Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-11-29


And he started on foot. Min reluctantly
followed, with his head lowered to the
ground. On arriving at the gate Of the cas-
tie, Of which the portoullis was down, u
ryck blew a small horn which hung on
post.
"Who is there ?" said soldier, appearing.
can officer Of Monseigneur Baudouin la
Hache, the redoutable count Of Flanders"
The portcullis was instantly raised, and
Ulryck entered the castle. Passing through
the court, which was narrow, and surrounded
by high walls, he almost fancied himself in
a prison. The soldier or servant, who had
drawn up the portcullis, conducted him into
large hall in which was Jean d'Ostcamp.
This hall was forty feet long and twenty
FIVE feet wide, and its only ceiling was the
roof, composed of great tiles laid on heavy
timbers. A massive table occupied the GEN.
ter, and on each side Of il were deal bench
es. The bare brick walls were garnisted
with arms, nets and wolf skins. On a rude
platform at one end Of the hall was COM
plete suit Of iron armor for knight, which
was supported by a wooden manikin. At
the other end OF the hall, before large
chimney, in which burned the trunk Of a
tree, was Lord Jean d'0stcamp, seated on a
stool, which was painted black, and surround
ed by three servants. He wore cap made
of the skin Of hare, small-clothes of coarse
green CLOTH and wooden shoes, and for a
coat he wore a sort of tunic or blouse, con-
6ned by black belt, from which depended,
on the right a great knife, and on the left a
short hut heavy AK.
A pot of beer and some slices of buttered
bread were placed before him on a block,
which served as q portable table. The floor
not beng paved was strewed with fresh
straw. Under the table were two large dogs,
which growled at the approach Of Ulryck
but became quiet at word from their mas.
ter.
This description may give the reader some
idea of seignora manor at the beginning
Of the twelfth century. The luxury intro.
duced by the crusades was just commencing
to be adopted by few privileged houses.
When the sergeant appeared, Jean d'Ost
camp, without saying word, offered him the
pot of beer and slice of bread, for it wa,
the usual custom.
81 cannot accept anything, my lord" sale
Ulryck, "until my message is delivered"
"You come from Count Baudouin," sale
Jean d'Ostcamp, ''what do you want2"
II am here" replied the sergeant, "as {
public officer of justice of my lord, to de
mand payment of your debt to a certain
merchant Of Bruges. None of the officers o
the city daring to come, it is to me tina
Monseigneur the very redOubtable count o
Flanders has referred the widow Of the sale
merchant"
These things do not concern the count,
said the baron, roughly.
"All justice concerns him, my lord re
piled the sergeant, "and by the staff Of tn
lion, in the name of God and Of justice,
summon you to Immediately pay into my
hands the sum due, or to follow me befor
the city judge, to be condemned for the sal,
sum, and to remain in prison until fully paid
for snch ia the law
Ulryck had no time to say more, for tn
face Of the baron became purple with rag
at the first words of the summons. Ii
arose, stammering with anger.
miserable slave put me in prison."
He sprang at the sergeant, and pushin
him violently out of the hall, shut the doc
and sat down on his stool, nearly besid
himself with rage.
Ulryck felt that he was performing
stern duty, and not wishing to return unit
he had fully discharged it, he placed his ebc
ny staff in pocket for the purpose in tn
housing of Min, who was waiting for hin
He then took out his ink-stand, pen and
sheet Of parchment, and proceeded to writ
out the summons, for he knew how to Writ
which was rare accomplishment in thos
days among the officers of justice.
Before mailing it to Jean d'Ostcamp
door, he read it aloud in slightly tremulOu
but solemn voice, calling, in the name of tn
very redoubtable count Of Flanders, on a
the servants, vassals and peasants of the cal
tie to assist in enforcing justice to appr'
bend the said baron and conduct him TO pri
on, under penalty Of being treated as felor
aud rebels
; At the moment that he finished his Dol
undertaking, Jean d'Ostcamp, utterly besid
himself with rage, rushed out of the doc
AK in hand, and seeing Ulryck preparing
nail the summons to his door, he split h
head. Ulryck staggered, but he had strengt
: enough left to drag himself to his little hor
aud put the summons all stained with h
blood, into the pocket, and then he fell al
i breathed his last sigh.
: Seeing the fall of the counts officer chez
ed the fury of Jean d. Ostcamp. He Orde
: ed his servant to lower the portcullis, and
: take Min to the stables. But the little hor
as if understanding all that had passe
y suddenly dashed out of the castle before h
= pOrtculis fell. The gates were closed, AT
| : l. Al
which had been committed, the baron's Sc
wants hastily dug grave and buried Ulryc
: In the mean time, Min reached Brug
u and stopped at the counts door. Baudou
: was dining with some of his knights when
servant informed him that Ulryck's hor
u had returned alone, bringing back the eboI