Maugis, ye sorcerer from ye ancient French : a wonderful tale from ye writings of ye mad savant of ye Maison Maugis in ye olde citie of Mouzon, France
In the excess of his gratitude. King Yon further insisted on dividing
his kingdom into three parts. One to be given Maugis, one to the three
brothers and Renaud, and the remaining portion to the army.
Maugis would not hear of this and was inflexible in his refusal to
accept.
King Yon was much disconcerted by the declination of Maugis to accept
any reward, and casting about in his mind for some delicate way to
reward him for his inestimable services, the thought came of offering
him the hand of his beautiful sister. He could think of no greater
way of showing his regard, but at the time he remained silent on the
subject.
Boulag, having in due form been made a Christian, was longing ardently
to return to his native land. He appealed to the tender-hearted Yolande
to secure him this boon. She willingly undertook to do so, and pleaded
his cause so earnestly with the king that the request was granted,
provided he paid to Maugis a ransom; the king courteously pretending to
conduct the negotiations in the name of Maugis. The king, agreeable to
the proposition of Boulag himself, fixed the ransom at six mule-loads
of gold and that he also abandon Toulouse, and the country thereabouts.
Having thus been freed, Boulag, accompanied by some faithful servitors,
departed for his own land.
Yon, who had now become richer and more powerful than ever, tried to
induce Maugis to accept entire the ransom of Boulag, but he again
refused, praying the king to reserve his bounty until the day came when
he should demand his services.
That day was very soon in presenting itself.
The war being concluded, and Boulag having departed with his followers
from the territories of King Yon, there remained little for Maugis, his
three brothers and Renaud to do, but ride about the country and pursue
the chase.
One day Maugis, followed by his companions, were riding out when a view
burst upon their eyes that caused them, as if moved by one impulse,
to stop. They were riding on the banks of the Dordogne. The eyes of
Maugis were fixed upon a mountain on the other side of the river which,
surrounded by beautiful plains, rose high into the blue sky. Easy of
access, while perfect for defense, its top presented a fine level
surface upon which to build.
This site suggested to Maugis an idea he had long entertained. Said he:
“Montfort no longer exists, but we can easily replace it if we choose.
Here is a situation which combines all the necessary conditions of
impregnability, and here we could brave the anger of Charlemagne.”
His companions being equally impressed in favor of this idea, the five
gave the place a most careful examination, and on their return to the
court they sought the royal presence, and Maugis said: “Sire, we are
homeless and would make for ourselves an abiding place. We have found
a certain mountain near the river Dordogne, on which we could build a
château, if we have thy royal favor.”
King Yon, anxious to reward the great services of the brave knights,
was about to give his consent when the crafty monk, Gorieux, stepped to
his side and whispered in his ear:
“Sire! I pray thee have a care. Dost want the wrath of Charlemagne to
descend on thee, then harbor these outlaws, for such they be, and no
sooner shall the emperor learn that thou hast housed them and enriched
them than thy peace, and perhaps thy life, will be jeopardized.”
At these words the king only frowned and replied: “Dost suppose the
fear of any such consequences will deter me from rewarding these brave
men who have saved me my kingdom and my very life?” and turning to
the five knights he not only gave them the mountain, but besides,
authorized them to construct a château upon it, and gave them likewise
all the land that surrounded it.
Such a great favor as this did not fail to create jealousy among
certain of his courtiers. One of his peers, who was in love with the
beautiful Yolande, and who had been jealous of Maugis ever since
his arrival, could not support the idea of this being carried out
without an attempt to discourage the king from making a false move. He
therefore remarked:
“Sire! without doubt these brave knights are masters of the situation,
but is it wise or for thy well being to support and nourish a foreign
force at thy door, whom chance might make thy master, or is it wise to
support these men in all their exigencies? Reward them well and suffer
them to depart.”
The king, however, was not to be moved, and appealing to Maugis, said:
“Sir knight! if I grant thee this favor it would be well we should know
what to expect from thee on thy part, for in so doing I put myself at
thy mercy in a certain sense, but,” continued the king, “I have every
confidence and I believe you will never abuse it.”
In reply the five knights kneeled before the king, kissed his hand and
then swore eternal fidelity.
The brothers and Maugis were not long in commencing the work and the
fortress was rapidly constructed. The fortifications were made truly
formidable, and the mountain bestrewn with heavy walls and towers to
protect the principal works, which in due time were finished.
Maugis and Renaud prayed that King Yon would come and baptize the
new fortress, an invitation which he courteously accepted, and the
imposing ceremonies were attended by all the court. Maugis, however,
observed with a sad heart the absence of Yolande. His mind was torn
with various doubts and conjectures to account for the strange conduct
of the princess, and he resolved at the first opportunity to seek an
interview and demand an explanation.
The fortress was named Montaubon, and Maugis then sent to all the
surrounding country and caused to be published an edict of the king,
that whosoever would take service under Maugis in the new city would be
granted six years freedom.[1]
[Footnote 1: In those feudal days the common people were in a condition
of serfdom, little better than slavery.]
This had the effect of rapidly filling the new city with inhabitants,
and soon Maugis, Renaud and the three brothers took possession of their
new domain.
Meanwhile the complaints of the discontented courtiers grew louder
and deeper, and rumors of the alliance of Maugis with the evil one,
cautiously spread by the crafty monk, flew from lip to lip, until
reaching the ears of Maugis, caused him to become aware of the
seriousness of the position and the impending liability of his falling
under the displeasure of the king. Active steps must at once be taken,
and he, who had never a thought of breaking his oath, at once renewed
his oath of fidelity.
The council of state was convened when he presented himself, and he
took the occasion to face his accusers and demand of the discontented
to formulate their complaints to his face, and that he would
satisfactorily explain anything that could be offered.
Then spoke Adelbert Leon de Bayonne: “Sire!” said he, “it doubtless be
true this knight hast rendered thee great service and it is fitting
thou should reward him, but thou art not called upon to abandon all
caution and deliver thyself into his power. He is now installed in a
strong fortress, and with a powerful army in the midst of thy kingdom
thou hast placed him in a position of power over thee.”
“And what else be there to my disfavor?” demanded Maugis.
“Sire!” said Gorieux, the monk, “there is much reason for believing
this knight hath given himself into the service of the evil one. It
is well known that he, in his tender youth, hath been in the power of
a learned magician of the East, a worker of evil, a follower of the
evil arts, a minion of Satan, who hath instilled into him much magical
knowledge, and hath persuaded him to give his soul up to Satan.”
A dark frown overspread the face of Maugis at these words, but he
controlled himself.
“Are there others who would accuse me?” he demanded, fixing his stern
gaze on the assembled courtiers.
Silence was the only reply, and stepping forward, Maugis said
impressively: “Sire! if it be true that I am in the service of Satan,
how ill hath he requited me? I am persecuted by the emperor, attacked,
pursued, hunted and banished from my home. It is true, a learned pundit
from the East, a good and holy man, though his beliefs were not our
beliefs, was my tutor. It is true he taught me much of occult things,
but only relating to the laws of nature, which are as an open book to
the wise of the Orient. It is true that this knowledge of the mysteries
of nature, when I seek to direct them to my use, would give me certain
powers over men, and it is true that this noble, wise man died blessing
those who had saved him from death and counseling me ever to be true to
my faith and my honor. Callest thou this noble philosopher a minion of
evil? Can any man say here aught but that in battle I have relied on
any occult aid other than this good sword and my strong arm? Or, if I
be a follower of the evil one, why should I seek to make Boulag Akasir
a Christian?”
These brave and candid words made a deep impression on the council.
“More, sire!” continued Maugis, “I stand now ready to swear my fealty
to my God and his saints and to never henceforth on any occasion seek
to use my occult powers; to utterly abandon and to never recall them.
As to my fidelity to your majesty, my brothers and myself have given
our word, and you all know we are incapable of breaking it. If thou
knowest of any other means whereby we can reassure you, be pleased to
indicate them and we will accept them.”
The fairness, the candor, and the noble bearing of Maugis convinced the
king of his sincerity, and even those who hated the brave knight were
conquered though not changed.
The council then broke up, the king retiring with Godefroy de Moulin,
his counselor, promising to consider the matter and soon give his
decision.
CHAPTER IX.
The scheming Abbé Gorieux, thinking to complete the alienation which he
had successfully commenced between Maugis and Yolande, conceived the
idea that if Yolande could witness the proceedings of the council she
would herself be convinced of the perfidy of Maugis, and seeing his
discomfiture and downfall would wholly dismiss him from her heart, and
thus pave the way anew for the suit of his nephew, Ganelon. The crafty
priest knew that the princess possessed great riches. It was a stake
well worth striving for.
He easily obtained the consent of the princess to this plan, for much
as she had doubted him, and much as she had heard to his prejudice,
down in her heart she still loved Maugis and still believed him
innocent of the charges.
Accordingly, from behind the hangings of the council chamber, unseen
by any one, Yolande had witnessed the events related in the preceding
chapter, and when the meeting broke up she fled along the corridors to
her chamber with light foot and light heart.
“He is true to his God,” she said to herself. “I knew it and I love
him.” Then the thought of her cold and unkind treatment and avoidance
of him presented itself to her mind, and, seized with doubt as to
whether he would longer love her, she, in a revulsion of feeling,
threw herself on a couch and wept bitterly. At last the work of the
treacherous priest had been overthrown and defeated.
In the meantime the king had counseled with his advisers and Maugis
had been summoned to again appear before him. The king was visibly
embarrassed when he thus addressed him:
“Brave knight!” said he, “inasmuch as you have expressed your
willingness to take any means to reassure those of my court who seem to
profess doubt, I have two conditions to impose—take note of my desire
that you will gladly accept them. One is that thou shalt make oath of
thy fealty to God and the saints and forever promise to abandon occult