True Heart, etc

Front matter

TRUE HEART i True Heart 'Being Passages in the Life of Eberhard Treuherz Scholar & Craftsman, telling of his Wanderings & Adventures, his Intercourse with People of Consequence to their Age, & how he came Scatheless through a time of Strife ; now for the first time set forth Bj Frederic Breton London: Grant Richards 9 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden mdcccxcviii Printed by Eallantvne, Hanson & Co. At the Ballantyne Press DEDICATION Co tfje ittemorg of mg /ttotfiet Sweet spirit in the unseen deeps Where life is, while the body sleeps, What is of worth herein is thinet The rest, ill done, is solely mine I Upon my checkered fields, I sought The golden harvest of thy thought, But lo! instead of ripened ears I found an aftermath of tears! Yet stiU I reaped and bound me sheaves, And garnered them beneath my eaves, In hope that haply 'mid the weeds, Might quicken yet some hidden seeds, Unscathed by drought or tempest breath, Ungleaned by the greed of Death.

So, now I lay my wreath of tares, Where erst I came to still my cares ; For, art thou dead, or dost thou live, My guerdon is that I may give. Bright spirit in the radiant deeps Where Love is, and all sorrow sleeps, Ah ! make my ways towards thee trend And lead me God-ward at the end ! CONTENTS

Part I Of The Adventurous Journey

iff OF THE HOME-COMING Chap. P"g< I. Telling of the Boy- Bishop iff the Beginning of the Strife 3 II How Eberhard was befriended by a Stranger . . io HI In which the Stranger tells his Name iff takes Eberhard to an Inn . . . . . .17 Which tells how Eberhard donned Girl's Attire, iff, in this Disguise, made his Escape from the city of St. Gallen 24 IV. In which' Eberhard iff Paracelsus assist at a Man- Hunt 32 V. VI. How Eberhard did a good turn which might one day deserve another . . . . . .39 How Paracelsus healed my Lord of Bulgenbach of his Distemper ....... 44 VII. In which my Lord of Bulgenbach being restored to serenity, waxes wroth with Peasant-Slaves . . 50 VIII. How Eberhard Cff his Companion fall in with the League of the Shoe iff are taken Prisoners . . 55 CONTENTS Cisp. p*v X. In which Eberhard takes leave of Paracelsus iff makes new Friends . . . . • .62 XI. How the Fugitives were run to earth by the Basilisks of Basel, iff how Eberhard came to Basel a Prisoner .....••• 69

Part II Of The Imprisonment

iff RELEASE, iff OF THE JEW AND HIS DAUGHTER I. How the news of Eberhard's return came to his Mother iff Grandfather 79 II. Which treats of Matters of State . . . .85 III. Of the Prison in the Spalenthor iff the manner of Eberhard's coming thereto . . . . .91 IV. Of what passed between Hans Bar & Eberhard's Mother 96 V. Of the Meeting between Eberhard iff his Mother . 102 VI. Of tbe Riot in the City iff of the Hunting of the Jew no VII. Of Eberhard's Escape from the Gate iff his Meeting with Abulfaragus . . . . . .116 VIII. In which Eberhard is newly clad by the Jew, iff meets Azubah the Jewish Maiden . . .123 IX. Of Eberhard's Meeting with Erasmus of Rotterdam, iff the sequel . . . , . . . 1 CONTENTS

Part III Of Eberhard As Apprentice, Student

iff "LOVER OF LOVE" Chap. p_^e I. Of how they talked at the House of Frobenius . . 141 II. In which Eberhard, for the first time, is vanquished by a Girl 148 III. In which Eberhard Wounds iff is Wounded by Hans Bar . . . . . . . .154 IV. Ofthe " Fastnacht " Pranks, of Death iff the Maiden, iff last but not least, of the Face at the Window . 1 60 V. Wherein Eberhard has an object lesson in Liberty iff attends a Conference on Statecraft . . .168 VI. Shtwing elements which went to the building of Eberhard . . . . . . . .176 VII. In which Hans Bar goes to the Wars . . .182 VIII. Wherein Abulfaragus makes an Admission concerning Azubah 189 IX. Of what Eberhard overheard at St. John's Gate iff whom he saw in the Garden . . . 194 X. In which Eberhard's Joy is suddenly changed to Grief 205 XI. Which relates how the Councillor Treuherz Wooed by Proxy 212 XII.

In which Councillor Treuherz talks of Veronica iff Abulfaragus of Azubah 218 XIII. Telling how an adventure of Gallantry led to Eberhard going to the House ofthe Knight von Flachsland X CONTENTS

Part IV Of The Perfidy Of Reinhold Kerver

Pag, Chap. In which Eberhard hears a Sermon of Œcolampadius, iff Veronica foretells the coming of Reinhold Kerver as a Messenger of Truth . . -233 I. II. How Eberhard talked at cross purposes with Azubah, iff how the Jewish Maid announced her intention of becoming a Christian ..... 240 Setting forth how Veronica sent for Eberhard, iff Eberhard renewed acquaintance with Reinhold Kerver ........ 245 III, Wherein Veronica Discourses of Love and Friendship, & Eberhard departs in rueful Hope . . -253 IV, V. How Eberhard was discovered with Azubah the Jewess by Reinhold Kerver iff Philip von Flachsland, iff how he nearly came to blows with the latter 258 How Kerver learned that "all are Scholars to the Fox" 264 VI How the Brown Pestilence came to Basel iff Kerver Shrived the Sick . . . . . .270 VII VIII Ofthe Plot devised by Reinhold Kerver with Azubah iff with Philip von Flachsland . . . .276 How Truth was perverted and Love went awry . 282 IX.

X. How Eberhard, coming to reproach Abulfaragus, was himself reproached with the Ensnaring of Azubah, i$ how the matter was submitted to the Judgment of the People CONTENTS ChjP- Page XL In which Eberhard, aster being besrienaed by a Dog iff his Master, again becomes a Wanderer iff a Fugitive 295 XII. Of the First Day's Journey iff the Meeting with the haggard Man, in whom Eberhard recognises an old Acquaintance . . . . . . .301 XIII. Ofthe Preaching of Dr. Balthasar Hubmaier iff of how Eberhard becomes a Builder of God's Commonweal 306

Part V Of The Turning Of The Wheel

I. In which the Lord of Bulgenbach comes to Judgment 313 II. Wherein Abulfaragus talks of strange matters not easily to be credited . . . . . .320 III. Of the Judicial Torture of Joss Fritz iff of the New Dance of Death . . . . -325 IV. How Eberhard cozened the Lord of Bulgenbach i& his men iff made good his Escape from the Castle . 331 V. Of further Adventures in the Forest, iff how one was taken iff the other left 340 VI. In which Eberhard's Thoughts turn Homeward . 344 VII. In which Philip drunk tells the truth about Philip sober 349 VIII. In which Eberhard is given Counsel by Erasmus of Rotterdam, iff learns the height of Kerver1 s Perfidy 354 IX. Narrating how Eberhard fell in with, followed, iff sought his Enemy, and how he came to be Benighted with Azubah CONTENTS Chap. Page X. Ofthe Disillusion of Azubah iff the timely Intervention ofthe Blithe Companions . . . 369 XL In which Eberhard sees his Old Love, but again loses sight of Azubah ...... 376 XII.

Ofthe Abasement of Veronica von Flachsland . . 382 XIII. How the case was altered iff Veronica bade Eberhard forget 388 XIV. Showing how Public Matters may affect Private Ends ........ 392 XV. Of the Terrible Tears of Change .... 400 XVI. Being the last concerning the Lord of Bulgenbach iff Hans Muller ....... j.08 XVII. Of the End of the Strife . . +,3

Part I Of The Adventurous Journey And Of The Home-coming

A I 3 Telling of the Boy-Bishop iff the Beginning of the Strife The strife between Reinhold Kerver, a great-nephew of Bishop Christopher of the city and country of Basel, and Eberhard Treuherz, grandson of Hans Treuherz, patrician and member of the Council of Six in the same city, began at the Abbey of St. Gallus on December 6th, St. Nicholas' Day, in the Year of Redemption 15 14. The boys at the Abbey School had a holiday and were all agog with the merry doings peculiar to this great festival. Not the least of these time-honoured customs was the election of one of their number to be bishop for the day. Reinhold Kerver thought that his own election was but due to his relationship to a real bishop; but the boys gene rally were of another mind and favoured Eberhard, who was an external or lay scholar, while his rival was an oblatus, or one intended for the Church, and resided in the Abbey under the watchful eye of the monks.

The majority of the latter naturally stood by their own, and for this very reason the boyish boys the more upheld Eberhard. He was therefore duly elected, and after the High Mass was inducted to the extemporised episcopal throne, whence he imparted his benediction to his assembled companions, and also to the monks, who fostered such " playing at Church " because it interwove even sport with holy faith, and taught familiarity with, if not respect for, ecclesiastical forms, while at the same time softening the rude taste for fiercer games of mere physical display, which needed not ta be acted by boys, considering the frequency with which they were performed in reality in the outside world. After the church service, the students all proceeded to the monks' refectory, where they were entertained with the sort of feast which, as boys, they appreciated much more than the religious festival — a feast of meat and drink.

The sixteen-year-old bishop sat at the head of the table, having Reinhold Kerver, as one of his "deacons," in the place of honour on his right. The others sat in long rows on either hand, and the monks and masters waited on them. The tables groaned under a weight of good things, and the heavier this burden became, the lighter became the spirits of the guests and the more their faces beamed through the cloud of steam which rose from the dishes. The meal began with soup, beef, hares and partridges, flanked by various pies and dishes of stewed pears. The second course consisted of fresh salmon and roast birds of divers kinds. Venison with baked rolls followed, to be succeeded by more venison and mutton-pies eaten with almond paste, which gave place in turn to roast sucking-pig and grilled trout, the whole con cluding with baked carp and cheese.

All these dainties were washed down with huge draughts of March beer and Rhine wine, which helped still further to flush the faces and loosen the tongues of the revellers. But the greatest success of all was at a given moment, when two sturdy lay brothers bore a huge pie from the buttery hatch and placed it before the " bishop," and lo ! when he cut the pastry, three bushy-tailed squirrels sprang out in his face and leaped along the table amid the laughter and cheers of the boys. " What makes a squirrel run away ? " asked Eberhard of his right-hand neighbour. Reinhold did not answer, but surlily sat back and folded his arms across the breast of his postulant's gown, for though but still a scholar, he and his fellow oblati all wore the monkish habit, whence they were called by their comrades in derision, " Sisters."

" What now ? " said Eberhard, laughing. " Have Trivium and Quadrivium driven the answer out of your head, or is Master Nutcracker's case too much like your own ? They say fear spoils the memory ! A squirrel runs because, like a schoolboy, he is not in danger of his head, but of his tail ! " General laughter greeted this sally, but Kerver did not join in the merriment. _ " An' I had my will," he muttered ; "your tail would be sitting on the ass or the wolf, instead of at the head of the table." THE BOY-BISHOP Still Eberhard laughed, for wine had made his heart merry. " Dom Maurus says he will have a new asinus cast in metal instead of carving it of wood ; the poor thing's back is getting so worn out with the rubbing of our backs. I wonder who does penance on it most frequently ? " " Not you !

" snapped Reinhold. " You have a good opinion of me ! " " Not at all ; but I should have thought your back was too sore to sit even on a bishop's stool, much less on a wooden ass." "Ay ! " said Eberhard, still on the grin ; " Dom Maurus has no more respect for our breeches than he would have for a bull's hide. I've often wished he had a palsy in his arm." Eberhard's persistent good temper irritated Kerver. " I will take care to tell Dom Maurus that good wish," said he. " And, perhaps, next time the wish will be strengthened." "Sneak! Spy!" exclaimed several outside scholars or town boys. Kerver curled his lips. " Town mud dirties, but it soon dries and doesn't stick, so you can sling it as much as you like. As for spies, is it not the duty of the good servant to warn his superior when an inferior wishes him a mischief?

" "Inferior! " repeated Eberhard, with dangerously flashing eyes. " Certainly inferior ! Do you set yourself up to be aught but inferior to Dominus Maurus, Prefect of Studies in the Abbey of St. Gallus ? " " Gallus was a cock ! " retorted Eberhard, forcing a laugh, acrid and slightly vinous. " Gallus was a cock, but by the bird that crowed before Peter, you are a cockeril — nay ! not that, but a hen." "And you — you are no better than a beanus, a beggarly travelling student whose head is the emptier the more he puts into it, fit for nothing but to beg from house to house, and pay for the alms you receive by throwing stones at the " Kerver's last word was drowned by a volley of laughter crackling along the table. "Exactly! At the — hens! " said Eberhard, almost restored to good humour by his adversary's slip.

But Kerver was embittered and wished to provoke Eberhard, for the aggressor never feels justified till the attacked resorts to violence. " You shall not throw stones at me, anyhow ! " said he. " I've no wish to, now you are floored. Besides, 't were unmannerly to throw stones at a girl . . . Sister Reinholda — Columha in religion, though it should be Gallina! Thank Heaven, I at least can stretch my limbs in my hose like a man, not hide them under skirts like a woman ! " " You are drunk ! " muttered Kerver. " First you show disrespect for Dom Maurus, and now you insult the holy habit of St. Benedict. You a man ! You are not fit to consort with honourable youths ! " " I am not what ? " " What I said ! Go to your Aunt Martha ! " " And what then ? " inquired the other, dangerously. " Learn to show respect for your superiors !

Or wait till the virgatum gathering next summer, and go search for a stinging switch for Dom Maurus to lick respect into you withal ! You are a disgrace to our city of Basel ! " The blood of both youths was aflame, as much with the wine they had drunk, perhaps, as with anger. Forgetful of the temporary episcopal dignity, heedless of the presence of the monks, many of whom, now that the business of food and drink was practically over, were con versing with the boys, disregarding both them and the warning looks and nudges of the more prudent or sober of his comrades, Eberhard struck Kerver full in the face with the flat of his hand. He followed this up by pushing the youth from his seat and knocking him down on the floor, where his struggles to rise were rendered ineffectual by his long habit hampering his legs.

Not content with the victory, Eberhard continued to kick and pummel the hapless youth, all the while gurgling out such expletives as, " You swine ! You ox ! You ass ! You lickspittle ! " Several of his supporters, the town boys, caught him by the shoulders to force him to desist, and pushed him back into his episcopal chair, where he sat struggling and panting, and glaring at all and sundry. THE BOY-BISHOP " What is this unseemly brawling ? " exclaimed a tall ascetic-looking monk, hurrying to the scene. " Is this a Christian monastery or a peasants' beerhouse ? What ! our amiable Reinhold on the floor ? And see ! ... a great rent in his habit ! " " Eberhard spoke slightingly of you, holy father," stammered Kerver, "and, worse than all, derided the holy habit which I bear so unworthily. I did but reprove him, and he flew out upon me, butted and felled me like a mad bull !

" " Is this true, Eberhard ? " asked Dom Maurus. " He angered me first, and I got blind with rage ! " spluttered Eberhard. " Anger I could excuse," the Prefect made answer. " Even personal abuse of my unworthy self, who merit no praise, save merely the respect due to my authority, I can pass over. But to speak ill of our holy habit ! This is a serious matter which must be laid before the Abbot himself, especially as it is far from being the first time I have had to reprove you for your irreverence towards holy things. But has none of your fellows a word to say in your defence ? Perhaps — I hope it may be so — perhaps Reinhold's zeal makes him exaggerate. What ? . . . All silent ? It is indeed a bad cause which finds no advocate." The monk looked round, as if anxious for someone to say a good word for the offender, but nobody spoke.

The town boys felt that they were all as guilty as Eberhard in the matter of hostility to the oblati, but they were not prepared to confess as much to the Prefect ; nor, indeed, did they see how any useful purpose could be served by explaining the origin of the dispute. So Eberhard remained unchampioned and undefended. His lips quivered, but he knitted his brows and strove to look dignified, seeing which Dom Maurus, who was not lacking in insight into boyish character, smiled to himself. " Come Eberhard," said he, " do not be obstinate in contumeliousness. The humming ale and Rhine wine you have drunken are no doubt more responsible than you are yourself for your wild talk. I don't want this holy day to be spoilt by bickering and bitterness, and I don't want the feast to leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth.

Apologise to Reinhold for abusing and assaulting him, and we will say no more of the matter." "Apologise! . . . To him?" " Well ; if not to him, then to me as representing the authority you disregarded and forgot. See ! I want to make matters easy for you. But I cannot absolve you altogether, unless you withdraw your words. There is a principle involved." The boys watched curiously to see if Eberhard would yield. Had he been alone with Dom Maurus, he would probably have given way, but shame-faced pride was fortified by the presence of others, especially of his injured rival. " No ! I cannot withdraw ! Dixi quod dixi ! " he mut tered. " If I had not meant what I said, I would not have spoken. If 1 am to be punished, I must bear it. If I have to stand alone, I must stand alone. I can't help it !

I can do no otherwise." " Then," said Dom Maurus, looking stern again, " I must consult the Father Abbot as to what measures to take with one who is so refractory. Nevertheless, as this is a holiday, I will give you till the hour of compline to do what I ask. Between now and then you may come to me, and the matter will be forgotten and forgiven; but afterwards. . . All the boys shivered deliciously at the mysterious menace, and inwardly hoped Eberhard would stand firm. The lad himself, still conscious of cutting a heroic figure, smiled bitterly. His expression of defiance irritated the master. " Doff" your bishop's robes ! " said he. " You are not fit even to act the part for which your companions have chosen you." Eberhard pulled off his paper and tinsel mitre and flung it on the table, following suit with his pseudo-rochet and purple robe.

" I'd as lief wear cap and bells, as be a mummer at a carnival show ! " he exclaimed. "You are wearing them, though you don't know it," shrewdly observed Dom Maurus. "Better be the merry jester than his cross-grained ape ! " chimed in Kerver. THE BOY-BISHOP But the monk, turning sharply, said, " Silence, Reinhold ! I am grieved that what was begun in joy should end in this way. But as the wise King said, 'Better a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.' So now, boys, you may go ! And remember, Eberhard — till the bell rings for compline ! " Eberhard made no reply, but strode out of the refectory, the one silent, rueful figure among a chattering, leaping, excited crowd. Haw Eberhard was befriended by a stranger Eberhard stood near the great public entrance to the Abbey Church, over which gleamed the inspiring inscription : — "Omnibus ad sanctum turbis patet haec via templum, quo sua vota ferant, uncle hilares redeant."

The way to the holy place was open to all, but he doubted if he should return gratified when he had made his offering. To make a holocaust of pride and eat his own words was not the sort of sacrifice which com mended itself to him. The cold air had sobered his hot head and he saw that he had made a fool of himself, but to know that one is a fool is no pledge that one will admit as much to others. Such youths as Eberhard are straws on the stream of tendency ; hence he was always more inclined to protest than to conform, and had, in fact, tacitly allowed himself to become the leader of the recalcitrant section of the boys, the unruly of whom hailed him as their chief, because they failed to see that his opposition to authority, where not merely youthful bravado, was due to his dim sense of his need for an authority which he could reverence.

He did reverence Dom Maurus as a man, and, could he have overcome his repugnance to him as an authority, would have liked to open his heart to him. He had not dared to go home to the house of his great aunt, who was Ober Martha, or matron, of one of the houses at which the out-scholars were boarded. He could not tell his trouble to that wise but somewhat severe and repellant woman, petrified by the continual exercise of authority over unwilling and unruly subjects. Moreover, his admission to the Abbey School had been chiefly due to his aunt's influence. Otherwise, his sole chance of learning would have been to become a pupil at one ofthe free schools of the Brothers of EBERHARD BEFRIENDED the Common Life, or a travelling student living upon alms, which, as Reinhold Kerver had said, was often enough ill requited.

His mother had grieved at the prospect, and her mother's sister — one of those people who, while they never condone another's weakness, flatter their own sense of superi ority by dutifully offering help — had volunteered to try and procure Eberhard's admission to the Abbey, both "for the boy's own sake, and because it would be better for his mother not to have the presence of such a continual reminder ofthe past." So Eberhard had left Basel and come to reside with his great-aunt while he attended school, where, as he was quick-witted and, what was more appreciated by the boys, smart limbed, he soon found his level. Hence, he felt that he could not make his relative a confidante, for she had been kind to him in the letter though not in the spirit. Further, it did not behove him to make an ill return to the monks, and most of all was it against his grain to wound his mother, as he knew she would be wounded were he obliged to leave the school.

And why should he leave it ? He had not meant anything by his outburst of the morning, so why should any one take it seriously if he did not do so himself? Why indeed ? — But he fell into the error of supposing that it had been his anger which had offended the Prefect of Studies. That was a great mistake. As a matter of fact, Dom Maurus admired the lad's spirit, but, however disposed the man was to condone the vagaries of young blood, the monk could not tolerate heresy, and in Eberhard's gibes at ecclesiastical authority and religions habit he detected some of the germs of the epidemic of revolt which, in guise of broadsheet and carnival play, and even in the writings of scholars, was beginning to infect the world with unrest. But poor Eberhard did not think of this. Sixteen has no convictions ; the age is under mastery of early association.

And whatever crude, ill-expressed notions he might have picked up or reproduced, bore little relation to his own ideas, which were merely vague, shadowy phantoms beckoning him on he knew not whither; In his blood was the wander-fever, and for the toss of a die, he could have sung his farewell song to the one small spot of earth called native, and have gone to take his part in the adventures and shrewd hazards which were awaiting him beyond its borders. South or the Alps and west of the Vosges were bodies of armed men only too eager to welcome the rawest of recruits. Little more than a year previously, Eberhard had witnessed the departure of the Basel Seven-hundred who took part in the expedition to Dijon to regain Burgundy for the Emperor. And yonder on the eastern confines of the Empire were the hordes of barbarian Turks, to fight whom was to win merit in the sight of Heaven.

Nearer at hand in Italy — land of subtle policies and murderous devices — were Swiss lands knechte, waiting to serve Pope, Emperor, or King, not caring much under which flag they fought, provided the general was brave — or the pay was not in arrears. Many a student had exchanged the wanderer's staff for the soldier's sword, in spite of the old song : — "Nor thanks nor wage is the soldier's lot Of small account, and too soon forgot, He faces peril, endures great need : Right small the pleasure he finds indeed !" The world was wide in Eberhard's days, and travel was the unfailing resource of the dissatisfied man, as well as of the warrior, the craftsman, or the refugee. So the youth thought of many places and heard myriad voices calling him, as he roamed unhappily about the silent winter landscape after leaving the Abbey.

For four hours he wandered aimlessly over the snowy country, yet here, as day closed in, and the grey unfeeling sky was evanescently flushed with damask rose, he found himself back at the gates of the Abbey, trying to make up his mind to go in. It needed but a feather to poise the balance. The hour was near four in the afternoon, when the great Mary bell would ring, and the gates be closed. As Eberhard stood irresolute by the doorway, a mob of oblati boys came running up from the town, where, without overmuch of that respect for the monkish habit which Eberhard himself stood accused of lacking, they had been making the most of their holiday after the wont of their fellows —picking quarrels with casual travelling students or the EBERHARD BEFRIENDED poor scholars of the free schools of the different parishes, visiting the inns in company with roystering springalds who amused themselves by plying the youths with strong beer till their gait reduced the habit which they wore to an absurdity, or in throwing stones at the doors and windows of the burghers' houses, for these evenings of early December were the klopfesndchte, or " rapping nights," with which it was part of old tradition to usher in the Wolf Month.

The " sisters " presented a very unmaidenly appearance as they came rollicking, scrambling, and scurrying back to the Abbey. Eberhard was inclined to avoid them, till he saw Reinhold Kerver, when pride made him hold his ground. " Ho ! ho ! Master Bishop, hast thou come to be con secrated by Dom Maurus ? " asked one. " How is thy tail ? " inquired another. " It has been lifted up, but not proudly ! " said a third. " Now it is between legs ! Commend me to the whipped cur for whining a recantation of his heresies ! What shall we do to him, brothers ? Let us cover his faults with the mantle of charity, and compel him to wear the habit. Here thou, little Brother Leonhard, doff thy habit quickly, and we will put it on him." Eberhard stood with his back to the wall, and glowered contempt upon his enemies.