The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-03-30
MATHILDE DE FELLIS
A LEGEND OF BERNE.

About the beginning Of the fourteenth
century there lived, in the good city OF
Berne, two eminent citizens, named Jorg
,, de Fellis and Pierre de Koepf. They
had known each other from childhood
and were attached by the strongest ties
of friendship. But political differences
subsequently tended to estranse them
time only seemed to widen the breach
and ultimately they learned to regard
each other with ferocity which can on,
| ly be explained by assuming that the
politics Of that period appealed more to
the heart and less to the head than ours
of to-day. About twelve years after
tie first rupture of their friendship,
Aathilde, the daughter of Jorg de Fellis
q fascinating and accomplished maiden,
who inherited much Of her mother S
gentleness, with a strong infusion of her
fathers determination, whilst dancing
at civic revelry, attracted the eye OF
Pierre de Koepf, and captivated his
heart. He lost no time in declaring his
passion, and making her an offer of his
hand and ample fortune; but Mathilde
firmly rejected his suit, and referred him
for explanation to her father, from
whom he received a rough reception
and an unequivocal reputation of his
pretensions. Wounded in pride and
sore at heart, the passionate De Koepf
returned home, and sat down to plot
the ruin of De Fellis and his daughter
One morning the citizens of Berno
were Mortified on hearing that a couple
of peasants had discovered the mangled
body of Schieb, the Banneret, lying out
side the walls. Thither they locked in
crowds, and many of them were seized
with fits, whilst gazing on one whom
they had known SO long. The Banner.
cts head had been cloven in two by his
assassins, who seemed to have taken q
devilish delight in mutilating the re,
mains of their victim, for no less than
sixty halbert thrusts were found in hi S
body.
Pierre de Koepf was amongst the first
who arrived at the scene of the tragedy.
He moved from group to group rapidly,
whispering as he passed.
"What does Pierre say?" asked ven.
cradle citizen Of his nephew.
"Pierre says uncle" replied the boy,
''that the murderer Of the Banneret is
Jorg de Fellis,"
A few moments after De Koepf had
mounted the cross in the great market
place, and openly denounced De Fellis
as the butcher of Schieb. The charge de.
rived some color from the notorious fact
that the Banneret and the accused had
Eeen for many weeks on bad terms, and
the populace glad of having found some
clue to the mystery which puzzled them
adopted the words of DE Koepf, and
marched through the town proclaimine
De Fellis murderer.
The fearful story soon spread, and
De Fellis, dragged from his home and
the embraces Of his devoted daughter
was cast into prison.
"What have l done p he asked Of the
jailers, who came to put him in irons.
"You have murdered Schieb the Ban
neret," they angrily replied.
De Fellis raised his hands as if to in
woke heaven to witness HE innocence
when, to the terror Of his daughter and
the jailors, he was struck dumb.
The popular Indignation, which is al
was active in such emergencies, directly
interpreted this incident as proof of
God wrath, and a Judgment ona would
be blasphemer
Three days had elapsed since the ter
rible night on which the wretched pris
oner had been torn from his hearth ant
sent to a dungeon. On the morning OF
the fourth day he was summoned before
the judges. and formally charged with
the murder of Schieb. He could only
reply by feeble gestures and looks Of
voiceless agony.
Foremost amongst his accusers was
his old enemy. De keopf, who swore
that on the night of the murder he had
seen the prisoner flying on horsebach
from the place where the Banneret's
body had been discovered.
Mathilde looked at the witness, and
she well understood that imp.acable la
tired and disappointed passion had made
lim the accuser Of her father, but held
her peace, and prayed.
Additional evidence was then produc,
ed to show that De Fellis and no other
person could have been concerned in the
assassination.
For the defence, Mathilde swore that
on the night Of the murder her father
pressed by business, had remained at
home; and further, that by no possibil
ity could he have gone abroad without
her knowledge.
Under the pressure of such conflict
ing testimony the judicial mind wavered
and finally referred the question of the
prisoners guilt or innocence to the
verdict of ordeal.
Mathilde was overjoyed at the result
and, rising in the midst of the court
she solemnly accepted the trust. Turn
ing to De kocpf, she said:
Il charge this man with having per
jured his soul in accusing my father OF
the murder of Schieb, whom God kceE
in his mercy; and am ready to prove
what l say against him by the ordeal Of
single combat, whenever and wherever
the judges shall fix!
a murmur of admiration ran through
the spectators, and all eyes were turned
on the devoted girl. De koepf having
accepted the challenge, Mathilde' threw
down her glove and received his in turn
As he presented it, it was observed thai
his face was turned ashy pale, and his
strong frame quiSered like a reed. The
murmur in the court increased; never
before had such a spectacle been wit
messed in Berne, and the emotion of the
people was profound when the challen
ger and challenged were conducted tc
prison, there to await in prayer ant
meditation the day Of the combat.
The anyious y-awaited morning came
at last. The sun shone brightly on The
streets and the roofs of Berne, and the
town was astir from the dawn. AROUND
the lists and enclosing them was raised
n temporary amphitheatre, from which
the citizens could witness the fight.