The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-01-02
THE STORY-TEEEER.
ULRYCK'S HORSE.

-
Jean d'Ostcamp lived near Bruges, in a
manor or castle which has now disappeared :
in what manner we shall presently see. The
site it occupied afterwards became part of the
city,
The events we are about to relate occurred
in 1114, during the reign of Baudouin a la
Hache, valiant prince and great lover of
justice. Although he had made severe laws
against the misdecds of the lords of the diff
ferent castles, and his lightest chastisement
was to punish poena talionis, that is, head for
head and limb for limb, as Oredegherst OBJ
serves, there were, nevertheless, many lords
who were petty tyrants in their own domains.
Whenever Baudouin heard of their tyranny,
he quickly put stop to it. But he did not
knowall.
Lord Jean d'Ostcamp grievousy oppressed
his vassals. He did this with impunity, be-
lieving himself secure of protection, as his
brother Pierre was one of the counts knights
He was mser, and so wicked that none dared
bring complaint against him. He. had pur-
chased many yards of cloth and linen from a
retail merchant of Bruges for the necessities of
his household. The price of these goods con-
stituted half of the merchants fortune. The
baron refused to pay him, and consequently
the business affairs of the poor merchant were
cramped for want of this money.
This state of things lasted ten years. and
then, in the aforementioned year 1114, the
merchant died. Bn- order to pay his debts to
the weavers of the city, his widow was obliged
90 sell everything, and she found herself left
with two children of tender age and nothing
to depend upon for their support except the
money which was due to her from Jean d d'Ost-
camp. Three times she went to ask him for
it. and three times did he cause her to be turn
ed out Of his castle.
If she had been left alone, the poor. grief
stricken woman would have given up all hope
of ever obtaining her money, and have found
employment in some weaver's shop, thus sup
porting herself by the sweat of her brow
But how could she support her children? !? Ma
ternal love determined her to brave the terror
with which the baron inspired her.
The Count of Flanders, Baudouin a la
IIache happened to be at Bruges, and she
went to the door of st. Donat, where he was
bearing mass, and waited for him. When he
appeared she threw herself at his feet and told
him all her troubles. Baudouin, while listen
ing 10 her story, mechanically put his hand
on his terrible axe. Then rejecting that it
was not crime, but a misdemeanor, he re-
strained himself and said kindly to the widow
'Send one of the beadles Of Bruges to the
castle Of Jean d'Oscamp Immediately, and
tomorrow let me know the result of his mis-
sion.'
The good woman went away. But among
all the officers appointed by the count to ad-
minister his laws in Bruges, there was not one
who dared to go to the castle of Jean. The
widow returned the next day to the door of
st. Donat, and related al that had passed to
Baudouin.
$50 they fear a man who does not fear the
laws" said the count g shall send Ulryck,
one of my sergeants, ard we shall see what
this fellow will say to him, Tell him Of your
troubles, my poor woman"
The noble count then addressed few words
10 little man who was in his suite, and then
entered the church.
The little man approached the widow. He
was a native of Flanders, and was calm and
gentle in his manners. He was below medium
height his countcnance was pale but anima-
ted, and expressive of Kindness and good ma
turc, and his eyes were bright and piercing
Under the title of sergeant, he was instructed
with heeXecution of the counts rigorous Or
ders; in short, his duties were similar to those
of the beadles of that time, now called les huis-
siers. These duties were little suited to his
character, but circumstances had placed him in
this situation.
$50 this man refuses to pay you ?" said he
gently TO the woman.
Yes" replied the widow, ''and none of
the civil officers of Bruges dare present the
note to him"
81 will go to him myself, said the little
man.
The grateful woman raised her eyes to
'Ulryck and said, with deep emotion: " You
are very good, but you are not strong DO you
not fear Monsiegneur jean dOstcamp? He
is a powerful lord"
oh I do anpraband ~
said Ulryck. 81 shall carry my lions staff
and the axe of the powerful count is embroider-
ed on my sleeve. He will reapect me as an
officer of his sovereign. Return home, nv
good woman, and after the holy mass l will
deliver your message, and in three hours at
most you will receive Justice"
The widow thanked Ulryck, and went away,
her heart oppressed with many conflicting emo
tions and sentiments.
AS soon rs he had heard mass, Ulryck has
tened back TO the counts castle, and going to
the stable he saddled and bridlcd his little
horse, took his ebony staff, on the top Of which
was silver lion, and set out for the castle of
Jean d'Ostcamp, .--...
Horses of good breed ordinarily have a
quality which, for want of better name, VIC
call instinct, and which often stands them in
better stead than our intelligence does. A
horse will stop at the ENTRANCE of wood in
tested by wolves, and nothing will induce him
to cross forest if he scents the presence of a
tiger Min (this was the name of Ulryck's
little horse) possessed in a marked degree the
tact or instinct of which We speak.
The poor animal seemed to foresee peril, il
not to himself to his master. The sergeant
had never been able to induce him to go into
battle. This little horse did not like danger,
hut he daanIv lnyed TTlrvck Whn raturnad e.