The Silver Cup by Constance Leeds

Author:Constance Leeds
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2010-02-28T16:00:00+00:00

18

HAGAN’S ACCOUNT

May 21, 1096

Hagan pulled a bench into the light from an open door, so that they looked out onto a small garden behind his house. Anna watched Hagan’s son tether the horse in the leafy shade of a beech tree and fetch water for the animal.

“My only son,” said Hagan, pointing to the boy. “He’s a good boy. Not as clever as your Martin. But a good boy. To begin, do you know much about Count Emich? ”

“I’ve heard that he claims to be a general chosen by heaven,” said Gunther.

“Emperor. He claims he is the emperor of the apocalypse.”

“Martin was taken with the tales. Of late, I have heard Emich caused some mischief in Speyer,” said Gunther.

“Mischief ? ” Hagan shook his head. “Speyer isn’t so different from Worms. It, too, is a city with a bishop. Different, though. The bishop in Speyer had a particular affection for the Jewish race as did the bishop before him, but Speyer had few of that race until its earlier bishop built a small walled town, a separate town outside the city’s own walls, and he invited Jews from throughout the land to live in this separate place with the Church’s protection, yet under their own rules. Many came, and each year the Jews paid the Bishop silver. So, for years the Jews of Speyer lived untroubled behind their own walls.”

Hagan ladled ale into a dark blue mug for Anna and Gunther to share. The ale was mild and nutty, and Anna realized that she was thirsty from the sour air of the city and the dankness of Hagan’s house.

Hagan continued. “So the Jews prospered, and the bishop grew rich from their silver. Then Emich’s army entered Speyer some days ago. They say Emich pointed to the Jews and claimed that these were the very people who had killed our lord Jesus. Emich demanded silver and insisted on their conversion, but he allowed no time for either. His impatience led to robbery and looting and murder. Speyer’s bishop was enraged and moved to save his valuable Jews.”

“How? ” asked Anna.

“He gathered the Jews into his castle, and all but a dozen were saved from Emich’s mob, which by then included many of the town’s people. Some of Emich’s men were even punished.”

“I heard nothing of that,” said Gunther.

“The bishop cut off the hands of some of Emich soldiers,” said Hagan with a swift chop of his fleshy hand.

Anna gasped, and he continued.

“But that was Speyer. Here in Worms we have always had even more of that foreign race. Not behind a wall as in Speyer, but mostly together in the north quarter, near the Martinstor. Haven’t you traded with them?”

Gunther nodded and said, “Yes, I trade with a few.”

“We’re here to see a Jewish silversmith,” said Anna.

“The Jews bought my fish, and they paid well. No more, Gunther. On Sunday, this count you seek arrived at our city with a mob beyond counting.” Hagan stopped for a moment and closed his eyes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.