and believes us worthy of his confidence. Many valuable
privileges have revealed this. To maintain this confidence, which is and
will remain the source of the most important favours to Nuremberg, is
enjoined upon us merchants by prudence, upon us directors of the city by
regard for its prosperity. But, my honourable friends, reluctantly as I
do so, I must nevertheless remind you that this confidence, here and
there, has already received a shock through the errors of individuals.
Who could have forgotten the tale of the beautiful cap of the unhappy
Meister Mertein, who has preceded us into the other world? Doubtless it
concerned but one scabby sheep, yet it served to bring the whole flock
into disrepute. Perhaps the fact that it occurred so soon after Rudolph's
election to the sovereignty, during the early days of his residence in
our goodly city, imprinted it so deeply upon our imperial master's
memory. A few hours ago he asked for some information concerning the sad
affair which now occupies our attention, and when I represented that the
public spirit and honesty of my countrymen, fellow-citizens, and
associate members of the Council would prevent it from injuring our trade
at home or abroad, he alluded to that story, by no means in the jesting
way with which he formerly mentioned the vexatious incident that
redounded to the honour of no one more than that of his own shrewdness,
which at that time--seven years ago--was so often blended with mirth."

When the speaker began to allude to this much-discussed incident a smile
had flitted over the features of his listeners, for they remembered it
perfectly, and the story of Emperor Rudolph and the cap was still related
to the honour of the presence of mind of the wise Hapsburg judge.

During the period of the assembly of the princes a Nuremberg citizen had
taken charge of a bag containing two hundred florins for a foreign
merchant who had lodged with him, but when he was asked for the property
entrusted to him denied that he had received it.

This disgraceful occurrence was reported to the Emperor, but he
apparently paid no heed to it, and received Master Mertein, amongst other
citizens who wished to be presented to him. The dishonest man appeared in
a rich gala dress and as, embarrassed by the Emperor's piercing gaze, he
awkwardly twirled his cap--a magnificent article bordered with costly
fur; the sovereign took it from his hand, examined it admiringly and,
with the rema