“You are a handsome, brave, and powerful nobleman,” said Ulenspiegel. “Time was when you were able to flatten out a Frenchman in full armour as though he were no better than a mussel in its shell. But if you are brave and powerful you are also well-informed. Can you tell us, therefore, why you wear this medal inscribed with these words: ‘To the King, faithful even unto beggary’?”
“Yes,” Lamme put in, “pray tell us why, my Lord!”
But Brederode made no answer, and only looked very hard at Ulenspiegel, who thereupon continued his discourse in this wise.
“And why, pray, do you, you other noble Lords, seek to be faithful to the King even unto beggary? Is it for the great good that he wishes you? Or for the fair friendship that he bears you? How is it that instead of being faithful to the King even unto beggary you do not so act rather that the brute himself may be despoiled of his country, and thus be made faithful for ever to beggary himself?”
And Lamme nodded his head to show his agreement with what his friend had said:
Brederode looked at Ulenspiegel with his keen glance, and smiled with pleasure at his handsome appearance.
“Either you are a spy of King Philip,” he said, “or else a good man of Flanders; and for whichever you are I will pay you your due.”
So saying he led Ulenspiegel to his pantry, and Lamme followed close behind. When they were come there, Brederode pulled Ulenspiegel’s ear till the blood flowed.
“This for the spy,” he said.