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to take a small quantity of gold with him upon his voyage。
Where could he find this gold？ He could borrow it from the
Lombards； the descendants of the old Longobards； who had
turned professional money…lenders； who seated behind their
exchange…table （commonly known as ‘‘banco'' or bank） were
glad to let his Grace have a few hundred gold pieces in exchange
for a mortgage upon his estates； that they might be repaid
in case His Lordship should die at the hands of the Turks。
That was dangerous business for the borrower。 In the end；
the Lombards invariably owned the estates and the Knight
became a bankrupt； who hired himself out as a fighting man to
a more powerful and more careful neighbour。
His Grace could also go to that part of the town where the
Jews were forced to live。 There he could borrow money at a
rate of fifty or sixty percent。 interest。 That； too； was bad
business。 But was there a way out？ Some of the people of the
little city which surrounded the castle were said to have money。
They had known the young lord all his life。 His father and
their fathers had been good friends。 They would not be
unreasonable in their demands。 Very well。 His Lordship's
clerk； a monk who could write and keep accounts； sent a note
to the best known merchants and asked for a small loan。 The
townspeople met in the work…room of the jeweller who made
chalices for the nearby churches and discussed this demand。
They could not well refuse。 It would serve no purpose to
ask for ‘‘interest。'' In the first place； it was against the
religious principles of most people to take interest and in the
second place； it would never be paid except in agricultural
products and of these the people had enough and to spare。
‘‘But；'' suggested the tailor who spent his days quietly sitting
upon his table and who was somewhat of a philosopher；
‘‘suppose that we ask some favour in return for our money。
We are all fond of fishing。 But his Lordship won't let us
fish in his brook。 Suppose that we let him have a hundred
ducats and that he give us in return a written guarantee allowing
us to fish all we want in all of his rivers。 Then he gets
the hundred which he needs； but we get the fish and it will be
good business all around。''
The day his Lordship accepted this proposition （it seemed
such an easy way of getting a hundred gold pieces） he signed
the death…warrant of his own power。 His clerk drew up the
agreement。 His Lordship made his mark （for he could not
sign his name） and departed for the East。 Two years later
he came back； dead broke。 The townspeople were fishing in
the castle pond。 The sight of this silent row of anglers annoyed
his Lordship。 He told his equerry to go and chase the crowd
away。 They went； but that night a delegation of merchants
visited the castle。 They were very polite。 They congratulated
his Lordship upon his safe return。 They were sorry his
Lordship had been annoyed by the fishermen； but as his Lordship
might perhaps remember he had given them permission
to do so himself； and the tailor produced the Charter which
had been kept in the safe of the jeweller ever since the master
had gone to the Holy Land。
His Lordship was much annoyed。 But once more he was
in dire need of some money。 In Italy he had signed his name
to certain documents which were now in the possession of Salvestro
dei Medici； the well…known banker。 These documents
were ‘‘promissory notes'' and they were due two months from
date。 Their total amount came to three hundred and forty
pounds； Flemish gold。 Under these circumstances； the noble
knight could not well show the rage which filled his heart and
his proud soul。 Instead； he suggested another little loan。 The
merchants retired to discuss the matter。
After three days they came back and said ‘‘yes。'' They
were only too happy to be able to help their master in his
difficulties； but in return for the 345 golden pounds would he give
them another written promise （another charter） that they；
the townspeople； might establish a council of their own to be
elected by all the merchants and free citizens of the city； said
council to manage civic affairs without interference from the
side of the castle？
His Lordship was confoundedly angry。 But again；
he needed the money。 He said yes； and signed the charter。
Next week； he repented。 He called his soldiers and went to
the house of the jeweller and asked for the documents which
his crafty subjects had cajoled out of him under the pressure
of circumstances。 He took them away and burned them。
The townspeople stood by and said nothing。 But when next
his Lordship needed money to pay for the dowry of his daughter。
he was unable to get a single penny。 After that little
affair at the jeweller's his credit was not considered good。
He was forced to eat humble…pie and offer to make certain reparations。
Before his Lordship got the first installment of the stipulated sum；
the townspeople were once more in possession of all their old charters
and a brand new one which permitted them to build a ‘‘city…hall''
and a strong tower where all the charters might be kept protected
against fire and theft； which really meant protected against
future violence on the part of the Lord and his armed followers。
This； in a very general way； is what happened during the
centuries which followed the Crusades。 It was a slow process；
this gradual shifting of power from the castle to the city。 There
was some fighting。 A few tailors and jewellers were killed and
a few castles went up in smoke。 But such occurrences were
not common。 Almost imperceptibly the towns grew richer
and the feudal lords grew poorer。 To maintain themselves
they were for ever forced to exchange charters of civic liberty
in return for ready cash。 The cities grew。 They offered an
asylum to run…away serfs who gained their liberty after they
had lived a number of years behind the city walls。 They came
to be the home of the more energetic elements of the
surrounding country districts。 They were proud of
their new importance and expressed their power in the
churches and public buildings which they erected
around the old market place； where centuries before
the barter of eggs and sheep and honey and salt
had taken place。 They wanted their children to
have a better chance in life than they had enjoyed
themselves。 They hired monks to come to their city and
be school teachers。 When they heard of a man who could
paint pictures upon boards of wood； they offered him a pension
if he would come and cover the walls of their chapels and their
town hall with scenes from the Holy Scriptures。
Meanwhile his Lordship； in the dreary and drafty halls of
his castle； saw all this up…start splendour and regretted the
day when first he had signed away a single one of his sovereign
rights and prerogatives。 But he was helpless。 The townspeople
with their well…filled strong…boxes snapped their fingers
at him。 They wer