He was a serving-man to Master Rummel of Nuremberg, who had been sent
forth from Lichtenau to carry this good liquor to the nuns at
Pillenreuth; the market-town of Lichtenau lieth beyond Schwabach and had
of yore belonged to the Knight of Heideck, who had sold it to that city,
of which the Rummels, who were an old and honored family, had bought it,
with the castle.

Now, whereas yestereve the Knight of Heideck, the former owner of the
castle, a noble of staunch honor, was sitting at supper with Master
Rummel in the fortress of Lichtenau, a rider from Pillenreuth had come in
with a petition from the Abbess for aid against certain robber folk who
had carried away some cattle pertaining to the convent. Hereupon the
gentlemen made ready to go and succor the sisters, and with wise
foresight they sent a barrow-load of good wine to Pillenreuth, to await
them there, inasmuch as that no good liquor was to be found with the
pious sisters. When the gentlemen had, this very morning, come to the
place where the highwaymen had fallen on Eppelein, they had met Ann who
was known to them at the Forest lodge, where she was in the act of making
search for Herdegen's letter, and they, in their spurred boots, had
helped her. At last they had besought her to go with them to the Convent,
by reason that the men-at-arms of Lichtenau had yesternight gone forth to
meet the thieves, and by this time peradventure had caught them and found
the letter on them. Ann had consented to follow this gracious bidding, if
only she might give tidings of where she would be to those her friends
who would for certain come in search of her. Thereupon Master Rummel had
commanded the servingman, who had come up with the barrow, to tarry here
and bid us likewise to the Convent; the fellow, however, who had already
made free on his way with the contents of the jars, had tried the liquor
again. And first he had tumbled down on the frosted grass and then had
laid him down to rest under the fisherman's hut.

Rarely indeed hath a maiden gone to the cloister with a lighter heart
than I, after I had heard these tidings, and albeit there was yet cause
for fear and doubting, I could be as truly mirthful as the rest, and or
ever I jumped into my saddle again I had many a kiss from bearded lips as
a safe conduct to the Sisters. My good godfather in the overflowing joy
of his heart rushed upon me to kiss me on both cheeks and on my brow, and
I had gladly suffered it and smile