King Eric and the Outlaws, Vol. 3 Read online

  CHAP. III.

  The attack upon Axelhuus had thrown the whole town into the greatestagitation. Even the most quiet and peaceable burghers could not concealtheir satisfaction on the occasion, and many of them took an open sharein the insurrection. The wild shouts of exultation which were heardeach time a shower of stones poured into the castle, sufficientlyshowed the general feeling of indignation, not alone against prelaticalrule but chiefly against the archbishop, for whose sake, and by whosepowerful influence, the exasperating interdict had been enforced.Grand's name was the watchword on the commencement of every freshattack. The provost, with his armed attendants, vainly strove torestore order and quietness; wherever he appeared with the bishop'smen-at-arms, he was instantly driven back by the enraged populace. Thereport of the king's arrival at Sorretslov, and the uneasy terms he wason with the inmates of Axelhuus, had given a new and loyal impulse tothe insurrection; as the mob now believed that, by their attack on theecclesiastical dignitaries, they were making common cause with theking, against his and the kingdom's arrogant foes. The provost hadordered all the gates of the town to be locked, but the insurgents hadforced them, and a great number of people, among whom were some of therichest and most peaceable inhabitants, hastened out of the north gateof Sorretslov to see the king and intreat his support. Another crowdflocked to the tower of St. Mary's church, and rang the alarm bell."Away with the holy wolves at the castle!" was the cry throughout thestreets. Without the well-lighted council-house, where the council wasassembled, and whither several captive insurgents had been brought,there was a fearful uproar. The mob demanded the liberation of theprisoners and threatened to fire the council-house. There was a greattumult also at the Catsound:--"Out with all the boats!" was the cry ofthe mob, "Throw the grocer-wares overboard! Drive the pepper 'prenticesto the devil! Let's fire the castle! Let no soul escape! Death to thefoes of king and country!"

  Meanwhile there were more cries and shouts than deeds in most places,and the wild alarmists were in motion in the most opposite directions,but, on the old strand, a person was seen who had brought order andplan into the attack; it was Sir Helmer Blaa, who, with warlikeeagerness, posted the balista on the strand, and instructed theburghers how to use these engines with force and effect. For some hourshe stood unwearied at this his favourite occupation, and where he ledthe attack the castle sustained considerable damage.

  The captive insurgents meanwhile had been liberated at thecouncil-house. A great number of the council had joined the insurgents'party, and taken up arms against the bishop. The rest of thecounsellors had escaped at the imminent peril of their lives, and someof them had succeeded in getting out amongst the crowd through thenorth gate, and reaching the king's castle at Sorretslov, where theyfound the king already on horseback, at the head of his knights andspearmen, in readiness to enter the town himself and quell theinsurrection.

  The evening was closing in. The insurrection had already risen to sucha height that most of the burghers had become alarmed at their ownundertaking, and every resident inhabitant began to fear for the safetyof his property and family; while the unbridled mob consideredthemselves freed from all laws of decency and order. The king nowgalloped in through the north gate, by Count Henrik's side, atthe head of his troop of knights, and followed by the tall, handsome,lance-bearers who formed his body guard.

  At St. Peter's church, close to the northern gate of the town, and atSt. Mary's, his progress was almost hindered by the thronging crowds.At both places the insurgents had forced the church doors and compelledthe priests to perform mass. The pious chaunts from the churchessounded strange and mournful, amid the wild shouts of the mutineers.

  "That devotion doubtless proceeds more from defiance that piety," saidthe king to Count Henrik, "yet assuredly, none shall hinder them fromGod's worship, provided it be conducted with decency and order." Heordered a guard to be stationed by both churches to check alldisturbances, and rode on. Wherever he appeared he was received withthe most devoted homage, and with joyous acclamations; which were,however, somewhat subdued in those who were most obstreperous, onseeing the provost and two of the council among the king's nearestfollowers. An uneasy murmur was heard, here and there, and the peoplegradually began to comprehend that the king came not hither to takepart with the insurgents against their rulers, but to maintain thelawful government of the town, and restore public tranquillity.

  "Silence, good people! Let every one go to his home! Lay down yourarms!" said the king, in a grave but kindly tone, as he returned thegreetings of the people and stopped his horse.

  A silence ensued and the crowd thronged around him with attention tohear what he said. "I come as your protector, and the upholder of lawand justice in my kingdom," he continued. "That which you canreasonably demand of the bishop he shall grant you. The shuttingof the churches shall be at an end--the church-doors shall be thrownopen--that I promise you. As to the rest, you must obey your rulers,"he added sternly. "What hath happened here shall be narrowly inquiredinto. There shall be peace and order in the town; he who from this hourtakes the law into his own hands, shall lose his life and reap thereward of his deeds." An instant stillness prevailed wherever thesewords were heard. The insurgents, and all who bore arms, decamped; buta great crowd of unarmed burghers followed the king with loudacclamations through the streets.

  At the old strand the bombardment of Axelhuus was still carried on withgreat zeal. The castle island was surrounded by boats filled withbowmen and torch-bearers. Preparations were already begun for stormingand firing Axelhuus, The fight was now maintained on both sides, andarrows and stones from balista were shot from the towers andbattlements of the castle.

  "The king!--the king! with the provost and council," was re-echoed frommouth to mouth, and it seemed as if a stroke of lightning had lamedevery arm. "Long live the king!" shouted the insurgents, and many threwdown their weapons. "No more war!--the king will judge between us andthe bishop!" The clattering of the horses' hoofs was already heard; thecrowd gave way on all sides to make room for the king and his knights.The people shouted and made signals to the bowmen and brandmen in thenumerous boats which surrounded the castle island; in an instant nearlyall the brands and torches were extinguished in the water, and theassailants rowed hastily back from the besieged castle. The shooting,however, still continued from a battery of balista on the shore: it washere Sir Helmer had stationed himself. His whole attention was soengrossed in the working of the balista, that he was unconscious ofwhat was passing around him; he thought the bowmen and torch-throwershad been put to flight, but observed not the general cessation of theattack, nor the arrival of the king. "Go on, go on, countrymen!" heshouted. "Cheerily! brave Danish men! Will you let yourselves beworsted by the bishop's slaves? Down with their towers and walls!" Hewas still issuing the word of command to the balista slingers, when, tohis dismay, he heard the king's voice over head.

  "What see I? Sir Helmer! you here! and in the midst of rebels? Is thisaccompanying the Drost to Stockholm? Is it thus you serve and obey yourking? He is your prisoner, Count Henrik!"

  "My liege and sovereign!" exclaimed Sir Helmer, stretching out his armstowards the king, who halted before him on his tall white charger, witha look of stern menace. "Hear me, I conjure you!"

  "Not a word!" interrupted the king, with vehemence; "would you make mea faithless perjurer? In the castle you are besieging I have promisedpeace and safety to my deadly foe. I break not my word, even were itpledged to the devil. If a hair of his head hath been injured it shallcost you dear. Take my halberdier with you, Count Henrik--put him underknightly arrest at the castle! To-morrow he shall be judged for hislawless conduct. Take my greeting and assurance of peace to the bishopand cardinal," he added in a lower tone. "Take to Grand my last behestand warning! You are responsible for the observance of our passport!"

  "Your will shall be obeyed, my liege!" answered Count Henrik, springingfrom his horse. "Follow me quietly, Sir Helmer," he whispered to therestless and i
mpetuous captain of the balista slingers, "to-morrow youcan justify yourself--now you must be silent and obey."

  Helmer bit his lip in wrath as he gave up his sword to Henrik, andfollowed him in silence. Count Henrik, with a considerable train ofknights and squires, took instant possession of a barge which theinsurgents had just deserted. He caused a white flag to be hoisted, andmade preparations for crossing over to the castle island, while theking furthermore enjoined peace and quietness in the town, and rodewith the rest of his train the whole length of the strand, amid thevast concourse of people, who partly from curiosity, partly fromattachment, continued to accompany him. The balista were instantlydragged off the shore, from whence the armed insurgents had alsodecamped, awed apparently by the king's severity towards one of hisfavourite knights.

  By the church of St. Nicolas, opposite the little island called "TheSkipper's Ground," the king was again stopped by a numerous and unrulymob, in which there were many armed men of a gloomy and wildappearance, who were muttering prayers and psalms, interlarded withimprecations and threats against all priests and bishops. On the king'sappearance the uproar was hushed, and most of the weapons disappearedat his command. The church doors were also forced here; all theecclesiastics and their attendants had fled. The people themselves hadrung the bell for vespers, and had dragged a monk into the church inorder to compel him to sing the Ave, despite the interdict of bishopand pope.

  The king instantly dismounted and entered the church. Half dead withterror, and as it were with his life in his hands, an aged Dominicanstood before the altar with rent garments, and strove in vain to chauntthe customary evening prayers with calmness and dignity, while theturbulent crowd surrounded him with looks of wild menace, and withtorches, axes, and glittering swords in their hands. A group ofbutchers and half-drunken mechanics, headed by a tall carpenter, stoodnearest the altar, and frequently interrupted the monk with scoffs andthreats.

  "Peace here, in the Lord's house!" said the king in a loud voice, as heentered the church. "Bend the knee, all of ye, and pray the mercifulGod to pardon you! Go in peace, pious father!--if thou darest not topray for our souls.--God hears us, however, despite the ban, if we arebut sincere. The All-righteous be gracious to us all, and pardon us oursins!" So saying, the king bent his knee before the altar, and allfell, as if struck by lightning, on the floor. A deathlike silenceprevailed for a moment.

  It now appeared as if the aged Dominican was suddenly inspired by afeeling of lofty and intrepid enthusiasm. In a solemn voice he chaunteda "Gloria," and afterwards an "Ave," in which he was followed by theking and the whole congregation. The king then arose, and calm andsilent quitted the church. He mounted his horse and rode onwards. "HolyVirgin, pray for us!" still resounded with calm solemnity from thekneeling congregation in St. Nicolas church; and when the king againreturned through the strand street opposite Axelhuus, to repair to hiscastle at Sorretslov, tranquillity appeared to be fully restored.Lights gleamed in the calm spring eve in most of the windows; atAxelhuus also, all now seemed tranquil. Count Henrik had sent theprovost and two counsellors on before him in a small boat to announcehis coming to the bishop, while the Count himself with his train in thegreat barge approached the castle island with tardy strokes of the oar.Sir Helmer stood silent and thoughtful, as a disarmed captive, in thebarge by Count Henrik's side, indignant at being now carried toimprisonment in that castle which he had recently, as a conqueringgeneral, assisted the burghers to besiege. He now, indeed, perceivedthat he had acted rashly in taking a part in the insurrection; but hethought, nevertheless, that the king's conduct towards him was much toosevere; his looks and glowing cheek betrayed that his pride was deeplywounded. As he revolved these thoughts a boat from the castle islandrowed rapidly towards them, and glided close past the barge. "Ha! thepepper 'prentice!" exclaimed Sir Helmer, suddenly springing like amadman into the boat. Count Henrik saw with surprise that his captivecommenced wrestling on the gunwale with a German pepper 'prentice, andplunged with his antagonist into the deep stream, while the boatdisappeared with the speed of an arrow in the twilight.

  "Save him, save him!" shouted Count Henrik, and stopped the rowers. SirHelmer's plumed hat floated on the water at some distance; it was takenup; but neither himself nor his unknown adversary were to be seen. Therapid current appeared to have instantly borne them away, and allsearch after them with oars and boat-hooks proved fruitless.

  "The Lord have mercy on his soul!" said Count Henrik with a sigh. "Hewas the boldest knight I ever knew--but a thoughtless madcap he everwas. He hath escaped captivity though, and perhaps a stern sentenceto-morrow; but the king hath lost a true friend. On, fellows! We findhim not--perhaps he hath helped himself; he was a good swimmer."

  In the boat which shot past, and which had been nearly upset by thesudden and violent struggle, two persons attired as ecclesiastics hadbeen seen, and the rowers thought they recognised in one of them thearchbishop's crafty friend Johan Rodis.

  In the harbour of Axelhuus lay the royal vessel "Waldemar theVictorious," on board of which the archbishop, through the mediation ofthe cardinal, had been brought from Hammershuus, under royal convoy.According to the tenor of the passport, the captain with all his crewhad been sworn by the archbishop, and had bound themselves to conveyhim from Axelhuus at a moment's warning, in case he should not believehimself safe, and also to bring him and the papal nuncio to whateverforeign port they chose. Just as Count Henrik was about to land on thecastle island a large rowing boat approached the royal vessel.

  "Our lord bishop, with the archbishop, and the red hat!" said theboatmen; "they are making for the Waldemar."

  "Then row after them with all your might!" ordered Count Henrik; "thereis no time to lose; haste!" Ere they reached the ship, the cardinal andthe archbishop were already on board, and the sails were about to behoisted. In the boat stood Bishop Johan with a number of clerks, andwas wishing his exalted guests a safe and fortunate passage.

  "I bring you the same good wishes from my liege and sovereign, mostvenerable sirs!" cried County Henrik, taking off his hat. "Your safedeparture hath been cared for. As soon as the king learnt yourdistress, and the insurrection of the mob, he hasted hither in personto your protection. I have commands to escort you out of the harbour,and see you safe from all possible danger."

  "Bring the King of Denmark my farewell, and my thanks for his support,"answered the cardinal, through his interpreter. "I have been myself awitness to it, and I must see justice done to his generosity towardshis foe, as well as to his kingly temper, and his strict keeping ofpromise. I now quit the country without having succeeded inestablishing here the peace I desired; but I trust once again to seeKing Eric and Denmark under happier auspices."

  "When you come with peace and blessing, your eminence will be welcome!"answered Count Henrik; "but you have already seen solemn proofs of thetemper with which the Danish people put up with ban and interdict. Myliege the king prays your eminence to bring the holy father tidings ofthis, together with his humble and filial greeting; he places withconfidence his own and his people's just cause before the judgment seatof his holiness; but whatever the sentence may prove to be, accordingto ecclesiastical and canonical law, my liege, King Eric of Denmark, asthe temporal ruler of this land and the protector of public peace, isnecessitated in the most peremptory manner to declare Archbishop Grandof Lund for ever banished from these kingdoms and lands."

  "Banished!" repeated a hollow voice from the vessel, and the tallArchbishop Grand appeared at the gangway. "Who dares pronounce thatsentence upon an anointed prince of the church? For this no king onearth hath power. That king's servant who hath dared to bring me such amessage, I declare to be under the ban of the church."

  Count Henrik started, but still stood calm and courteous with hat inhand waiting to hear what the bishop had further to say.

  "Whether I again set foot on Danish ground," continued Grand, "dependsupon myself and the holy father. I now shake off the dust from mymartyred feet, and quit my ungrateful fath
er-land; but ere the fullestcompensation hath been made me for all I have here suffered contrary tothe laws of God and man, there shall no blessing come upon state andcountry, and upon Denmark's excommunicated king--that I swear by theAlmighty and all the saints! Tell the tyrant who sent you--from me, thechurch's primate in the north--should King Eric Erieson now dare,without dispensation and consent of the church, to complete his ungodlyespousals in forbidden consanguinity, it shall surely be to the eternaldamnation of himself and kingdom. Amen!"

  At these words Count Henrik stamped in the barge, without howevervouchsafing an answer to the incensed prelate. "Captain!" he called tothe commander of the ship, who stood with his hat in his hand at theforecastle; "you will convey Archbishop Grand, in the king's name andunder his convoy, safe on shore wherever he chooses, excepting only theking's states and kingdom. Whoever should dare to bring back thisdisturber of the peace to Denmark shall be judged as a traitor andrebel."

  At Count Henrik's signal, the sails were hoisted, and the vessel sailedout of port with the dangerous prelate, whose last words to his nativeland were those of the so oft-repeated ban.

  Count Henrik now greeted the lord of the castle of Axelhuus, the littlebishop Johan, and delivered the king's message of peace and protection;under conditions, however, which he was invited to consider in aninterview with the king at his castle of Sorretslov. Count Henrik thengave a parting salutation to this friend and unsuccessful imitator ofthe archbishop, who seemed to meditate a haughty and impressive reply;but without awaiting it, Henrik made a signal to his boatmen to rowforward, and followed the departing vessel at some distance, until itwas seen to be fairly out of port and in open sea. The count thenreturned with his train to the town, where he instantly mounted hishorse, and rode in silent and serious thought, but with cheerful looksand at a brisk trot through the town, and from thence on the road toSorretslov.