The Ram Rebellion(165)

"So they are pushing out the ones who swore allegiance to the Constitution. Are the oath-takers pushing out the ones who didn't?" Saunders Wendell asked.





"We're sort of trying to persuade them not to," Johnnie F. answered. "At least, not if other people's subjects are willing to live peacefully among our citizens, with the banner up. No use in creating grudges where none have to be. No use classifying people as enemies when maybe they're not."





"We might have a clearer idea of where the lines are going to fall out if they did," Scott Blackwell remarked.





"They didn't not take our oath because they love their landlords," Johnnie F. pointed out. "They didn't take it because they've already sworn a Huldigungseid to some other guy and we for sure didn't have any authority to tick off lords who are, or might be, allies of Gustavus Adolphus by ripping off their peasants. We just ripped off the peasants of the lords who for sure are his enemies. Well, except for the gals."





"What are my obligations if they do march?" That was Scott again. He was, after all, the military administrator.





Nobody else answered right away. Finally, Meyfarth said, "You can put the revolt down, as lords have always done before. It would contradict many of Herr Stearns' words, but no one would be surprised, Herr Blackwell, if you gathered troops and did so. If that is the course upon which Herr Salatto and this council decide, that will be your obligation. And, as you have observed, Gustavus Adolphus is sending you a couple of regiments."





Scott nodded.





"You could let it run, if that is the course upon which Herr Salatto and this council decide. That will unquestionably bring attacks on the houses and barns of landlords and overseers, the burning of castles, killings, with enough atrocity and ferocity that the margraves of Ansbach and Bayreuth, who are allies of Gustavus Adolphus, will come to fear that it will spill over into their lands. Until enough has happened that they can demand that he put it down. Until he might have to agree to their demands, which would drive a wedge between him and Herr Stearns."





"Or?" Johnnie F. asked. "There's an `or' in your voice."





"Or, between now and then, you, all of you, here and in Bamberg and in Fulda, can try to harness it and direct it. Control it, as a cavalryman controls a war horse ten times his weight. Get it used to wearing reins. Try to ride a ram."





Finally, Steve asked, "New business?"





Meyfarth pushed a sheet of paper across the table. "My resignation."





They all looked at him, utterly shocked.





"I have done what I can for you. I will not be going back to Grantville or Thuringia. The University of Erfurt will have no lack of takers for its prestigious tenured professorships. Because of the death of Duke Johann Casimir, I am free of obligations to any lord."





"So?" Saunders Wendell was deeply suspicious.





"Herr Wendell, for much of my life, I have been employed as an administrator or in diplomatic matters. But I am a pastor. That was my first oath. I assure you that I have prayed extensively in regard to this decision. I have also consulted with many others—with Dean Gerhard in Jena, with Professor Osiander from Tübingen. Indeed, with your uptime colleague, Herr Lambert. I am going to Bamberg, where I am going to establish a Lutheran congregation in a Catholic city. Although much of the patriciate there was Protestant up into the 1620's, the bishop's campaign and the witch trials broke all organization among the Lutherans and took the property of the Lutheran churches and wealthy Lutherans such as Councilman Junius, whose daughter came into Grantville for refuge. Now, there are only a few who are openly Protestant, those who went into exile and have come back. Many who converted in order to stay are ashamed. We must begin again."





The entire table buzzed with objections.





Meyfarth waited them out; then shook his head. "Herr Ellis was right, you know."





Johnnie F. asked, "How?"





"When he said that what happened to you and Herr Thornton in Bamberg was because your special commissioners there did not take their assignment seriously enough. They paid it only lip service, and did a little around their regular jobs, when they had time. So the Bamberg authorities, such as Councilman Färber, did not believe them when they said, `We mean it.' They thought that it could be evaded."





Johnnie F. nodded slowly.





"I know that many of you do not like Herr Ellis. You find him to be a harsh, prejudiced, abrasive man. You do not find him to be a colleague with whom you can work easily or well. But sometimes, harsh, prejudiced, unpleasant men are also right. It is my best judgment that in this matter, his opinion was correct. As I said already, I have prayed, a great deal, concerning this matter. So I am going to Bamberg. Without a prince and without a patron, with no consistory to pay me and no building in which any flock that I gather can meet. With no tithes to support me. With only my hope that you will continue to mean it when you say that there will be religious toleration in Franconia. And though I feel more like a lamb led to the slaughter than a belligerent ram, I shall nonetheless do this."