Count Ulrich of Lindburg | Page 5

ones would instantly have been made until the Count might have
claimed possession of Lindburg itself. The Count had often threatened
to come and insist on his claims at the point of the sword, but the
Knight had reminded him that as two people could play at that game he
might find that he gained nothing by the move. Still he occasionally
received a message which showed him that the Count had not forgotten
his threats, and this always troubled him, not because he feared his
enemy, but because he wished to be quiet and at peace with all his
fellow-men. He had a long talk with his son and gave him much good
advice. The two understood each other thoroughly.

"My son," he said, "you are going forth into the world; and will meet
with a great variety of characters. Treat your fellow-men with a kindly
regard and do them all the good in your power, but put your whole trust
in God alone. While you cling to Him He will never forsake you--I
know that you are honest and single-hearted. Do that, and I have no
fear for you. Take my blessing, Eric. Write when you can and tell me
all about Dr Martin and his companions. I wish that I were young
enough to go to the University with you; I would give much once more
to hear that man speak as he did at Worms."
Eric set forth not as a poor scholar, on foot, but as the son of a Knight
and a Noble of the land, on horseback, accompanied by Hans Bosch,
who led a sumpter-horse loaded with his baggage. Both were armed, as
was necessary in those times, with swords and pistols; the latter being
somewhat large and unwieldy weapons. Eric, as befitted his station,
had learned the use of his sword, and Hans was an old soldier who had
grasped a pike for nearly half a century. Hans and Eric had always been
good friends. The old soldier was not ignorant of what was going on in
the world, but he had not as yet made up his mind which side to choose.
He suspected the bias of his master, and that of his mistress was very
evident. As yet, however, he clung to the old opinions. Eric, though
high-spirited and manly, was thoughtful and grave above his years, and
Hans respected his opinions accordingly. He had before been at the
University of Erfurth, but the fame of Wittemburg had reached him,
and, what had still more influence, several of the books written at
Wittemburg, and he had been seized with a strong desire to migrate
thither.
Hans could not read himself, but he was inquisitive. He plied his young
master with questions, to which Eric very willingly made replies.
"Then you put no faith in the Pope, nor believe that he is the only
rightful ruler of the Church?" observed Hans in reply to a remark made
by his young master.
"I have been led to doubt the supremacy he claims from all I have
read," answered Eric modestly. "More especially do I believe that he is
not a descendant of the Apostle Peter from what I have read in my

Greek Testament. I there find that Saint Paul, on one occasion, thus
wrote of this supposed chief of the Apostles: `When Peter was at
Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed,'
(Galatians two 11.) Peter was also sent especially to preach to the Jews
and not to the Gentiles. Paul, when writing from Rome, sends no
salutations from him, which he would have done had Peter been there;
indeed he never once mentions his name. The third or fourth Christian
Bishop of Rome speaks of Saint Paul having suffered martyrdom under
the emperors; but, by the way he speaks of Saint Peter, evidently
believing that he suffered martyrdom elsewhere in the east, and does
not allude to his having been at Rome. If, therefore, the very
foundations of the pretensions of these august Pontiffs are defective,
what can we think of the rest of their claims? However, when I have
been some time at Wittemburg, I hope to know more about the matter."
"But, my dear young master, if you upset the foundation of our faith,
what else have we to build on? I, for one, as an old soldier who has
seen the world, say that we can not go on without religion," exclaimed
Hans, in a tone which showed the perturbation of his mind.
"That is right, Hans," answered Eric, "but, my old friend, we do not
destroy the real foundation of our faith, we only overthrow the false
and cunningly-devised superstructure. The foundation of our faith is in
the sufficient sacrifice once made