Moretz returned, as he had come, to his cottage. Karl soon after
arrived, having gone out into the forest for wood. He reported having
seen large bodies of men armed in every possible way collecting at a
distance, but he kept himself out of sight, for fear they might compel
him to accompany them.
In the meantime the count remained, as he had determined, at his post.
The day after Moretz had visited him, the report was brought that a
large body of men were approaching the castle. Acting according to his
resolution, in the plainest dress he ever wore he mounted his charger
and rode forward to meet them. As he appeared he was welcomed with a
loud shout, and several persons, detaching themselves from the crowd,
approached him.
"We have come, friend Furstenburg," they said, "to invite you to join
our noble cause. We will give you military rank, and make you one of
our leaders; but we can allow no nobles among us, and therefore it must
be understood that you will sink your title."
"This is a strange proposal to make to me, my friends," answered the
count, after the insurgents had explained their objects and plans. "You
profess to be guided by God's word, and yet you undertake to act in
direct opposition to it. When the Israelites were led forth to attack
their enemies they were under the guidance of God, and made especial
instruments for the punishment of evil-doers, who had long obstinately
refused to acknowledge Him. You, who have no right to claim being led
by God, take upon yourselves to punish those whom you choose to consider
your enemies. When Christ came a better law was established, and by
that law we are taught to forgive our enemies, and leave their
punishment to God, and not to attempt to take it into our own hands."
Again and again the insurgent leaders urged the count to accept their
offers, refusing to listen to his arguments. He saw, by the gestures
and the expressions they used, that they would probably take him by
force. To avoid this was very important, and he therefore requested
further time to consider the matter. Some of them evidently desired to
enter the castle with him, but this he declined; observing that if he
was to act freely, he must be left at liberty. Fortunately they were
persuaded to allow him to depart, and he safely reached the gates of his
castle.
The insurgents on this marched off in the direction of other castles,
whose owners they hoped to enlist in their cause. The count, on
entering, ordered the gates to be closed, and then summoning his
retainers, told them that he had resolved to abandon the castle, rather
than kill any of the misguided people who might come to attack it. He
gave them their choice of remaining within the open gates, or obtaining
safety by concealing themselves in the neighbourhood. "I have no
children, and my distant heir has no right to blame me for my conduct,"
he said, when remonstrated with for this proceeding. "I have, besides,
One to whom I am first answerable, and He I am sure approves of it."
There was, however, a large amount of plate and valuables of various
sorts in the castle: these he had carried to a place of concealment,
such as most buildings of the sort in those days were provided with.
These arrangements were not concluded till nearly midnight. He then set
out unaccompanied, and took his way to the hut of old Moretz.
The next day, when the insurgents returned, they found the castle of
Furstenburg deserted. Some of their leaders urged them to burn it to
the ground, in consequence of having been tricked, by its owner. They
were about to rush in, when an old man, who had remained concealed close
to the gates, presented himself before them.
"What are you about to do, my friends?" he exclaimed. "Is this the way
you show your love of liberty? Because a man does not approve of your
mode of proceeding, are you right in destroying his property, and
injuring him in every way you can? You speak of the tyranny of your
rulers--is not this greater tyranny? I am one of yourselves, and know
what you all feel. I feel the same. I desire that our people should
have their rights; but I am very sure that by the way you are proceeding
you will not obtain them. A just cause cannot be supported by unjust
means."
Moretz, for it was he, spoke more to the same effect. Happily, Herder
was not with the party, or his success might have been different. At
length they were convinced by his arguments, and consented to depart
without destroying the castle. After they had gone to a considerable
distance, Moretz hurried back to the count with the good news.
"Alas!" said the old noble, "it matters, in truth, but little to me. I
am childless, and almost friendless; for with those I once associated I
have no longer a desire to mix; and, except that I may live a few years
longer, and forward the noble cause of the Reformation, I should be
ready even now to lay down life."
"Count," said the old man, rising and standing before him, "you say that
you are childless--but are you really so? You once had a daughter?"
"I had, but I cruelly drove her from my door; but I know that she is
dead; for, having taken every possible means for her discovery, I could
gain no tidings; and I am very sure, knowing her disposition, that ere
this, had she been alive, she would have sought a reconciliation. Of
the death of her husband I received tidings. He died fighting in the
Spanish army against Barbarossa, and on hearing that my child was left a
widow, my heart relented towards her. But tell me, friend, have you any
tidings of my daughter?"
"You surmise too rightly, count, that your daughter is dead," answered
the woodcutter. "She died in this humble cottage, and in these arms;
but before she died she had given birth to a child,--a girl,--who was
brought up by my poor daughter, till she herself was also carried to the
grave, leaving behind her a son,--young Karl yonder."
"And my grandchild? Where is she?" exclaimed the count, casting a
glance at Meta.
"You see her there, count," answered the woodcutter. They were seated
in the porch of the cottage. Below it ran a stream, where Meta, aided
by Karl, was busily washing. The first thing, perhaps, in the once
proud noble's mind was:--
"And can a descendant of mine be thus employed?" The next instant,
however, rising from his seat, he hurried down the bank, calling Meta to
him. She was quickly by his side. "Child," he said, "which of us is
your grandfather, think you?" As he spoke he drew her towards him, and
gazed in her face. "Yes, yes, I recognise the features of my own lost
daughter!" he exclaimed. "We will ever love old Moretz, and be grateful
to him," he said, pressing a kiss on Meta's brow. "But I am your
grandfather, and you must try and give me some of the love you bear
him."
Again and again the count expressed his gratitude to old Moreu. "And
above all things," he added, "that you have brought her up as a true
Christian Protestant. Had you returned her to me as an ignorant Papist,
as I was long ago, my happiness would have been far less complete."
It was some time before Meta could understand the change in her
circumstances, never having indeed been told who was her mother, and
believing always that she was Karl's sister. The poor lad was the only
one whose spirits sunk at what he heard, when he was told that he should
lose his companion. A right feeling, however, soon rose in his bosom,
and he rejoiced at Meta's change of fortune.
The peasant-army meantime increased in numbers, and a vast concourse,
under a fanatical leader, Thomas Munser, marched through the land,
burning castles and towns which refused to admit them, and committing
all sorts of atrocities. There were several similar bands. The people
in the Black Forest rallied round John Muller of Bulgenbach. Wearing a
red cap and a red cloak, he rode from village to village, ordering the
church bells to summon the people to his standard. Several noblemen
were compelled to join them. Among others, the famous Geotz von Ber
Lichengen was forced to put himself at the head of the rebel army. Many
towns, unable to withstand them, opened their gates, and the citizens
received them with acclamations. Dr Martin Luther and many other
leaders of the Reformation exerted all their influence to induce the
peasants to return to their homes. They wrote, they preached, and
showed how such proceedings were opposed to the principles of the
gospel. At length a large army, raised by the Ex-Emperor of Germany,
was sent against the insurgents, while the nobles, in every direction
taking courage, banded together to put down the insurrection. Fearfully
did they retaliate on the unhappy people for the insults they had
received. Seldom could the insurgent bands withstand the well-trained
forces sent against them, and a large part of the country was deluged in
blood, the fugitives in most instances being slaughtered without mercy.