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Article SECRET SOCIETIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES.—III. ← Page 5 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages.—Iii.
slip of parchment , fastened to it , contained the single , but expressive word , " BeAvare !" These incidents are explained by a conversation which Ave find in the next chapter , betAveen the chief of the Vehm aforesaid , father Anselm , and one of the family Ave referred to in the early part of this —no less a than the celebrated Caesar Borgia .
paper person " You are determined , then , to leave Vienna to-night , " said the latter , " Yes , my lord , " answered the priest , " the German capital is no place for me . A chief of the secret tribunal should never linger in the capital , the place Avhere the power of the Vehm is most abhorred , and where it has least influence . " " And yet you contrived to fill the emperor himself Avith alarm ,
even in the midst of his own palace , and in the privacy of his OAVU chamber , " returned the oljher , laughing heartily . " Fortunately for the interests of the holy Vehm , my lord , " replied the priest , " one of the imperial pages is devoted to us ; and it Avas his hand that planted the sword and dagger on the emperor ' s table . " " But it Avas not his hand that stopped the progress of the courier , to the governor of Laybach , " said Father Anselm ' s companion , again laughing . " No , - my lord , " answered the priest , solemnly : " that duty Avas
performed by my OAVU hand . The chiefs of the Vehm must , at times , —on important occasions—fulfil the functions of subordinates .- It was necessary , that Ave should ascertain the precise nature of the commands sent by the emperor to the governor of Laybach ; and by waylaying the courier myself , I incurred no risk of losing those important documents of Avhich he Avas the bearer . We have thereb y
discovered that the governor was instructed to inundate tbe defiles of the Julian Alps Avith his troops ; and the map furnished him by this means , Avould have taught him how to plant his forces in such points that all supplies of provisions Avould be cut off , and the convent , impregnable as it is to an entire army , would be compelled to yield to famine . "
" And are you determined that your adherents shall abandon the convent altogether ?" " No , my lord ; but by the steps Avhich I have taken—b y killing the courier , and paralyzing the energies of tho emperor for at least a few days , by means of that Avarning symbol of the cord and dagger , I have gained time for our tAvo dependents AVIIO effected their escape
ftom the imperial prison last night to reach the convent , and lay in provisions necessary to enable the place to stand a siege that may weary out the patience of the Governor of Laybach ; and Avithin a couple of hours I shall also be pursuing the path toAvards Camiola . " *
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Secret Societies Of The Middle Ages.—Iii.
slip of parchment , fastened to it , contained the single , but expressive word , " BeAvare !" These incidents are explained by a conversation which Ave find in the next chapter , betAveen the chief of the Vehm aforesaid , father Anselm , and one of the family Ave referred to in the early part of this —no less a than the celebrated Caesar Borgia .
paper person " You are determined , then , to leave Vienna to-night , " said the latter , " Yes , my lord , " answered the priest , " the German capital is no place for me . A chief of the secret tribunal should never linger in the capital , the place Avhere the power of the Vehm is most abhorred , and where it has least influence . " " And yet you contrived to fill the emperor himself Avith alarm ,
even in the midst of his own palace , and in the privacy of his OAVU chamber , " returned the oljher , laughing heartily . " Fortunately for the interests of the holy Vehm , my lord , " replied the priest , " one of the imperial pages is devoted to us ; and it Avas his hand that planted the sword and dagger on the emperor ' s table . " " But it Avas not his hand that stopped the progress of the courier , to the governor of Laybach , " said Father Anselm ' s companion , again laughing . " No , - my lord , " answered the priest , solemnly : " that duty Avas
performed by my OAVU hand . The chiefs of the Vehm must , at times , —on important occasions—fulfil the functions of subordinates .- It was necessary , that Ave should ascertain the precise nature of the commands sent by the emperor to the governor of Laybach ; and by waylaying the courier myself , I incurred no risk of losing those important documents of Avhich he Avas the bearer . We have thereb y
discovered that the governor was instructed to inundate tbe defiles of the Julian Alps Avith his troops ; and the map furnished him by this means , Avould have taught him how to plant his forces in such points that all supplies of provisions Avould be cut off , and the convent , impregnable as it is to an entire army , would be compelled to yield to famine . "
" And are you determined that your adherents shall abandon the convent altogether ?" " No , my lord ; but by the steps Avhich I have taken—b y killing the courier , and paralyzing the energies of tho emperor for at least a few days , by means of that Avarning symbol of the cord and dagger , I have gained time for our tAvo dependents AVIIO effected their escape
ftom the imperial prison last night to reach the convent , and lay in provisions necessary to enable the place to stand a siege that may weary out the patience of the Governor of Laybach ; and Avithin a couple of hours I shall also be pursuing the path toAvards Camiola . " *