The Silver Cup by Constance Leeds

to the ground,” answered Hagan. “Come inside, Gunther. Let me give you both some drink, and I’ll tell you about Count Emich. And you can pray with me that your Martin is not among his men.”
    â€œWe must be quick. I have business in the market,” said Gunther as he and Anna followed Hagan inside.
    The house smelled of the sea and decay as they threaded between baskets of salted herring and barrels of all sizes. Strings of yellowed, dried codfish hung from the ceiling, and Gunther had to duck often. Peering into a giant barrel filled with water, Anna saw two large fish swimming very slowly.
    â€œYou won’t find any business in this city today,” said Hagan. “Come. Sit. You will need the rest if you want to look for the boy. The count and his men have moved on, but only yesterday. Perhaps you will find someone to help you. Martin is well known here and well liked. Come, rest first, and let me tell you what I know.”

18
    HAGAN’S ACCOUNT
    May 21, 1096
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Hagan pulled a bench into the light from an open door, so that they looked out onto a small garden behind his house. Anna watched Hagan’s son tether the horse in the leafy shade of a beech tree and fetch water for the animal.
    â€œMy only son,” said Hagan, pointing to the boy. “He’s a good boy. Not as clever as your Martin. But a good boy. To begin, do you know much about Count Emich? ”
    â€œI’ve heard that he claims to be a general chosen by heaven,” said Gunther.
    â€œEmperor. He claims he is the emperor of the apocalypse.”
    â€œMartin was taken with the tales. Of late, I have heard Emich caused some mischief in Speyer,” said Gunther.
    â€œMischief ? ” Hagan shook his head. “Speyer isn’t so different from Worms. It, too, is a city with a bishop. Different, though. The bishop in Speyer had a particular affection for the Jewish race as did the bishop before him, but Speyer had few of that race until its earlier bishop built a small walled town, a separate town outside the city’s own walls, and he invited Jews from throughout the land to live in this separate place with the Church’s protection, yet under their own rules. Many came, and each year the Jews paid the Bishop silver. So, for years the Jews of Speyer lived untroubled behind their own walls.”
    Hagan ladled ale into a dark blue mug for Anna and Gunther to share. The ale was mild and nutty, and Anna realized that she was thirsty from the sour air of the city and the dankness of Hagan’s house.
    Hagan continued. “So the Jews prospered, and the bishop grew rich from their silver. Then Emich’s army entered Speyer some days ago. They say Emich pointed to the Jews and claimed that these were the very people who had killed our lord Jesus. Emich demanded silver and insisted on their conversion, but he allowed no time for either. His impatience led to robbery and looting and murder. Speyer’s bishop was enraged and moved to save his valuable Jews.”
    â€œHow? ” asked Anna.
    â€œHe gathered the Jews into his castle, and all but a dozen were saved from Emich’s mob, which by then included many of the town’s people. Some of Emich’s men were even punished.”
    â€œI heard nothing of that,” said Gunther.
    â€œThe bishop cut off the hands of some of Emich soldiers,” said Hagan with a swift chop of his fleshy hand.
    Anna gasped, and he continued.
    â€œBut that was Speyer. Here in Worms we have always had even more of that foreign race. Not behind a wall as in Speyer, but mostly together in the north quarter, near the Martinstor. Haven’t you traded with them?”
    Gunther nodded and said, “Yes, I trade with a few.”
    â€œWe’re here to see a Jewish silversmith,” said Anna.
    â€œThe Jews bought my fish, and they paid well. No more, Gunther. On Sunday, this count you seek arrived at our city with a mob beyond