The attack upon Axelhuus had thrown the whole town into the greatest
agitation. Even the most quiet and peaceable burghers could not conceal
their satisfaction on the occasion, and many of them took an open share
in the insurrection. The wild shouts of exultation which were heard
each time a shower of stones poured into the castle, sufficiently
showed the general feeling of indignation, not alone against prelatical
rule but chiefly against the archbishop, for whose sake, and by whose
powerful influence, the exasperating interdict had been enforced.
Grand's name was the watchword on the commencement of every fresh
attack. The provost, with his armed attendants, vainly strove to
restore order and quietness; wherever he appeared with the bishop's
men-at-arms, he was instantly driven back by the enraged populace. The
report of the king's arrival at Sorretslov, and the uneasy terms he was
on with the inmates of Axelhuus, had given a new and loyal impulse to
the insurrection; as the mob now believed that, by their attack on the
ecclesiastical dignitaries, they were making common cause with the
king, against his and the kingdom's arrogant foes. The provost had
ordered all the gates of the town to be locked, but the insurgents had
forced them, and a great number of people, among whom were some of the
richest and most peaceable inhabitants, hastened out of the north gate
of Sorretslov to see the king and intreat his support. Another crowd
flocked to the tower of St. Mary's church, and rang the alarm bell.
"Away with the holy wolves at the castle!" was the cry throughout the
streets. Without the well-lighted council-house, where the council was
assembled, and whither several captive insurgents had been brought,
there was a fearful uproar. The mob demanded the liberation of the
prisoners and threatened to fire the council-house. There was a great
tumult also at the Catsound:--"Out with all the boats!" was the cry of
the mob, "Throw the grocer-wares overboard! Drive the pepper 'prentices
to the devil! Let's fire the castle! Let no soul escape! Death to the
foes of king and country!"
Meanwhile there were more cries and shouts than deeds in most places,
and the wild alarmists were in motion in the most opposite directions,
but, on the old strand, a person was seen who had brought order and
plan into the attack; it was Sir Helmer Blaa, who, with warlike
eagerness, posted the balista on the strand, and instructed the
burghers how to use these engines with force and effect. For some hours
he stood unwearied at this his favourite occupation, and where he led
the attack the castle sustained considerable damage.
The captive insurgents meanwhile had been liberated at the
council-house. A great number of the council had joined the insurgents'
party, and taken up arms against the bishop. The rest of the
counsellors had escaped at the imminent peril of their lives, and some
of them had succeeded in getting out amongst the crowd through the
north gate, and reaching the king's castle at Sorretslov, where they
found the king already on horseback, at the head of his knights and
spearmen, in readiness to enter the town himself and quell the
insurrection.
The evening was closing in. The insurrection had already risen to such
a height that most of the burghers had become alarmed at their own
undertaking, and every resident inhabitant began to fear for the safety
of his property and family; while the unbridled mob considered
themselves freed from all laws of decency and order. The king now
galloped in through the north gate, by Count Henrik's side, at
the head of his troop of knights, and followed by the tall, handsome,
lance-bearers who formed his body guard.
At St. Peter's church, close to the northern gate of the town, and at
St. Mary's, his progress was almost hindered by the thronging crowds.
At both places the insurgents had forced the church doors and compelled
the priests to perform mass. The pious chaunts from the churches
sounded strange and mournful, amid the wild shouts of the mutineers.
"That devotion doubtless proceeds more from defiance that piety," said
the king to Count Henrik, "yet assuredly, none shall hinder them from
God's worship, provided it be conducted with decency and order." He
ordered a guard to be stationed by both churches to check all
disturbances, and rode on. Wherever he appeared he was received with
the most devoted homage, and with joyous acclamations; which were,
however, somewhat subdued in those who were most obstreperous, on
seeing the provost and two of the council among the king's nearest
followers. An uneasy murmur was heard, here and there, and the people
gradually began to comprehend that the king came not hither to take
part with the insurgents against their rulers, but to maintain the
lawful government of the town, and restore public tranquillity.
"Silence, good people! Let every one go to his home! Lay down your
arms!" said the king, in a grave but kindly tone, as he returned the
greetings of the people and stopped his horse.
A silence ensued and the crowd thronged around him with attention to
hear what he said. "I come as your protector, and the upholder of law
and justice in my kingdom," he continued. "That which you can
reasonably demand of the bishop he shall grant you. The shutting
of the churches shall be at an end--the church-doors shall be thrown
open--that I promise you. As to the rest, you must obey your rulers,"
he added sternly. "What hath happened here shall be narrowly inquired
into. There shall be peace and order in the town; he who from this hour
takes the law into his own hands, shall lose his life and reap the
reward of his deeds." An instant stillness prevailed wherever these
words were heard. The insurgents, and all who bore arms, decamped; but
a great crowd of unarmed burghers followed the king with loud
acclamations through the streets.
At the old strand the bombardment of Axelhuus was still carried on with
great zeal. The castle island was surrounded by boats filled with
bowmen and torch-bearers. Preparations were already begun for storming
and firing Axelhuus, The fight was now maintained on both sides, and
arrows and stones from balista were shot from the towers and
battlements of the castle.
"The king!--the king! with the provost and council," was re-echoed from
mouth to mouth, and it seemed as if a stroke of lightning had lamed
every arm. "Long live the king!" shouted the insurgents, and many threw
down their weapons. "No more war!--the king will judge between us and
the bishop!" The clattering of the horses' hoofs was already heard; the
crowd gave way on all sides to make room for the king and his knights.
The people shouted and made signals to the bowmen and brandmen in the
numerous boats which surrounded the castle island; in an instant nearly
all the brands and torches were extinguished in the water, and the
assailants rowed hastily back from the besieged castle. The shooting,
however, still continued from a battery of balista on the shore: it was
here Sir Helmer had stationed himself. His whole attention was so
engrossed in the working of the balista, that he was unconscious of
what was passing around him; he thought the bowmen and torch-throwers
had been put to flight, but observed not the general cessation of the
attack, nor the arrival of the king. "Go on, go on, countrymen!" he
shouted. "Cheerily! brave Danish men! Will you let yourselves be
worsted by the bishop's slaves? Down with their towers and walls!" He
was still issuing the word of command to the balista slingers, when, to
his dismay, he heard the king's voice over head.
"What see I? Sir Helmer! you here! and in the midst of rebels? Is this
accompanying the Drost to Stockholm? Is it thus you serve and obey your
king? He is your prisoner, Count Henrik!"
"My liege and sovereign!" exclaimed Sir Helmer, stretching out his arms
towards the king, who halted before him on his tall white charger, with
a look of stern menace. "Hear me, I conjure you!"
"Not a word!" interrupted the king, with vehemence; "would you make me
a faithless perjurer? In the castle you are besieging I have promised
peace and safety to my deadly foe. I break not my word, even were it
pledged to the devil. If a hair of his head hath been injured it shall
cost you dear. Take my halberdier with you, Count Henrik--put him under
knightly arrest at the castle! To-morrow he shall be judged for his
lawless conduct. Take my greeting and assurance of peace to the bishop
and cardinal," he added in a lower tone. "Take to Grand my last behest
and warning! You are responsible for the observance of our passport!"
"Your will shall be obeyed, my liege!" answered Count Henrik, springing
from his horse. "Follow me quietly, Sir Helmer," he whispered to the
restless and impetuous captain of the balista slingers, "to-morrow you
can justify yourself--now you must be silent and obey."
Helmer bit his lip in wrath as he gave up his sword to Henrik, and
followed him in silence. Count Henrik, with a considerable train of
knights and squires, took instant possession of a barge which the
insurgents had just deserted. He caused a white flag to be hoisted, and
made preparations for crossing over to the castle island, while the
king furthermore enjoined peace and quietness in the town, and rode
with the rest of his train the whole length of the strand, amid the
vast concourse of people, who partly from curiosity, partly from
attachment, continued to accompany him. The balista were instantly
dragged off the shore, from whence the armed insurgents had also
decamped, awed apparently by the king's severity towards one of his
favourite knights.
By the church of St. Nicolas, opposite the little island called "The
Skipper's Ground," the king was again stopped by a numerous and unruly
mob, in which there were many armed men of a gloomy and wild
appearance, who were muttering prayers and psalms, interlarded with
imprecations and threats against all priests and bishops. On the king's
appearance the uproar was hushed, and most of the weapons disappeared
at his command. The church doors were also forced here; all the
ecclesiastics and their attendants had fled. The people themselves had
rung the bell for vespers, and had dragged a monk into the church in
order to compel him to sing the Ave, despite the interdict of bishop
and pope.
The king instantly dismounted and entered the church. Half dead with
terror, and as it were with his life in his hands, an aged Dominican
stood before the altar with rent garments, and strove in vain to chaunt
the customary evening prayers with calmness and dignity, while the
turbulent crowd surrounded him with looks of wild menace, and with
torches, axes, and glittering swords in their hands. A group of
butchers and half-drunken mechanics, headed by a tall carpenter, stood
nearest the altar, and frequently interrupted the monk with scoffs and
threats.
"Peace here, in the Lord's house!" said the king in a loud voice, as he
entered the church. "Bend the knee, all of ye, and pray the merciful
God to pardon you! Go in peace, pious father!--if thou darest not to
pray for our souls.--God hears us, however, despite the ban, if we are
but sincere. The All-righteous be gracious to us all, and pardon us our
sins!" So saying, the king bent his knee before the altar, and all
fell, as if struck by lightning, on the floor. A deathlike silence
prevailed for a moment.
It now appeared as if the aged Dominican was suddenly inspired by a
feeling of lofty and intrepid enthusiasm. In a solemn voice he chaunted
a "Gloria," and afterwards an "Ave," in which he was followed by the
king and the whole congregation. The king then arose, and calm and
silent quitted the church. He mounted his horse and rode onwards. "Holy
Virgin, pray for us!" still resounded with calm solemnity from the
kneeling congregation in St. Nicolas church; and when the king again
returned through the strand street opposite Axelhuus, to repair to his
castle at Sorretslov, tranquillity appeared to be fully restored.
Lights gleamed in the calm spring eve in most of the windows; at
Axelhuus also, all now seemed tranquil. Count Henrik had sent the
provost and two counsellors on before him in a small boat to announce
his coming to the bishop, while the Count himself with his train in the
great barge approached the castle island with tardy strokes of the oar.
Sir Helmer stood silent and thoughtful, as a disarmed captive, in the
barge by Count Henrik's side, indignant at being now carried to
imprisonment in that castle which he had recently, as a conquering
general, assisted the burghers to besiege. He now, indeed, perceived
that he had acted rashly in taking a part in the insurrection; but he
thought, nevertheless, that the king's conduct towards him was much too
severe; his looks and glowing cheek betrayed that his pride was deeply
wounded. As he revolved these thoughts a boat from the castle island
rowed rapidly towards them, and glided close past the barge. "Ha! the
pepper 'prentice!" exclaimed Sir Helmer, suddenly springing like a
madman into the boat. Count Henrik saw with surprise that his captive
commenced wrestling on the gunwale with a German pepper 'prentice, and
plunged with his antagonist into the deep stream, while the boat
disappeared with the speed of an arrow in the twilight.
"Save him, save him!" shouted Count Henrik, and stopped the rowers. Sir
Helmer's plumed hat floated on the water at some distance; it was taken
up; but neither himself nor his unknown adversary were to be seen. The
rapid current appeared to have instantly borne them away, and all
search after them with oars and boat-hooks proved fruitless.
"The Lord have mercy on his soul!" said Count Henrik with a sigh. "He
was the boldest knight I ever knew--but a thoughtless madcap he ever
was. He hath escaped captivity though, and perhaps a stern sentence
to-morrow; but the king hath lost a true friend. On, fellows! We find
him not--perhaps he hath helped himself; he was a good swimmer."
In the boat which shot past, and which had been nearly upset by the
sudden and violent struggle, two persons attired as ecclesiastics had
been seen, and the rowers thought they recognised in one of them the
archbishop's crafty friend Johan Rodis.
In the harbour of Axelhuus lay the royal vessel "Waldemar the
Victorious," on board of which the archbishop, through the mediation of
the cardinal, had been brought from Hammershuus, under royal convoy.
According to the tenor of the passport, the captain with all his crew
had been sworn by the archbishop, and had bound themselves to convey
him from Axelhuus at a moment's warning, in case he should not believe
himself safe, and also to bring him and the papal nuncio to whatever
foreign port they chose. Just as Count Henrik was about to land on the
castle island a large rowing boat approached the royal vessel.
"Our lord bishop, with the archbishop, and the red hat!" said the
boatmen; "they are making for the Waldemar."
"Then row after them with all your might!" ordered Count Henrik; "there
is no time to lose; haste!" Ere they reached the ship, the cardinal and
the archbishop were already on board, and the sails were about to be
hoisted. In the boat stood Bishop Johan with a number of clerks, and
was wishing his exalted guests a safe and fortunate passage.
"I bring you the same good wishes from my liege and sovereign, most
venerable sirs!" cried County Henrik, taking off his hat. "Your safe
departure hath been cared for. As soon as the king learnt your
distress, and the insurrection of the mob, he hasted hither in person
to your protection. I have commands to escort you out of the harbour,
and see you safe from all possible danger."
"Bring the King of Denmark my farewell, and my thanks for his support,"
answered the cardinal, through his interpreter. "I have been myself a
witness to it, and I must see justice done to his generosity towards
his foe, as well as to his kingly temper, and his strict keeping of
promise. I now quit the country without having succeeded in
establishing here the peace I desired; but I trust once again to see
King Eric and Denmark under happier auspices."
"When you come with peace and blessing, your eminence will be welcome!"
answered Count Henrik; "but you have already seen solemn proofs of the
temper with which the Danish people put up with ban and interdict. My
liege the king prays your eminence to bring the holy father tidings of
this, together with his humble and filial greeting; he places with
confidence his own and his people's just cause before the judgment seat
of his holiness; but whatever the sentence may prove to be, according
to ecclesiastical and canonical law, my liege, King Eric of Denmark, as
the temporal ruler of this land and the protector of public peace, is
necessitated in the most peremptory manner to declare Archbishop Grand
of Lund for ever banished from these kingdoms and lands."
"Banished!" repeated a hollow voice from the vessel, and the tall
Archbishop Grand appeared at the gangway. "Who dares pronounce that
sentence upon an anointed prince of the church? For this no king on
earth hath power. That king's servant who hath dared to bring me such a
message, I declare to be under the ban of the church."
Count Henrik started, but still stood calm and courteous with hat in
hand waiting to hear what the bishop had further to say.
"Whether I again set foot on Danish ground," continued Grand, "depends
upon myself and the holy father. I now shake off the dust from my
martyred feet, and quit my ungrateful father-land; but ere the fullest
compensation hath been made me for all I have here suffered contrary to
the laws of God and man, there shall no blessing come upon state and
country, and upon Denmark's excommunicated king--that I swear by the
Almighty and all the saints! Tell the tyrant who sent you--from me, the
church's primate in the north--should King Eric Erieson now dare,
without dispensation and consent of the church, to complete his ungodly
espousals in forbidden consanguinity, it shall surely be to the eternal
damnation of himself and kingdom. Amen!"
At these words Count Henrik stamped in the barge, without however
vouchsafing an answer to the incensed prelate. "Captain!" he called to
the commander of the ship, who stood with his hat in his hand at the
forecastle; "you will convey Archbishop Grand, in the king's name and
under his convoy, safe on shore wherever he chooses, excepting only the
king's states and kingdom. Whoever should dare to bring back this
disturber of the peace to Denmark shall be judged as a traitor and
rebel."
At Count Henrik's signal, the sails were hoisted, and the vessel sailed
out of port with the dangerous prelate, whose last words to his native
land were those of the so oft-repeated ban.
Count Henrik now greeted the lord of the castle of Axelhuus, the little
bishop Johan, and delivered the king's message of peace and protection;
under conditions, however, which he was invited to consider in an
interview with the king at his castle of Sorretslov. Count Henrik then
gave a parting salutation to this friend and unsuccessful imitator of
the archbishop, who seemed to meditate a haughty and impressive reply;
but without awaiting it, Henrik made a signal to his boatmen to row
forward, and followed the departing vessel at some distance, until it
was seen to be fairly out of port and in open sea. The count then
returned with his train to the town, where he instantly mounted his
horse, and rode in silent and serious thought, but with cheerful looks
and at a brisk trot through the town, and from thence on the road to
Sorretslov.