And thereby shall I
have maintained my honour against you and yours.
WOLFGANG, Graf von Schlangenwald.
HIEROM, Graf von Schlangenwald--his cousin."
&c. &c. &c.
And a long list of names, all connected with Schlangenwald, followed;
and a large seal, bearing the snake of Schlangenwald, was appended
thereto.
"The old miscreant!" burst out Ebbo; "it is a feud brief."
"A feud brief!" exclaimed Friedel; "they are no longer according to
the law."
"Law?--what cares he for law or mercy either? Is this the way men
act by the League? Did we not swear to send no more feud letters,
nor have recourse to fist-right?"
"We must appeal to the Markgraf of Wurtemburg," said Friedel.
It was the only measure in their power, though Ebbo winced at it; but
his oaths were recent, and his conscience would not allow him to
transgress them by doing himself justice. Besides, neither party
could take the castle of the other, and the only reprisals in his
power would have been on the defenceless peasants of Schlangenwald.
He must therefore lay the whole matter before the Markgraf, who was
the head of the Swabian League, and bound to redress his wrongs.
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