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Article THE SECRET SOCIETIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES ← Page 6 of 11 →
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The Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages
the baud , as lie pointed to a tall tree ; " and at that shrine you can pay your last devotions . " Charles mado no reply , but walked with a firm step to the front of tho altar , which was protected by a range of solid iron bars . There he knelt for several minutes , his guards forming a semi-circle behind him . At length he rose , and said , in a tone AA'hich neither trembled nor expressed the slightest fear , " I am ready , "
The officer could not help exclaiming , " You are a brave man !" " I know how to die rather than succumb to the tyrants of your tribunal , " answered the victim . One of the men now threw a long cord over a branch of the hi gh tree which the officer had already indicated , and tho noose was slipped over tho neck of the condemned , while another of the band pinioned his arms . And IIOAV all was in readiness for the consummation of the
tragedy , and the condition of the prisoner appeared beyond the hope of human relief . But at the very moment , when two of the servitors were about to run the young man up to the bough which , waved so ominously over his head * * * * *'
We need not further continue the narrative , as what follows lias no connection with the Yehm tribunal ; we have continued it up to this point , as giving an excellent and certainl y a most circumstantial account of the very decided actions of this wonderful and most arbitrary society . Several other illustrations of the tribunal , and its manner of
proceeding and other characteristics , are to be found in tho same work from which tho above narrative is taken . In another passage , it is related that a baron of the German empire was summoned to tho tribunal , when seated at the head of his own table , and engaged in entertaining the chief judge of the neighbouring city , and a large company of guests .
" Attention to his excellency ! " the noble hacl just said , iu reference to a story which the judge was at the moment relating . But scarcely hacl lie uttered these words , when some ono rushed from behind the high back of his chair , and struck a naked dagger forcibly into the table . So suddenly was this deed performedand such a sensation did it
, create , that tho individual who had perpetrated it , disappeared before any ono thought of even looking for him . Tho baron uttered an ejaculation of furious rage ; ancl the guests gave Vent to a simultaneous cry of horror . For around the handle ofthe weapon was twisted the cord—dread emblem of the Yehm ; and to that cord was attached a slip of parchment , whose significant signature consisted of three
daggers . " By the Virgin ! " exclaimed the baron , " he must be a bold man who hath done this . Ho , there ! let the drawbrid ge be raised ; let the sentinels be doubled round the walls , and see that no one leaves
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages
the baud , as lie pointed to a tall tree ; " and at that shrine you can pay your last devotions . " Charles mado no reply , but walked with a firm step to the front of tho altar , which was protected by a range of solid iron bars . There he knelt for several minutes , his guards forming a semi-circle behind him . At length he rose , and said , in a tone AA'hich neither trembled nor expressed the slightest fear , " I am ready , "
The officer could not help exclaiming , " You are a brave man !" " I know how to die rather than succumb to the tyrants of your tribunal , " answered the victim . One of the men now threw a long cord over a branch of the hi gh tree which the officer had already indicated , and tho noose was slipped over tho neck of the condemned , while another of the band pinioned his arms . And IIOAV all was in readiness for the consummation of the
tragedy , and the condition of the prisoner appeared beyond the hope of human relief . But at the very moment , when two of the servitors were about to run the young man up to the bough which , waved so ominously over his head * * * * *'
We need not further continue the narrative , as what follows lias no connection with the Yehm tribunal ; we have continued it up to this point , as giving an excellent and certainl y a most circumstantial account of the very decided actions of this wonderful and most arbitrary society . Several other illustrations of the tribunal , and its manner of
proceeding and other characteristics , are to be found in tho same work from which tho above narrative is taken . In another passage , it is related that a baron of the German empire was summoned to tho tribunal , when seated at the head of his own table , and engaged in entertaining the chief judge of the neighbouring city , and a large company of guests .
" Attention to his excellency ! " the noble hacl just said , iu reference to a story which the judge was at the moment relating . But scarcely hacl lie uttered these words , when some ono rushed from behind the high back of his chair , and struck a naked dagger forcibly into the table . So suddenly was this deed performedand such a sensation did it
, create , that tho individual who had perpetrated it , disappeared before any ono thought of even looking for him . Tho baron uttered an ejaculation of furious rage ; ancl the guests gave Vent to a simultaneous cry of horror . For around the handle ofthe weapon was twisted the cord—dread emblem of the Yehm ; and to that cord was attached a slip of parchment , whose significant signature consisted of three
daggers . " By the Virgin ! " exclaimed the baron , " he must be a bold man who hath done this . Ho , there ! let the drawbrid ge be raised ; let the sentinels be doubled round the walls , and see that no one leaves