Barbarossa; An Historical Novel of the XII Century. by Conrad von Bolanden
_CHAPTER XII_.
_THE TOLL_.
They reached the bridge. On either side were two massive towers, overwhich floated the Imperial standard. Heavy barriers closed the pathway,and a strong body of men-at-arms defended the approach. Halfway fromthe bridge, on the summit of a lofty hill, stood the castle of Herman,built to command the road, which, as the main avenue to Genoa, wasextensively travelled, and yielded an important revenue to the Imperialtreasury. The castle had been destroyed by the Italians, during thereign of Henry V., but had been rebuilt by Frederic, at the time of hissecond invasion of Upper Italy, at which time Herman had been installedas Governor.
The soldiers were clustered beneath the porch; but a sentinel waswatching from one of the loop-holes of the tower, and as he caughtsight of the travellers, called out gayly to the others, "Halloa!comrades, here comes a rich prize: a Lombard knight, some Genoesemerchants, and a lady! Levy a heavy toll, _Dietho_, they can afford topay it; and if you will follow my advice, you will get something forus; the Emperor cannot find fault if honest folks think now and then oftheir own pockets!"
The challenge of the sentinel interrupted him, and the soldiers leftthe porch and drew up in front of the tower.
"What is that you say about merchants?" said Dietho, glancing sharplyat the strangers. "These are no merchants, but a troop of armed men."
"Pshaw!" continued the first speaker, as he looked again. "There areonly six,--two before and four behind; for I don't count those in themiddle. It is only some of those lazy Genoese. And we are twelve here,and pretty determined fellows too! Now, Dietho, don't forget to lay iton heavily!"
"We will lay it on heavily," said another; "for since yesterday we havehad no luck at all."
Dietho, who wore the purse at his girdle as a sign that it was he whoreceived the tolls, carefully examined the travellers, but he seemeddiscontented, and shook his head.
"There is nothing to be made here; these people advance too boldly. Ibelieve they are Germans."
"Well, and what of that," said the warder, who had descended from thetower. "No one passes here gratis."
"What do you say, Dietho? Do you think a piece of gold each for thegentlefolks, and two silver pennies for the servants, would be enough?"
Dietho shrugged his shoulders.
"It would be enough," he said; "but I fear they will refuse to pay it."
"Then we will force them!" cried several of the soldiers, brandishingtheir pikes. "A piece of gold for each gentleman, and two pence a piecefor the servants, is little enough!"
Rechberg had left Hermengarde's side, and at the head of his littletroop rode forward to ascertain if Bonello's complaints were reallywell founded. As he approached, his noble bearing and costly armor,with the splendid horse which he rode, gave a high idea of hisimportance to the men-at-arms.
"Look how his gilded helmet shines," said they, "and mark the gold onhis spurs and his baldric; he is certainly a count, at least; or,mayhap, the son of some duke!--Oh! that fellow can pay, Dietho; ask atleast three gold pieces!"
Rechberg continued to advance towards the closed town, whose guardiansmade no movement towards opening the passage.
"Take down the barrier, and allow me to pass," he said, politely.
"One moment, noble sir!--Don't you perceive that the Imperial bannerfloats above the tower? There is a toll to pay. Frederic would find ita hard matter to keep up his army if his taxes were not paid up!Besides, his Hungarian Archers need their wages. In short, the timesare hard and the toll dear!"
The Count was provoked at the observations thus made, for they were ofa nature to incense the Italians, and render the Emperor still moreunpopular among them. However, he mastered his anger, and asked whatthere was to pay.
"Four gold pieces!" cried a voice, for Dietho hesitated.
"All right, you hear, four gold pieces, on account of the hard times,"added Dietho. "The lady and her companion will also pay eight more, andeach servant two pence, in all twelve gold pieces and twelve pennies!Little enough, too, if you but think what an army Frederic isorganizing at present."
"As well as I remember," said Erwin, "the legal toll is a penny foreach person. By what right do you raise it a hundredfold?"
"I told you once already," replied Dietho;--"it is because the timesare hard."
"Besides, we are not here to give explanations to milk-sops," said avoice from within. "Pay, or leave the bridge!"
"Miserable hound! do you dare to speak thus to a knight?" cried Erwin,passionately. "Here are your twelve pennies; now clear the way!"
"The varlets may pass," said Dietho, coolly pocketing the money; "butfor the others to cross this beautiful bridge, which has cost so muchmoney to build, there are just twelve pieces too few!"
"If you do not do your duty at once," said the knight, laying his handon his sword, "I will compel you."
At this, the guard burst into a loud laugh of derision.
"Come on then," they cried; "if that is your game, we will give you alesson in arithmetic."
Rechberg was disposed to force the passage, but Bonello hastened tointerfere.
"Have no difficulty with those people," he cried; "I will pay what theyask!"
"No! you shall not," said the Count. "This robbery of travellers, inthe name of the Emperor, is a crime which must not go unpunished. Leaveme; it is a meritorious action to chastise such scoundrels!"
All at once Herman appeared; he had overheard the quarrel, and now cameto give assistance to his men.
Erwin lowered his visor, for the prefect knew him, and the young manwished to be positive of his complicity.
"What is the matter?" asked Herman.
"It is fortunate that you are here, my lord," replied Dietho. "Thisyoung man has been threatening to use his sword against us because wewould not allow his whole party to cross for twelve paltry pennies."
"For twelve pennies!--You and your retinue!--You could not haveseriously thought it," said Herman to the Count.
"Twelve pennies are just the legal tax, for we are but nine persons inall."
"Ah!" said the prefect; "perhaps you mean to teach me my duty, and whatI have the right to ask?"
"The law has fixed the tariff sufficiently."
"Has it, indeed! Dietho, what did you charge this gentleman?"
"Twelve pieces of gold for the three nobles, and twelve pennies for theservants.--Pardon me if my demand was too moderate."
"It was, indeed, too moderate," cried Herman, glancing towardsBonello.--"You traitors have compelled the Emperor to cross the Alps,and now, if I am to judge by your lowered visor, you wish to force thebridge!--Very well, come on. We are ready for you!"
The Count, at last fully convinced that the Governor was as guilty ashis soldiers, raised his visor, and showed his face flushed with anger.
Herman was thunderstruck, and could scarcely falter out,--
"Oh, my dear Count, pardon! I crave you a thousand pardons! It is all amistake,--but who could have supposed for a moment--?"
But the more he endeavored to apologize for his villainy, the moreembarrassed he became. The soldiers, meanwhile, perceiving the suddenchange in their master's demeanor, hastened to remove the barrier.
"It is not my place to pardon," said Rechberg; "you must explain yourgross abuse of authority to His Majesty, who shall be acquainted witheverything."
He turned abruptly, and crossed the bridge with his companions.
The prefect tore his hair with impotent despair as he saw the troopfile past him.
"To behave thus to the Emperor's favorite! What a dreadful misfortune!"he cried. "Comrades, make no excuses, no recriminations! I would notcare for the complaints of Italy. Frederic would credit nothing whichwas denied by an honest German. But this Erwin of Rechberg!--Oh, if Icould atone for this stupid mistake!"
The travellers soon after reached a convent, whose reputation forhospitality was widely spread; for, in that century, the monasterieswere
After a brief rest they resumed their journey, and it was nearnightfall when they entered a deep and narrow Alpine valley, throughwhich they were obliged to pass.
"We are very near Castellamare," said Bonello, "and but for thewindings of the road, should already have perceived the castle!"
"This is a magnificent country, my lord!" said Erwin, admiring the boldand wild landscape.
"It is almost the same as far as the shore," resumed Guido. "The valleygradually narrows into a defile overhung with immense masses of rock,and when we leave it, the wide expanse of the sea bursts, unexpectedly,upon the traveller's gaze."
The road narrowed visibly. The setting sun gilded the Alpine summits,and long, dark shadows darkened the lower slopes. At a turn of theroad, the sunlight flashed brightly upon them, and Erwin, raising hisdazzled eyes, beheld the fortress of Castellamare standing out from thegiant boulders in bold relief.
"What a magnificent spectacle!" exclaimed Rechberg. "I have never seena castle in a better or more commanding position!"
Following, for a short time, a steep mountain-path, they drew up beforea gateway, hollowed in the solid rock, and soon after entered thefortress of Castellamare.