rvices. There stands, for example, Captain Loeffler: if there is a
braver lansquenet in all Christendom, I'll allow my skin to be peeled
off and walk about in my bones the rest of my life! Look at Staberl of
Vienna: the sun and moon have never shone upon his equal! And the
Magdeburger there, no Turk ever fought like him; and as for little
Muckerle, though he does not look it, he is the best shot in the
world, and can hit the bull's eye in the target at forty paces. I
won't say anything of myself; self praise does not sound well. But,
_bassa manelka_! I have served in Spain and Holland--and, _canto
cacramento_--also in Italy and Germany! _Morbleu!_ Long Peter is known
in every army. May my soul be punished, when I and the others get
behind the Swabian dogs, _diavolo maledetto_, they'll take to their
hareskin, and be off as fast as their heels can carry them!"

This was the longest speech Long Peter had ever made; and when many
years after he sealed the renown of the German lansquenet with his
death before Pavia, his companions, in relating to their young comrades
the events of his life, always mentioned this moment as the most
glorious of his career. He was described as standing before his
audience, leaning upon his long sword, his large hat with the red
feathers cocked over his ear, the right hand resting upon his side, and
his legs spread out, wanting nothing to complete his pretensions to a
regular general than a better jerkin and the chain of honour.

The commanders, after the flattering speech of their general, invited
their new guest to pass their army in review. The hollow sound of
enormous drums soon roused the men from their rest. They appeared still
to be under the influence of Fronsberg's military genius and strict
discipline, by the activity they displayed in forming themselves, in a
few moments, into three great circles, each composed of four companies.
To an eye accustomed, as in our times, to the rapid but steady
movements of regiments, and the beautiful appearance of their
uniformity of dress, the sight of this heterogeneous multitude would
cause surprise if not ridicule. Though the lansquenets were generally
clothed according to their own taste, there was still a semblance of an
attempt to uniformity after the fashion of those days. For the most
part they wore jerkins of leather setting tight to the body, or leather
waistcoats with arms of coarse cloth, and enormous wide trousers tied
under the knee, an