The Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages

the castle , on peril of your lives . _\ nd now let us see what this insolent missive contains . " But though he spoke thus boldly , tho lord of the castle could scarcely subdue a shuddering sensation , nor entirely suppress a quivering of the lip , as he read aloud the contents of the slip of parchment : — " By the cord aud dagger , you are commanded to appear beneath the

lime-tree on Hill , at mid-day on the Sabbath ensuing the receipt of this summons ; and thither you are ordered io repair , unarmed and unattended . Wherein see that you fail not . "ttt- "

Search having been made for the perpetrator of the outrage , and that person having been detected and secured , the baron demanded of the chief judge his opinion as to IIOAV far a self-constituted tribunal was justified in sending its murderous agents to menace the lives of the chiefs ofthe German empire in their very halls . " As a superior of ono of tho legally constituted courts , " answered

the chief judge , "I cannot do otherwise than detest proceedings which take the functions of justice from the hands of those tribunals which rig htfully exist ; aiid I consider the members of tho hol y Yehm as opponents to the sovereign privileges of our glorious emperor . " Although the chief judge spoko these words with groat firmness , they were , nevertheless , hoard with a shudder by many present ; and

the blushing cheek of beauty , and tho contracting brow of the kni ghts , bore testimony to the alarm excited by so audaciously expressed an opinion of the tremendous tribunal of this blood y league . ' ' Of a surety , " said tho baron , "the violence of these secret assassins passes all bounds . There can bo no doubt that this summons emanated from the Count of who is well known to be a chief among

, the members of tho Yehm . The proud noble , unable to conquer me iu feir fight , seeks my life , by the means of the cord and dagger . Say , my lord , " he continued , addressing himself to the chief judge , " what punishment should I inflict upon the wretch who has dared to mar our festivities this evening f

" Is the accuser well prepared to prove that the prisoner is the person who did really and truly perpetrate that outrage ? " asked the judge . " He does not deny tho fact ;; Jie rather glories in it , " said the person who had taken tho offender ; "moreover the secret instructions which lie received from his superiors have been found upon him . "

"In that case , " continued the judge , " may spare this fair company tho pain of gazing upon a member of a fraternity of assassins ; we will not have him brought hither ; but do you , my lord , command that ho be forthwith hanged over tho principal entrance of the castle , as an example to all those who venture to obey tho behests of this bloody league . "

"Lot the prisoner be forthwith punished as his excellency has ordained , " cried the baron ; "and hesitate not—pause not , show no mercy , be he who or what he may , "