DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11277#0078
1886
DEB NEUENHEIMEli.
7
Stoertebeker.
At the time when the Hanseatic League was
flourishing in Germany and included in its commercial
intercourse England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and
the vast empire of Russia, the Northern parts of
the European seas were infested by a band of pirates,
who, from their habit of attacking and plundering
ships laden with colonial wares or victuals, called
themselves „Victualienbroeders": men fully experienced
in all the dangers of sea-life, and scorning death,
which they were as ready to undergo, as they were
to spread it on the unfortunate vessel falling into
their hands. They were not known ever to have
spared a crew overpowered by them, unless it chose
to join them, after having sworn a fearful oath, and
sealed the new alliance by a draught from a cup
filled with human blood. On the flat coasts of Nor-
thern Germany these hyenas of the sea had their
hiding-places where they heaped up immense riches,
and faithful and sworn adherents watched and sold
what their fathers and brothers had gained in bloody
fights, and by the sweat of their brow. Up to this
day, the deeds of these buccaneers of the North form
a principal topic in the nursery-tales of East Fries-
land, and in this very moment I once more undergo
the devout shudder thrilling me when my old friend
Ralph, a weather-beaten, sunburnt boatswain, initiated
me, with a mysterious voice, into the gloonry secrets
of the brotherhood, and gave me a most minute des-
cription of all that occurred on board the pirates'ships,
staying with great delight with their Captain, the
great Stoertebeker, whom he called the most gallant
seaman who ever crossed the salty waves, the
disinterested friend and father of his men and the
protector and benefactor of all those who faithfully-
served him.
And of this Stoertebeker I will tell to-day, and
of the dreadful end he found, the sad conclusion of
his wicked life, when, as the old boatswain said, his
DEB NEUENHEIMEli.
7
Stoertebeker.
At the time when the Hanseatic League was
flourishing in Germany and included in its commercial
intercourse England, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and
the vast empire of Russia, the Northern parts of
the European seas were infested by a band of pirates,
who, from their habit of attacking and plundering
ships laden with colonial wares or victuals, called
themselves „Victualienbroeders": men fully experienced
in all the dangers of sea-life, and scorning death,
which they were as ready to undergo, as they were
to spread it on the unfortunate vessel falling into
their hands. They were not known ever to have
spared a crew overpowered by them, unless it chose
to join them, after having sworn a fearful oath, and
sealed the new alliance by a draught from a cup
filled with human blood. On the flat coasts of Nor-
thern Germany these hyenas of the sea had their
hiding-places where they heaped up immense riches,
and faithful and sworn adherents watched and sold
what their fathers and brothers had gained in bloody
fights, and by the sweat of their brow. Up to this
day, the deeds of these buccaneers of the North form
a principal topic in the nursery-tales of East Fries-
land, and in this very moment I once more undergo
the devout shudder thrilling me when my old friend
Ralph, a weather-beaten, sunburnt boatswain, initiated
me, with a mysterious voice, into the gloonry secrets
of the brotherhood, and gave me a most minute des-
cription of all that occurred on board the pirates'ships,
staying with great delight with their Captain, the
great Stoertebeker, whom he called the most gallant
seaman who ever crossed the salty waves, the
disinterested friend and father of his men and the
protector and benefactor of all those who faithfully-
served him.
And of this Stoertebeker I will tell to-day, and
of the dreadful end he found, the sad conclusion of
his wicked life, when, as the old boatswain said, his