's following went over to the side of
his son, who then caused himself to be invested with imperial honours.
The deposed sovereign, deprived of power and supporters, was compelled
to go into exile; even his personal freedom was secured only as the
price of his renunciation of the crown. Broken and humiliated, feeling
intensely the disgrace of his position, he determined to undertake a
pilgrimage to Liege, accompanied only by his servant Kurt, who alone
of all his train had remained faithful to him. The pilgrimage was
successfully accomplished, but ere he could enter upon the return
journey the wretched Emperor died, in want and misery, utterly neglected
by his kindred. Even after death the Pope's ban was effective, so that
his corpse was not allowed interment for several years. During that
period the faithful Kurt kept guard unceasingly over his master's coffin
and would not suffer himself to be drawn therefrom.

At length, however, Henry V, under pressure from his princes and nobles,
gave orders that his father's remains be conveyed to Speyer and there
interred in the royal vault with such honours as befitted the obsequies
of a monarch. The messengers found old Kurt still holding his vigil
beside the Emperor's body, and in recognition of his faithfulness he
was permitted to follow the funeral cortege to Speyer. There were in
the town certain good and pious folk who were touched by the servant's
devotion, and by these he was kindly treated. But all their kindness
and attention could not repair the havoc which his weary vigil and long
privations had wrought on his health, and a few months later he followed
his master to the grave.

Strange to relate, as he expired all the bells of Speyer tolled out a
funeral peal such as was accorded to an emperor, and that without being
touched by human hands. Meanwhile Henry V also lay dying. All the
luxury of his palace could not soothe his last moments; though he was
surrounded by courtiers who assumed sorrow and walked softly, and though
all his kindred were around him, he saw ever before him the image of his
dead father, pointing at him with a grim, accusing finger. Stricken with
terror and remorse, and tortured by disease, he longed for death to end
his torments, and at last it came.

Again the passing bell was tolled by invisible hands, but not this time
the peal which announced the passing of an emperor. The citizens heard
the awful sound which told that a criminal had paid th