“And who are you?” asked Messire de Lumey.
“My Lord,” replied Ulenspiegel, “a Fleming I am from the lovely land of Flanders, working man, nobleman, all in one—and I go wandering through the world, praising things beautiful and good but boldly making fun of foolishness. And verily I will sing your praises if you will keep the promise which was made to these men by the captain: parole de soldat, c’est parole d’or.”
But the good-for-nothing Beggarmen who were on the ship cried out at this.
“My Lord,” said they, “this man is a traitor. He has promised them that he will save them, and he has been loading them with bread and ham and sausages. But to us he has given nothing at all.”
Then Messire de Lumey said to Ulenspiegel:
“Wandering Fleming that you are, and protector of monks, I tell you I will have you hanged with them.”
“I am not afraid,” replied Ulenspiegel. “Parole de soldat, c’est parole d’or.”
The monks were led away to a barn, and Ulenspiegel with them. There they tried to convert him with many theological arguments; but these soon sent him to sleep.
In the meanwhile Messire de Lumey was feasting at a table covered with meats and wines when a messenger arrived from Gorcum from Captain Marin, bringing with him copies of those letters of William the Silent, Prince of Orange, which ordered “all governors of cities and other places to confer the same privileges of safety and surety on ecclesiastics as on the rest of the people.”
The messenger asked to be brought into the presence of de Lumey so that he might put into his own hands the copies of these letters.