y the sufferings they had
experienced, of those who were left; and observed with heartfelt
compassion, 'poor fools, you might have obtained pardon at a cheaper
rate!'

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The next morning the bishop entered the tranquilized city at the head
of fifteen hundred horsemen. All the houses had been strictly searched;
during which operation many a mad fanatical spirit was found, and the
exasperated soldiery did not always respect the general pardon which
had been granted. Among others Knipperdolling and Krechting were
drawn from their lurking holes; but their lives, with a cruel,
calculating forbearance were spared for a future and more solemn
execution. Alf's testimony as to the total inactivity and
inoffensiveness of his kinsman, the butcher-burgomaster-treasurer, and
also of the tailor-duodecemvir-lord-steward, Dilbek, rescued both from
imprisonment and death. The first, Alf charged with the duty of
collecting his little property, as well as that of Trutlinger's niece,
converting it into money and sending it after him, by the first
convenient opportunity, to the place where he might thereafter take up
his abode; he not feeling disposed to remain in his native city after
what he had experienced there,--and besides, the bishop,
notwithstanding the favor he shewed him during the audience, had not
gained his approbation to such a degree as to induce him to wish to
dwell under his sceptre.

Nor was the bishop yet quite disposed to make his home at the episcopal
residence. He drove out to castle Dulmen, three miles from Munster, on
the day of his entrance; thereby giving to Oberstein a fine opportunity
to execute the decisions of the Diet of Worms in relation to the
unfortunate city without the interference of its irritable master. He
did every thing in his power to mitigate the measureless distress of
the citizens. Plentiful supplies of provisions put an end to the
torments of hunger. A general pardon, which the bishop himself could
not avoid signing, relieved the Munsterers from their incessant and
excessive fears of being yet reached by the sword of judicial power.
Only the king, Knipperdolling and Krechting were excepted from this
pardon. Every one, protestant or catholic, besieged or emigrant, was
allowed to take his property out of the public repository where the
prophet had sequestered it. The refugees returned again; particularly
the expelled burgomaster and aldermen,