to compare in 
value with j;he king's. He sought by an 



AKD THE OUTLAWS. 119 

aflfectation of youthful gaiety to conceal 
his age, which very closely bordered on 
fifty. He was still a bachelor, but was an 
unwearied wooer, and greatly desired to 
pass for a doughty knight, and an irresist- 
ible invader of the hearts of the fair of 
every rank. He was not liked by the 
king, but was a hanger-on of Prince 
Christopher, to whom he was appointed 
gentleman of the bed-chamber. He was 
in bad repute among the lower class, on 
account of several adventures, little credit- 
able to himself, which were circulated 
throughout the country in satirical ballads. 
He rode for some time in silence by Drost 
Aage's side, apparently annoyed at being 
despatched on this unlooked-for errand. 
Aage was silent also, and pursued the 
journey without noticing him. 

" My presence is troublesome to you, per- 
haps. Sir Drost ! ** exclaimed Palle, at last 
breaking silence. " This mission is not 
to iny taste either. The prince was in his 
stem mood to-day ; when that is the case 
l^e will not bear contradiction, or I should 



120 KING EBIC 

gladly have begged to decline the journey. 
Where you act in the king's name, I well 
know that /, as the junker's deputy, might 
just as well be absent/' 

'' Truly, I think so likewise, Sir Pall^I" 
answered Aage, in a tone of indifference, 
as he quickened his horse's pace. 

" It is all one to me whether your cap- 
tives receive hard or gentle treatment," 
continued Sir Palle ; " but if I bring 
not my lord's commands to the jailor at 
Kallundborg, you see yourself, I shall draw 
down the junker's wrath upon me, and 
that I have no mind to do for the sake 
of a couple of vagabonds." 

•* Perhaps you heard not what I told 
the prince of the name and rank of these 
ladies?" asked Aage, measuring his rude 
companion with a look of defiance, while 
he slackened his horse's pace ; '^ even with- 
out regard to their birth, you owe them 
respect, as honourable Danish maidens, 
and for the present moment I am their 
protector against every insult." 

** Ho, ho 1 you are somewhat hasty, Sir 



AND THE outlaws/ 121 

Drost I ** answered Pall6, ** who thinks of 
insulting the pretty maidens ? what though 
they may have scoured the country round, 
without stockings and shoes, they should 
not be thought the less of for that ; they 
are now going to be led, according to 
their rank, to an honourable state prison. 
I perceive the fair prisoners have already 
captured our chivalrous Drost, by way of 
reprisal/' 

Drost Aag^ coloured deeply at this jeer- 
ing speech. •* By your leave, Sir PaII6 1*' 
he said, with suppressed wrath, ** here lies 
the road to Kallundborg; it is long and 
broad enough for us all, and we need not be 
troublesome to each other j if ye will ride 
on before or follow behind, we will accom- 
modate ourselves accordingly; but if you 
desire to honour us any longer with your 
company, you must behave courteously, 

or you understand me ." He struck 

on the hilt of his sword, and was silent. 

" Well, well, either before or behind, 
or courteously in the middle — or fighting? 
These, are indeed four pleasant alterna- 

VOL. I. o 



122 KING ERIC 

tives/' answered Pall6. " With your per* 
mission, I choose the third, as the happy 
medium, and purpose, in all peace and 
courtesy, to remain in such fair company. 
I have hardly seen the ladies as yet ;** so 
saying, he rode up between the sisters, 
whom he greeted with a bold and scru- 
tinizing stare. ** What in all the world is 
this?** he suddenly exclaimed, in the greatest 
astonishment, as he looked at the youngest 
sister; **Gundelill6I do I seet/ou here? 
Mean you to befool the Drost also ? Would 
you now give yourself out to be Marsk 
Stig's daughter ? The other day you were 
but the farmer's daughter at Hedegaard/' 
" Yes, I was so then,** answered Ulrica, 
laughing; "Gundelill6 is my name still in 
the ballad of * Sir Pall6 wooing the driver/ 
Perhaps you have not heard it. Sir Pall6 ? 
I will gladly sing it you ; it is vastly enter- 
taining.** 

If any part of Sir Pallets visage was be- 
fore wanting in a crimson hue, the deficiency 
was now fully remedied ; he seemed highly 
enraged ; but the sight of Ulrica's arch 



AND THE OUTLAWS, 123 

little face appeared to produce such an 
effect upon him that he could not give 
vent to his anger. He spurred his horse, 
and had nearly pushed the ladies into the 
ditch, as he suddenly dashed past them. 

"Know ye this knight, noble lady?*' 
asked Aag^, in sui^rise. 

"Oh yesl tolerably well,** answered 
Ulrica, laughing. " I once played off a 
little joke upon him." 

" It was indeed a daring frolic of my 
sister's, Sir Knight 1" interrupted Mar- 
garetha. " Sir PaII6 had long plagued her, 
and she thought she could not in any other 
way get rid of his importunity; but it 
was wrong, no doubt ; he became a laugh- 
ing stock, and an object of general ridicule 
in consequence; and if you do not now 
prevent it, he bids fair to avenge himself." 

"But what was it you did?" asked 
Aag6. Ulrica laughed, and would have 
told the story, but her sister laid hold of 
her arm. " Silence, dear Ulrica I here .we 
have him again," she whispered, and Ulrica 
was silent. Sir Pall6 had checked his horse, 

o 2 



124 KING EBIC 

and joined them again. He seemed per- 
fectly to have recovered his self-possession. 
He assured Drost Aag6 that he was so far 
from desiring such captives should be harshly 
treated, that he even wished it were possible 
entirely to free them from imprisonment. 
" I have seen them before/' he added, 
**and had I known who they were, they 
should not now have been on their way to 
prison.*' Shortly afterwards he again rode 
in between the maidens. 

"Pitiless Gundelill6,'' he whispered, 
" speak no more of that cruel story. I 
meant not to wrong you ; had I known 
you were the daughter of a noble knight, 
I would have proffered hand and heart, in 
all reverence and honour, and even now 
were I so fortunate as to find favour in 

your lovely eyes '' 

. Without looking at him, Ulrica began 
to sing, 

" List ye then, Sir Pall6 1 
No wrong do ye to me, 
When mass is sung and ended, 
In my car shall ye seated be." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 125 

" Sing not that accursed song, fairest of 
maidens I*' interrupted Sir PaI16 ; " I will 
not oflfend you ; but believe me, loveliest 
of the lovely— — '* 

Without heeding him, she now sang 
aloud, 

** And then she clad her driver lad 
In purple robe so rare ; 
In the driver's suit was quickly clad 
Gundelill', that maiden fair." 

** Hush I I will not say a word more," 
inteniipted Sir Palle again. •* But if you 
knew how greatly I love and honour 
you ** 

The sportive maiden set up a loud laugh, 
and continued to sing, 

«« Sir Pall6 then, the wealthy knight, 
Enters the car full bold. 
Salutes the driver with delight 
And in his arms doth fold. 

** It was the lady Gundelill6 
Who drove into the yard ; 
She laughed, I tell ye, heartily 
At the jest he deemed so hard." 

. " Ha I that jest you shall dearly rue,'* 

G 3 



126 KING ERIC 

whispered Palle, in a rage. ** You sing 
sweetly," he said aloud ; " remember you 
the whole ballad, fair lady ? If you sing 
another verse," he whispered, " it shall 
cost you dear." 

" Hush, dearest sister I" said Marga- 
retha, in a tone of earnest entreaty ; and 
Ulrica was silent. 

Sir Pall6 now rode round to Drost 
Aag6's side, and did not again address 
himself to the captive maiden. He was 
silent and gloomy. He had observed with 
great wrath a repressed smile on the Drost's 
countenance ; and the huntsmen who fol- 
lowed them laughed, and whispered together 
in a manner which too plainly indicated 
that Sir Pall6 and his unfortunate love ad- 
venture were the subject of their ridicule. 
The two younger huntsmen were strongly, 
attached to Aag6 ; they had remarked how- 
little acceptable Sir Pall6's company was to 
him ; and they now, as if to beguile the 
time, began to hum the well-known ballad 
of the brave knight Helmer Blaa. In 
one of the many scenes of violence which 



AM) THE OUTLAWS. 127 

were the consequences of the proscription 
of the outlawed r^cides, Hehner Blaa had 
slain Sir PaII6's uncle. On this account 
he had for a long time been barbarously 
persecuted by Sir PalI6 and his six bro- 
thers, until he at last vanquished all the 
six in honourable self-defence, and com- 
pelled Fall6 to give him his sister in mar- 
riage, who, before this feud, had been 
betrothed to the gallant knight. This oc- 
currence (so derogatory to Sir Pall6's 
reputation) had attracted general attention, 
and almost every young fellow in the coun- 
try could repeat a ballad in honour of the 
hold Helmer Blaa, who had not only been 
acquitted by the king and whole body of 
knighthood, but stood also high in favour 
with Eric. The burden of the song, — 



" In the saddle he rides so free," 

fell on Sir Pall^'s ear. 

He looked back towards the huntsmen, 
with a face glowing with rage, but they 
appeared not to notice it j and one of them 
aloud, — 

o 4 



128 KING EBIC 

<< Better I cannot counsel thee. 
That thou tarry not, but hence should'st flee. 
In the saddle he rides so free." 

** Your huntsmen, Sir Drost, would 
drive me hence with vile songs, I perceive/' 
said Sir Pal 16, turning to Aag6. *^ Is it 
you, or yonder pretty maiden, who have 
inspired them with this pleasant conceit ?** 

" You are perhaps not a lover of song^ 
Sir Pall6 ?" aniswered Aage ; " that is un- 
fortunate : the merry fellows wish to beguile 
the time for us on the road.*' 

If I hear aright," growled PaI16, 

that song may perhaps shorten the road 
to heaven for both of them if it is not 
presently ended." 

" Think you so?" answered Aag6 care- 
lessly. " If you will give us your company 
you must reconcile yourself to our merri- 
ment. Haste to sing the song to the 
end," he called to the huntsmen, "or Sir 
Pall6 will be wroth ; " and the huntsmen 
sang gaily, — 

<< In the town my true love shall ne'er hear it said 
That I before her brothers have fled. 






AND THE OUTLAWS. 129 

" Full boldly rode Helmer her brothers to meet. 
His courage was equal to every^ feat. 

" Rrst Ov6, then Lang, his eye did survey. 
And then did his sword come quick into play.*' 

" S'deathI" shouted Sir Pall6, and his 
sword flew from the scabbard. " If ye 
will have the sword come into play, you 
shall feel it too.** So saying, he turned 
his horse, and rushed like a madman upon 
the huntsmen, who had not time to prepare 
for defence, ere his sword had cut through 
their jerkins, and inflicted one or two 
wounds. But the huntsmen, enraged at 
this sudden onset, drew their long hunting- 
knives, and threatened a bloody revenge. 
Ulrica shrieked on hearing the affray, 
and the elder sister turned pale. ** Stop, 
knaves!** cried Aag6, riding in between 
Pall6 and his antagonists : *< two against 
one is not fair play. I will decide this 
matter alone with Sir Pall6.** The Drost 
had drawn his sword, and was expecting 
his opponent to turn towards him, but Sir 
Pall6*s horse seemed to have become sud- 

G 5 



130 KING ERIC 

denly skittish and unruly : it galloped off, 
on the road to Esrom, with its enraged 
master, whose spurs stuck in its sides, 
while he swore and brandished his sword 
over his head. The huntsmen laughed 
loudly at this sight. Ulrica joined in the 
laugh ; and as soon as the slight wounds 
of the huntsmen had been bound up, the 
party pursued their journey, though in a 
different direction from that in which they 
had set out. 

" I must have been mistaken," said Drost 
Aage to the huntsmen. " It could hardly 
have been to Kallundborg, but rather to 
Vordingborg, that the king commanded 
me to accompany these ladies ; there he, 
and not Prince Christopher, is ruler. If 
there was other meaning in his words, I 
will be answerable for it." As they turned 
into a bye road, a tall man in a peasant's 
dress, mounted on a small p&sant's horse, 
without a saddle, started out of the thicket 
by the road side, and suddenly disappeared 
again among the bushes. ** Kagge I " ex- 
claimed Ulrica, with involuntary delight, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 131 

and seized her sister's arm. Margaretha 
gave her a significant look, and she was 
silent, but often gazed restlessly around. 

Drost Aage had heard the exclamation, 
and started. The name of Kagge was but 
too familiar to him. A squire of noble 
birth of this name had been among Eric 
Clipping's murderers at Finnerup ; he had 
fled with the other outlaws to Norway, and 
was prohibited, on pain of death, from set- 
ting foot on Danish ground ; had he, not- 
withstanding, been in the train of the cap- 
tive maidens, their connection with so 
^iangerous a traitor might operate greatly 
against them. This incident obliged the 
Drost to be on the watch over the security 
of his captives. Silent and anxious he 
pursued the journey. 



132 KING ERIC 



CHAP. V. 

Prince Christopher and his train mean- 
while pursued their way to Sjoborg. They 
rode at a slow pace, to suit the convenience 
of the foreign prelate. The mysterious 
importance which Cardinal Isarnus knew 
how to assume as the pope's legate, and the 
reserve with which he evaded every close 
question, had worked up the prince to a 
pitch of anxious expectation, which he 
vainly endeavoured to hide. Isarnus ap- 
peared with a splendour corresponding to 
his high rank as a dignitary of the church ; 
his richly attired attendants followed him 
at a respectful distance, together with his 
famulus and secretary ; near him rode the 
Abbot of Esrom and two foreign eccle- 
siastics. Isarnus conversed with his country- 
men and with the abbot by turns, in the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 133 

Italian and Latin tongue: his converse 
with the prince and the maigrave was 
short and abrupt, and carried on in almost 
unintelligible German. He appeared, in- 
deed, to avail himself of the want of a com- 
mon language, by leaving every query un- 
answered to which he considered it might 
be impolitic to reply. In important ncgo- 
ciations he made use of his famulus as an 
interpreter. Wherever this powerful prelate 
appeared in the country, he was the object 
of superstitious awe. The unusual spectacle 
of the cardinal's red hat worked upon the 
imagination of the people like the appear- 
ance of a comet, and was considered to be 
as ominous of evil, as that dreaded pheno- 
menon of the heavens. Some of the most 
ignorant among the lower orders even 
believed it was the pope himself who had 
arrived in Denmark to dethrone the king 
and excommunicate the kingdom ; and it 
was not alone from reverence, but as much 
from fear, that the wonder-stricken peasants 
and old women especially, knelt down when- 
ever they encountered the cardinal. His 



134 KING ERIC 

long, sallow, and imperturbable visage, with 
its expression of cool menace, and foreign 
aspect, combined with the preconceived 
notion of a supernatural and mysterious 
power, seemed endowed with the petrifying 
influence of Medusa's head. 

" Dear Sir Pope 1 harm us not 1 *' fre- 
quently whimpered forth the sick and 
crippled who knelt in his path. He under- 
stood them not, and no word proceeded 
from his thin compressed lips, but he ex- 
tended his arm, with a cold unchanging 
mien, and with his three fingers, which 
sparkled with costly rings, signed over their 
uncovered heads the silent token of a bless- 
ing, which they feared would soon be 
changed into a curse, for the threats with 
which he had last left the king and the 
country, were generally made known through 
the fears of the clergy themselves, and 
their zealous exhortations to repentance. 

Accompanied by this ecclesiastical scare- 
crow. Prince Christopher now approached 
Sjoborg. After several fruitless attempts 
to gain the confidence of the mysterious 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 135 

J^te, the prince withdrew, leaving his 
]>lace by the cardinal's side to the Abbot of 
^Esrom and the other ecclesiastics, who 
conversed with him, in Latin, upon philo- 
sophical and theological subjects. The bold 
and joyous margrave rode by the side of 
Sir Helmer Blaa, and talked eagerly of 
campaigns and tournaments. The prince 
allowed them to pass him, and remained 
alone behind with the Swedish statesman, 
Drost Bruncke, to whom he appeared 
desirous of communicating something of 
importance ere they reached Sjoborg. 

"You will now probably delay your 
homeward journey, Sir Drost I ** said the 
prince, in a confidential tone. " That which 
yon mysterious guest brings with him may 
prove as important to your sovereign and 
to the Swedish council as to us.'' 

" Perhaps it may alter the state of things 
here rather more than your royal house 
Would wish," answered Brunck^, ambigu- 
ougly • « what else can your highness 
mean?" 

" Yonder red cloud is doubtless charged 



136 KING EEIC 

with holy lightnings/' continued the prince^ 
pointing to the cardinal, whose red hat 
flared through the trees in the moonlight. 
** If my stiff-necked brother does not now 
give in, misfortune stands at his door ; such 
is ever the result of all half measures. An 
important state prisoner should be either 
timely buried, or else let loose. Was not 
that your opinion also. Sir Drost ? ** 

" It is often the wisest policy," answered 
Brunck6. " The dead cannot tell tales ; 
and the generous, once restored to free- 
dom, will noV* 

" You know the individual I allude to," 
continued the prince ; "he will now 
either be let loose, and become perhaps 
more dangerous than ever, or the storm 
will burst which he hath conjured over us 
hither from Rome. He was as good as 
buried — that was my doing, but I got 
sorry thanks for it. Out of mistimed 
compassion he was brought up once more 
from the grave ; — to spare a sick priest, 
they had the folly to let loose the bishop's 
understrapper^ so that he was able to flee, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 137 

and stir up heaven and earth to work our 
ruin. I then counselled a timely reconci- 
liation ; but when sternness should have 
been used they were weak and mild, and 
when reconciliation became the wisest po- 
licy they were stern and pertinacious. My 
counsel was never heeded ; hate and dis- 
favour were my thanks. The people will 
now have their eyes opened, and perhaps 
your young king also, provided he will be 
guided by his wisest counsellor." 

" Very possibly, noble prince I " answered 
Brunck^, with a crafty smile ; " but as yet 
I see not the danger, and even were I so 
fortunate as to perceive it, and to under- 
stand you, so long as Thorkild Knudson 
is at the head of state affairs, and in such 
high honour and favour** — he paused, and 
shrugged his shoulders. 

" He rises but to fall," continued the 
prince, " should he even win my brother's 
favour also. ^By his friendship with your 
dangerous dukes, and the high alliance 
which is spoken of, he is sealing his own 
doom/' 



138 KING ERIC 

" That is very possible, your highness," 
answered Bruncke, with a malicious smile ; 
" his vaunted wisdom is not infallible ; 
with time cometh experience. Were but 
your royal brother only not so ardent a 
lover, and our fair princess somewhat less 
devoted to him'* — 

"Childish fancies!" interrupted the 
prince. " State policy alone, not childish 
folly, should counsel here. Your young 
king hastes not so with his marriage, 
and therein he acts wisely. Between our- 
selves, Brunck6," — here he whispered con- 
fidentially, while he nearly drew bridle, — 
*^ my sister Merete is little suited to your 
king, but his soft-hearted sister is still less 
so to my brother. This double alliance 
will be ruinous for both kingdoms. You 
may easily come to share our unhappy 
position with regard to the papal see ; 
and if enmity breaks out betwixt your 
king and his ambitious brothej, there is no 
doubt against whom Princess Ingeborg, as 
queen, will arm Denmark and my ena- 
moured brother. That she holds the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 139 

haughty warlike duke, Eric, far dearer than 
his crowned brother, you know yourself 
much better than I/* 

" Truly, I cannot but admire your 
highness's policy,'* replied Brunck^, in a 
fawning tone, while his wily glance seemed 
to penetrate the prince's most secret 
thoughts. " You are as wise as generous ; 
prizing Denmark and Sweden's happiness 
higher than your own sister's and brother's 
domestic felicity ! Here I recognise the 
lofty, princely spirit, which soars above the 
petty interests of private life. But, to 
speak truly, I see not how this double alli- 
ance can be prevented or broken off, with- 
out a breach of peace, while your royal 
brother sways here, and follows nought but 
his own inclinations." 

" We must have time, Brunck^" whis- 
pered the prince ; " the guest we bring 
him to-night will soon change the aspect 
of affairs in Denmark. I shudder myself 
to think of what may happen, but things 
cannot remain as they arej your young 
king will always need a wise counsellor. 



140 KING ERIC 

who can rule people and kingdom in his 
name. For this ofEce no one is so fit as 
yourself. Set your head to work, sage 
Bruncke ; if it should be endangered, you 
may count on me.'^ 

" Let us reserve these matters for your 
private chamber, noble prince," whis- 
pered 13runck6, looking cautiously around. 
" Woods have ears, and plains have eyes, 
they say. It were, perhaps, good policy 
that 1 should henceforth be apparently 
somewhat out of favour with your high- 
ness." 

" Right, Brunck6 ; contradict me to- 
morrow at table, in the king's hearing, and 
I will reply in a manner which you must 
ovAy feign to take amiss." 

" Every ungracious word spoken to mie 
by your highness in public, I shall take to 
be a proof of your secret favour. All that 
I can promise you,*' he added in a whisper, 
raising his hand so as to screen his face on 
the other side, "is the delay of both mar- 
riages as long as possible ; as to what con- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 141 

cerns me personalljr, I depend upon your 
princely word.'* 

" I give you my hand upon it, sage 
Brunck^/* answered the prince, extending 
to him his hand. " Now let us be off; the 
cardinal hath reached the lake already/' 

They spurred their horses, and over- 
took the rest of their party by the shore of 
the lake, where a floating bridge had been 
contrived for the convenience of this un- 
usual throng of passengers. While they 
halted here. Sir Pall6 returned at full gal- 
lop, and told the prince, almost panting 
for breath, that he had been murderously 
attacked by Drost Aag6 and both his 
huntsmen at once. 

" Indeed, I am glad of it," answered 
the prince, in a tone of satisfaction. " The 
IDrost shall dearly rue such unchivalrous 
conduct. You can of course swear to 
what you say, Pall6I else no one will 
credit it.** 

" Swear to it I ** repeated Palle, with 
glowing cheeks, and endeavouring to hide 
his confusion ; " those who will not believe 



142 KINO ERIC 

me, by my troth may let it alone; 
godly oaths I have forsworn." 

** Then the devil take your chat 
muttered the prince, in displeasure, 
turned from him. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 143 



CHAP. VI. 

On his return to Sjoborg Castle, King Eric 
had shut himself up in his private chamber, 
engrossed in serious reflections on the im- 
minent peril he had just escaped ; it seemed 
to him as if St. Cecilia's eve was destined 
to bring with it misfortune and danger to 
him and to his race. This was the second 
tinne he had encountered traitors and 
^ofcbers in the neighbourhood of Sjoborg. 
^fce conviction, however, that he possessed 
^•^c love and devotion of his subjects, soon 
dissipated the young king's gloomy mood. 
^^e had summoned the Swedish Marsk, 
•*^liorkild Knudson, to a private audience, 
^^(1 now conversed calmly and frankly with 
^*>is noble knight on the happy alliance 
^^tween Denmark and Sweden, which at 
^^:^e present time was the chief subject of 



144 KING EBIC 

the king's thoughts, and in which his heart 
so ardently shared. 

Thorkild Knudson was a handsome man, 
of a thoughtful and dignified aspect, rather 
more than forty years of age ; his dark 
hair seemed to have grown untimely grey. 
His powerful influence as regent had 
gained him a high reputation, as well in 
his own country as in foreign courts. An 
honest aspiration after power and rank was 
manifest in his fiery glance, and the noble 
commanding expression of his countenance 
bespoke a dauntless confidence in his own 
powers, and a species of proud contempt 
for all the petty arts by which less highly 
gifted statesmen often seek to supply the 
want of sound political wisdom. ^ As he sat 
opposite the young king, attired in his blue 
knight's dress, with the large chain of the 
order around his neck, and conversed with 
him, with freedom and sympathy, he might 
have been taken for a fatherly friend or 
relative of King Eric, had he not, by strict 
observance of the respect due to Eric's 
exalted station, but without a tinge of 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 145 

flattery, known how to receive the confi- 
dence reposed in him by royalty with an 
appearance of homage which detracted not 
from his own dignity as the ambassador of 
a foreign monarch. 

Although Thorkild Knudson, as Swedish 
regent, was authorized on the part of King 
Birger and the state council to accede to 
the king's desire of having the celebration 
of his marriage fixed for the ensuing spring, 
yet it was only on the condition that the 
pope's dispensation should be obtained be- 
fore that time. But because of the vehe- 
mence with which the king always rejected 
the idea of every obstacle, Thorkild Knud- 
8on had hitherto propounded this condition 
in as mild terms as possible. He now 
touched upon it again, and took the oppor- 
tunity of bringing the case of the captive 
archbishop to Eric's remembrance. 

The colour mounted to the young king's 
cheek ; he became suddenly silent, and a 
secret struggle seemed passing within his 
breast. He looked around him once or 

VOL. 1. H 



146 KING ERIC 

twice, as if he missed some one ; at last, 
however, his eye rested with evident plea- 
sure and satisfaction on Thorkild's intelli- 
gent and noble countenance. ^^ I esteem 
my future brother-in-law fortunate," he 
said, ** in possessing a man like you for his 
friend and counsellor. You are now to 
him what my aged counsellor Jon and my 
well-beloved Drost Hessel have been to me 
from my childhood upwards. The mis- 
understanding with the papal court has 
long deprived me of my best and most ex- 
perienced counsellors. My faithful Drost 
Aage is not older and more experienced 
than myself. I feel confidence in you. Sir 
Thorkild. Were I your liege and sovereign, 
what would you counsel me in this weighty 
matter ? " 

" To see the prisoner, and hear his de- 
fence — dispassionately J noble King Eric,** 
answered the Swedish statesman. " As 
far as I know, he hath not only done wrong, 
but suffered wrong ; for a long Mid severe 
imprisonment is a suffering and punishment, 
which can only be called just, when it is 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 147 

inflicted according to a lawfully pronounced 
sentence/' 

** Was it then unjust in me to imprison 
a state criminal, who was an accomplice in 
the murder of my father — an accursed 
r^icide ?** said Eric, with vehemence, and 
rising from his seat. *^ Should I have 
gi^ea him time to escape, or stir up the 
people against me, because he was not con- 
clemned by the pope and the bishops? 
Can I acknowledge ecclesiastical law when 
it would acquit a rebel and regicide ? '* 

** It was perhaps necessary for your 
grace to hinder his flight and treasonable 
designs," answered Thorkild Knudson, who 
had risen from his seat at the same time 
with the king, " were it not possible pre- 
viously to obtain papal authority for the 
step ; but, by your grace's leave, as your 
counsellor, 1 would have freely and openly 
pronounced all unnecessary severity to be 
as dangerous as unjust." 

" With my knowledge he hath suffered 
no injustice,** answered the king. " The 
manner of his seizure I highly disapproved ; 

H 2 



148 KING ERIC 

and I have declared what took place then 
in my minority to have been contrary to 
my wish. My brave Drost Torstenson I 
have dismissed. In him 1 have lost a faith- 
ful, but too zealous and rash a friend. My 
own brother 1 severely reprimanded. For 
the sake of a state criminal, 1 have ex- 
posed myself to unpleasant differences in 
my own family, which wound me deeply, 
and may perhaps prove dangerous to state 
and kingdom. What more can reasonably 
be asked of me ? " 

" Noble sovereign,'* resumed Thorkild 
Kiiudson, with earnestness ; " you vouch- 
safe to show me a confidence which I highly 
prize^ At the present moment I am, 
thanks to the Lord, able to reciprocate it 
with honest frankness. I trust a double 
relationship will unite you, and my liege 
and sovereign in a lasting union ; but I 
will not abuse your confidence. I would 
not have your grace confide aught to me 
which you might regret I should know, 
if at any time, which God forbid! my 
fidelity to my king and my native land 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 149 

should compel me to seem your and Den- . 
mark's foe. Even in such a position I 
would esteem and admire your noble spirit, 
and I know you would not misjudge me.'* 

" No, Sir Thorkild,'* answered the king, 
extending to him his hand ; " even were 
you forced to-morrow, as a loyal Swedish 
statesman, to become my adversary, I should 
not misjudge your heart and chivalrous 
spirit. I value your esteem — answer me 
freely I think ye I have acted unjustly in 
this matter ? " 

« Well then, King Eric,'* said Thorkild, 
*• allow my answer to be a question to 
which you can best reply yourself. Had 
counsellor Jon, and Drost Hessel been 
with you at this time, think you, you would 
have so long delayed the advances towards 
a reconciliation, which I cannot but con- 
jecture was the main object of your pro- 
longed sojourn here ? '* 

" It is not for me, but for the captive 
criminal, to take the first step towards re- 
conciliation,** answered the king ; " but 1 
am now weaiy myself of this procrastina- 

H 3 



150 Kma EBic 

tion. Here lies a proposal for a reeon* 
ciliation which I have caused the Drost.to 
draw up. I will see the prisoner to-mor<- 
row/' 

" Why not this very evening, noble 
sovereign ?** said Thorkild. " If you in* 
cline to reconciliation, it was perhaps in;a 
fortunate moment you permitted me to be- 
come your counsellor. The aeconaplisfa- 
ment of your own heartfelt desire is proba- 
bly more closely connected with this nego- 
ciation than you imagine." ' ■ -. 

*• Well, I will see him this evening — 
this very hour,** said the king, pulling the 
bell string* An attendant entered. " Tell 
the steward, the captive archbishop is to be 
brought hither.*' The attendant bowed, 
and departed. The king threw himself 
into a chair, and fell into a reverie. Thor- 
kild Knudson seemed preparing to take his 
leave. 

" No, stay, I entreat you,'* said the 
king, and then paused for a few moments. 
" On this night was my father murdered," 
he resumed in a tremulous voice ; *^ the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 151 

man who is about to appear before me was 
the chief counsellor of the murderers. You 
shall be present, and see that I am neither 
revengeful nor unjust ; but you shall also 
see, that even to promote my highest hap- 
^ness I am incapable of forgetting for a 
moment, that which I owe to the crown I 
wear. Read I Only on these conditions 
will he be released." So saying, he reached 
Thorkild a written sheet of parchment 
which lay on the table. Thorkild perused 
it slowly, and the king watched his coun- 
tenance as he read. " Well, is it not so ? " 
said Eric eagerly. " I demand only what 
18 just and reasonable — safety for crown 
and country — peace with the churdh — 
obedience to the laws of the land, so long 
as he is my subject. I will not pass sen- 
tence in my own cause — as a traitor to the 
crown, he must be condemned by the 
pope.*' 

" I must own your grace's demands 
are more moderate than I should have sup- 
posed. If you are perfectly correct in the 
chaise you prefer against him, I should 

H 4f 



152 KING ERIC 

Still call these terms generous ; and yet 
I doubt whether he will accept them. The 
parting with Hammerhuus^— — " 

"He shall give up that castle," inter- 
rupted the king; "a rebel and traitor 
shall own no fortress in my kingdom. 
Were he even seated in St. Peter's chair, 
here he is my subject," 

" Undoubtedly ; and he may perhaps 
make that sacrifice for his freedom ; but 
the seventh clause — pardon me, . your 
grace, for saying that it seems to me to be 
in opposition to his duty to the church and 
to the Holy Father. Until he is deposed 
by a papal bull, no one can hinder him from 
using the church's power against whom- 
soever he will, without asking leave of the 
king or of any temporal authority." 

** He shall be forced to do sol" ex- 
claimed Eric, with vehemence. " While I 
am king, no miscreant shall persecute me or 
my subjects with unjust excommunication 
and all the plagues of hell. I am placed 
here by the Lord Almighty to protect my 
people and their liberties, and not all the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 153 

bishops in the world shall rob me of this 
right. I will answer for what I do before 
the Lord above as well as before my sub- 
jectSy and before every true and loyal 
knight ! " So saying, the king again pulled 
the bell with vehemence. Another at- 
tendant entered. 

" Light all the tapers in the knights' 
hall I" commanded the king. ^* Bid the 
master of the household call togeither the 
whole court and every knight here in tlie 
castle. Place my throne at the end of 
the hall ! ** The attendant departed in 
haste on a signal from the king. 

** Your grace is too precipitate,** said 
Thorkild ; " give not a publicity to your 
interview with this dangerous prelate which 
he may abuse to your hurt and prejudice.*' 

" My cause shuns not the light,** an- 
swered the king. " I use not to speak or 
treat with my bitterest and deadliest foe 
otherwise than I dare make known to my 
loyal subjects and the whole body of Danish 
chivalry. A traitor's oath demands wit- 



nesses." 



H 5 



154 KING EBIO 

<< But caution and — I trust your grace 
will pardon my boldness -— state policy de- 
mand there should be as few witnesses pre- 
sent as possible/' objected Thorkild Knud- 
son, with anxious sympathy. He would 
have said more, but at this moment the door 
opened, and he was silenced by the entrance 
of the tall Archbishop Grand in chains. 

Led by the steward and the three turn- 
keys, besides two men-at-arms, the haughty 
prelate stepped across the threshold of the 
king's private chamber, with a stare of wild 
defiance, without fixing his eye on any ob- 
ject. He was attired in a white Cistercian 
mantle, without any of the insignia of a 
bishop ; his proud countenance was pale 
and emaciated ; his beard was shorn, his 
head was bare, and around his tonsure 
curled a ring of tangled grey hair. He 
moved slowly, and every step seemed at- 
tended with pain ; but it appeared as if, 
with a contempt of all bodily suffering, he 
exerted himself to the utmost to prevent 
his outward appearance from becoming an 
object of commiseration. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 155 

When the king beheld him he involun- 
tarily stepped back, and a feeling of sor- 
irowful sympathy for fallen greatness was 
manifest in his look, while at the same time 
the remembrance of his father's murder, 
and this man's share in the misfortunes of 
state and kingdom, overspread his noble 
countenance with the crimson of indig- 
nation. 

" You may go," said Eric to the guard. 
They obeyed, and through the open door 
of the knights' hall, which was instantly 
shut again, the king beheld a numerous 
aisemblage of knights and courtiers, look- 
ing with anxious suspense and curiosity 
towards the entrance to the private cham- 
ber, through which they had seen the cap- 
tive archbishop conducted. 

The haughty captive continued standing 
^ibout two paces from the door, and had 
^ot as yet vouchsafed a look or salutation 
to the king. He stood immoveable as a 
Garble statue, and his cold uncertain gaze, 
^ow first warmed into life, as it suddenly 
fixed with frightful earnestness on a silver 

H 6 



156 KING ERIC 

crucifix, which stood by the side of the 
king^s shield, on a shelf above a prie-dieu. 

" You stand in the presence of your 
liege sovereign. Archbishop Grand," began 
King Eric ; but he paused again to restrain 
his anger at the captive*s look of rude 
defiance. 

" Yes, truly, I stand in the presence of 
my heavenly Ruler and King," answered 
Archbishop Grand, folding his fettered 
hands, without withdrawing his gaze from 
the crucifix. " He shall judge between 
me and the tyrants of this world*** 

" You stand also before your temporal 
ruler and king," continued Eric — "before 
your lawful superior in this country and 
kingdom. For what ye have sinned against 
me and Denmark's crown you will have to 
answer at the great day of judgment, but 
first Jiere ; as certainly as there is justice 
upon earth, first here. I have sent in my 
accusation of your crimes to the tribunal 
of St. Peter ; the Holy Father hath re- 
quired me to liberate you that he may hear 
your defence, or your confession." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 157 

" Why then have ye not obeyed, King 
Eric ?** interrupted the captive, for the first 
time turning his proud glance upon the 
king. " Will ye delay until the holy 
lightnings melt the crown from off your 
brow ? " 

" How long I shall wear the crown, the 
righteous God alone can determine," an- 
swered the king. " Without His Almighty 
permission no power on earth can injure 
a hair of my head." He paused for a 
moment. " When we liberate a danger- 
ous offender,** he continued, with more 
calmness, " he must give us security 
for his release. The guiltiest criminal 
shall have the right of defending himself, 
but not of committing fresh crimes on his 
way to his tribunal. If he hath any re- 
mains of conscience and honour, and if we 
are to trust him, he must take the oath we 
require. If he will not — be it so I he may 
be tried in his dungeon, and defend himself 
in his chains.** 

" And what security doth King Eric 
demand for the release of the captive, whom 



158 KING EBIC 

he, without lawful seiiteneci and contrary 
to the law of God and the church, caused 
to be imprisoned and maltreated ?•* asked 
the archbishop, with bitterness, 

" For the justice of your imprisonment 
I will answer to the Great Judge above,** 
answered the king, raising his hand ; <* but 
the point in question is only whether you 
may justly and reasonably be released ; to 
decide this I have summoned you hither. 
Know then. Archbishop Grand ! although 
you were undoubtedly an accomplice in my 
father*s murder — although I abhor you as 
my bitterest and deadliest foe, and as the 
greatest traitor in Denmark^ I fear not, 
nevertheless, to loose your guilty hands 
when justice demands it ; but here ye shall 
neither raise hand nor voice against crowns 
and sovereigns ; ere ye leave these walls 
ye shall swear by your salvation, in the 
sight of God and the chivalry of Denmark, 
to promise that which I here, as the pro- 
tector of the crown and people, have re- 
quired and demanded. When you have 
read the conditions of your release, and 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 159 

are willing to take the oath before my 
throne, in the hearing of all my knights, 
your imprisonment may end this very 
hour.** 

At a signal from the king Thorkild 
Knudson reached the sheet of parchment 
to the archbishop, and placed one of the 
tapers closer to him. The hand of the 
proud captive trembled as he* took the 
parchment, and it cost him evident effort 
to read it ; Hut it seemed as if his strength 
and spirit increased as he proceeded ; and 
when he had perused it to the end he 
laughed scornfully, and crumpled the parch- 
ment in his hand. — " Shall I leave my 
d^radation unavenged ? " he cried — "Shall 
I fetter my tongue myself that it may not 
announce to you eternal death and dam- 
nation ? — Shall I part with my last earthly 
defence ? — Shall I subject the holy church's 
right to the arbitration of a tyrant ? No, 
King Eric Ericson I as yet I am an 
anointed and consecrated archbishop, with 
power to bless or curse the crown thou 
wearest. Even in these chains I have the 



160 KING ERIC 

power to push the crown from off thy 
head with a single word. Over my body, 
tyrant I thou may'st have power, but, by 
the Lord above, not over my free immortal 
spirit I Ere I will consent to one of these 
conditions thou and thy executioners may 
sever every limb from my body, as I now 
rend asunder, with this hellish compact, all 
bond and tie between me and the despots 
of this world.'* So saying, he rent the 
parchment before the king's eyes, threw 
the fragments on the floor, and stamped 
upon them until his chains rattled. 

" Madman I'* cried the king, in great 
anger, " stay then in thy prison, and defy 
me there, until thy dying day I I release 
thee not until thou hast put thy seal to 
every word thou hast here trampled under 
foot, should I be a hundred times excom- 
municated by the pope in consequence/' 
Eric hastily pulled the bell-string. The 
door of the knights' hall opened, and the 
master of the household appeared. " The 
guard," commanded the king — " the cap- 
tive is to return to prison." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 161 

The loud talking in the king's private 
chamber had excited apprehensions among 
the king's knights and courtiers, who 
knew he was next to being alone with the 
dreaded prisoner. As the chamber door 
opened, all thronged towards it, as if fear- 
ing some misfortune. 

" Backl" said the king, and he was 
obeyed ; but the door to the knights' hall 
remained half open, and ere the guard ar- 
rived to fetch the prisoner. Archbishop 
Grand had taken a bold resolve. He 
hastily seized the crucifix, upon which he 
had gazed so long, and with this holy 
symbol in his hand, before which all were 
forced to bow, he advanced with long 
powerful strides into the middle of the 
knights' hall ; here he halted, and turned 
suddenly towards the king, who stood on 
the threshold, amazed at this sight, and 
seemed about to issue orders for the seizure 
of the prisoner. 

" Anathema 1" shouted the archbishop, 
in a terrific voice, and raising the chained 
hand which bore the crucifix. " King 



162 KING EBIC 

Eric Ericson of Denmark I I pronounce 
the sentence of excommunication upon 
thy head. I announce to thee, and every 
Christian here present, that thou art fallen 
under the church's awful ban — *' 

" What ? audacious villain 1 seize — gag 
him 1 " exclaimed the king, stepping over 
the threshold. 

" Anathema I " shouted the archbishop 
still louder. — " He who lays hands on me 
is accursed. — Thou art cast out of the 
community of believers and of saints. — 
Thou hast no longer any power over Chris- 
tians, King Eric 1 In virtue of my holy 
office, and the apostolical authority of St. 
Paul, I give thee over, as the enemy of 
God and the church, to Satd.n, and to the 
destruction of the flesh.*' So saying, he 
described the stroke of forked lightning 
in the air with the crucifix, and looked 
around him with flashing eyes. 

All stood as if petrified by terror and 
amazement. The king appeared once 
more about to speak ; but he had grown 
deadly pale, and it seemed as if his voice 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 163 

was choked by anger. Ere he was able 
to speak, the archbishop again burst forth 
with a deafening voice, while he turned to 
the knights and courtiers : " Fly, Chris- 
tians I leave the pestilent one I pollute not 
your souls by intercourse with the excom- 
municated one ! accursed is now the hand 
which brings him food, accursed the ser- 
vant who serves him with fire or water, 
accursed the tongue which comforts him 
with a single word, so long as his soul is 
given over to the Evil One. He who ten 
days hence still serves and obeys this foe 
of the church I give over with him to 
Satan and to the destruction of the flesh, 
that the soul may be saved at the day of 
tbe Lord Jesus I Amen ! " 

On finishing this speech he made a genu- 
flexion, kissed the crucifix, and handed it to 
the chaplain of the castle, who stood trem- 
bling nearest him among the king's suite, 
and bent his knee, while he pressed this so 
fearfully abused symbol of blessing with a 
look of sorrow to his heart. " And now, 
excommunicated king ! ** added the arch- 



164 KING ERIC 

bishop, with a triumphant countenance, 
and with the mien of an exulting martyr, 
tearing the mantle from his emaciated 
breast, ** now may'st thou, if thou darest, 
order to be torn asunder the church's 
anointed, who announced to thee the sen- 
tence of the Lord. My body is, per- 
haps, in thy power, but the spirit is 
God's, and his is the power throughout 
all eternity.*' 

A death-like silence reigned throughout 
the hall, the greatest terror was depicted in 
the faces of the knights, while their eyes 
turned with sorrowing sympathy towards 
their excommunicated sovereign. It seemed 
for a moment as if the lightnings of excom- 
munication had struck the young king 
with the power of real lightning, and 
smitten him with lameness. He had stag- 
gered back so dizzy that he was forced to 
support himself by the door-post ; but he 
now summoned up all his strength, and 
stepped forward with quick and passionate 
strides among his knights and courtiers. 

" A regicide stands in the midst of us. 



\ 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 165 

and would give us over to the Devil, to 
whom he himself belongs, ** he burst forth, 
in a tone of the highest exasperation ; 
" he who is himself accursed presumes to 
pronounce the Lord's judgment upon 
men. On this unfortunate St. Cecilia's 
eve my father's blood cried aloud from 
the earth, and accused this criminal be- 
fore the Lord's tribunal. His head should 
long since have fallen under the axe of 
the executioner, and now he would judge 
and excommunicate us ; he would destroy 
my immortal soul, had he the power ; but 
no I each word he hath spoken is lifeless 
and powerless — his curses fall back on his 
own guilty head. The Holy Father shall 
judge between us! The King of Den- 
mark recognizes no sentence as lawful 
which is not confirmed by 'the Father 
of Christendom. Away with the mis- 
creant I" 

The knights and courtiers appeared able 
to breathe freely again, on hearing these 
words from the king. They looked on 
him with confidence and devotion, yet 



166 KING ERIC 

Still appeared to hesitate, and no one pre- 
pared to seize the dreaded prisoner, who 
stood erect and haughty among them, and 
seemed to triumph in the spiritual power 
he had exercised even in chains. 

** Hence with the criminal 1 ** repeated 
the king ; ** until he recalls the ungodly 
ban he sees not the light of day. Guards! 
halberdiers I why tarry ye ? hath this mis- 
creant's words struck you deaf and lame ? 
Fear ye to obey your liege sovereign?" 

The guards and halberdiers now sur- 
rounded the archbishop, but with manifest 
trepidation. The terrific prisoner stood 
immoveable, with his eyes turned upwards, 
towards the roof of the hall, and no one as 
yet dared to lay hands on him. But the 
king again broke silence. ** I still bear 
crown and sceptre,*' he exclaimed ; ** I shall 
know how to defend myself and my loyal 
subjects against this monster I I swore by 
my father's bloody head to uphold the rights 
of the crown and the insulted dignity of 
majesty against every power on earth 
whether spiritual or temporal, and by a? 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 167 

the holy men 1* I will keep that vow. Will 
not the loyal Danish nation, will not Den- 
mark's chivalry stand by me undismayed in 
my fight for truth and justice? Then, in- 
deed, will Danish loyalty be a theme for 
mockery, and Danish courage for scorn. 
Are ye true and valiaht Danish men, and 
do ye let yourselves be scared by a mad 
traitor into betraying your liege sove- 
reign?*' 

All doubt and apprehension seemed now 
to have disappeared among Eric's knights 
and courtiers. The hall resounded with 
shouts and loyal acclamations. The arch- 
bishop vainly strove to speak again. The 
indignation against him was general, and 
without hesitation the guards laid hands 
on him to lead him back to prison. But 
«re they reached the door it opened, and 
Prince Christopher, accompanied by the 
JMargrave of Brandenborg, entered with 

^ A characteristic exclamation of King Erie, 
^h€^ according to Holberg, scrupled making use of 
* stronger expression, even in confirmation of the 
"aost solemn engagements. — Translator's Note. 



168 KING ERIC 

the papal legate between them, followed 
by their train of ecclesiastics and laymen. 
All started at the sight of the tall foreign 
prelate with his cardinal's hat and 
withered visage. He stepped with an au- 
thoritative air before the prince and the 
margrave, and bowed to the king, and 
towards all sides of the hall, in silence, and 
with the air of a superior, as if appropriating 
to himself the loud acclamations which were 
heard on his entrance, but which were now 
suddenly hushed. He seemed startled on 
perceiving the chained prisoner in the Cis- 
tercian mantle. He nodded, and the guard 
stepped aside. The captive archbishop felt 
himself suddenly freed from the sturdy grasp 
of the men-at-arms. " Gloria in excelsis 1 ** 
shouted Grand, as he raised his fettered 
hands, and kneeled at the cardinal's feet. 
** Blessed be thou, thou messenger of the 
Lord I" he continued in Latin. ** See 
here, how an archbishop in Denmark is 
treated 1 See, and judge, in the Holy Fa- 
ther's name, Othou, his high ambassador I 
I have, in virtue of my holy office, pub- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 169 

lished the church's ban upon this pre- 
sumptuous king, because of his defiance 
to the law of the Lord and the church t 
Confirm it in the Holy Father's name, 
Lord Cardinal — or see Archbishop Grand 
expire of wrath and ignominy at your feet I " 
" Arise, my venerable brother, and be 
comforted,'' answered Isamus, also in 
Latin. ** I bring with me authority from 
his Holiness to enforce the constitution — 
* Cum Ecclesia Dacianae.' Read this docu- 
ment aloud to the king and the court, in 
the language of the country, worthy Abbot 
Magnus." As he said this he reached a 
large parchment letter, with the papal seal, 
to the aged Abbot of Esrom, who had 
accompanied him. The abbot opened 
h with a trembling hand, but as he glanced 
over it a flood of tears rolled down his 
fiirrowed cheeks. 

•* / cannot^** stammered the old man ; 
" lie is my liege and sovereign 1 I conjure 
y^o, my lord, by the all-merciful Creator I 
^fe not the power here given you to our 
'^^g's and our country's destruction. 

A^OL. I. I 



170 KING ERIC 

This is a matter which demands the highest 
consideration. This authority is not un- 
conditional, either/' These last words were 
spoken in Latin, and appeared to startle 
the cardinal. 

The unexpected entrance of the papal 
legate at this critical moment, his singular 
appearance, as well as the mysteriousness 
of his conduct, and the speaking in a 
foreign tongue, had once more inspired the 
bystanders with a feeling of consternation 
which deprived them of the power of 
speech. Even the king appeared for some 
moments to have lost his self-possession 
and the consciousness of royal authority, 
while the attention of all present was 
rivetted upon the terrific stranger. Eric 
now stepped forward a few paces, and 
seemed about to assert his authority by a 
commanding address ; but at the same 
moment the fettered archbishop snatched 
the document from the abbot's trembling 
hands. " Here is papal authority for ban 
and interdict,'* he cried, " praised be the 
Lord I his judgments are righteous. En- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 171 

force your authority, most reverend sir 1 
Anathema and the church's ban upon the 
king, and those his accomplices in guilt I '' 
So saying, he raised his fettered hands both 
towards the king and Prince Christopher, 
who appeared to be in great consternation 
at this sudden and unlooked-for blow. 

" Not a word more here, on pain of in- 
stant death, impudent miscreant I " ex- 
' claimed the king, in a loud tone, and in the 
highest exasperation. ** Take that mad 
criminal to prison, halberdiers I Let every 
one leave this place I We will inquire in 
our council with what authority this stran- 
ger is empowered to treat with the king of 
Denmark. When he proposes it, and it 
suits our convenience, we will talk with 
him in our private chamber,** So saying, 
the king returned to his own apartment. 
Not another word was heard in the knights* 
hall ; even the archbishop found it expedient 
to be passive as the two halberdiers and 
the guard approached to lead him out of 
the hall. All the knights and courtiers, as 
well as Prince Christopher and his train, 

I 2 



172 KING BBIC 

departed in silence. The halberdiers who 
were on guard, alone remained behind. 
They snatched up their halberds, a\id ranged 
themselves in their customary order with* 
out the king's apartments. Abbot Magnus 
had also left the hall, and Cardinal Isamus 
stood almost alone in the middle of the 
floor between his amanuensis and inter- 
preter. He looked with surprise around 
the suddenly deserted hall. ' 

It was not until he had announced him- 
self through his interpreter in suitable form 
to the captain of halberdiers, and requested 
an audience with the king, that he was re- 
ceived with the demonstrations of respect 
due to a papal ambassador. His arrival 
was formally announced, and he was shortly 
afterwards admitted to a private interview 
with Eric. 

What had passed had thrown every one 
into the greatest suspense and uneasinessj 
and an anxious stillness reigned in the 
castle. The foreign prelate quitted not the 
king's private chamber until the night was 
far advanced. The king did not make his 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 173 

appearance, but, according to his orders, 
the strictest court etiquette was to be ob- 
served. Arrangements were made in the 
castle for the protracted sojourn of the car- 
dinal and his train. He was to be honoured 
as a princely guest. The return of the 
Swedish ambassadors was postponed. The 
following day another long and private 
conversation took place between the king 
and the papal legate. The presence of 
this dignitary, and his over-awing authority, 
banished all gaiety and cheerfulness from 
the castle. 



I 3 



174 KING ERIC 



CHAP. VII. 

On the evening of the second day Drost 
Aage had not as yet returned from his ex- 
pedition, as the protector of Marsk Stig's 
captive daughters. He had conducted 
them without impediment to the king's 
castle at Vordingborg ; but as he was about 
to ride into the arched gateway he was 
attacked from behind, and dangerously 
wounded, by an unknown hand. Aage was 
carried, in a state of insensibility, into the 
castle, while his huntsmen vainly pursued 
his stealthy foe, in whom they thought 
they recognised the same tall horseman in 
peasant attire, and mounted upon the little 
Zealand horse without a saddle, whpm they 
had several times seen on the road, but 
who always vanished as suddenly as he had 
appeared, and who they conjectured must 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 175 

have followed their track by secret paths 
from Esrom. 

The commandant at Vordingborg had 
received the wounded knight, with great 
alarm ; he instantly recognised in him the 
young Drost» and the favourite of the king. 
As soon as Drost Aage had recovered his 
consciousness, he informed the commandant 
of the rank and position of the two ladies, 
and also that they were to be considered 
as state prisoners, for whose security he 
would be responsible, although their stay 
here was to be rendered as agreeable as 
under such circumstances it was possible to 
make it. The commandant instantly or- 
dered the gates to be barred, and sentinels 
to be stationed ; but he threw open the in- 
terior of the castle without reserve to his 
guests, and a messenger was dispatched to 
inform the king of what had happened. 

Meanwhile the assembled party at Sjo- 
borg were in some degree tranquillised, 
when on the noon of the third day the 
king again made his appearance at table, 
where he sat, with a calm and almost cheer- 

I 4 



176 KING EBIC 

ful countenance, between his brother Chris- 
topher and the papal legate. Their secret 
negociation seemed to have taken a friendly 
turn, and great reliance was placed in King 
Eric's manly sense and political wisdom* 
Report said that the Italian prelate seemed 
to bear our northern climate excellently 
well, and perhaps might not be disinclined 
to take up his abode here, if the king 

• 

should come to an agreement with the 
papal see, and the archbishoprick of Lund 
became vacant by the deposition of Grand. 
It was conjectured that the formal annul, 
ment of the archbishop's authority, and of 
his own self-empowered sentence of excom- 
munication, had been the subject of the 
king's conferences with the unfathomable 
Isarnus, and it was reasonably hoped that 
the cardinal would grant this important 
condition of the archbishop's release, ere 
the king fulfilled the demands of the pope. 
But some days elapsed without any appa- 
rent decision being taken. Meanwhile, no 
change took place in the condition of the 



AND THB OUTLAWS. 177 

captire archbishop, who remained in close 
confinement. 

Although neither the king nor his loyal 
and devoted subjects recognised the validity 
of the sentence of excommunication pro- 
nounced on them by the archbishop, so 
long as it was not formally ratified by a 
papal decree, this awful procedure had 
nevertheless taken place, and with such 
publicity that it could not but be gene- 
rally known. The rumour quickly spread 
throughout the land, and terrified the peo- 
pie. The threats against those who should 
not within ten days withdraw all help and 
companionship from the king had struck 
terror into many, and several of the do- 
mestics, and of the guard of halberdiers ab- 
sconded from Sjoborg. The tales recounted 
of the ecclesiastical captive's skill in the 
Black Art now contributed still more to 
alarm his guard. At every unusual sound 
from the dungeon in the night the turn- 
keys stole from their posts, and the bravest 
men-at-arms dared scarcely remain without 
the prison door, where with trembling 

I 5 



178 KING EBIC 

voices they often sang valiant battle songs 
to keep up their courage. The prisoner 
was guarded with still increasing anxiety. 
A very suspicious rumour rendered watch- 
fulness still more necessary. Some fisher- 
men from Gillelei6, who supplied the castle 
with fish, had related in the kitchen that a 
foreign bark was constantly sailing to and 
from the coast. The persons on board 
appeared to be fishermen, and were busied 
during the day with nets and fishing-tackle, 
but during the night they landed, and a 
tall knight in disguise, accompanied by 
some seamen of suspicious appearance, were 
seen to lurk in the neighbourhood of the 
castle. This report had not indeed reached 
the ears either of the king or the Marsk, 
but orders were issued that the guard should 
be doubled in the captive's tower, and that 
the steward should answer with his life for 
the archbishop's security. The lower classes 
now believed that the king would pass sen- 
tence of death upon him, and command 
him to be executed. 

With the expression of fear and anger 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 179 

in his countenance, as well as of fatigue 
from a night's watch, the steward one 
morning descended the stairs of the tower 
prison with the keys in his hand. << All 
folk seem possessed here/' he muttered. 
<^ I shall now have to watch myself to death 
over that confounded Satan.*' 

<< Did I not always say so, master ? He 
will drive us all crazed at last," sounded a 
merry well-known voice in his ear, and 
Morten the cook stood before him in the 
twilight at the bottom of the tower stairs. 

** Morten I thou crack-brained vaga- 
bond I is it thou ? " called the steward ; 
** where in all the world hast thou been ? 
Folk said thou wert surely bewitched, and 
gone to the devil, and I began almost to 
think so myself. The whole pack of them 
here are losing their wits, and one after 
another runs off from me. Speak, man ! 
where the devil hast thou been ? " 

" Ah I dear master," sighed Morten. 
" Thank St. Hubert that you are so pious 
and virtuous, and condemn not a weak 
worldly-minded fellow who hath been forced 

I 6 



180 KIKG EBIC 

to do hard penance for his sins' sake. Ye 
have doubtless observed how I delight in 
dancing and singing. In former days I was 
not afraid of a little drink, either ; but on 
St. Vitus's day it behoves us to be cautious. 
As a punishment for my ungodliness in a 
drunken bout, I was afflicted with St. Vitus's 
dance, and I thought I should have danced 
for a whole year, as hath chanced to many 
a poor sinner before. Perhaps you or other 
virtuous folk have prayed for me, for I got 
off for a few weeks' sickness ; but in all that 
time I was not able to give any account of 
myself, and I have so danced the country 
round that I can hardly hang together." 

" Indeed 1" answered the jailor, looking 
at him suspiciously ; ^< hast thou had that 
sickness? It is a rare one, though, and 
many will have it that it is nought but 
an idle superstition." 

** Dear master 1 remember ye not then 
how it seized Claus Spillemans last year ? 
He ceased not dancing till he dropped 
dead in Sjoborg streets." 

" Well, that is true enough j he went 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 181 

mad, no doubt, on St. Vitus's day ; but it 
was not upon that day thou did'st kick up 
such a riot, and did'st run olF from the 
turnkeys. Be honest, Morten I hast thou 
not suffered thyself to be seduced by the 
bishop to run errands for him ? Thou hast 
tramped the country sturdily round, that I 
see right well, and if thou now hast a fancy 
to be hanged for thy zeal in the service, 
thou comest in the very nick of time ; both 
the king and the Marsk are here, and when 
the one pasles a sentence, the other is at 
hand to execute it/' 

" Dear pious master I what do you take 
me for ? '* answered Morten, putting on a 
look of astonishment. <^ Had I run errands 
for such a traitor I must have been stark 
mad indeed to come back again now, and 
let myself be hung for it. No, trust me, 
master, I am not so brutishly stupid. To 
tell you the whole clean out, I was drunk 
beyond all bounds that evening ; whether 
it was St. Vitus's day or not I do not quite 
exactly remember, but I have had neither 
sense nor recollection since. I must have 



182 KING EBIC 

doubtless scoured the country round like a' 
madman. I have now come to my senses 
for the first time, and found the way to 
Sjoborg again. Here's been fine excom- 
municating work between the bishop and 
the king. If I can be of any use to you, 
say the word! I could break the arch- 
bishop's neck with the greatest pleasure in 
life if I could thereby save king and coun- 
try. If you have any doubt of my honesty, 
I will only just fetch my traps, and take 
myself oflF with all reverence." 

" No, stay ; I will believe thee, because 
of thy honest face, Morten," said the 
steward, hastily, and casting a sharp look 
at him, while a new and daring thought 
seemed to flash across his hangman's soul. 
" I have never needed thee more than at 
this very time. My new cook hath also 
run off. I have only one turnkey left. 
I must myself be every thing and every 
where." 

" That is more than can be required of 
any Christian soul, master. The Devil 
himself can hardly take that upon him.'* 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 183 

** Drunk and mad thou must surely have 
been/' muttered the keeper^ still looking 
narrowly at him. " Hum I so long a 
drunken fit, though, have I never heard the 
like of. St. Vitus's dance ? Truly that is 
an ailment akin to madness ; no man can 
answer for what he does in that state. 
Hum I since thou art come to thy senses 
again, Morten, I will even take thee again 
into service. In the day thou may'st be 
needed in the kitchen, and in the night — 
well, we can talk of that afterwards. Old 
Mads the turnkey is good for nothing ; he 
hath now got his nephews to help him, and 
I count not on them either ; and those 
foolish men-at-arms are afraid of being ex- 
communicated or bewitched.'* 

" If I can help you with the night watch 
that shan't stand in my way," said Morten ; 
** whatsoever I can do to plague and anger 
the bishop I do with hearty good will. 
I would only counsel you not to set me to 
watch in his chamber, for if St. Vitus's 
dance come over me I were in a case to 
dance to the devil with him. It is a kind 



184 KING EBIC 

of cramp, you must know, and I might 
easily squeeze the life out of whomsoever 
I get hold of/' 

<* Well, well, Morten j there is no need 
for that. Thou art now perfectly well and 
reasonable/' muttered the keeper, with a 
grisly smile. <^ I must have some one to 
help me, or I shall go mad myself. One 
misfortune follows another. The king is 
a violent man, and the junker has no great 
weight with him. It is an easy thing to 
get into trouble when one has a devil to 
watch, and stem masters to account to. 
Now comes that confounded report of the 
vessel at Gilleleie, which plys to and fro to 
help the bishop to flight.'* 

Morten turned quite pale. ** Our Lady 
preserve us ! — say they so?" he exclaimed, 
hastily ; " then, by my troth, master, there 
is need of watchfulness ; yet it is just as 
dangerous to loose as to tie a mad dog.'* 

" It will cost me my life if he escapes, 
Morten. I have the king's own most 
gracious word for it. I never let the 
prison keys out of my hand. The king's 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 185 

pec^le are on guard, but I dare not trust 
them. I carry my life in my hands. I 
will now depend upon thee. Come 1 ** So 
saying, the agitated steward took Morten 
fay the arm, and led him across the yard 
towards the kitchen. It was a fine clear 
winter's morning. It had frozen so hard 
during the last few nights that a part of 
Sjoborg lake was covered with tolerably 
hard ice. As the steward and the cook 
crossed the castle yard they saw all the 
king's huntsmen, with horses and hunting 
equipments, waiting before the castle stairs, 
and the royal car drove up. " What is 
agog now ? " asked the steward. 

" We are oflF with the king to the chase 
at Tikjob,'' answered one of the hunters. 
•* The great lord from Italy wants to go 
to Esrom. He will surely either ride, or 
be borne on our shoulders.'' 

"When come ye back?" asked the 
steward. 

" Faith, I know not," answered the 
huntsman. " To-morrow we shall have 
to go with the king to Esrom. There is 



186 KING EBIC 

a great council to be held there, they 
say." 

" Then it surely concerns the life or 
death of him yonder/' muttered the stew- 
ard, pointing to the prison tower. Morten 
the cook became attentive, and stopped; 
but he soon hasted towards the kitchen 
door, where he stood, half concealed, as the 
door of the castle stairs opened, and the 
king and Prince Christopher came forth, 
and mounted their horses, together with 
the Marsk, the two Swedish lords, and a 
numerous company of knights. The king 
and his train halted, and when Cardinal 
Isamus, with bis famulus and his clerical 
train, also descended the stairs, the hunts- 
men and attendants bowed low whilst they 
took their seats in the royal car. The train, 
headed by the king and Count Henrik, 
then issued forth out of the castle gate, 
amid the joyous sound of the hunting 
horns. Morten continued standing by the 
kitchen door. He had gazed on the young 
chivalrous monarch with a mingled feeling 
of fear and admiring interest, and a secret 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 187 

struggle seemed passing in his mind, as his 
glance turned from the noble and kingly 
form which had just passed him, to the 
gloomy prison window from whence he 
thought he heard a distant and smothered 
sigh. The steward had already twice called 
to him without his hearing ; he now called 
again, with a round oath. The cook hastily 
passed his hand over his face, and struck 
up, in a shrill voice, one of his merriest 
ballads, as, with jest and laughter, he 
joined the domestics in the kitchen. Dur* 
ing the rest of the day a monastic stillness 
reigned in Sjoborg castle. When the even- 
ing closed in the steward appeared un- 
usually friendly and confidential, and treated 
his cook to a fiagon of good wine from the 
king's travelling store. Before he sat down 
at the drinking table he had convinced 
himself with his own eyes that his danger- 
ous state prisoner was under close keeping, 
and that the old turnkey and his comrade, 
as well as the guard without the prison- 
door, were at their posts. When he had 
fortified himself with some cups of wine. 



188 KING EBIC 

he began to unburden his heart to the cook. 
<< I am an unfortunate man/' he sighed 
forth. " I have not closed my eyes to 
sleep these three nights. Each time 1 
shut an eye it seems to me the bishop hath 
fled, and I am dangling from the gallows. 
It hath not fared much better with the 
king himself/' he continued ; " if he now 
condemns him to death, despite pope and 
clergy, he and the whole Idngdom fall into 
trouble. If he lets him slip hence alive, 
matters are just as bad. I once dreamed 
the bishop had hung himself in his chains. 
Oh I would it had pleased the Lord it had 
been so indeed I " 

" A pious wish," answered Morten. " I 
would willingly lend a helping hand towards 
the fulfilment of that dream ; of course, 
master, I mean in all pious secrecy; and 
I blame you not for this. In your case it 
would be almost a necessary act of self, 
defence, and, at the same time, a good 
deed for king and country. Is it not so ? " 

" Art thou mad, Morten I it might 
cost me my neck," muttered the steward ; 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 189 

** for ought I care he may hang himself, 
in the Lord's name, whenever he pleases, 
if I only know nothing of it. If any good 
friend would lend him a helping hand, it 
might indeed, as thou say'st, save king and 
country, and deserve a rich and royal re- 
compence ; but I may thank my Lord and 
Maker if I can save my own life. Had I 
but a faithful fellow who durst watch in the 
chamber with him to-night I should sleep 
in quiet. Hast thou not courage enough 
for that, Morten ? " 

" Oh yes ; why should I not, if I get 
well paid for it ? If he gives me any 
trouble, it were an easy matter to make 
away with him, without any one seeing or 
knowing aught about it.'* 

'* Art thou serious, Morten ? Hast 
thou really courage to ** 

" To make an end of him, master?** 

" Hush ! No ; I say not that. St. Ger- 
trude preserve me from tempting any one 
to do that deed, even though it might be 
a benefit to state and country, and might 
make a poor fellow happy for life. No ; 



190 KING EMC 

that was not my meaning, Darest thou let 
me shut thee up with him to-night ? ** 

" Yes, on one condition, master.** 

"What is it?** 

" That you will not be wroth and com- 
plain of me if perchance you were not to 
find us to-morrow morning in the same 
trim as to-night.** 

" Pshaw, Morten ; it matters not to me 
in what trim I find you. I will pay ten 
silver pieces for every night you watch 
beside him, and a hundred for the last.** 

** But even were that pious lord, through 
his witchcraft, to get loose after a fashion, 
I should surely get the blame of having let 
him slip.** 

" Ha, ha 1 thou art a merry wag, Mor- 
ten,** muttered the steward, with a horrible 
laugh. " The liberty thou canst give him, 
when I have locked the door after thee, 
shall not disturb my night's rest. Of 
course,** he continued, with an uneasy and 
inquiring look, " thou must first let me 
search thy garments, to see that thou has 
not a file or any other tool with thee ; thai 



i 



AM) THE OUTLAWS. 191 

18 a precaution I have ever used when I let 
any one watch with him in the chamber." 

" That is but reasonable. You are a 
conscientious man.** So saying, Morten 
pulled off his jerkin, and turned his pockets 
inside out. ** But now I think of it, mas- 
ter, it won't do after all. If St. Vitus's 
dance should come over me.** 

** Pshaw ! thou art quite well and hearty.** 

*' But I am too hot-headed,, master ; and 
the bishop is wrath with me from former 
times. I have now and then plagued him 
a little, as you know, and should he take 
it into his head to insult me, or get hold of 
me, and I were forced to defend myself, it 
might cause a little stir, and set the guard 
and the whole castle agog.'* 

** That needs not be. Thou art a bold 
fellow, Morten. Come 1 The guard shall 
not stand too near the door, and disturb 
thine and the bishop*s rest, and shouldst 
thou get into a dispute with him about 
the state of souls after death, or such like 
learned matters, lay folks shall not be the 
wiser for that. Drink a cup of wine to a 



192 KING ERIC 

good night, and then let's away. I want 
rest, and so doth the bishop. It is late." 
Morten nodded, and drank. 

With a horrible smile on his coarse hy- 
pocritical countenance, Jesper Mogensen 
snatched up a lantern, and descended the 
staircase leading to the prison door, ac- 
companied by the cook. He paused once 
or twice with uneasiness and suspicion, and 
held up the light towards Morten, who 
followed him with a cheerful countenance. 

** Thou look'st as well pleased as if I 
were leading thee to a jolly night revel,'* 
he muttered ; " go on before. I cannot 
endure that rustling behind me.'* 

Morten obeyed, and assumed a thought- 
ful look. 

" Let not the guard smell a rat, '* he 
whispered, and pointed to a cord which 
was twisted round his waist. The keeper 
nodded, and seemed re^assured. He or- 
dered the guard to move further from the 
door, which he then half opened, and 
peeped in, holding the lantern before him. 
As soon as he had seen the captive lying 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 193 

quietly with his hands fettered, he pushed 
Morten into the chamber. 

" A good and quiet night, ^^ he said, with 
a grim smile, clapping to and locking the 
door behind him ; he also carefully barred 
it without, and then descended the stairs. 
The nearest sentinel observed that he 
often looked timorously behind him, as if 
his own footsteps sounded suspiciously in 
,his ear. ** The stupid devil P' he mut- 
tered. ** What he doth he shall himself 
answer for ; it is no concern of mine." 

When Morten entered the murky 
prison, he stood in silence, until the sound 
of the locking and bolting of the door had 
ceased, and until the hollow tread of the 
steward's iron-shod boots died away on the 
stairs; he then approached the captive's 
couch, and was about to speak, but he now 
heard singing and loud voices in the upper 
chamber. It was old Mads the turnkey mak- 
ing merry with his nephews and the young 
fellows from the village who were to keep 
watch with him. Morten listened in silence. 
He perceived from their inarticulate voices 

VOL. I. K 



194 KING ERIC 

and drowsy songs, that the mead and Saxon 
ale he had secretly brought them had been 
greatly to their taste. Through a little hole 
in th^ ceiling above there fell a ray of light 
from their lamp upon the archbishop's couch, 
and lit up his long pale visage. He lay with 
closed eyes without stirring, apparently in a 
sound sleep. Morten seated himself upon 
the damp stone floor, and interrupted not 
his repose until the noise of the carouse had 
entirely ceased, and he heard in the stillness 
of the night how they were snoring over- 
head. ** Sleep you, venerable sir ?'* he whis- 
pered, as he rose up from the floor. 

** No, thou faithful servant of the Lord I *' 
answered the archbishop, in a weak voice, 
and raised his head. ^^ I and the Lord's 
vengeance do but seem to sleep, until it is 
time to wake and act." 

** Now is the time to show clean heels, 
continued Morten. ** Is all ready here? 

** Long since. Thou hast tarried long ; 
yet even that was an ordering of the Lord. 
I was destined even in my chains to be- 
come a chastising rod hi the Lord's hand ; 



9» 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 195 

but I was well nigh believing thou had'st 
fiiiled me, or wert betrayed.** 

** You thought, then, I was either a fox 
or a sheep, reverend sir. Have you the 
rope ladder ? ** 

** Here — but be cautious, Morten. Tie 
it to the thickest bar in the grate ; that is 
secure. Take the others out; they are 
filed through — but make no noise I I can 
rid myself of the fetters. Thy file was blunt, 
but the Lord sharpened it in my hand. 
His angel hath struck mine enemies both 
deaf and blind." 

** But now comes the knotty point, pious 
sir,** whispered Morten, as he lingered, 
with an ambiguous smile. ** Now all de- 
pends upon whether the Lord's angel will 
help you still farther. Up to the "window 
he hath indeed taught you to creep, 
but we have to descend thirty-six feet 
from thence to the tower wall, and then 
we still have that confounded castle wall 
besides. Over the moat and lake the Lord 
hath indeed laid a bridge. See you this 
cord ? Were I now to strangle you with it 

K 2 



196 KING EMC 

1 might perhaps make my fortune ; but I 
am too pious a fellow for that. I will but 
fasten it to the slip knot, that we may be 
able to draw the ladder after us. I will go 
down first to aid you. Look now. I will 
ansiwer for the ladder, if you can but keep 
your hold, till I can reach you from be- 
low. But '* 

*« With the Lord Almighty's help "— 
whispered Grand, in an anxious tone, and 
looking at the jolly cook, with a half sus- 
picious glance ^ — ** assist me first up to the 
window, I am weary and weak. Now, what 
art thou thinking of, Morten ? Haste, or 
we are betrayed.'* 

*' A little scruple has just entered my head, 
venerable sir," whispered Morten. ** I am 
a good Christian, and I know well enough 
both you and the pope have my soul and the 
souls of all Christians in your pockets. You 
have saved my life, do you see, and there- 
fore have I promised to free you, whatever 
it may cost ; but I am also a Danish man, 
and you cannot ask that, for your sake, 
I should betray state and kingdom, or 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 197 

plunge our young brave king into misfor- 
tune. Had I seen him sooner, and known 
he was so noble a lord, I might perhaps 
have thought better on what I promised 
you. 1 know you have excommunicated 
him, and given him over to the Devil, but 
by my soul he is too good for that, and if 
I am now to set you free you must promise 
me, by our Lady and St. Martin, that you 
will recal the ban, and do no harm to him 
or any other man in the country." 

" Dost thou rave, Morten ? " exclaimed 
the archbishop, greatly surprised and en- 
raged ; " would'st thou ape the tyrant, and 
prescribe conditions to me ? If thou doest 
not that thou promised me, 1 will excom- 
municate thee also, and thou shalt be eter- 
nally damned.*' 

" In that case, reverend sir,'* whispered 
Morten, hastily creeping out of the window 
to the rope ladder, with the loose end of the 
cord in his hand, with which he'could slip 
the looped knot that fastened the ladder, — 
<* In that case I will bid you good night, 
and take the ladder with me to hell.'* 

K 3 



198 KING ERIC 

" Morten 1 good Morten I betray me 
not," whispered the archbishop, in a be- 
seeching tone, climbing with haste up to 
the window. " I will not deal harder by 
the king or any one here than I am com- 
pelled for the Lord's and the church's 
and my conscience sake." 

" Then will you loose him from the ban 
as soon as you are free and in safety your- 
self?" asked Morten, still keeping his 
stand on the ladder. 

" Yes, surely; yes, surely; only be silent, 
and help me." 

" Then I will believe you for the pre- 
sent," whispered Morten, and crept down 
the ladder. Its last step was still ten feet 
from the ground, but the dexterous cook 
clung fast to it with his hands, and jumped 
down without any great difficulty. The 
archbishop had now also got out of the 
window, and with much effi:)rt held fast by 
one step, while he groped with his foot for 
the other. But on lifting his foot from 
the last step, to his great dismay he dis- 
covered that the ladder was much too short. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 199 

and that in all probability his life would be 
endangered should he come to the ground 
without assistance. 

" Help me, help me, Morten I " he en- 
treated in a low tone. " In the name of 
the all-merciful Creator, help me 1" 

^* Yes, if you swear to keep your word, 
on pain of excommunicating yourself to 
burning hell, venerable sir," answered 
Morten, extending his arms to catch him 
in case he fell. 

** Yes, assuredly, by all the saints and 
devils I" stammered the alarmed captive; 
" only catch me ; I must let go my hold ! " 

" Let go then I in the Holy Virgin's 
name 1" whispered Morten ) " if you are a 
pious man of your word you shall assuredly 
not dash your foot against a stone.'' 

The archbishop now relinquished his 
hold of the last step of the ladder, and let 
himself drop, but though instantly caught 
in the cook's powerful arms, he was unable 
to repress a smothered burst of pain and 
sorrow, as his swelled feet struck hard 
against the stone pavement, and when 

K 4 



200 KING ERIC 

Morten withdrew his support, he fell 
speechless and breathless to the ground. 

" You have surely not sworn falsely in 
your heart, venerable sir/' whispered 
Morten, anxiously. ** This is no time, 
either, for swooning. If we delay a mo- 
ment longer the guard may come, and lead 
you back from whence you came." As he 
said this, he drew down the ladder, and 
rolled it up wit^ care. The archbishop yet 
lay as if lifeless on the ground. Without 
any longer demur, Morten put both arms 
round his waist, and carried him in this 
manner across the back yard of the prison 
to the high castle wall which encircled the 
tower and was surrounded by a moat. It 
was possible to mount the inside wall in 
case of need, and by dint of great exertion 
Morten carried the almost senseless prelate 
up to the top of the wall. There he se- 
cured the rope ladder, while the bishop 
recovered his consciousness, and gained 
strength to pursue his flight. Without 
delaying and alarming the fugitive by fur- 
ther stipulations, he assisted him to descend 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 201 

this wall also, and then drew the ladder 
after him. They passed the frozen moat 
of the castle ; but that part of the lake 
which they had to cross was as smooth as 
glass, and the archbishop often fell and 
bruised himself. With Morten's help he 
at last got over the ice, but now threw 
himself despairingly on the frozen ground. 
" I cannot go a step farther,*' he exclaimed. 
** If I am to reach the shore thou must 
get me a horse." 

** Will you give me absolution then, 
venerable sir, if I can steal you a horse 
out of the stable here ? '* 

*• It is a holy loan, which will bring thee 
a blessing," replied Grand. 

** Good I But if you understand aught 
of the Black Art, pious sir, forget not 
your Latin now, but say a charm over the 
dogs, so that they bark not, and over the 
grooms in the stable, so that they wake 
not." 

** I will pray to the Almighty to be with 
us. Haste thee 1 " 

Morten crept towards the neighbouring 

K 5 



202 KING ERIC 

stable. He went across a dunghill to the 
stable door, upon which a I^ge cross was 
marked in chalk by way of safeguard. The 
usually watchful mastiffs did not bark. It 
seemed to Morten as if the cross on the 
stable door gleamed in the moonlight. The 
door of the groom*s chamber he had to pass 
stood ajar. He peeped in, and saw three 
men in a deep sleep. In the stalls close 
by stood two small horses. He untied their 
halters, and led them out. The stone pave- 
ment of the stable and without the back 
door was covered with horse-litter, and he 
succeeded in leading the horses out without 
the slightest noise. He led them slowly 
towards the sea shore, and often looked 
behind him, but no one pursued — no dog 
barked, and the whole seemed to him to be 
almost miraculous. He found the arch- 
bishop where he had left him, in an atti- 
tude of prayer. With unwonted solemnity, 
and with a respect which, however, seemed 
mingled with a kind of dread, Morten, 
without saying a word, assisted the prelate 
to mount one of the horses ; he himself 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 203 

vaulted upon the other, and they rode in 
silence at a rapid trot down to the shore. 
There a tall grave knight and the two 
LoIIand deserters awaited them with a boat 
which they had stolen from the fishing 
village. The knight and both the wild 
Lollanders bent the knee reverently before 
the archbishop as he extended his fingers 
to give them his blessing. With Morten's 
aid he dismounted, and stepped into the 
boat. Morten turned the strange horses 
loose, and seated himself on a rowing bench. 
With a few powerful strokes of the oar they 
reached a vessel with a black flag and pen- 
nant, which was waiting for them at some 
distance from the shore. They entered the 
ship, and let the boat float away. The day 
had not dawned when the vessel with the 
black flag sailed with a fair breeze through 
the Sound, bearing off without impediment 
the dangerous man, who, even in his chains, 
had dared to excommunicate Denmark's 
sovereign. 



204 Kma ebic 



CHAP. VIIL 

Sjoboro castle, which in the latter 
months of the year 1295 was honoured by 
the presence of royalty, and had been the 
theatre of such important events, stood de- 
solate and deserted on the morning of the 
following new year. The gate was shut, 
and the floating bridge removed. The 
sentinel was no longer on guard on the 
battlement over the gate ; within, no sounds 
of gaiety and occupancy were heard ; with- 
out the southern rampart and the narrow- 
est part of the lake which insulated the 
site of the castle stood a gallows, at the 
end of what was called the king's garden, 
where the roads met from Esrom and Gil- 
leleie. On the gallows hung a lifeless 
corpse in a short sheep- skin coat, and with 
a pair of shaggy boots on the legs. A pair 
of ravens flapped their wings over the sin- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 205 

net's heady and around the stiff frozen body 
fluttered a flock of screaming crows. 

The aged Jeppe, the fisherman from 
Gilleleie, who on fast days was accustomed 
to bring fish to Esrom, and to the kitchen 
of Sjoborg, was returning at day-break from 
the ferry, opposite the closed castle gate, 
with his flat fish basket at his back, and 
stood almost under the gallows ere he was 
aware of it. His servant, a young fisher- 
man, followed him also with a basket at his 
back. 

" It was true then, after all,*' said the 
old man ; " they have made quick work of 
it here. The bird hath flown, and the 
cage stands empty. Our young king hath 
been wroth in earnest — by my troth, he 
does nothing by halves. We may now 
carry our cod to Elsinore. But what the 
devil ails the birds to-day?'* 

" Look, look, master !" shouted the lad ; 
*^ there he hangs." 

"Our Lady preserve us I" exclaimed 
Jeppe, and stopped. " Ay, there he hangs, 
indeed, in his old sheep's skin, and in the 



206 KING ERIC 

boots I brought him from Skan6r fair, those 
he squeezed out of me for the freight and 
the sixteen marks. Why, the soles are 
whole as yet I I told him not to wear 
them out with his courtier-like scrapings. 
Faugh I he looks ugly in the face. 'Tis no 
wholesome sight on a fasting stomach. 
Let's take a sup, Ole." He took a little 
wooden flask out of the basket, drank, and 
reached the flask to the lad, while they 
gazed with mingled curiosity and dread on 
the corpse. 

" By our Lady I a foul human carcass 
is truly soon provided for,** resumed the 
old man, clearing his throat after the strong 
drink, while he crossed himself, and put 
up the flask. *^ Well, I say now what I 
said before ; paid as deserved. He who 
deals against law shall be dealt with with- 
out law. One should otherwise, it is true, 
speak well of the dead ; and this I must say, 
Jesper Mogensen was in some sort a pious 
man; he neglected neither mattins nor mass; 
he went to confession every other day. 
That we none of us do. But the crow is 



\ 



AND THB OUTLAWS. 207 

never the whiter, let her wash herself ever 
so often, and I would not have given a 
rotten herring's head for all his piety. 
What said I the other day to boatman 
S6ren ? * Mark,* said I, * that craft will 
one day run aground under the gallows.' 
That one could see with half an eye. We 
will pray an honest prayer for his soul, 
however, Ole, although he hath haggled 
many a shining piece from us, and cheated 
the king out of more pecks of silver pieces 
than the ravens have now left hairs on his 
sinful head. Would it might fare some- 
what better with him where he now is than 
it fared with his prisoner at Sjoborg I Much 
better it were a shame to ask, for a pitiless 
master he ever was, and graceless rulers 
are shut out from the Lord." 

" True, master," answered the young 
fisherman ; << but might one not almost 
say the same of our young king himself, 
to say so with all reverence and respect ? " 

" Of the king ? Art thou mad, 016 ?" 
exclaimed the old man, with warmth ; " art 
thou clean devil-blinded and possessed ? 



208 KING ERIC 

Is that the Christianity thou learn'st in 
the monastery ? Thou art a pretty fellow, 
truly I " 

" Be not wroth, master!" answered the 
lad ; " but truth is truth, nevertheless, whe- 
ther it be sour or sweet, or whether it tweak 
the nose of high or low, says Pater Gregor, 
and we Danes are a free folk who dare to 
speak out in council *, whether it be against 

* In the early ages of Denmark the people bore 
an important part in the affairs of government, a 
fact of which there are traces at this day in the 
Norwegian constitution, in which the peasantry as a 
class are represented. The people at large decided 
on war or peace, nor was any royal decree con- 
sidered valid until it had obtained their consent. 
Every town had its own " Ting," or place of as- 
sembly, in the open air ; a large flat stone, placed 
in the centre of a circle of upright ones, served as a. 
platform for the speakers. In these assemblies the 
peasants discussed, not only public affairs, but de- 
cided on all private differences, &c. Saxo Gram- 
maticus blames King Svend Grath6 for neglecting 
to attend these meetings of the people. In such 
assemblies the king was not permitted to take his 
leave until he had greeted even the meanest of his 
subjects, and sent a friendly greeting to his family. 
The English reader may perhaps require to be re- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 209 

^reat or small ; that you know as well as 
I, master. The king, by my troth, is not 
the man to put mercy before justice where 
che outlaws or their kindred and friends 
ire concerned. Now, there, are Marsk 
Stig*s pretty daughters ; he has pent them 
up in the maiden's tower at Vordingborg, 
3nly because their father was an outlawed 
..an; that's not very merciful. Then 
there's the bishop they have so long plagued 
md tortured ; that's a bad business, says 
Pater Gregor. Whether or not he was 
leagued with the outlaws or the Slesvig 
Duke no one knows or can prove ; but, 
however that may be, he was a mighty man 
of God, whom none but the Lord and the 
pope could condemn, says Pater Gregor." 
*' Ay, indeed ! He talks too much, that 
Pater Gregor," muttered the old man, 
seating himself thoughtfully on his fish 
basket. " Those pious sirs of the cloister 
may say what they will ; but this I know, 

[ninded of these facts, in order fully to perceive 
:hat Jepp6 is a representative of his class in that 
ige. — Translator's Note. 



210 KING ERIC 

that a more just-dealing king we have never 
had in Denmark. As to his stringing up 
that fellow-^'* 

" It was a good deed, master, that I 
will never deny,'* interrupted the lad. " If 
the steward did not exactly help the bishop 
on his road, — which, no doubt, was what 
he was hung for, — he still richly deserved 
the halter for many other things. The 
king did him no wrong; but that poor 
turnkey Mads, and his nephew, I am sorry 
for them. They are pent up, under bolt 
and bar, at Flynderborg, only because the 
ale was a little too strong for them that 
night-watch in the tower. He who helped 
the bishop but,'* he added, with a rather 
sinister roll of the eye, "was surely none 
other than that gallows bird, Morten the 
cook. It was both boldly and piously 
done, says Pater Gregor, and therefore 
doubtless hath holy St. Martin saved his 
life, and helped him out of the country; 
but he is an outlawed man not the less for* 
that, and if the Devil hath not an eye on 
his soul I am no honest Dane." 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 211 

" Hark, Olel*' resumed the old man, 
in a stem voice, and rising from his seat ; 
" take care what thy beardless mouth 
utters, especially when thou speak'st of 
the Devil, or of our Lord, or of the king I 
Touching Morten the cook, I have also a 
word to say to thee ; but first, of the king. 
'Tis a bad hand that will not protect its 
head, they say ; the king is the people's 
head, see'st thou, and when the head aches 
all the limbs ache also; that hath every 
true Danish man in our time learnt soon 
enough. Our young King Eric hath gone 
through much trouble, from the time he 
was no higher than my knee, but our Lord 
hath been with him till this hour, and pre- 
served both his soul and his body, despite 
archbishop, and pope, and clergy. We are 
a free folk, 'tis true ; each man may speak 
out the truth boldly and freely, whether it 
be against high or low ; but he who speaks 
an ill word of the king shall account for it 
to me, as surely as I have a tongue in my 
mouth and fists to my oar. Thou art a 
greenhorn, Ole ; thou knowest but little of 



212 KING EBIC 

what passed in the country while thou wert 
in thy swaddling clothes. Had the outlaws 
murdered thy father when thou wert riding 
thy stick thou would*st hardly have taken 
them to thy arms when ye rode with a 
troop of horse/' 

" There, by my troth, you are right, 
master!" answered the youth, eagerly. 
" Life for life ! I would say, and strike off 
their heads wherever I met them ; it were 
an honest deed and righteous wrath. But, 
nevertheless, * Vengeance is our Lord's,' 
and a king should be somewhat cooler 
headed and wiser than any of us ; he 
should rather suffer injustice than put state 
and country in peril, by standing up so 
stiffly for his right." 

** Old woman's chatter," interrupted 
Jeppe ; ** would the egg teach the hen? 
Justice shall stand, though all the earth 
should perish. Thus should a king think. 
He should not bear the sword in vain." 

** But, dear master ! there is Pater Gre- 
gor, and all the pious monks at Esrom, and 
many wise men in our town, they all of 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 213 

them think the king pushes his zeal and 
obstinacy too far, and only brings himself 
and the whole country into trouble; for 
this he hath now fallen under the arch- 
bishop's ban ; yet he still will kick against 
the pricks, and goes just the same to 
mattins and mass as heretofore." 

<< That defiance and ungodliness our 
Lord will pardon him, I think/' said the 
old man, with a nod of the head ; ** there 
is, besides, surely no bishop in the country 
who would shut the church door against 
him because Master Grand hath excom- 
municated him at Sjoborg. When that 
quarrelsome lord was laid by the heels, 
folks said directly that all churches were to 
be shut in the country; but, look you, 
was it so ? If ten commands to shut them 
were sent from the pope in Rome, may I 
be a flounder if he would be obeyed. 
But now the archbishop is free, so there is 
no great need for it. At any rate we have 
seen before that a Danish king may be 
under a ban, and yet bear sceptre and 
crown to his dying day." 



214 KING EBIC 

" Things may go wrong enough yet, 
master," answered the lad. *• Without the 
pope's peimit he can never wed, and he 
may have long to wait for it while he deals 
in this fashion by every canon and priest 
who sided with the archbishop* ITiere is 
the rich Hans Rodis in Copenhagen ; he 
hath lost all he owned because he sent a file 
and tools to the archbishop in the towen 
Master Peter in Lund hath not fared a 
hair better, and all the archbishop's church 
property is seized. The like of such pre- 
sumption hath never been heard of in 
Christendom before, says Pater Gregor.'* 

^^ In this matter the king will follow 
the advice of his best counsellors, and 
neither thine nor Pater Gregorys,*' mut- 
tered the old man. ** He and the state 
council must answer for what hath been 
done. Folk have tried him rather too 
much, and there are bounds to every 
thing, even to piety and patience. * Be- 
ware of a brawl 1 ' said my departed father, 
God rest his soul I * but if thou meddlest 
in one, carry it through like a man.' It 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 215 

avails but little to cast butter against 
stones. No ; hard against hard." 

" By your leave, master, so said the 
Devil, when he leant his back against a 
thorn bush," interrupted the young fisher- 
man, smiling ; '^ but it is said he repented 
it when he found what it did for him. I 
also have heard a wise old saying at times : 
* If thou canst not step over, then creep 
under,' said my aunt to me. Had our 
king learnt that wisdom of the proud Drost 
Hessel, who taught him to flourish lance 
and spear, it would have been better for 
state and country, says " 

"Pshaw!" interrupted the old man, 
placing his basket again on his back ; 
"such wisdom may do well enough for 
thee, and thy aunt, and Pater Gregor, who 
speak out all ye think ; but what is fitting 
for rats and mice would ill beseem the 
falcon and eagle. Humility is precious as 
gold; but where a king would pass he 
should sooner burst the gate open than 
creep under it through the mire." So 
saying, he cast another glance at the solemn 



216 KING EEIC 

witness of the king's stern and speedy ex- 
ecution of justice, and then, silent and 
thoughtful, strode forward on the road to 
Gillelei6. 

** But, since you side with the king in 
every thing, master," asked the youth, 
" how can you then defend mad Morten 
the cook, or think he will 'scape the gal- 
lows ? He hath ever sided with the out- 
laws. That he helped the bishop out of 
Sjoborg you know as well as any of us. I 
saw he was with you on Christmas eve, ere 
he put out to sea again in that black pil- 
grim ship." 

" If thou would'st keep in a whole skin, 
jackanapes, let that be between us two," 
exclaimed the old man, in wrath, turning 
menacingly towards him. ** However Mor- 
ten may have sinned, he now doth penance 
for it ; he who puts out to open sea at 
Christmas, to serve his Lord and Saviour, 
is no bad Christian, according to my notion, 
and therefore no traitor to his country." 

" But every one knows " 

** Gossip 1 we know enough! What 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 217 

Morten hath to do either with the bishop 
or the outlaws concerns not thee or me ; 
but this I know for certain, since he hath 
seen our young king himself, and taken 
money at his hand, he hath been true as 
steel to him in his heart. That Master 
Grand got loose was perhaps a God's pro- 
vidence,'* he added. ** In this matter I 
even think myself our brave king hath set 
rather too boldly to work. If Morten hath 
had a finger in the game it may cost him 
dear; but that he neither meant ill to 
country or king I will stake my neck 
upon." 

" A juggler and a godless churl he is, 
nevertheless; and an outlawed vagabond 
and sure gallows bird to boot, if he sets 
foot again on Danish ground," said the 
young fisherman, eagerly. " 'Tis both sin 
and shame, master! that your young pretty 
Karen will weep her blue eyes red for his 
sake." 

** Ha, indeed I hath that come out ? " 
said the old man ; ** thou would'st rather, I 
warrant, she should weep them red for thy 

VOL. I. L 



218 KINO ERIC 

sakci if weep she must. Drive these fan- 
cies out of thine head, Ole I If Morten 
come back ere St. Hans day, as he 
promised Karen and me, and can give 
account of himself, thou shalt have leave 
to dance at his wedding; but if ye would 
speak ill of him to me or to Karen, thou 
may'st pack up and pack off. Now thou 
knowest my manner of thinking.'* So 
saying, the old man marched forward with 
rapid strides. The youth followed him, 
crest'fallen and in silence, till they drew 
near the shore, where Jeppe unmoored a 
fishing boat for the purpose of sailing up 
the coast with the fish he could no longer 
dispose of at Sjdborg. 

** You must not suppose I would speak 
ill of Morten,** resumed the young fisher- 
man, as he set down the basket in the boat, 
and stepped over the gunwale after his 
master. ***Twould be of no use either; you 
and Karen are now so bewitched by that 
gallows bird. I must own myself he is a 
comely, sharp-witted jolly fellow, although 
he begins to get somewhat into years; in- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 219 

deed, as for that matter he might almost 
be her father. If he helped the bishop to 
flee out of piety and Christian charity, he 
hath perhaps done a good deed, but folk 
will hardly say it was for the Lord's sake. 
Your pretty little Karen would be better 
mated with a young fellow than with an 
outlawed and almost aged vagabond, and — ^* 

" Thou beardless greenhorn I what is thy 
head running upon ? '' exclaimed the old 
man angrily, and stamping as he spoke. 
^* Think'st thou it needs but a smooth 
ehin, and a milk-sop look, to cut out an 
honest fellow with my daughter ? Out of 
sight out of mind, say many young folk 
now-a-days ; but that shall none say of me 
and my daughter. If I hear a word more 
of this matter from thy mouth, Ole I it shall 
be the last we exchange together. But 
what devil is this?'* he exclaimed, in sur- 
prise, as he perceived there were three in 
the boat ; ** whence came that fellow ?" 

" Will you carry a passenger across to 
Skan6r, for fair words and fair recompense, 
good people ? " asked a tall man, suddenly 

L 2 



220 KING ERIC 

rising from under one of the rowing 
benches, where he appeared to have con- 
cealed himself under the sail. He wore a 
dirty peasant's cloak, but it fitted ill, and a 
knight's shoulder scarf peeped from under 
it, together with the richly gilded hilt of a 
sword. He seemed to strive in vain to 
conceal a large scar on his forehead under 
the goat's-skin cap ; his pale and frigid 
countenance, and furtive glances from 
under his rusty-coloured meeting eyebrows, 
inspired a feeling of distrust ; he spoke 
Danish, but with something of a Norwe- 
gian pronunciation, which, however, seemed 
not to be natural to him, but assumed for 
the occasion. 

" What have you to do here in my 
boat ? '* growled forth Jeppe, measuring 
the intruder with a bold look. " If you 
would cross to Skanor, why go ye not to 
the ferry ? '* 

" The king hath stopped the ferries on 
account of the archbishop,'* answered the 
stranger. " Every man knows Grand hath 
escaped hence by sea, and yet the stupid 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 221 

dullards hunt after him here, both by day 
and night. Not a cat can leave the 
country, and there is now hardly a wood 
or morass left where a friend of the pious 
archbishop may hide himself. I see you 
take me for a deserter. It avails not to 
withhold the truth from you. I am a 
persecuted man ; save my life, and bring me 
to a sea port from whence I may escape ; I 
will richly repay you for it." 

" Weill*' said the old man, and his stern 
look relaxed. *^ No doubt an honest man 
may get into trouble, as hath chanced ere 
now; he is often forced to quit the country 
in disguise who afterwards can return 
with honour. The wind is fair, my yawl 
will weather the trip bravely ; but I must 
first know who you are, and wherefore you 
are outlawed ? " 

" Outlawed ! •* repeated the stranger, with 
a start ; ** who says I am outlawed, with 
law and justice, because I fly from law- 
lessness and shameful injustice? lam a kins- 
man of the great Archbishop Grand, whom 
they have here so shamefully and unjustly 

L 3 



222 KING ERIC 

maltreated. If I would not expose myself 
to the same tyrannical treatment, from 
which our Lord and pious men have freed 
him, I am now forced to seek safety by 
flight/* 

** But your name?" resumed the fisher- 
man, as he suddenly placed the oar against 
a stone, and pushed the boat out to sea, 
with such force that both the stranger and 
the astonished young fisherman tumbled 
over the bench. ** You will not call your- 
self outlawed, then ? " he continued calmly, 
while the stranger stood up, and cast an 
anxious look on the wide space between 
the boat and the shore. ** I should incline 
to think ye were so, nevertheless. Are ye 
not called, because of a little mistake, Squire 
Kagge with the scar? Were ye one of 
those who slew the king's father in Fin- 
nerup barn ? and if it be you who lately 
sought to take the king's life, I should be 
a rascal if I stirred a hand to bring you to 
any other free port than the gallows." 

The strangei-'s countenance had become 
fearfully distorted ; he thrust his hand as if 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 223 

convulsively under his cloak, and drew 
forth a long glittering knight's sword. 
" You must either set me instantly on 
shore here, or bring me to Skanor harbour ; 
no matter who the devil I may be,'* he 
cried. " The squire whom Denmark's 
greatest man dubbed a knight lets himself 
not be carried to market with cod and 
flounders by a vile fisherman." 

" Big words and fat flesh stick not in 
the throat," answered Jeppe, quietly brand- 
ishing the heavy iron-tagged oar like a 
lance over his head. " Here I stand on ray 
own ground, and here I am master. Cast 
your dyrendal* from you, Sir Malapert 1 

* Dyrendal, the name of Roland's sword, after- 
wards used for swords in general by the Danes. 
Scandinavian warriors esteemed their swords above 
all other treasures. If a sword had done good 
service, it was distinguished by some epithet ex- 
pressive of the deeds it had achieved. The sword 
of King Hagen of Norway was called. ^*'W^^^ 
bider/' or mill-stone biter, from having ctitttifeugh 
a mill-stone. If the owner of such a sword had no 
immediate descendants, it was buried beside him in 
his grave. — Translator's Note. 

L 4 



224 KING ERIC 

or you shall feel one upon your skull which 
will make you forget the stroke of knight- 
hood you got from the greatest man. If 
that man be Stig Anderson/' — he added, 
*< you need not mention your fair name or 
your fair deed — for in that case you were 
as certainly with Marsk Stig and the grey 
friars in Finnerup barn as you are now 
with Jeppe the fisherman on the road to 
judgment and the gallows/* 

** We shall see,'* shouted the stranger, 
like a madman, and rushed on him with 
his drawn sword, but at the same moment 
he fell back senseless in the boat, while the 
hat flew from his head before a stroke of 
Jeppe's iron-tagged oar. 

" Take the dyrendal from him, and bind 
him, Ole, while I loose the sails,'* said the 
old fisherman calmly, as he threw down 
the oar, and began to unfurl the sails. 
" That blow he dies not of. If the kinsr 
will give him his life, that's his affair ; but 
none shall say that old Jeppe the fisherman 
sided with such like outlaws, and let a 
regicide slip whole skinned from Gilleleie.'* 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 225 

The young fisherman obeyed his master. 
The sails were soon unfurled, and the fish- 
ing yawl sailed swifUy along the coast. 

Jepp6 was not mistaken. His captive was 
the renowned Aage Kagg6 who had been 
outlawed with all those who had taken a 
personal share in the murder of Eric Clip- 
ping. He had entered the service of the 
King of Norway, but had ventured to 
Denmark to bring Marsk Stig*s daughters 
from thence ; and also, as it appeared, with 
other less peaceable intentions. That he 
had been a party to the murderous attack 
of the crazed Jutlander upon the king the 
Drost's huntsmen had borne witness, and 
there seemed also every probability that it 
was he who had attempted the assassina- 
tion of Drost Aag6, as he was riding with 
Marsk Stig's daughters into the gate of 
Vordingborg castle. Every burgomaster 
and all commandants of castles throughout 
the country had received orders to trace 
and to seize him, wherever he was found. 
As an outlaw, besides, every one who 
met and knew him was empowered to slay 

L 5 



226 KING ERIC 

him on the spot. Although in genera! 
he, like all those outlawed regicides, was 
held in great detestation, there was still 
one heart which throbbed for him with 
love and sympathy, — the wayward, rest- 
less heart of the captive Lady Ulrica. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 227 



CHAP. IX. 

On the same new year's day on which the 
outlawed knight was captured, Marsk Stig's 
youngest daughter slumbered, evidently dis- 
turbed by agitating dreams, in the tower 
called the Maiden's Tower, in Vordingborg 
castle, while her sister rose ready dressed 
from the prie-dieu, and listened with folded 
hands to the sound of mattins from the 
chapel of the castle. A faint ray of day- 
light fell on them through tlie tower win- 
dow. "Help! help I" shrieked Ulrica, 
starting up; ** sleepest thou, Margaretha? 
Oh, it was fearful ! Yet it was, after all, 
but a foolish dream.'' 

**What ails thee, dear sister?" asked 
the placid Margaretha, taking her sister 
lovingly by the hand ; " thou must surely 
have dreamt again of that unhappy knight, 
Kagg6?" 

L 6 



228 KING EBIC 

" Thou mightest be rather more cour- 
teous, sister. So very unhappy he cannot 
be, when / am dreaming of him. Did I 
but know he was safe 1 " 

** Pray to the Lord and our Lady that 
his grim image may be effaced from thy 
soul I*' continued Margarethaj "he can 
never come to a good end. All the great- 
ness and splendour he hath promised thee 
are but empty castles in the air, with 
nought of truth in them.*' 

" Truth here, and truth there, sister I 
What you call our castles in the air are 
nevertheless far better than this much too 
real prison ; and how can'st thou call Sir 
Kagge grim ? I think his bold, wolf-like 
eye-brows are perfectly lovely. Alas I sweet 
sister I I dreamed he was in distress and in 
peril of his life. He stood in chains before 
me, and bade me entreat the king for his 
life.'' 

" He is assuredly thy bad angel, Ulrica 1" 
answered Margaretha; " it is his fault that 
we are now here. Would thou hadst never 
believed his flatteries and false tongue. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 229 

he loves no one in the world save him- 
self." 

" Howcan'st thou say so, sister? Did'st 
thou not hear thyself how solemnly he 
swore to free us, or lose his life ? ** 

" But when it was time to keep his word, 
like a true and manly knight, his own piti- 
ful revenge and his own life were dearer 
to him than our peace and freedom,*' an- 
swered Margaretha. ** He, in truth, sharp- 
ened the arrow our faithful squire shot from 
the bow, but ere it flew from the string he 
took himself off, and abandoned us to our 
fate.'* 

"But he followed us, though, at peril of 
his life, close to the castle gate, and had 
not the Drost been dearer to thee than 
both I and thyself we should not now 
have been here." 

" If our freedom could only be gained 
by treachery and assassination, it were bet- 
ter we stayed here captive all our life-time," 
answered Margaretha. " Had the noble 
Drost Aag6 been as much our enemy as he 
showed himself to be our friend — I would 



230 KING ERIC 

not eren then have left him in that condi- 
tion to bleed to death, without help and 
care. I would rather remain in prison 
until my dying day than flee with a 
cowardly assassin, and be suspected by the 
noble Drost of having had the least part 
or lot in such crime." 

"Thou art really much too conscientious, 
sister Margarethal In comparison with me, 
thou art half an angel, it is true ; but con- 
fess to me now, it was surely not purely 
for the Lord's sake you stayed and behaved 
so generously to the Drost. He is a very 
handsome young knight, although he can- 
not be compared to Sir Kagg6, and I have 
seen plainly enough how tenderly and 
lovingly your eyes meet each time you bind 
up his wounds — thou art really making him 
greatly beholden to thee." 

" Be not malicious, dear Ulrica,*' an- 
swered Margaretha, blushing crimson; 
"what harm is there in my tending him 
with unfeigned good will ? '* 

" Tend him with as much good will as 
thou likest ; I never said there wis any 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 231 

• 

barm in that — call him every instant the 
noble and the pious, just as if he were the 
only good knight in Christendom I but at 
any rate give me leave to defend Sir Kagge, 
and feel anxious for him when he perils 
his life for my sake I It was indeed not 
quite according to rule that he left us when 
we were captured ! I shall scold him 
finely for that when we meet ; but what was 
he to do against so many ? If he escaped, 
he could still hope to free us as long as he 
himself was at liberty. As to his attacking 
the Drost in the dark gateway, without 
sounding a trumpet before him, it perhaps 
did not look altogether chivalrous ; but stra- 
tagem against superior force is always law- 
ful in war, and it was after all a bold and 
desperate enterprise, which may even yet 
cost him his life, although it did nought 
either for or against us — ah ! did I but 
know he was safe, I would gladly be pa- 
tient, and put up with this captivity some 
time longer. — When the king gets to know 
what I now know he will have to ask par- 
don, and treat me like a princess.*' 



232 KING ERIC 

** Poor Ulrica 1 what sayest thou?*' ex- 
claimed her sister in dismay, and turning 
pale ; ^* what madman can have put into 
your head '* 

"That was the secret, then, thou wouldst 
never out with, my pious sister!" inter- 
rupted Ulrica, with a joyous smile. ** I 
had determined to conceal my discoveiy 
until I could show thee what use it was of; 
but now I will show thee that Kagge is 
much more true and devoted to me than 
thou art. While thou thoughtest only of 
the wounded Drost, my outlawed knight 
hath enabled me to guess who I am, and 
hath sent me a billet of more importance 
than all the Drosts in the world. — This 
Runic scrap should burst before us the 
doors of every prison in Denmark/' So 
saying, she produced with a triumphant 
air, a small and curiously carved wooden 
tablet, upon which was depicted a royal 
coat of arms with three crowned leopards, 
and with Ulrica's name below, in Runic 
characters, by the side of Princess Merete's, 
King Eric Ericson's, and Junker Christo- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 233 

pher's. " Seest thou *' said she, drawing 
up her head proudly, " the three crowned 
leopards stand in the king's great seal ? As 
yet I have only half made out the con- 
nection. But at any rate I have gathered 
thus much from all the puzzling hints they 
have given me: — The king's father must 
have been secretly wedded to a noble lady 
of Marsk Stig's kindred. It must no doubt 
have been a hazardous affair, since he had 
another for his queen ; but, nevertheless, 
lam his daughter, just the same, and there- 
fore Princess Merete's and the king's half 
sister — though no one must know it. — My 
poor mother hath no doubt suffered great 
wrong, and thus come by her death ; but 
that thy father and his kinsmen have amply 
revenged. Me they brought up in the 
Marsk's house, and therefore I must now 
share the persecutions that have come upon 
thy whole race." 

" Alas I believe not one word of that 
confused and wretched story, dear Ulrica I " 
exclaimed Margaretha, bursting into tears ; 
**bum those unfortunate lines, and be- 



234 KING ERIC 

Jieve me thou art in truth my sister, and 
all that talk of a higher birth can but bring 
thee shame and degradation." 

" That thou would'st scarcely say had'st 
thou seen thine own name by the side of 
kings and princes/* answered Ulrica, with a 
proud toss of the head, while she gazed 
with sparkling eyes on the wooden tablet ; 
" and look," she continued, fuming it over, 
** here stand the Norwegian Duke Haco*s 
lion shield, and pedigree; it reaches in a 
direct line up to the great Harold Har- 
fager; and seest thou there stands my true 
knight Kagge's name in a side branch like 
mine — he traces his descent also from kings 
and princes ; and remernberest thou not 
what old Mother Else foretold me at Hald? 
I was to become a great princess one day, 
she said, and get a handsome and rich 
bridegroom of princely birth." 

" Alas, dearest sister!" exclaimed Mar- 
garetha, sorrowfully, ** thy childish vanity 
makes thy soul the sport of dishonourable 
and traitorous braggarts — the domestic mi- 
series which brought misfortune upon the 



99 

99 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 235 

country as well as on our renowned race 
could be represented to thee by none but 
an evil spirit as a source of honour and 
good fortune. The blood of slaves, not 
the blood of princes, runs in that man's 
veins who could picture that to thee as an 
honour which would make thee to die of 
grief and shame, did'st thou believe it to 
be true, and knewest how to prize the birth 
which is in truth high and honourable. 

** *Tis pity thou art not a priest, sister ! 
said Ulrica, with a toss of the head ; ** if 
the story of my high birth were only an 
idle and unfounded report, it could hardly 
have had such important consequences here 
in the country ; thou must thyself have 
thought it true, since thou never would'st 
confide it to me ; but I have long had an 
inkling of it. Old Mother Else dared not 
come quite out with it ; but this you must 
at any rate allow, — all who have known 
us and our family have ever bowed much 
lower to me than to thee, although thou 
wert the eldest ; and I have seen folk point 
oft 'to me, when 1 was gaily clad, and heard 



236 KING EBIC 

them whisper, * Look, there goes the little 
princess ; look, her pretty eyes twinkle 
just like King Clipping's/*** 

" Poor, poor sister I '* exclaimed Mar- 
garetha, folding her, weeping, in her arms ; 
** and could'st thou endure to hear such 
hateful words ? Were they able to flatter 
thy vain and childish heart by a glittering 
title which concealed the bitterest hate and 
scorn ? Poor Ulrica I thy greatest misfor- 
tune, after all, is thy soul's blindness — it 
makes thee even vain and proud of what 
should be thy grief and shame. Alas I didst 
thou tremble with me at that tale as at 
a voice from the bottomless pit I perhaps 
should know how to comfort and counsel 
thee ; then would I weep with thee, and 
pray our blessed Lady to give thee the hope 
she gave me, when at times all the horrors 
I saw and heard in my childhood seemed 
like a frightful dream, and it was as though 
an angel whispered to my soul that tlie 
whole was error and illusion. — Ah, mother 1 

^ King Glipping, so called from his twinkling 
eye. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 237 

mother! how shall 1 perform that I pro- 
mised thee, and britig this erring child safe 
to thine arras ? " 

" Now thou art growing tiresome again, 
Margaretha, with all thy love, and thy 
piety, and thy conscience,'* interrupted 
Ulrica, pettishly, " Your mother was only 
my foster mother ; that I can well under- 
stand. Who my real mother was thou 
mightest easily tell, if there was any real 
sisterly love in thee ; but thou art not my 
sister after all. 1 would thou wert in a 
nunnery ! there thou mightest mourn over 
me, and pray for me as much as it pleased 
thee^ without plaguing me with it ; yet, 
no I for then I must part from thee, and 
that I could not bear," she added, affec- 
tionately. " I am still a worldling, dear 
good Margaretha I " continued Ulrica, with 
child-like simplicity. ** I have told you so 
a hundred times. All the misfortunes 
that happened in our childhood, or before 
I was born, I have neither seen nor shared 
in ; how, then, canst thou require I should 
grieve over them ? And what good would 



338 KING ERIC 

it do were 1 now to sit down with thee to 
mourn and weep ? What our parents and 
their kindred have suffered or done amiss 
our blessed Lady must pray our Lord to 
make amjends for, and forgive them ; but 
that I have just as little to do with as thou. 
I thank my Lord and Maker, and our 
blessed Lady, that I have come into this 
fair world, and that I am not ashamed of 
my birth, even though I am but half a 
princess. The sorrow and degradation thou 
would'st have me despair over I care not 
to meddle with ; either it is altogether idle 
talk, and then there is nought to mourn 
for ; or it is true, and I must be satisfied 
with it as my destiny ; and then I should 
still be a kind of princess ; and what shame 
can it be to me that I should be called 
what I am, and that a knight of royal 
descent woos me, and would bring me to 
the station and honour which are mine by 
right ? '* 

** Alas ! for thy honour and thy wooer, 
poor sister 1 " answered Margaretha, ** there 
is not a true word in Sir Kagge ; all know 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 239 

he is come of higher birth than he de- 
serves, and it was not till he was outlawed 
and fled to Norway that he thought of 
disowning his own kindred, and tracing his 
pedigree in a disgraceful manner to the 
royal house of Norway. Such dishonour- 
able fiction would show thee his character, 
if thou didst not share his perverted han- 
kerings after the greatness which confers 
not honour.'* 

During this conversation Ulrica had ar- 
rayed herself in her richest attire, and it 
had become quite light. *' Now look at 
me I" she said, contemplating herself in 
the polished shield on the wall. " Need I 
really be so terribly ashamed of my own 
existence, or wish I had never been born ? 
That indeed would be shameful and un- 
godly. To speak honestly, Margaretha, 
should I doubt all that Sir Kagg6 hath 
told me of my descent and of my beauty, 
I ought to doubt my own eyes also, and 
every mirror I looked into would be just as 
false a flatterer and traitor as thou deemest 
him to be." 



240 KING ERIC 

" Truly the mirror is a false flatterer/* 
answered Margaretha ; " it shows us but 
the fair outside and the smooth skin^ but 
hides the skeleton and the image of death 
within us. The more pleasure we take in 
the mimic image it displays to us in our 
vanity, the more the eyes are blinded and 
the soul corrupted. Hadst thou heard the 
exaggerated compliments Sir Kagge paid 
me ere he saw thee quite grown up, and 
found thou hadst a more attentive ear for 
his fair speeches and bold plans concerning 
our forfeited goods and rights, he would 
scarcely have been less the object of thy 
laughter and ridicule than that foolish Sir 
Palle." 

" Ah, how terribly unreasonable thou 
art, thou dear pious Margaretha 1 ** inter, 
rupted Ulrica ; " that fat stupid Sir Palle 
was made to be a laughing stock. I know 
well enough Kagge was once a little in love 
with thee, but 1 can readily forgive him, 
since he hath got over it so well. — Thou 
wert too in some sort my sister, and at the 
time I was almost a child. — - Thou wouldst 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 241 

doubtless have had him sigh himself to 
death over thy coldness, but that was too 
much to ask of a handsome young knight. 
Should he then be deemed a faithless and 
inconstant lover because he was mistaken 
in us sisters, ere he could know our hearts 
and his own ? How could he help that 
thou wert so cold and indifferent, and so 
insufferably pious ? And was it then so un- 
pardonable a sin that at last he found out 
that I was quite as fair — or perhaps rather 
more so ? '* 

"Dear deluded child 1*' sighed Mar- 
garetha, patting her sister's cheek, while 
she parted the fair curled locks from her 
brow, " must thou ever seek to trace 
every sentiment thou wouldst rightly un- 
derstand to a vain and empty source ? 
Kagge was a loyal and devoted squire to 
our father, it is true ; he was a zealous 
sharer in that fearful deed of vengeance, 
the grounds of which thou now thinkest 
thou hast discovered ; but were those 
grounds not false, and wert thou in truth 
that thou thinkest thyself to be, how canst 

VOL. I. M 



242 KINO EBIC 

thou give thy hand without shuddering to 
a man who was with the band in Finnerup- 
bam ? '* Slie pauHcd, and folded her tiand« 
m if in silent prayer, mi h\\c knelt down on 
the prie-dieu, and rented her lovely bead 
on the breviary. 

** Margaretha I dearest Margaretha I 
thou liaHt terrified me," exclaimed Ulrica, 
who had turned quite pale. " A horrible 
and ghastly form rises before me. Ah I 
thou art right ; I never thought of that. 
If the story of my birth be true I ought 
never to hold Sir Kagge dear, and yet I 
never saw the noble ill-fated prince who 
fell in Finnerup-bam. Should I hate all 
those who willed his death, I must also 
hate my mother, and thy mother, and father 
Stig. Alas, Margaretha! we must never 
think on our lot in this world, if we would 
be gay and happy among other human 
beings ; we must either forget all that hath 
chanced to us, or go into a nunnery, and 
bid the beautiful joyous world good night; 
but that I cannot do. Dear sister I pray for 
me. I will forget what it is not good to 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 243 

think upon, but I cannot hate any living 
soul ; and he who loves me with truth and 
fervour I rmist love again, whoever he may 
be, and for what cause soever he may be 
outlawed and persecuted.'* She burst into 
a flood of tears, and held up her long 
golden tresses before her eyes. 

** Dearest Ulrica 1 weep not. I will 
pray for thee as long as I live,** said Mar- 
garetha. She rose hastily from the prie- 
dieu, and folded her sister tenderly in her 
arms. " We have not as yet wished each 
other a happy new year. The Lord and 
our blessed Lady make thee pious and pa- 
tient, and blessed, and grant us both that 
which is most profitable for soul and salva- 
tion. Weep not, dearest Ulrica! If I 
have spoken harshly to thee, and grieved 
thee, forgive me, for our mother's sake I 
She bade me admonish thee, and guard thy 
soul from thoughts of vanity. But I see it 
is so, thou art good and pious and blessed ; 
only weep not ! ** 

" Yes, if thou wilt never more speak 
evil of Sir Kagge, or require I should for- 

M 2 



244 KING ERIC 

get him, and leave oflF dreaming of him, 
for that 1 cannot ; that I will not do/* 
So saying, Ulrica dried her eyes with her 
long hair, and peeped archly at her sister 
through her fingers, 

" In the Lord's name, love every living 
soul in which there is a spark of God's 
grace,*' answered Margaretha, " only be 
not sorrowful." 

" Well, I can understand you now," 
said Ulrica, taking her hand from her eyes. 
She laughed, and heartily kissed her sister. 
" A happy new year, sister Margaretha ! 
Would thou might'st wed the handsome 
Drost ere the year is out, and would we 
might get out of this cage ere the woods 
are green and the birds sing." She then 
began to dance with her staid sister round 
the prison chamber, singing, 

** I know where stands a castle fair, 
All dazzling to the sight; 
Its walls are decked with carvings rare, 
With gold and silver bright" ♦ 

* Fragment of an old Danish ballad. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 245 

** Hush I hush! dear sister ! some one is 
coining," said Margaretfaa, entreatingly, 
Ulrica listened, and on hearing the bolt 
withdrawn from the prison door she hastily 
arranged her hair in the polished shield, 
and suddenly assumed a stiff and conse- 
quential deportment. The door opened, 
and a sprightly little maiden entered to 
attend on them, and to bring the usual 
morning repast. " A happy new year, 
with the blessing of our Lady and St. Jo- 
seph, noble ladies I" said the maiden, curt- 
seying, as she placed the cup of warm ale 
on the table. " Master asks whether you 
will drive afterwards to high mass with his 
dame. There came strangers in the night,'* 
she added, anxious to impart the news. 
" They slept up above in the knights* 
story. There are to be fine doings because 
of them ; they are to breakfast in the ladies' 
apaitment, and there is a fire on the hearth 
in the great hall. — The strangers are come 
from court ; they say the Drost will de- 
part " 

" Depart 1*' repeated Margaretha, blush. 

M 3 



246 KING EBIC 

ing deeply. " Ah, yes/* she added, calmly^ 
** it is possible, indeed, if it be necessary. 
Yet if they could allow a few days more it 
would be better for him. Follow me to the 
ladies' apartment, little Karen ! Perhaps 
he wants his wounds bound up in haste." 

" No, stay, and see first if my hair is 
properly dressed I" said Ulrica. ** Happy 
new year, little Karen! and a lover ere 
this day twelvemonth." 

" A bridegroom you surely mean, lady 1 
for lovers one may have in plenty every 
year," answered the maiden, simpering. 

*^ Your hair is finely dressed. Lady 
Ulrica I Had / such beautiful silken hair, 
and head-gear of gold and pearl to boot, 
as you have, by my troth I should never 
wish to put on a matron's cap while I 
lived ; but my hair I wish to hide ; the 
sooner the better. Whenever my sweetheart 
hath had a scold from master, I am ever 
forced to hear it is rough and short. You 
are as small as a reed. Lady Ulrica 1" she 
continued, looking at her slender form and 
gay attire ; " one may easily see you are a 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 247 

dainty highborn knight's daughter, and no 
serving maid or kitchen drudge — if /could 
appear in such fashion to my sweetheart, 
how he would stare I But I saw at once 
you were bom to trail in silk and scarlet. — 
There hides something else under those 
wadmal cloaks than maidens of our con- 
dition, said I to Maren, the porter's wife, 
as soon as we set eyes on you ; and when 
master grew afterwards so civil to you, and 
his wife sent you all those fine clothes and 
adornments on Christmas eve — we saw well 
enough how it was, that. we had rare birds 
in the cage ; perhaps even a pnncess, as 
some will have it. — That light green laced 
boddice becomes you marvellously. Lady 
Ulrica ; but were I in Lady Margaretha's 
place I would not wear white attire on 
new-year's-day ; it hath such a sad appear- 
ance, and it is no good omen for the good 

luck and happiness of the new year ^" 

" My colour hath been the shroud's 
since my father and mother died," said 
Margaretha, with a deep sigh ; ** but come 
now, little Karen I while you pass judgment 

M 4 



248 KING ERIC 

on garments and finery many a mass may 
be sung to an end/' 

" Mattins are over, and there is time 
enough ere high mass," said the maiden ; 
**but take some refreshment. It is not 
good to drive to church or bind the Drost's 
neck on a fasting stomach/' 

** I say so too, little Karen 1'* said Ulrica, 
with an arch smile, as she partook heartily 
of the morning draught. " So the Drost 
is well again, and going to depart," she 
continued ; ** truly it must be hard for so 
brave a knight to live so long under maiden's 
care, especially with that frightful scar on 
his neck." 

'* The shame is not his, but the coward's 
who dared not face him," — answered the 
maiden ; " is it not so, Lady Margaretha ? ** 

^' That is my sister's opinion also," sighed 
Margaretha ; " but come I I think I hear a 
ringing." 

" Not yet awhile ; truly thou art much 
too devout, sister 1" said Ulrica, with an 
arch look. ** You forget your repast every 
morning for mass, and mattins often ring in 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 249 

your ears much before the hour. But it is 
true the Drost's neck should be looked at 
ere mass^ and that is ever a work of time. — 
Now I am coming ; take me with you. 1 
am coming instantly. I will not again be 
shut up here alone — ah yes, sister I had I 
not thee by me I should be an ungodly 
being, and sleep over mass time every 
morning. — Thou mayst thank the Drost's 
neck that thou dost never oversleep thy- 
self — stay a moment ; I am coming.'*— She 
drained the pewter cup, and hastened out 
of the door with her sister and their 
attendant. 



M 5 



250 KING EKIC 



CHAP. X. 

From the maiden^s tower, which, with the 
ancient Waldemar^s tower, near the chapel, 
stood within the northern semicircle of the 
wall surrounding the castle, a vaulted pri- 
vate passage led to the broad flagged and 
spacious hall on the first floor of the main 
building into which the knights* hall, the 
ladies' apartment, and various others opened. 
There was likewise a front entrance from the 
court-yard by a flight of high wooden steps, 
surmounted by a porch, and enclosed on 
each side with an iron railing that led up 
to the balcony. Directly opposite the two 
northern towers stood, on the side towards 
the sea, in the southern semicircle of the 
castle wall, the strongly fortified towers 
called the dragon and the sea tower. 
Above the entrance stood the castle tower, 
and above the chapel was a small belfry. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 251 

In the midst of the castle square stood a 
high flagstaff, bearing the royal arms, the 
three crowned leopards among a number of 
golden hearts. The circular wall, which, 
with its high battlements land towers, sur- 
rounded the whole castle, was also environed 
by ramparts and deep moats. As the castle 
was often occupied by the king and his 
whole court, it was kept in perfect repair, 
and amply provided with furniture and 
every kind of convenience. 

The castle was one of the most important 
fortresses in the kingdom. The number of 
men belonging to the garrison and house- 
hold was not inconsiderable. Whenever 
the chapel bell rung for mattins, the com- 
mandant, with all the inmates of the castle 
and its precincts, proceeded to the chapel 
across the spacious square of the castle. 
They now were returning from mattins with 
their extinguished lanterns in their hands. 

The captive maidens were guarded with- 
out any severity. When accompanied by 
one female attendant, the whole castle was 
open to them during the day. They were 

M 6 



252 KINO ERIC 

obliged, however, to sleep at night in the 
tower, which was never unlocked until day- 
light ; and the porter was only permitted 
to open the castle gate for them when the 
commandant himself or his family accom- 
panied them to the church of the town, or 
through the orchard to the chase of the 
castle, where at this season of the year they 
sometimes amused themselves by hawking, 
a sport of which Ulrica was. passionately 
fond, but in which Margaretha only shared 
for her sister's sake. 

When Ulrica, with her sister and the 
attendant maiden, stepped out of the dark 
passage into the vestibule, she instantly 
ran as usual to one of the bow windows, 
and breathed upon one of the panes to 
clear away the frost and make herself a 
peep-hole into the castle yard. <^ Look t 
look I '^ she said, gaily ; ^^ we shall have the 
new yellow car to drive in to-day to church ; 
and look I there they ride to water with 
the strangers* horses — I declare they have 
long silken coverings on, and there are the 
royal grooms with them — Look I the com- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 253 

mandant, with the Drost and the strangers, 
are crossing over this way — one of the 
strangers is a canon ; but who can those 
two comical men be with the German 
caps ? *' 

** Let us go into the ladies* apartment,** 
said Margaretha ; ** it would not be seemly 
that they should find us here alone so 
early.*' 

" One can never see any thing, or enjoy 
any thing, because of that tiresome seem- 
liness/* said Ulrica, pettishly, and followed 
her sister reluctantly into the ladies* apart- 
ment. Shortly afterwards the door opened, 
and Drost Aage entered the ante-chamber, 
with the king*s confessor. Master Petrus 
de Dacia, and the two German minstrels, 
accompanied by the commandant. Sir 
Ribolt, a tall man of noble presence, whose 
knightly attire was arranged in strict con- 
formity to the fashion of the time. The 
commandant first crossed the threshhold, 
and closed the door to keep in the warmth, 
which began to diffuse itself from the large 
glowing stone chimney. 



254 KING ERIC 

<< In the king's name I'' he said, with a 
kind of solemnity, as he doffed his high 
plumed hat, ** welcome in his hall, noble 
sirs I Here he is your host, though in my 
insignificant person — I may expect him 
here, then, in the spring, venerable sir ? " 

** He bade me t)ring you that message, 
next to royal greeting and favour,'* answered 
Master Petrus de Dacia, giving his hand to 
the commandant. " We have slept under 
your roof, but as yet your guests are un- 
known to you/' he continued. " My name 
you know. In a few hours I must journey 
onwards ; but these honourable strangers 
desire, and have royal permission, to be 
your guests for some time, partly with a 
learned and scientific object." He now 
presented to the commandant Master 
Poppe and Master Rumelant from Swabia, 
as renowned professors of the noble art of 
minstrelsy, who had visited the territories 
of many lords and princes, and who were 
now desirous also of seeing and knowing all 
that was remarkable in Denmark respecting 
the manners and the customs of the people. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 255 

and the state of art and science, compared 
with that of other nations. " These learned 
persons,** he added, "are commended to 
you as the king's guests, so long as it is 
their desire to remain here. It is the king's 
pleasure that they should have free access 
to the royal collection of manuscripts and 
the archives of the castle.** 

**Well, these learned guests are wel- 
come,** answered the commandant, saluting 
the strangers with some embarrassment ; "it 
is probably the chronicles they desire to 
search into, and the ancient manuscripts 
which lie here, treating of the affairs of 
Denmark and the German kingdoms in 
olden times. There was lately here a learned 
monk from Nye, who, by the king's com- 
mand, had much to do with these writings. 
They are treasures which I, to say truth, 
know but little how to prize ; but scholars 
can never su£Bciently laud our king*s care- 
fulness in collecting such writings, and 
the free use of them which he allows both 
to native and foreign scholars. The Lord 
help me. Sir DrostI** he whispered to 



256 KING ERIC 

Aage, "they are surely most awfully 
learned ; they perhaps do not understand a 
word of Danish ? *' 

<* Are not your king's famous * Congesta ' * 
to be found here ? '' asked the tall master 
Poppe, in a half German half Danish dialect ; 
«* we desire especially to become acquainted 
with that important historical collection, as 
well as with the copy which is here to be 
seen of your famous Saxo Grammaticus, 
likewise Sveno Agonist, and whatever may 
be found here of collections of old ballads, 
and of Norwegian or Icelandic poems, and 
Sagas of heathen time ; item, all remark- 
able monumenta andvolumina antiquitatis/' 
" What I specially rejoice over,** said the 
enthusiastic little Master Rumelant, " is 
what I here expect to meet with of your 
famous theological lumina and christian 
poets, particularly the far-famed Hexameron 
of the great Andreas Sunonis, of which I 

* A valuable collection of historical documents 
made by King Eric, called Congesta Menvedi. 

t Sveno Agonis, a Danish historian contemporary 
with Saxo Grammaticus. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 257 

have never been able to trace any copy 
among my countrymen, or among any of 
the noble lords and princes, my gracious 
well-wishers and benefactors, whose praises 
I have sung according to my poor ability/' 
" So far as I know, the manuscript you 
speak of is to be found here among the 
learned Latin writings, from the time of 
King Waldemar the Victorious, of blessed 
memory,** answered the commandant, en- 
deavouring to hide his impatience ; " but 
it is only of what is written in the language 
of the country that I can give account to 
you — your study shall be next to the 
manuscript chamber — the castle chaplain 
has the superintendence of it ; he will no 
doubt be able to give you all the inform- 
ation you want. I will arrange every thing 
in the best way I can for you, learned sirs ; 
but I pray you to excuse me, who am a 
layman, and straight-forward soldier, for 
my ignorance of such matters. Permit me 
now to install you among my family, and 
to entreat you will be content for the 
present with some food for the body.** 



258 KING EBIC 

" Allow me first a few words in private 
here with the Drost/' said Master Fetrus, 
remaining behind in the vestibule with 
Aag6, whose pale cheek was for a moment 
tinged with a crimson hue as the door oi 
the ladies' apartment closed, and he was 
but half able to greet Margaretha. It was 
evident that he had suffered from a dan- 
gerous wound. He still held his head rather 
stiffly, and his left arm was in a sling. 

The tall ecclesiastic took him by the 
hand, and gazed on him earnestly, with 
his serene, intellectual eye. " It is chiefly 
for your sake, Drost Aage, the king sent 
me hither," he said ; " you know how dear 
you have been to him from his childhood, 
and how greatly he needs must miss you ; 
but ere it is permitted me to speak one 
word to you of the king's and state affairs, 
I am enjoined to certify myself of the 
health both of your mind and body. It 
is said you have not only been danger- 
ously wounded, but sick at heart besides, 
and plagued with all manner of disquiet 
thoughts and confused dreams, so that you 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 259 

have oft stood more in need of a spiritua] 

than of a bodily physician. If you place 

any trust in me, then confide to me that 

which seems still to disquiet you.'* 

" I have been a visionary since I was 

excommunicated/* said Aage ; " I know 
it right well. The trial was too much for 
me ; but now, praise be to the Lord and 
our Lady I a light hath dawned upon my 
soul, which reconciles me to what is dark 
and mysterious in my life and destiny. — 
But my feelings and concerns are of no 
moment. Tell me only what the king is 
about ; how can he and the country be 
saved from downikll amid all these per- 
plexing events; for the Lord's sake tell 
me?** 

" Not a word of that as yet, dear Drost,** 
interrupted Master Petrus ; ** I must first 
see how far you are capable of acting in 
worldly matters. The spirit that would 
work mightily for the peace and happiness 
of king and country must first be at peace 
with itself.** 

" I have that peace, venerable sir I My 



260 KING ERIC 

soul is as well at ease as it ever will be in 
this world. When I heard the archbishop 
was fled, and the king excommunicated, I 
threw myself on my horse, and would have 
hasted to Sjoborg, but they brought me 
back here half dead. What I have since 
heard of the king's impetuosity and wrath 
hath more than ever disquieted me, and in 
my tendency to dark presentiments I have 
many a night, in my fevered dreams, be- 
held the king surrounded by robbers and 
murderers.** 

** Be easy on that score, noble Drost. 
" No sovereign was ever more beloved by 
his people ; an invisible guard of the angels 
of love and righteousness accompany the 
young Eric, even when traitors and deadly- 
foes are nigh him. I know you were with 
the king's father in Finnerup-bam on that 
bloody St. Cecilia's eve. What you then 
witnessed as a child you surely have never 
been able to forget ?'* 

" No, never I '* exclaimed Aage, with 
breathless earnestness ; <' and I have often 
mourned I had neither courage nor might 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 261 

to avert that catastrophe. It was not till 
the barn burst into flames around the mur- 
dered king that I fully recovered the use 
of my senses. I snatched the sword from 
the old insane Palle, when he threw himself 
on the body to maltreat it, and struck the 
same murderous steel into his breast with 
which he had slain his liege. That bloody 
scene, and the dying look of that crazed 
old man, hath often been fearfully present 
to me. The horrid spectacle, however, 
was nearly eflFaced from my memory, when, 
two years back, I was one day sent by the 
king to the captive archbishop at Sjoborg 
to bring him to confession; but when I 
looked on yon terrific prisoner, as he up- 
lifted his fettered arm, and gave me over 
to the Devil, with the church's most dread- 
fiil curse, it seemed to me as though 1 
stood once more in the barn at Finnerup, 
and as if a condemning spirit spoke through 
the archbishop, and thundered forth the 
words of excommunication over me for my 
sins' sake. In the fever caused by my 
wound I have often suffered from the most 



262 KINO EBIC 

fearful visions, and dreamed of fighting with 
all manner of monsters and demons ; but 
when it was at the worst I ever saw a heavenly 
angel at my side, who, with pious prayers, 
chased away the evil spirit, and whispered 
comfort and consolation to my souL At last a 
mild light dawned upon me — I felt I might 
yet redeem from the curse that life which in 
my childhood I had neither power nor 
courage to sacriflce for my former master, 
by my devoting it to his son, our noble 
young King Eric. This is now my firm 
and stedfast purpose ; I have renounced 
all thoughts of happiness for myself. Yon 
angel of consolation hath since appeared to 
me in a mortal form ; but she neither de- 
sires nor is able to turn me from my resolve. 
It was the eldest and most estimable of 
Marsk Stig's daughters. Venerable sir! 
to you alone I confide it--*8he hath become 
dear to me as my own soul, and she hath 
herself wonderfully strengthened me in my 
resolution. By saving my life, and preserv- 
ing it for the service of him who hath pro- 
nounced her whole race outlawed, she hath 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 263 

sought to atone for a share of her dreaded 
father's crime. Each step I follow my 
beloved young sovereign will and must 
separate me and Marsk Stig's race in this 
world J yet, with the Lord's help, that shall 
not stop my progress, or impair my loyalty. 
Mark, venerable sir I from the moment in 
which the future destiny of my life was 
clear before me I was freed from the evil 
spirits which persecuted me, and I now 
feel myself nearly healed both in body and 
soul. Now you know all, tell me, I be- 
seech you, that which is of far greater 
moment, what message bring you me from 
the king ? '* 

«* One word more of yourself first, noble 
Drost," answered Master Pet r us, in an 
affectionate tone, taking his hand, and 
gazing with his usual look of calm intelli- 
gence on Aage's melancholy but resolute 
countenance ; ** your determination I must 
laud as fair and noble, although it still in 
some measure betokens your tendency to 
extremes, even in what is good and praise- 
worthy. You can devote your life and 



264 KING ERIC 

powers to the service of your king and 
country without seeking the death of a 
martyr; you need not yourself renounce 
the enjoyments of life because a higher 
aim of existence stands in your view j but 
I will not upbraid you for such youthful 
extravagances, — There was a time when I 
desired myself to die a martyr in honour 
of the Holy Virgin ; even now I should 
glory in it were it so ordered for me ; but 
I no longer hanker after martyrdom with 
blind enthusiasm and spiritual pride. The 
consoling angel you speak of, noble Drost, 
she who stood before you here in the form 
of a captive maiden, 1 only desire her 
justification and acquittal, and then assur- 
edly you need not renounce all hope in 
respect of the secret wishes of your heart. 
1 also have known such a being," he con- 
tinued, with emotion ; ** next to the Holy 
Virgin she is even yet to me the most 
precious soul of her sex that lives and hath 
ever lived in the world ; she is, in truth, 
the bride of Heaven here upon earth, and 
her duty and condition, as well as mine, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 265 

separate us here below. But I believe, to 
speak truly, neither you nor any worldly 
man can be called on or have strength to 
make such renunciation ; but Providence 
and its high disposer will care for this. I 
rejoice from my heart that the fairest feel- 
ing of humanity is awakened in your soul. 
Even when attended by the greatest sacri- 
fice and the extreme of privation, it is, 
next to the joys of Heaven, the richest 
treasure that can be bestowed on a human 
being." 

" Yes, assuredly I*' exclaimed Aage, with 
joyful enthusiasm ; " wholly wretched I 
never now can be. I have now told you 
the whole state of my case. Conceal not 
any thing longer from me I " 

** Well, my excellent young friend,** 
said Master Petrus, pressing his hand, ^^ I 
will look on you as spiritually healed. It 
is a true and precious feeling — it is the 
earnest of a noble and mighty life of action 
which stirs in your somewhat enthusiastic 
and visionary soul. 1 would send you forth 
from this much too quiet and trying posi- 

VOL. I. N 



266 KING ERIC 

tion, which only fosters your visionary turn 
of mind. I will not hesitate to enlist your 
whole strength in the service of king and 
country. Lookl here is a private letter 
from the king." He reached a sealed 
packet to the Drost. 

Aage hastily broke the seal. ** Hal 
what means this ? Of course you know 
the contents ? " 

" I wrote the letter myself in the chan- 
cellor's absence. It is come to a breach 
with Junker Christopher ; he must be dis- 
armed and brought to subjection ere two 
more suns have set. You or Sir Ribolt are 
to beleaguer Holbek castle, and join the 
king before Kallundborg with a hundred 
lancers/' 

Drost Aage gazed in dismay, — now 
on the letter, — now on Master Petrus. 
" Great God 1 *' he exclaimed ; '* is it come 
to this ? Civil war and bloody feud be- 
tween the brothers 1 " 

"Be calm, noble Drost I That is precisely 
what you must prevent, but quietly, — cau- 
tiously. I have, besides, a question to put 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 267 

to you, by word of mouth, from the king.'* 
So saying, Master Petrus drew Aage fur- 
ther from the door, and continued in a low 
tone, — ** Hath the junker caused any 
paper to be fetched from hence lately? 
Of the noble Sir Ribolt there is no sus- 
picion ; but is the castle chaplain to be 
counted on ? *' 

** For the commandant's loyalty I will 
answer," replied Aage ; " the chaplain I 
know not. But what mean you ?'* 

" The letters Junker Christopher took 
from the chest in Lund sacristy he aflSrms 
that he deposited here, but they have been 
lately sought for in vain. They might now 
be of the greatest importance in the king's 
aflPair with Master Grand. The learned 
scholars I have brought hither with me are 
again to search the archives. I must myself 
haste to Sweden, to tranquillise the spirits 
there. You know the ambassadors left us 
in haste. We are on doubtful terms with 
their court ; the negotiations are broken 
off. The king went too far in his anger 
at Grand's flight. He now wants to carry 

N 2 



268 KING ERIC 

every thing through by force. It is come 
to a breach also with the Dukes of Sleswig 
—the cardinal hath left the court, he 
menaces to use his fearful authority/' 

" Misfortune upon misfortune I '* ex- 
claimed Aag^. ** Great Heaven I what will 
be the end of all this ?'' 

" If the Lord please, all may turn out 
more favourably than seems likely at pre- 
sent/' continued Master Petrus, calmly. 
** If you and the Marsk can procure peace 
with temporal enemies, I and my colleagues 
hope, with God's assistance, to obtain a 
truce with ecclesiastical foes. Chancellor 
Martinus and Provost Guido are sent to 
Rome to anticipate Grand. Most of the 
bishops in the country side with the king. 
The provincial prior of the Dominicans 
and the chapters continue their protest 
against the constitution of Veile. No priest 
will uphold the interdict ; and, as I said, 
the people are loyal and devoted to the 
king." 

<< But this unhappy quarrel with the 
junker — the breach with the dukes — the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 269 

doubtful terms with Sweden — the lung's 
rashness and impetuosity — and that ter- 
rible Isamus and the outlaws ! '' 

" You are right, Drost Aag6 ! There 
are more clouds in Denmark's and our 
young king's heavens than it is in the power 
of man to disperse" — resumed Petrus de 
Dacia ; " but remember," he added, so- 
lemnly, ** above the clouds are the stai*s 
of heaven, and over the course and govem-^ 
ment of the stars presides the most high 
and righteous Creator I and forget not, dear 
Drost, where stem justice would annihi- 
late us stands the Mediator and his hea- 
venly Mother. Her prayers can shake 
and avert the threatenings of each evil 
star, however firmly fixed in the judgment 
heaven. Be comforted, noble Drost 1" 
be continued, with mild tranquillity ; 
" none can draw aside the veil of futurity : 
this much, however, I think to have dis- 
cerned in yon vast mysterious book, that I 
renounce not the hope of better days for 
Denmark, so long as the Lord and our 
blessed Lady will extend a protecting hand 

N 3 



270 KING ERIC 

over the king's life. With his fortunate 
star will that of Denmark now assuredly 
rise or sink/' 

**You are a learned and God-fearing 
man, venerable Master Petrus I " said Aag6, 
who meanwhile had been pacing uneasily 
up and down, with the king's letter in his 
hand ; " but, pardon me, now, it is you^ 
and not I, who indulge in visionary fancies. 
I have more confidence in your piety and 
enlightened view of the Almighty's go- 
vernment here upon earth, and in our time, 
than in your astrological knowledge and 
devout gaze into futurity. What we are 
now concerned in is the present moment ; 
but what in the world is to be done, when 
neither you, nor any other wise man, can 
bring the king to his right senses ? Hath 
the archbishop's flight caused him to set at 
nought discretion? 'Would he now demand 
justice only, — not mercy, — of the papal 
see ? Does he think, in defiance of ban and 
interdict, and even without a dispensation 
of kindred, he can prevail on the wise 
Swedish government to consent to the 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 271 

marriage ? It is an impossibility — would 
he despise all reasonable negotiation, and 
let the sword decide the quarrel with the 
dukes ? And would he now himself storm 
his brother's castle, and force him to be- 
come an avowed traitor and deserter to the 
enemy ? " 

** I have shared your apprehensions, 
noble Drost I I blamed the king's impe- 
tuous procedure ; I vainly strove to hinder 
these far too hasty steps. His purpose is 
inflexible. But amid all my fears for the 
consequences, I could not but admire the 
kingly spirit, which ventured so much for 
the support of royal dignity. In reli- 
ance on the justice of his cause, ere twice 
twenty-four hours King Eric will stand 
with his knights before Kallundborg, to 
teach obedience to his rebellious brother.'* 

" The report was true, then, of the 
blockading of Kallundborg, and the new 
fortification ? " 

" Alas, yes I The king was greatly dis- 
pleased at the junker's contumacy, but 

N 4 



272 KING ERIC 

still more at his treacherous endeavour to 
hinder the marriage. — The wily Drost 
Bruncke hath betrayed him, probably with 
the view of causing a breach between the 
brothers, and stirring up tumult in the 
country/' 

" Hum I and the Dukes of Sleswig re- 
new their former pretensions at the same 



time/' 



" They are probably in league with the 
junker ; yet they have not scared the king. 
— If they have already forgotten the defeat 
at Gronsund, he will show them he dares 
face them on land also. M arsk Oluffsen 
is assembling all the foot forces against 
them at Hadersleben/' 

<< And the archbishop and the cardinal, 
where are they ? *' 

<^ Grand threatens from Bomholm, and 
Isamus from Axelhuus. He demands 
safe conduct for the archbishop, and pro- 
tests against the confiscation of the Lund 
church property. Bishop Johan of Ros- 
kild wavers. The enforcement of the inter- 
dict is dreaded.'' 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 273 

" Merciful Heaven I and, amid all this, 
can the king think of his marriage ? '^ 

" The first of June he purposes to cross 
to Helsingborg, with a bridal train or an 
armed force. Yet, perhaps, that was but a 
hasty speech to me and the Marsk. The 
Lord forbid it should come to such extre- 
mity I" 

" He draws the bow too tight ; it must 
break. But one word more — the outlaws 
who were pursued ; are they taken ? '* 

" I know not ; but their death doom 
is pronounced, wherever they are found ; 
the last murderous attempt h^th rendered 
the king implacable — A price is set on 
every outlaw's head — Aage Kagge was on 
the expedition with Marsk Stig*s daughters 
— There is now, assuredly, little hope at 
present of the freedom of the unhappy 
maidens/' 

* * They are innocent I by the Lord 
above, they are innocent I " exclaimed 
Aag6, impetuously. " I must to the king ; 
it is high time/* He tore the sling from 
his left arm, and moved it somewhat stiffly. 

N 5 



274 KING EMC 

** It shall do/* he continued ; " my right 
arm hath no one lamed. I must speed to 
Kallundborg to the king. If the castle is 
to be stormed — if the traitorous junker is 
to be chastised, leave that to me — against 
his own brother my king shall not himself 
bear sword and shield. Matters must have 
been carried far ; his forbearance can bold 
out no longer.** 

" Still, however,*' interrupted Master 
Petrus, " he expressly enjoins you to spare 
the junker, wherever you meet him. — You 
are to blockade Holbek with as little 
alarm as posdsible. — If you could even yet 
make peace between the brothers, noble 
Drost I you would perhaps save state and 
kingdom.** 

The door of the ladies* apartment now 
opened, and the commandant returned. 
** Your morning repast will be cold, my 
honoured guests,** he said, courteously; 
" but what see I, Sir Drost ? Your arm is 
not in the sling ? ** 

" It can and must be dispensed with,** 
answered Aage. " You have spoilt me 



\ 



AND THE OUTLAWS, 275 

here ; you have been much too prudent and 
watchful. I have now to thank you and 
your noble captives for your kindly care. 
The king needs strong arms and swords. 
Can you instantly furnish me with two 
hundred men from the garrison here ?'* 

" Two hundred men shall stand fully 
armed and in the court-yard here within 
an hour, if you, as Drost, command it in 
the king's name," answered Sir Ribolt. 
" Dare I ask their destination ?'* 

" I march to Holbek and Kallundborg. 
There is the king's name and seal for it.*' — 
He gave him the king's letter. ** It is for 
you also — but it is to go no farther than 
ourselves." 

''Against the junker? merciful Heaven 1 
Sir Drost, is it possible ? " exclaimed the 
commandant, clasping his hands in the 
greatest astonishment. 

" The junker hath taken a fancy to 
add new fortifications, and shut the gates 
against the king's men, as you know. It is 
probably only an unfortunate jest, or a 
misunderstanding ; but you see yourself 

N 6 



276 KING ERIC 

such gates must be forced betimes, when 
the king is on the road, and would enter 
therein. Two hundred men, then, within 
an hour, but with as little stir as possible, 
of course I *' 

** You shall find all ready ere it rings to 
high mass,*' answered the commandant, 
with calm determination. ** But your 
wound, Sir Drost I Can you yourself ride 
forth without danger? Otherwise the task 
is mine ? *' 

** With or without danger I must — I 
will onward,*' answered Aage. " When it 
rings for high mass, then ; and secrecy is 
expedient — Let it concern a hunt after 
the outlaws — Understand you?'* 

** Right I that shall be the belief in the 
castle here within the half hour.'* So 
saying. Sir Ribolt hasted into the castle- 
yard, and Drost Aage went with Master 
Petrus into the ladies' apartment. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 277 



CHAP. XI. 

The state of feverish anxiety into which 
Aage had been thrown, had called the 
colour into his cheek, and restored the 
appearance of health to his countenance. 
In the spacious apartment appropriated 
to the female inmates of the castle, where 
strangers were received, and where the 
household assembled on holidays before 
divine service, Aage and Master Petrus 
were received by the aged mistress of the 
castle, who herself presented the guests 
their warm morning drink in cups of po- 
lished silver. At a large round table in the 
middle of the apartment, which was covered 
with a white fringed woollen table-cloth, sat 
the two German minstrels, with the smok- 
ing cups before them, in pleasant converse 
with the ladies. Ulrica questioned them, 
with curiosity, of their visits to foreign 



278 KING ERIC 

princes, in whose praise and exaltation 
Master Rumelant was as inexhaustible as 
he was unwearied in reckoning up all the 
honour he had gained by his lays with 
these " excellent lords, his august and most 
gracious patrons." 

Margaretha also took part in the con- 
versation with the strangers ; but she was 
more modest in her queries. She was much 
more interested in their art than in the 
good fortune they had sought and ob- 
tained by it from the great. The solemn 
Master Poppe favoured her with a detailed 
account of the genius and lays of the 
famous Minnesingers, whose most flourish- 
ing' period Master Poppe asserted could 
only be supposed by the ignorant to have 
passed away. He affirmed, on the con- 
trary, that the noble art of minstrelsy had 
only now for the first time fully developed 
itself on higher themes, — in the praise 
of moral truth and seraphic beauty. Min- 
strels no longer repeated the monotonous 
praises of verdant May, or of the beauty of 
earthly females and vain loves, but now 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 279 

in the same, or even in a more regular 
measure, sang moral or religious themes 
and important theological dogmas. He 
could not, however, deny that the ancient 
love songs possessed a degree of pathos 
and animation which even his good friends 
Master Henrick Frauenlob and a certain 
Master Regenbogen, as well as the fa- 
mous schoolmaster of Esslingen, with all 
their learning, vainly strove to attain. 
Meanwhile he deemed it very fortunate 
that, as princes and emperors no longer, as 
in former times, devoted themselves to the 
noble art of minstrelsy, now cultivated 
chiefly by the honest burgher class, there 
still were lords and princes, like the King 
of Denmark, to honour and encourage the 
art, and that the minstrel's lay yet re- 
sounded in knightly halls and in the apart- 
ments of noble ladies. He lauded the poetic 
spirit of the chivalrous poetry of Denmark, 
but still considered it, as well as the love 
songs, too vain and worldly; a charge 
which Margaretha took much to heart, 
although she readily admitted to the 



280 KING EBIC 

learned minstrel, that all the Danish ballads 
she knew and admired treated of love ad- 
ventures ; not a single one on scriptural 
or theological subjects. 

When Drost Aage entered the ladies' 
apartment, Margaretha rose to return his 
greeting, and observed, with some uneasi- 
ness, that he had thrown aside his sling. 
Her attention to Master Poppers dis- 
course was at an end, and she entreated him 
to excuse, that she, as an attendant on a 
wounded patient, had an occupation which 
could not be postponed. " Pardon me, Sir 
Drost I '' she said to Aag6, and pointed to 
his unswathed arm. ** This is not accord- 
ing to agreement ^ yet you seem to have 
the use of your arm," she added, when she 
perceived how easily he moved it. ** The 
wound is healed in some sort. With caution 
you may use it, in moderation. But the 
stiff neck bandage *' 

" That 1 shall wear in remembrance of 
you, until we meet again, noble maiden V 
answered Aage ; ** although I almost 
think it might be dispensed with. Within 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 281 

an hour I must leave the castle. That I 
am able to do so I owe to your skill and 
unwearied care. I think soon to see my 
noble master the king/' he added, in a 
low voice, as he drew her to a recess 
in the window fronting the castle garden ; 
<*but the suitable time for effecting any 
thing towards your liberation is, alas ! 
hardly come as yet.'* 

" We ask no clemency from our earthly 
judges, but only that which is just and 
reasonable,** answered Margaretha, with 
calm seriousness. << I should have thought 
all times were equally convenient to a good 
sovereign for hearing the justification of 
the innocent.** 

" It would grieve me deeply, noble Lady 
Margaretha 1 ** said Aag6, " if my just-in- 
tentioned sovereign were for a moment to 
seem unjust in your eyes ; but your case 
now appears dark and intricate to those 
who are not, as I am, acquainted with your 
pious sentiments and admirable conduct. It 
is known that the traitorous squire Kagge 
was in your company — your unfortunate 



282 KING ERIC 

confidence in that miscreant brought sus- 
picion on your innocence, and places you 
under a cloud ; but, by the living Lord I 
I will justify you. If earthly justice is 
blind, the judgment of Heaven and my 
knightly sword shall surely open her eyes 1 " 
** No, dear Drost 1 ** exclaimed Marga- 
retha, half alarmed ; "if you will peril 
your precious life in any cause, let it be in 
that higher and more important one to 
which you have dedicated it, but not for 
the fate of two insignificant captives. To 
suflPer injustice is, besides, surely not the 
greatest misfortune,'* she added, with a 
look of mildness and love, as she raised her 
long-fringed eyelids, and gazed through 
the window panes up to the clear heavens. 
" Do not hasten rashly for our sake ; we 
will willingly wait for the Lord and for 
his appointed hour. When we think but 
on the injustice our Lord suffered for our 
sakes, we may surely bear our little cross 
throughout a short life for his sake. The 
blessing of Heaven be with you, noble 
Drost Aagel*' she continued; " heartfelt 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 283 

thanks for the kimdness with which you 
have rendered our captivity imperceptible. 
We shall miss you very much. I shall, 
no doubty forget how to play at chess ; but 
what we have spoken together at the chess- 
board I can never forget. The sweet bal- 
lads you taught me I shall also remember ; 
and when we maidens talk of Florez and 
Blantseflor, we will remember you also, 
and the quiet evenings by the hearth here, 
and all the beautiful tales of chivalry you 
told us. If the king comes hither in the 
spring, as they say, you will surely come 
with him ? ** 

" Perhaps," answered Aage ; " at any 
rate I will please myself with that hope. 
But where the king or his true knights 
will be in the spring it hardly lies in his 
power to determine, noble maiden. It is 
a dangerous and troublous time. May 
the Lord order all things for us for the 
bestl" 

" He will do so assuredly, and always, 
dear Drost I ** said Margaretha, in a con- 
fiding and friendly tone, as she laid her hand 



284 KING EBIC 

on his right arm, which rested on the 
casement of the large window. " Even that 
which seems worst and most unfortunate to 
us turns out at last to be the best, if no 
sin be in it. This captivity, which a few 
weeks back appeared so terrible to me, 
hath notwithstanding been the happiest 
time I have passed since my father and 
mother died.** 

" Sweet Margaretha I *' whispered Aage, 
with subdued fervour, laying his left hand 
on hers, which still rested upon his right 
arm ; << dare I hope I have the smallest 
share in that heavenly peace and joy which 
I daily see beaming from your meek and 
loving eyes ? Your hope ^and peace are 
doubtless drawn from the fountain of 
Eternal Life ; such joys come not to you 
from any human source." 

" In every noble and pious heart as- 
suredly there shines a ray from yon source 
of Eternal Life 1 ** answered Margaretha ; 
** though its deepest source be hid in the 
heart of the Redeemer, which bled for our 
sakes, that it might include every soul in 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 285 

its unfathomable depths of grace and com- 
miserating love.'* 

" Most precious of^beingsl'* exclaimed 
Aage, with overflowing emotion ; " dare I 
hope that which I dare not utter ? " He 
paused; then added, in a calmer tone, 
" Will you, then, really miss me at times, 
and sing the songs I taught you ? *' 

" Indeed, indeed I will — but the stranger 
guest would talk with you, Sir Drost 1 *' 
interrupted Margaretha, hastily, and blush- 
ing as she withdrew her hand. "As I 
told you," she added aloud, as she stepped 
forward with Aage out of the recess, and 
vainly sought to hide her bashfulness and 
confusion ; " the bandage round your neck 
you must keep on, and the sling to support 
your arm.** 

" If it is convenient to you. Sir Drost 1** 
said Master Petrus, who had modestly ap- 
proached, without interrupting his conver- 
sation with the fair maiden, " we might 
now perhaps conclude our affairs in your 
private chamber.** 

" I will attend you instantly, venerable 



286 KING EEIC 

Sir 1 Permit me but a parting word to the 
noble and hospitable hostess/' 

" And to me also, surely, Sir Drost 1 
although we have never been exactly able 
to agree?'* interrupted Ulrica, rising from 
the table, where Master Rumelant*s pane- 
gyrics on his excellent lords and Mecae- 
nases already began to weary her. 

After many reciprocal expressions of 
courtesy, which, however, were not wanting 
in sincerity and heartfelt goodwill, the Drost 
left the ladies* apartment with Master 
Petrus ; but the object on which his eye 
lingered the longest was the fair Lady 
Margaretha. As it rang for mass in Vor- 
dingborg town, Drost Aage, clad in com- 
plete armour, rode out of the castle gate at 
the head of two thirds of the garrison of 
the fortress. At the same time the lady of 
the castle drove to church with the two 
captive maidens. At the cross-road before 
the fortress Drost Aage once more turned 
round and saluted the ladies in the car. He 
observed with pleasure a white veil waving 
from the car in the meek Margaretha's 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 287 

hand. The car was followed to church 
by Sir Ribolt, accompanied by the three 
stran<jcers on horseback. 

♦* Whither goes the Drost, with all those 
men-at-arms, Sir Ribolt?** asked Ulrica, 
inquisitively, as she put her head out of the 
car ; " there is surely neither war nor re- 
bellion here ? " 

" They go but to rid the land of the out- 
laws and other vagabonds,'* answered Sir 
Ribolt. ** The assassin who attacked the 
Drost it seems hath been taken already," 
he added, in a careless tone, without re- 
collecting the connection of the captive 
maidens with these turbulent and hated 
characters, and without remarking that the 
lively querist turned pale. 

" What ails thee, sweet child ? Canst 
thou not endure to sit backward?'* asked 
the watchful mistress of the castle. ** Come, 
change places with me ; I can bear it.** 

" Ah, let me sit quiet 1 '* sighed Ulrica, 
drawing her veil over her face. " Mar- 
garetha ! Margaretha ! ** she whispered, 



288 KING ERIC 

clinging to her sister ; ** my dream 1 my 
dream I He is taken I His life is in peril I " 

" Hush 1 hush I dearest sister I** whis- 
pered Margaretha ; <Mt is but a rumour. 
We will now pray for him and for all sinful 
souls. See, — the blessed Lord still permits 
his mild sun to shine upon us all." 

The car rolled past a troop of richly 
attired burghers on their way to church, 
who greeted the ladies with courtesy. 
Ulrica recovered herself, and nodded to 
them with a consequential air. They whis- 
pered together, and she conjectured that 
their talk was, doubtless, of her beauty and 
supposed high birth. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 289 



CHAP. XIL 

It was past midnight when Drost Aage, 
with his troop of horsemen, drew near the 
Issefiord near Holbek. The weather was 
calm and frosty, the snow sparkled in the 
starlight winter night, the marshes and all 
the pools by the road side were frozen, but 
the ford was still open and passable. Hoi- 
bek rather resembled a ruin than a town ; 
instead of houses, there were now chiefly 
to be seen single walls and solitary hearths. 
Five years before the town had been plun- 
dered and nearly burnt down by the Nor- 
wegian fleet, in the feud with Marsk Stig 
and the outlaws. Some small houses, how- 
ever, had been rebuilt. The church and 
the monastery of the Gray Friars stood 
unscathed, as well as the castle, which had 
been lately put in good repair by Junker 
Christopher, and which, it appeared, he now 

VOL. I. o 



290 KING ERIC 

intended, despite the king's prohibition, to 
make as strong a fortress as Kallundborg. 

By Aage's side rode an elderly captain 
of horse, Sir Ribolt's brother, a silent, 
serious personage, whom the Drost in- 
formed by the way of what was here to be 
attempted. When they approached the 
town they halted, and had their horses 
rubbed down, while each horseman received 
his separate directions. They then rode 
slowly, and as quietly as possible, through 
the snow-covered streets of the town, and 
past the monastery, where all lay in pro- 
found slumber. At the castle also the in- 
mates seemed to be reposing in the greatest 
calmness and security; even the warders 
on the battlements were asleep. They ex- 
amined the castle narrowly on every side. 
There was not a light to be seen in the 
whole of the upper story ; it was only 
from the knights' hall, opposite the ford, 
that a faint light gleamed from a window ; 
and at the quay behind the castle lay a 
boat with a red sail, from which glimmered 
the light of a horn lantern. On the quay 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 291 

a fat knight, wrapped in a fox-skin pelisse, 
paced up and down, apparently waiting for 
some one; he often yawned, and rubbed 
his hands, while he looked up impatiently 
at the window from whence gleamed the 
solitary light. A rough-looking, one*-eyed 
fellow, with a hideous and bloated visage, 
lay half asleep on the rampart. 

" If thou fallest asleep, and drop'st into 
the ford, Kyste 1 thou wilt cheat the rope- 
maker of an hempen cord,*' said the fat 
knight, and laughed at his own wit. 

" Ha, indeed 1 think ye the halter is so 
sure of me. Sir Palle ? " muttered the fel- 
low ; ^^you may well crack your jests, 
you are neither made to be drowned nor 
hanged ; with your round carcass, you 
would swim like an ale barrel, and he who 
would hang you must risk his own neck.'* 

" Well," answered Palle, yawning, 
** mine is a very politic shape ; thou and 
thy daring masters might need such an 
one. But what the devil has become of 
them ? They are wrangling and consulting 
a confounded time together.*' 

o 2 



292 KING ERIC 

" It concerns high play, though, Sir 
Palle,** muttered the man, flapping his 
arms around his body to keep himself 
warm. " Had 1 but a good can of German 
ale at my side, of a surety I would keep 
my eyes open." 

"If thou canst keep one eye open it 
deserves all honour, since thou hast not 
more by thee,'* jested the knight. " But 
what the devil is the junker about?*' he 
continued, " to set me to watch here in 
frost and cold while he consults on weighty 
matters in his warm private chamber 1 Me, 
his right hand, and let into all his secrets I 
But tell me, Kyste, what means this secret 
nightly visit ? The proud Niels Brock and 
Johan Pape I well know ; they are two 
limbs of Satan, and I can easily divine what 
they would be at ; but who was the third 
stranger thou broughtest hither, — yon 
little fellow, with the hump and the red 
mantle ? '* 

" It is the Evil One himself, I almost 
believe," answered the deserter, and crossed 
himself; " a wizard at the least. I will be 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 293 

hanged if he understands not the black art. 
They call him wise Master Thrand ; he 
has been condemned to fire and stake by 
the pope, and banished both by kings and 
emperors ; but he snaps his fingers at them 
all — he laughs at the world*s governors 
and rulers, and car^s not for our Lord or 
our Lady, either, when he is on the seas. 
If he is right, then are we all fools together 
in Christendom, and should obey none 
other than him our master, who is within us 
and in all things ; but that passes my un- 
derstanding. He can be pious too when 
it serves his turn. I saw that when he 
kissed the archbishop's hand at parting, 
and took the letter of absolution, which 
truly he afterwards cast overboard — he is 
a good friend of Niels Brock, and can 
make gold, they say." 

" Then would he might teach us and 
the junker that art 1 " said Palle ; " then it 
were sin should he be burned for a little 
touch of heresy — for that he will one day 
bum in the other world. But tell me, 
Kyste, if thou and thy masters come from 

o 3 



294 KING EBIC 

Hammershuus, from the archbishop, how 
darest thou appear before the junker ? The 
archbishop hath given him over, as well as 
the king, to the devil ; and I must needs 
admit the junker hath been worse to him 
than ten devils." 

" That's the great folks* business,'* an- 
swered Kyste. " I serve the man who pays 
best, and ask not of aught besides — had I 
known the archbishop brought not so much 
as a mark with him, and should lose all he 
expected from Skaane, the devil take me if 
I would have perilled my life for his sake." 

*' You had a rough passage, then, with 
him from Sjoborg ? '* 

" Yes, you may well say that; — we were 
hard put to it ere we got him housed. We 
were obliged to run in under Hveen ; and 
we lay with our life in our hands a whole 
day and two nights at Saltholm. — They 
were chasing us every where with barks 
and those confounded fishing smacks ; but 
the fog and the bishop's prayers helped us 
that once. We sailed, in peril of our lives, 
in a howling storm, to Kaasebjerg, and by 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 295 

the time we reached Hammershuus we 
were half perished with cold and hunger ; 
and what got we for our pains? Mad 
Morten the cook got a bishop's letter for 
a pilgrimage. I and Ole Ark got a dry 
blessing with three wizened fingers, and a 
fresh absolution for ten years' sins. It 
may have its use ; — I never slight God's 
gifts ; but such like gifts help little to fill 
purse and stomach. Of course/' he added, 
"we have now leave to seek our bread 
where we can find it, and plunder our 
Lord's and the archbishop's enemies till 
our dying day, without having a hair singed 
in purgatory for it ; but " 

" Content thyself, Kyste ; it will be a 
livelihood, nevertheless," interrupted Palle. 
" But if thy new masters side with the 
archbishop I cannot imagine what the devil 
they want here — the junker and the arch- 
bishop agree together like cat and dog." 

" As I said, that's the great folks' busi- 
ness," answered the deserter. " What they 
have plotted with the archbishop at Ham- 
mershuus I can't tell ; but could they patch 

o 4 



296 KING ERIC 

up an agreement for the junker with Master 
Grand, and get the ban done away, he 
would have nought against it, I trow ; and 
one service is as good as the other. If the 
junker gets into a scrape with the king, he 
will need a prop ; and if the king goes to 
the wall, the junker perhaps will get upper- 
most, and may help his friends again. But 
that concerns not me; matters may turn 
out as the foul fiend pleases for aught I care, 
so long as there are good oars to be had, 
and something to lay one's hands on. But 
what was that noise ? Heard ye not horses 
tramp on the other side of the castle ? '* 

" Dream*st thou, Kyste ? Who would 
visit the castle so late ?" said Palle, listen- 
ing anxiously. 

" Here I have my masters. Now any 
one may come that Satan pleases,*' said the 
deserter, and ran towards the vessel. 

Two tall men, in ample grey mantles, 
and with hoods over their heads, accom- 
panied by a little hump-backed personage, 
in a red cloak, came forth from a secret 
door in the castle wall, and passed over a 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 297 

small drawbridge which was let down over 
the outer castle moat. They hasted down 
to the quay, where they greeted Sir Palle 
by a silent nod, and, without uttering a 
word, entered the vessel, which instantly 
pushed off from the shore, and set sail. 
Sir Palle shook his head thoughtfully, and 
looked after them as he listened, and 
thought he heard a distant noise of arms 
and horses* hoofs without the castle gate. 
He hasted over the small drawbridge be- 
fore which he had stood on guard, and 
drew it up hastily behind him. He then 
passed quickly through the private door 
into the castle. 

On the opposite side of the outer fortifi- 
cation stood Drost Aage with his horse- 
men, who, according to his orders, had led 
their horses slowly, and one at a time, over 
the half-completed drawbridge, which as 
yet could not be drawn up. The strongly 
secured castle gate was shut, and they had 
knocked several times, apparently without 
being heard by any one. " Who is there ?** 
at last said a drowsy voice from the battle- 

o 5 



298 RING EBIC 

ment over the gate. It was the watchman 
or warder of the castle, who now stood up, 
with a long spear in the one hand, and an 
alarm horn in the other. 

" Sleep'st thou at thy post, watch ?*• 
called Aage, in a stem tone ; ** seest thou 
not it is the king's men who would enter ? 
Haste t let the porter open to us in- 
stantly. — This is the new garrison.** 

" New garrison I That know we nought 
of here,** muttered the warder. " 1 shall 
have to blow the horn, then, as the junker 
hath commanded.** 

** A single sound costs thee thy life, 
fellow I ** menaced the Drost. " Where 
the king himself commands no junker hath 
a word to say.** 

" The Lord bless you, if that be true, 
noble sir I ** said the warder, joyfully ; " I 
shall then not have to ride the wooden 
horse to-morrow because I slept ? ** 

" Haste thee I or we force the gates.** 
— To Aage*s surprise, the castle gate was 
opened without demur in a few minutes. 
The troop presently filled the castle yard. 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 299 

Guards were immediately stationed at all 
the entrances, as well as on the towers and 
the battlements on the wall surrounding 
the fortress. This was done hastily, and 
with as little noise as possible. The sound of 
so many horses' hoofs and clashing weapons 
had, notwithstanding, awakened all the in- 
habitants of the castle, who peeped in dis- 
may out of the windows and loopholes, 
ignorant into whose hands it had fallen. 
But the Drost now ordered three trum- 
peters to call together all the unarmed 
household servants, with all the men-at- 
arms in the castle. He announced to the 
warder and the household, in the king's 
name, that they were released from their 
duties here in the junker's service ; and 
that the king for the present had taken 
possession of the castle himself. Those 
who would enter his service, and swear 
fealty to him, might remain; the rest 
were at liberty to withdraw, and serve the 
junker at his other castles and estates. On 
hearing this proclamation fear was suddenly 

o 6 



300 KINO ERIC 

changed into general rejoicing, ** Long 
live the kingl** re-echoed from mouth to 
mouth. There was not a single domestic 
who hesitated to change masters ; and many 
expressions and exclamations were heard 
which showed how little Junker Christopher 
had understood to win the good will of his 
dependants. As soon as the new force had 
garrisoned all the posts, Drost Aage, with 
the remainder of his troop, entered the 
castle. The steward was the first person who 
appeared. He was a taciturn personage, 
of short stature, with a half German accent. 
He delivered the keys of the castle to the 
Drost, and seemed to share in the general 
satisfaction ; but as soon as he had installed 
his unexpected guests he vanished, and did 
not again make his appearance. 

Ere the day had dawned, Drost Aage 
was again on horseback, and, with the half 
of his troop of horse, quitted Holbek castle, 
and took the road to Kallundborg. Sir 
Ribolt's brother remained as commandant, 
with strict orders not to open the gates to 
any one, or give up the castle to the junker, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 301 

ere he had the kmg's warrant and seal for 
so doing. 

** Sir Drost/* said an old horseman, as 
they rode out of the still slumbering town, 
amid its ruins and deserted sites, ** was it 
then your own order that we might not 
stop any one who would out of the castle ; 
and that none, under pain of death, might 
lift a hand against the high-born junker, if 
he was on the spot ?*' 

" That was the king's command to us 
all,*' answered the Drost, 

" Then I now know that I was right, 
even though I did let rogues and traitors 
slink oflF,'* continued the horseman. " I 
stood on guard at the gate of the back 
court. Sir Drost, and I saw three men in 
disguise lead their horses out of the stable. 
They disappeared through the rampart gate 
close to the ford, and the Lord only 
knows what became of them. My com- 
rades thought we should have stopped and 
seized them, for they stole so strangely 
away, and looked around them on all sides ; 
but I said, * No 1 it is a criminal act if we 



302 KING BMC 

touch them,* and we let them 'scape. The 
one was assuredly the little German who 
was forced to give you the keys ; the other 
was a fat fellow, who could hardly waddle 
away ; but the third was a tall stem man ; 
he swore, and laid about him, at every 
step. I could almost take my oath it was 
the junker himself. He was hardly twelve 
paces from me when he caught a "sight of 

me, and shyed oflP, as it were He led his 

horse over the dunghill, that he might not 
come too near us, I suppose ; but then the 
hood fell back from his neck, and I saw 
the long black hair you know of; it is as 
rough as a horse-tail. No one in the country 
has such dark unsightly hair as the junker. 
But, as I say, we let him go, and budged 
not from the spot. — The king himself will 
know how to chastise him, thought I.'* 

" Good I*' exclaimed the Drost ; " thou 
hast behaved as was thy duty — as to the 
rest, what is between the king and his bro- 
ther concerns not us, and still less whether 
the junker's hair be fine or coarse.'* He 



AND THE OUTLAWS. . 303 

then spurred his horse, and proceeded at a 
brisk trot, without stopping. 

Ere Drost Aage, with his horsemen, 
reached Kallundborg, the king approached 
the town, with the greater part of his chi- 
valry, and a more numerous troop of horse- 
men and spearmen than he was ever wont 
to take with him when about to visit his 
vassals or one of his castles. It was noon. 
The horses foamed with hard riding. The 
troop halted at St. George's Hospital, upon 
the high hill just without the town. 



304 KING ERIC 



CHAP. XIIL 

The report of the king's arrival had pre- 
ceded him. It had excited great alarm in 
the whole neighbourhood, and had espe- 
cially thrown the burghers of Kallundborg 
into a state of anxious suspense. Their de- 
votion to the king, and fear of his wrath, 
placed them in a most dangerous position 
with regard to their stern deputed master, 
Junker Christopher, and his warlike com- 
mandant at the castle. Disquieting and 
contradictory reports respecting a diflference 
between the king and his brother had al- 
ready for some time been in circulation, 
but no one knew the real state of the case. 
As Lord of Samsoe, Holbek, and Kallund- 
borg, Junker Christopher exercised an al- 
most royal authority wherever he had troops 
and fortresses under his command. Lat- 
terly he had been often seen in Kallundborg, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 305 

where he had assembled a considerable 
garrison at the castle, and, to the dismay of 
the burghers, had put the fortifications op- 
posite the town and the land side into such 
a state of defence as if the breaking out of 
a dangerous civil war might daily be ex- 
pected. Some weeks back admittance had 
been refused at the castle to Marsk OluflP- 
sen, who, with a small troop of men-at-arms, 
had demanded to enter in the king's name. 
From this refractoriness towards a royal 
ambassador it was thought the most serious 
results were now to be apprehended. The 
prince himself went night and day to and 
from Kallundborg ; now with a large armed 
train on horseback, and now by sea with 
the armed vessels which constantly plied 
between Samsoe and Kallundborg, and con- 
veyed both men-at-arms and provisions to 
the fortress. No one knew whether Junker 
Christopher was personally present at the 
castle at the time when the report of the 
king's arrival threw the whole town into 
commotion ; but it was observed with dis- 
may that the drawbridge was raised, and 



306 KING ERIC 

that serious preparations were making to 
repel an attack. 

The king halted at the head of his nu- 
merous train on the hill, and caused his 
white steed to be rubbed down while he 

■ 

looked down thoughtfully upon town and 
castle. At his right hand was the brave 
young Margrave Waldemar of Brandenborg, 
who had deferred his homeward journey, 
and accompanied the king on this expe- 
dition, to take leave of his good friend 
Junker Christopher, and, if possible, to 
avert the storm which menaced him. At 
the king's left hand was seen his energetic 
general. Count Henrik of Mecklenborg, 
who now, next to Drost Aage, seemed the 
king's most confidential friend. The troops 
watered their horses at the pond by the 
chapel of the Holy Cross. All the cripples 
of St. George's Hospital came out to see 
the king, and the numerous fraternity of 
St. George, or demi-ecclesiastical attend- 
ants on the sick, vied with each other in 
offering refreshments to him and his train. 
The thronging and curious crowd kept, 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 307 

however, at a respectful distance from the 
kmg and the two stranger lords. 

" Your grace will find the whole is some 
absurd mistake/' said the yoimg margrave, 
in a light and careless tone, as he sprang 
off his horse, and adjusted his rich attire. 
*' At all events, it is assuredly nothing 
more than a mistaken sense of honour in 
the junker, or rather in his commandant 
here, and the brave Marsk Olufisen ; that 
excellent man hath an altogether peculiar 
talent of offending every one, without 
dreaming of doing so himself. That you 
must yourself have observed. Such per- 
sons one can but employ to plague both 
friend and foe. I am fond of being me- 
diator between kinsmen and kind friends," 
he continued, gaily — ** there is nothing 
like drinking to a reconciliation after every 
quarrel, and then all goes on merrily. — I 
know the junker's wine cellar at the castle 
here ; it is almost better than any prior's ; 
if he willed not to open it to your sharp 
spoken Marsk, he hath perhaps but wished 
to reserve it for dearer guests." 



308 KINO ERIC 

" The Lord grant we may have come 
hither to a friendly feast, Sir Margrave I '* 
answered the king, solemnly, and in a low 
tone, while his gaze dwelt on the beautiful 
winter landscape which lay outstretched 
before him. The sun beamed brightly on 
ford and town. The castle rose proudly, 
with its round towers and high battlements, 
behind the shining copper roof of the Fran- 
ciscan monastery. Esbem Snare's five 
Gothic church spires pointed boldly to- 
wards the heavens from the ancient church 
of St. Mary, while furthermost, and near 
the ford, the sea tower proudly reared its 
head. " If my brother can justify him- 
self,'* continued the king, ** he will surely 
now not shun my sight, but come to greet 
me according to duty and fealty.'* 

" But he surely expects you not — he 
is perhaps out hunting, or roving from one 
domain to another," said the margrave. 
" The noble junker's blood is thick. — I 
have counselled him to be ever on the move, 
in order to drive away melancholy fancies. 
I have often deplored that his magnani- 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 309 

mous hankering after action and distinction 
hath as yet no decided object, and so often 
disturbs the balance of his princely mind, 
giving occasion to even his nearest friends 
and kindred to misjudge him." 

" If I see aright, noble king I " said 
Count Henrik, shading his eyes with his 
hand from the sunshine, ** yonder comes 
a crowd of people towards us from the 
town. It must be the burghers, who would 
show you their loyalty and devotion.'* 

" Hum ! they were also leagued against 
the Marsk,'* said the king. " The people 
are loyal to me personally — this I know, 
that were I to pass through the country as 
a leprous beggar, no burgher or peasant 
would shut his door upon me. In the eyes 
of many, no doubt, I seem a leper, since the 
bishop's ban," he added ; ** yet I am every 
where met with affection. It is only my 
brother who turns his back upon me, and 
refuses me obedience in this time of need." 

" The noble junker is surely not here," 
resumed the margrave, ** or he would cer- 
tainly never delay to crave your pardon for 



310 KING EBIC 

his commandant's rashness, and to lead 
us to his well-appointed table — he hath 
put the fortifications of the castle in excel- 
lent repair, I perceive — were I in your 
grace's place I would thank him for that," 
he continued. ** Kallundborg is an im- 
portant spot in time of war, and a good 
harbour for your fleet." 

" For that very reason no vassal should 
presume to shut the castle on the lawful 
ruler of the land, or his generalissimo," 
answered the king. " I cannot but com- 
mend your endeavours to excuse my erring 
brother, Sir Margrave," he added, abruptly ; 
** and be assured, if he can be acquitted, — ^if 
he can only give me his princely word that 
he hath had no share in this contumacy,-— 
he needs not that a stranger should plead 
for him, where a brother is his liege and 
judge." 

The margrave bowed courteously, and 
was silent, while he passed his hand over 
his brow, and appeared desirous to hide a 
look of annoyance. 

" Will your grace speak to the burghers 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 311 

now ? " asked Count Henrik ; " they seem 
timidly waiting for permission to approach 
you." 

" They have it of course, count ; let 
them come hither/* 

Count Henrik rode to meet the linger- 
ing burgher crowd, and soon returned to 
the king, accompanied by the burgomaster, 
and twelve of the oldest burghers of the 
town, who, clad in their holiday attire, and 
with their heads uncovered, reverently 
greeted their sovereign. Afler several 
salutations, the burgomaster somewhat 
bashfully and humbly began his address. 
" Most mighty liege and sovereign I 
your grace's august presence — this poor 
town's joy at seeing your most royal 
grace '* 

" Is not very great," interrupted the 
king; **say it out at once, burgomaster, and 
speak without a long-winded preamble I 
You fear there may be bounds to my most 
royal grace this time, and that I mean to 
call you to strict account for the reception 
my Marsk hath met with here.*' 

" Your princely brother, our strict 



312 KING EBIC 

master, the junker, had ordered his com- 
mandant at the castle '' — stammered the 
burgomaster. 

" I speak not now of what he hath or 
hath not commanded his servants/' inter- 
rupted the king. " Such contumacy he him- 
self, or his commandant, shall answer for. 
But who enjoined you to refuse obedience 
to my ambassadors ? '* 

" The commandant, in the junker's name, 
and in your own, my liege,'* answered the 
burgomaster — " although we could not 
consider the behest as lawful, or obey it, 
when the Marsk, with your authority, en- 
joined us the reverse, after a short demur, 
what he demanded was even granted him, 
and* his people, though it came to cost us 
all dear." 

"Whatl" interrupted the king, with 
vehemence, " have ye since been chastised 
because you obeyed my orders ? *' 

" We complain not, my liege, and least 
of all of your august kindred, and the ruler 
you have given us — whatever injustice we 
have su£Pered is but trifling, in comparison 
of our sorrow and shame if we have 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 313 

brought upon us the displeasure of our 
noble liege and sovereign/* 

** You have suflFered injustice for your 
loyalty to me — could I then be wroth with 
you, brave burghers?" said the king, with 
sudden emotion. " By all the holy men 1 
were I so, I should not longer deserve one 
loyal and devoted heart among ye. The 
injustice ye have suflFered shall be atoned 
for — we are come hither to call to account 
for what here hath been done — where is 
the junker ? *' 

" We know not, most mighty king ! ** 

** Where is his commandant, then ? 
Why comes he not hither to receive us ? " 

** He aflSrms he hath received commands, 
my liege, which are so hard to believe that 
we dare not name them.** 

" What ! Who dares command here when 
I am present?" exclaimed the king, with 
vehemence. ** Yet, no; it is impossible," 
he added, more calmly, and restrained his 
impatience. ** The man must be sick or 
mad. Ride to the castle, Count Henrik, 
and announce my coming 1 I will stay the 

VOL. I. P 



314 KING ERIC 

night here with my knights and an hun- 
dred men — you will care for the rest of 
the men-at-arms, burgomaster 1 ** 

Count Henrik was instantly in motion, 
and rode down with a small train towards 
the castle. 

" Mighty king ! *' resumed the bui^o- 
master, in a timid tone ; "my life, and the 
lives and property of my fellow burghers 
are at your service and the country's ; but 
be not wrath with us, my liege, for what it 
lay not in our power to hinder 1 The 
castle gate is locked, the draw-bridge raised, 
men-at-arms and balista are posted on the 
outer walls, and the commandant hath 
announced to us that he hath orders to fire 
the town with burning stones within 
twenty-four hours from the moment it is 
beleaguered by your men-at-arms/* 

** Doth he rave?" exclaimed the king. 
"Well, then, away with all grace and mercy 
— » we will see who is master here. — To 
horse, ray men ! You stand under our royal 
protection, brave burghers 1 ** he said to the 
burgomaster and elders of the town. " If 



AND THB OUTLAWS. 315 

a Straw is scorched over your heads for my 
sake it shall dearly be atoned for I Every 
rebel and traitor I will strictly punish, 
however high he may carry his head/' 

" Honour to the king 1 to Eric, the 
youthful king 1 *' shouted the burgomaster, 
waving his hat ; and this well known accla- 
mation (derived from a national ballad) 
was re-echoed by the whole burgher troop, 
amid the waving of caps and hats. 

** Now place, good people 1 " ordered the 
king, reining in his steed. "I will see who 
dares to lock the gate through which we 
would enter." 

«* Permit me to detain your grace one 
moment,'* said the Margrave of Brandem 
borg, who had again vaulted into his saddle, 
and now rode hastily up to the king, with 
his head uncovered. **Ere you take any 
compulsory step, I wish, as an impartial 
friend both of yours and your princely 
brother, to have a minute's conversation 
with you without witnesses.'' 

" Well, that shall not be denied you. Sir 
Margrave — Aside, my friends 1" 

p 2 



316 KING EBIC 

All withdrew to some distance and the 
margrave remained in the same respectful 
attitude, with his high-plumed hat in his 
hand. "Your noble brother hath honoured 
me with a confidence and friendship which 
makes it my duty to plead his cause in his 
absence — what hath already been done, and 
hereafter may be done, against your will, 
hath undoubtedly the appearance of contu- 
macy and treason : but it is impossible it 
should be according to your noble brother's 
wish or order, for that, — (pardon me this 
expression,) — for that I count him to be at 
least too wise. Of our inmost heart and 
mind. He who knoweth the heart of man 
alone can judge — I will stand security for 
Prince Christopher in this matter, until he 
can stand forth in person before you to jus- 
tify himself. I oflFer my services to seek him 
out, and bring him to you. He must cer- 
tainly be at Holbek castle, or at Samsoe— 
Will you promise me so long to delay every 
compulsory measure, and at the utmost 
only to beleaguer the castle ?** 

" Well, Sir Margrave I for twenty-four 



AND THE OUTLAWS. 317 

hours I will await him, but not an hour 
longer. Till to-morrow at this time I will 
restrain my just wrath, and with sheathed 
sword wait without the gate which hath 
been presumptuously shut before mine eyes. 
But ere I hear another ave from the pious 
Franciscans here — the castle shall be in 
my power; that I vow, by all the holy men ! 
as surely as I am lord here, and would be 
called king in Denmark.*' 

"It is agreed, then, your grace!" an- 
swered the margrave, with spirit, after a 
moment's deliberation. " If I stand not 
within twenty-four hours with your bro- 
ther acquitted before your sight — then let 
yon fair castle mount up in smoke and 
flames -^ or take it with a storming hand ! 
Count Henrik hath no doubt a strong de- 
sire to show you his prowess and general- 
ship. Then I shall have done what lay 
in my power, and shown you both, as I 
trust, that you have had a friend for your 
guest." 

" You have my word for it, Sir Mar- 
grave ! I shall owe you thanks if your good 



318 KING ERIC AND THE OUTLAWS. 

purpose succeed. See you how the shadow 
yonder falls from the middle spire upon the 
cloister roof — It marks the bounds of my 
patience to-morrow. The Lord and our holy 
Lady be with us all I'' So saying, Eric 
waved his right hand, and saluted the mar- 
grave, as he spurred his horse, and rode 
forward at the head of his troop of war- 
riors. The king and his knights now rode 
down the hill in the direction of the castle, 
while Margrave Waldemar, with his little 
train of German and Danish men-at-arms, 
proceeded at full gallop on the road to 
Holbek. 



END OF THE FIRST VOLUME. 



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