The band which set forth from the neighbourhood of Gutech was not more
successful than others. Although at first they captured and burned a
number of castles and entered several towns, in which they levied
contributions from the inhabitants, they at length encountered the
imperial forces. Not an instant could they withstand the well-trained
troops of Germany, but fled before them like chaff before the wind. On
reaching the neighbourhood of their own homes they, gathering courage,
showed a bolder front than before. It would have been happier for the
misguided men had they continued their flight. Old Moretz would not
consent to eat the bread of idleness, and had declined the bounty freely
offered him by the count. He and Karl had gone farther from home than
usual on their daily avocation, when their ears were attracted by what
appeared to be the din of battle in the distance. They climbed a height
in the neighbourhood, whence, from between the trees, they could look
down on an open space in the distance, with a rapid stream on one side.
Here a large body of peasants were collected, while another body in
front were desperately engaged with some imperial troops, as they
appeared to be by their glittering arms and closely serried ranks.
"May God have mercy on them!--for they will have no mercy on each
other," exclaimed Moretz, as, leaning his hand on Karl's shoulder, he
stood gazing eagerly down on the raging fight, and scarcely able to
retain the young lad, who, had he been alone, would probably have rushed
down and joined it. The peasants who had hitherto borne the brunt of
the battle--being evidently the best armed and bravest--were now driven
back on the main body. The latter, seized with a panic, gave way, the
imperialists pursuing them, cutting to pieces with their sharp swords,
or running through with their pikes, all they overtook. Moretz and his
grandson watched the fugitives and their pursuers. The latter, like a
devastating conflagration or a fierce torrent, swept all before them,
till they disappeared in the distance.
"We may be able to help some of the unfortunate people who may yet
survive," observed the old man.
"Oh, yes--yes. Let us hurry on, grandfather," exclaimed Karl. "I fancy
that even at this distance I have seen more than one attempt to rise,
and then fall back again to the ground."
Moretz and Karl soon reached the spot where the conflict began. From
thence, far, far away, was one long broad road covered thickly with the
dead and dying and badly wounded. The old man and boy moved among the
ghastly heaps, giving such assistance as they were able to those who
most needed it. Karl ran to the stream to bring water, for which many
were crying out, while Moretz, kneeling down, bound up the poor fellows'
wounds. He had thus tended several of the unfortunate men, when he saw
a person at a little distance trying to lift himself up on his arm. He
had several times made the attempt, when he once more fell back with a
groan. Moretz hurried towards him. In the features, pallid from loss
of blood and racked with pain, he recognised those of Herr Herder.
"Ah, old man! have you come to mock at me?" exclaimed the latter, as he
saw Moretz approaching.
Moretz made no answer, but kneeling down, lifted up the farmer's head,
and put the bowl of water he carried to his lips. Herder eagerly took a
draught of the refreshing liquid.
"Where are you hurt?" asked Moretz, "that I may wash and bind up your
wounds."
Herder pointed to his side and then to one of his legs.
Aided by Karl, who now came up, Moretz took off Herder's clothes, and
with the linen which he had collected from the slain, having first
washed his wounds, he bound them carefully up.
"We must carry you out of this, for the imperialists returning, will too
likely kill all they find alive," said Moretz.
"You cannot carry me," said Herder, faintly: "you would sink under my
weight."
"I will try," answered Moretz. "Karl will help me."
With a strength of which the old man seemed incapable, he lifted the
bulky form of the farmer on his shoulders, and telling Karl to support
his wounded leg, he hurried towards the hill from which he had lately
descended.
"But you can never carry me up that hill," said Herder, as he gazed at
the height above their heads.
"No," answered Moretz; "but there is a cave near its foot. I can there
conceal you till your enemies have gone away; and I will then get some
friend to assist me in carrying you to my hut. You will be safe in the
cave, at all events, for few know of it; and as soon as the soldiers
have disappeared I will get the assistance of a friend to carry you on."
Old Moretz, as he staggered on, had several times to stop and recover
strength, for the farmer's body was very heavy. At length, however, he
reached the cavern he spoke of. Having deposited his burden, and left
Karl to watch him, he climbed the height, whence he could observe the
proceedings of the imperialists. He had not long to wait. As he had
seen them advancing like a rushing torrent, now they returned like the
ebb of the ocean. As he had feared, they appeared to be slaughtering
those they found still stretched alive on the ground. On they went,
till there were none to kill, and then, the trumpet collecting them in
more compact order, they marched onwards in the direction whence they
had come. Moretz, having found a neighbour in whom he had confidence,
he returned to the cavern, and together they carried Herder up to his
cottage.
"I have but poor fare to offer you, Herr Herder," he said, "but such as
it is I freely present it to you."
"What makes you thus take care of me?" said Herder, scarcely noticing
the remark. "I never did you any good. I have been your enemy for many
years."
"God's blessed word says--`Love your enemies, do good to them who hate
and ill-use you.' If you had treated me far worse than you have done,
still I should desire to help you."
"Ah! you conquer me, Moretz," said Herder, after a long silence. "I
have no doubt that the Bible says as you tell me; but I did not think
that any one would thus act according to its commands."
"Nor would they," answered Moretz, "unless the Holy Spirit had changed
their hearts. The natural man may read the commands over and over
again, but he takes no heed of them."
Thus Moretz frequently spoke to his guest. Karl also often read the
Bible to him. One day they received a visit from Gottlieb Spena. He
was on his way to the castle of Furstenburg. Before he left the
woodcutter's hut Herder declared that he now understood how Christ had
died to save him from the just consequences of his sin.
Meta grew into a noble-looking young lady, and married a Protestant
baron, who ever stood up boldly for the faith. She never forgot her
kind guardian nor her foster-brother--Karl. She provided a comfortable
house for old Moretz, and watched over him affectionately till, in
extreme old age, he quitted this world for one far better.
Karl became the head steward of her estates, and ever proved himself a
true and faithful man, as he had been an honest and good boy. Spena was
greatly instrumental in spreading the glorious truths of the gospel
throughout the country, but at length, venturing into a part of Europe
where the papists were supreme, he was seized and accused of being a
recreant monk. Refusing to abjure the faith, he--as were many others at
that time--was condemned to the flames, and became one of the noble army
of martyrs who will one day rise up in judgment against that fearful
system of imposture and tyranny which condemned them to suffering and
death.
There was one district where the insurrection was put down without
bloodshed. It was that of the truly pious and Protestant prince, the
Elector of Saxony. The power of the word there produced its effect.
Luther, Friedrich Myconius, and others went boldly among them, and, by
their eloquent arguments, induced them to abandon their designs. Thus,
at length, peace was restored to the land of Luther, although these
proceedings of the misguided peasants for a time greatly impeded the
progress of the Reformation.