[Footnote 1: From a collection of short tales in one volume, entitled
'Haabloes,'--Hopeless.]
[Footnote 2: Niel's Bugge, in Danish history generally called Ridder
Bugge, the wealthy owner of the ancient castle of Hald, was on had
terms with King Waldemar Kristoffersen, to whom he would not yield
allegiance. After it had been sought in vain to bring about a
reconciliation at Slagelse, Ridder Bugge and two ether noblemen, Otto
Stigsen and Peter Andersen, were treacherously murdered when returning
home from the meeting. Some burghers of Middlefort were blamed for this
dark deed, but they were probably employed by persons in a higher
station; at least, Waldemar found it necessary to clear himself from
the suspicion of guilt by the oaths of twelve men.]
[Footnote 3: '_Schukelmeier_,' a play upon the name _Mr. Meier_, was a
nickname signifying _Smuggler_, which the lower classes in Hamburg
bestowed on the Danes, whom they accused of having smuggled the French
into Hamburg.]