City and personal affairs

The next day, Friedrich watched from the very morning as the workers laid out the goods in his new shop. Most recently, he managed to settle down on Town Hall Square. All the wealthy merchants of the city considered it an honor to have their shop here because in Riga it was the most prestigious place for merchants. To organize their business more profitably, many merchants went to all sorts of tricks in the struggle for a profitable place. Family ties, expensive gifts, and monetary offerings to the burgomaster were also used. All means we’re good, and no one condemned the winner for his little tricks.

Maria spun next to her father and how she could try to help him. She tried to arrange the goods brought by the farm laborers better and at the same time colorfully praised it in front of passers-by, inviting them to evaluate the quality and purchase at least a little for testing.

Burgers and townspeople passed by, and sometimes visiting merchants, who cast appraising glances at the goods and at the lively girl who ran the shop on a par with her father. Among those strolling along the Town Hall Square, there were German, Swedish, and Danish merchants. There were quite a few merchant people from the Russian lands. Frederick had been doing business with merchants from Novgorod and Pskov for a long time and even managed to master their speech a little. Therefore, it was not so difficult for him to understand the needs of the eastern guests of the city, and he did his best to establish good business relations with them.

Just today, Friedrich managed to buy at a bargain price from a friend of the Russian merchant a couple of Berkovtsi wax and several tens of forty furs. In turn, he profitably sold him ten poods of salt, some amber and silver. And for the daughter, a guest from the Russian lands found multi-colored glass jewelry: a necklace and a bracelet. She liked her father's gift, and she immediately tried it on. From time to time she straightened the necklace around her neck and raised her hand to admire another gift. Maria carefully turned her brush and caught the reflections of the morning sun on colored glass. She liked the play of sunlight. She was happy with her father's attention and rejoiced like a little child with a new toy.

At this time, the head of the city walked slowly along the Town Hall Square, without hurrying anywhere. He was in a new jacket, embroidered with gold. Raising his rounded chin high with a deep dimple dividing it in half, he made his way straight to the town hall. Heiner von Silbermann, that was the name of the mayor of Riga, was holding a heavily gilded cane in his hand and clattering it regularly against the newly laid paving stones. He was proud of himself, and business people respectfully bowed to the head of the city. He answered them selectively, honoring only a few of them with a short glance of almost colorless eyes.

The burgomaster glanced sideways with obvious displeasure at the bright sun, which for the first time in many days had finally appeared from behind the clouds. The townspeople and merchants, on the contrary, were glad of this circumstance, because the huge puddles on the Town Hall Square began to dry up and soon it would not be necessary to jump over or bypass them. For Hayner, the sun was shining directly into his eyes, and this made him squint, which made the old man frown, although he could not stand it: it seemed to him that a wrinkled face spoiled his appearance and then the townspeople had a distorted impression of him.

Walking around the square, the head of the city looked with curiosity at the new merchant ranks. Passing by Friedrich's shop, the burgomaster cast a short sidelong glance at the laid-out goods, but for a long time, he held his gaze at the merchant's daughter, a rosy-cheeked slender beauty. At this time, the girl once again looked at her father's gift. Heiner von Siebermann came close to the shop to get a better look at what she was interested in there. Seeing only glass pieces on the girl's wrist, which Russian merchants often bring to Riga, he grimaced with displeasure, as if he had swallowed a whole handful of unripe cranberries.

Heiner looked at the girl's father, who at that time was just talking about something with a Russian merchant, and he didn’t like the fact that Frederick was talking to the guest in his native language. The burgomaster's face twisted again into a displeased grimace. He approached the interlocutors and tried to understand what they were talking about, but his knowledge was not enough. The head of the city did not consider it necessary to bother himself with the study of foreign languages and preferred to speak with all his guests and petitioners exclusively in his native German. And if someone did not understand, this is already his problem. If you want to be understood, hire an interpreter. This fashion was adopted by almost all German immigrants who became citizens of Riga and in Germany - burghers. Therefore, ordinary townspeople, indigenous people, who were very reluctant to receive citizenship from newcomers, had to learn German, otherwise, they could not explain themselves to their masters. It was the same with the burgomaster, although the original population of these places never really interested him. For him, the opinion of representatives of the Small and Large Guilds was important, and even, perhaps, the citizens of the city - the burghers, who also, as usual, were Germans. Others, however, did not have any weight in society, and their role was reduced to serving the interests of the masters and participating in the defense of the city. For this, they were allowed to earn a living and feel relatively protected.

The Russian merchant with an independent air looked into the cold, pale gray eyes of the head of the city and greeted him with a slight bow. He recognized an equal in the burgomaster and therefore did not even think to take off his hat, trimmed with expensive fur. Then the merchant quickly but respectfully said goodbye to his comrade in the craft and went about his business.

“Hello, honorable mister burgomaster,” noticing the head of the city behind his back, Friedrich said ingratiatingly, hastily taking off his headdress in front of him and bowing low. “How is your health? Today, at last, the sun has come out, otherwise, as I heard, you are being pestered by the dampness of your bones.”

In response, the mayor wrinkled his large, hooked nose with displeasure, and then cautiously squinted at the merchant's daughter who was standing nearby, and only after making sure that she did not hear her father's question, he calmed down and even smiled slightly. For several minutes he watched Maria with obvious pleasure as she carefully straightened the soft sable skins sparkling in the sun. They lay on the counter in a row and waited for their customers. Finally, the burgomaster turned to the merchant and, with a wry smile, as if unwillingly, said slowly:

“Hello, Friedrich! Here I look, your daughter blooms more and more every year, and I remember her still very small, with such a snub-nosed and funny clubfoot piglet. And now, what a stately maiden is swinging!”

“Yes, Maria grew up to be a real beauty for me, and what a clever girl! The merchant's craft is already mastering!” the merchant boasted and looked at his daughter with pride.

“Listen, Friedrich, I think nothing will happen to your shop if you walk with me to the town hall. I have a business conversation with you.”

“If not for long, then you can, mister burgomaster. Today I managed to acquire some valuable goods from Russian merchants at a very favorable price, and it is still here. I am very worried about him, and therefore I would not like to be absent for a long time. You never know what!”

“In my city, everyone feels completely safe! Under my leadership, Riga has become even more beautiful than before and is a reliable protection for those who are outside its walls. The city guards work like a clock, and they will not allow any arbitrariness in my city! Or do you doubt me ?!”

The burgomaster glanced suspiciously at the merchant, but he immediately lowered his head and quickly nodded.

“This is undoubted, Mr. Burgomaster! The inhabitants of our city are infinitely grateful to you for your care, and I am sure that my goods will remain safe and sound ... But do not misunderstand me: a merchant's soul is calmer when he is next to his goods.”

“Do you not trust your daughter, since you are so afraid for your goods?” the head of the city grinned.

“I can entrust my Maria not only with my goods, but also with my own life!” the merchant answered impetuously, looking at his daughter with love and pride, and then, turning to her, he said. ”Maria, I will walk with the burgomaster to the town hall. We have some important matters to discuss.

“Well, father. Don't worry. Everything will be all right, I will look after the goods,” Maria answered cheerfully.

Heiner von Siebermann again glued his gaze to the merchant's daughter and deliberately said loudly so that she too could hear:

“Well, then let's go, Friedrich since your beauty is so confident in her abilities. It seems to me that she will properly command your workers and will not let these parasites go!”

The head of the city laughed, pleased with his witty joke, and went on more quietly:

“Yes, she's a good, really good girl! Fire, not a girl! And what eyes, and how he looks! Wow!”

Smacking his thick lips, Heiner von Siebermann once again carefully examined the girl's slender figure from bottom to top. Catching the sugary gaze of the burgomaster, Maria was embarrassed, blushed, and turned sharply away from him.

“Nothing, nothing, you will still appreciate me, proud! - muttered the head of the city under his breath and, turning abruptly, walked with wide steps towards the town hall. She was the only place in the city where he could fully feel his exceptional importance.”

Frederick gave a few more instructions to the workers, said a couple of encouraging words to his daughter, and rushed to catch up with the head of the city. He overtook him already at the entrance to the town hall and, having opened the heavy doors in front of the burgomaster, stepped aside. Heiner von Siebermann did not even look at the merchant or thank him.

“Well, what are you up to ?! - Maria addressed the workers in a commanding tone, imitating her father. - Have you ever seen the burgomaster in your life? Let's take the bags and bring the furs to the warehouse, they can't lie in the sun for a long time. They lose their shine from this. Enough of those sables that we put on the counter.”

Entering the hall of the town hall, the head of the city, grunting quietly, settled himself more comfortably in his favorite high chair at the head of a long oak table. Without offering Frederick with eating, he took a large red apple from a silver platter, wanted to bite it, but remembering his aching teeth, grimaced sourly and took a small fruit knife with his other hand.

“I have long wanted to talk to you without unnecessary witnesses, Friedrich,” he began. - Yes, the city affairs do not leave me time for anything else.”

“I am listening to you, Mr. Burgomaster,” the merchant replied respectfully.

“How is your trade going? I was informed that you have borrowed a large amount of money and intend to purchase a large consignment of goods from Russian merchants. Why the Russians? Is it bad with your money, since you decided to risk your entire fortune so recklessly?”

“Yes, Mr. Burgomaster, your people were not mistaken. I entered into an agreement with Hanseatic merchants who are going to buy from me a large consignment of Russian furs and wax, and just today I purchased part of the goods and discussed the final terms of our deal with the Pskov merchant. I hope that the matter will turn out well and with the help of this deal I will be able to improve my situation.”

“But you must understand that if your deal falls through, you will be left with nothing and then, quite possibly, you will not be able to pay the city the trade duty. Your house will have to be sold for debts, and where are you going to live? And also, God forbid, and you will have to be kicked out of the city as bankrupt! But you already have such an adult daughter. She would now think about her personal life, marry successfully, and not hope for the illusory luck of her father. The merchant is rich today, and tomorrow fortune will turn to him in a different place - and then poverty and hunger. She can't stay behind your back all her life. You’re not getting younger, Friedrich, you’re almost fifty, and it seems to me that you’re starting to lose your business acumen. You'd better think about what will happen to your daughter if you suddenly burn out! After all, Mary did not deserve such a fate - to remain in her prime without a roof over her head, instead of having a reliable husband who can adequately take care of her and protect her from all everyday adversities.”

“To this day, Russian merchants have never deceived me, Mr. Burgomaster, and I hope that everything will be in order this time too. My daughter and I believe in this and expect a good profit from this deal.”

“They didn’t deceive! He hopes!” - mocked the head of the city, cutting off another thin slice of ripe apple with a silver knife. “Do you remember how I vouched for you when you wanted to get a place on the Town Hall Square?”

The burgomaster carefully took a slice of apple from the tip of the knife and began to chew it thoroughly. He was silent for a while. He cut off piece by piece from the ripe red fruit and chewed them meticulously each time. Sometimes, biting off another piece, he grimaced painfully from aching teeth, but after a while, he resumed his daily ritual. The doctor told him that apples in the morning have a beneficial effect on the appearance, and the burgomaster now had a reason to look younger.

The head of the city ate an apple and occasionally cast sidelong glances at the merchant as if deciding whether to sentence him now or let him suffer a little more. Friedrich stood patiently at the end of the long table and waited for the burgomaster to finally explain why he had called him to him.

“And how do you, Friedrich, look at the fact that I will pay off your debt to the Great Guild? - chewing on the last piece of apple and taking a small towel embroidered with silver thread from the table, said the head of the city casually.”

The burgomaster watched the merchant carefully, gently applying a towel to his lips, wet with apple juice. Then he wiped their hands leisurely. All this time, he continued to drill with his watery eyes at Frederick, who was standing in front of him.

“Why did you decide to show me such a high honor, Mr. Burgomaster?” he responded. “After all, I am just a simple merchant who once came to Riga from Lubeck in search of trading happiness. You have already done a lot for me, and if not for you, I would hardly have managed to get a shop on the Town Hall Square.”

“First, not for you, but your daughter, because I have, so to speak, some kindness for her. And secondly, I see that fate has offended you and your daughter, depriving you of your faithful wife, and your daughter of a good mother, and it is still difficult for both of you to come to terms with this loss. And finally, you probably understand that I, for my part, will also ask you for a favor.”

“I am always happy to do everything in my power for you, Mr. Burgomaster, but I can’t imagine how I can help you,” Friedrich said in a frustrated voice.

“Understand, you are a Catholic, and your daughter is a Catholic, and you must always remember this and not separate from your fellow tribesmen! I am also a true Catholic and therefore I have every right and a great desire to help my fellow countryman and fellow believer in a difficult moment for him!” Smoothly, like a child, the burgomaster began to explain. “After all, we, adherents of the true faith, here in Riga, far from our homeland, need to live as one close-knit family to help each other as much as possible opportunities. Isn't that right, Friedrich?”

“Of course, I am not opposed to our German community living in Riga as a close-knit family of co-religionists, and of course, to the best of my ability, I will support any of your undertakings in the city, Mr. Burgomaster.”

“You think correctly, Friedrich! And what best unites people, especially fellow believers, if not strong family ties! I hope you understand what I'm getting at, don't you? I extend a helping hand to you and allow you to avoid the huge risk to which you completely unreasonably expose yourself and your daughter, agreeing with the Muscovites known for their cunning. What if they deceive you? Who will you run to then? Who will always support and help you, if not your family? So think about it carefully, Friedrich!”

“I understand everything, Mr. Burgomaster, and I remember our previous conversation when you helped me with a place on the Town Hall Square. I then tried to talk to my daughter about your proposal, but she doesn’t want to hear about it,” the merchant answered, dropping his head.

“Still young! Doesn't understand its benefits! Romance is still in her head. But nothing will come to his senses if life presses her down properly!” the burgomaster answered angrily. “You are the father, talk to her again. Yes, persist! And explain to her more sensibly what she can lose if she does not accept my offer!”

“Of course, Mr. Burgomaster, I will talk to Maria again.”

“Well ... This case is aside. Now I will try to explain to you about the Russian merchants again. You, Friedrich, do not at all understand what the situation is now developing at the borders, and therefore you have a reason to like any merchant: profit, profit, and only profit! But you must understand: the Russians have already rebuilt a new fortress in Ivangorod and pulled up their troops to it. The Moscow tsar is about to recruit a sufficient number of soldiers and then he will probably decide to oppose Livonia. What if Russian troops stand under the walls of our city? We, of course, have good fortress walls, and the townspeople, as one, will defend their hometown. But you understand what will happen then with trade. After all, if the king of barbarians threatens us with war, it means that your merchant business will come to an end! Is it not clear that all Moscow merchants are scouts and spies. They are the eyes and ears of the Moscow Tsar. They walk around the city and ferret out our military secrets, all defensive tricks, all the weak points of our fortifications, how many weapons we have, where are the powder magazines. Is it possible in such a situation to trust Russian merchants, to believe in their honesty and sincerity, and even more so to do business with them?”

“But some Russian merchants settled in our city long ago and have already become its citizens. They also consider Riga as their city. They opened shops in it, bring goods to us from Moscow, Pskov, Novgorod, and buy ours in large quantities. They helped us establish a very profitable trade with Russian cities! I have been trading with their merchants for a long time. They are honest people! They have never let us down either with goods or money and so far I have never heard from them that they are going to attack us. Where did you get this idea of the treachery of the Muscovites, Mr. Burgomaster? The merchant asked in bewilderment.”

“It's none of your business, how do I know everything about these barbarians! I say - it means I know what! You naively think that the enemy will come to us and ask us for permission: they say, would you allow us to attack your city? - the burgomaster laughed loudly. - Yes, I look at you and wonder, Friedrich! And how do you only do your business? Yes, a small child can deceive you! But I am your true friend and I want to help you figure out who you can be friends with, and who has already become or tomorrow may become your blood enemy. Therefore, think about what I said to you today, and I strongly advise you to talk to your daughter again. And be sure to tell her that not only her well-being but also the fate of her beloved dad and his merchant happiness, largely depends on her decision! Highlight it! Moreover, tell me that it depends on whether you both can stay in our city! After all, your daughter is not so heartless, to leave her father without a piece of bread and a roof over her head in her old age! Moreover, outside the walls of the city, where no one will bother about her honor, and any rogue will poke over her in front of her beloved daddy!”

“Of course, I am grateful to you for everything, mister burgomaster. I am also grateful for your concern for me, but I still cannot believe that Russian merchants want harm to our city. After all, we have mutually beneficial trade with them. Why would they destroy something that gives them a huge benefit?”

“I'll explain it to you, Friedrich! Everything is very simple. The Russians and their ruler want to deprive our city of the profit on which we live. All our profits are based on mediation between the Hanseatic League and Russian merchants, which is why the Moscow Tsar wants to seize Riga to trade with the Hanseatic League himself, without intermediaries. He also wants to get his benefit! Now think about what will happen to your merchant business if Russian howls come to our city. Do they need German intermediary merchants? Do they need you and your daughter? Maybe they will leave their daughter for fun, but you will be unnecessary for them. They will simply destroy all the Hanseatic merchants, as locusts destroy crops! I wonder how you still can't understand this ?!”

“I somehow didn’t think about it, Mr. Burgomaster,” the merchant said in confusion.

“Think about it! Reflect on what I have just told you, Friedrich, and at the same time talk more seriously with your daughter! I think she's not that stupid and should eventually figure out her benefit!” In the voice of a man accustomed to complete obedience, Hayner said and, staring with a cold look of watery-gray eyes at the merchant's drooping head, he added in a harsh, icy tone. “Now go and wait for me to visit you by Sunday. I will visit you and my daughter right after the service. I think that in three days you will be able to prepare Maria to make the right decision.”