King Eric and the Outlaws, Vol. 1 Read online

  CHAP. VI.

  On his return to Sjoeborg Castle, King Eric had shut himself up in hisprivate chamber, engrossed in serious reflections on the imminent perilhe had just escaped; it seemed to him as if St. Cecilia's eve wasdestined to bring with it misfortune and danger to him and to his race.This was the second time he had encountered traitors and robbers in theneighbourhood of Sjoeborg. The conviction, however, that he possessedthe love and devotion of his subjects, soon dissipated the young king'sgloomy mood. He had summoned the Swedish Marsk, Thorkild Knudson, to aprivate audience, and now conversed calmly and frankly with this nobleknight on the happy alliance between Denmark and Sweden, which at thepresent time was the chief subject of the king's thoughts, and in whichhis heart so ardently shared.

  Thorkild Knudson was a handsome man, of a thoughtful and dignifiedaspect, rather more than forty years of age; his dark hair seemed tohave grown untimely grey. His powerful influence as regent had gainedhim a high reputation, as well in his own country as in foreign courts.An honest aspiration after power and rank was manifest in his fieryglance, and the noble commanding expression of his countenance bespokea dauntless confidence in his own powers, and a species of proudcontempt for all the petty arts by which less highly gifted statesmenoften seek to supply the want of sound political wisdom. As he satopposite the young king, attired in his blue knight's dress, with thelarge chain of the order around his neck, and conversed with him, withfreedom and sympathy, he might have been taken for a fatherly friend orrelative of King Eric, had he not, by strict observance of the respectdue to Eric's exalted station, but without a tinge of flattery, knownhow to receive the confidence reposed in him by royalty with anappearance of homage which detracted not from his own dignity as theambassador of a foreign monarch.

  Although Thorkild Knudson, as Swedish regent, was authorized on thepart of King Birger and the state council to accede to the king'sdesire of having the celebration of his marriage fixed for the ensuingspring, yet it was only on the condition that the pope's dispensationshould be obtained before that time. But because of the vehemence withwhich the king always rejected the idea of every obstacle, ThorkildKnudson had hitherto propounded this condition in as mild terms aspossible. He now touched upon it again, and took the opportunity ofbringing the case of the captive archbishop to Eric's remembrance.

  The colour mounted to the young king's cheek; he became suddenlysilent, and a secret struggle seemed passing within his breast. Helooked around him once or twice, as if he missed some one; at last,however, his eye rested with evident pleasure and satisfaction onThorkild's intelligent and noble countenance. "I esteem my futurebrother-in-law fortunate," he said, "in possessing a man like you forhis friend and counsellor. You are now to him what my aged counsellorJon and my well-beloved Drost Hessel have been to me from my childhoodupwards. The misunderstanding with the papal court has long deprived meof my best and most experienced counsellors. My faithful Drost Aage isnot older and more experienced than myself. I feel confidence in you,Sir Thorkild. Were I your liege and sovereign, what would you counselme in this weighty matter?"

  "To see the prisoner, and hear his defence--_dispassionately_, nobleKing Eric," answered the Swedish statesman. "As far as I know, he hathnot only _done_ wrong, but _suffered_ wrong; for a long and severeimprisonment is a suffering and punishment, which can only be calledjust, when it is inflicted according to a lawfully pronouncedsentence."

  "Was it then unjust in me to imprison a state criminal, who was anaccomplice in the murder of my father--an accursed regicide?" saidEric, with vehemence, and rising from his seat. "Should I have givenhim time to escape, or stir up the people against me, because he wasnot condemned by the pope and the bishops? Can I acknowledgeecclesiastical law when it would acquit a rebel and regicide?"

  "It was perhaps necessary for your grace to hinder his flight andtreasonable designs," answered Thorkild Knudson, who had risen from hisseat at the same time with the king, "were it not possible previouslyto obtain papal authority for the step; but, by your grace's leave, asyour counsellor, I would have freely and openly pronounced allunnecessary 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; and I have declaredwhat took place then in my minority to have been contrary to my wish.My brave Drost Torstenson I have dismissed. In him I have lost afaithful, but too zealous and rash a friend. My own brother I severelyreprimanded. For the sake of a state criminal, I have exposed myself tounpleasant differences in my own family, which wound me deeply, and mayperhaps prove dangerous to state and kingdom. What more can reasonablybe asked of me?"

  "Noble sovereign," resumed Thorkild Knudson, with earnestness; "youvouchsafe to show me a confidence which I highly prize. At the presentmoment I am, thanks to the Lord, able to reciprocate it with honestfrankness. I trust a double relationship will unite you, and my liegeand 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 regretI should know, if at any time, which God forbid! my fidelity to my kingand my native land should compel me to seem your and Denmark'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; "evenwere you forced to-morrow, as a loyal Swedish statesman, to become myadversary, I should not misjudge your heart and chivalrous spirit. Ivalue your esteem--answer me freely! think ye I have acted unjustly inthis matter?"

  "Well then, King Eric," said Thorkild, "allow my answer to be aquestion to which you can best reply yourself. Had counsellor Jon, andDrost Hessel been with you at this time, think you, you would have solong delayed the advances towards a reconciliation, which I cannot butconjecture was the main object of your prolonged sojourn here?"

  "It is not for me, but for the captive criminal, to take the first steptowards reconciliation," answered the king; "but I am now weary myselfof this procrastination. Here lies a proposal for a reconciliationwhich I have caused the Drost to draw up. I will see the prisonerto-morrow."

  "Why not this very evening, noble sovereign?" said Thorkild. "If youincline to reconciliation, it was perhaps in a fortunate moment youpermitted me to become your counsellor. The accomplishment of your ownheartfelt desire is probably more closely connected with thisnegociation 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, thecaptive archbishop is to be brought hither." The attendant bowed, anddeparted. The king threw himself into a chair, and fell into a reverie.Thorkild Knudson seemed preparing to take his leave.

  "No, stay, I entreat you," said the king, and then paused for a fewmoments. "On this night was my father murdered," he resumed in atremulous voice; "the man who is about to appear before me was thechief counsellor of the murderers. You shall be present, and see that Iam neither revengeful nor unjust; but you shall also see, that even topromote my highest happiness I am incapable of forgetting for a moment,that which I owe to the crown I wear. Read! Only on these conditionswill he be released." So saying, he reached Thorkild a written sheet ofparchment which lay on the table. Thorkild perused it slowly, and theking watched his countenance as he read. "Well, is it not so?" saidEric eagerly. "I demand only what is just and reasonable--safety forcrown and country--peace with the church--obedience to the laws of theland, so long as he is my subject. I will not pass sentence in my owncause--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 havesupposed. If you are perfectly correct in the charge you prefer againsthim, I should still call these terms generous; and yet I doubt whetherhe will accept them. The parting with Hammerhuus----"

  "He _shall_ give up that castle," interrupted the king; "a rebel andtraitor shall own no fortress in my kingdom. Were he even seate
d 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 seemsto me to be in opposition to his duty to the church and to the HolyFather. Until he is deposed by a papal bull, no one can hinder him fromusing the church's power against whomsoever he will, without askingleave of the king or of any temporal authority."

  "He shall be forced to do so!" exclaimed Eric, with vehemence. "While Iam king, no miscreant shall persecute me or my subjects with unjustexcommunication and all the plagues of hell. I am placed here by theLord Almighty to protect my people and their liberties, and not all thebishops in the world shall rob me of this right. I will answer for whatI do before the Lord above as well as before my subjects, and beforeevery true and loyal knight!" So saying, the king again pulled the bellwith vehemence. Another attendant entered.

  "Light all the tapers in the knights' hall!" commanded the king. "Bidthe master of the household call together the whole court and everyknight here in the castle. Place my throne at the end of the hall!" Theattendant departed in haste on a signal from the king.

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

  "My cause shuns not the light," answered the king. "I use not to speakor treat with my bitterest and deadliest foe otherwise than I dare makeknown to my loyal subjects and the whole body of Danish chivalry. Atraitor's oath demands witnesses."

  "But caution and--I trust your grace will pardon my boldness--statepolicy demand there should be as few witnesses present as possible,"objected Thorkild Knudson, with anxious sympathy. He would have saidmore, but at this moment the door opened, and he was silenced by theentrance of the tall Archbishop Grand in chains.

  Led by the steward and the three turnkeys, besides two men-at-arms, thehaughty prelate stepped across the threshold of the king's privatechamber, with a stare of wild defiance, without fixing his eye on anyobject. He was attired in a white Cistercian mantle, without any of theinsignia of a bishop; his proud countenance was pale and emaciated; hisbeard was shorn, his head was bare, and around his tonsure curled aring of tangled grey hair. He moved slowly, and every step seemedattended with pain; but it appeared as if, with a contempt of allbodily suffering, he exerted himself to the utmost to prevent hisoutward appearance from becoming an object of commiseration.

  When the king beheld him he involuntarily stepped back, and a feelingof sorrowful sympathy for fallen greatness was manifest in his look,while at the same time the remembrance of his father's murder, and thisman's share in the misfortunes of state and kingdom, overspread hisnoble countenance with the crimson of indignation.

  "You may go," said Eric to the guard. They obeyed, and through the opendoor of the knights' hall, which was instantly shut again, the kingbeheld a numerous assemblage of knights and courtiers, looking withanxious suspense and curiosity towards the entrance to the privatechamber, through which they had seen the captive archbishop conducted.

  The haughty captive continued standing about two paces from the door,and had not as yet vouchsafed a look or salutation to the king. Hestood immoveable as a marble statue, and his cold uncertain gaze, nowfirst warmed into life, as it suddenly fixed with frightful earnestnesson a silver crucifix, which stood by the side of the king's shield, ona 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 thecaptive'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, withoutwithdrawing his gaze from the crucifix. "_He_ shall judge between meand the tyrants of this world."

  "You stand also before your _temporal_ ruler and king," continuedEric--"before your lawful superior in this country and kingdom. Forwhat ye have sinned against me and Denmark's crown you will have toanswer at the great day of judgment, but first _here_; as certainly asthere is justice upon earth, first _here_. I have sent in my accusationof your crimes to the tribunal of St. Peter; the Holy Father hathrequired me to liberate you that he may hear your defence, or yourconfession."

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

  "How long I shall wear the crown, the righteous God alone candetermine," answered the king. "Without His Almighty permission nopower on earth can injure a hair of my head." He paused for a moment."When we liberate a dangerous offender," he continued, with morecalmness, "he must give us security for his release. The guiltiestcriminal shall have the right of defending himself, but not ofcommitting fresh crimes on his way to his tribunal. If he hath anyremains of conscience and honour, and if we are to trust him, he musttake the oath we require. If he will not--be it so! he may be tried inhis dungeon, and defend himself in his chains."

  "And what security doth King Eric demand for the release of thecaptive, whom he, without lawful sentence, and contrary to the law ofGod and the church, caused to be imprisoned and maltreated?" asked thearchbishop, with bitterness.

  "For the justice of your imprisonment I will answer to the Great Judgeabove," answered the king, raising his hand; "but the point in questionis only whether you may justly and reasonably be released; to decidethis I have summoned you hither. Know then, Archbishop Grand! althoughyou were undoubtedly an accomplice in my father's murder--although Iabhor you as my bitterest and deadliest foe, and as the greatesttraitor in Denmark, I fear not, nevertheless, to loose your guiltyhands when justice demands it; but _here_ ye shall neither raise handnor voice against crowns and sovereigns; ere ye leave these walls yeshall swear by your salvation, in the sight of God and the chivalry ofDenmark, to promise that which I here, as the protector of the crownand people, have required and demanded. When you have read theconditions of your release, and are willing to take the oath before mythrone, in the hearing of all my knights, your imprisonment may endthis very hour."

  At a signal from the king Thorkild Knudson reached the sheet ofparchment to the archbishop, and placed one of the tapers closer tohim. The hand of the proud captive trembled as he took the parchment,and it cost him evident effort to read it; but it seemed as if hisstrength and spirit increased as he proceeded; and when he had perusedit to the end he laughed scornfully, and crumpled the parchment in hishand.--"Shall I leave my degradation unavenged?" he cried--"Shall Ifetter my tongue myself that it may not announce to you eternal deathand damnation?--Shall I part with my last earthly defence?--Shall Isubject the holy church's right to the arbitration of a tyrant? No,King Eric Ericson! as yet I am an anointed and consecrated archbishop,with power to bless or curse the crown thou wearest. Even in thesechains I have the power to push the crown from off thy head with asingle word. Over my body, tyrant! thou may'st have power, but, by theLord above, not over my free immortal spirit! Ere I will consent to oneof these conditions thou and thy executioners may sever every limb frommy body, as I now rend asunder, with this hellish compact, all bond andtie between me and the despots of this world." So saying, he rent theparchment before the king's eyes, threw the fragments on the floor, andstamped upon them until his chains rattled.

  "Madman!" cried the king, in great anger, "stay then in thy prison, anddefy me there, until thy dying day! I release thee not until thou hastput thy seal to every word thou hast here trampled under foot, should Ibe a hundred times excommunicated by the pope in consequence," Erichastily pulled the bell-string. The door of the knights' hall opened,and the master of the household appeared. "The guard," commanded theking--"the captive is to return to prison."

  The loud talking in the king's private chamber had excitedapprehensions among the king's knights and courtiers, who knew he wasnext to being alone with the dreaded prisoner. As the chamber dooropened, all thronged toward
s it, as if fearing some misfortune.

  "Back!" said the king, and he was obeyed; but the door to the knights'hall remained half open, and ere the guard arrived to fetch theprisoner. Archbishop Grand had taken a bold resolve. He hastily seizedthe crucifix, upon which he had gazed so long, and with this holysymbol in his hand, before which all were forced to bow, he advancedwith long powerful strides into the middle of the knights' hall; herehe halted, and turned suddenly towards the king, who stood on thethreshold, amazed at this sight, and seemed about to issue orders forthe seizure of the prisoner.

  "Anathema!" shouted the archbishop, in a terrific voice, and raisingthe chained hand which bore the crucifix. "King Eric Ericson ofDenmark! I pronounce the sentence of excommunication upon thy head. Iannounce to thee, and every Christian here present, that thou artfallen under the church's awful ban--"

  "What? audacious villain! seize--gag him!" exclaimed the king, steppingover the threshold.

  "Anathema!" shouted the archbishop still louder.--"He who lays hands onme is accursed.--Thou art cast out of the community of believers and ofsaints.--Thou hast no longer any power over Christians, King Eric! Invirtue of my holy office, and the apostolical authority of St. Paul, Igive thee over, as the enemy of God and the church, to Satan, and tothe destruction of the flesh." So saying, he described the stroke offorked lightning in the air with the crucifix, and looked around himwith flashing eyes.

  All stood as if petrified by terror and amazement. The king appearedonce more about to speak; but he had grown deadly pale, and it seemedas if his voice was choked by anger. Ere he was able to speak, thearchbishop again burst forth with a deafening voice, while he turned tothe knights and courtiers: "Fly, Christians! leave the pestilent one!pollute not your souls by intercourse with the excommunicated one!accursed is now the hand which brings him food, accursed the servantwho serves him with fire or water, accursed the tongue which comfortshim with a single word, so long as his soul is given over to the EvilOne. He who ten days hence still serves and obeys this foe of thechurch I give over with him to Satan and to the destruction of theflesh, that the soul may be saved at the day of the Lord Jesus! Amen!"

  On finishing this speech he made a genuflexion, kissed the crucifix,and handed it to the chaplain of the castle, who stood tremblingnearest him among the king's suite, and bent his knee, while he pressedthis so fearfully abused symbol of blessing with a look of sorrow tohis heart. "And now, excommunicated king!" added the archbishop, with atriumphant countenance, and with the mien of an exulting martyr,tearing the mantle from his emaciated breast, "now may'st thou, if thoudarest, order to be torn asunder the church's anointed, who announcedto thee the sentence of the Lord. My body is, perhaps, 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 terrorwas depicted in the faces of the knights, while their eyes turned withsorrowing sympathy towards their excommunicated sovereign. It seemedfor a moment as if the lightnings of excommunication had struck theyoung king with the power of real lightning, and smitten him withlameness. He had staggered back so dizzy that he was forced to supporthimself by the door-post; but he now summoned up all his strength, andstepped forward with quick and passionate strides among his knights andcourtiers.

  "A regicide stands in the midst of us, and would give us over to theDevil, to whom he himself belongs," he burst forth, in a tone of thehighest exasperation; "he who is himself accursed presumes to pronouncethe Lord's judgment upon men. On this unfortunate St. Cecilia's eve myfather's blood cried aloud from the earth, and accused this criminalbefore the Lord's tribunal. His head should long since have fallenunder the axe of the executioner, and now he would judge andexcommunicate us; he would destroy my immortal soul, had he the power;but no! each word he hath spoken is lifeless and powerless--his cursesfall back on his own guilty head. The Holy Father shall judge betweenus! The King of Denmark recognizes no sentence as lawful which is notconfirmed by 'the Father of Christendom. Away with the miscreant!"

  The knights and courtiers appeared able to breathe freely again, onhearing these words from the king. They looked on him with confidenceand devotion, yet still appeared to hesitate, and no one prepared toseize the dreaded prisoner, who stood erect and haughty among them, andseemed to triumph in the spiritual power he had exercised even inchains.

  "Hence with the criminal!" repeated the king; "until he recalls theungodly ban he sees not the light of day. Guards! halberdiers! whytarry ye? hath this miscreant's words struck you deaf and lame? Fear yeto obey your liege sovereign?"

  The guards and halberdiers now surrounded the archbishop, but withmanifest trepidation. The terrific prisoner stood immoveable, with hiseyes turned upwards, towards the roof of the hall, and no one as yetdared to lay hands on him. But the king again broke silence. "I stillbear crown and sceptre," he exclaimed; "I shall know how to defendmyself and my loyal subjects against this monster! I swore by myfather's bloody head to uphold the rights of the crown and the insulteddignity of majesty against every power on earth whether spiritual ortemporal, and by all the holy men![13] I will keep that vow. Will notthe loyal Danish nation, will not Denmark's chivalry stand by meundismayed in my fight for truth and justice? Then, indeed, will Danishloyalty be a theme for mockery, and Danish courage for scorn. Are yetrue and valiant Danish men, and do ye let yourselves be scared by amad traitor into betraying your liege sovereign?"

  All doubt and apprehension seemed now to have disappeared among Eric'sknights and courtiers. The hall resounded with shouts and loyalacclamations. The archbishop vainly strove to speak again. Theindignation against him was general, and without hesitation the guardslaid hands on him to lead him back to prison. But ere they reached thedoor it opened, and Prince Christopher, accompanied by the Margrave ofBrandenborg, entered with the papal legate between them, followed bytheir train of ecclesiastics and laymen. All started at the sight ofthe tall foreign prelate with his cardinal's hat and withered visage.He stepped with an authoritative air before the prince and themargrave, and bowed to the king, and towards all sides of the hall, insilence, and with the air of a superior, as if appropriating to himselfthe loud acclamations which were heard on his entrance, but which werenow suddenly hushed. He seemed startled on perceiving the chainedprisoner in the Cistercian mantle. He nodded, and the guard steppedaside. The captive archbishop felt himself suddenly freed from thesturdy grasp of the men-at-arms. "Gloria in excelsis!" shouted Grand,as he raised his fettered hands, and kneeled at the cardinal's feet."Blessed be thou, thou messenger of the Lord!" he continued in Latin."See here, how an archbishop in Denmark is treated! See, and judge, inthe Holy Father's name, O thou, his high ambassador! I have, in virtueof my holy office, published the church's ban upon this presumptuousking, because of his defiance to the law of the Lord and the church!Confirm it in the Holy Father's name, Lord Cardinal--or see ArchbishopGrand expire of wrath and ignominy at your feet!"

  "Arise, my venerable brother, and be comforted," answered Isarnus, alsoin Latin. "I bring with me authority from his Holiness to enforce theconstitution--'Cum Ecclesia Dacianae.' Read this document aloud to theking and the court, in the language of the country, worthy AbbotMagnus." As he said this he reached a large parchment letter, with thepapal seal, to the aged Abbot of Esrom, who had accompanied him. Theabbot opened it with a trembling hand, but as he glanced over it aflood of tears rolled down his furrowed cheeks.

  "I _cannot_," stammered the old man; "he is my liege and sovereign! Iconjure you, my lord, by the all-merciful Creator! use not the powerhere given you to our king's and our country's destruction. This is amatter which demands the highest consideration. This authority is notunconditional, either," These last words were spoken in Latin, andappeared 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 thebystanders with a feeling of
consternation which deprived them of thepower of speech. Even the king appeared for some moments to have losthis self-possession and the consciousness of royal authority, while theattention of all present was rivetted upon the terrific stranger. Ericnow stepped forward a few paces, and seemed about to assert hisauthority by a commanding address; but at the same moment the fetteredarchbishop snatched the document from the abbot's trembling hands."Here is papal authority for ban and interdict," he cried, "praised bethe Lord! his judgments are righteous. Enforce your authority, mostreverend sir! Anathema and the church's ban upon the king, and thosehis accomplices in guilt!" So saying, he raised his fettered hands bothtowards the king and Prince Christopher, who appeared to be in greatconsternation at this sudden and unlooked-for blow.

  "Not a word more here, on pain of instant death, impudent miscreant!"exclaimed the king, in a loud tone, and in the highest exasperation."Take that mad criminal to prison, halberdiers! Let every one leavethis place! We will inquire in our council with what authority thisstranger is empowered to treat with the king of Denmark. When heproposes it, and it suits our convenience, we will talk with him in ourprivate chamber." So saying, the king returned to his own apartment.Not another word was heard in the knights' hall; even the archbishopfound it expedient to be passive as the two halberdiers and the guardapproached to lead him out of the hall. All the knights and courtiers,as well as Prince Christopher and his train, departed in silence. Thehalberdiers who were on guard, alone remained behind. They snatched uptheir halberds, and ranged themselves in their customary order withoutthe king's apartments. Abbot Magnus had also left the hall, andCardinal Isarnus stood almost alone in the middle of the floor betweenhis amanuensis and interpreter. He looked with surprise around thesuddenly deserted hall.

  It was not until he had announced himself through his interpreter insuitable form to the captain of halberdiers, and requested an audiencewith the king, that he was received with the demonstrations of respectdue to a papal ambassador. His arrival was formally announced, and hewas shortly afterwards admitted to a private interview with Eric.

  What had passed had thrown every one into the greatest suspense anduneasiness, and an anxious stillness reigned in the castle. The foreignprelate quitted not the king's private chamber until the night was faradvanced. The king did not make his appearance, but, according to hisorders, the strictest court etiquette was to be observed. Arrangementswere made in the castle for the protracted sojourn of the cardinal andhis train. He was to be honoured as a princely guest. The return of theSwedish ambassadors was postponed. The following day another long andprivate conversation took place between the king and the papal legate.The presence of this dignitary, and his over-awing authority, banishedall gaiety and cheerfulness from the castle.