“His name is Thomas Utenhove,” said Ulenspiegel, “and he is a valiant Protestant. The man-servants and maid-servants that work on the farm are fellows with him in the cause of freedom of conscience.”
Then Utenhove said:
“You are the envoys of the Prince? Come in then, eat and drink with me.”
And the ham was crackling in the frying-pan, the sausages likewise, and the wine flowed and the glasses were filled again. And Lamme drank like dry sand, and ate his fill. And the boys and girls of the farm came one after another and thrust their noses into the half-open door to gaze on him as he worked away so hard. But the men were jealous, saying that they also would be able to eat and drink as bravely if they had the chance.
When all was finished, Thomas Utenhove said:
“One hundred of our peasants will be leaving us this week under pretext of going to work on the dikes at Bruges and thereabouts. They will be setting out in small bands of five or six at a time, and all by different routes. At Bruges they will find certain barges waiting for them to take them by sea to Emden.”
“Will these men be provided with arms and with money?” inquired Ulenspiegel.
“Each man will carry ten florins and a heavy cutlass.”
“God and the Prince will reward you,” said Ulenspiegel.
“But tell me,” said the farmer, “is Edzard, Count of Frise, still friendly to the Prince?”