t wise and potent prince was plainly set before our eyes
that same day, for on him, as commander-in-chief of the crusade to be
sent forth against the Hussite heresy, the Emperor's own sword was
solemnly bestowed in the church of Saint Sebald. It was girt on to him by
reverend Bishops, after that he had received from the hand of the Pope's
legate a banner which his Holiness had himself blessed, and which was
borne before him by the Count of Hohenlohe as he went forth.

That it would be a hard matter to get speech with so potent a lord at
such a time was plain to see; howbeit I was able to speak privily at any
rate with his chamberlain, and from him I learned in what peril my
brother was, inasmuch as not the Junker's father alone was bent on
bringing him to extreme punishment, but likewise no small number of
Nuremberg folk, who had of yore been aggrieved by my brother's
over-bearing pride.

Every one who had ever met him in the streets with a book under his arm,
or had seen him, late at night, through the lighted window-pane, sitting
over his papers and parchments, was ready to bear witness to his study of
the black arts. Thus the diligence which he had ever shown through all
his wild ways was turned to his destruction; and it was the same with the
open-handed liberality which had ever marked him, by reason that the
poor, to whom he had tossed a heavy ducat instead of a thin copper piece,
would tell of the Devil's dole he had gotten, and how that the coin had
burnt in his hand. Nay and Eppelein's boasting of the gold his young lord
had squandered in Paris, and wherewith he had filled his varlet's
pockets, gave weight to this evil slander. Many an one held it for a
certainty that Satan himself had been his treasurer.

Thus a light word, spoken at first as a figure of speech by the Knight
von Rochow, had grown into a charge against him, heavy enough to wreck
the honor and freedom of a man who had no friends, and even to bring him
to the stake; and I know full well that many an one rejoiced beforehand
to think that he should see that lordly youth with all his bravery
standing in the pointed cap with the Devil's tongue hung round his neck,
and gasping out his life amid the licking flames.

CHAPTER V.

The Diet was well-nigh over, yet had we not been able to gain aught in
Herdegen's favor. One day my Forest Aunt, who had marked all our doings
with wise counsel and hearty good-will, sent word that he on whose mighty