thers of St. Benedict, while the most distinguished city of the surrounding district, called Neumarkt, had been erected by a prince of the second of the said castles. Among other places, the Empress and her escort approached this city, proposing to examine every thing curious it afforded, and to repose there some little while.
The citizens of the place, beholding their rich and noble equipage, and the treasures of every kind which accompanied it, were seized with envy and astonishment; next conversing respecting it in groups, and then summoning a general council. There they declared that it was a scandal upon their holy religion, and highly unseemly, that a heathen princess should be permitted to insult the Christian world by such a display of pomp and treasure; fine gold, silver, and most precious jewels, of such weight and water as they were. “Of a truth,” continued the more zealous, and mercenary of the flock; “it would be a sight well-pleasing to the Lord, were we to fall, with heavy hand, upon the heathen and her attendants, and putting them to death, to divide their amazing wealth, among the good citizens of this place.”
And too eagerly did the baser lords, and knights, and squires, all avail themselves of this evil counsel. They attacked the defenceless empress and her escort, unsuspicious of any treachery, and put the whole
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