Shrieks and cries,
oaths and sounds of conflict arose from all quarters, as citizens
or their wives were slaughtered by drunken soldiers, or the latter
quarrelled and fought among themselves for some article of plunder.
Flames broke out in many places, and whole streets were burned, many
of the drunken soldiers losing their lives in the burning houses;
but in the morning the bugles rang out, the soldiers desisted from
their orgies, and such as were able to stand staggered away to join
their colours.
A fresh party marched into the town; these collected the stragglers,
and seized all the horses and carts for the carriage of the
baggage and plunder. The burgomaster had been taken before Tilly
and commanded to find a considerable sum of money the first thing
in the morning, under threat that the whole town would be burned
down, and the inhabitants massacred if it was not forthcoming.
A council of the principal inhabitants was hastily summoned at
daybreak. The syndics of the various guilds between them contributed
the necessary sum either in money or in drafts, and at noon Tilly
marched away with his troops, leaving the smoking and ruined town
behind him. Many of the inhabitants were forced as drivers to
accompany the horses and carts taken away. Among these were three
of the syndic's serving men, Malcolm being one of the number.
It was well that the Pomeranian dialect differed so widely from
the Bavarian, so Malcolm's German had consequently passed muster
without suspicion.
Pages:
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71