Ulenspiegel answered:
“I will lick no man’s boots. Parole de soldat n’est plus parole d’or.”
“Tell them to put up the gallows,” said de Lumey, “and let this man be taken where he may hear the way a halter speaks.”
“Yes,” said Ulenspiegel, “and I will cry out there in front of all the people, Parole de soldat n’est plus parole d’or.”
The gallows was set up in the market square, and the news spread swiftly through the city how Ulenspiegel, the brave Beggarman, was going to be hanged. And the populace was moved with pity and compassion, and a great crowd collected in the market square. And Messire de Lumey came there also, being desirous himself to give the signal for the execution.
He regarded Ulenspiegel without pity as he stood upon the scaffold, dressed to meet his death in a single garment with his arms bound to his sides, his hands clasped together, the cord round his neck, and the executioner ready to do the deed.
Très-Long said:
“My Lord, pardon him now; he is no traitor, and no one has ever heard of a man being hanged simply because he was sincere and pitiful.”
And the men and women in the crowd, hearing Très-Long speak in this wise, cried out also: “Have pity, my Lord! Mercy and pardon for Ulenspiegel!”
“The Iron-pate has defied me,” said de Lumey. “Let him admit he was wrong and that I was in the right.”