iling, "I'll soon cure you of
the gout. Come to us in the castle to-morrow morning; it is our
pleasure at present to ride through the town. Forwards, my faithful
banner-bearer!" he turned to Albert, with gracious demeanour, "you have
kept your word honestly as far as the gates of Stuttgardt; I will
reward your faithful service. By Saint Hubertus, the bride is yours
according to justice and right. Carry my flag before me, we'll plant it
on my castle, and tread the Leaguist banner in the dust! Gemmingen and
Hewen, you are my guests for the night; we'll see if the lords of the
Swabian League have left us any of our old wine."

Thus rode Duke Ulerich, surrounded by his knights, who had followed him
in his train through the gates of his capital. The burghers received
him with loud _vivas_, and the pretty damsels in the windows waved
their white handkerchiefs, to the annoyance of their mothers, who
thought these salutations were directed to the handsome young knight
carrying the Duke's banner, and who, as seen by the light of their
torches, recalled to their minds St. George, the dragon-killer.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Oh, may the deeds of those no more,
The glory that they won,
The sire's spirit hovering o'er,
So stimulate the son,
That this day's setting sun may see
Of no degenerate clay are we.
P. CONZ.

When Albert von Sturmfeder viewed the old castle of Stuttgardt the next
morning, it did not exhibit the same form which it has in our days, the
present one having been built by the Duke's son, Prince Christoph. The
residence of the former Dukes of Wuertemberg stood in the same place;
and differed little in plan and appearance from Christoph's work,
except that it was for the most part built of wood. Being surrounded by
broad and deep ditches, over which a bridge led to the town, a large
open space in front served in early times as a tilt-yard for the gay
court of Ulerich, whose powerful hand had often rolled many a knight in
the arena. The interior also of the building bespoke the customs and
usages of the times. High and vaulted halls occupied the lower part of
the castle, and were generally used in rainy weather as a place for
manly exercises, having space sufficient to admit of the largest lance
being wielded without hindrance. Old chronicles mention the size of
th