"I am a lansquenet of my own order, and am called Long Peter, but now the well-appointed general of the assembled----"
"What, general! this folly must have an end. You may be a very brave man, but you are not made to command. I will be your general henceforth," said the Duke, "and my knights will be named as your captains."
"_Bassa manelka!_--I am sorry I swore, but permit an old soldier to say a word to your Grace. What you propose would be against our terms of a gold florin a month, and four measures of wine a-day. There stands, for example, Staberl of Vienna, not a braver man under the sun----"
"Very good, very good, old man! we'll not talk of the gold florin and wine now," replied the Duke. "The captains shall retain their present commands, but I command you. Have you any ammunition?"
"Yes, to be sure," said the Magdeburger; "we have plenty, which belonged to your Grace, and which we brought away from Tübingen. Each man has eighty rounds."
"Very well," answered the Duke; "George von Hewen and Philip von Rechberg, do you divide the men, and each take six companies. Let their captains remain with their men, and assist their commanders. Ludwig von Gemmingen, I appoint you to command all the infantry. And now we'll march direct for Leonberg. Rejoice, my faithful standard bearer," said the Duke, as he mounted, "with God's assistance we'll be in Stuttgardt tomorrow."
The troop of cavalry, with the Duke at their head, led the way. Long Peter stood fixed in the same place, with his hat and its cock's feathers in his hand, observing the horsemen.
"That is a Prince, indeed!" he said to the other commanders who stood beside him. "What a powerful voice he has; and when he rolls his eyes about it makes one quake for fear! I thought he would have swallowed me, head and all, when he asked me who I was."
"I felt much in the same state as if hot water had been poured over me," said the Magdeburger. "This man is more to be dreaded than the Emperor in Vienna."
"Our reign has been but a short one," said Captain Muckerle; "our dignity has not lasted long."
"Fool! so much the better. Dignity only brings cares, says the proverb; our people don't submit readily to our orders--_diavolo!_--for one of them laughed at me in my face only this day. Things will go much better when the knights lead us: and we shall receive a gold florin and four measures of wine; that's our principal business." So said Peter.