as in the southern sea. But it was just as bad in the Baltic, where the pirates found it such a profitable business that they formed themselves into a corporation, and became such a serious and powerful force that in 1392 they were able to burn down Bergen and take the bishop prisoner. This much is to be said for them: they had a sense of chivalry, and on occasions actually gave back the empty ships to merchants after removing the cargoes, and wished them a happy return with fresh and fuller freights. But so mighty a scourge did these sea-raiders become that for a time they put a stop to all fishing. In the spring of 1394 these lawless Hanseatics sailed with quite a large fleet to the town of Norbern in Norway, took the place by assault, captured all the merchants, together with their goods, burnt their houses and put their persons up to ransom. Matters had now reached a crisis. For three years all fishing had been stopped and these rovers had made maritime life impossible, so in 1394, by means of a tax, the Hanseatic League got together a fleet of thirty-five large ships and 3000 men, and by this means broke the power of this pirate confederation—for a time; for the scourge continued for years after. It was a fine life for those who had run through their money and desired adventure, and it attracted men of noble birth who had gambled and drunk away their fortunes. Of these none was more notorious than Stertebeker, who took part in almost every instance of North Sea piracy at this time. Hamburg having denied to this reprobate his knightly armour and forbidden him the city precincts, he threw in his lot with the notorious pirates known as the Victual Brothers, whose leader was Godeke Michelson. There was no limit to the depredations of this band. On one occasion they attacked a ship in the North Sea named the _Dogger_, which was lying at anchor while the crew were fishing. These Hanseatics took away their fish, beat and wounded both master and crew, and owing to the damage done lost the _Dogger_ a whole year’s fishing. Nor did the daring of the pirates confine itself to the Baltic and North Sea: they even raided the coast of Spain. Stertebeker was one of those heavy-drinking Germans who had a curious method of dealing with his prisoners; for if among them he found a poor, strong man he would test the latter’s powers by resort to drinking. Stertebeker, whose own mark consisted of two reversed goblets in a cathedral church, would cause his own goblet to be filled with wine and handed to the prisoner. If the latter could empty it at one gulp, he was a man after Stertebeker’s heart, and was accepted as a comrade, otherwise he was dismissed.