"Speak no nonsense, Quadin," called out a lusty citizen. "Parson Neuser was an honorable man, and I preferred his red nose to all the pale-faced men, who gave themselves no rest, till they have wrought his destruction."
"What has happened to Parson Neuser," asked Erastus of the speaker.
"Do you not know, Sir Counsellor?" rejoined Neuser's advocate. "Magistrate Hartmann Hartmanni received the order of the Kurfürst to arrest him, but the Magistrate tarried too long at the gaming-table, and by the time he had said something pretty to all the waitresses the black bird was over the hills. His wife lied in saying he was only gone out, but in searching the house they found burnt papers and a packed up knapsack; his money he must have taken with him, for not a single penny was to be found. He is away leaving wife and child, and mounted men are searching for him along the roads."
"The Church Counsellor says he wanted to hand the empire over to the Turks," cried out the old woman once more.
"Parson Neuser?" said Erastus laughing, "on that score you can sleep in peace, my good woman. If the Turk wants to make war, he requires no Heidelberg Parson to help him." Shaking his head he went on. But at the next corner met with another group.
"They have also arrested Parsons Suter and Vehe," cried a hoarse voice, which Erastus immediately recognized to be Klaus' of the golden Stag. "All natives of the Palatinate must give way to the Belgian dogs."
"Sylvan and Neuser are no Palatines," said another voice.
"But they love our Palatinate, and have made front for us against the French, the Italians, and Dutch, who would be our masters."
"Let us burn down Olevianus' house," cried out a voice.
"And Zanchi's also," echoed another.