Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-09-09
GtisteIlonrolls.
From Blackwood's Lady's Magazine.
THE WOLF OF ARGENTEAU
LYNCHING IN OLDEN TIMES.

LYNCHING IN OLDEN TIMES.
The traveller who may embark in one of
those large vessels which navigate the
Meuse, will perceive, after passing many in
teresting objects near the village of Argen-
teau, rock, on which is built pavilion,
which. at distance, may be mistaken for a
kiosk. This rock is celebrated in the his
tory of the country for having afforded an
asylum to Robert d Artois, and likewise to
William Della Marek who must be remem-
bered by every reader of Quentin Durward.
In this place William meditated, at his ease,
on his plans for molesting his neighbors
and it was at the period of these frequent in
cursions that most redoubtable partizan of
the Boar of Arquennes lived at Argenteau.
Woe unto the frontiers, when the Sire
Thevry drew his long sword, and pointing
to Liege, cried to his followers, Forward
my brave comrades of Argenteau' The wall
of the old city might be said to tremble.
The villages were up in arms the men pre-
pared to receive the enemy, and the women
and children sought refuge in the churches,
where, however, the sanctity of the altar
was not always respected Fear arose eve
ny where when the pennon of Thievry dis
played its azure field strewn with small eros
SEES, and divided by large cross of gold
bearing five shells gules. Often, wherever
this pennon had passed, might be seen burn
ing villages, smoking ruins, and harvests
destroyed; the grain was scattered to the
winds, and the hocks were driven from
their pastures by the conquerers laden with
booty, and making merry, as though return
ing from a work of merit and glory, instead
of desolation and murder,-for the roads
were in places covered with the bodies of
the slain. Thievry was named the wolf of
Argenteau, and many persons were terrified
by his success ifto the belief that he dealt
iii magic, and had entered into compact
with the devil. One said he had the power
of rendering himself invisible another, that
he ravaged the country bodily as a wolf a
third, that whenever he rode out by night a
black dog accompanied him; and fourth
averred, that he had seen the eyes of this
dog emit fire when barking at the image of
our Savior on cross by the roadside. Many
more strange things were attributed to
Thievry, and many the curses which, it was
concluded, he was bringing on himself.
And thus his neighbors talked when they
thought themselves safe from being over
heard though some among them would OBJ
serve, doubling, perhaps, the discretion Of
all the party, We'll, these things are said
but | scarce know how to believe them 7
The name of Thievry OF Argenteau formed
a subject of fearful conversation to the sur
rounding country, and when he appeared on
the battlements of his castle, surveying the
scene around, the troops were driven from
the fields, the laborer left his plough; the
mother trembled for her daughter, and the
father for his son; the passenger concealed
himself in the bushes, and the herdsmen eX-
claimed, The Lord have mercy upon us.
When the portcullis was drawn up, and the
draw bridge thrown over the deep gulf
which served as fossc to the castle; wher
his lawless men-at-arms, headed by himself
emerged suddenly from their habtation, eve
ry body cried, 1t is all over with us
the scourge of God is upon US the wolf ha
sharpened his fangs and thirsts for human
blood
The father Of Thievry died blessed by hi
vassals, and wept for by the unhappy ant
unfortunate, who had ever found help from
his charity. One regret accompanied thu
good old man to his grave. He was leaving
son, in whose nature the germ of all thing
wicked seemed to have taken root. 1t wa
the last thought in the agony Of DEATH thu
only one that drew his meditations from hi
Creator. Bitter tears mingled with the las
breathings of nature, and taking, in on
hand, that of his son, and in the other, tina
of his worthy chaplain, he said, My friend
watch over this young man, and turn hi
thnn ito Fro, n..l tl.t
rest in peace, and that the maledictions c
the earth do not reach me in heaven whcr
soon hope to be- With these words, tn
good man expired and left his son an orpha
in the world, but rich, free, and powerful
As much addicted to the practice of ev
as his father was to good deeds, he despise
the pious counsels of the worthy priest,
whom his father had said watch over him
When the good man besought him to hav
compassion on the oppressed creatures
whom 1t was his sport to pursue with fir
and sword, he would place his hand on hi
dagger, and reply, odd man, spare your az
vice, which it is not my will to attend to
one day, when he thus menaced the servar
of God, the priest exclaimed, Reprobate,
fear thee not thou mayest take my liii
reprove thee but vengeance, though della.
ed, shall surely overtake thee He will
drew, and Sire Thievry remained chain
with anger. AS he strobe through his larg
chamber, he continued to strike in imagil
alton at the priest and to mutter, He sha
die AT nightfal he called one of his 70
lowers, young man of good lineage, b'
whose hands had been stained with mol
than one crime.
Hubert, said his master, listen vii
attention to what l have to say; you kno
that repeat not what have once said al
it is my wish that before midnight that trou
lesome priest should die-should be an i
animate corpse. He who places his hal
on the old mans heart shall say, it bea
no longer, do you hear do you understaI
me p
i do, my lord, and shall perform
AT midnight slow step was heard ascen
ing a tower of the castle, and a trembliI
hand opened door therein; the step a
preached the pallet of the priest, and t
hand rested on his shoulder
Awake Sir priest and pray, for your Ia
hour has come. 1t is the will Of our mast
that you should die, and come to do
n bidding; arise, therefore, and comme
T, yourself to God