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Of Prussia, Volume III. by Thomas Carlyle + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. +III. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.) + Frederick The Great--The Hohenzollerns In Brandenburg--1412-1718 + +Author: Thomas Carlyle + +Release Date: June 13, 2008 [EBook #2103] +Last Updated: November 30, 2012 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + + + + +Produced by D.R. Thompson and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II.<br /> OF PRUSSIA + </h1> + <h2> + FREDERICK THE GREAT + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Thomas Carlyle + </h2> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h3> + Volume III. + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h2> + Contents + </h2> + <table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto"> + <tr> + <td> + <div class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <big><b>BOOK III. — THE + HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. - 1412-1718</b></big> </a><br /><br /> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> <b>Chapter I. — KURFURST FRIEDRICH I.</b> + </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0002"> <b>Chapter II. — + MATINEES DU ROI DE PRUSSE.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0003"> + <b>Chapter III. — KURFURST FRIEDRICH II.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0004"> <b>Chapter IV. — KURFURST ALBERT + ACHILLES, AND HIS SUCCESSOR.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> JOHANN THE CICERO IS FOURTH KURFURST, + AND LEAVES TWO NOTABLE SONS. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0005"> <b>Chapter V. — OF THE + BAIREUTH-ANSPACH BRANCH.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> TWO LINES IN CULMBACH OR + BAIREUTH-ANSPACH: THE GERA BOND OF 1598. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE ELDER LINE OF CULMBACH: FRIEDRICH AND + HIS THREE NOTABLE SONS THERE. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> + FRIEDRICH'S SECOND SON, MARGRAF GEORGE OF ANSPACH. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0006"> <b>Chapter VI. — HOCHMEISTER + ALBERT, THIRD NOTABLE SON OF FRIEDRICH.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0007"> <b>Chapter VII. — ALBERT ALCIBIADES.</b> + </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0008"> <b>Chapter VIII. — + HISTORICAL MEANING OF THE REFORMATION.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a + href="#link2HCH0009"> <b>Chapter IX. — KURFURST JOACHIM I.</b> + </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0010"> <b>Chapter X. — + KURFURST JOACHIM II.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> JOACHIM GETS CO-INVESTMENT IN PREUSSEN. + </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> JOACHIM MAKES + "HERITAGE-BROTHERHOOD" WITH THE DUKE OF LIEGNITZ. </a><br /> + </div> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> <b>Chapter XI. — SEVENTH KURFURST, + JOHANN GEORGE.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0012"> <b>Chapter + XII. — OF ALBERT FRIEDRICH, THE SECOND DUKE OF PREUSSEN.</b> + </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> OF DUKE ALBERT FRIEDRICH'S MARRIAGE: WHO + HIS WIFE WAS, AND WHAT HER POSSIBLE DOWRY. </a><br /> <a + href="#link2H_4_0021"> MARGRAF GEORGE FRIEDRICH COMES TO PREUSSEN + TO ADMINISTER. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0013"> <b>Chapter XIII. — NINTH + KURFURST, JOHANN SIGISMUND.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> HOW THE CLEVE HERITAGE DROPPED, AND MANY + SPRANG TO PICK IT UP. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> THE + KAISER'S THOUGHTS ABOUT IT, AND THE WORLD'S. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0014"> <b>Chapter XIV. — SYMPTOMS OF A + GREAT WAR COMING.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> FIRST SYMPTOM; DONAUWORTH, 1608. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> SYMPTOM THIRD: A DINNER-SCENE AT + DUSSELDORF, 1613: SPANIARDS AND DUTCH SHOULDER ARMS IN CLEVE. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> SYMPTOM FOURTH, AND CATASTROPHE UPON THE + HEELS OF IT. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> WHAT BECAME OF + THE CLEVE-JULICH HERITAGE, AND OF THE PREUSSEN ONE. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0015"> <b>Chapter XV. — TENTH + KURFURST, GEORGE WILHELM.</b> </a><br /><br /> <a href="#link2HCH0016"> + <b>Chapter XVI. — THIRTY-YEARS WAR.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0032"> SECOND ACT, OR EPOCH, 1624-1629. A + SECOND UNCLE PUT TO THE BAN, AND POMMERN SNATCHED AWAY. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0033"> THIRD ACT, AND WHAT THE KURFURST + SUFFERED IN IT. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0017"> <b>Chapter XVII. — DUCHY OF + JAGERNDORF.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0035"> DUKE OF JAGERNDORF, ELECTOR'S UNCLE, IS + PUT UNDER BAN. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0018"> <b>Chapter XVIII. — FRIEDRICH + WILHELM, THE GREAT KURFURST, ELEVENTH OF THE SERIES.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0037"> WHAT BECAME OF POMMERN AT THE PEACE; + FINAL GLANCE INTO CLEVE-JULICH. </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0038"> + THE GREAT KURFURST'S WARS: WHAT HE ACHIEVED IN WAR AND PEACE. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0019"> <b>Chapter XIX. — KING + FRIEDRICH I. AGAIN.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0040"> HOW AUSTRIA SETTLED THE SILESIAN CLAIMS. + </a><br /> <a href="#link2H_4_0041"> HIS REAL CHARACTER. </a><br /> + </div> + <br /> <a href="#link2HCH0020"> <b>Chapter XX. — DEATH OF KING + FRIEDRICH I.</b> </a><br /> + <div class="toc2"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0043"> THE TWELVE HOHENZOLLERN ELECTORS. </a><br /> + <a href="#link2H_4_0044"> GENEALOGICAL DIAGRAM: THE TWO CULMBACH + LINES. </a><br /> + </div> + </div> + </td> + </tr> + </table> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + BOOK III. — THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. - 1412-1718 + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter I. — KURFURST FRIEDRICH I. + </h2> + <p> + Burggraf Friedrich, on his first coming to Brandenburg, found but a cool + reception as Statthalter. [<i>"Johannistage"</i> (24 June) "1412," he + first set foot in Brandenburg, with due escort, in due state; only + Statthalter (Viceregent) as yet: Pauli, i. 594, ii. 58; Stenzel, <i>Geschichte + des Preussischen Staats</i> (Hamburg, 1830, 1851), i. 167-169.] He came as + the representative of law and rule; and there had been many helping + themselves by a ruleless life, of late. Industry was at a low ebb, + violence was rife; plunder, disorder everywhere; too much the habit for + baronial gentlemen to "live by the saddle," as they termed it, that is by + highway robbery in modern phrase. + </p> + <p> + The Towns, harried and plundered to skin and bone, were glad to see a + Statthalter, and did homage to him with all their heart. But the Baronage + or Squirearchy of the country were of another mind. These, in the late + anarchies, had set up for a kind of kings in their own right: they had + their feuds; made war, made peace, levied tolls, transit-dues; lived much + at their own discretion in these solitary countries;—rushing out + from their stone towers ("walls fourteen feet thick"), to seize any herd + of "six hundred swine," any convoy of Lubeck or Hamburg merchant-goods, + that had not contented them in passing. What were pedlers and mechanic + fellows made for, if not to be plundered when needful? Arbitrary rule, on + the part of these Noble Robber-Lords! And then much of the Crown-Domains + had gone to the chief of them,—pawned (and the pawn-ticket lost, so + to speak), or sold for what trifle of ready money was to be had, in Jobst + and Company's time. To these gentlemen, a Statthalter coming to inquire + into matters was no welcome phenomenon. Your EDLE HERR (Noble Lord) of + Putlitz, Noble Lords of Quitzow, Rochow, Maltitz and others, supreme in + their grassy solitudes this long while, and accustomed to nothing greater + than themselves in Brandenburg, how should they obey a Statthalter? + </p> + <p> + Such was more or less the universal humor in the Squirearchy of + Brandenburg; not of good omen to Burggraf Friedrich. But the chief seat of + contumacy seemed to be among the Quitzows, Putlitzes, above spoken of; big + Squires in the district they call the Priegnitz, in the Country of the + sluggish Havel River, northwest from Berlin a fifty or forty miles. These + refused homage, very many of them; said they were "incorporated with + Bohmen;" said this and that;—much disinclined to homage; and would + not do it. Stiff surly fellows, much deficient in discernment of what is + above them and what is not:—a thick-skinned set; bodies clad in buff + leather; minds also cased in ill habits of long continuance. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich was very patient with them; hoped to prevail by gentle methods. + He "invited them to dinner;" "had them often at dinner for a year or + more:" but could make no progress in that way. "Who is this we have got + for a Governor?" said the noble lords privately to each other: "A + NURNBERGER TAND (Nurnberg Plaything,—wooden image, such as they make + at Nurnberg)," said they, grinning, in a thick-skinned way: "If it rained + Burggraves all the year round, none of them would come to luck in this + Country;"—and continued their feuds, toll-levyings, plunderings and + other contumacies. Seeing matters come to this pass after waiting above a + year, Burggraf Friedrich gathered his Frankish men-at-arms; quietly made + league with the neighboring Potentates, Thuringen and others; got some + munitions, some artillery together—especially one huge gun, the + biggest ever seen, "a twenty-four pounder" no less; to which the peasants, + dragging her with difficulty through the clayey roads, gave the name of + FAULE GRETE (Lazy, or Heavy Peg); a remarkable piece of ordnance. Lazy Peg + he had got from the Landgraf of Thuringen, on loan merely; but he turned + her to excellent account of his own. I have often inquired after Lazy + Peg's fate in subsequent times; but could never learn anything distinct:—the + German Dryasdust is a dull dog, and seldom carries anything human in those + big wallets of his!— + </p> + <p> + Equipped in this way, Burggraf Friedrich (he was not yet Kurfurst, only + coming to be) marches for the Havel Country (early days of 1414); + [Michaelis, i. 287; Stenzel, i. 168 (where, contrary to wont, is an + insignificant error or two). Pauli (ii. 58) is, as usual, lost in water.] + makes his appearance before Quitzow's strong-house of Friesack, walls + fourteen feet thick: "You Dietrich von Quitzow, are you prepared to live + as a peaceable subject henceforth: to do homage to the Laws and me?"—"Never!" + answered Quitzow, and pulled up his drawbridge. Whereupon Heavy Peg opened + upon him, Heavy Peg and other guns; and, in some eight-and-forty hours, + shook Quitzow's impregnable Friesack about his ears. This was in the month + of February, 1414, day not given: Friesack was the name of the impregnable + Castle (still discoverable in our time); and it ought to be memorable and + venerable to every Prussian man. Burggraf Friedrich VI., not yet quite + become Kurfurst Friedrich I., but in a year's space to become so, he in + person was the beneficent operator; Heavy Peg, and steady Human Insight, + these were clearly the chief implements. + </p> + <p> + Quitzow being settled,—for the country is in military occupation of + Friedrich and his allies, and except in some stone castle a man has no + chance,—straightway Putlitz or another mutineer, with his drawbridge + up, was battered to pieces, and his drawbridge brought slamming down. + After this manner, in an incredibly short period, mutiny was quenched; and + it became apparent to Noble Lords, and to all men, that here at length was + a man come who would have the Laws obeyed again, and could and would keep + mutiny down. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich showed no cruelty; far the contrary. Your mutiny once ended, and + a little repented of, he is ready to be your gracious Prince again: + Fair-play and the social wine-cup, or inexorable war and Lazy Peg, it is + at your discretion which. Brandenburg submitted; hardly ever rebelled + more. Brandenburg, under the wise Kurfurst it has got, begins in a small + degree to be cosmic again, or of the domain of the gods; ceases to be + chaotic and a mere cockpit of the devils. There is no doubt but this + Friedrich also, like his ancestor Friedrich III., the First Hereditary + Burggraf, was an excellent citizen of his country: a man conspicuously + important in all German business in his time. A man setting up for no + particular magnanimity, ability or heroism, but unconsciously exhibiting a + good deal; which by degrees gained universal recognition. He did not shine + much as Reichs-Generalissimo, under Kaiser Sigismund, in his expeditions + against Zisca; on the contrary, he presided over huge defeat and rout, + once and again, in that capacity; and indeed had represented in vain that, + with such a species of militia, victory was impossible. He represented and + again represented, to no purpose; whereupon he declined the office + farther; in which others fared no better. [Hormayr, <i>OEsterreichischer + Plutarch</i> vii. 109-158, ? Zisca.] + </p> + <p> + The offer to be Kaiser was made him in his old days; but he wisely + declined that too. It was in Brandenburg, by what he silently founded + there, that he did his chief benefit to Germany and mankind. He understood + the noble art of governing men; had in him the justice, clearness, valor + and patience needed for that. A man of sterling probity, for one thing. + Which indeed is the first requisite in said art:—if you will have + your laws obeyed without mutiny, see well that they be pieces of God + Almighty's Law: otherwise all the artillery in the world will not keep + down mutiny. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich "travelled much over Brandenburg;" looking into everything with + his own eyes;—making, I can well fancy, innumerable crooked things + straight. Reducing more and more that famishing dog-kennel of a + Brandenburg into a fruitful arable field. His portraits represent a square + headed, mild-looking solid gentleman, with a certain twinkle of mirth in + the serious eyes of him. Except in those Hussite wars for Kaiser Sigismund + and the Reich, in which no man could prosper, he may be defined as + constantly prosperous. To Brandenburg he was, very literally, the blessing + of blessings; redemption out of death into life. In the ruins of that old + Friesack Castle, battered down by Heavy Peg, Antiquarian Science (if it + had any eyes) might look for the tap-root of the Prussian Nation, and the + beginning of all that Brandenburg has since grown to under the sun. + </p> + <p> + Friedrich, in one capacity or another, presided over Brandenburg near + thirty years. He came thither first of all in 1412; was not completely + Kurfurst in his own right till 1415; nor publicly installed, "with 100,000 + looking on from the roofs and windows," in Constance yonder, till 1417,—age + then some forty-five. His Brandenburg residence, when he happened to have + time for residing or sitting still, was Tangermunde, the Castle built by + Kaiser Karl IV. He died there, 21st September, 1440; laden tolerably with + years, and still better with memories of hard work done. Rentsch guesses + by good inference he was born about 1372. As I count, he is seventh in + descent from that Conrad, Burggraf Conrad I., Cadet of Hohenzollern, who + came down from the Rauhe Alp, seeking service with Kaiser Redbeard, above + two centuries ago: Conrad's generation and six others had vanished + successively from the world-theatre in that ever-mysterious manner, and + left the stage clear, when Burggraf Friedrich the Sixth came to be First + Elector. Let three centuries, let twelve generations farther come and + pass, and there will be another still more notable Friedrich,—our + little Fritz, destined to be Third King of Prussia, officially named + Friedrich II., and popularly Frederick the Great. This First Elector is + his lineal ancestor, twelve times removed. [Rentsch, pp. 349-372; Hubner, + t. 176.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter II. — MATINEES DU ROI DE PRUSSE. + </h2> + <p> + Eleven successive Kurfursts followed Friedrich in Brandenburg. Of whom and + their births, deaths, wars, marriages, negotiations and continual + multitudinous stream of smaller or greater adventures, much has been + written, of a dreary confused nature; next to nothing of which ought to be + repeated here. Some list of their Names, with what rememberable human + feature or event (if any) still speaks to us in them, we must try to give. + Their Names, well dated, with any actions, incidents, or phases of life, + which may in this way get to adhere to them in the reader's memory, the + reader can insert, each at its right place, in the grand Tide of European + Events, or in such Picture as the reader may have of that. Thereby with + diligence he may produce for himself some faint twilight notion of the + Flight of Time in remote Brandenburg,—convince himself that remote + Brandenburg was present all along, alive after its sort, and assisting, + dumbly or otherwise, in the great World-Drama as that went on. + </p> + <p> + We have to say in general, the history of Brandenburg under the + Hohenzollerns has very little in it to excite a vulgar curiosity, though + perhaps a great deal to interest an intelligent one. Had it found + treatment duly intelligent;—which, however, how could it, lucky + beyond its neighbors, hope to do! Commonplace Dryasdust, and voluminous + Stupidity, not worse here than elsewhere, play their Part. + </p> + <p> + It is the history of a State, or Social Vitality, growing from small to + great; steadily growing henceforth under guidance: and the contrast + between guidance and no-guidance, or mis-guidance, in such matters, is + again impressively illustrated there. This we see well to be the fact; and + the details of this would be of moment, were they given us: but they are + not;—how could voluminous Dryasdust give them? Then, on the other + hand, the Phenomenon is, for a long while, on so small a scale, wholly + without importance in European politics and affairs, the commonplace + Historian, writing of it on a large scale, becomes unreadable and + intolerable. Witness grandiloquent Pauli our fatal friend, with his Eight + watery Quartos; which gods and men, unless driven by necessity, have + learned to avoid! [Dr. Carl Friedrich Pauli, <i>Allgemeine Preussische + Staats-Geschichte</i>, often enough cited here.] The Phenomenon of + Brandenburg is small, remote; and the essential particulars, too delicate + for the eye of Dryasdust, are mostly wanting, drowned deep in details of + the unessential. So that we are well content, my readers and I, to keep + remote from it on this occasion. + </p> + <p> + On one other point I must give the reader warning. A rock of offence on + which if he heedlessly strike, I reckon he will split; at least no help of + mine can benefit him till he be got off again. Alas, offences must come; + and must stand, like rocks of offence, to the shipwreck of many! Modern + Dryasdust, interpreting the mysterious ways of Divine Providence in this + Universe, or what he calls writing History, has done uncountable havoc + upon the best interests of mankind. Hapless godless dullard that he is; + driven and driving on courses that lead only downward, for him as for us! + But one could forgive him all things, compared with this doctrine of + devils which he has contrived to get established, pretty generally, among + his unfortunate fellow-creatures for the time!—I must insert the + following quotation, readers guess from what author:— + </p> + <p> + "In an impudent Pamphlet, forged by I know not whom, and published in + 1766, under the title of <i>Matinees du Roi de Prusse,</i> purporting to + be 'Morning Conversations' of Frederick the Great with his Nephew the + Heir-Apparent, every line of which betrays itself as false and spurious to + a reader who has made any direct or effectual study of Frederick or his + manners or affairs,—it is set forth, in the way of exordium to these + pretended royal confessions, that <i>'notre maison,'</i> our Family of + Hohenzollern, ever since the first origin of it among the Swabian + mountains, or its first descent therefrom into the Castle and Imperial + Wardenship of Nurnberg, some six hundred years ago or more, has + consistently travelled one road, and this a very notable one. 'We, as I + myself the royal Frederick still do, have all along proceeded,' namely, + 'in the way of adroit Machiavelism, as skilful gamblers in this world's + business, ardent gatherers of this world's goods; and in brief as devout + worshippers of Beelzebub, the grand regulator and rewarder of mortals here + below. Which creed we, the Hohenzollerns, have found, and I still find, to + be the true one; learn it you, my prudent Nephew, and let all men learn + it. By holding steadily to that, and working late and early in such + spirit, we are come to what you now see;—and shall advance still + farther, if it please Beelzebub, who is generally kind to those that serve + him well.' Such is the doctrine of this impudent Pamphlet; 'original + Manuscripts' of which are still purchased by simple persons,—who + have then nobly offered them to me, thrice over, gratis or nearly so, as a + priceless curiosity. A new printed edition of which, probably the fifth, + has appeared within few years. Simple persons, consider it a curious and + interesting Document; rather ambiguous in origin perhaps, but probably + authentic in substance, and throwing unexpected light on the character of + Frederick whom men call the Great. In which new light they are willing a + meritorious Editor should share. + </p> + <p> + "Who wrote that Pamphlet I know not, and am in no condition to guess. A + certain snappish vivacity (very unlike the style of Frederick whom it + personates); a wearisome grimacing, gesticulating malice and smartness, + approaching or reaching the sad dignity of what is called 'wit' in modern + times; in general the rottenness of matter, and the epigrammatic unquiet + graciosity of manner in this thing, and its elaborately INhuman turn both + of expression and of thought, are visible characteristics of it. Thought, + we said,—if thought it can be called: thought all hamstrung, + shrivelled by inveterate rheumatism, on the part of the poor ill-thriven + thinker; nay tied (so to speak, for he is of epigrammatic turn withal), as + by cross ropes, right shoulder to left foot; and forced to advance, + hobbling and jerking along, in that sad guise: not in the way of walk, but + of saltation and dance; and this towards a false not a true aim, rather + no-whither than some-whither:—Here were features leading one to + think of an illustrious Prince de Ligne as perhaps concerned in the + affair. The Bibliographical Dictionaries, producing no evidence, name + quite another person, or series of persons, [A certain 'N. de Bonneville' + (afterwards a Revolutionary spiritual-mountebank, for some time) is now + the favorite Name;—proves, on investigation, to be an impossible + one. Barbier <i>(Dictionnaire des Anonymes),</i> in a helpless doubting + manner, gives still others.] highly unmemorable otherwise. Whereupon you + proceed to said other person's acknowledged WORKS (as they are called); + and find there a style bearing no resemblance whatever; and are left in a + dubious state, if it were of any moment. In the absence of proof, I am + unwilling to charge his Highness de Ligne with such an action; and indeed + am little careful to be acquainted with the individual who did it, who + could and would do it. A Prince of Coxcombs I can discern him to have + been; capable of shining in the eyes of insincere foolish persons, and of + doing detriment to them, not benefit; a man without reverence for truth or + human excellence; not knowing in fact what is true from what is false, + what is excellent from what is sham-excellent and at the top of the mode; + an apparently polite and knowing man, but intrinsically an impudent, dark + and merely modish-insolent man;—who, if he fell in with Rhadamanthus + on his travels, would not escape a horse-whipping, Him we will willingly + leave to that beneficial chance, which indeed seems a certain one sooner + or later; and address ourselves to consider the theory itself, and the + facts it pretends to be grounded on. + </p> + <p> + "As to the theory, I must needs say, nothing can be falser, more heretical + or more damnable. My own poor opinion, and deep conviction on that subject + is well known, this long while. And, in fact, the summary of all I have + believed, and have been trying as I could to teach mankind to believe + again, is even that same opinion and conviction, applied to all provinces + of things. Alas, in this his sad theory about the world, our poor impudent + Pamphleteer is by no means singular at present; nay rather he has in a + manner the whole practical part of mankind on his side just now; the more + is the pity for us all!— + </p> + <p> + "It is very certain, if Beelzebub made this world, our Pamphleteer, and + the huge portion of mankind that follow him, are right. But if God made + the world; and only leads Beelzebub, as some ugly muzzled bear is led, a + longer or shorter temporary DANCE in this divine world, and always draws + him home again, and peels the unjust gains off him, and ducks him in a + certain hot Lake, with sure intent to lodge him there to all eternity at + last,—then our Pamphleteer, and the huge portion of mankind that + follow him, are wrong. + </p> + <p> + "More I will not say; being indeed quite tired of SPEAKING on that + subject. Not a subject which it concerns me to speak of; much as it + concerns me, and all men, to know the truth of it, and silently in every + hour and moment to do said truth. As indeed the sacred voice of their own + soul, if they listen, will conclusively admonish all men; and truly if IT + do not, there will be little use in my logic to them. For my own share, I + want no trade with men who need to be convinced of that fact. If I am in + their premises, and discover such a thing of them, I will quit their + premises; if they are in mine, I will, as old Samuel advised, count my + spoons. Ingenious gentlemen who believe that Beelzebub made this world, + are not a class of gentlemen I can get profit from. Let them keep at a + distance, lest mischief fall out between us. They are of the set deserving + to be called—and this not in the way of profane swearing, but of + solemn wrath and pity, I say of virtuous anger and inexorable reprobation—the + damned set. For, in very deed, they are doomed and damned, by Nature's + oldest Act of Parliament, they, and whatsoever thing they do or say or + think; unless they can escape from that devil-element. Which I still hope + they may!— + </p> + <p> + "But with regard to the facts themselves, 'DE NOTRE MAISON,' I take leave + to say, they too are without basis of truth. They are not so false as the + theory, because nothing can in falsity quite equal that. 'NOTRE MAISON,' + this Pamphleteer may learn, if he please to make study and inquiry before + speaking, did not rise by worship of Beelzebub at all in this world; but + by a quite opposite line of conduct. It rose, in fact, by the course which + all, except fools, stockjobber stags, cheating gamblers, forging + Pamphleteers and other temporary creatures of the damned sort, have found + from of old to be the one way of permanently rising: by steady service, + namely, of the Opposite of Beelzebub. By conforming to the Laws of this + Universe; instead of trying by pettifogging to evade and profitably + contradict them. The Hohenzollerns too have a History still articulate to + the human mind, if you search sufficiently; and this is what, even with + some emphasis, it will teach us concerning their adventures, and + achievements of success in the field of life. Resist the Devil, good + reader, and he will flee from you!"—So ends our indignant friend. + </p> + <p> + How the Hohenzollerns got their big Territories, and came to what they are + in the world, will be seen. Probably they were not, any of them, paragons + of virtue. They did not walk in altogether speckless Sunday pumps, or much + clear-starched into consciousness of the moral sublime; but in rugged + practical boots, and by such roads as there were. Concerning their + moralities, and conformities to the Laws of the Road and of the Universe, + there will much remain to be argued by pamphleteers and others. Men will + have their opinion, Men of more wisdom and of less; Apes by the Dead-Sea + also will have theirs. But what man that believed in such a Universe as + that of this Dead-Sea Pamphleteer could consent to live in it at all? Who + that believed in such a Universe, and did not design to live like a + Papin's-Digester, or PORCUS EPICURI, in an extremely ugly manner in it, + could avoid one of two things: Going rapidly into Bedlam, or else blowing + his brains out? "It will not do for me at any rate, this infinite + Dog-house; not for me, ye Dryasdusts, and omnipotent Dog-monsters and + Mud-gods, whoever you are. One honorable thing I can do: take leave of you + and your Dog-establishment. Enough!"— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter III. — KURFURST FRIEDRICH II. + </h2> + <p> + The First Friedrich's successor was a younger son, Friedrich II.; who + lasted till 1471, above thirty years; and proved likewise a notable + manager and governor. Very capable to assert himself, and his just rights, + in this world. He was but Twenty-seven at his accession; but the Berlin + Burghers, attempting to take some liberties with him, found he was old + enough. He got the name IRONTEETH. Friedrich FERRATIS DENTIBUS, from his + decisive ways then and afterwards. He had his share of brabbling with + intricate litigant neighbors; quarrels now and then not to be settled + without strokes. His worst war was with Pommern,—just claims + disputed there, and much confused bickering, sieging and harassing in + consequence: of which quarrel we must speak anon. It was he who first + built the conspicuous Schloss or Palace at Berlin, having got the ground + for it (same ground still covered by the actual fine Edifice, which is a + second edition of Friedrich's) from the repentant Burghers; and took up + his chief residence there. [1442-1431 (Nicolari, i. 81).] + </p> + <p> + But his principal achievement in Brandenburg History is his recovery of + the Province called the Neumark to that Electorate. In the thriftless + Sigismund times, the Neumark had been pledged, had been sold; Teutsch + Ritterdom, to whose dominions it lay contiguous, had purchased it with + money down. The Teutsch Ritters were fallen moneyless enough since then; + they offered to pledge the Neumark to Friedrich, who accepted, and + advanced the sum: after a while the Teutsch Ritters, for a small farther + sum, agreed to sell Neumark. [Michaelis, i. 301.] Into which Transaction, + with its dates and circumstances, let us cast one glance, for our behoof + afterwards. The Teutsch Ritters were an opulent domineering Body in + Sigismund's early time; but they are now come well down in Friedrich + II.'s! And are coming ever lower. Sinking steadily, or with desperate + attempts to rise, which only increase the speed downwards, ever since that + fatal Tannenberg Business, 15th July, 1410. Here is the sad progress of + their descent to the bottom; divided into three stages or periods:— + </p> + <p> + "PERIOD FIRST is of Thirty years: 1410-1440. A peace with Poland soon + followed that Defeat of Tannenberg; humiliating peace, with mulct in + money, and slightly in territory, attached to it. Which again was soon + followed by war, and ever again; each new peace more humiliating than its + foregoer. Teutsch Order is steadily sinking,—into debt, among other + things; driven to severe finance-measures (ultimately even to 'debase its + coin'), which produce irritation enough. Poland is gradually edging itself + into the territories and the interior troubles of Preussen; prefatory to + greater operations that lie ahead there. + </p> + <p> + "SECOND PERIOD, of Fourteen years. So it had gone on, from bad to worse, + till 1440; when the general population, through its Heads, the Landed + Gentry and the Towns, wearied out with fiscal and other oppressions from + its domineering Ritterdom brought now to such a pinch, began everywhere to + stir themselves into vocal complaint. Complaint emphatic enough: 'Where + will you find a man that has not suffered injury in his rights, perhaps in + his person? Our friends they have invited as guests, and under show of + hospitality have murdered them. Men, for the sake of their beautiful + wives, have been thrown into the river like dogs,'—and enough of the + like sort. [Voigt, vii. 747; quoting evidently, not an express manifesto, + but one manufactured by the old Chroniclers.] No want of complaint, nor of + complainants: Town of Thorn, Town of Dantzig, Kulm, all manner of Towns + and Baronages, proceeded now to form a BUND, or general Covenant for + complaining; to repugn, in hotter and hotter form, against a domineering + Ritterdom with back so broken; in fine, to colleague with Poland,—what + was most ominous of all. Baronage, Burgherage, they were German mostly by + blood, and by culture were wholly German; but preferred Poland to a + Teutsch Ritterdom of that nature. Nothing but brabblings, scufflings, + objurgations; a great outbreak ripening itself. Teutsch Ritterdom has to + hire soldiers; no money to pay them. It was in these sad years that the + Teutsch Ritterdom, fallen moneyless, offered to pledge the Neumark to our + Kurfurst; 1444, that operation was consummated. [Pauli, ii. 187,—does + not name the sum.] All this goes on, in hotter and hotter form, for ten + years longer. + </p> + <p> + "PERIOD THIRD begins, early in 1454, with an important special + catastrophe; and ends, in the Thirteenth year after, with a still more + important universal one of the same nature. Prussian BUND, or + Anti-Oppression Covenant of the Towns and Landed Gentry, rising in + temperature for fourteen years at this rate, reached at last the igniting + point, and burst into fire. February 4th, 1454, the Town of Thorn, darling + first-child of Teutsch Ritterdom,—child 223 years old at this time, + ['Founded 1231, as a wooden Burg, just across the river, on the Heathen + side, mainly round the stem of an immense old Oak that grew handy there,—Seven + Barges always on the river (Weichsel), to fly to our own side if quite + overwhelmed' <i>Oak and Seven Barges</i> is still the Town's-Arms of + Thorn. See Kohler, <i>Munzbelustigungen,</i>xxii. 107; quoting Dusburg (a + Priest of the Order) and his old <i>Chronica Terrae Prusciae,</i> written + in 1326.] and grown very big, and now very angry,—suddenly took its + old parent by the throat, so to speak, and hurled him out to the dogs; to + the extraneous Polacks first of all. Town of Thorn, namely, sent that day + its 'Letter of Renunciation' to the Hochmeister over at Marienburg; seized + in a day or two more the Hochmeister's Official Envoys, Dignitaries of the + Order; led them through the streets, amid universal storm of execrations, + hootings and unclean projectiles, straight, to jail; and besieged the + Hochmeister's Burg (BASTILLE of Thorn, with a few Ritters in it), all the + artillery and all the throats and hearts of the place raging deliriously + upon it. So that the poor Bitters, who had no chance in resisting, were in + few days obliged to surrender; [8th February, 1454, says Voigt (viii. + 361); 16th, says Kohler <i> (Munzbelustigungen,</i> xxii. 110).] had to + come out in bare jerkin; and Thorn ignominiously dismissed them into space + forevermore,—with actual 'kicks,' I have read in some Books, though + others veil that sad feature. Thorn threw out its old parent in this + manner; swore fealty to the King of Poland; and invited other Towns and + Knightages to follow the example. To which all were willing, wherever + able. + </p> + <p> + "War hereupon, which blazed up over Preussen at large,—Prussian + Covenant and King of Poland VERSUS Teutsch Ritterdom,—and lasted + into the thirteenth year, before it could go out again; out by lack of + fuel mainly. One of the fellest wars on record, especially for burning and + ruining; above '300,000 fighting-men' are calculated to have perished in + it; and of towns, villages, farmsteads, a cipher which makes the fancy, as + it were, black and ashy altogether. Ritterdom showed no lack of fighting + energy; but that could not save it, in the pass things were got to. + Enormous lack of wisdom, of reality and human veracity, there had long + been; and the hour was now come. Finance went out, to the last coin. Large + mercenary armies all along; and in the end not the color of money to pay + them with; mercenaries became desperate; 'besieged the Hochmeister and his + Ritters in Marienburg;'—finally sold the Country they held; formally + made it over to the King of Poland, to get their pay out of it. + Hochmeister had to see such things, and say little. Peace, or extinction + for want of fuel, came in the year 1466. Poland got to itself the whole of + that fine German Country, henceforth called 'WEST Preussen' to distinguish + it, which goes from the left bank of the Weichsel to the borders of + Brandenburg and Neumark;—would have got Neumark too, had not + Kurfurst Friedrich been there to save it. The Teutsch Order had to go + across the Weichsel, ignominiously driven; to content itself with 'EAST + Preussen,' the Konigsberg-Memel country, and even to do homage to Poland + for that. Which latter was the bitterest clause of all: but it could not + be helped, more than the others. In this manner did its revolted children + fling out Teutsch Ritterdom ignominiously to the dogs, to the Polacks, + first of all,—Thorn, the eldest child, leading off or setting the + example." + </p> + <p> + And so the Teutsch Ritters are sunk beyond retrieval; and West Preussen, + called subsequently "Royal Preussen," NOT having homage to pay as the + "Ducal" or East Preussen had, is German no longer, but Polish, Sclavic; + not prospering by the change. [What Thorn had sunk to, out of its palmy + state, see in Nanke's <i>Wanderungen durch Preussen</i> (Hamburg & + Altona, 1800), ii. 177-200:—a pleasant little Rook, treating mainly + of Natural History; but drawing you, by its innocent simplicity and + geniality, to read with thanks whatever is in it.] And all that fine + German country, reduced to rebel against its unwise parent, was cut away + by the Polish sword, and remained with Poland, which did not prove very + wise either; till—till, in the Year 1773, it was cut back by the + German sword! All readers have heard of the Partition of Poland: but of + the Partition of Preussen, 307 years before, all have not heard. + </p> + <p> + It was in the second year of that final tribulation, marked above as + Period Third, that the Teutsch Ritters, famishing for money, completed the + Neumark transaction with Kurfurst Friedrich; Neumark, already pawned to + him ten years before, they in 1455, for a small farther sum, agreed to + sell; and he, long carefully steering towards such an issue, and + dexterously keeping out of the main broil, failed not to buy. Friedrich + could thenceforth, on his own score, protect the Neumark; keep up an + invisible but impenetrable wall between it and the neighboring anarchic + conflagrations of thirteen years; and the Neumark has ever since remained + with Brandenburg, its original owner. + </p> + <p> + As to Friedrich's Pomeranian quarrel, this is the figure of it. Here is a + scene from Rentsch, which falls out in Friedrich's time; and which brought + much battling and broiling to him and his. Symbolical withal of much that + befell in Brandenburg, from first to last. Under the Hohenzollerns as + before, Brandenburg grew by aggregation, by assimilation; and we see here + how difficult the process often was. + </p> + <p> + Pommern (POMERANIA), long Wendish, but peaceably so since the time of + Albert the Bear, and growing ever more German, had, in good part, + according to Friedrich's notion, if there were force in human Treaties and + Imperial Laws, fallen fairly to Brandenburg,—that is to say, the + half of it, Stettin-Pommern had fairly fallen,—in the year 1464, + when Duke Otto of Stettin, the last Wendish Duke, died without heirs. In + that case by many bargains, some with bloody crowns, it had been settled, + If the Wendish Dukes died out, the country was to fall to Brandenburg;—and + here they were dead. "At Duke Otto's burial, accordingly, in the High + Church of Stettin, when the coffin was lowered into its place, the Stettin + Burgermeister, Albrecht Glinde, took sword and helmet, and threw the same + into the grave, in token that the Line was extinct. But Franz von + Eichsted," apparently another Burgher instructed for the nonce, "jumped + into the grave, and picked them out again; alleging, No, the Dukes of + WOLGAST-Pommern were of kin; these tokens we must send to his Grace at + Wolgast, with offer of our homage, said Franz von Eichsted." [Rentsch, p. + 110 (whose printer has put his date awry); Stenzel (i. 233) calls the man + "LORENZ Eikstetten, a resolute Gentleman."]—And sent they were, and + accepted by his Grace. And perhaps half-a-score of bargains, with bloody + crowns to some of them; and yet other chances, and centuries, with the + extinction of new Lines,—had to supervene, before even + Stettin-Pommern, and that in no complete state, could be got. [1648, by + Treaty of Westphalia.] As to Pommern at large, Pommern not denied to be + due, after such extinction and re-extinction of native Ducal Lines, did + not fall home for centuries more; and what struggles and inextricable + armed-litigations there were for it, readers of Brandenburg-History too + wearisomely know. The process of assimilation not the least of an easy + one!— + </p> + <p> + This Friedrich was second son: his Father's outlook for him had, at first, + been towards a Polish Princess and the crown of Poland, which was not then + so elective as afterwards: and with such view his early breeding had been + chiefly in Poland; Johann, the eldest son and heir-apparent, helping his + Father at home in the mean while. But these Polish outlooks went to + nothing, the young Princess having died; so that Friedrich came home; + possessed merely of the Polish language, and of what talents the gods had + given him, which were considerable. And now, in the mean while, Johann, + who at one time promised well in practical life, had taken to Alchemy; and + was busy with crucibles and speculations, to a degree that seemed + questionable. Father Friedrich, therefore, had to interfere, and deal with + this "Johann the Alchemist" (JOHANNES ALCHEMISTA, so the Books still name + him); who loyally renounced the Electorship, at his Father's bidding, in + favor of Friedrich; accepted Baireuth (better half of the Culmbach + Territory) for apanage; and there peacefully distilled and sublimated at + discretion; the government there being an easier task, and fitter for a + soft speculative Herr. A third Brother, Albert by name, got Anspach, on + the Father's decease; very capable to do any fighting there might be + occasion for, in Culmbach. + </p> + <p> + As to the Burggrafship, it was now done, all but the Title. The First + Friedrich, once he was got to be Elector, wisely parted with it. The First + Friedrich found his Electorship had dreadfully real duties for him, and + that this of the Burggrafship had fallen mostly obsolete; so he sold it to + the Nurnbergers for a round sum: only the Principalities and Territories + are retained in that quarter. About which too, and their feudal duties, + boundaries and tolls, with a jealous litigious Nurnberg for neighbor, + there at length came quarrelling enough. But Albert the third Brother, + over at Anspach, took charge of all that; and nothing of it fell in + Johann's way. + </p> + <p> + The good Alchemist died,—performed his last sublimation, poor man,—six + or seven years before his Brother Friedrich; age then sixty-three. [14th + November, 1464.] Friedrich, with his Iron Teeth and faculties, only held + out till fifty-eight,—10th February, 1471. The manner of his end was + peculiar. In that War with Pommern, he sat besieging a Pomeranian town, + Uckermunde the name of it: when at dinner one day, a cannon-ball plunged + down upon the table, [Michaelis, i. 303.] with such a crash as we can + fancy;—which greatly confused the nerves of Friedrich; much injured + his hearing, and even his memory thenceforth. In a few months afterwards + he resigned, in favor of his Successor; retired to Plassenburg, and there + died in about a year more. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IV. — KURFURST ALBERT ACHILLES, AND HIS SUCCESSOR. + </h2> + <p> + Neither Friedrich nor Johann left other than daughters: so that the united + Heritage, Brandenburg and Culmbach both, came now to the third Brother, + Albert; who has been in Culmbath these many years already. A tall, fiery, + tough old gentleman, of formidable talent for fighting, who was called the + "ACHILLES OF GERMANY" in his day; being then a very blazing far-seen + character, dim as he has now grown. [Born 1414; Kurfurst, 1471-1486.] This + Albert Achilles was the Third Elector; Ancestor he of all the Brandenburg + and Culmbach Hohenzollern Princes that have since figured in the world. + After him there is no break or shift in the succession, down to the little + Friedrich now born;—Friedrich the old Grandfather, First KING, was + the Twelfth KURFURST. + </p> + <p> + We have to say, they followed generally in their Ancestors' steps, and had + success of the like kind, more or less; Hohenzollerns all of them, by + character and behavior as well as by descent. No lack of quiet energy, of + thrift, sound sense. There was likewise solid fair-play in general, no + founding of yourself on ground that will not carry;—and there was + instant, gentle but inexorable, crushing of mutiny, if it showed itself; + which, after the Second Elector, or at most the Third, it had altogether + ceased to do. Young Friedrich II., upon whom those Berlin Burghers had + tried to close their gates, till he should sign some "Capitulation" to + their mind, got from them, and not quite in ill-humor, that name + IRONTEETH:—"Not the least a Nose-of-wax, this one! No use trying + here, then!"—which, with the humor attached to it, is itself + symbolical of Friedrich and these Hohenzollern Sovereigns. Albert, his + Brother, had plenty of fighting in his time: but it was in the Nurnberg + and other distant regions; no fighting, or hardly any, needed in + Brandenburg henceforth. + </p> + <p> + With Nurnberg, and the Ex-Burggrafship there, now when a new generation + began to tug at the loose clauses of that Bargain with Friedrich I., and + all Free-Towns were going high upon their privileges, Albert had at one + time much trouble, and at length actual furious War;—other + Free-Towns countenancing and assisting Nurnberg in the affair; numerous + petty Princes, feudal Lords of the vicinity, doing the like by Albert. + Twenty years ago, all this; and it did not last, so furious was it. "Eight + victories," they count on Albert's part,—furious successful + skirmishes, call them;—in one of which, I remember, Albert plunged + in alone, his Ritters being rather shy; and laid about him hugely, hanging + by a standard he had taken, till his life was nearly beaten out. [1449 + (Rentsch, p. 399).] Eight victories; and also one defeat, wherein Albert + got captured, and had to ransom himself. The captor was one Kunz of + Kauffungen, the Nurnberg hired General at the time: a man known to some + readers for his Stealing of the Saxon Princes (PRINZENRAUB, they call it); + a feat which cost Kunz his head. [Carlyle's <i>Miscellanies</i> (London, + 1869), vi. ? PRINZENRAUB.] Albert, however, prevailed in the end, as he + was apt to do; and got his Nurnbergers fixed to clauses satisfactory to + him. + </p> + <p> + In his early days he had fought against Poles, Bohemians and others, as + Imperial general. He was much concerned, all along, in those abstruse + armed-litigations of the Austrian House with its dependencies; and + diligently helped the Kaiser,—Friedrich III., rather a weakish, but + an eager and greedy Kaiser,—through most of them. That inextricable + Hungarian-Bohemian-Polish DONNYBROOK (so we may call it) which Austria had + on hand, one of Sigismund's bequests to Austria; distressingly tumultuous + Donnybrook, which goes from 1440 to 1471, fighting in a fierce confused + manner;—the Anti-Turk Hunniades, the Anti-Austrian Corvinus, the + royal Majesties George Podiebrad, Ladislaus POSTHUMUS, Ludwig OHNE HAUT + (Ludwig NO-SKIN), and other Ludwigs, Ladislauses and Vladislauses, + striking and getting struck at such a rate:—Albert was generally + what we may call chief-constable in all that; giving a knock here and then + one there, in the Kaiser's name. [Hormayr, ii. 138, 140 (? HUNYADY + CORVIN); Rentsch, pp. 389-422; Michaelis, i. 304-313.] Almost from + boyhood, he had learned soldiering, which he had never afterwards leisure + to forget. Great store of fighting he had,—say half a century of it, + off and on, during the seventy and odd years he lasted in this world. With + the Donnybrook we spoke of; with the Nurnbergers; with the Dukes of + Bavaria (endless bickerings with these Dukes, Ludwig BEARDY, Ludwig + SUPERBUS, Ludwig GIBBOSUS or Hunchback, against them and about them, on + his own and the Kaiser's score); also with the French, already clutching + at Lorraine; also with Charles the Rash of Burgundy;—lastly with the + Bishop of Bamberg, who got him excommunicated and would not bury the dead. + </p> + <p> + Kurfurst Albert's Letter on this last emergency, to his Viceregent in + Culmbach, is a famed Piece still extant (date 1481); [Rentsch, p. 409.] + and his plan in such emergency, is a simple and likely one: "Carry the + dead bodies to the Parson's house; let him see whether he will not bury + them by and by!—One must fence off the Devil by the Holy Cross," + says Albert,—appeal to Heaven with what honest mother-wit Heaven has + vouchsafed one, means Albert. "These fellows" (the Priests), continues he, + "would fain have the temporal sword as well as the spiritual. Had God + wished there should be only one sword, he could have contrived that as + well as the two. He surely did not want for intellect <i>(Er war gar ein + weiser Mann),"</i>—want of intellect it clearly was not!—In + short, they had to bury the dead, and do reason; and Albert hustled + himself well clear of this broil, as he had done of many. + </p> + <p> + Battle enough, poor man, with steel and other weapons:—and we see he + did it with sharp insight, good forecast; now and then in a wildly leonine + or AQUILINE manner. A tall hook-nosed man, of lean, sharp, rather taciturn + aspect; nose and look are very aquiline; and there is a cloudy sorrow in + those old eyes, which seems capable of sudden effulgence to a dangerous + extent. He was a considerable, diplomatist too: very great with the + Kaiser, Old Friedrich III. (Max's father, Charles V.'s Great-Grandfather); + [How admirable Albert is, not to say "almost divine," to the Kaiser's then + Secretary, oily-mouthed AEneas Sylvius, afterwards Pope, Rentsch can + testify (pp. 401, 586); quoting AEneas's eulogies and gossipries (<i>Historia + Rerum Frederici Imperatoris,</i> I conclude, though no book is named). + Oily diligent AEneas, in his own young years and in Albert's prime, had of + course seen much of this "miracle" of Arms and Art,—"miracle" and + "almost divine," so to speak.] and managed many things for him. Managed to + get the thrice-lovely Heiress of the Netherlands and Burgundy, Daughter of + that Charles the Rash, with her Seventeen Provinces, for Max, (1477) who + was thought thereupon by everybody to be the luckiest man alive; though + the issue contradicted it before long. + </p> + <p> + Kurfurst Albert died in 1486, March 11, aged seventy-two. It was some + months after Bosworth Fight, where our Crooked Richard got his quietus + here in England and brought the Wars of the Roses to their finale:—a + little chubby Boy, the son of poor parents at Eisleben in Saxony, Martin + Luther the name of him, was looking into this abtruse Universe, with those + strange eyes of his, in what rough woollen or linsey-woolsey short-clothes + we do not know. [Born 10th November, 1483] + </p> + <p> + Albert's funeral was very grand; the Kaiser himself, and all the Magnates + of the Diet and Reich attending him from Frankfurt to his last + resting-place, many miles of road. For he died at the Diet, in + Frankfurt-on-Mayn; having fallen ill there while busy,—perhaps too + busy for that age, in the harsh spring weather,—electing Prince + Maximilian ("lucky Max,") who will be Kaiser too before long, and is + already deep in ILL-luck, tragical and other to be King of the Romans. The + old Kaiser had "looked in on him at Onolzbach" (Anspach), and brought him + along; such a man could not be wanting on such an occasion. A man who + "perhaps did more for the German Empire than for the Electorate of + Brandenburg," hint some. The Kaiser himself, Friedrich III., was now + getting old; anxious to see Max secure, and to set his house in order. A + somewhat anxious, creaky, close-fisted, ineffectual old Kaiser; [See + Kohler (<i>Munzbelustigungen,</i> vi. 393-401; ii. 89-96, &c.) for a + vivid account of him.] distinguished by his luck in getting Max so + provided for, and bringing the Seventeen Provinces of the Netherlands to + his House. He is the first of the Hapsburg Kaisers who had what has since + been called the "Austrian lip"—protrusive under-jaw, with heavy lip + disinclined to shut. He got it from his Mother, and bequeathed it in a + marked manner; his posterity to this day bearing traces of it. Mother's + name was Cimburgis, a Polish Princess, "Duke of Masovia's daughter;" a + lady who had something of the MAULTASCHE in her, in character as well as + mouth.—In old Albert, the poor old Kaiser has lost his right hand; + and no doubt muses sadly as he rides in the funeral procession. + </p> + <p> + Albert is buried at Heilsbronn in Frankenland, among his Ancestors,—burial + in Brandenburg not yet common for these new Kurfursts:—his skull, in + an after-time, used to be shown there, laid on the lid of the tomb; skull + marvellous for strength, and for "having no visible sutures," says + Rentsch. Pious Brandenburg Officiality at length put an end to that + profanation, and restored the skull to its place,—marvellous enough, + with what had once dwelt in it, whether it had sutures or not. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOHANN THE CICERO IS FOURTH KURFURST, AND LEAVES TWO NOTABLE SONS. + </h2> + <p> + Albert's eldest Son, the Fourth Kurfurst, was Johannes Cicero (1486-1499): + Johannes was his natural name, to which the epithet "Cicero of Germany + (CICERO GERMANIAE)" was added by an admiring public. He had commonly + administered the Electorate during his Father's absences; and done it with + credit to himself. He was an active man, nowise deficient as a Governor; + creditably severe on highway robbers, for one thing,—destroys you + "fifteen baronial robber-towers" at a stroke; was also concerned in the + Hungarian-Bohemian DONNYBROOK, and did that also well. But nothing struck + a discerning public like the talent he had for speaking. Spoke "four hours + at a stretch in Kaiser Max's Diets, in elegantly flowing Latin;" with a + fair share of meaning, too;—and had bursts of parliamentary + eloquence in him that were astonishing to hear. A tall, square-headed man, + of erect, cheerfully composed aspect, head flung rather back if anything: + his bursts of parliamentary eloquence, once glorious as the day, procured + him the name "Johannes CICERO;" and that is what remains of them: for they + are sunk now, irretrievable he and they, into the belly of eternal Night; + the final resting-place, I do perceive, of much Ciceronian ware in this + world. Apparently he had, like some of his Descendants, what would now be + called "distinguished literary talents,"—insignificant to mankind + and us. I find he was likewise called DER GROSSE, "John the GREAT;" but on + investigation it proves to be mere "John the BIG," a name coming from his + tall stature and ultimate fatness of body. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, he left his family well off, connected with high Potentates + all around; and had increased his store, to a fair degree, in his time. + Besides his eldest Son who followed as Elector, by name Joachim I., a + burly gentleman of whom much is written in Books, he left a second Son, + Archbishop of Magdeburg, who in time became Archbishop of Mainz and + Cardinal of Holy Church, [Ulrich van Hutten's grand "Panegyric" upon this + Albert on his first Entrance into Mainz (9th October, 1514),—"entrance + with a retinue of 2,000 horse, mainly furnished by the Brandenburg and + Culmbach kindred," say the old Books,—is in <i>Ulrichi ab Hutten + Equitis Germani Opera</i> (Munch's edition; Berlin, 1821), i. 276-310.]—and + by accident got to be forever memorable in Church-History, as we shall see + anon. Archbishop of Mainz means withal KUR-MAINZ, Elector of Mainz; who is + Chief of the Seven Electors, and as it were their President or "Speaker." + Albert was the name of this one; his elder Brother, the then + Kur-Brandenburg, was called Joachim. Cardinal Albert Kur-Mainz, like his + brother Joachim Kur-Brandenburg, figures much, and blazes widely abroad, + in the busy reign of Karl V., and the inextricable Lutheran-Papal, + Turk-Christian business it had. + </p> + <p> + But the notable point in this Albert of Mainz was that of Leo X. and the + Indulgences. [Pauli, v. 496-499; Rentsch, p. 869.] Pope Leo had permitted + Albert to retain his Archbishopric of Magdeburg and other dignities along + with that of Mainz; which was an unusual favor. But the Pope expected to + be paid for it,—to have 30,000 ducats (15,000 pounds), almost a + King's ransom at that time, for the "Pallium" to Mainz; PALLIUM, or little + Bit of woollen Cloth, on sale by the Pope, without which Mainz could not + be held. Albert, with all his dignities, was dreadfully short of money at + the time. Chapter of Mainz could or would do little or nothing, having + been drained lately; Magdeburg, Halberstadt, the like. Albert tried + various shifts; tried a little stroke of trade in relics,—gathered + in the Mainz district "some hundreds of fractional sacred bones, and three + whole bodies," which he sent to Halle for pious purchase;—but + nothing came of this branch. The 15,000 pounds remained unpaid; and Pope + Leo, building St. Peter's, "furnishing a sister's toilet," and doing worse + things, was in extreme need of it. What is to be done? "I could borrow the + money from the Fuggers of Augsburg," said the Archbishop hesitatingly; + "but then—?"—"I could help you to repay it." said his + Holiness: "Could repay the half of it,—if only we had (but they + always make such clamor about these things) an Indulgence published in + Germany!"—"Well; it must be!" answered Albert at last, agreeing to + take the clamor on himself, and to do the feat; being at his wits'-end for + money. He draws out his Full-Power, which, as first Spiritual Kurfurst, he + has the privilege to do; nominates (1516) one Tetzel for Chief Salesman, a + Priest whose hardness of face, and shiftiness of head and hand, were known + to him; and—here is one Hohenzollern that has a place in History! + Poor man, it was by accident, and from extreme tightness for money. He was + by no means a violent Churchman; he had himself inclinations towards + Luther, even of a practical sort, as the thing went on. But there was no + help for it. + </p> + <p> + Cardinal Albert, Kur-Mainz, shows himself a copious dexterous public + speaker at the Diets and elsewhere in those times; a man intent on + avoiding violent methods;—uncomfortably fat in his later years, to + judge by the Portraits. Kur-Brandenburg, Kur-Mainz (the younger now + officially even greater than the elder), these names are perpetually + turning up in the German Histories of that Reformation-Period; absent on + no great occasion; and they at length, from amid the meaningless bead-roll + of Names, wearisomely met with in such Books, emerge into Persons for us + as above. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter V. — OF THE BAIREUTH-ANSPACH BRANCH. + </h2> + <p> + Albert Achilles the Third Elector had, before his accession, been Margraf + of Anspach, and since his Brother the Alchemist's death, Margraf of + Baireuth too, or of the whole Principality,—"Margraf of Culmbach" we + will call it, for brevity's sake, though the bewildering old Books have + not steadily any name for it. [A certain subaltern of this express title, + "Margraf of Culmbach" (a Cadet, with some temporary appanage there, who + was once in the service of him they call the Winter-King, and may again be + transiently heard of by us here), is the altogether Mysterious Personage + who prints himself "MARQUIS DE LULENBACH" in Bromley's <i>Collection of + Royal Letters</i> (London, 1787), pp. 52, &c.:—one of the most + curious Books on the Thirty-Years War; "edited" with a composed stupidity, + and cheerful infinitude of ignorance, which still farther distinguish it. + The BROMLEY Originals well worth a real editing, turn out, on inquiry, to + have been "sold as Autographs, and dispersed beyond recovery, about fifty + years ago."] After his accession, Albert Achilles naturally held both + Electorate and Principality during the rest of his life. Which was an + extremely rare predicament for the two Countries, the big and the little. + </p> + <p> + No other Elector held them both, for nearly a hundred years; nor then, + except as it were for a moment. The two countries, Electorate and + Principality, Hohenzollern both, and constituting what the Hohenzollerns + had in this world, continued intimately connected; with affinity and + clientship carefully kept, up, and the lesser standing always under the + express protection and as it were COUSINSHIP of the greater. But they had + their separate Princes, Lines of Princes; and they only twice, in the time + of these Twelve Electors, came even temporarily under the same head. And + as to ultimate union, Brandenburg-Baireuth and Brandenburg-Anspach were + not incorporated with Brandenburg-Proper, and its new fortunes, till + almost our own day, namely in 1791; nor then either to continue; having + fallen to Bavaria, in the grand Congress of Vienna, within the next + five-and-twenty years. All which, with the complexities and perplexities + resulting from it here, we must, in some brief way, endeavor to elucidate + for the reader. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TWO LINES IN CULMBACH OR BAIREUTH-ANSPACH: THE GERA BOND OF 1598. + </h2> + <p> + Culmbach the Elector left, at his death, to his Second Son,—properly + to two sons, but one of them soon died, and the other became sole + possessor;—Friedrich by name; who, as founder of the Elder Line of + Brandenburg-Culmbach Princes, must not be forgotten by us. Founder of the + First or Elder Line, for there are two Lines; this of Friedrich's having + gone out in about a hundred years; and the Anspach-Baireuth territories + having fallen home again to Brandenburg;—where, however, they + continued only during the then Kurfurst's life. Johann George (1525-1598), + Seventh Kurfurst, was he to whom Brandenburg-Culmbach fell home,—nay, + strictly speaking, it was but the sure prospect of it that fell home, the + thing itself did not quite fall in his time, though the disposal of it + did, ["Disposal," 1598; thing itself, 1603, in his Son's time.]—to + be conjoined again with Brandenburg-Proper. Conjoined for the short + potential remainder of his own life; and then to be disposed of as an + apanage again;—which latter operation, as Johann George had + three-and-twenty children, could be no difficult one. + </p> + <p> + Johann George, accordingly (Year 1598), split the Territory in two; + Brandenburg-Baireuth was for his second son, Brandenburg-Anspach for his + third: hereby again were two new progenitors of Culmbach Princes + introduced, and a New Line, Second or "Younger Line" they call it (Line + mostly split in two, as heretofore); which—after complex adventures + in its split condition, Baireuth under one head, Anspach under another—continues + active down to our little Fritz's time and farther. As will become but too + apparent to us in the course of this History!— + </p> + <p> + From of old these Territories had been frequently divided: each has its + own little capital, Town of Anspach, Town of Baireuth, [Populations about + the same; 16,000 to 17,000 in our time.] suitable for such arrangement. + Frequently divided; though always under the closest cousinship, and ready + for reuniting, if possible. Generally under the Elder Line too, under + Friedrich's posterity, which was rather numerous and often in need of + apanages, they had been in separate hands. But the understood practice was + not to divide farther; Baireuth by itself, Anspach by itself (or still + luckier if one hand could get hold of both),—and especially + Brandenburg by itself, uncut by any apanage: this, I observe, was the + received practice. But Johann George, wise Kurfurst as he was, wished now + to make it surer; and did so by a famed Deed, called the Gera Bond + (GERAISCHE VERTRAG), dated 1598, [Michaelis, i. 345.] the last year of + Johann George's life. + </p> + <p> + Hereby, in a Family Conclave held at that Gera, a little town in + Thuringen, it was settled and indissolubly fixed, That their Electorate, + unlike all others in Germany, shall continue indivisible; Law of + Primogeniture, here if nowhere else, is to be in full force; and only the + Culmbach Territory (if otherwise unoccupied) can be split off for younger + sons. Culmbach can be split off; and this again withal can be split, if + need be, into two (Baireuth and Anspach); but not in any case farther. + Which Household-Law was strictly obeyed henceforth. Date of it 1598; + principal author, Johann George, Seventh Elector. This "Gera Bond" the + reader can note for himself as an excellent piece of Hohenzollern thrift, + and important in the Brandenburg annals. On the whole, Brandenburg keeps + continually growing under these Twelve Hohenzollerns, we perceive; slower + or faster, just as the Burggrafdom had done, and by similar methods. A + lucky outlay of money (as in the case of Friedrich Ironteeth in the + Neumark) brings them one Province, lucky inheritance another:—good + management is always there, which is the mother of good luck. + </p> + <p> + And so there goes on again, from Johann George downwards, a new stream of + Culmbach Princes, called the Younger or New Line,—properly two + contemporary Lines, of Baireuthers and Anspachers;—always in close + affinity to Brandenburg, and with ultimate reversion to Brandenburg, + should both Lines fail; but with mutual inheritance if only one. They had + intricate fortunes, service in foreign armies, much wandering about, + sometimes considerable scarcity of cash: but, for a hundred and fifty + years to come, neither Line by any means failed,—rather the + contrary, in fact. + </p> + <p> + Of this latter or New Culmbach Line, or split Line, especially of the + Baireuth part of it, our little Wilhelmina, little Fritz's Sister, who + became Margravine there, has given all the world notice. From the Anspach + part of it (at that time in sore scarcity of cash) came Queen Caroline, + famed in our George the Second's time. [See a Synoptic Diagram of these + Genealogies, infra, p. 388a.] From it too came an unmomentous Margraf, who + married a little Sister of Wilhelmina's and Fritz's; of whom we shall + hear. There is lastly a still more unmomentous Margraf, only son of said + Unmomentous and his said Spouse; who again combined the two Territories, + Baireuth having failed of heirs; and who, himself without heirs, and with + a frail Lady Craven as Margravine,—died at Hammersmith, close by us, + in 1806; and so ended the troublesome affair. He had already, in 1791, + sold off to Prussia all temporary claims of his; and let Prussia have the + Heritage at once without waiting farther. Prussia, as we noticed, did not + keep it long; and it is now part of the Bavarian Dominion;—for the + sake of editors and readers, long may it so continue! + </p> + <p> + Of this Younger Line, intrinsically rather insignificant to mankind, we + shall have enough to write in time and place; we must at present direct + our attention to the Elder Line. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE ELDER LINE OF CULMBACH: FRIEDRICH AND HIS THREE NOTABLE SONS THERE. + </h2> + <p> + Kurfurst Albert Achilles's second son, Friedrich (1460-1536), [Rentsch, + pp. 593-602.] the founder of the Elder Culmbach Line, ruled his country + well for certain years, and was "a man famed for strength of body and + mind;" but claims little notice from us, except for the sons he had. A + quiet, commendable, honorable man,—with a certain pathetic dignity, + visible even in the eclipsed state he sank into. Poor old gentleman, after + grand enough feats in war and peace, he fell melancholy, fell imbecile, + blind, soon after middle life; and continued so for twenty years, till he + died. During which dark state, say the old Books, it was a pleasure to see + with what attention his Sons treated him, and how reverently the eldest + always led him out to dinner. [Ib. p. 612.] They live and dine at that + high Castle of Plassenburg, where old Friedrich can behold the Red or + White Mayn no more. Alas, alas, Plassenburg is now a Correction-House, + where male and female scoundrels do beating of hemp; and pious Friedrich, + like eloquent Johann, has become a forgotten object. He was of the German + Reichs-Array, who marched to the Netherlands to deliver Max from durance; + Max, the King of the Romans, whom, for all his luck, the mutinous Flemings + had put under lock-and-key at one time. [1482 (Pauli, ii. 389): his + beautiful young Wife, "thrown from her horse," had perished in a + thrice-tragic way, short while before; and the Seventeen Provinces were + unruly under the guardianship of Max.] That is his one feat memorable to + me at present. + </p> + <p> + He was Johann Cicero's HALF-brother, child by a second wife. Like his + Uncle Kurfurst Friedrich II., he had married a Polish Princess; the sharp + Achilles having perhaps an eye to crowns in that direction, during that + Hungarian-Bohemian-Polish Donnybrook. But if so, there again came nothing + of a crown with it; though it was not without its good results for + Friedrich's children by and by. + </p> + <p> + He had eight Sons that reached manhood; five or six of whom came to + something considerable in the world, and Three are memorable down to this + day. One of his daughters he married to the Duke of Liegnitz in Silesia; + which is among the first links I notice of a connection that grew strong + with that sovereign Duchy, and is worth remarking by my readers here. Of + the Three notable Sons it is necessary that we say something. Casimir, + George, Albert are the names of these Three. + </p> + <p> + Casimir, the eldest, [1481-1527.] whose share of heritage is Baireuth, was + originally intended for the Church; but inclining rather to secular and + military things, or his prospects of promotion altering, he early quitted + that; and took vigorously to the career of arms and business. A + truculent-looking Herr, with thoughtful eyes, and hanging under-lip:—HAT + of enviable softness; loose disk of felt flung carelessly on, almost like + a nightcap artificially extended, so admirably soft;—and the look of + the man Casimir, between his cataract of black beard and this + semi-nightcap, is carelessly truculent. He had much fighting with the + Nurnbergers and others; laid it right terribly on, in the way of strokes, + when needful. He was especially truculent upon the Revolt of Peasants in + their BAUERNKRIEG (1525). Them in their wildest rage he fronted; he, that + others might rally to him: "Unhappy mortals, will you shake the world to + pieces, then, because you have much to complain of?" and hanged the + ringleaders of them literally by the dozen, when quelled and captured. A + severe, rather truculent Herr. His brother George, who had Anspach for + heritage, and a right to half those prisoners, admonished and forgave his + half; and pleaded hard with Casimir for mercy to the others, in a fine + Letter still extant; [In Rentsch, p. 627.] which produced no effect on + Casimir. For the dog's sake, and for all sakes, "let not the dog learn to + eat LEATHER;" (of which his indispensable leashes and muzzles are made)! + That was a proverb often heard on the occasion, in Luther's mouth among + the rest. + </p> + <p> + Casimir died in 1527, age then towards fifty. For the last dozen years or + so, when the Father's malady became hopeless, he had governed Culmbach, + both parts of it; the Anspach part, which belonged to his next brother + George, going naturally, in almost all things, along with Baireuth; and + George, who was commonly absent, not interfering, except on important + occasions. Casimir left one little Boy, age then only six, name Albert; to + whom George, henceforth practical sovereign of Culmbach, as his Brother + had been, was appointed Guardian. This youth, very full of fire, wildfire + too much of it, exploded dreadfully on Germany by and by (Albert + ALCIBIADES the name they gave him); nay, towards the end of his nonage, he + had been rather sputtery upon his Uncle, the excellent Guardian who had + charge of him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FRIEDRICH'S SECOND SON, MARGRAF GEORGE OF ANSPACH. + </h2> + <p> + Uncle George of Anspach, Casimir's next Brother, had always been of a + peaceabler disposition than Casimir; not indeed without heat of temper, + and sufficient vivacity of every kind. As a youth, he had aided Kaiser Max + in two of his petty wars; but was always rather given "to reading Latin," + to Learning, and ingenious pursuits. His Polish Mother, who, we perceive, + had given "Casimir" his name, proved much more important to George. At an + early age he went to his Uncle Vladislaus, King of Hungary and Bohemia: + for—Alas, after all, we shall have to cast a glance into that + unbeautiful Hungarian-Bohemian scramble, comparable to an "Irish + Donnybrook," where Albert Achilles long walked as Chief-Constable. It + behooves us, after all, to point out some of the tallest heads in it; and + whitherward, bludgeon in hand, they seem to be swaying and struggling.—Courage, + patient reader! + </p> + <p> + George, then, at an early age went to his Uncle Vladislaus, King of + Hungary and Bohemia: for George's Mother, as we know, was of royal kin; + daughter of the Polish King, Casimir IV. (late mauler of the Teutsch + Ritters); which circumstance had results for George and us. Daughter of + Casimir IV. the Lady was; and therefore of the Jagellon blood by her + father, which amounts to little; but by her mother she was Granddaughter + of that Kaiser Albert II. who "got Three Crowns in one year, and died the + next;" whose posterity have ever since,—up to the lips in trouble + with their confused competitive accompaniments, Hunniades, Corvinus, + George Podiebrad and others, not to speak of dragon Turks coiling ever + closer round you on the frontier,—been Kings of Hungary and Bohemia; + TWO of the crowns (the HERITABLE two) which were got by Kaiser Albert in + that memorable year. He got them, as the reader may remember, by having + the daughter of Kaiser Sigismund to wife,—Sigismund + SUPER-GRAMMATICAM, whom we left standing, red as a flamingo, in the + market-place of Constance a hundred years ago. Thus Time rolls on in its + many-colored manner, edacious and feracious. + </p> + <p> + It is in this way that George's Uncle, Vladislaus, Albert's daughter's + son, is now King of Hungary and Bohemia: the last King Vladislaus they + had; and the last King but one, of any kind, as we shall see anon. + Vladislaus was heir of Poland too, could he have managed to get it; but he + gave up that to his brother, to various younger brothers in succession; + having his hands full with the Hungarian and Bohemian difficulty. He was + very fond of Nephew George; well recognizing the ingenuous, wise and loyal + nature of the young man. He appointed George tutor of his poor son Ludwig; + whom he left at the early age of ten, in an evil world, and evil position + there. "Born without Skin," they say, that is, born in the seventh month;—called + Ludwig OHNE HAUT (Ludwig NO-Skin), on that account. Born certainly, I can + perceive, rather thin of skin; and he would have needed one of a + rhinoceros thickness! + </p> + <p> + George did his function honestly, and with success: Ludwig grew up a + gallant, airy, brisk young King, in spite of difficulties, constitutional + and other; got a Sister of the great Kaiser Karl V. to wife;—determined + (A.D. 1526) to have a stroke at the Turk dragon; which, was coiling round + his frontier, and spitting fire at an intolerable rate. Ludwig, a fine + young man of twenty, marched away with much Hungarian chivalry, right for + the Turk (Summer 1526); George meanwhile going busily to Bohemia, and + there with all his strength levying troops for reinforcement. Ludwig + fought and fenced, for some time, with the Turk outskirts; came at last to + a furious general battle with the Turk (29th August, 1526), at a place + called Mohacz, far east in the flats of the Lower Donau; and was there + tragically beaten and ended. Seeing the Battle gone, and his chivalry all + in flight, Ludwig too had to fly; galloping for life, he came upon bog + which proved bottomless, as good as bottomless; and Ludwig, horse and man, + vanished in it straightway from this world. Hapless young man, like a + flash of lightning suddenly going down there—and the Hungarian + Sovereignty along with him. For Hungary is part of Austria ever since; + having, with Bohemia, fallen to Karl V.'s Brother Ferdinand, as now the + nearest convenient heir of Albert with his Three Crowns. Up to the lips in + difficulties to this day!— + </p> + <p> + George meanwhile, with finely appointed reinforcements, was in full march + to join Ludwig; but the sad news of Mohacz met him: he withdrew, as soon + as might be, to his own territory, and quitted Hungarian politics. This, I + think, was George's third and last trial of war. He by no means delighted + in that art, or had cultivated it like Casimir and some of his brothers.— + </p> + <p> + George by this time had considerable property; part of it important to the + readers of this History. Anspach we already know; but the Duchy of + Jagerndorf,—that and its pleasant valleys, fine hunting-grounds and + larch-clad heights, among the Giant Mountains of Silesia,—that is to + us the memorable territory. George got it in this manner:— + </p> + <p> + Some ten or fifteen years ago, the late King Vladislaus, our Uncle of + blessed memory, loving George, and not having royal moneys at command, + permitted him to redeem with his own cash certain Hungarian Domains, + pledged at a ruinously cheap rate, but unredeemable by Vladislaus. George + did so; years ago, guess ten or fifteen. George did not like the Hungarian + Domains, with their Turk and other inconveniences; he proposed to exchange + them with King Vladislaus for the Bohemian-Silesian Duchy of Jagerndorf; + which had just then, by failure of heirs, lapsed to the King. This also + Vladislaus, the beneficent cashless Uncle, liking George more and more, + permitted to be done. And done it was; I see not in what year; only that + the ultimate investiture (done, this part of the affair, by Ludwig OHNE + HAUT, and duly sanctioned by the Kaiser) dates 1524, two years before the + fatal Mohacz business. + </p> + <p> + From the time of this purchase, and especially till Brother Casimir's + death, which happened in 1527, George resided oftener at Jagerndorf than + at Anspach. Anspach, by the side of Baireuth, needed no management; and in + Jagerndorf much probably required the hand of a good Governor to put it + straight again. The Castle of Jagerndorf, which towers up there in a + rather grand manner to this day, George built: "the old Castle of the + Schellenbergs" (extinct predecessor Line) now gone to ruins, "stands on a + Hill with larches on it, some miles off." Margraf George was much esteemed + as Duke of Jagerndorf. What his actions in that region were, I know not; + but it seems he was so well thought of in Silesia, two smaller neighboring + Potentates, the Duke of Oppeln and the Duke of Ratibor, who had no heirs + of their body, bequeathed, with the Kaiser's assent, these towns and + territories to George: [Rentsch, pp. 623, 127-131. Kaiser is Ferdinand, + Karl V.'s Brother,—as yet only KING of Bohemia and Hungary, but + supreme in regard to such points. His assent is dated "17th June, 1531" in + Rentsch.]—in mere love to their subjects (Rentsch intimates), that + poor men might be governed by a wise good Duke, in the time coming. The + Kaiser would have got the Duchies otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Nay the Kaiser, in spite of his preliminary assent, proved extortionate to + George in this matter; and exacted heavy sums for the actual possession of + Oppeln and Ratibor. George, going so zealously ahead in Protestant + affairs, grew less and less a favorite with Kaisers. But so, at any rate, + on peaceable unquestionable grounds, grounds valid as Imperial Law and + ready money, George is at last Lord of these two little Countries, in the + plain of South-Silesia, as of Jagerndorf among the Mountains hard by. + George has and holds the Duchy of Jagerndorf, with these appendages + (Jagerndorf since 1524, Ratibor and Oppeln since some years later); and + lives constantly, or at the due intervals, in his own strong + Mountain-Castle of Jagerndorf there,—we have no doubt, to the marked + benefit of good men in those parts. Hereby has Jagerndorf joined itself to + the Brandenburg Territories: and the reader can note the circumstance, for + it will prove memorable one day. + </p> + <p> + In the business of the Reformation, Margraf George was very noble. A + simple-hearted, truth-loving, modestly valiant man; rising unconsciously, + in that great element, into the heroic figure. "George the Pious (DER + FROMME)," "George the Confessor (BEKENNER)," were the names he got from + his countrymen. Once this business had become practical, George interfered + a little more in the Culmbach Government; his brother Casimir, who + likewise had Reformation tendencies, rather hanging back in comparison to + George. + </p> + <p> + In 1525 the Town-populations, in the Culmbach region, big Nurnberg in the + van, had gone quite ahead in the new Doctrine; and were becoming + irrepressibly impatient to clear out the old mendacities, and have the + Gospel preached freely to them. This was a questionable step; feasible + perhaps for a great Elector of Saxony;—but for a Margraf of Anspach? + George had come home from Jagerndorf, some three hundred miles away, to + look into it for himself; found it, what with darkness all round, what + with precipices menacing on both hands, and zealous, inconsiderate + Town-populations threatening to take the bit between their teeth, a + frightfully intricate thing. George mounted his horse, one day this year, + day not dated farther, and "with only six attendants" privately rode off, + another two hundred miles, a good three days' ride, to Wittenberg; and + alighted at Dr. Martinus Lutherus's door. [Rentsch, p. 625.] A notable + passage; worth thinking of. But such visits of high Princes, to that poor + house of the Doctor's, were not then uncommon. Luther cleared the doubts + of George; George returned with a resolution taken; "Ahead then, ye poor + Voigtland Gospel populations! I must lead you, we must on!"—And + perils enough there proved to be, and precipices on each hand: + BAUERNKRIEG, that is to say Peasants'-War, Anabaptistry and Red-Republic, + on the one hand; REICHS-ACHT, Ban of Empire, on the other. But George, + eagerly, solemnly attentive, with ever new light rising on him, dealt with + the perils as they came; and went steadily on, in a simple, highly manful + and courageous manner. + </p> + <p> + He did not live to see the actual Wars that followed on Luther's + preaching:—he was of the same age with Luther, born few months + later, and died two years before Luther; [4th March, 1484,—27th + Dec., 1543, George; 10th November, 1483—18th February, 1546, Luther.]—but + in all the intermediate principal transactions George is conspicuously + present; "George of Brandenburg," as the Books call him, or simply + "Margraf George." + </p> + <p> + At the Diet of Augsburg (1530), and the signing of the Augsburg Confession + there, he was sure to be. He rode thither with his Anspach Knightage about + him, "four hundred cavaliers,"—Seckendorfs, Huttens, Flanses and + other known kindreds, recognizable among the lists; [Rentsch, p. 633.]—and + spoke there, notbursts of parliamentary eloquence, but things that had + meaning in them. One speech of his, not in the Diet, but in the Kaiser's + Lodging (15th June, 1530; no doubt, in Anton Fugger's house, where the + Kaiser "lodged for year and day" this time but WITHOUT the "fires of + cinnamon" they talk of on other occasions [See Carlyle's <i>Miscellanies</i> + (iii. 259 n.). The House is at present an Inn, <i>"Gasthaus zu den drei + Mohren;"</i>where tourists lodge, and are still shown the room which the + Kaiser occupied on such visits.]), is still very celebrated. It was the + evening of the Kaiser Karl Fifth's arrival at the Diet; which was then + already, some time since, assembled there. And great had been the Kaiser's + reception that morning; the flower of Germany, all the Princes of the + Empire, Protestant and Papal alike, riding out to meet him, in the open + country, at the Bridge of the Lech. With high-flown speeches and + benignities, on both sides;—only that the Kaiser willed all men, + Protestant and other, should in the mean while do the Popish litanyings, + waxlight processionings and idolatrous stage-performances with him on the + morrow, which was CORPUS-CHRISTI Day; and the Protestants could not nor + would. Imperial hints there had already been, from Innspruck; benign + hopes, of the nature of commands, That loyal Protestant Princes would in + the interim avoid open discrepancies,—perhaps be so loyal as keep + their chaplains, peculiar divine-services, private in the interim? These + were hints;—and now this of the CORPUS-CHRISTI, a still more + pregnant hint! Loyal Protestants refused it, therefore; flatly declined, + though bidden and again bidden. They attended in a body, old Johann of + Saxony, young Philip of Hessen, and the rest; Margraf George, as + spokesman, with eloquent simplicity stating their reasons,—to + somewhat this effect:— + </p> + <p> + Invinciblest all-gracious Kaiser, loyal are we to your high Majesty, ready + to do your bidding by night and by day. But it is your bidding under God, + not against God. Ask us not, O gracious Kaiser! I cannot, and we cannot; + and we must not, and dare not. And "before I would deny my God and his + Evangel," these are George's own words, "I would rather kneel down here + before your Majesty, and have my head struck off,"—hitting his + hind-head, or neck, with the edge of his hand, by way of accompaniment; a + strange radiance in the eyes of him, voice risen into musical alt: <i>"Ehe + Ich wolte meinen Gott und sein Evangelium verlaugnen, ehe wolte Ich hier + vor Eurer Majestat niderknien, und mir den Kopf abhauen lassen."—"Nit + Kop ab, lover Forst, nit Kop ab!"</i> answered Charles in his + Flemish-German; "Not head off, dear Furst, not head off!" said the Kaiser, + a faint smile enlightening those weighty gray eyes of his, and + imperceptibly animating the thick Austrian under-lip. [Rentsch, p. 637. + Marheineke, <i>Geschichte der Teutschen Reformation </i> (Berlin, 1831), + ii. 487.] + </p> + <p> + Speaker and company attended again on the morrow; Margraf George still + more eloquent. Whose Speech flew over Germany, like fire over dry flax; + and still exists,—both Speeches now oftenest rolled into one by + inaccurate editors. [As by Rentsch, ubi supra.] And the CORPUS-CHRISTI + idolatries were forborne the Margraf and his company this time;—the + Kaiser himself, however, walking, nearly roasted in the sun, in heavy + purple-velvet cloak, with a big wax-candle, very superfluous, guttering + and blubbering in the right hand of him, along the streets of Augsburg. + Kur-Brandenburg, Kur-Mainz, high cousins of George, were at this Diet of + Augsburg; Kur-Brandenburg (Elector Joachim I., Cicero's son, of whom we + have spoken, and shall speak again) being often very loud on the + conservative side; and eloquent Kur-Mainz going on the conciliatory tack. + Kur-Brandenburg, in his zeal, had ridden on to Innspruck, to meet the + Kaiser there, and have a preliminary word with him. Both these high + Cousins spoke, and bestirred themselves, a good deal, at this Diet. They + had met the Kaiser on the plains of the Lech, this morning; and, no doubt, + gloomed unutterable things on George and his Speech. George could not help + it. + </p> + <p> + Till his death in 1543, George is to be found always in the front line of + this high Movement, in the line where Kur-Sachsen, John the Steadfast (DER + BESTANDIGE), and young Philip the Magnanimous of Hessen were, and where + danger and difficulty were. Readers of this enlightened gold-nugget + generation can form to themselves no conception of the spirit that then + possessed the nobler kingly mind. "The command of God endures through + Eternity, <i> Verbum Dei Manet In AEternum,"</i> was the Epigraph and + Life-motto which John the Steadfast had adopted for himself; "V. D. M. I. + AE.," these initials he had engraved on all the furnitures of his + existence, on his standards, pictures, plate, on the very sleeves of his + lackeys,—and I can perceive, on his own deep heart first of all. V. + D. M. I. E.:—or might it not be read withal, as Philip of Hessen + sometimes said (Philip, still a young fellow, capable of sport in his + magnanimous scorn), <i>"Verbum Diaboli Manet In Episcopis,</i> The Devil's + Word sticks fast in the Bishops"? + </p> + <p> + We must now take leave of Margraf George and his fine procedures in that + crisis of World-History. He had got Jugerndorf, which became important for + his Family and others: but what was that to the Promethean conquests (such + we may call them) which he had the honor to assist in making for his + Family, and for his Country, and for all men;—very unconscious he of + "bringing fire from Heaven," good modest simple man! So far as I can + gather, there lived, in that day, few truer specimens of the Honest Man. A + rugged, rough-hewn, rather blunt-nosed physiognomy: cheek-bones high, + cheeks somewhat bagged and wrinkly; eyes with a due shade of anxiety and + sadness in them; affectionate simplicity, faithfulness, intelligence, + veracity looking out of every feature of him. Wears plentiful white beard + short-cut, plentiful gold-chains, ruffs, ermines;—a hat not to be + approved of, in comparison with brother Casimir's; miserable + inverted-colander of a hat; hanging at an angle of forty-five degrees; + with band of pearls round the top not the bottom of it; insecure upon the + fine head of George, and by no means to its embellishment. + </p> + <p> + One of his Daughters he married to the Duke of Liegnitz, a new link in + that connection. He left one Boy, George Friedrich; who came under + ALCIBIADES, his Cousin of Baireuth's tutelage; and suffered much by that + connection, or indeed chiefly by his own conspicuously Protestant turn, to + punish which, the Alcibiades connection was taken as a pretext. In riper + years, George Friedrich got his calamities brought well under; and lived + to do good work, Protestant and other, in the world. To which we may + perhaps allude again. The Line of Margraf George the Pious ends in this + George Friedrich, who had no children; the Line of Margraf George, and the + Elder Culmbach Line altogether (1603), Albert Alcibiades, Casimir's one + son, having likewise died without posterity. + </p> + <p> + "Of the younger Brothers," says my Authority, "some four were in the + Church; two of whom rose to be Prelates;—here are the four:— + </p> + <p> + "1. One, Wilhelm by name, was Bishop of Riga, in the remote Prussian + outskirts, and became Protestant;—among the first great Prelates who + took that heretical course; being favored by circumstances to cast out the + 'V. D. <i>(Verbum Diaboli),'</i> as Philip read it. He is a wise-looking + man, with magnificent beard, with something of contemptuous patience in + the meditative eyes of him. He had great troubles with his Riga people,—as + indeed was a perennial case between their Bishop and them, of whatever + creed he might be. + </p> + <p> + "2. The other Prelate held fast by the Papal Orthodoxy: he had got upon + the ladder of promotion towards Magdeburg; hoping to follow his Cousin + KUR-MAINZ, the eloquent conciliatory Cardinal, in that part of his + pluralities. As he did,—little to his comfort, poor man; having + suffered a good deal in the sieges and religious troubles of his + Magdeburgers; who ended by ordering him away, having openly declared + themselves Protestant, at length. He had to go; and occupy himself + complaining, soliciting Aulic-Councils and the like, for therest of his + life. + </p> + <p> + "3. The PROBST of Wurzburg (PROVOST, kind of Head-Canon there); orthodox + Papal he too; and often gave his Brother George trouble. + </p> + <p> + "4. A still more orthodox specimen, the youngest member of the family, who + is likewise in orders: Gumbrecht ('Gumbertus, a Canonicus of' Something or + other, say the Books); who went early to Rome, and became one of his + Holiness Leo Tenth's Chamberlains;—stood the 'Sack of Rome' + (Constable de Bourbon's), and was captured there and ransomed;—but + died still young (1528). These three were Catholics, he of Wurzburg a + rather virulent one." + </p> + <p> + Catholic also was JOHANNES, a fifth Brother, who followed the soldiering + and diplomatic professions, oftenest in Spain; did Government-messages to + Diets, and the like, for Karl V.; a high man and well seen of his Kaiser;—he + had wedded the young Widow of old King Ferdinand in Spain; which proved, + seemingly, a troublous scene for poor Johannes. What we know is, he was + appointed Commandant of Valencia; and died there, still little turned of + thirty,—by poison it is supposed,—and left his young Widow to + marry a third time. + </p> + <p> + These are the Five minor Brothers, four of them Catholic, sons of old + blind Friedrich of Plassenburg; who are not, for their own sake, + memorable, but are mentionable for the sake of the three major Brothers. + So many orthodox Catholics, while Brother George and others went into the + heresies at such a rate! A family much split by religion:—and blind + old Friedrich, dim of intellect, knew nothing of it; and the excellent + Polish Mother said and thought, we know not what. A divided Time!— + </p> + <p> + Johannes of Valencia, and these Chief Priests, were all men of mark; + conspicuous to the able editors of their day: but the only Brother now + generally known to mankind is Albert, Hochmeister of the Teutsch + Ritterdom; by whom Preussen came into the Family. Of him we must now speak + a little. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VI. — HOCHMEISTER ALBERT, THIRD NOTABLE SON OF FRIEDRICH. + </h2> + <p> + Albert was born in 1490; George's junior by six years, Casimir's by nine. + He too had been meant for the Church; but soon quitted that, other + prospects and tendencies opening. He had always loved the ingenuous arts; + but the activities too had charms for him. He early shone in his exercises + spiritual and bodily; grew tall above his fellows, expert in arts, + especially in arms;—rode with his Father to Kaiser Max's Court; was + presented by him, as the light of his eyes, to Kaiser Max; who thought him + a very likely young fellow; and bore him in mind, when the Mastership of + the Teutsch Ritterdom fell vacant. [Rentsch, pp. 840-863.] + </p> + <p> + The Teutsch Ritterdom, ever since it got its back broken in that Battle of + Tannenberg in 1410, and was driven out of West-Preussen with such + ignominious kicks, has been lying bedrid, eating its remaining revenues, + or sprawling about in helpless efforts to rise again, which require no + notice from us. Hopeless of ever recovering West-Preussen, it had quietly + paid its homage to Poland for the Eastern part of that Country; quietly + for some couple of generations. But, in the third or fourth generation + after Tannenberg, there began to rise murmurs,—in the Holy Roman + Empire first of all. "Preussen is a piece of the Reich," said hot, + inconsiderate people; "Preussen could not be alienated without consent of + the Reich!" To which discourses the afflicted Ritters listened only too + gladly; their dull eyes kindling into new false hopes at sound of them. + The point was, To choose as Hochmeister some man of German influence, of + power and connection in the Country, who might help them to their + so-called right. With this view, they chose one and then another of such + sort;—and did not find it very hopeful, as we shall see. + </p> + <p> + Albert was chosen Grand-Master of Preussen, in February, 1511; age then + twenty-one. Made his entry into Konigsberg, November next year; in grand + cavalcade, "dreadful storm of rain and wind at the time,"—poor + Albert all in black, and full of sorrow, for the loss of his Mother, the + good Polish Princess, who had died since he left home. Twenty months of + preparation he had held since his Election, before doing anything: for + indeed the case was intricate. He, like his predecessor in office, had + undertaken to refuse that Homage to Poland; the Reich generally, and + Kaiser Max himself, in a loose way of talk, encouraging him: "A piece of + the Reich," said they all; "Teutsch Ritters had no power to give it away + in that manner." Which is a thing more easily said, than made good in the + way of doing. + </p> + <p> + Albert's predecessor, chosen on this principle, was a Saxon Prince, + Friedrich of Meissen; cadet of Saxony; potently enough connected, he too; + who, in like manner, had undertaken to refuse the Homage. And zealously + did refuse it, though to his cost, poor man. From the Reich, for all its + big talking, he got no manner of assistance; had to stave off a Polish War + as he could, by fair-speaking, by diplomacies and contrivances; and died + at middle age, worn down by the sorrows of that sad position. + </p> + <p> + An idea prevails, in ill-informed circles, that our new Grand-Master + Albert was no better than a kind of cheat; that he took this + Grand-Mastership of Preussen; and then, in gayety of heart, + surreptitiously pocketed Preussen for his own behoof. Which is an idle + idea; inconsistent with the least inquiry, or real knowledge how the + matter stood. [Voigt, ix. 740-749; Pauli, iv. 404-407.] By no means in + gayety of heart, did Albert pocket Preussen; nor till after as tough a + struggle to do other with it as could have been expected of any man. + </p> + <p> + One thing not suspected by the Teutsch Ritters, and least of all by their + young Hochmeister, was, That the Teutsch Ritters had well deserved that + terrible down-come at Tannenberg, that ignominious dismissal out of + West-Preussen with kicks. Their insolence, luxury, degeneracy had gone to + great lengths. Nor did that humiliation mend them at all; the reverse + rather. It was deeply hidden from the young Hochmeister as from them, That + probably they were now at length got to the end of their capability: and + ready to be withdrawn from the scene, as soon as any good way offered!—Of + course, they Were reluctant enough to fulfil their bargain to Poland; very + loath they to do Homage now for Preussen, and own themselves sunk to the + second degree. For the Ritters had still their old haughtiness of humor, + their deepseated pride of place, gone now into the unhappy CONSCIOUS + state. That is usually the last thing that deserts a sinking House: pride + of place, gone to the conscious state;—as if, in a reverse manner, + the House felt that it deserved to sink. + </p> + <p> + For the rest, Albert's position among them was what Friedrich of Sachsen's + had been; worse, not better; and the main ultimate difference was, he did + not die of it, like Friedrich of Sachsen; but found an outlet, not open in + Friedrich's time, and lived. To the Ritters, and vague Public which called + itself the Reich, Albert had promised he would refuse the Homage to + Poland; on which Ritters and Reich had clapt their hands: and that was + pretty much all the assistance he got of them. The Reich, as a formal + body, had never asserted its right to Preussen, nor indeed spoken + definitely on the subject: it was only the vague Public that had spoken, + in the name of the Reich. From the Reich, or from any individual of it, + Kaiser or Prince, when actually applied to, Albert could get simply + nothing. From what, Ritters were in Preussen, he might perhaps expect + promptitude to fight, if it came to that; which was not much as things + stood. But, from the great body of the Ritters, scattered over Germany, + with their rich territories (BALLEYS, bailliwicks), safe resources, and + comfortable "Teutschmeister" over them, he got flat refusal: [The titles + HOCHMEISTER and TEUTSCHMEISTER are defined, in many Books and in all + manner of Dictionaries, as meaning the same thing. But that is not quite + the case. They were at first synonymous, so far as I can see; and after + Albert's time, they again became so; but at the date where we now are, and + for a long while back, they represent different entities, and indeed + oftenest, since the Prussian DECLINE began, antagonistic ones. + Teutschmeister, Sub-president over the GERMAN affairs and possessions of + the Order, resides at Mergentheim in that Country: Hochmeister is Chief + President of the whole, but resident at Marienburg in Preussen, and feels + there acutely where the shoe pinches,—much too acutely, thinks the + Teutschmeister in his soft list-slippers, at Mergentheim in the safe + Wurzburg region.] "We will not be concerned in the adventure at all; we + wish you well through it!" Never was a spirited young fellow placed in + more impossible position. His Brother Casimir (George was then in + Hungary), his Cousin Joachim Kur-Brandenburg, Friedrich Duke of Liegnitz, + a Silesian connection of the Family, ["Duke Friedrich II.:" comes by + mothers from Kurfurst Friedrich I.; marries Margraf George's Daughter even + now, 1519 (Hubner, tt. 179, 100, 101).] consulted, advised, negotiated to + all lengths, Albert's own effort was incessant. "Agree with King + Sigismund," said they; "Uncle Sigismund, your good Mother's Brother; a + King softly inclined to us all!"—"How agree?" answered Albert: "He + insists on the Homage, which I have promised not to give!" Casimir went + and came, to Konigsberg, to Berlin; went once himself to Cracow, to the + King, on this errand: but it was a case of "Yes AND No;" not to be solved + by Casimir. + </p> + <p> + As to King Sigismund, he was patient with it to a degree; made the + friendliest paternal professions;—testifying withal, That the claim + was undeniable; and could by him, Sigismund, never be foregone with the + least shadow of honor, and of course never would: "My dear Nephew can + consider whether his dissolute, vain-minded, half-heretical Ritterdom, nay + whether this Prussian fraction of it, is in a condition to take Poland by + the beard in an unjust quarrel; or can hope to do Tannenberg over again in + the reverse way, by Beelzehub's help?"— + </p> + <p> + For seven years, Albert held out in this intermediate state, neither peace + nor war; moving Heaven and Earth to raise supplies, that he might be able + to defy Poland, and begin war. The Reich answers, "We have really nothing + for you." Teutschmeister answers again and again, "I tell you we have + nothing!" In the end, Sigismund grew impatient; made (December, 1519) some + movements of a hostile nature. Albert did not yield; eager only to + procrastinate till he were ready. By superhuman efforts, of borrowing, + bargaining, soliciting, and galloping to and fro, Albert did, about the + end of next year, get up some appearance of an Army: "14,000 German + mercenaries horse and foot," so many in theory; who, to the extent of + 8,000 in actual result, came marching towards him (October, 1520); to + serve "for eight months." With these he will besiege Dantzig, besiege + Thorn; will plunge, suddenly, like a fiery javelin, into the heart of + Poland, and make Poland surrender its claim. Whereupon King Sigismund + bestirred himself in earnest; came out with vast clouds of Polish + chivalry; overset Albert's 8,000;—who took to eating the country, + instead of fighting for it; being indeed in want of all things. One of the + gladdest days Albert had yet seen, was when he got the 8,000 sent home + again. + </p> + <p> + What then is to be done? "Armistice for four years," Sigismund was still + kind enough to consent to that: "Truce for four years: try everywhere, my + poor Nephew; after that, your mind will perhaps become pliant." Albert + tried the Reich again: "Four years, O Princes, and then I must do it, or + be eaten!" Reich, busy with Lutheran-Papal, Turk-Christian quarrels, + merely shrugged its shoulders upon Albert. Teutschmeister did the like; + everybody the like. In Heaven or Earth, then, is there no hope for me? + thought Albert. And his stock of ready money—we will not speak of + that! + </p> + <p> + Meanwhile Dr. Osiander of Anspach had come to him; and the pious young man + was getting utterly shaken in his religion. Monkish vows, Pope, Holy + Church itself, what is one to think, Herr Doctor? Albert, religious to an + eminent degree, was getting deep into Protestantism. In his many + journeyings, to Nurnberg, to Brandenburg, and up and down, he had been at + Wittenberg too: he saw Luther in person more than once there; corresponded + with Luther; in fine believed in the truth of Luther. The Culmbach + Brothers were both, at least George ardently was, inclined to + Protestantism, as we have seen; but Albert was foremost of the three in + this course. Osiander and flights of zealous Culmbach Preachers made many + converts in Preussen. In these circumstances the Four Years came to a + close. + </p> + <p> + Albert, we may believe, is greatly at a loss; and deep deliberations, + Culmbach, Berlin, Liegnitz, Poland all called in, are held:—a case + beyond measure intricate. You have given your word; word must be kept,—and + cannot, without plain hurt, or ruin even, to those that took it of you. + Withdraw, therefore; fling it up!—Fling it up? A valuable article to + fling up; fling it up is the last resource. Nay, in fact, to whom will you + fling it up? The Prussian Ritters themselves are getting greatly divided + on the point; and at last on all manner of points, Protestantism ever more + spreading among them. As for the German Brethren, they and their + comfortable Teutschmeister, who refused to partake in the dangerous + adventure at all; are they entitled to have much to say in the settlement + of it now?— + </p> + <p> + Among others, or as chief oracle of all, Luther was consulted. "What would + you have me do towards reforming the Teutsch Order?" inquired Albert of + his oracle. Luther's answer was, as may be guessed, emphatic. "Luther," + says one reporter, "has in his Writings declared the Order to be 'a thing + serviceable neither to God nor man,' and the constitution of it 'a + monstrous, frightful, hermaphroditish, neither secular nor spiritual + constitution.'" [C. J. Weber, <i>Daa Ritterwessen</i> (Stuttgard, 1837), + iii. 208.] We do not know what Luther's answer to Albert was;—but + can infer the purport of it: That such a Teutsch Ritterdom was not, at any + rate, a thing long for this world; that white cloaks with black crosses on + them would not, of themselves, profit any Ritterdom; that solemn vows and + high supramundane professions, followed by such practice as was notorious, + are an afflicting, not to say a damnable, spectacle on God's Earth;—that + a young Herr had better marry; better have done with the wretched + Babylonian Nightmare of Papistry altogether; better shake oneself awake, + in God's name, and see if there are not still monitions in the eternal sky + as to what it is wise to do, and wise not to do!—This I imagine to + have been, in modern language, the purport of Dr. Luther's advice to + Hochmeister Albrecht on the present interesting occasion. + </p> + <p> + It is certain, Albert, before long, took this course; Uncle Sigismund and + the resident Officials of the Ritterdom having made agreement to it as the + one practicable course. The manner as follows: 1. Instead of Elected + Hochmeister, let us be Hereditary Duke of Preussen, and pay homage for it + to Uncle Sigismund in that character. 2. Such of the resident Officials of + the Ritterdom as are prepared to go along with us, we will in like manner + constitute permanent Feudal Proprietors of what they now possess as + Life-rent, and they shall be Sub-vassals under us as Hereditary Duke. 3. + In all which Uncle Sigismund and the Republic of Poland engage to maintain + us against the world. + </p> + <p> + That is, in sum, the Transaction entered into, by King Sigismund I. of + Poland, on the one part, and Hochmeister Albert and his Ritter Officials, + such as went along with him, (which of course none could do that were not + Protestant), on the other part: done at Cracow, 8th April, 1525. [Rentsch, + p. 850.—Here, certified by Rentsch, Voigt and others, is a worn-out + patch of Paper, which is perhaps worth printing:— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 1490, May 17, Albert is born. + 1511, February 14, Hochmeister. + 1519, December, King Sigismund's first hostile movements. + 1520, October, German Mercenaries arrive. + 1520, November, try Siege of Dantzig. + 1520, November 17, give it up. + 1521, April 10, Truce for Four Years. + 1523, June, Albert consults Luther. + 1524, November, sees Luther. + 1525, April 8, Peace of Cracow, and Albert to be Duke of + Prussia.] Whereby Teutsch Ritterdom, the Prussian part of it, + vanished from the world; dissolving itself, and its "hermaphrodite + constitution," like a kind of Male Nunnery, as so many female ones + had done in those years. A Transaction giving rise to endless + criticism, then and afterwards. Transaction plainly not + reconcilable with the letter of the law; and liable to have logic + chopped upon it to any amount, and to all lengths of time. + The Teutschmeister and his German Brethren shrieked murder; + the whole world, then, and for long afterwards, had much to say + and argue. +</pre> + <p> + To us, now that the logic-chaff is all laid long since, the question is + substantial, not formal. If the Teutsch Ritterdom was actually at this + time DEAD, actually stumbling about as a mere galvanized Lie beginning to + be putrid,—then, sure enough, it behooved that somebody should bury + it, to avoid pestilential effects in the neighborhood. Somebody or other;—first + flaying the skin off, as was natural, and taking that for his trouble. All + turns, in substance, on this latter question! If, again, the Ritterdom was + not dead—? + </p> + <p> + And truly it struggled as hard as Partridge the Almanac-maker to rebut + that fatal accusation; complained (Teutschmeister and German-Papist part + of it) loudly at the Diets; got Albert and his consorts put to the Ban + (GEACHTET), fiercely menaced by the Kaiser Karl V. But nothing came of all + that; nothing but noise. Albert maintained his point; Kaiser Karl always + found his hands full otherwise, and had nothing but stamped parchments and + menaces to fire off at Albert. Teutsch Ritterdom, the Popish part of it, + did enjoy its valuable bailliwicks, and very considerable rents in various + quarters of Germany and Europe, having lost only Preussen; and walked + about, for three centuries more, with money in its pocket, and a solemn + white gown with black cross on its back,—the most opulent Social + Club in existence, and an excellent place for bestowing younger sons of + sixteen quarters. But it was, and continued through so many centuries, in + every essential respect, a solemn Hypocrisy; a functionless merely eating + Phantasm, of the nature of goblin, hungry ghost or ghoul (of which kind + there are many);—till Napoleon finally ordered it to vanish; its + time, even as Phantasm, being come. + </p> + <p> + Albert, I can conjecture, had his own difficulties as Regent in Preussen. + [1525-1568.] Protestant Theology, to make matters worse for him, had split + itself furiously into 'DOXIES; and there was an OSIANDERISM (Osiander + being the Duke's chaplain), much flamed upon by the more orthodox ISM. + "Foreigners," too, German-Anspach and other, were ill seen by the native + gentlemen; yet sometimes got encouragement. One Funccius, a shining + Nurnberg immigrant there, son-in-law of Osiander, who from Theology got + into Politics, had at last (1564) to be beheaded,—old Duke Albert + himself "bitterly weeping" about him; for it was none of Albert's doing. + Probably his new allodial Ritter gentlemen were not the most submiss, when + made hereditary? We can only hope the Duke was a Hohenzollern, and not + quite unequal to his task in this respect. A man with high bald brow; + magnificent spade-beard; air much-pondering, almost gaunt,—gaunt + kind of eyes especially, and a slight cast in them, which adds to his + severity of aspect. He kept his possession well, every inch of it; and + left all safe at his decease in 1568. His age was then near eighty. It was + the tenth year of our Elizabeth as Queen; invincible Armada not yet built; + but Alba very busy, cutting off high heads in Brabant; and stirring up the + Dutch to such fury as was needful for exploding Spain and him. + </p> + <p> + This Duke Albert was a profoundly religious man, as all thoughtful men + then were. Much given to Theology, to Doctors of Divinity; being eager to + know God's Laws in this Universe, and wholesomely certain of damnation if + he should not follow them. Fond of the profane Sciences too, especially of + Astronomy: Erasmus Reinhold and his <i>Tabulae Prutenicae</i> were once + very celebrated; Erasmus Reinhold proclaims gratefully how these his + elaborate Tables (done according to the latest discoveries, 1551 and + onwards) were executed upon Duke Albert's high bounty; for which reason + they are dedicated to Duke Albert, and called "PRUTENICAE," meaning + PRUSSIAN. [Rentsch, p. 855.] The University of Konigsberg was already + founded several years before, in 1544. + </p> + <p> + Albert had not failed to marry, as Luther counselled: by his first Wife he + had only daughters; by his second, one son, Albert Friedrich, who, without + opposition or difficulty, succeeded his Father. Thus was Preussen acquired + to the Hohenzollern Family; for, before long, the Electoral branch managed + to get MITBELEHNUNG (Co-infeftment), that is to say, Eventual Succession; + and Preussen became a Family Heritage, as Anspach and Baireuth were. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VII. — ALBERT ALCIBIADES. + </h2> + <p> + One word must be spent on poor Albert, Casimir's son, [1522-1557] already + mentioned. This poor Albert, whom they call ALCIBIADES, made a great noise + in that epoch; being what some define as the "Failure of a Fritz;" who has + really features of him we are to call "Friedrich the Great," but who burnt + away his splendid qualities as a mere temporary shine for the able + editors, and never came to anything. + </p> + <p> + A high and gallant young fellow, left fatherless in childhood; perhaps he + came too early into power:—he came, at any rate, in very volcanic + times, when Germany was all in convulsion; the Old Religion and the New + having at length broken out into open battle, with huge results to be + hoped and feared; and the largest game going on, in sight of an + adventurous youth. How Albert staked in it; how he played to immense + heights of sudden gain, and finally to utter bankruptcy, I cannot explain + here: some German delineator of human destinies, "Artist" worth the name, + if there were any, might find in him a fine subject. + </p> + <p> + He was ward of his Uncle George; and the probable fact is, no guardian + could have been more faithful. Nevertheless, on approaching the years of + majority, of majority but not discretion, he saw good to quarrel with his + Uncle; claimed this and that, which was not granted: quarrel lasting for + years. Nay matters ran so high at last, it was like to come to war between + them, had not George been wiser. The young fellow actually sent a cartel + to his Uncle; challenged him to mortal combat,—at which George only + wagged his old beard, we suppose, and said nothing. Neighbors interposed, + the Diet itself interposed; and the matter was got quenched again. Leaving + Albert, let us hope, a repentant young man. We said he was full of fire, + too much of it wildfire. + </p> + <p> + His profession was Arms; he shone much in war; went slashing and fighting + through those Schmalkaldic broils, and others of his time; a distinguished + captain; cutting his way towards something high, he saw not well what. He + had great comradeship with Moritz of Saxony in the wars: two sworn + brothers they, and comrades in arms:—it is the same dexterous + Moritz, who, himself a Protestant, managed to get his too Protestant + Cousin's Electorate of Saxony into his hand, by luck of the game; the + Moritz, too, from whom Albert by and by got his last defeat, giving Moritz + his death in return. That was the finale of their comradeship. All things + end, and nothing ceases changing till it end. + </p> + <p> + He was by position originally on the Kaiser's side; had attained great + eminence, and done high feats of arms and generalship in his service. But + being a Protestant by creed, he changed after that Schmalkaldic downfall + (rout of Muhlberg, 24th April, 1547), which brought Moritz an Electorate, + and nearly cost Moritz's too Protestant Cousin his life as well as lands. + [Account of it in De Wette, <i>Lebensgeschichte der Herzoge zu Sachsen</i>(Weimar, + 1770), pp. 32-35.] The victorious Kaiser growing now very high in his + ways, there arose complaints against him from all sides, very loud from + the Protestant side; and Moritz and Albert took to arms, with loud + manifestos and the other phenomena. + </p> + <p> + This was early in 1552, five years after Muhlberg Rout or Battle. The + there victorious Kaiser was now suddenly almost ruined; chased like a + partridge into the Innspruck Mountains,—could have been caught, only + Moritz would not; "had no cage to hold so big a bird," he said. So the + Treaty of Passau was made, and the Kaiser came much down from his lofty + ways. Famed TREATY OF PASSAU (22d August, 1552), which was the finale of + these broils, and hushed them up for a Fourscore years to come. That was a + memorable year in German Reformation History. + </p> + <p> + Albert, meanwhile, had been busy in the interior of the country; blazing + aloft in Frankenland, his native quarter, with a success that astonished + all men. For seven months he was virtually King of Germany; ransomed + Bamberg, ransomed Wurzburg, Nurnberg (places he had a grudge at); ransomed + all manner of towns and places,—especially rich Bishops and their + towns, with VERBUM DIABOLI sticking in them,—at enormous sums. King + of the world for a brief season;—must have had some strange thoughts + to himself, had they been recorded for us. A pious man, too; not in the + least like "Alcibiades," except in the sudden changes of fortune he + underwent. His Motto, or old rhymed Prayer, which he would repeat on + getting into the saddle for military work,—a rough rhyme of his own + composing,—is still preserved. Let us give it, with an English + fac-simile, or roughest mechanical pencil-tracing,—by way of glimpse + into the heart of a vanished Time and its Man-at-arms: [Rentsch, p. 644.] + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Das Walt der Herr Jesus Christ, + Mit dem Vater, der uber uns ist: + Wer starker ist als dieser Mann, + Der komm und thu' ein Leid mir an. + + Guide it the Lord Jesus Christ, [Read "Chris" + or "Chriz," for the rhyme's sake.] + And the Father, who over us is: + He that is stronger than that Man, [Sic.] + Let him do me a hurt when he can. +</pre> + <p> + He was at the Siege of Metz (end of that same 1552), and a principal + figure there. Readers have heard of the Siege of Metz: How Henry II. of + France fished up those "Three Bishoprics" (Metz, Toul, Verdun, constituent + part of Lorraine, a covetable fraction of Teutschland) from the troubled + sea of German things, by aid of Moritz now KUR-SACHSEN, and of Albert; and + would not throw them in again, according to bargain, when Peace, the PEACE + OF PASSAU came. How Kaiser Karl determined to have them back before the + year ended, cost what it might; and Henry II. to keep them, cost what it + might. How Guise defended, with all the Chivalry of France; and Kaiser + Karl besieged, [19th October, 1552, and onwards.] with an Army of 100,000 + men, under Duke Alba for chief captain. Siege protracted into midwinter; + and the "sound of his cannon heard at Strasburg," which is eighty miles + off, "in the winter nights." [Kohler, <i>Reichs-Historie,</i> p. 453;—and + more especially <i>Munzbelustigungen</i> (Nurnberg, 1729-1750), ix. + 121-129. The Year of this Volume, and of the Number in question, is 1737; + the MUNZE or Medal "recreated upon" in of Henri II.] + </p> + <p> + It had depended upon Albert, who hung in the distance with an army of his + own, whether the Siege could even begin; but he joined the Kaiser, being + reconciled again; and the trenches opened. By the valor of Guise and his + Chivalry,—still more perhaps by the iron frosts and by the sleety + rains of Winter, and the hungers and the hardships of a hundred thousand + men, digging vainly at the ice-bound earth, or trampling it when sleety + into seas of mud, and themselves sinking in it, of dysentery, famine, toil + and despair, as they cannonaded day and night,—Metz could not be + taken. "Impossible!" said the Generals with one voice, after trying it for + a couple of months. "Try it one other ten days," said the Kaiser with a + gloomy fixity; "let us all die, or else do it!" They tried, with double + desperation, another ten days; cannon booming through the winter midnight + far and wide, four score miles round: "Cannot be done, your Majesty! + Cannot,—the winter and the mud, and Guise and the walls; man's + strength cannot do it in this season. We must march away!" Karl listened + in silence; but the tears were seen to run down his proud face, now not so + young as it once was: "Let us march, then!" he said, in a low voice, after + some pause. + </p> + <p> + Alcibiades covered the retreat to Diedenhof (THIONVILLE they now call it): + outmanoeuvred the French, retreated with success; he had already captured + a grand Due d'Aumale, a Prince of the Guises,—valuable ransom to be + looked for there. It was thought he should have made his bargain better + with the Kaiser, before starting; but he had neglected that. Albert's + course was downward thenceforth; Kaiser Karl's too. The French keep these + "Three Bishoprics (TROIS EVECHES)," and Teutschland laments the loss of + them, to this hour. Kaiser Karl, as some write, never smiled again;—abdicated, + not long after; retired into the Monastery of St. Just, and there soon + died. That is the siege of Metz, where Alcibiades was helpful. His own + bargain with the Kaiser should have been better made beforehand. + </p> + <p> + Dissatisfied with any bargain he could now get; dissatisfied with the + Treaty of Passau, with such a finale and hushing-up of the Religious + Controversy, and in general with himself and with the world, Albert again + drew sword; went loose at a high rate upon his Bamberg-Wurzburg enemies, + and, having raised supplies there, upon Moritz and those Passau-Treatiers. + He was beaten at last by Moritz, "Sunday, 9th July, 1553," at a place + called Sievershausen in the Hanover Country, where Moritz himself perished + in the action.—Albert fled thereupon to France. No hope in France. + No luck in other small and desperate stakings of his: the game is done. + Albert returns to a Sister he had, to her Husband's Court in Baden; a + broken, bare and bankrupt man;—soon dies there, childless, leaving + the shadow of a name. [Here, chiefly from Kohler <i>(Munzbelustigungen,</i> + iii. 414-416), is the chronology of Albert's operations:—Seizure of + Nurnberg &c., 11th May to 22d June, 1552; Innspruck (with Treaty of + Passau) follows. Then Siege of Metz, October to December, 1552; Bamberg, + Wurzburg and Nurnberg ransomed again, April, 1553; Battle of + Sievershausen, 9th July, 1553. Wurzburg &c. explode against him; Ban + of the Empire, 4th May, 1554. To France thereupon; returns, hoping to + negotiate, end of 1556; dies at Pforzheim, at his Sister's, 8th January, + 1557.—See Pauli, iii. 120-138. See also Dr. Kapp, <i>Erinnerungen an + diejenigen Markgrafen &c.</i> (a reprint from the <i>Archiv fur + Geschichte und Alterthumskunde in Ober-Franken,</i> Year 1841).] + </p> + <p> + His death brought huge troubles upon Baireuth and the Family Possessions. + So many neighbors, Bamberg, Wurzburg and the rest, were eager for + retaliation; a new Kaiser greedy for confiscating. Plassenburg Castle was + besieged, bombarded, taken by famine and burnt; much was burnt and torn to + waste. Nay, had it not been for help from Berlin, the Family had gone to + utter ruin in those parts. For this Alcibiades had, in his turn, been + Guardian to Uncle George's Son, the George Friedrich we once spoke of, + still a minor, but well known afterwards; and it was attempted, by an + eager Kaiser Ferdinand, to involve this poor youth in his Cousin's + illegalities, as if Ward and Guardian had been one person. Baireuth which + had been Alcibiades's, Anspach which was the young man's own, nay + Jagerndorf with its Appendages, were at one time all in the clutches of + the hawk,—had not help from Berlin been there. But in the end, the + Law had to be allowed its course; George Friedrich got his own Territories + back (all but some surreptitious nibblings in the Jagerndorf quarter, to + be noticed elsewhere), and also got Baireuth, his poor Cousin's + Inheritance;—sole heir, he now, in Culmbath, the Line of Casimir + being out. + </p> + <p> + One owns to a kind of love for poor Albert Alcibiades. In certain sordid + times, even a "Failure of a Fritz" is better than some Successes that are + going. A man of some real nobleness, this Albert; though not with wisdom + enough, not with good fortune enough. Could he have continued to "rule the + situation" (as our French friends phrase it); to march the fanatical + Papistries, and Kaiser Karl, clear out of it, home to Spain and San Justo + a little earlier; to wave the coming Jesuitries away, as with a flaming + sword; to forbid beforehand the doleful Thirty-Years War, and the still + dolefuler spiritual atrophy (the flaccid Pedantry, ever rummaging and + rearranging among learned marine-stores, which thinks itself Wisdom and + Insight; the vague maunderings, flutings; indolent, impotent daydreaming + and tobacco-smoking, of poor Modern Germany) which has followed therefrom,—ACH + GOTT, he might have been a "SUCCESS of a Fritz" three times over! He might + have been a German Cromwell; beckoning his People to fly, eagle-like, + straight towards the Sun; instead of screwing about it in that sad, + uncertain, and far too spiral manner!—But it lay not in him; not in + his capabilities or opportunities, after all: and we but waste time in + such speculations. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter VIII. — HISTORICAL MEANING OF THE REFORMATION. + </h2> + <p> + The Culmbach Brothers, we observe, play a more important part in that era + than their seniors and chiefs of Brandenburg. These Culmbachers, Margraf + George aud Albert of Preussen at the head of them, march valiantly forward + in the Reformation business; while KUR-BRANDENBURG, Joachim I., their + senior Cousin, is talking loud at Diets, galloping to Innspruck and the + like, zealous on the Conservative side; and Cardinal Albert, KUR-MAINZ, + his eloquent brother, is eager to make matters smooth and avoid violent + methods. + </p> + <p> + The Reformation was the great Event of that Sixteenth Century; according + as a man did something in that, or did nothing and obstructed doing, has + he much claim to memory, or no claim, in this age of ours. The more it + becomes apparent that the Reformation was the Event then transacting + itself, was the thing that Germany and Europe either did or refused to do, + the more does the historical significance of men attach itself to the + phases of that transaction. Accordingly we notice henceforth that the + memorable points of Brandenburg History, what of it sticks naturally to + the memory of a reader or student, connect themselves of their own accord, + almost all, with the History of the Reformation. That has proved to be the + Law of Nature in regard to them, softly establishing itself; and it is + ours to follow that law. + </p> + <p> + Brandenburg, not at first unanimously, by no means too inconsiderately, + but with overwhelming unanimity when the matter became clear, was lucky + enough to adopt the Reformation;—and stands by it ever since in its + ever-widening scope, amid such difficulties as there might be. Brandenburg + had felt somehow, that it could do no other. And ever onwards through the + times even of our little Fritz and farther, if we will understand the word + "Reformation," Brandenburg so feels; being, at this day, to an honorable + degree, incapable of believing incredibilities, of adopting solemn shams, + or pretending to live on spiritual moonshine. Which has been of + uncountable advantage to Brandenburg:—how could it fail? This was + what we must call obeying the audible voice of Heaven. To which same + "voice," at that time, all that did not give ear,—what has become of + them since; have they not signally had the penalties to pay! + </p> + <p> + "Penalties:" quarrel not with the old phraseology, good reader; attend + rather to the thing it means. The word was heard of old, with a right + solemn meaning attached to it, from theological pulpits and such places; + and may still be heard there with a half-meaning, or with no meaning, + though it has rather become obsolete to modern ears. But the THING should + not have fallen obsolete; the thing is a grand and solemn truth, + expressive of a silent Law of Heaven, which continues forever valid. The + most untheological of men may still assert the thing; and invite all men + to notice it, as a silent monition and prophecy in this Universe; to take + it, with more of awe than they are wont, as a correct reading of the Will + of the Eternal in respect of such matters; and, in their modern sphere, to + bear the same well in mind. For it is perfectly certain, and may be seen + with eyes in any quarter of Europe at this day. + </p> + <p> + Protestant or not Protestant? The question meant everywhere: "Is there + anything of nobleness in you, O Nation, or is there nothing? Are there, in + this Nation, enough of heroic men to venture forward, and to battle for + God's Truth VERSUS the Devil's Falsehood, at the peril of life and more? + Men who prefer death, and all else, to living under Falsehood,—who, + once for all, will not live under Falsehood; but having drawn the sword + against it (the time being come for that rare and important step), throw + away the scabbard, and can say, in pious clearness, with their whole soul: + 'Come on, then! Life under Falsehood is not good for me; and we will try + it out now. Let it be to the death between us, then!'" + </p> + <p> + Once risen into this divine white-heat of temper, were it only for a + season and not again, the Nation is thenceforth considerable through all + its remaining history. What immensities of DROSS and crypto-poisonous + matter will it not burn out of itself in that high temperature, in the + course of a few years! Witness Cromwell and his Puritans,—making + England habitable even under the Charles-Second terms for a couple of + centuries more. Nations are benefited, I believe, for ages, by being + thrown once into divine white-heat in this manner. And no Nation that has + not had such divine paroxysms at any time is apt to come to much. + </p> + <p> + That was now, in this epoch, the English of "adopting Protestantism;" and + we need not wonder at the results which it has had, and which the want of + it has had. For the want of it is literally the want of loyalty to the + Maker of this Universe. He who wants that, what else has he, or can he + have? If you do not, you Man or you Nation, love the Truth enough, but try + to make a Chapman-bargain with Truth, instead of giving yourself wholly + soul and body and life to her, Truth will not live with you, Truth will + depart from you; and only Logic, "Wit" (for example, "London Wit"), + Sophistry, Virtu, the AEsthetic Arts, and perhaps (for a short while) + Bookkeeping by Double Entry, will abide with you. You will follow falsity, + and think it truth, you unfortunate man or nation. You will right surely, + you for one, stumble to the Devil; and are every day and hour, little as + you imagine it, making progress thither. + </p> + <p> + Austria, Spain, Italy, France, Poland,—the offer of the Reformation + was made everywhere; and it is curious to see what has become of the + nations that would not hear it. In all countries were some that accepted; + but in many there were not enough, and the rest, slowly or swiftly, with + fatal difficult industry, contrived to burn them out. Austria was once + full of Protestants; but the hide-bound Flemish-Spanish Kaiser-element + presiding over it, obstinately, for two centuries, kept saying, "No; we, + with our dull obstinate Cimburgis under-lip and lazy eyes, with our + ponderous Austrian depth of Habituality and indolence of Intellect, we + prefer steady Darkness to uncertain new Light!"—and all men may see + where Austria now is. Spain still more; poor Spain, going about, at this + time, making its "PRONUNCIAMIENTOS;" all the factious attorneys in its + little towns assembling to PRONOUNCE virtually this, "The Old IS a lie, + then;—good Heavens, after we so long tried hard, harder than any + nation, to think it a truth!—and if it be not Rights of Man, Red + Republic and Progress of the Species, we know not what now to believe or + to do; and are as a people stumbling on steep places, in the darkness of + midnight!"—They refused Truth when she came; and now Truth knows + nothing of them. All stars, and heavenly lights, have become veiled to + such men; they must now follow terrestrial IGNES FATUI, and think them + stars. That is the doom passed upon them. + </p> + <p> + Italy too had its Protestants; but Italy killed them; managed to + extinguish Protestantism. Italy put up silently with Practical Lies of all + kinds; and, shrugging its shoulders, preferred going into Dilettantism and + the Fine Arts. The Italians, instead of the sacred service of Fact and + Performance, did Music, Painting, and the like:—till even that has + become impossible for them; and no noble Nation, sunk from virtue to + VIRTU, ever offered such a spectacle before. He that will prefer + Dilettantism in this world for his outfit, shall have it; but all the gods + will depart from him; and manful veracity, earnestness of purpose, devout + depth of soul, shall no more be his. He can if he like make himself a + soprano, and sing for hire;—and probably that is the real goal for + him. + </p> + <p> + But the sharpest-cut example is France; to which we constantly return for + illustration. France, with its keen intellect, saw the truth and saw the + falsity, in those Protestant times; and, with its ardor of generous + impulse, was prone enough to adopt the former. France was within a + hair's-breadth of becoming actually Protestant. But France saw good to + massacre Protestantism, and end it in the night of St. Bartholomew, 1572. + The celestial Apparitor of Heaven's Chancery, so we may speak, the Genius + of Fact and Veracity, had left his Writ of Summons; Writ was read;—and + replied to in this manner. The Genius of Fact and Veracity accordingly + withdrew;—was staved off, got kept away, for two hundred years. But + the writ of Summons had been served; Heaven's Messenger could not stay + away forever. No; he returned duly; with accounts run up, on compound + interest, to the actual hour, in 1792;—and then, at last, there had + to be a "Protestantism;" and we know of what kind that was!— + </p> + <p> + Nations did not so understand it, nor did Brandenburg more than the + others; but the question of questions for them at that time, decisive of + their history for half a thousand years to come, was, Will you obey the + heavenly voice, or will you not? + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter IX. — KURFURST JOACHIM I. + </h2> + <p> + Brandenburg, in the matter of the Reformation, was at first—with + Albert of Mainz, Tetzel's friend, on the one side, and Pious George of + Anspach, "NIT KOP AB," on the other—certainly a divided house. But, + after the first act, it conspicuously ceased to be divided; nay + Kur-Brandenburg and Kur-Mainz themselves had known tendencies to the + Reformation, and were well aware that the Church could not stand as it + was. Nor did the cause want partisans in Berlin, in Brandenburg,—hardly + to be repressed from breaking into flame, while Kurfurst Joachim was so + prudent and conservative. Of this loud Kurfurst Joachim I., here and there + mentioned already, let us now say a more express word. [1484, 1499, 1535: + birth, accession, death of Joachim.] + </p> + <p> + Joachim I., Big John's son, hesitated hither and thither for some time, + trying if it would not do to follow the Kaiser Karl V.'s lead; and at + length, crossed in his temper perhaps by the speed his friends were going + at, declared formally against any farther Reformation; and in his own + family and country was strict upon the point. He is a man, as I judge, by + no means without a temper of his own; very loud occasionally in the Diets + and elsewhere;—reminds me a little of a certain King Friedrich + Wilhelm, whom my readers shall know by and by. A big, surly, rather + bottle-nosed man, with thick lips, abstruse wearied eyes, and no eyebrows + to speak of: not a beautiful man, when you cross him overmuch. + </p> + <p> + OF JOACHIM'S WIFE AND BROTHER-IN-LAW. + </p> + <p> + His wife was a Danish Princess, Sister of poor Christian II., King of that + Country: dissolute Christian, who took up with a huckster-woman's + daughter,—"mother sold gingerbread," it would appear, "at Bergen in + Norway," where Christian was Viceroy; Christian made acceptable love to + the daughter, "DIVIKE (Dovekin, COLUMBINA)," as he called her. Nay he made + the gingerbread mother a kind of prime-minister, said the angry public, + justly scandalized at this of the "Dovekin." He was married, meanwhile, to + Karl V.'s own Sister; but continued that other connection. [Here are the + dates of this poor Christian, in a lump. Born, 1481; King, 1513 (Dovekin + before); married, 1515; turned off, 1523; invades, taken prisoner, 1532; + dies, 1559. Cousin, and then Cousin's Son, succeeded.] He had rash + notions, now for the Reformation, now against it, when he got to be King; + a very rash, unwise, explosive man. He made a "Stockholm BLUTBAD" still + famed in History (kind of open, ordered or permitted, Massacre of eighty + or a hundred of his chief enemies there), "Bloodbath," so they name it; in + Stockholm, where indeed he was lawful King, and not without unlawful + enemies, had a bloodbath been the way to deal with them. Gustavus Vasa was + a young fellow there, who dexterously escaped this Bloodbath, and + afterwards came to something. + </p> + <p> + In Denmark and Sweden, rash Christian made ever more enemies; at length he + was forced to run, and they chose another King or successive pair of + Kings. Christian fled to Kaiser Karl at Brussels; complained to Kaiser + Karl, his Brother-in-law,—whose Sister he had not used well. Kaiser + Karl listened to his complaints, with hanging under-lip, with heavy, deep, + undecipherable eyes; evidently no help from Karl. + </p> + <p> + Christian, after that, wandered about with inexecutable speculations, and + projects to recover his crown or crowns; sheltering often with Kurfurst + Joachim, who took a great deal of trouble about him, first and last; or + with the Elector of Saxony, Friedrich the Wise, or after him, with Johann + the Steadfast ("V. D. M. I. AE." whom we saw at Augsburg), who were his + Mother's Brothers, and beneficent men. He was in Saxony, on such terms, + coming and going, when a certain other Flight thither took place, soon to + be spoken of, which is the cause of our mentioning him here.—In the + end (A.D. 1532) he did get some force together, and made sail to Norway; + but could do no execution whatever there;—on the contrary, was + frozen in on the coast during winter; seized, carried to Copenhagen, and + packed into the "Castle of Sonderburg," a grim sea-lodging on the shore of + Schleswig,—prisoner for the rest of his life, which lasted long + enough. Six-and-twenty years of prison; the first seventeen years of it + strict and hard, almost of the dungeon sort; the remainder, on his fairly + abdicating, was in another Castle, that of Callundborg in the Island of + Zealand, "with fine apartments and conveniences," and even "a good house + of liquor now and then," at discretion of the old soul. That was the end + of headlong Christian II.; he lasted in this manner to the age of + seventy-eight. [Kohler, <i>Munzbelustigungen,</i>xi. 47, 48; Holberg, <i>Danemarckische + Staats-und Reichs-Historie</i> (Copenhagen, 1731, NOT the big Book by + Holberg), p. 241; Buddaus, <i>Allgemeines Historisches Lexicon</i> + (Leipzig, 1709),? Christianus II.] + </p> + <p> + His Sister Elizabeth at Brandenburg is perhaps, in regard to natural + character, recognizably of the same kin as Christian; but her behavior is + far different from his. She too is zealous for the Reformation; but she + has a right to be so, and her notions that way are steady; and she has + hitherto, though in a difficult position, done honor to her creed. Surly + Joachim is difficult to deal with; is very positive now that he has + declared himself: "In my house at least shall be nothing farther of that + unblessed stuff." Poor Lady, I see domestic difficulties very thick upon + her; nothing but division, the very children ranging themselves in + parties. She can pray to Heaven; she must do her wisest. + </p> + <p> + She partook once, by some secret opportunity, of the "communion under both + kinds;" one of her Daughters noticed and knew; told Father of it. Father + knits up his thick lips; rolls his abstruse dissatisfied eyes, in an + ominous manner: the poor Lady, probably possessed of an excitable + imagination too, trembles for herself. "It is thought, His DURCHLAUCHT + will wall you up for life, my Serene Lady; dark prison for life, which + probably may not be long!" These surmises were of no credibility: but + there and then the poor Lady, in a shiver of terror, decides that she must + run; goes off actually, one night ("Monday after the LAETARE," which we + find is 24th March) in the year 1528, (Pauli (ii. 584); who cites + Seckendorf, and this fraction of a Letter of Luther's, to one "LINCKUS" or + Lincke, written on the Friday following (28th March, 1528):— + </p> + <p> + "The Electress [MARGRAVINE he calls her] has fled from Berlin, by help of + her Brother the King of Denmark [poor Christian II.] to our Prince [Johann + the Steadfast], because her Elector had determined to wall her up, as is + reported, on account of the Eucharist under both species. Pray for our + Prince; <i>the pious man and affectionate soul gets a great deal of + trouble with his kindred."</i> Or thus in the Original:— + </p> + <p> + <i>"Marchionissa aufugit a Berlin, auxilio fratris, Regis Daniae, ad + nostrum Principem, quod Marchio statuerat eam immurare (ut dicitur) + propter Eucharistiam utriusque speciei. Ora pro nostro Principe;</i> der + fromme Mann und herzliche Mensch ist doch ja wohl geplaget" (Seckendorf, + <i>Historia Lutheranismi,</i> ii.? 62, No. 8, p. 122).) in a mean vehicle + under cloud of darkness, with only one maid and groom,—driving for + life. That is very certain: she too is on flight towards Saxony, to + shelter with her uncle Kurfurst Johann,—unless for reasons of state + he scruple? On the dark road her vehicle broke down; a spoke given way,—"Not + a bit of rope to splice it," said the improvident groom. "Take my + lace-veil here," said the poor Princess; and in this guise she got to + Torgau (I could guess, her poor Brother's lodging),—and thence, in + short time, to the fine Schloss of Lichtenberg hard by; Uncle Johann, to + whom she had zealously left an option of refusal, having as zealously + permitted and invited her to continue there. Which she did for many years. + </p> + <p> + Nor did she get the least molestation from Husband Joachim;—who I + conjecture had intended, though a man of a certain temper, and strict in + his own house, something short of walling up for life:—poor Joachim + withal! "However, since you are gone, Madam, go!" Nor did he concern + himself with Christian II. farther, but let him lie in prison at his + leisure. As for the Lady, he even let his children visit her at + Lichtenberg; Crypto-Protestants all; and, among them, the repentant + Daughter who had peached upon her. + </p> + <p> + Poor Joachim, he makes a pious speech on his death-bed, solemnly warning + his Son against these new-fangled heresies; the Son being already + possessed of them in his heart. [Speech given in Rentsch, pp. 484-439.] + What could Father do more? Both Father and Son, I suppose, were weeping. + This was in 1535, this last scene; things looking now more ominous than + ever. Of Kurfurst Joachim I will remember nothing farther, except that + once, twenty-three years before, he "held a Tourney in Neu-Ruppin," year + 1612; Tourney on the most magnificent scale, and in New-Ruppin, [Pauli, + ii. 466.] a place we shall know by and by. + </p> + <p> + As to the Lady, she lived eighteen years in that fine Schloss of + Lichtenberg; saw her children as we said; and, silently or otherwise, + rejoiced in the creed they were getting. She saw Luther's self sometimes; + "had him several times to dinner;" he would call at her Mansion, when his + journeys lay that way. She corresponded with him diligently; nay once, for + a three months, she herself went across and lodged with Dr. Luther and his + Kate; as a royal Lady might with a heroic Sage,—though the Sage's + income was only Twenty-four pounds sterling annually. There is no doubt + about that visit of three months; one thinks of it, as of something human, + something homely, ingenuous and pretty. Nothing in surly Joachim's history + is half so memorable to me, or indeed memorable at all in the stage we are + now come to. + </p> + <p> + The Lady survived Joachim twenty years; of these she spent eleven still at + Lichtenberg, in no over-haste to return. However, her Son, the new + Elector, declaring for Protestantism, she at length yielded to his + invitations: came back (1546), and ended her days at Berlin in a peaceable + and venerable manner. Luckless Brother Christian is lying under + lock-and-key all this while; smuggling out messages, and so on; like a + voice from the land of Dreams or of Nightmares, painful, impracticable, + coming now and then. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter X. — KURFURST JOACHIM II. + </h2> + <p> + Joachim II., Sixth Elector, no doubt after painful study, and intricate + silent consideration ever since his twelfth year when Luther was first + heard of over the world, came gradually, and before his Father's death had + already come, to the conclusion of adopting the Confession of Augsburg, as + the true Interpretation of this Universe, so far as we had yet got; and + did so, publicly, in the year 1539. [Rentsch, p. 452.] To the great joy of + Berlin and the Brandenburg populations generally, who had been of a + Protestant humor, hardly restrainable by Law, for some years past. By this + decision Joachim held fast, with a stout, weighty grasp; nothing spasmodic + in his way of handling the matter, and yet a heartiness which is agreeable + to see. He could not join in the Schmalkaldic War; seeing, it is probable, + small chance for such a War, of many chiefs and little counsel; nor was he + willing yet to part from the Kaiser Karl V., who was otherwise very good + to him. + </p> + <p> + He had fought personally for this Kaiser, twice over, against the Turks; + first as Brandenburg Captain, learning his art; and afterwards as Kaiser's + Generalissimo, in 1542. He did no good upon the Turks, on that latter + occasion; as indeed what good was to be done, in such a quagmire of + futilities as Joachim's element there was? "Too sumptuous in his dinners, + too much wine withal!" hint some calumniously. [Paulus Jovius, &c. See + Pauli, iii. 70-73.] "Hector of Germany!" say others. He tried some small + prefatory Siege or scalade of Pesth; could not do it; and came his ways + home again, as the best course. Pedant Chroniclers give him the name + HECTOR, "Joachim Hector,"—to match that of CICERO and that of + ACHILLES. A man of solid structure, this our Hector, in body and mind: + extensive cheeks, very large heavy-laden face; capable of terrible bursts + of anger, as his kind generally were. + </p> + <p> + The Schmalkaldic War went to water, as the Germans phrase it: Kur-Sachsen,—that + is, Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous, Son of Johann "V. D. M. I. AE.," and + Nephew of Friedrich the Wise,—had his sorrowfully valid reasons for + the War; large force too, plenty of zealous copartners, Philip of Hessen + and others; but no generalship, or not enough, for such a business. Big + Army, as is apt enough to happen, fell short of food; Kaiser Karl hung on + the outskirts, waiting confidently till it came to famine. Johann + Friedrich would attempt nothing decisive while provender lasted;—and + having in the end, strangely enough, and somewhat deaf to advice, divided + his big Army into three separate parts;—Johann Friedrich was + himself, with one of those parts, surprised at Muhlberg, on a Sunday when + at church (24th April, 1547); and was there beaten to sudden ruin, and + even taken captive, like to have his head cut off, by the triumphant angry + Kaiser. Philip of Hessen, somewhat wiser, was home to Marburg, safe with + HIS part, in the interim.—Elector Joachim II. of Brandenburg had + good reason to rejoice in his own cautious reluctances on this occasion. + However, he did now come valiantly up, hearing what severities were in the + wind. + </p> + <p> + He pleaded earnestly, passionately, he and Cousin or already "Elector" + Moritz, [Pauli, iii. 102.]—who was just getting Johann Friedrich's + Electorship fished away from him out of these troubles, [Kurfurst, 4th + June, 1547.]—for Johann Friedrich of Saxony's life, first of all. + For Johann's life FIRST; this is a thing not to be dispensed with, your + Majesty, on any terms whatever; a <i>sine qua non,</i> this life to + Protestant Germany at large. To which the Kaiser indicated, "He would see; + not immediate death at any rate; we will see." A life that could not and + must not be taken in this manner: this was the FIRST point. Then, + SECONDLY, that Philip of Hessen, now home again at Marburg,—not a + bad or disloyal man, though headlong, and with two wives,—might not + be forfeited; but that peace and pardon might be granted him, on his + entire submission. To which second point the Kaiser answered, "Yes, then, + on his submission." These were the two points. These pleadings went on at + Halle, where the Kaiser now lies, in triumphantly victorious humor, in the + early days of June, Year 1547. Johann Friedrich of Saxony had been, by + some Imperial Court-Council or other,—Spanish merely, I suppose,—doomed + to die. Sentence was signified to him while he sat at chess: "Can wait + till we end the game," thought Johann;—"PERGAMUS," said he to his + comrade, "Let us go on, then!" Sentence not to be executed till one see. + </p> + <p> + With Philip of Hessen things had a more conclusive aspect. Philip had + accepted the terms procured for him; which had been laboriously + negotiated, brought to paper, and now wanted only the sign-manual to them: + <i>"Ohne einigen Gefangniss</i>(without any imprisonment)," one of the + chief clauses. And so Philip now came over to Halle; was met and welcomed + by his two friends, Joachim and Moritz, at Naumburg, a stage before Halle;—clear + now to make his submission, and beg pardon of the Kaiser, according to + bargain. On the morrow, 19th June, 1547, the Papers were got signed. And + next day, 20th June, Philip did, according to bargain, openly beg pardon + of the Kaiser, in his Majesty's Hall of Audience (Town House of Halle, I + suppose); "knelt at the Kaiser's feet publicly on both knees, while his + Kanzler read the submission and entreaty, as agreed upon;" and, alas, then + the Kaiser said nothing at all to him! Kaiser looked haughtily, with + impenetrable eyes and shelf-lip, over the head of him; gave him no hand to + kiss; and left poor Philip kneeling there. An awkward position indeed;—which + any German Painter that there were, might make a Picture of, I have + sometimes thought. Picture of some real meaning, more or less,—if + for symbolic. Towers of Babel, medieval mythologies, and extensive + smearings of that kind, he could find leisure!—Philip having knelt a + reasonable time, and finding there was no help for it, rose in the dread + silence (some say, with too sturdy an expression of countenance); and + retired from the affair, having at least done his part of it. + </p> + <p> + The next practical thing was now supper, or as we of this age should call + it, dinner. Uncommonly select and high supper: host the Duke of Alba; + where Joachim, Elector Moritz, and another high Official, the Bishop of + Arras, were to welcome poor Philip after his troubles. How the grand + supper went, I do not hear: possibly a little constrained; the Kaiser's + strange silence sitting on all men's thoughts; not to be spoken of in the + present company. At length the guests rose to go away. Philip's lodging is + with Moritz (who is his son-in-law, as learned readers know): "You Philip, + your lodging is mine; my lodging is yours,—I should say! Cannot we + ride together?"—"Philip is not permitted to go," said Imperial + Officiality; "Philip is to continue here, and we fear go to prison."—"Prison?" + cried they all: "OHNE EINIGEN GEFANGNISS (without ANY imprisonment)!"—"As + we read the words, it is 'OHNE EWIGEN GEFANGNISS (without ETERNAL + imprisonment),'" answer the others. And so, according to popular + tradition, which has little or no credibility, though printed in many + Books, their false Secretary had actually modified it. + </p> + <p> + "No intention of imprisoning his DURCHLAUCHT of Hessen FOREVER; not + forever!" answered they. And Kurfurst Joachim, in astonished indignation, + after some remonstrating and arguing, louder and louder, which profited + nothing, blazed out into a very whirlwind of rage; drew his sword, it is + whispered with a shudder,—drew his sword, or was for drawing it, + upon the Duke of Alba; and would have done, God knows what, had not + friends flung themselves between, and got the Duke away, or him away. + [Pauli, iii. 103.] Other accounts bear, that it was upon the Bishop of + Arras he drew his sword; which is a somewhat different matter. Perhaps he + drew it on both; or on men and things in general;—for his + indignation knew no bounds. The heavy solid man; yet with a human heart in + him after all, and a Hohenzollern abhorrence of chicanery, capable of + rising to the transcendent pitch! His wars against the Turks, and his + other Hectorships, I will forget; but this, of a face so extensive kindled + all into divine fire for poor Philip's sake, shall be memorable to me. + </p> + <p> + Philip got out by and by, though with difficulty; the Kaiser proving very + stiff in the matter; and only yielding to obstinate pressures, and the + force of time and events. Philip got away; and then how Johann Friedrich + of Sachsen, after being led about for five years, in the Kaiser's train, a + condemned man, liable to be executed any day, did likewise at last get + away, with his head safe and Electorate gone: these are known Historical + events, which we glanced at already, on another score. + </p> + <p> + For, by and by, the Kaiser found tougher solicitation than this of + Joachim's. The Kaiser, by his high carriage in this and other such + matters, had at length kindled a new War round him; and he then soon found + himself reduced to extremities again; chased to the Tyrol Mountains, and + obliged to comply with many things. New War, of quite other emphasis and + management than the Schmalkaldic one; managed by Elector Moritz and our + poor friend Albert Alcibiades as principals. A Kaiser chased into the + mountains, capable of being seized by a little spurring;—"Capture + him?" said Albert. "I have no cage big enough for such a bird!" answered + Moritz; and the Kaiser was let run. How he ran then towards Treaty of + Passau (1552), towards Siege of Metz and other sad conclusions, + "Abdication" the finale of them: these also are known phases in the + Reformation History, as hinted at above. + </p> + <p> + Here at Halle, in the year 1547, the great Kaiser, with Protestantism + manacled at his feet, and many things going prosperous, was at his + culminating point. He published his INTERIM (1548, What you troublesome + Protestants are to do, in the mean time, while the Council of Trent is + sitting, and till it and I decide for you); and in short, drove and + reined-in the Reich with a high hand and a sharp whip, for the time being. + Troublesome Protestants mostly rejected the Interim; Moritz and + Alcibiades, with France in the rear of them, took to arms in that way; + took to ransoming fat Bishoprics ("<i>Verbum Diaboli Manet</i>," we know + where!);—took to chasing Kaisers into the mountains;—and times + came soon round again. In all these latter broils Kurfurst Joachim II., + deeply interested, as we may fancy, strove to keep quiet; and to prevail, + by weight of influence and wise counsel, rather than by fighting with his + Kaiser. + </p> + <p> + One sad little anecdote I recollect of Joachim: an Accident, which + happened in those Passau-Interim days, a year or two after that drawing of + the sword on Alba. Kurfurst Joachim unfortunately once fell through a + staircase, in that time; being, as I guess, a heavy man. It was in the + Castle of Grimnitz, one of his many Castles, a spacious enough old + Hunting-seat, the repairs of which had not been well attended to. The good + Herr, weighty of foot, was leading down his Electress to dinner one day in + this Schloss of Grimnitz; broad stair climbs round a grand Hall, hung with + stag-trophies, groups of weapons, and the like hall-furniture. An unlucky + timber yielded; yawning chasm in the staircase; Joachim and his good + Princess sank by gravitation; Joachim to the floor with little hurt; his + poor Princess (horrible to think of), being next the wall, came upon the + stag-horns and boar-spears down below! [Pauli, iii. 112.] The poor Lady's + hurt was indescribable: she walked lame all the rest of her clays; and + Joachim, I hope (hope, but not with confidence), [Ib. iii. 194.] loved her + all the better for it. This unfortunate old Schloss of Grimnitz, some + thirty miles northward of Berlin, was—by the Eighth Kurfurst, + Joachim Friedrich, Grandson of this one, with great renown to himself and + to it—converted into an Endowed High School: the famed <i>Joachimsthal + Gymnasium,</i> still famed, though now under some change of circumstances, + and removed to Berlin itself. [Nicolai, p. 725.] + </p> + <p> + Joachim's first Wife, from whom descend the following Kurfursts, was a + daughter of that Duke George of Saxony, Luther's celebrated friend, "If it + rained Duke-Georges nine days running." + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOACHIM GETS CO-INVESTMENT IN PREUSSEN. + </h2> + <p> + This second Wife, she of the accident at Grimnitz, was Hedwig, King + Sigismund of Poland's daughter; which connection, it is thought, helped + Joachim well in getting what they call the MITBELEHNUNG of Preussen (for + it was he that achieved this point) from King Sigismund. + </p> + <p> + MITBELEHNUNG (Co-infeftment) in Preussen;—whereby is solemnly + acknowledged the right of Joachim and his Posterity to the reversion of + Preussen, should the Culmbach Line of Duke Albert happen to fail. It was a + thing Joachim long strove for; till at length his Father-in-law did, some + twenty years hence, concede it him. [Date, Lublin, 19th July, 1568: Pauli, + iii. 177-179, 193; Rentsch, p. 457; Stenzel, i. 341, 342.] Should Albert's + Line fail, then, the other Culmbachers get Preussen; should the + Culmbachers all fail, the Berlin Brandenburgers get it. The Culmbachers + are at this time rather scarce of heirs: poor Alcibiades died childless, + as we know, and Casimir's Line is extinct; Duke Albert himself has left + only one Son, who now succeeds in Preussen; still young, and not of the + best omens. Margraf George the Pious, he left only George Friedrich; an + excellent man, who is now prosperous in the world, and wedded long since, + but has no children. So that, between Joachim's Line and Preussen there + are only two intermediate heirs;—and it was a thing eminently worth + looking after. Nor has it wanted that. And so Kurfurst Joachim, almost at + the end of his course, has now made sure of it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + JOACHIM MAKES "HERITAGE-BROTHERHOOD" WITH THE DUKE OF LIEGNITZ. + </h2> + <p> + Another feat of like nature Joachim II. had long ago achieved; which + likewise in the long-run proved important in his Family, and in the + History of the world: an "ERBVERBRUDERUNG," so they term it, with the Duke + of Liegnitz,—date 1537. ERBVERBRUDERUNG ("Heritage-brotherhood," + meaning Covenant to succeed reciprocally on Failure of Heirs to either) + had in all times been a common paction among German Princes well affected + to each other. Friedrich II., the then Duke of Liegnitz, we have + transiently seen, was related to the Family; he had been extremely helpful + in bringing his young friend Albert of Preussen's affairs to a good issue,—whose + Niece, withal, he had wedded:—in fact, he was a close friend of this + our Joachim's; and there had long been a growing connection between the + two Houses, by intermarriages and good offices. + </p> + <p> + The Dukes of Liegnitz were Sovereign-Princes, come of the old Piasts of + Poland; and had perfect right to enter into this transaction of an + ERBVERBRUDERUNG with whom they liked. True, they had, above two hundred + years before, in the days of King Johann ICH-DIEN (A.D. 1329), voluntarily + constituted themselves Vassals of the Crown of Bohemia: [Pauli, iii. 22.] + but the right to dispose of their Lands as they pleased had, all along, + been carefully acknowledged, and saved entire. And, so late as 1521, just + sixteen years ago, the Bohemian King Vladislaus the Last, our good Margraf + George's friend, had expressly, in a Deed still extant, confirmed to them, + with all the emphasis and amplitude that Law-Phraseology could bring to + bear upon it, the right to dispose of said Lands in any manner of way: "by + written testament, or by verbal on their death-bed, they can, as they see + wisest, give away, sell, pawn, dispose of, and exchange <i>(vergeben, + verkaufen, versetzen, verschaffen, verwechseln)</i> these said lands," to + all lengths, and with all manner of freedom. Which privilege had likewise + been confirmed, twice over (1522, 1524), by Ludwig the next King, Ludwig + OHNE-HAUT, who perished in the bogs of Mohacz, and ended the native Line + of Bohemian-Hungarian Kings. Nay, Ferdinand, King of the Romans, Karl V.'s + Brother, afterwards Kaiser, who absorbed that Bohemian Crown among the + others, had himself, by implication, sanctioned or admitted the privilege, + in 1529, only eight years ago. [Stenzel, i. 323.] The right to make the + ERBVERBRUDERUNG could not seem doubtful to anybody. + </p> + <p> + And made accordingly it was: signed, sealed, drawn out on the proper + parchments, 18th October, 1537; to the following clear effect: "That if + Duke Friedrich's Line should die out, all his Liegnitz countries, + Liegnitz, Brieg, Wohlau, should fall to the Hohenzollern Brandenburgers: + and that, if the Line of Hohenzollern Brandenburg should first fail, then + all and singular the Bohemian Fiefs of Brandenburg (as Crossen, Zullichau + and seven others there enumerated) should fall to the House of Liegnitz." + [Stenzel, i. 320.] It seemed a clear Paction, questionable by no mortal. + Double-marriage between the two Houses (eldest Son, on each side, to + suitable Princess on the other) was to follow: and did follow, after some + delays, 17th February, 1545. So that the matter seemed now complete: + secure on all points, and a matter of quiet satisfaction to both the + Houses and to their friends. + </p> + <p> + But Ferdinand, King of the Romans, King of Bohemia and Hungary, and coming + to be Emperor one day, was not of that sentiment. Ferdinand had once + implicitly recognized the privilege, but Ferdinand, now when he saw the + privilege turned to use, and such a territory as Liegnitz exposed to the + possibility of falling into inconvenient hands, explicitly took other + thoughts: and gradually determined to prohibit this ERBVERBRUDERUNG. The + States of Bohemia, accordingly, in 1544 (it is not doubtful, by + Ferdinand's suggestion), were moved to make inquiries as to this + Heritage-Fraternity of Liegnitz. [Ib. i. 322.] On which hint King + Ferdinand straightway informed the Duke of Liegnitz that the act was not + justifiable, and must be revoked. The Duke of Liegnitz, grieved to the + heart, had no means of resisting. Ferdinand, King of the Romans, backed by + Kaiser Karl, with the States of Bohemia barking at his wink, were too + strong for poor Duke Friedrich of Liegnitz. Great corresponding between + Berlin, Liegnitz, Prag ensued on this matter: but the end was a summons to + Duke Friedrich,—summons from King Ferdinand in March, 1546, "To + appear in the Imperial Hall (KAISERHOF) at Breslau," and to submit that + Deed of EBVERBRUDERUNG to the examination of the States there. The States, + already up to the affair, soon finished their examination of it (8th May, + 1546). The deed was annihilated: and Friedrich was ordered, furthermore, + to produce proofs within six months that his subjects too were absolved of + all oaths or the like regarding it, and that in fact the Transaction was + entirely abolished and reduced to zero. Friedrich complied, had to comply: + very much chagrined, he returned home: and died next year,—it is + supposed, of heartbreak from this business. He had yielded outwardly: but + to force only. In a Codicil appended to his last Will, some months + afterwards (which Will, written years ago, had treated the ERBVERBRUDERUNG + as a Fact settled), he indicates, as with his last breath, that he + considered the thing still valid, though overruled by the hand of power. + Let the reader mark this matter; for it will assuredly become memorable, + one day. + </p> + <p> + The hand of power, namely, Ferdinand, King of the Romans, had applied in + like manner to Joachim of Brandenburg to surrender his portion of the + Deed, and annihilate on his side too this ERBVERBRUDERUNG. But Joachim + refused steadily, and all his successors steadily, to give up this Bit of + Written Parchment: kept the same, among their precious documents, against + some day that might come (and I suppose it lies in the Archives of Berlin + even now): silently, or in words, asserting that the Deed of + Heritage-Brothership was good, and that though some hands might have the + power, no hand could have the right to abolish it on those terms. + </p> + <p> + How King Ferdinand permitted himself such a procedure? Ferdinand, says one + of his latest apologists in this matter, "considered the privileges + granted by his Predecessors, in respect to rights of Sovereignty, as + fallen extinct on their death." [Stenzel, i. 323.] Which—if Reality + and Fact would but likewise be so kind as "consider" it so—was no + doubt convenient for Ferdinand! + </p> + <p> + Joachim was not so great with Ferdinand as he had been with Charles the + Imperial Brother. Joachim and Ferdinand had many debates of this kind, + some of them rather stiff. Jagerndorf, for instance, and the + Baireuth-Anspach confiscations, in George Friedrich's minority. Ferdinand, + now Kaiser, had snatched Jagerndorf from poor young George Friedrich, son + of excellent Margraf George whom we knew: "Part of the spoils of Albert + Alcibiades," thought Ferdinand, "and a good windfall,"—though young + George Friedrich had merely been the Ward of Cousin Alcibiades, and + totally without concern in those political explosions. "Excellent + windfall," thought Ferdinand: and held his grip. But Joachim, in his + weighty steady way, intervened: Joachim, emphatic in the Diets and + elsewhere, made Ferdinand quit grip, and produce Jagerndorf again. + Jagerndorf and the rest had all to be restored: and, except some filchings + in the Jagerndorf Appendages (Ratibor and Oppeln, "restored" only in + semblance, and at length juggled away altogether), [Rentsch, pp. 129, + 130.] everything came to its right owner again. Nor would Joachim rest + till Alcibiades's Territories too were all punctually given back, to this + same George Friedrich: to whom, by law and justice, they belonged, In + these points Joachim prevailed against a strong-handed Kaiser, apt to + "consider one's rights fallen extinct" now and then. In this of Liegnitz + all he could do was to keep the Deed, in steady protest silent or vocal. + </p> + <p> + But enough now of Joachim Hector, Sixth Kurfurst, and of his workings and + his strugglings. He walked through this world, treading as softly as might + be, yet with a strong weighty step: rending the jungle steadily asunder; + well seeing whither he was bound. Rather an expensive Herr: built a good + deal, completion of the Schloss at Berlin one example: [Nicolai, p. 82.] + and was not otherwise afraid of outlay, in the Reich's Politics, or in + what seemed needful: If there is a harvest ahead, even a distant one, it + is poor thrift to be stingy of your seed-corn! + </p> + <p> + Joachim was always a conspicuous Public Man, a busy Politician in the + Reich: stanch to his kindred, and by no means blind to himself or his own + interests. Stanch also, we must grant, and ever active, though generally + in a cautious, weighty, never in a rash swift way, to the great Cause of + Protestantism, and to all good causes. He was himself a solemnly devout + man; deep awe-stricken reverence dwelling in his view of this Universe. + Most serious, though with a jocose dialect commonly, having a cheerful wit + in speaking to men. Luther's Books he called his SEELENSCHATZ + (Soul's-treasure): Luther and the Bible were his chief reading. Fond of + profane learning too, and of the useful or ornamental Arts; given to + music, and "would himself sing aloud" when he had a melodious + leisure-hour. Excellent old gentleman: he died, rather suddenly, but with + much nobleness, 3d January, 1571; age sixty-six. Old Rentsch's account of + this event is still worth reading: [Rentsch, p. 458.] Joachim's + death-scene has a mild pious beauty which does not depend on creed. + </p> + <p> + He had a Brother too, not a little occupied with Politics, and always on + the good side: a wise pious man, whose fame was in all the churches: + "Johann of Custrin," called also "Johann THE WISE," who busied himself + zealously in Protestant matters, second only in piety and zeal to his + Cousin, Margraf George the Pious; and was not so held back by official + considerations as his Brother the Elector now and then. Johann of Custrin + is a very famous man in the old Books: Johann was the first that fortified + Custrin: built himself an illustrious Schloss, and "roofed it with + copper," in Custrin (which is a place we shall be well acquainted with by + and by); and lived there, with the Neumark for apanage, a true man's life;—mostly + with a good deal of business, warlike and other, on his hands; with good + Books, good Deeds, and occasionally good Men, coming to enliven it,—according + to the terms then given. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XI. — SEVENTH KURFURST, JOHANN GEORGE. + </h2> + <p> + Kaiser Karl, we said, was very good to Joachim; who always strove, + sometimes with a stretch upon his very conscience, to keep well with the + Kaiser. The Kaiser took Joachim's young Prince along with him to those + Schmalkaldic Wars (not the comfortable side for Joachim's conscience, but + the safe side for an anxious Father); Kaiser made a Knight of this young + Prince, on one occasion of distinction; he wrote often to Papa about him, + what a promising young hero he was,—seems really to have liked the + young man. It was Johann George, Elector afterwards, Seventh Elector.—This + little incident is known to me on evidence. [Rentsch, p. 465.] A small + thing that certainly befell, at the siege of Wittenberg (A.D. 1547), + during those Philip-of-Hessen Negotiations, three hundred and odd years + ago. + </p> + <p> + The Schmalkaldic War having come all to nothing, the Saxon Elector sitting + captive with sword overhead in the way we saw, Saxon Wittenberg was + besieged, and the Kaiser was in great hurry to get it. Kaiser in person, + and young Johann George for sole attendant, rode round the place one day, + to take a view of the works, and judge how soon, or whether ever, it could + be compelled to give in. Gunners noticed them from the battlements; + gunners Saxon-Protestant most likely, and in just gloom at the perils and + indignities now lying on their pious Kurfurst Johann Friedrich the + Magnanimous. "Lo, you! Kaiser's self riding yonder, and one of his silk + JUNKERS. Suppose we gave the Kaiser's self a shot, then?" said the gunner, + or thought: "It might help a better man from his life-perils, if such shot + did—!" In fact the gun flashed off, with due outburst, and almost + with due effect. The ball struck the ground among the very horses' feet of + the two riders; so that they were thrown, or nearly so, and covered from + sight with a cloud of earth and sand;—and the gunners thought, for + some instants, an unjust, obstinate Kaiser's life was gone; and a pious + Elector's saved. But it proved not so. Kaiser Karl and Johann George both + emerged, in a minute or two, little the worse;—Kaiser Karl perhaps + blushing somewhat, and flurried this time, I think, in the impenetrable + eyes; and his Cimburgis lip closed for the moment;—and galloped out + of shot-range. "I never forget this little incident," exclaims Smelfungus: + "It is one of the few times I can get, after all my reading about that + surprising Karl V., I do not say the least understanding or practical + conception of him and his character and his affairs, but the least ocular + view or imagination of him, as a fact among facts!" Which is unlucky for + Smelfungus.—Johann George, still more emphatically, never to the end + of HIS life forgot this incident. And indeed it must be owned, had the + shot taken effect as intended, the whole course of human things would have + been surprisingly altered;—and for one thing, neither FREDERICH THE + GREAT, nor the present HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH, had ever risen above ground, + or troubled an enlightened public or me! + </p> + <p> + Of Johann George, this Seventh Elector, [1525; 1571-1598.] who proved a + good Governor, and carried on the Family Affairs in the old style of slow + steady success, I will remember nothing more, except that he had the + surprising number of Three-and-Twenty children; one of them posthumous, + though he died at the age of seventy-three.— + </p> + <p> + He is Founder of the New Culmbach line: two sons of these twenty-three + children he settled, one in Baireuth, the other in Anspach; from whom come + all the subsequent Heads of that Principality, till the last of them died + in Hammersmith in 1806, as above said. [Rentsch, p. 475 (CHRISTIAN to + Baireuth; JOACHIM ERNST to Anspach);—See Genealogical Diagram, inra, + p. 309a.] He was a prudent, thrifty Herr; no mistresses, no luxuries + allowed; at the sight of a new-fashioned coat, he would fly out on an + unhappy youth, and pack him from his presence. Very strict in point of + justice: a peasant once appealing to him, in one of his + inspection-journeys through the country, "Grant me justice, DURCHLAUCHT, + against So-and-so; I am your highness's born subject!"—"Thou + shouldst have it, man, wert thou a born Turk!" answered Johann George.—There + is something anxious, grave and, as it were, surprised in the look of this + good Herr. He made the GERA BOND above spoken of;—founded the + Younger Culmbach Line, with that important Law of Primogeniture strictly + superadded. A conspicuous thrift, veracity, modest solidity, looks through + the conduct of this Herr;—a determined Protestant he too, as indeed + all the following were and are. [Rentsch, pp. 470, 471.] + </p> + <p> + Of Joachim Friedrich, his eldest Son, who at one time was Archbishop of + Magdeburg,—called home from the wars to fill that valuable Heirloom, + which had suddenly fallen vacant by an Uncle's death, and keep it warm;—and + who afterwards, in due course, carried on a LOBLICHE REGIERUNG of the old + style and physiognomy, as Eighth Kurfurst, from his fiftieth to his + sixtieth year (1598-1608): [Born, 1547; Magdehurg, 1566-1598 (when his + Third Son got it,—very unlucky in the Thirty-Years War afterwards).] + of him we already noticed the fine "JOACHIMS-thal Gymnasium," or + Foundation for learned purposes, in the old Schloss of Grimnitz, where his + serene Grandmother got lamed; and will notice nothing farther, in this + place, except his very great anxiety to profit by the Prussian + MITBELEHNUNG,—that Co-infeftment in Preussen, achieved by his + Grandfather Joachim II., which was now about coming to its full maturity. + Joachim Friedrich had already married his eldest Prince to the daughter of + Albert Friedrich, Second Duke of Preussen, who it was by this time evident + would be the last Duke there of his Line. Joachim Friedrich, having + himself fallen a widower, did next year, though now counting fifty-six—But + it will be better if we explain first, a little, how matters now stood + with Preussen. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XII. — OF ALBERT FRIEDRICH, THE SECOND DUKE OF PREUSSEN. + </h2> + <p> + Duke Albert died in 1568, laden with years, and in his latter time greatly + broken down by other troubles. His Prussian RATHS (Councillors) were + disobedient, his Osianders and Lutheran-Calvinist Theologians were all in + fire and flame against each other: the poor old man, with the best + dispositions, but without power to realize them, had much to do and to + suffer. Pious, just and honorable, intending the best; but losing his + memory, and incapable of business, as he now complained. In his sixtieth + year he had married a second time, a young Brunswick Princess, with whose + foolish Brother, Eric, he had much trouble; and who at last herself took + so ill with the insolence and violence of these intrusive Councillors and + Theologians, that the household-life she led beside her old Husband and + them became intolerable to her; and she withdrew to another residence,—a + little Hunting-seat at Neuhausen, half a dozen miles from Konigsberg;—and + there, or at Labiau still farther off, lived mostly, in a separate + condition, for the rest of her life. Separate for life:—nevertheless + they happened to die on the same day; 20th March, 1568, they were + simultaneously delivered from their troubles in this world. [Hubner, t. + 181; Stenzel, i. 342.] + </p> + <p> + Albert left one Son; the second child of this last Wife: his one child by + the former Wife, a daughter now of good years, was married to the Duke of + Mecklenburg. Son's name was Albert Friedrich; age, at his Father's death, + fifteen. A promising young Prince, but of sensitive abstruse temper;—held + under heavy tutelage by his Raths and Theologians; and spurting up against + them, in explosive rebellion, from time to time. He now (1568) was to be + sovereign Duke of Preussen, and the one representative of the Culmbach + Line in that fine Territory; Margraf George Friedrich of Anspach, the only + other Culmbacher, being childless, though wedded. + </p> + <p> + We need not doubt, the Brandenburg House—old Kurfurst Joachim II. + still alive, and thrifty Johann George the Heir-Apparent—kept a + watchful eye on those emergencies. But it was difficult to interfere + directly; the native Prussian Raths were very jealous, and Poland itself + was a ticklish Sovereignty to deal with. Albert Friedrich being still a + Minor, the Polish King, Sigismund, proposed to undertake the guardianship + of him, as became a superior lord to a subject vassal on such an occasion. + But the Prussian Raths assured his Majesty, "Their young Prince was of + such a lively intellect, he was perfectly fit to conduct the affairs of + the Government," especially with such a Body of expert Councillors to help + him, "and might be at once declared of age." Which was accordingly the + course followed; Poland caring little for it; Brandenburg digesting the + arrangement as it could. And thus it continued for some years, even under + new difficulties that arose; the official Clique of Raths being the real + Government of the Country; and poor young Albert Friedrich bursting out + occasionally into tears against them, occasionally into futile humors of a + fiery nature. Osiander-Theology, and the battle of the 'DOXIES, ran very + high; nor was Prussian Officiality a beautiful thing. + </p> + <p> + These Prussian Raths, and the Prussian RITTERSCHAFT generally (Knightage, + Land-Aristocracy), which had its STANDE (States: or meetings of Parliament + after a sort), were all along of a mutinous, contumacious humor. The idea + had got into their minds, That they were by birth what the ancient Ritters + by election had been; entitled, fit or not fit, to share the Government + promotions among them: "The Duke is hereditary in his office; why not we? + All Offices, are they not, by nature, ours to share among us?" The Duke's + notion, again, was to have the work of his Offices effectually done; small + matter by whom: the Ritters looked less to that side of the question;—regarded + any "Foreigner" (German-Anspacher, or other Non-Prussian), whatever his + merit, as an intruder, usurper, or kind of thief, when seen in office. + Their contentions, contumacies and pretensions were accordingly manifold. + They had dreams of an "Aristocratic Republic, with the Sovereign reduced + to zero," like what their Polish neighbors grew to. They had various + dreams; and individuals among them broke out, from time to time, into high + acts of insolence and mutiny. It took a hundred and fifty years of + Brandenburg horse-breaking, sometimes with sharp manipulation and a potent + curb-bit, to dispossess them of that notion, and make them go steadily in + harness. Which also, however, was at last got done by the Hohenzollerns. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + OF DUKE ALBERT FRIEDRICH'S MARRIAGE: WHO HIS WIFE WAS, AND WHAT HER + POSSIBLE DOWRY. + </h2> + <p> + In a year or two, there came to be question of the marrying of young Duke + Albert Friedrich. After due consultation, the Princess fixed upon was + Maria Eleonora, eldest Daughter of the then Duke of Cleve: to him a proper + Embassy was sent with that object; and came back with Yes for answer. Duke + of Cleve, at that time, was Wilhelm, called "the Rich" in History-Books; a + Sovereign of some extent in those lower Rhine countries. Whom I can + connect with the English reader's memory in no readier way than by the + fact, That he was younger brother, one year younger, of a certain "Anne of + Cleves;"—a large fat Lady, who was rather scurvily used in this + country; being called, by Henry VIII. and us, a "great Flanders mare," + unsuitable for espousal with a King of delicate feelings! This Anne of + Cleves, who took matters quietly and lived on her pension, when rejected + by King Henry, was Aunt of the young Lady now in question for Preussen. + She was still alive here in England, pleasantly quiet, "at Burley on the + Hill," till Maria Eleonora was seven years old;—who possibly enough + still reads in her memory some fading vestige of new black frocks or + trimmings, and brief court-mourning, on the death of poor Aunt Anne over + seas.—Another Aunt is more honorably distinguished; Sibylla, Wife of + our noble Saxon Elector, Johann Friedrich the Magnanimous, who lost his + Electorate and almost his Life for religion's sake, as we have seen; by + whom, in his perils and distresses, Sibylla stood always, like a very true + and noble Wife. + </p> + <p> + Duke Wilhelm himself was a man of considerable mark in his day. His Duchy + of Cleve included not only Cleve-Proper, but Julich (JULIERS), Berg, which + latter pair of Duchies were a better thing than Cleve-Proper:—Julich, + Berg and various other small Principalities, which, gradually + agglomerating by marriage, heritage and the chance of events in successive + centuries, had at length come all into Wilhelm's hands; so that he got the + name of Wilhelm the Rich among his contemporaries. He seems to have been + of a headlong, blustery, uncertain disposition; much tossed about in the + controversies of his day. At one time he was a Protestant declared; not + without reasons of various kinds. The Duchy of Geldern (what we call + GUELDERS) had fallen to him, by express bequest of the last Owner, whose + Line was out; and Wilhelm took possession. But the Kaiser Karl V. quite + refused to let him keep possession. Whereupon Wilhelm had joined with the + French (it was in the Moritz-Alcibiades time); had declared war, and taken + other high measures: but it came to nothing, or to less. The end was, + Wilhelm had to "come upon his knees" before the Kaiser, and beg + forgiveness; quite renouncing Geldern, which accordingly has gone its own + different road ever since. Wilhelm was zealously Protestant in those days; + as his people are, and as he still is, at the period we treat of. But he + went into Papistry, not long after; and made other sudden turns and + misventures: to all appearance, rather an abrupt, blustery, uncertain + Herr. It is to him that Albert Friedrich, the young Duke of Preussen, + guided by his Council, now (Year 1572) sends an Embassy, demanding his + eldest Daughter, Maria Eleonora, to wife. + </p> + <p> + Duke Wilhelm answered Yea; "sent a Counter-Embassy," with whatever else + was necessary; and in due time the young Bride, with her Father, set out + towards Preussen, such being the arrangement, there to complete the + matter. They had got as far as Berlin, warmly welcomed by the Kurfurst + Johann George; when, from Konigsberg, a sad message reached them: namely, + that the young Duke had suddenly been seized with an invincible depression + and overclouding of mind, not quite to be characterized by the name of + madness, but still less by that of perfect sanity. His eagerness to see + his Bride was the same as formerly; but his spiritual health was in the + questionable state described. The young Lady paused for a little, in such + mood as we may fancy. She had already lost two offers, Bridegrooms + snatched away by death, says Pauli; [Pauli, iv. 512.] and thought it might + be ominous to refuse the third. So she decided to go on; dashed aside her + father's doubts; sent her unhealthy Bridegroom "a flower-garland as + love-token," who duly responded; and Father Wilhelm and she proceeded, as + if nothing were wrong. The spiritual state of the Prince, she found, had + not been exaggerated to her. His humors and ways were strange, + questionable; other than one could have wished. Such as he was, however, + she wedded him on the appointed terms;—hoping probably for a + recovery, which never came. + </p> + <p> + The case of Albert's malady is to this day dim; and strange tales are + current as to the origin of it, which the curious in Physiology may + consult; they are not fit for reporting here. [Ib. iv. 476.] It seems to + have consisted in an overclouding, rather than a total ruin of the mind. + Incurable depression there was; gloomy torpor alternating with fits of + vehement activity or suffering; great discontinuity at all times:—evident + unfitness for business. It was long hoped he might recover. And Doctors in + Divinity and in Medicine undertook him: Theologians, Exorcists, + Physicians, Quacks; but no cure came of it, nothing but mutual + condemnations, violences and even execrations, from the said Doctors and + their respective Official patrons, lay and clerical. Must have been such a + scene for a young Wife as has seldom occurred, in romance or reality! + Children continued to be born; daughter after daughter; but no son that + lived. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + MARGRAF GEORGE FRIEDRICH COMES TO PREUSSEN TO ADMINISTER. + </h2> + <p> + After five years' space, in 1578, [Pauli, iv. 476, 481, 482.] cure being + now hopeless, and the very Council admitting that the Duke was incapable + of business,—George Friedrich of Anspach-Baireuth came into the + country to take charge of him; having already, he and the other + Brandenburgers, negotiated the matter with the King of Poland, in whose + power it mostly lay. + </p> + <p> + George Friedrich was by no means welcome to the Prussian Council, nor to + the Wife, nor to the Landed Aristocracy;—other than welcome, for + reasons we can guess. But he proved, in the judgment of all fair + witnesses, an excellent Governor; and, for six-and-twenty years, + administered the country with great and lasting advantage to it. His + Portraits represent to us a large ponderous figure of a man, very fat in + his latter years; with an air of honest sense, dignity, composed solidity;—very + fit for the task now on hand. + </p> + <p> + He resolutely, though in mild form, smoothed down the flaming fires of his + Clergy; commanding now this controversy and then that other controversy <i>("de + concreto et de inconcreto,"</i> or whatever they were) to fall strictly + silent; to carry themselves on by thought and meditation merely, and + without words. He tamed the mutinous Aristocracy, the mutinous + Burgermeisters, Town-Council of Konigsberg, whatever mutiny there was. He + drained bogs, says old Rentsch; he felled woods, made roads, established + inns. Prussia was well governed till George's death; which happened in the + year 1603. [Rentsch, pp. 666-688.] Anspach, in the mean while, Anspach, + Baireuth and Jagerndorf, which were latterly all his, he had governed by + deputy; no need of visiting those quiet countries, except for purposes of + kindly recreation, or for a swift general supervision, now and then. By + all accounts, an excellent, steadfast, wise and just man, this fat George + Friedrich; worthy of the Father that produced him <i>("Nit Kop ab, lover + Forst, nit Kop ab!"),—-</i> and that is saying much. + </p> + <p> + By his death without children much territory fell home to the Elder House; + to be disposed of as was settled in the GERA BOND five years before. + Anspach and Baireuth went to two Brothers of the now Elector, Kurfurst + Joachim Friedrich, sons of Johann George of blessed memory: founders, + they, of the "New Line," of whom we know. Jagerndorf the Elector himself + got; and he, not long after, settled it on one of his own sons, a new + Johann George, who at that time was fallen rather landless and out of a + career: "Johann George of Jagerndorf," so called thenceforth: whose + history will concern us by and by. Preussen was to be incorporated with + the Electorate,—were possession of it once had. But that is a + ticklish point; still ticklish in spite of rights, and liable to perverse + accidents that may arise. + </p> + <p> + Joachim Friedrich, as we intimated once, was not wanting to himself on + this occasion. But the affair was full of intricacies; a very wasps'-nest + of angry humors; and required to be handled with delicacy, though with + force and decision. Joachim Friedrich's eldest Son, Johann Sigismund, + Electoral Prince of Brandenburg, had already, in 1594, married one of + Albert Friedrich the hypochondriac Duke of Preussen's daughters; and there + was a promising family of children; no lack of children. Nevertheless + prudent Joachim Friedrich himself, now a widower, age towards sixty, did + farther, in the present emergency, marry another of these Princesses, a + younger Sister of his Son's Wife,—seven months after George + Friedrich's death,—to make assurance doubly sure, A man not to be + balked, if he can help it. By virtue of excellent management,—Duchess, + Prussian STANDE (States), and Polish Crown, needing all to be contented,—Joachim + Friedrich, with gentle strong pressure, did furthermore squeeze his way + into the actual Guardianship of Preussen and the imbecile Duke, which was + his by right. This latter feat he achieved in the course of another year + (11th March, 1605); [Stenzel, i. 358.] and thereby fairly got hold of + Preussen; which he grasped, "knuckles-white," as we may say; and which his + descendants have never quitted since. + </p> + <p> + Good management was very necessary. The thing was difficult;—and + also was of more importance than we yet altogether see. Not Preussen only, + but a still better country, the Duchy of Cleve, Cleve-Julich, Duke + Wilhelm's Heritage down in the Rhineland,—Heritage turning out now + to be of right his eldest Daughter's here, and likely now to drop soon,—is + involved in the thing. This first crisis, of getting into the Prussian + Administratorship, fallen vacant, our vigilant Kurfurst Joachim Friedrich + has successfully managed; and he holds his grip, knuckles-white. Before + long, a second crisis comes; where also he will have to grasp decisively + in,—he, or those that stand for him, and whose knuckles can still + hold, But that may go to a new Chapter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIII. — NINTH KURFURST, JOHANN SIGISMUND. + </h2> + <p> + In the summer of 1608 (23d May, 1608) Johann Sigismund's (and his + Father's) Mother-in-law, the poor Wife of the poor imbecile Duke of + Preussen, died. [Maria Eleonora, Duke Wilhelm of Cleve's eldest Daughter: + 1550, 1573, 1608 (Hubner, t. 286).] Upon which Johann Sigismund, + Heir-Apparent of Brandenburg and its expectancies, was instantly + despatched from Berlin, to gather up the threads cut loose by that event, + and see that the matter took no damage. On the road thither news reached + him that his own Father, old Joachim Friedrich, was dead (18th July, + 1608); that he himself was now Kurfurst; [1572, 1608-1619.] and that + numerous threads were loose at both ends of his affairs. + </p> + <p> + The "young man"—not now so young, being full thirty-five and of fair + experience—was in difficulty, under these overwhelming tidings; and + puzzled, for a little, whether to advance or to return. He decided to + advance, and settle Prussian matters, where the peril and the risk were; + Brandenburg business he could do by rescripts. + </p> + <p> + His difficulties in Preussen, and at the Polish Court, were in fact + immense. But after a space of eight or nine months, he did, by excellent + management, not sparing money judiciously laid out on individuals, arrive + at some adjustment, better or worse, and got Preussen in hand; [29th + April, 1609. Stenzel, i. 370.] legal Administrator of the imbecile Duke, + as his Father had been. After which he had to run for Brandenburg, without + loss of time: great matters being there in the wind. Nothing wrong in + Brandenburg, indeed; but the great Cleve Heritage is dropping, has + dropped; over in Cleve, an immense expectancy is now come to the point of + deciding itself. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW THE CLEVE HERITAGE DROPPED, AND MANY SPRANG TO PICK IT UP. + </h2> + <p> + Wilhelm of Cleve, the explosive Duke, whom we saw at Berlin and Konigsberg + at the wedding of this poor Lady now deceased, had in the + marriage-contract, as he did in all subsequent contracts and deeds of like + nature, announced a Settlement of his Estates, which was now become of the + highest moment for Johann Sigismund. The Country at that time called Duchy + of Cleve, consisted, as we said above, not only of Cleve-Proper, but of + two other still better Duchies, Julich and Berg; then of the GRAFSCHAFT + (County) of Ravensburg, County of Mark, Lordship of—-In fact it was + a multifarious agglomerate of many little countries, gathered by marriage, + heritage and luck, in the course of centuries, and now united in the hand + of this Duke Wilhelm. It amounted perhaps to two Yorkshires in extent. + [See Busching, <i>Erdbeschreibung,</i> v. 642-734.] A naturally opulent + Country, of fertile meadows, shipping capabilities, metalliferous hills; + and, at this time, in consequence of the Dutch-Spanish War, and the + multitude of Protestant refugees, it was getting filled with ingenious + industries; and rising to be, what it still is, the busiest quarter of + Germany. A Country lowing with kine; the hum of the flax-spindle heard in + its cottages, in those old days,—"much of the linen called Hollands + is made in Julich, and only bleached, stamped and sold, by the Dutch," + says Busching. A Country, in our days, which is shrouded at short + intervals with the due canopy of coal-smoke, and loud with sounds of the + anvil and the loom. + </p> + <p> + This Duchy of Cleve, all this fine agglomerate of Duchies, Duke Wilhelm + settled, were to be inherited in a piece, by his eldest (or indeed, as it + soon proved, his only) Son and the heirs of that Son, if there were any. + Failing heirs of that only Son, then the entire Duchy of Cleve was to go + to Maria Eleonora as eldest Daughter, now marrying to Friedrich Albert, + Duke of Prussia, and to their heirs lawfully begotten: heirs female, if + there happened to be no male. The other Sisters, of whom there were three, + were none of them to have the least pretence to inherit Cleve or any part + of it. On the contrary, they were, in such event, of the eldest Daughter + or her heirs coming to inherit Cleve, to have each of them a sum of ready + money paid ["200,000 GOLDGULDEN," about 100,000 pounds; Pauli, vi. 542; + iii. 504.] by the said inheritrix of Cleve or her heirs; and on receiving + that, were to consider their claims entirely fulfilled, and to cease + thinking of Cleve for the future. + </p> + <p> + This Settlement, by express privilege of Kaiser Karl V., nay of Kaiser + Maximilian before him, and the Laws of the Reich, Duke Wilhelm doubted not + he was entitled to make; and this Settlement he made; his Lawyers writing + down the terms, in their wearisome way, perhaps six times over; and + struggling by all methods to guard against the least misunderstanding. + Cleve with all its appurtenances, Julich, Berg and the rest, goes to the + eldest Sister and her heirs, male or female: If she have no heirs, male or + female, then, but not till then, the next Sister steps into her shoes in + that matter: but if she have, then, we repeat for the sixth and last time, + no Sister or Sister's Representative has the least word to say to it, but + takes her 100,000 pounds, and ceases thinking of Cleve. + </p> + <p> + The other three Sisters were all gradually married;—one of them to + Pfalz-Neuburg, an eminent Prince, in the Bavarian region called the + OBER-PFALZ (Upper Palatinate), who, or at least whose eldest Son, is much + worth mentioning and remembering by us here;—and, in all these + marriage-contracts, Wilhelm and his Lawyers expressed themselves to the + like effect, and in the like elaborate sixfold manner: so that Wilhelm and + they thought there could nowhere in the world be any doubt about it. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after signing the last of these marriage-contracts, or perhaps it + was in the course of signing them, Duke Wilhelm had a stroke of palsy. He + had, before that, gone into Papistry again, poor man. The truth is, he had + repeated strokes; and being an abrupt, explosive Herr, he at last quite + yielded to palsy; and sank slowly out of the world, in a cloud of + semi-insanity, which lasted almost twenty years. [Died 25th January, 1592, + age 76.] Duke Wilhelm did leave a Son, Johann Wilhelm, who succeeded him + as Duke. But this Son also proved explosive; went half and at length + wholly insane. Jesuit Priests, and their intrigues to bring back a + Protestant country to the bosom of the Church, wrapped the poor man, all + his days, as in a burning Nessus'-Shirt; and he did little but mischief in + the world. He married, had no children; he accused his innocent Wife, the + Jesuits and he, of infidelity. Got her judged, not properly sentenced; and + then strangled her, he and they, in her bed:—"Jacobea of Baden + (1597);" a thrice-tragic history. Then he married again; Jesuits being + extremely anxious for an Orthodox heir: but again there came no heir; + there came only new blazings of the Nessus'-Shirt. In fine, the poor man + died (Spring, 1609), and made the world rid of him. Died 25th March, 1609; + that is the precise date;—about a month before our new Elector, + Johann Sigismund, got his affairs winded up at the Polish Court, and came + galloping home in such haste. There was pressing need of him in the Cleve + regions. + </p> + <p> + For the painful exactitude of Duke Wilhelm and his Lawyers has profited + little; and there are claimants on claimants rising for that valuable + Cleve Country. As indeed Johann Sigismund had anticipated, and been warned + from all quarters, to expect. For months past, he has had his faculties + bent, with lynx-eyed attention, on that scene of things; doubly and trebly + impatient to get Preussen soldered up, ever since this other matter came + to the bursting-point. What could be done by the utmost vigilance of his + Deputies, he had done. It was the 25th of March when the mad Duke died: on + the 4th of April, Johann Sigismund's Deputy, attended by a Notary to + record the act, "fixed up the Brandenburg Arms on the Government-House of + Cleve;" [Pauli, vi. 566.] on the 5th, they did the same at Dusseldorf; on + the following days, at Julich and the other Towns. But already on the 5th, + they had hardly got done at Dusseldorf, when there appeared—young + Wolfgang Wilhelm, Heir-Apparent of that eminent Pfalz-Neuburg, he in + person, to put up the Pfalz-Neuburg Arms! Pfalz-Neuburg, who married the + Second Daughter, he is actually claiming, then;—the whole, or part? + Both are sensible that possession is nine points in law. + </p> + <p> + Pfalz-Neuburg's claim was for the whole Duchy. "All my serene Mother's!" + cried the young Heir of Pfalz-Neuburg: "Properly all mine!" cried he. "Is + not she NEAREST of kin? Second Daughter, true; but the Daughter; not + Daughter OF a Daughter, as you are (as your Serene Electress is), O + DURCHLAUCHT of Brandenburg:—consider, besides, you are female, I am + male!" That was Pfalz-Neuburg's logic: none of the best, I think, in + forensic genealogy. His tenth point was perhaps rather weak; but he had + possession, co-possession, and the nine points good. The other Two + Sisters, by their Sons or Husbands, claimed likewise; but not the whole: + "Divide it," said they: "that surely is the real meaning of Karl V.'s Deed + of Privilege to make such a Testament. Divide it among the Four Daughters + or their representatives, and let us all have shares!" + </p> + <p> + Nor were these four claimants by any means all. The Saxon Princes next + claimed; two sets of Saxon Princes. First the minor set, Gotha-Weimar and + the rest, the Ernestine Line so called; representatives of Johann + Friedrich the Magnanimous, who lost the Electorate for religion's sake at + Muhlberg in the past century, and from MAJOR became MINOR in Saxon + Genealogy. "Magnanimous Johann Friedrich," said they, "had to wife an Aunt + of the now deceased Duke of Cleve; Wife Sibylla (sister of the Flanders + Mare), of famous memory, our lineal Ancestress. In favor of whom HER + Father, the then reigning Duke of Cleve, made a marriage-contract of + precisely similar import to this your Prussian one: he, and barred all his + descendants, if contracts are to be valid." This is the claim of the + Ernestine Line of Saxon Princes; not like to go for much, in their present + disintegrated condition. + </p> + <p> + But the Albertine Line, the present Elector of Saxony, also claims: "Here + is a Deed," said he, "executed by Kaiser Friedrich III. in the year 1483, + [Pauli, ubi supra; Hubner, t. 286.] generations before your Kaiser Karl; + Deed solemnly granting to Albert, junior of Sachsen, and to his heirs, the + reversion of those same Duchies, should the Male Line happen to fail, as + it was then likely to do. How could Kaiser Max revoke his Father's deed, + or Kaiser Karl his Great-grandfather's? Little Albert, the Albert of the + PRINZENRAUB, he who grew big, and fought lion-like for his Kaiser in the + Netherlands and Western Countries; he and his have clearly the heirship of + Cleve by right; and we, now grown Electors, and Seniors of Saxony, demand + it of a grateful House of Hapsburg,—and will study to make ourselves + convenient in return."— + </p> + <p> + "Nay, if that is your rule, that old Laws and Deeds are to come in bar of + new, we," cry a multitude of persons,—French Dukes of Nevers, and + all manner of remote, exotic figures among them,—"we are the real + heirs! Ravensburg, Mark, Berg, Ravenstein, this patch and the other of + that large Duchy of yours, were they not from primeval time expressly + limited to heirs-male? Heirs-male; and we now are the nearest heirs-male + of said patches and portions; and will prove it!"—In short, there + never was such a Lawsuit,—so fat an affair for the attorney species, + if that had been the way of managing it,—as this of Cleve was likely + to prove. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE KAISER'S THOUGHTS ABOUT IT, AND THE WORLD'S. + </h2> + <p> + What greatly complicated the affair, too, was the interest the Kaiser took + in it. The Kaiser could not well brook a powerful Protestant in that + country; still less could his Cousin the Spaniard. Spaniards, worn to the + ground, coercing that world-famous Dutch Revolt, and astonished to find + that they could not coerce it at all, had resolved at this time to take + breath before trying farther. Spaniards and Dutch, after Fifty years of + such fighting as we know, have made a Twelve-years' Truce (1609): but the + battled Spaniard, panting, pale in his futile rage and sweat, has not + given up the matter; he is only taking breath, and will try it again. Now + Cleve is his road into Holland, in such adventure; no success possible if + Cleve be not in good hands. Brandenburg is Protestant, powerful; + Brandenburg will not do for a neighbor there. + </p> + <p> + Nor will Pfalz-Neuburg. A Protestant of Protestants, this Palatine Neuburg + too,—junior branch, possible heir in time coming, of KUR-PFALZ + (Elector Palatine) himself, in the Rhine Countries; of Kur-Pfalz, who is + acknowledged Chief Protestant: official "President" of the "Evangelical + Union" they have lately made among them in these menacing times;—Pfalz-Neuburg + too, this young Wolfgang Wilhelm, if he do not break off kind, might be + very awkward to the Kaiser in Cleve-Julich. Nay Saxony itself; for they + are all Protestants:—unless perhaps Saxony might become pliant, and + try to make itself useful to a munificent Imperial House? + </p> + <p> + Evidently what would best suit the Kaiser and Spaniards, were this, That + no strong Power whatever got footing in Cleve, to grow stronger by the + possession of such a country:—BETTER than best it would suit, if he, + the Kaiser, could himself get it smuggled into his hands, and there hold + it fast! Which privately was the course resolved upon at headquarters.—In + this way the "Succession Controversy of the Cleve Duchies" is coming to be + a very high matter; mixing itself, up with the grand Protestant-Papal + Controversy, the general armed-lawsuit of mankind in that generation. + Kaiser, Spaniard, Dutch, English, French Henri IV. and all mortals, are + getting concerned in the decision of it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIV. — SYMPTOMS OF A GREAT WAR COMING. + </h2> + <p> + Meanwhile Brandenburg and Neuburg both hold grip of Cleve in that manner, + with a mutually menacing inquiring expression of countenance; each grasps + it (so to speak) convulsively with the one hand, and has with the other + hand his sword by the hilt, ready to fly out. But to understand this + Brandenburg-Neuburg phenomenon and the then significance of the + Cleve-Julich Controversy, we must take the following bits of Chronology + along with us. For the German Empire, with Protestant complaints, and + Papist usurpations and severities, was at this time all a continent of + sour thick smoke, already breaking out into dull-red flashes here and + there,—symptoms of the universal conflagration of a Thirty-Years + War, which followed. SYMPTON FIRST is that of Donauworth, and dates above + a year back. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + FIRST SYMPTOM; DONAUWORTH, 1608. + </h2> + <p> + Donauworth, a Protestant Imperial Free-town, in the Bavarian regions, had + been, for some fault on the part of the populace against a flaring + Mass-procession which had no business to be there, put under Ban of the + Empire; had been seized accordingly (December, 1607), and much cuffed, and + shaken about, by Duke Maximilian of Bavaria, as executor of the said Ban; + [Michaeelis, ii. 216; Buddaei LEXICON, i. 853.]—who, what was still + worse, would by no means give up the Town when he had done with it; Town + being handy to him, and the man being stout and violently Papist. Hence + the "Evangelical Union" which we saw,—which has not taken Donauworth + yet. Nor ever will! Donauworth never was retaken; but is Bavarian at this + hour, A Town namable in History ever since. Not to say withal, that it is + where Marlborough, did "the Lines of Schellenberg" long after: + Schellenberg ("Jingle-Hill," so to render it) looks down across the Danube + or Donau River, upon Donauworth,—its "Lines," and other histories, + now much abolished, and quiet under grass. + </p> + <p> + But now all Protestantism sounding everywhere, in angry mournful tone, + "Donauwarth! Give up Donauworth!"—and an "Evangelical Union," with + moneys, with theoretic contingents of force, being on foot for that and + the like objects;—we can fancy what a scramble this of Cleve-Julich + was like to be; and especially what effect this duelling attitude of + Brandenburg and Neuburg had on the Protestant mind. Protestant neighbors, + Landgraf Moritz of Hessen-Cassel at their head, intervene in tremulous + haste, in the Cleve-Julich affair: "Peace, O friends! Some bargain; + peaceable joint-possession; any temporary bargain, till we see! Can two + Protestants fall to slashing one another, in such an aspect of the Reich + and its Jesuitries?"—And they did agree (Dortmund, 10th May, 1609) + the first of their innumerable "agreements," to some temporary + joint-possession;—the thrice-thankful Country doing homage to both, + "with oath to the one that SHALL be found genuine." And they did endeavor + to govern jointly, and to keep the peace on those terms, though it was not + easy. + </p> + <p> + For the Kaiser had already said (or his Aulic Council and Spanish Cousin, + poor Kaiser Rodolf caring too little about these things, [Rodolf II. + (Kepler's too insolvent "Patron"), 1576-1612; then Matthias, Rodolf's + Brother, 1612-1619, rather tolerant to Protestants;—then Ferdinand + II. his Uncle's Son, 1619-1637, much the reverse of tolerant, by whom + mainly came the Thirty-Years War,—were the Kaisers of this Period. + Ferdinand III., Son of II: (1637-1657), who finished out the Thirty-Years + War, partly by fighting of his own in young days (Battle of Nordlingen his + grandest feat), was Father of Kaiser Leopold (1658- 1705),—whose Two + Sons were Kaiser Joseph (1705-1711) and Kaiser Karl VI. (1711-1740), Maria + Theresa's Father.] had already said), Cleve must absolutely not go into + wrong hands. For which what safe method is there, but that the Kaiser + himself become proprietor? A Letter is yet extant, from the Aulic Council + to their Vice-Chancellor, who had been sent to negotiate this matter with + the parties; Letter to the effect, That such result was the only good one; + that it must be achieved; "that he must devise all manner of quirks <i>(alle + Spitzfindigkeiten auffordern sollte),"</i> and achieve it. [Pauli, iii. + 5055.] This curious Letter of a sublime Aulic Council, or Imperial + HOF-RATH, to its VICE-KANZLER, still exists. + </p> + <p> + And accordingly quirks did not prove undevisable on behalf of the Kaiser. + "Since you cannot agree," said the Kaiser, "and there are so many of you + who claim (we having privately stirred up several of you to the feat), + there will be nothing for it, but the Kaiser must put the Country under + sequestration, and take possession of it with his own troops, till a + decision be arrived at,—which probably will not be soon!" + </p> + <p> + SECOND SYMPTOM; SEIZURE OF JULICH BY THE KAISER, AND SIEGE AND RECAPTURE + OF IT BY THE PROTESTANT PARTIES, 1610. WHEREUPON WHEREUPON "CATHOLIC + LEAGUE," TO BALANCEE "EVANGELICAL UNION." + </p> + <p> + And the Kaiser forthwith did as he had said; sent Archduke Leopold with + troops, who forcibly took the Castle of Julich; commanding all other + castles and places to surrender and sequestrate themselves, in like + fashion; threatening Brandenburg and Neuburg, in a dreadful manner, with + REICHS-ACHT (Ban of the Empire), if they presumed to show contumacy. Upon + which Brandenburg and Neuburg, ranking themselves together, showed decided + contumacy; "tore down the Kaiser's Proclamation," [Ib. iii. 524. Emperor's + Proclamation, in Dusseldorf, 23d July, 1609,—taken down solemnly, + 1st August, 1609,] having good help at their back. + </p> + <p> + And accordingly, "on the 4th of September, 1610," after a two-months' + siege, they, or the Dutch, French, and Evangelical Union Troops bombarding + along with them, and "many English volunteers" to help, retook Julich, and + packed Leopold away again. [Ib. iii. 527.] The Dutch and the French were + especially anxious about this Cleve business,—poor Henri IV. was + just putting those French troops in motion towards Julich, when Ravaillac, + the distracted Devil's-Jesuit, did his stroke upon him; so that another + than Henri had to lead in that expedition. The actual Captain at the Siege + was Prince Christian of Anhalt, by repute the first soldier of Germany at + that period: he had a horse shot under him, the business being very hot + and furious;—he had still worse fortune in the course of years. + There were "many English volunteers" at this Siege; English nation hugely + interested in it, though their King would not act except diplomatically. + It was the talk of all the then world,—the evening song and the + morning prayer of Protestants especially,—till it was got ended in + this manner. It deserves to rank as SYMPTON SECOND in this business; far + bigger flare of dull red in the universal smoke-continent, than that of + Donauworth had been. Are there no memorials left of those "English + volunteers," then? [In Carlyle's <i> Miscellanies</i> (vi.? "Two Hundred + and Fifty Years ago: a Fragment about Duels") is one small scene belonging + to them.] Alas, they might get edited as Bromley's <i>Royal Letters</i> + are;—and had better lie quiet! + </p> + <p> + "Evangelical Union," formed some two years before, with what cause we saw, + has Kur-Pfalz [Winter-King's Father; died 9th September, 1610, few days + after this recapture of Julich.] at the head of it: but its troops or + operations were never of a very forcible character. Kur-Brandenburg now + joined it formally, as did many more; Kur-Sachsen, anxious to make himself + convenient in other quarters, never would. Add to these phenomena, the now + decisive appearance of a "Catholic LIGA" (League of Catholic Princes), + which, by way of counterpoise to the "Union," had been got up by Duke + Maximilian of Bavaria several months ago; and which now, under the same + guidance, in these bad circumstances, took a great expansion of figure. + Duke Maximilian, "DONAUWORTH Max," finding the Evangelical Union go so + very high, and his own Kaiser like to be good for little in such business + (poor hypochondriac Kaiser Rodolf II., more taken up with turning-looms + and blow-pipes than with matters political, who accordingly is swept out + of Julich in such summary way),—Donauworth Max has seen this a + necessary institution in the present aspect.—Both "Union" and + "League" rapidly waxed under the sound of the Julich cannon, as was + natural. + </p> + <p> + Kur-Sachsen, for standing so well aloof from the Union, got from the + thankful Kaiser written Titles for these Duchies of Cleve and Julich; + Imperial parchments and infestments of due extent; but never any Territory + in those parts. He never offered fight for his pretensions; and + Brandenburg and Neuburg—Neuburg especially—always answered + him, "No!" with sword half-drawn. So Kur-Sachsen faded out again, and took + only parchments by the adventure. Practically there was no private + Competitor of moment to Brandenburg, except this Wolfgang Wilhelm of + Pfalz-Neuburg; he alone having clutched hold.—But we hasten to + SYMPTOM THIRD, which particularly concerns us, and will be intelligible + now at last. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SYMPTOM THIRD: A DINNER-SCENE AT DUSSELDORF, 1613: SPANIARDS AND DUTCH + SHOULDER ARMS IN CLEVE. + </h2> + <p> + Brandenburg and Neuburg stood together against third parties; but their + joint-government was apt to fall in two, when left to itself, and the + pressure of danger withdrawn. "They governed by the RATHS and STANDE of + the Country;" old methods and old official men: each of the two had his + own Vice-Regent (STATTHALTER) present on the ground, who jointly presided + as they could. Jarrings were unavoidable; but how mend it? Settle the + litigated Territory itself, and end their big lawsuit, they could not; + often as they tried it, with the whole world encouraging and urging them. + [Old Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of Eton in his old days, remembers how he + went Ambassador on this errand,—as on many others equally bootless;—and + writes himself "Legatus," not only "thrice to Venice, twice to" &c. + &c., but also "once to Holland in the Juliers matter <i>(semel in + Juliacensi negotio):"</i> see <i>Reliquiae Wottonianae</i> (London, 1672), + Preface. It was "in 1614," say the Biographies vaguely. His Despatches, + are they in the Paper-Office still? His good old Book deserves new + editing, his good old genially pious life a proper elucidation, by some + faithful man.] The meetings they had, and the treaties and temporary + bargains they made, and kept, and could not keep, in these and in the + following years and generations, pass our power of recording. + </p> + <p> + In 1613 the Brandenburg STATTHALTER was Ernst, the Elector's younger + Brother, Wolfgang Wilhelm in person, for his Father, or rather for himself + as heir of his Mother, represented Pfalz-Neuburg. Ernst of Brandenburg had + adopted Calvinism as his creed; a thing hateful and horrible to the + Lutheran mind (of which sort was Wolfgang Wilhelm), to a degree now + altogether inconceivable. Discord arose in consequence between the + STATTHALTERS, as to official appointments, sacred and secular: "You are + for promoting Calvinists!"—"And you, I see, are for promoting + Lutherans!"—Johann Sigismund himself had to intervene: Wolfgang + Wilhelm and he had their meetings, friendly colloquies:—the final + celloquy of which is still memorable; and issues in SYMPTOM THIRD. + </p> + <p> + We said, a strong flame of choler burnt in all these Hohenzollerns, though + they held it well down. Johann Sigismund, an excellent man of business, + knew how essential a mild tone is: nevertheless he found, as this colloquy + went on, that human patience might at length get too much. The scene, + after some examination, is conceivable in this wise: Place Dusseldorf, + Elector's apartment in the Schloss there; time late in the Year 1613, Day + not discoverable by me. The two sat at dinner, after much colloquy all + morning: Johann Sigismund, a middle-aged, big-headed, stern-faced, + honest-looking man; hair cropped, I observe; and eyelids slightly + contracted, as if for sharper vision into matters: Wolfgang Wilhelm, of + features fallen dim to me; an airy gentleman, well out of his teens, but, + I doubt, not of wisdom sufficient; evidently very high and stiff in his + ways. + </p> + <p> + His proposal, by way of final settlement, and end to all these brabbles, + was this, and he insisted on it: "Give me your eldest Princess to wife; + let her dowry be your whole claim on Cleve-Julich; I will marry her on + that condition, and we shall be friends!" Here evidently is a gentleman + that does not want for conceit in himself:—consider too, in Johann + Sigismund's opinion, he had no right to a square inch of these + Territories, though for peace' sake a joint share had been allowed him for + the time! "On that condition, jackanapes?" thought Johann Sigismund: "My + girl is not a monster; nor at a loss for husbands fully better than you, I + should hope!" This he thought, and could not help thinking; but endeavored + to say nothing of it. The young jackanapes went on, insisting. Nature at + last prevailed; Johann Sigismund lifted his hand (princely etiquettes + melting all into smoke on the sudden), and gave the young jackanapes a + slap over the face. Veritable slap; which opened in a dreadful manner the + eyes of young Pfalz-Neuburg to his real situation; and sent him off + high-flaming, vowing never-imagined vengeance. A remarkable slap; well + testified to,—though the old Histories, struck blank with terror, + reverence and astonishment, can for most part only symbol it in dumb-show; + [Pufendorf <i>(Rer. Brandenb.</i> lib. iv.? 16, p. 213), and many others, + are in this case. Tobias Pfanner <i>(Historia Pacis Westphalicae,</i> lib. + i.? 9, p. 26) is explicit: <i>"Neque, ut infida regnandi societas est, + Brandenburgio et Neoburgio diu conveniebat; eorumque jurgia, cum + matrimonii faedere pacari posse propinqui ipsorum credidissent, acrius + ezarsere; inter epulas, quibus futurum generum Septemvir</i> (the + "Sevensman," or Elector, "One of The Seven") <i>excipiebat, hujus enim + filia Wolfgango sperabatur, ob nescio quos sermones eo inter utrumque + altercalione provecta, ut Elector irae impotestior, nulla dignitatis, + hospitii, cognationis, affinitatisve verecundia cohibitus, intenderit + Neoburgio manus, et contra tendentis os verberaverit. Ita, quae apud + concordes vincula caritatis, incitamenta irarum apud infensos erant."</i> + (Cited in Kohler, <i>Munzbelustiqungen,</i> xxi. 341; who refers also to + Levassor, <i>Histoire de Louis XII.)</i>—Pauli (iii. 542) bedomes + qnite vaporous.] a slap that had important consequences in this world. + </p> + <p> + For now Wolfgang Wilhelm, flaming off in never-imagined vengeance, posted + straight to Munchen, to Max of Bavaria there; declared himself convinced, + or nearly so, of the Roman-Catholic Religion; wooed, and in a few weeks + (10th November, 1613) wedded Max's younger Sister; and soon after, at + Dusseldorf, pompously professed such his blessed change of Belief,—with + immense flourish of trumpeting, and jubilant pamphleteering, from Holy + Church. [Kohler, ubi supra.] His poor old Father, the devoutest of + Protestants, wailed aloud his "Ichabod! the glory is departed!"—holding + "weekly fast and humiliation" ever after,—and died in few months of + a broken heart. The Catholic League has now a new Member on those terms. + </p> + <p> + And on the other hand, Johann Sigismund, nearly with the like haste (25th + December, 1613), declared himself convinced of Calvinism, his younger + Brother's creed; [Pauli, iii. 546.]—which continues ever since the + Brandenburg Court-creed, that of the People being mostly Lutheran. Men + said, it was to please the Dutch, to please the Julichers, most of whom + are Calvinist. Apologetic Pauli is elaborate, but inconclusive. It was + very ill taken at Berlin, where even popular riot arose on the matter. In + Prussia too it had its drawbacks. [Ib. iii. 544; Michaelis, i. 349.] + </p> + <p> + And now, all being full of mutation, rearrangement and infinite rumor, + there marched next year (1614), on slight pretext, resting on great + suspicions, Spanish troops into the Julich-Cleve country, and, + countenanced by Neuburg, began seizing garrisons there. Whereupon Dutch + troops likewise marched, countenanced by Brandenburg, and occupied other + fortresses and garrisons: and so, in every strong-place, these were either + Papist-Spaniards or Calvinist-Dutch; who stood there, fronting one + another, and could not by treatying be got out again;—like clouds + positively electric VERSUS clouds negatively. As indeed was getting to be + the case of Germany in general; case fatally visible in every Province, + Principality and Parish there: till a thunder-storm, and succession of + thunder-storms, of Thirty Years' continuance, broke out. Of which these + huge rumors and mutations, and menacings of war, springing out of that + final colloquy and slap in the face, are to be taken as the THIRD + premonitory Symptom. Spaniards and Dutch stand electrically fronting one + another in Cleve for seven years, till their Truce is out, before they + clash together; Germany does not wait so long by a couple of years. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SYMPTOM FOURTH, AND CATASTROPHE UPON THE HEELS OF IT. + </h2> + <p> + Five years more (1618), and there will have come a FOURTH Symptom, biggest + of all, rapidly consummating the process;—Symptom still famed, of + the following external figure: Three Official Gentlemen descending from a + window in the Castle of Prag: hurled out by impatient Bohemian + Protestantism, a depth of seventy feet,—happily only into dung, and + without loss of life. From which follows a "King of Bohemia" elected + there, King not unknown to us;—"thunder-clouds" all in one huge + clash, and the "continent of sour smoke" blazing all into a continent of + thunderous fire: THIRTY-YEARS WAR, as they now call it! Such a + conflagration as poor Germany never saw before or since. + </p> + <p> + These were the FOUR preliminary SYMPTOMS of that dismal business. "As to + the primary CAUSES of it," says one of my Authorities, "these lie deep, + deep almost as those of Original Sin. But the proximate causes seem to me + to have been these two: FIRST, That the Jesuit-Priests and Principalities + had vowed and resolved to have, by God's help and by the Devil's (this was + the peculiarity of it), Europe made Orthodox again: and then SECONDLY, The + fact that a Max of Bavaria existed at that time, whose fiery character, + cunning but rash head, and fanatically Papist heart disposed him to + attempt that enterprise, him with such resources and capacities, under + their bad guidance." + </p> + <p> + Johann Sigismund did many swift decisive strokes of business in his time, + businesses of extensive and important nature; but this of the slap to + Neuburg has stuck best in the idle memory of mankind. Dusseldorf, Year + 1613: it was precisely in the time when that same Friedrioh, not yet by + any means "King of Bohemia," but already Kur-Pfalz (Cousin of this + Neuburg, and head man of the Protestants), was over here in England, on a + fine errand;—namely, had married the fair Elizabeth (14th February, + 1613), James the First's Princess; "Goody Palsgrave," as her Mother + floutingly called her, not liking the connection. What kind of a "King of + Bohemia" this Friedrich made, five or six years after, and what sea of + troubles he and his entered into, we know; the "WINTER-KONIG" + (Winter-King, fallen in times of FROST, or built of mere frost, a + SNOW-king altogether soluble again) is the name he gets in German + Histories. But here is another hook to hang Chronology upon. + </p> + <p> + This brief Bohemian Kingship had not yet exploded on the Weissenberg of + Prag, [Battle there, Sunday 8th November, 1620.] when old Sir Henry Wotton + being sent as Ambassador "to LIE abroad" (as he wittily called it, to his + cost) in that Business, saw, in the City of Lintz in the picturesque green + country by the shores of the Donau there, an ingenious person, who is now + recognizable as one of the remarkablest of mankind, Mr. John Kepler, + namely: Keplar as Wotton writes him; addressing the great Lord Bacon + (unhappily without strict date of any kind) on that among other subjects. + Mr. John's now ever-memorable watching of those <i> Motions of the Star + Mars,</i> [<i>De Motibus Stellae Martis;</i> Prag, 1609.] with + "calculations repeated seventy times," and also with Discovery of the + Planetary Laws of this Universe, some, ten years ago, appears to be + unknown to Wotton and Bacon; but there is something else of Mr. John's + devising [It seems, Baptista Porta (of Naples, dead some years before) + must have given him the essential hint,—of whom, or whose hint, Mr. + John does not happen to inform his Excellency at present.] which deserves + attention from an Instaurator of Philosophy:— + </p> + <p> + "He hath a little black Tent (of what stuff is not much importing)," says + the Ambassador, "which he can suddenly set up where he will in a Field; + and it is convertible (like a windmill) to all quarters at pleasure; + capable of not much more than one man, as I conceive, and perhaps at no + great ease; exactly close and dark,—save at one hole, about an inch + and a half in the diameter, to which he applies a long perspective Trunk, + with the convex glass fitted to the said hole, and the concave taken out + at the other end, which extendeth to about the middle of this erected + Tent: through which the visible radiations of all the Objects without are + intromitted, falling upon a Paper, which is accommodated to receive them; + and so he traceth them with his pen in their natural appearance; turning + his little Tent round by degrees, till he hath designed the whole Aspect + of the Field." [<i>Reliqui Wottonianae,</i> (london 1672), p. 300.]—In + fact he hath a CAMERA OBSCURA, and is exhibiting the same for the + delectation of Imperial gentlemen lounging that way. Mr. John invents such + toys, writes almanacs, practises medicine, for good reasons; his + encouragement from the Holy Roman Empire and mankind being only a pension + of 18 pounds a year, and that hardly ever paid. An ingenious person, + truly, if there ever was one among Adam's Posterity. Just turned of fifty + and ill off for cash. This glimpse of him, in his little black tent with + perspective glasses, while the Thirty-Years War blazes out, is welcome as + a date. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + WHAT BECAME OF THE CLEVE-JULICH HERITAGE, AND OF THE PREUSSEN ONE. + </h2> + <p> + In the Cleve Duchies joint government had now become more difficult than + ever: but it had to be persisted in,—under mutual offences, + suspicions and outbreaks hardly repressed;—no final Bargain of + Settlement proving by any method possible. Treaties enough, and + conferences and pleadings, manifestoings:—Could not some painful + German collector of Statistics try to give us the approximate quantity of + impracticable treaties, futile conferences, manifestoes correspondences; + in brief, some authentical cipher (say in round millions) of idle Words + spoken by official human creatures and approximately (in square miles) the + extent of Law Stationery and other Paper written, first and last, about + this Controversy of the Cleve Duchies? In that form it might have a + momentary interest. + </p> + <p> + When the Winter-King's explosion took place, [Crowned at Prag, 4th + November N.S. 1619; beaten to ruin there, and obliged to gallop (almost + before dinner done), Sunday, 8th November, 1620.] and his own unfortunate + Pfalz (Palatinate) became the theatre of war (Tilly, Spinola, VERSUS + Pfalzers, English, Dutch), involving all the neighboring regions, + Cleve-Julich did not escape its fate. The Spaniards and the Dutch, who had + long sat in gloomy armed-truce, occupying with obstinate precaution the + main Fortresses of these Julich-Cleve countries, did now straightway, + their Twelve-Years' truce being out (1621), [Pauli, vi. 578-580.] fall to + fighting and besieging one another there; the huge War, which proved of + Thirty Years, being now all ablaze. What the country suffered in the + interim may be imagined. + </p> + <p> + In 1624, in pity to all parties, some attempt at practical Division of the + Territory was again made: Neuburg to have Berg and Julich, Brandenburg to + have Cleve, Mark, Ravensburg and the minor appurtenances: and Treaty to + that effect was got signed (11th May, 1624). But it was not well kept, nor + could be; and the statistic cipher of new treaties, manifestoes, + conferences, and approximate written area of Law-Paper goes on increasing. + </p> + <p> + It was not till forty-two years after, in 1666, as will be more minutely + noticeable by and by, that an effective partition could be practically + brought about. Nor in this state was the Lawsuit by any means ended,—as + we shall wearisomely see, in times long following that. In fact there + never was, in the German Chanceries or out of them, such a Lawsuit, Armed + or Wigged, as this of the Cleve Duchies first and last. And the sentence + was not practically given, till the Congress of Vienna (1815) in our own + day gave it; and the thing Johann Sigismund had claimed legally in 1609 + was actually handed over to Johann Sigismund's Descendant in the seventh + generation, after two hundred and six years. Handed over to him then,—and + a liberal rate of interest allowed. These litigated Duchies are now the + Prussian Province Julich-Berg-Cleve, and the nucleus of Prussia's + possessions in the Rhine country. + </p> + <p> + A year before Johann Sigismund's death, Albert Friedrich, the poor + eclipsed Duke of Prussia, died (8th August, 1618): upon which our swift + Kurfurst, not without need of his dexterities there too, got peaceable + possession of Prussia;—nor has his Family lost hold of that, up to + the present time. Next year (23d December, 1619), he himself closed a + swift busy life (labor enough in it for him perhaps, though only an age of + forty-nine); and sank to his long rest, his works following him,—unalterable + thenceforth, not unfruitful some of them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XV. — TENTH KURFURST, GEORGE WILHELM. + </h2> + <p> + By far the unluckiest of these Electors, whether the most unworthy of them + or not, was George Wilhelm, Tenth Elector, who now succeeded Johann + Sigismund his Father. The Father's eyes had closed when this great flame + was breaking out; and the Son's days were all spent amid the hot ashes and + fierce blazings of it. + </p> + <p> + The position of Brandenburg during this sad Thirty-Years War was passive + rather than active; distinguished only in the former way, and as far as + possible from being glorious or victorious. Never since the Hohenzollerns + came to that Country had Brandenburg such a time. Difficult to have mended + it; impossible to have quite avoided it;—and Kurfurst George Wilhelm + was not a man so superior to all his neighbors, that he could clearly see + his way in such an element. The perfect or ideal course was clear: To have + frankly drawn sword for his Religion and his Rights, so soon as the battle + fairly opened; and to have fought for these same, till he got either them + or died. Alas, that is easily said and written; but it is, for a George + Wilhelm especially, difficult to do! His capability in all kinds was + limited; his connections, with this side and that, were very intricate. + Gustavus and the Winter-King were his Brothers-in-law; Gustavus wedded to + his Sister, he to Winter-King's. His relations to Poland, feudal superior + of Preussen, were delicate; and Gustavus was in deadly quarrel with + Poland. And then Gustavus's sudden laying-hold of Pommern, which had just + escaped from Wallenstein and the Kaiser? It must be granted, poor George + Wilhelm's case demanded circumspectness. + </p> + <p> + One can forgive him for declining the Bohemian-King speculation, though + his Uncle of Jagerndorf and his Cousins of Liegnitz were so hearty and + forward in it. Pardonable in him to decline the Bohemian speculation;—though + surely it is very sad that he found himself so short of "butter and + firewood" when the poor Ex-King, and his young Wife, then in a specially + interesting state, came to take shelter with him! [Solltl <i>(Geschichte + des Dreissigjahrigen Krieges,</i>—a trivial modern Book) gives a + notable memorial from the Brandenburg RATHS, concerning these their + difficulties of housekeeping. Their real object, we perceive, was to get + rid of a Guest so dangerous as the Ex-King, under Ban of the Empire, had + now become.] But when Gustavus landed, and flung out upon the winds such a + banner as that of his,—truly it was required of a Protestant + Governor of men to be able to read said banner in a certain degree. A + Governor, not too IMperfect, would have recognized this Gustavus, what his + purposes and likelihoods were; the feeling would have been, checked by due + circumspectness: "Up, my men, let us follow this man; let us live and die + in the Cause this man goes for! Live otherwise with honor, or die + otherwise with honor, we cannot, in the pass things have come to!"—And + thus, at the very worst, Brandenburg would have had only one class of + enemies to ravage it; and might have escaped with, arithmetically + speaking, HALF the harrying it got in that long Business. + </p> + <p> + But Protestant Germany—sad shame to it, which proved lasting sorrow + as well—was all alike torpid; Brandenburg not an exceptional case. + No Prince stood up as beseemed: or only one, and he not a great one; + Landgraf Wilhelm of Hessen, who, and his brave Widow after him, seemed + always to know what hour it was. Wilhelm of Hessen all along;—and a + few wild hands, Christian of Brunswick, Christian of Anhalt, Johann George + of Jagerndorf, who stormed out tumultuously at first, but were soon blown + away by the Tilly-Wallenstein TRADE-WINDS and regulated armaments:—the + rest sat still, and tried all they could to keep out of harm's way. The + "Evangelical Union" did a great deal of manifestoing, pathetic, indignant + and other; held solemn Meetings at Heilbronn, old Sir Henry Wotton going + as Ambassador to them; but never got any redress. Had the Evangelical + Union shut up its inkhorns sooner; girt on its fighting-tools when the + time came, and done some little execution with them then, instead of none + at all,—we may fancy the Evangelical Union would have better + discharged its function. It might have saved immense wretchedness to + Germany. But its course went not that way. + </p> + <p> + In fact, had there been no better Protestantism than that of Germany, all + was over with Protestantism; and Max of Bavaria, with fanatical Ferdinand + II. as Kaiser over him, and Father Lammerlein at his right hand and Father + Hyacinth at his left, had got their own sweet way in this world. But + Protestant Germany was not Protestant Europe, after all. Over seas there + dwelt and reigned a certain King in Sweden; there farmed, and walked + musing by the shores of the Ouse in Huntingdonshire, a certain man;—there + was a Gustav Adolf over seas, an Oliver Cromwell over seas; and "a company + of poor men" were found capable of taking Lucifer by the beard,—who + accordingly, with his Lammerleins, Hyacinths, Habernfeldts and others, was + forced to withdraw, after a tough struggle!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVI. — THIRTY-YEARS WAR. + </h2> + <p> + The enormous Thirty-Years War, most intricate of modern Occurrences in the + domain of Dryasdust, divides itself, after some unravelling, into Three + principal Acts or Epochs; in all of which, one after the other, our + Kurfurst had an interest mounting progressively, but continuing to be a + passive interest. + </p> + <p> + Act FIRST goes from 1620 to 1624; and might be entitled "The Bohemian King + Made and Demolished." Personally the Bohemian King was soon demolished. + His Kingship may be said to have gone off by explosion; by one Fight, + namely, done on the Weissenberg near Prag (Sunday, 8th November, 1620), + while he sat at dinner in the City, the boom of the cannon coming in with + interest upon his high guests and him. He had to run, in hot haste, that + night, leaving many of his important papers,—and becomes a + Winter-King. Winter-King's account was soon settled. But the extirpating + of his Adherents, and capturing of his Hereditary Lands, Palatinate and + Upper-Palatinate, took three years more. Hard fighting for the Palatinate; + Tilly and Company against the "Evangelical-Union Troops, and the English + under Sir Horace Vere." Evangelical-Union Troops, though marching about + there, under an Uncle of our Kurfurst (Margraf Joachim Ernst, that lucky + Anspach Uncle, founder of "the Line"), who professed some skill in + soldiering, were a mere Picture of an Army; would only "observe," and + would not fight at all. So that the whole fighting fell to Sir Horace and + his poor handful of English; of whose grim posture "in Frankendale" + [Frankenthal, a little Town in the Palatinate, N.W. from Mannheim a short + way.] and other Strongholds, for months long, there is talk enough in the + old English History-Books. + </p> + <p> + Then there were certain stern War-Captains, who rallied from the + Weissenberg Defeat:—Christian of Brunswick, the chief of them, + titular Bishop of Halberstadt, a high-flown, fiery young fellow, of + terrible fighting gifts; he flamed up considerably, with "the Queen of + Bohemia's glove stuck in his Hat:" "Bright Lady, it shall stick there, + till I get you your own again, or die!" [1621-1623, age not yet + twenty-five; died (by poison), 1626, having again become supremely + important just then. <i>"Gottes Freund, der Pfaffen Feind</i> (God's + Friend, Priests' Foe);" <i>"Alles fur Ruhm und Ihr (All for Glory and + Her,"</i>—the bright Elizabeth, become Ex-Queen), were mottoes of + his.—Buddaus IN VOCE (i. 649); Michaelis, i. 110.] Christian of + Brunswick, George of Jagerndorf (our Kurfurst's Uncle), Count Mansfeldt + and others, made stormy fight once and again, hanging upon this central + "Frankendale" Business, till they and it became hopeless. For the Kaiser + and his Jesuits were not in doubt; a Kaiser very proud, unscrupulous; now + clearly superior in force,—and all along of great superiority in + fraud. + </p> + <p> + Christian of Brunswick, Johann George and Mansfeldt were got rid of: + Christian by poison; Johann George and Mansfeldt by other methods,—chiefly + by playing upon poor King James of England, and leading him by the long + nose he was found to have. The Palatinate became the Kaiser's for the time + being; Upper Palatinate (OBER-PFALZ) Duke Max of Bavaria, lying contiguous + to it, had easily taken. "Incorporate the Ober-Pfalz with your Bavaria," + said the Kaiser, "you, illustrious, thrice-serviceable Max! And let + Lammerlein and Hyacinth, with their Gospel of Ignatius, loose upon it. + Nay, as a still richer reward, be yours the forfeited KUR (Electorship) of + this mad Kur-Pfalz, or Winter-King. I will hold his Rhine-Lands, his + UNTER-PFALZ: his Electorship and OBER-PFALZ, I say, are yours, Duke, + henceforth KURFURST Maximilian!" [Kohler, <i>Reichs-Historie,</i> p. 520.] + Which was a hard saying in the ears of Brandenburg, Saxony and the other + Five, and of the Reich in general; but they had all to comply, after + wincing. For the Kaiser proceeded with a high hand. He had put the Ex-King + under Ban of the Empire (never asking "the Empire" about it); put his + Three principal Adherents, Johann George of Jagerndorf one of them, Prince + Christian of Anhalt (once captain at the Siege of Juliers) another, + likewise under Ban of the Empire; [22d Jan. 1621 (ibid. p. 518).] and in + short had flung about, and was flinging, his thunder-bolts in a very + Olympian manner. Under all which, what could Brandenburg and the others + do; but whimper some trembling protest, "Clear against Law!"—and sit + obedient? The Evangelical Union did not now any more than formerly draw + out its fighting-tools. In fact, the Evangelical Union now fairly + dissolved itself; melted into a deliquium of terror under these + thunder-bolts that were flying, and was no more heard of in the world.— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0032" id="link2H_4_0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + SECOND ACT, OR EPOCH, 1624-1629. A SECOND UNCLE PUT TO THE BAN, AND + POMMERN SNATCHED AWAY. + </h2> + <p> + Except in the "NETHER-SAXON CIRCLE" (distant Northwest region, with its + Hanover, Mecklenburg, with its rich Hamburgs, Lubecks, Magdeburgs, all + Protestant, and abutting on the Protestant North), trembling Germany lay + ridden over as the Kaiser willed. Foreign League got up by France, King + James, Christian IV. of Denmark (James's Brother-in-law, with whom he had + such "drinking" in Somerset House, long ago, on Christian's visit hither + [Old Histories of James I. (Wilson, &c.)]), went to water, or worse. + Only the "Nether-Saxon Circle" showed some life; was levying an army; and + had appointed Christian of Brunswick its Captain, till he was got + poisoned;—upon which the drinking King of Denmark took the command. + </p> + <p> + Act SECOND goes from 1624 to 1627 or even 1629; and contains drunken + Christian's Exploits. Which were unfortunate, almost to the ruin of + Denmark itself, as well as of the Nether-Saxon Circle;—till in the + latter of these years he slightly rallied, and got a supportable Peace + granted him (Peace of Lubeck, 1629); after which he sits quiet, + contemplative, with an evil eye upon Sweden now and then. The beatings he + got, in quite regular succession, from Tilly and Consorts, are not worth + mentioning: the only thing one now remembers of him is his alarming + accident on the ramparts of Hameln, just at the opening of these + Campaigns. At Hameln, which was to be a strong post, drunken Christian + rode out once, on a summer afternoon (1624), to see that the ramparts were + all right, or getting all right;—and tumbled, horse and self (self + in liquor, it is thought), in an ominous alarming manner. Taken up for + dead;—nay some of the vague Histories seem to think he was really + dead:—but he lived to be often beaten after that, and had many moist + years more. + </p> + <p> + Our Kurfurst had another Uncle put to the Ban in this Second Act,—Christian + Wilhelm Archbishop of Magdeburg, "for assisting the Danish King;" nor was + Ban all the ruin that fell on this poor Archbishop. What could an + unfortunate Kurfurst do, but tremble and obey? There was still a worse + smart got by our poor Kurfurst out of Act Second; the glaring injustice + done him in Pommern. + </p> + <p> + Does the reader remember that scene in the High Church of Stettin a + hundred and fifty years ago? How the Burgermeister threw sword and helmet + into the grave of the last Duke of Pommern-Stettin there; and a forward + Citizen picked them out again in favor of a Collateral Branch? Never + since, any more than then, could Brandenburg get Pommern according to + claim. Collateral Branch, in spite of Friedrich Ironteeth, in spite even + of Albert Achilles and some fighting of his; contrived, by pleading at the + Diets and stirring up noise, to maintain its pretensions: and Treaties + without end ensued, as usual; Treaties refreshed and new-signed by every + Successor of Albert, to a wearisome degree. The sum of which always was: + "Pommern does actual homage to Brandenburg; vassal of Brandenburg;—and + falls home to it, if the now Extant Line go extinct." Nay there is an + ERBVERBRUDERUNG (Heritage-Fraternity) over and above, established this + long time, and wearisomely renewed at every new Accession. Hundreds of + Treaties, oppressive to think of:—and now the last Duke, old + Bogislaus, is here, without hope of children; and the fruit of all that + haggling, actual Pommern to wit, will at last fall home? Alas, no; far + otherwise. + </p> + <p> + For the Kaiser having so triumphantly swept off the Winter-King, and + Christian IV. in the rear of him, and got Germany ready for converting to + Orthodoxy,—wished now to have some hold of the Seaboard, thereby to + punish Denmark; nay thereby, as is hoped, to extend the blessings of + Orthodoxy into England, Sweden, Holland, and the other Heretic States, in + due time. For our plans go far! This is the Kaiser's fixed wish, rising to + the rank of hope now and then: all Europe shall become Papist again by the + help of God and the Devil. So the Kaiser, on hardly any pretext, seized + Mecklenburg from the Proprietors,—"Traitors, how durst you join + Danish Christian?"—and made Wallenstein Duke of it. Duke of + Mecklenburg, "Admiral of the EAST SEA (Baltic);" and set to "building + ships of war in Rostock,"—his plans going far. [Kohler, <i>Reichs-Historie,</i> + pp, 524, 525.] This done, he seized Pommern, which also is a fine + Sea-country,—stirring up Max of Bavaria to make some idle pretence + to Pommern, that so the Kaiser might seize it "in sequestration till + decided on." Under which hard treatment, George Wilhelm had to sit sad and + silent,—though the Stralsunders would not. Hence the world-famous + Siege of Stralsund (1628); fierce Wallenstein declaring, "I will have the + Town, if it hung by a chain from Heaven;" but finding he could not get it; + owing to the Swedish succor, to the stubborn temper prevalent among the + Townsfolk, and also greatly to the rains and peat-bogs. + </p> + <p> + A second Uncle of George Wilhelm's, that unlucky Archbishop of Magdeburg + above mentioned, the Kaiser, once more by his own arbitrary will, put + under Ban of the Empire, in this Second Act: "Traitor, how durst you join + with the Danes?" The result of which was Tilly's Sack of Magdeburg + (10-12th May, 1631), a transaction never forgettable by mankind.—As + for Pommern, Gustav Adolf, on his intervening in these matters, landed + there: Pommern was now seized by Gustav Adolf, as a landing-place and + place-of-arms, indispensable for Sweden in the present emergency; and was + so held thenceforth. Pommern will not fall to George Wilhelm at this time. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0033" id="link2H_4_0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THIRD ACT, AND WHAT THE KURFURST SUFFERED IN IT. + </h2> + <p> + And now we are at Act THIRD:—Landing of Gustav Adolf "in the Isle of + Usedom, 24th June, 1630," and onward for Eighteen Years till the Peace of + Westphalia, in 1648;—on which, as probably better known to the + reader, we will not here go into details. In this Third Act too, George + Wilhelm followed his old scheme, peace at any price;—as shy of + Gustav as he had been of other Champions of the Cause; and except + complaining, petitioning and manifestoing, studiously did nothing. + </p> + <p> + Poor man, it was his fate to stand in the range of these huge collisions,—Bridge + of Dessau, Siege of Stralsund, Sack of Magdeburg, Battle of Leipzig,—where + the Titans were bowling rocks at one another; and he hoped, by dexterous + skipping, to escape share of the game. To keep well with his Kaiser,—and + such a Kaiser to Germany and to him,—this, for George Wilhelm, was + always the first commandment. If the Kaiser confiscate your Uncles, + against law; seize your Pommern; rob you on the public highways,—George + Wilhelm, even in such case, is full of dubitations. Nay his + Prime-Minister, one Schwartzenberg, a Catholic, an Austrian Official at + one time,—Progenitor of the Austrian Schwartzenbergs that now are,—was + secretly in the Kaiser's interest, and is even thought to have been in the + Kaiser's pay, all along. + </p> + <p> + Gustav, at his first landing, had seized Pommern, and swept it clear of + Austrians, for himself and for his own wants; not too regardful of George + Wilhelm's claims on it. He cleared out Frankfurt-on-Oder, Custrin and + other Brandenburg Towns, in a similar manner,—by cannon and storm, + when needful;—drove the Imperialists and Tilly forth of these + countries. Advancing, next year, to save Magdeburg, now shrieking under + Tilly's bombardment, Gustav insisted on having, if not some bond of union + from his Brother-in-law of Brandenburg, at least the temporary cession of + two Places of War for himself, Spandau and Custrin, indispensable in any + farther operation. Which cession Kurfurst George Wilhelm, though giving + all his prayers to the Good Cause, could by no means grant. Gustav had to + insist, with more and more emphasis; advancing at last, with military + menace, upon Berlin itself. He was met by George Wilhelm and his Council, + "in the woods of Copenick," short way to the east of that City: there + George Wilhelm and his Council wandered about, sending messages, + hopelessly consulting; saying among each other, <i>"Que faire; ils ont des + canons,</i> what can one do; they have got cannon?" [<i>OEvres de Frederic + le Grand</i> (Berlin, 1846-1856 et seqq.: <i>Memoires de Brandebourg</i>), + i. 38. For the rest, Friedrich's Account of the Transaction is very loose + and scanty: see Pauli (iv. 568) and his minute details.] For many hours + so; round the inflexible Gustav,—who was there like a fixed + milestone, and to all questions and comers had only one answer!—<i>"Que + faire; ils ont des canons?"</i> This was the 3d May, 1631. This probably + is about the nadir-point of the Brandenburg-Hohenzollern History. The + little Friedrich, who became Frederick the Great, in writing of it, has a + certain grim banter in his tone; and looks rather with mockery on the + perplexities of his poor Ancestor, so fatally ignorant of the time of day + it had now become. + </p> + <p> + On the whole, George Wilhelm did what is to be called nothing, in the + Thirty-Years War; his function was only that of suffering. He followed + always the bad lead of Johann George, Elector of Saxony; a man of no + strength, devoutness or adequate human worth; who proved, on these + negative grounds, and without flagrancy of positive badness, an + unspeakable curse to Germany. Not till the Kaiser fulminated forth his + Restitution-Edict, and showed he was in earnest about it (1629-1631), + "Restore to our Holy Church what you have taken from her since the Peace + of Passau!"—could this Johann George prevail upon himself to join + Sweden, or even to do other than hate it for reasons he saw. Seized by the + throat in this manner, and ordered to DELIVER, Kur-Sachsen did, and + Brandenburg along with him, make Treaty with the Swede. [8th February, + 1631 (Kohler, <i>Reichs-Historie,</i> pp. 526-531.) in consequence of + which they two, some months after, by way of co-operating with Gustav on + his great march Vienna-ward, sent an invading force into Bohemia, + Brandenburg contributing some poor 3,000 to it; who took Prag, and some + other open Towns; but "did almost nothing there," say the Histories, + "except dine and drink." It is clear enough they were instantly scattered + home [October, 1633 (Stenzel, i. 503).) at the first glimpse of + Wallenstein dawning on the horizon again in those parts. + </p> + <p> + Gustav having vanished (Field of Lutzen, 6th November, 1632 [Pauli, iv. + 576.]), Oxenstiern, with his high attitude, and "Presidency" of the "Union + of Heilbronn," was rather an offence to Kur-Sachsen, who used to be + foremost man on such occasions. Kur-Sachsen broke away again; made his + Peace of Prag, [1635, 20th May (Stenzel, i. 513).] whom Brandenburg again + followed; Brandenburg and gradually all the others, except the noble + Wilhelm of Hessen-Cassel alone. Miserable Peace; bit of Chaos clouted up, + and done over with Official varnish;—which proved to be the signal + for continuing the War beyond visible limits, and rendering peace + impossible. + </p> + <p> + After this, George Wilhelm retires from the scene; lives in Custrin + mainly; mere miserable days, which shall be invisible to us. He died in + 1640; and, except producing an active brave Son very unlike himself, did + nothing considerable in the world. <i>"Que faire; ils ont des canons!"</i> + </p> + <p> + Among the innumerable sanguinary tusslings of this War are counted Three + great Battles, Leipzig, Lutzen, Nordlingen. Under one great Captain, + Swedish Gustav, and the two or three other considerable Captains, who + appeared in it, high passages of furious valor, of fine strategy and + tactic, are on record. But on the whole, the grand weapon in it, and + towards the latter times the exclusive one, was Hunger. The opposing + Armies tried to starve one another; at lowest, tried each not to starve. + Each trying to eat the country, or at any rate to leave nothing eatable in + it: what that will mean for the country, we may consider. As the Armies + too frequently, and the Kaiser's Armies habitually, lived without + commissariat, often enough without pay, all horrors of war and of being a + seat of war, that have been since heard of, are poor to those then + practised. The detail of which is still horrible to read. Germany, in all + eatable quarters of it, had to undergo the process;—tortured, torn + to pieces, wrecked, and brayed as in a mortar under the iron mace of war. + [Curious incidental details of the state it was reduced to, in the Rhine + and Danube Countries, turn up in the Earl of Arundel and Surrey's TRAVELS + ("Arundel of the Marbles") as <i>Ambassador Extraordinary to the Emperor + Ferdinando II. in 1636</i> (a small Volume, or Pamphlet, London, 1637).] + Brandenburg saw its towns sieged and sacked, its country populations + driven to despair, by the one party and the other. Three times,—first + in the Wallenstein Mecklenburg period, while fire and sword were the + weapons, and again, twice over, in the ultimate stages of the struggle, + when starvation had become the method—Brandenburg fell to be the + principal theatre of conflict, where all forms of the dismal were at their + height. In 1638, three years after that precious "Peace of Prag," the + Swedes (Banier VERSUS Gallas) starving out the Imperialists in those + Northwestern parts, the ravages of the starving Gallas and his + Imperialists excelled all precedent; and the "famine about Tangermunde had + risen so high that men ate human flesh, nay human creatures ate their own + children." [1638: Pauli, iv. 604.] <i>"Que faire; ils ont des canons!</i>" + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVII. — DUCHY OF JAGERNDORF. + </h2> + <p> + This unfortunate George Wilhelm failed in getting Pommern when due; + Pommern, firmly held by the Swedes, was far from him. But that was not the + only loss of territory he had. Jagerndorf,—we have heard of Johann + George of Jagerndorf, Uncle of this George Wilhelm, how old Joachim + Friedrich put him into Jagerndorf, long since, when it fell home to the + Electoral House. Jagerndorf is now lost; Johann George is under + REICHS-ACHT (Ban of Empire), ever since the Winter-King's explosion, and + the thunder-bolts that followed; and wanders landless;—nay he is + long since dead, and has six feet of earth for a territory, far away in + Transylvania, or the RIESEN-GEBIRGE (Giant Mountains) somewhere. + Concerning whom a word now. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0035" id="link2H_4_0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + DUKE OF JAGERNDORF, ELECTOR'S UNCLE, IS PUT UNDER BAN. + </h2> + <p> + Johann George, a frank-hearted valiant man, concerning whom only good + actions, and no bad one, are on record, had notable troubles in the world; + bad troubles to begin with, and worse to end in. He was second Son of + Kurfurst Joachim Friedrich, who had meant him for the Church. [1577-1624: + Rentsch, p. 486.] The young fellow was Coadjutor of Strasburg, almost from + the time of getting into short-clothes. He was then, still very young, + elected Bishop there (1592); Bishop of Strasburg,—but only by the + Protestant part of the Canons; the Catholic part, unable to submit longer, + and thinking it a good time for revolt against a Protestant population and + obstinately heterodox majority, elected another Bishop,—one "Karl of + the House of Lorraine;" and there came to be dispute, and came even to be + fighting needed. Fighting; which prudent Papa would not enter into, except + faintly at second-hand, through the Anspach Cousins, or others that were + in the humor. Troublesome times for the young man; which lasted a dozen + years or more. At last a Bargain was made (1604); Protestant and Catholic + Canons splitting the difference in some way; and the House of Lorraine + paying Johann George a great deal of money to go home again. [<i>OEuvres + completes de Voltaire,</i> 97 vols. (Paris, 1825-1832), xxxiii. 284.—Kohler + (<i>Reichs-Historie,</i> p. 487) gives the authentic particulars.] Poor + Johann George came out of it in that way; not second-best, think several. + </p> + <p> + He was then (1606) put into Jagerndorf, which had just fallen vacant; our + excellent fat friend, George Friedrich of Anspach, Administrator of + Preussen, having lately died, and left it vacant, as we saw. George + Friedrich's death yielded fine apanages, three of them in all: FIRST + Anspach, SECOND, Baireuth, and this THIRD of Jagerndorf for a still + younger Brother. There was still a fourth younger Brother, Uncle of George + Wilhelm; Archbishop of Magdeburg this one; who also, as we have seen, got + into REICHS-ACHT, into deep trouble in the Thirty-Years War. He was in + Tilly's thrice-murderous Storm of Magdeburg (10th May, 1631); was + captured, tumbled about by the wild soldiery, and nearly killed there. + Poor man, with his mitre and rochets left in such a state! In the end he + even became CATHOLIC,—from conviction, as was evident, and + bewilderment of mind;—and lived in Austria on a pension; + occasionally publishing polemical pamphlets. [1587; 1628; 1665 (Rentsch, + pp. 905-910).]— + </p> + <p> + As to Johann George, he much repaired and beautified the Castle of + Jagerndorf, says Rentsch: but he unfortunately went ahead into the + Winter-King's adventure; which, in that sad battle of the Weissenberg, + made total shipwreck of itself, drawing Johann George and much else along + with it. Johann George was straightway tyrannously put to the Ban, + forfeited of life and lands: [22d January, 1621 (Kohler, <i>Reichs-Historie,</i> + p. 518: and rectify Hubner, t. 178).] Johann George disowned the said Ban; + stood out fiercely for self and Winter-King; and did good fighting in the + Silesian strongholds and mountain-passes: but was forced to seek temporary + shelter in SIEBENBURGEN (Transylvania); and died far away, in a year or + two (1624), while returning to try it again. Sleeps, I think, in the + "Jablunka Pass;" the dumb Giant-Mountains (RIESEN-GEBIRGE) shrouding up + his sad shipwreck and him. + </p> + <p> + Jagerndorf was thus seized by Ferdinand II. of the House of Hapsburg; and + though it was contrary to all law that the Kaiser should keep it,—poor + Johann George having left Sons very innocent of treason, and Brothers, and + an Electoral. Nephew, very innocent,—to whom, by old compacts and + new, the Heritage in defect of him was to fall,—neither Kaiser + Ferdinand II. nor Kaiser Ferdinand III. nor any Kaiser would let go the + hold; but kept Jagerndorf fast clenched, deaf to all pleadings, and + monitions of gods or men. Till at length, in the fourth generation + afterwards, one "Friedrich the Second," not unknown to us,—a sharp + little man, little in stature, but large in faculty and renown, who is now + called "Frederick the Great,"—clutched hold of the Imperial fist (so + to speak), seizing his opportunity in 1740; and so wrenched and twisted + said close fist, that not only Jagerndorf dropped out of it, but the whole + of Silesia along with Jagerndorf, there being other claims withal. And the + account was at last settled, with compound interest,—as in fact such + accounts are sure to be, one way or other. And so we leave Johann George + among the dumb Giant-Mountains again. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XVIII. — FRIEDRICH WILHELM, THE GREAT KURFURST, ELEVENTH OF + THE SERIES. + </h2> + <p> + Brandenburg had again sunk very low under the Tenth Elector, in the + unutterable troubles of the times. But it was gloriously raised up again + by his Son Friedrich Wilhelm, who succeeded in 1640. This is he whom they + call the "Great Elector (GROSSE KURFURST);" of whom there is much writing + and celebrating in Prussian Books. As for the epithet, it is not uncommon + among petty German populations, and many times does not mean too much: + thus Max of Bavaria, with his Jesuit Lambkins and Hyacinths, is, by + Bavarians, called "Maximilian the Great." Friedrich Wilhelm, both by his + intrinsic qualities and the success he met with, deserves it better than + most. His success, if we look where he started and where he ended, was + beyond that of any other man in his day. He found Brandenburg annihilated, + and he left Brandenburg sound and flourishing; a great country, or already + on the way towards greatness. Undoubtedly a most rapid, clear-eyed, active + man. There was a stroke in him swift as lightning, well-aimed mostly, and + of a respectable weight, withal; which shattered asunder a whole world of + impediments for him, by assiduous repetition of it for fifty years. [1620; + 1640; 1688.] + </p> + <p> + There hardly ever came to sovereign power a young man of twenty under more + distressing, hopeless-looking circumstances. Political significance + Brandenburg had none; a mere Protestant appendage dragged about by a + Papist Kaiser. His Father's Prime-Minister, as we have seen, was in the + interest of his enemies; not Brandenburg's servant, but Austria's. The + very Commandants of his Fortresses, Commandant of Spandau more especially, + refused to obey Friedrich Wilhelm, on his accession; "were bound to obey + the Kaiser in the first place." He had to proceed softly as well as + swiftly; with the most delicate hand to get him of Spandau by the collar, + and put him under lock-and-key, him as a warning to others. + </p> + <p> + For twenty years past, Brandenburg had been scoured by hostile armies, + which, especially the Kaiser's part of which, committed outrages new in + human history. In a year or two hence, Brandenburg became again the + theatre of business; Austrian Gallas advancing thither again (1644), with + intent "to shut up Torstenson and his Swedes in Jutland," where they had + been chastising old Christian IV., now meddlesome again, for the last + time, and never a good neighbor to Sweden. Gallas could by no means do + what he intended: on the contrary, he had to run from Torstenson, what + feet could do; was hunted, he and his MERODE-BRUDER (beautiful inventors + of the "Marauding" Art), "till they pretty much all died (CREPERTIN)," + says Kohler. [<i>Reichs-Historie,</i> p. 556; Pauli, v. 24.] No great loss + to society, the death of these Artists: but we can fancy what their life, + and especially what the process of their dying, may have cost poor + Brandenburg again!— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich Wilhelm's aim, in this as in other emergencies, was sun-clear to + himself, but for most part dim to everybody else. He had to walk very + warily, Sweden on one hand of him, suspicious Kaiser on the other; he had + to wear semblances, to be ready with evasive words; and advance + noiselessly by many circuits. More delicate operation could not be + imagined. But advance he did: advance and arrive. With extraordinary + talent, diligence and felicity the young man wound himself out of this + first fatal position: got those foreign Armies pushed out of his Country, + and kept them out. His first concern had been to find some vestige of + revenue, to put that upon a clear footing; and by loans or otherwise to + scrape a little ready money together. On the strength of which a small + body of soldiers could be collected about him, and drilled into real + ability to fight and obey. This as a basis: on this followed all manner of + things: freedom from Swedish-Austrian invasions, as the first thing. + </p> + <p> + He was himself, as appeared by and by, a fighter of the first quality, + when it came to that: but never was willing to fight if he could help it. + Preferred rather to shift, manoeuvre and negotiate; which he did in a most + vigilant, adroit and masterly manner. But by degrees he had grown to have, + and could maintain it, an Army of 24,000 men: among the best troops then + in being. With or without his will, he was in all the great Wars of his + time,—the time of Louis XIV., who kindled Europe four times over, + thrice in our Kurfurst's day. The Kurfurst's Dominions, a long straggling + country, reaching from Memel to Wesel, could hardly keep out of the way of + any war that might rise. He made himself available, never against the good + cause of Protestantism and German Freedom, yet always in the place and way + where his own best advantage was to be had. Louis XIV. had often much need + of him: still oftener, and more pressingly, had Kaiser Leopold, the little + Gentleman "in scarlet stockings, with a red feather in his hat," whom Mr. + Savage used to see majestically walking about, with Austrian lip that said + nothing at all. [<i>A Compleat History of Germany,</i> by Mr. Savage (8vo, + London, 1702), p. 553. Who this Mr. Savage was, we have no trace. Prefixed + to the volume is the Portrait of a solid Gentleman of forty: gloomily + polite, with ample wig and cravat,—in all likelihood some studious + subaltern Diplomatist in the Succession War. His little Book is very lean + and barren: but faithfully compiled,—and might have some + illumination in it, where utter darkness is so prevalent. Most likely, + Addison picked his story of the <i>Siege of Weinsberg</i> ("Women carrying + out their Husbands on their back,"—one of his best SPECTATORS) out + of this poor Book.] His 24,000 excellent fighting-men, thrown in at the + right time, were often a thing that could turn the balance in great + questions. They required to be allowed for at a high rate,—which he + well knew how to adjust himself for exacting and securing always. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0037" id="link2H_4_0037"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + WHAT BECAME OF POMMERN AT THE PEACE; FINAL GLANCE INTO CLEVE-JULICH. + </h2> + <p> + When the Peace of Westphalia (1648) concluded that Thirty-Years + Conflagration, and swept the ashes of it into order again, Friedrich + Wilhelm's right to Pommern was admitted by everybody: and well insisted on + by himself: but right had to yield to reason of state, and he could not + get it. The Swedes insisted on their expenses: the Swedes held Pommern, + had all along held it,—in pawn, they said, for their expenses. + Nothing for it but to give the Swedes the better half of Pommern. + FORE-Pommern (so they call it, "Swedish Pomerania" thenceforth), which + lies next the Sea: this, with some Towns and cuttings over and above, was + Sweden's share: Friedrich Wilhelm had to put up with HINDER-Pommern, + docked furthermore of the Town of Stettin, and of other valuable cuttings, + in favor of Sweden. Much to Friedrich Wilhelm's grief and just anger, + could he have helped it. + </p> + <p> + They gave him Three secularized Bishoprics, Magdeburg, Halberstadt, + Minden, with other small remnants, for compensation; and he had to be + content with these for the present. But he never gave up the idea of + Pommern: much of the effort of his life was spent upon recovering + Fore-Pommern: thrice-eager upon that, whenever lawful opportunity offered. + To no purpose then: he never could recover Swedish Pommern; only his late + descendants, and that by slowish degrees, could recover it all. Readers + remember that Burgermeister of Stettin, with the helmet and sword flung + into the grave and picked out again:—and can judge whether + Brandenburg got its good luck quite by lying in bed!— + </p> + <p> + Once, and once only, he had a voluntary purpose towards War, and it + remained a purpose only. Soon after the Peace of Westphalia, old + Pfalz-Neuburg, the same who got the slap on the face, went into tyrannous + proceedings against the Protestant part of his subjects in Julich-Cleve: + who called to Friedrich Wilhelm for help. Friedrich Wilhelm, a zealous + Protestant, made remonstrances, retaliations: ere long the thought struck + him, "Suppose, backed by the Dutch, we threw out this fantastic old + gentleman, his Papistries, and pretended claims and self, clear out of + it?" This was Friedrich Wilhelm's thought; and he suddenly marched troops + into the Territory, with that view. But Europe was in alarm, the Dutch + grew faint: Friedrich Wilhelm saw it would not do. He had a conference + with old Pfalz-Neuburg: "Young gentleman, we remember how your Grandfather + made free with us and our august countenance! Nevertheless we—" In + fine, the "statistic of Treaties" was increased by One: and there the + matter rested till calmer times. + </p> + <p> + In 1666, as already said, an effective Partition of these litigated + Territories was accomplished: Prussia to have the Duchy of Cleve-Proper, + the Counties of Mark and Ravensburg, with other Patches and Pertinents: + Neuburg, what was the better share, to have Julich Duchy and Berg Duchy. + Furthermore, if either of the Lines failed, in no sort was a collateral to + be admitted: but Brandenburg was to inherit Neuburg, or Neuburg + Brandenburg, as the case might be. [Pauli, v. 120-129.] A clear Bargain + this at last: and in the times that had come, it proved executable so far. + But if the reader fancies the Lawsuit was at last out in this way, he will + be a simple reader! In the days of our little Fritz, the Line of + Pfalz-Neuburg was evidently ending: but that Brandenburg and not a + collateral should succeed it, there lay the quarrel,—open still, as + if it had never been shut: and we shall hear enough about it!— + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0038" id="link2H_4_0038"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE GREAT KURFURST'S WARS: WHAT HE ACHIEVED IN WAR AND PEACE. + </h2> + <p> + Friedrich Wilhelm's first actual appearance in War, Polish-Swedish War + (1655-1660), was involuntary in the highest degree: forced upon him for + the sake of his Preussen, which bade fair to be lost or ruined, without + blame of his or its. Nevertheless, here too he made his benefit of the + affair. The big King of Sweden had a standing quarrel with his big Cousin + of Poland, which broke out into hot War; little Preussen lay between them, + and was like to be crushed in the collision. Swedish King was Karl Gustav, + Christina's Cousin, Charles Twelfth's Grandfather; a great and mighty man, + lion of the North in his time: Polish King was one John Casimir; + chivalrous enough, and with clouds of forward Polish chivalry about him, + glittering with barbaric gold. Frederick III., Danish King for the time + being, he also was much involved in the thing. Fain would Friedrich + Wilhelm have kept out of it, but he could not. Karl Gustav as good as + forced him to join: he joined; fought along with Karl Gustav an + illustrious Battle; "Battle of Warsaw," three days long (28-30th July, + 1656), on the skirts of Warsaw,—crowds "looking from the upper + windows" there; Polish chivalry, broken at last, going like chaff upon the + winds, and John Casimir nearly ruined. + </p> + <p> + Shortly after which, Friedrich Wilhelm, who had shone much in the Battle, + changed sides. An inconsistent, treacherous man? Perhaps not, O reader; + perhaps a man advancing "in circuits," the only way he has; spirally, face + now to east, now to west, with his own reasonable private aim sun-clear to + him all the while? + </p> + <p> + John Casimir agreed to give up the "Homage of Preussen" for this service; + a grand prize for Friedrich Wilhelm. [Treaty of Labiau, 10th November, + 1656 (Pauli, v. 73-75); 20th November (Stenzel, iv. 128,—who always + uses NEW STYLE).] What the Teutsch Ritters strove for in vain, and lost + their existence in striving for, the shifty Kurfurst has now got: Ducal + Prussia, which is also called East Prussia, is now a free sovereignty,—and + will become as "Royal" as the other Polish part. Or perhaps even more so, + in the course of time!—Karl Gustav, in a high frame of mind, informs + the Kurfurst, that he has him on his books, and will pay the debt one day! + </p> + <p> + A dangerous debtor in such matters, this Karl Gustav. In these same + months, busy with the Danish part of the Controversy, he was doing a feat + of war, which set all Europe in astonishment. In January, 1658, Karl + Gustav marches his Army, horse, foot and artillery, to the extent of + twenty thousand, across the Baltic ice, and takes an Island without + shipping,—Island of Funen, across the Little Belt; three miles of + ice; and a part of the sea open, which has to be crossed on planks. Nay, + forward from Funen, when once there, he achieves ten whole miles more of + ice; and takes Zealand itself, [Holberg's <i>Danemarkische + Reichs-Historie,</i> pp. 406-409.]—to the wonder of all mankind. An + imperious, stern-browed, swift-striking man; who had dreamed of a new Goth + Empire: The mean Hypocrites and Fribbles of the South to be coerced again + by noble Norse valor, and taught a new lesson. Has been known to lay his + hand on his sword while apprising an Ambassador (Dutch High-Mightiness) + what his royal intentions were: "Not the sale or purchase of groceries, + observe you, Sir! My aims go higher!"—Charles Twelfth's Grandfather, + and somewhat the same type of man. + </p> + <p> + But Karl Gustav died, short while after; [13th February, 1660, age 38.] + left his big wide-raging Northern Controversy to collapse in what way it + could. Sweden and the fighting-parties made their "Peace of Oliva" (Abbey + of Oliva, near Dantzig, 1st May, 1660); and this of Preussen was ratified, + in all form, among the other points. No homage more; nothing now above + Ducal Prussia but the Heavens; and great times coming for it. This was one + of the successfulest strokes of business ever done by Friedrich Wilhelm; + who had been forced, by sheer compulsion, to embark in that big game.—"Royal + Prussia," the Western or POLISH Prussia: this too, as all Newspapers know, + has, in our times, gone the same road as the other. Which probably, after + all, it may have had, in Nature, some tendency to do? Cut away, for + reasons, by the Polish sword, in that Battle of Tannenberg, long since; + and then, also for reasons, cut back again! That is the fact;—not + unexampled in human History. + </p> + <p> + Old Johann Casimir, not long after that Peace of Oliva, getting tired of + his unruly Polish chivalry and their ways, abdicated;—retired to + Paris; and "lived much with Ninon de l'Enclos and her circle," for the + rest of his life. He used to complain of his Polish chivalry, that there + was no solidity in them; nothing but outside glitter, with tumult and + anarchic noise; fatal want of one essential talent, the talent of Obeying; + and has been heard to prophesy that a glorious Republic, persisting in + such courses, would arrive at results which would surprise it. + </p> + <p> + Onward from this time, Friedrich Wilhelm figures in the world; public men + watching his procedure; Kings anxious to secure him,—Dutch + printsellers sticking up his Portraits for a hero-worshipping Public. + Fighting hero, had the Public known it, was not his essential character, + though he had to fight a great deal. He was essentially an Industrial man; + great in organizing, regulating, in constraining chaotic heaps to become + cosmic for him. He drains bogs, settles colonies in the waste-places of + his Dominions, cuts canals; unweariedly encourages trade and work. The + FRIEDRICH-WILHELM'S CANAL, which still carries tonnage from the Oder to + the Spree, [Executed, 1662-1668; fifteen English miles long (Busching, + ERDBESCHREIBUNG, vi, 2193).] is a monument of his zeal in this way; + creditable, with the means he had. To the poor French Protestants, in the + Edict-of-Nantes Affair, he was like an express Benefit of Heaven: one + Helper appointed, to whom the help itself was profitable. He munificently + welcomed them to Brandenburg; showed really a noble piety and human pity, + as well as judgment; nor did Brandenburg and he want their reward. Some + 20,000 nimble French souls, evidently of the best French quality, found a + home there;—made "waste sands about Berlin into potherb gardens;" + and in the spiritual Brandenburg, too, did something of horticulture, + which is still noticeable. [Erman (weak Biographer of Queen + Sophie-Charlotte, already cited), <i>Memoires pour sevir a l'Histoire den + Refugies Francais dans les Etats du Roi de Prusse</i> (Berlin, 1782-1794), + 8 tt. 8vo.] + </p> + <p> + Certainly this Elector was one of the shiftiest of men. Not an unjust man + either. A pious, God-fearing man rather, stanch to his Protestantism and + his Bible; not unjust by any means,—nor, on the other hand, by any + means thick-skinned in his interpretings of justice: Fair-play to myself + always; or occasionally even the Height of Fair-play! On the whole, by + constant energy, vigilance, adroit activity, by an ever-ready insight and + audacity to seize the passing fact by its right handle, he fought his way + well in the world; left Brandenburg a flourishing and greatly increased + Country, and his own name famous enough. + </p> + <p> + A thick-set stalwart figure; with brisk eyes, and high strong irregularly + Roman nose. Good bronze Statue of him, by Schluter, once a famed man, + still rides on the LANGE-BRUCKE (Long-Bridge) at Berlin; and his Portrait, + in huge frizzled Louis-Quatorze wig, is frequently met with in German + Galleries. Collectors of Dutch Prints, too, know him: here a gallant, + eagle-featured little gentleman, brisk in the smiles of youth, with + plumes, with truncheon, caprioling on his war-charger, view of tents in + the distance;—there a sedate, ponderous, wrinkly old man, eyes + slightly puckered (eyes BUSIER than mouth); a face well-ploughed by Time, + and not found unfruitful; one of the largest, most laborious, potent faces + (in an ocean of circumambient periwig) to be met with in that Century. + [Both Prints are Dutch; the Younger, my copy of the Younger, has lost the + Engraver's Name (Kurfurst's age is twenty-seven); the Elder is by MASSON, + 1633, when Friedrich Wilhelm was sixty-three.] There are many Histories + about him, too; but they are not comfortable to read. [G. D. Geyler, <i>Leben + und Thaten Friedrich Wihelms des Grossen</i> (Frankfort and Leipzig, + 1703), folio. Franz Horn, <i>Das Leben Friedrich Wilhelms des Grossen</i> + (Berlin, 1814). Pauli, <i>Staats-Geschichte,</i> Band v. (Halle, 1764). + Pufendorf, <i>De rebus gestis Friderici Wilhelmi Magni Electoris + Brandenburgensis Commentaria</i> (Lips. et Berol. 1733, fol.)] He also has + wanted a sacred Poet; and found only a bewildering Dryasdust. + </p> + <p> + His Two grand Feats that dwell in the Prussian memory are perhaps none of + his greatest, but were of a kind to strike the imagination. They both + relate to what was the central problem of his life,—the recovery of + Pommern from the Swedes. Exploit First is the famed "Battle of FEHRBELLIN + (Ferry of BellEEN)," fought on the 18th June, 1675. Fehrbellin is an + inconsiderable Town still standing in those peaty regions, some + five-and-thirty miles northwest of Berlin; and had for ages plied its poor + Ferry over the oily-looking, brown, sluggish stream called Rhin, or Rhein + in those parts, without the least notice from mankind, till this fell out. + It is a place of pilgrimage to patriotic Prussians, ever since Friedrich + Wilhelm's exploit there. The matter went thus:— + </p> + <p> + Friedrich Wilhelm was fighting, far south in Alsace, on Kaiser Leopold's + side, in the Louis-Fourteenth War; that second one, which ended in the + treaty of Nimwegen. Doing his best there,—when the Swedes, egged on + by Louis XIV., made war upon him; crossed the Pomeranian marches, troop + after troop, and invaded his Brandenburg Territory with a force which at + length amounted to some 16,000 men. No help for the moment: Friedrich + Wilhelm could not be spared from his post. The Swedes, who had at first + professed well, gradually went into plunder, roving, harrying, at their + own will; and a melancholy time they made of it for Friedrich Wilhelm and + his People. Lucky if temporary harm were all the ill they were likely to + do; lucky if—! He stood steady, however; in his solid manner, + finishing the thing in hand first, since that was feasible. He then even + retired into winter-quarters, to rest his men; and seemed to have left the + Swedish 16,000 autocrats of the situation; who accordingly went storming + about at a great rate. + </p> + <p> + Not so, however; very far indeed from so. Having rested his men for + certain months, Friedrich Wilhelm silently in the first days of June + (1675) gets them under march again; marches, his Cavalry and he as first + instalment, with best speed from Schweinfurt, [Stenzel, ii. 347.] which is + on the river Main, to Magdeburg; a distance of two hundred miles. At + Magdeburg, where he rests three days, waiting for the first handful of + foot and a field-piece or two, he learns that the Swedes are in three + parties wide asunder; the middle party of them within forty miles of him. + Probably stronger, even this middle one, than his small body (of "six + thousand Horse, twelve hundred Foot and three guns");—stronger, but + capable perhaps of being surprised, of being cut in pieces, before the + others can come up? Rathenau is the nearest skirt of this middle party: + thither goes the Kurfurst, softly, swiftly, in the June night (16-17th + June, 1675); gets into Rathenau, by brisk stratagem; tumbles out the + Swedish Horse-regiment there, drives it back towards Fehrbellin. + </p> + <p> + He himself follows hard;—swift riding enough, in the summer night, + through those damp Havel lands, in the old Hohenzollern fashion: and + indeed old Freisack Castle, as it chances,—Freisack, scene of + Dietrich von Quitzow and LAZY PEG long since,—is close by! Follows + hard, we say: strikes in upon this midmost party (nearly twice his number, + but Infantry for the most part); and after fierce fight, done with good + talent on both sides, cuts it into utter ruin, as proposed. Thereby he has + left the Swedish Army as a mere head and tail WITHOUT body; has entirely + demolished the Swedish Army. [Stenzel, ii. 350-357.] Same feat + intrinsically as that done by Cromwell, on Hamilton and the Scots, in + 1648. It was, so to speak, the last visit Sweden paid to Brandenburg, or + the last of any consequence; and ended the domination of the Swedes in + those quarters. A thing justly to be forever remembered by Brandenburg;—on + a smallish modern scale, the Bannockburn, Sempach, Marathon, of + Brandenburg. [See Pauli, v. 161-169; Stenzel, ii. 335, 340-347, 354; + Kausler, <i>Atlas des plus memorables Batailles, Combats et Sieges,</i> or + <i>Atlas der merkwurdigsten Schlachten, Treffen und Belagerungen</i> + (German and French, Carlsruhe and Freiburg, 1831), p. 417, Blatt 62.] + </p> + <p> + Exploit Second was four years later; in some sort a corollary to this; and + a winding-up of the Swedish business. The Swedes, in farther prosecution + of their Louis-Fourteenth speculation, had invaded Preussen this time, and + were doing sad havoc there. It was in the dead of winter, Christmas, 1678, + more than four hundred miles off; and the Swedes, to say nothing of their + other havoc, were in a case to take Konigsberg, and ruin Prussia + altogether, if not prevented. Friedrich Wilhelm starts from Berlin, with + the opening Year, on his long march; the Horse-troops first, Foot to + follow at their swiftest; he himself (his Wife, his ever-true "Louisa," + accompanying, as her wont was) travels, towards the end, at the rate of + "sixty miles a day." He gets in still in time, finds Konigsberg unscathed. + Nay it is even said, the Swedes are extensively falling sick; having, + after a long famine, found infinite "pigs, near Insterburg," in those + remote regions, and indulged in the fresh pork overmuch. + </p> + <p> + I will not describe the subsequent manoeuvres, which would interest + nobody: enough if I say that on the 16th of January, 1679, it had become + of the highest moment for Friedrich Wilhelm to get from Carwe (Village + near Elbing) on the shore of the FRISCHE HAF, where he was, through + Konigsberg, to Gilge on the CURISCHE HAF, where the Swedes are,—in a + minimum of time. Distance, as the crow flies, is about a hundred miles; + road, which skirts the two HAFS [Pauli, v. 215-222; Stenzel, ii. 392-397.] + (wide shallow WASHES, as we should name them), is of rough quality, and + naturally circuitous. It is ringing frost to-day, and for days back:—Friedrich + Wilhelm hastily gathers all the sledges, all the horses of the district; + mounts some four thousand men in sledges; starts, with the speed of light, + in that fashion. Scours along all day, and after the intervening bit of + land, again along; awakening the ice-bound silences. Gloomy Frische Haf, + wrapt in its Winter cloud-coverlids, with its wastes of tumbled sand, its + poor frost-bound fishing-hamlets, pine-hillocks,—desolate-looking, + stern as Greenland or more so, says Busching, who travelled there in + winter-time, [Busching's <i>Beitrage</i> (Halle, 1789), vi. 160.]—hears + unexpected human noises, and huge grinding and trampling; the four + thousand, in long fleet of sledges, scouring across it, in that manner. + All day they rush along,—out of the rimy hazes of morning into the + olive-colored clouds of evening again,—with huge loud-grinding + rumble;—and do arrive in time at Gilge. A notable streak of things, + shooting across those frozen solitudes, in the New-Year, 1679;—little + short of Karl Gustav's feat, which we heard of, in the other or Danish end + of the Baltic, twenty years ago, when he took Islands without ships. + </p> + <p> + This Second Exploit—suggested or not by that prior one of Karl + Gustav on the ice—is still a thing to be remembered by Hohenzollerns + and Prussians. The Swedes were beaten here, on Friedrich Wilhelm's rapid + arrival; were driven into disastrous rapid retreat Northward; which they + executed, in hunger and cold; fighting continually, like Northern bears, + under the grim sky; Friedrich Wilhelm sticking to their skirts,—holding + by their tail, like an angry bear-ward with steel whip in his hand. A + thing which, on the small scale, reminds one of Napoleon's experiences. + Not till Napoleon's huge fighting-flight, a hundred and thirty-four years + after, did I read of such a transaction in those parts. The Swedish + invasion of Preussen has gone utterly to ruin. + </p> + <p> + And this, then, is the end of Sweden, and its bad neighborhood on these + shores, where it has tyrannously sat on our skirts so long? Swedish + Pommern the Elector already had: last year, coming towards it ever since + the Exploit of Fehrbellin, he had invaded Swedish Pommern; had besieged + and taken Stettin, nay Stralsund too, where Wallenstein had failed;—cleared + Pommern altogether of its Swedish guests. Who had tried next in Preussen, + with what luck we see. Of Swedish Pommern the Elector might now say: + "Surely it is mine; again mine, as it long was; well won a second time, + since the first would not do!" But no:—Louis XIV. proved a gentleman + to his Swedes. Louis, now that the Peace of Nimwegen had come, and only + the Elector of Brandenburg was still in harness, said steadily, though + anxious enough to keep well with the Elector: "They are my allies, these + Swedes; it was on my bidding they invaded you: can I leave them in such a + pass? It must not be!" So Pommern had to be given back. A miss which was + infinitely grievous to Friedrich Wilhelm. The most victorious Elector + cannot hit always, were his right never so good. + </p> + <p> + Another miss which he had to put up with, in spite of his rights, and his + good services, was that of the Silesian Duchies. The Heritage-Fraternity + with Liegnitz had at length, in 1675, come to fruit. The last Duke of + Liegnitz was dead: Duchies of Liegnitz, of Brieg, Wohlau, are + Brandenburg's, if there were right done! But Kaiser Leopold in the scarlet + stockings will not hear of Heritage-Fraternity. "Nonsense!" answers Kaiser + Leopold: "A thing suppressed at once, ages ago; by Imperial power: flat + ZERO of a thing at this time;—and you, I again bid you, return me + your Papers upon it!" This latter act of duty Friedrich Wilhelm would not + do; but continued insisting. [Pauli, v. 321.] "Jagerndorf at least, O + Kaiser of the world," said he; "Jagerndorf, there is no color for your + keeping that!" To which the Kaiser again answers, "Nonsense!"—and + even falls upon astonishing schemes about it, as we shall see;—but + gives nothing. Ducal Preussen is sovereign, Cleve is at Peace, + Hinter-Pommern ours;—this Elector has conquered much: but the + Silesian Heritages and Vor-Pommern, and some other things, he will have to + do without. Louis XIV., it is thought, once offered to get him made King; + [Ib. vii. 215.] but that he declined for the present. + </p> + <p> + His married and domestic life is very fine and human; especially with that + Oranien-Nassau Princess, who was his first Wife (1646-1667); Princess + Louisa of Nassau-Orange; Aunt to our own Dutch William, King William III., + in time coming. An excellent wise Princess; from whom came the Orange + Heritages, which afterwards proved difficult to settle:—Orange was + at last exchanged for the small Principality of Neufchatel in Switzerland, + which is Prussia's ever since. "Oranienburg (ORANGE-BURG)," a Royal + Country-house, still standing, some twenty miles northwards from Berlin, + was this Louisa's place: she had trimmed it up into a little jewel, of the + Dutch type,—potherb gardens, training-schools for young girls, and + the like;—a favorite abode of hers, when she was at liberty for + recreation. But her life was busy and earnest: she was helpmate, not in + name only, to an ever-busy man. They were married young; a marriage of + love withal. Young Friedrich Wilhelm's courtship, wedding in Holland; the + honest trustful walk and conversation of the two Sovereign Spouses, their + journeyings together, their mutual hopes, fears and manifold vicissitudes; + till Death, with stern beauty, shut it in:—all is human, true and + wholesome in it; interesting to look upon, and rare among sovereign + persons. + </p> + <p> + Not but that he had his troubles with his womankind. Even with this his + first Wife, whom he loved truly, and who truly loved him, there were + scenes; the Lady having a judgment of her own about everything that + passed, and the Man being choleric withal. Sometimes, I have heard, "he + would dash his hat at her feet," saying symbolically, "Govern you, then, + Madam! Not the Kurfurst-Hat; a Coif is my wear, it seems!" [Forster, <i>Friedrich + Wilhelm I. Konig von Preussen</i> (Potsdam, 1834), i. 177.] Yet her + judgment was good; and he liked to have it on the weightiest things, + though her powers of silence might halt now and then. He has been known, + on occasion, to run from his Privy-Council to her apartment, while a + complex matter was debating, to ask her opinion, hers too, before it was + decided. Excellent Louisa; Princess full of beautiful piety, good-sense + and affection; a touch of the Nassau-Heroic in her. At the moment of her + death, it is said, when speech had fled, he felt, from her hand which lay + in his, three slight, slight pressures: "Farewell!" thrice mutely spoken + in that manner,—not easy to forget in this world. [Wegfuhrer, <i>Leben + der Kurfurstin Luise</i> (Leipzig, 1838), p. 175.] + </p> + <p> + His second Wife, Dorothea,—who planted the Lindens in Berlin, and + did other husbandries, of whom we have heard, fell far short of Louisa in + many things; but not in tendency to advise, to remonstrate, and + plaintively reflect on the finished and unalterable. Dreadfully thrifty + lady, moreover; did much in dairy produce, farming of town-rates, + provision-taxes: not to speak again of that Tavern she was thought to have + in Berlin, and to draw custom to in an oblique manner! What scenes she had + with Friedrich her stepson, we have seen. "Ah, I have not my Louisa now; + to whom now shall I run for advice or help!" would the poor Kurfurst at + times exclaim. + </p> + <p> + He had some trouble, considerable trouble now and then, with mutinous + spirits in Preussen; men standing on antique Prussian franchises and + parchments; refusing to see that the same were now antiquated, + incompatible, not to say impossible, as the new Sovereign alleged; and + carrying themselves very stiffly at times. But the Hohenzollerns had been + used to such things; a Hohenzollern like this one would evidently take his + measures, soft but strong, and ever stronger to the needful pitch, with + mutinous spirits. One Burgermeister of Konigsberg, after much stroking on + the back, was at length seized in open Hall, by Electoral writ,—soldiers + having first gently barricaded the principal streets, and brought cannon + to bear upon them. This Burgermeister, seized in such brief way, lay + prisoner for life; refusing to ask his liberty, though it was thought he + might have had it on asking. [Horn, <i>Das Leben Friedrich Wilhelms des + Grossen</i> (Berlin, 1814), p. 68.] + </p> + <p> + Another gentleman, a Baron von Kalkstein, of old Teutsch-Bitter kin, of + very high ways, in the Provincial Estates (STANDE) and elsewhere, got into + lofty almost solitary opposition, and at length into mutiny proper, + against the new "Non-Polish SOVEREIGN," and flatly refused to do homage at + his accession in that new capacity. [Supra, pp. 383, et seqq.] Refused, + Kalkstein did, for his share; fled to Warsaw; and very fiercely, in a loud + manner, carried on his mutinies in the Diets and Court-Conclaves there; + his plea being, or plea for the time, "Poland is our liege lord [which it + was not always], and we cannot be transferred to you, except by our + consent asked and given," which too had been a little neglected on the + former occasion of transfer. So that the Great Elector knew not what to do + with Kalkstein; and at length (as the case was pressing) had him kidnapped + by his Ambassador at Warsaw; had him "rolled into a carpet" there, and + carried swiftly in the Ambassador's coach, in the form of luggage, over + the frontier, into his native Province, there to be judged, and, in the + end (since nothing else would serve him), to have the sentence executed, + and his head cut off. For the case was pressing! [Horn, pp. 80-82.]—These + things, especially this of Kalkstein, with a boisterous Polish Diet and + parliamentary eloquence in the rear of him, gave rise to criticism; and + required management on the part of the Great Elector. + </p> + <p> + Of all his Ancestors, our little Fritz, when he grew big, admired this + one. A man made like himself in many points. He seems really to have loved + and honored this one. In the year 1750 there had been a new Cathedral got + finished at Berlin; the ancestral bones had to be shifted over from the + vaults of the old one,—the burying-place ever since Joachim II., + that Joachim who drew his sword on Alba. "King Friedrich, with some + attendants, witnessed the operation, January, 1750. When the Great + Kurfurst's coffin came, he made them open it; gazed in silence on the + features for some time, which were perfectly recognizable; laid his hand + on the hand long dead, and said, <i>'Messieurs, celui-ci a fait de grandes + choses</i> (This one did a great work)!'" [See Preuss, i. 270.] + </p> + <p> + He died 29th April, 1688;—looking with intense interest upon Dutch + William's preparations to produce a Glorious Revolution in this Island; + being always of an ardent Protestant feeling, and a sincerely religious + man. Friedrich, Crown-Prince, age then thirty-one, and already married a + second time, was of course left Chief Heir;—who, as we see, has not + declined the Kingship, when a chance for it offered. There were four + Half-brothers of Friedrich, too, who got apanages, appointments. They had + at one time confidently looked for much more, their Mother being busy; but + were obliged to be content, and conform to the GERA BOND and fundamental + Laws of the Country. They are entitled Margraves; two of whom left + children, Margraves of Brandenburg-Schwedt, HEERMEISTERS (Head of the + Malta-Knighthood) at Sonnenburg, Statthalters in Magdeburg, or I know not + what; whose names turn up confusedly in the Prussian Books; and, except as + temporary genealogical puzzles, are not of much moment to the Foreign + reader. Happily there is nothing else in the way of Princes of the Blood, + in our little Friedrich's time; and happily what concern he had with + these, or how he was related to them, will not be abstruse to us, if + occasion rise. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XIX. — KING FRIEDRICH I. AGAIN. + </h2> + <p> + We said the Great Elector never could work his Silesian Duchies out of + Kaiser Leopold's grip: to all his urgencies the little Kaiser in red + stockings answered only in evasions, refusals; and would quit nothing. We + noticed also what quarrels the young Electoral Prince, Friedrich, + afterwards King, had got into with his Stepmother; suddenly feeling + poisoned after dinner, running to his Aunt at Cassel, coming back on + treaty, and the like. These are two facts which the reader knows: and out + of these two grew a third, which it is fit he should know. + </p> + <p> + In his last years, the Great Elector, worn out with labor, and harassed + with such domestic troubles over and above, had evidently fallen much + under his Wife's management; cutting out large apanages (clear against the + GERA BOND) for her children;—longing probably for quiet in his + family at any price. As to the poor young Prince, negotiated back from + Cassel, he lived remote, and had fallen into open disfavor,—with a + very ill effect upon his funds, for one thing. His father kept him + somewhat tight on the money-side, it is alleged; and he had rather a turn + for spending money handsomely. He was also in some alarm about the + proposed apanages to his Half-brothers, the Margraves above mentioned, of + which there were rumors going. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0040" id="link2H_4_0040"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HOW AUSTRIA SETTLED THE SILESIAN CLAIMS. + </h2> + <p> + Now in these circumstances the Austrian Court, who at this time (1685) + greatly needed the Elector's help against Turks and others, and found him + very urgent about these Silesian Duchies of his, fell upon what I must + call a very extraordinary shift for getting rid of the Silesian question. + "Serene Highness," said they, by their Ambassador at Berlin, "to end these + troublesome talks, and to liquidate all claims, admissible and + inadmissible, about Silesia, the Imperial Majesty will give you an actual + bit of Territory, valuable, though not so large as you expected!" The + Elector listens with both ears: What Territory, then? The "Circle of + Schwiebus," hanging on the northwestern edge of Silesia, contiguous to the + Elector's own Dominions in these Frankfurt-on-Oder regions: this the + generous Imperial Majesty proposes to give in fee-simple to Friedrich + Wilhelm, and so to end the matter. Truly a most small patch of Territory + in comparison; not bigger than an English Rutlandshire, to say nothing of + soil and climate! But then again it was an actual patch of territory; not + a mere parchment shadow of one: this last was a tempting point to the old + harassed Elector. Such friendly offer they made him, I think, in 1685, at + the time they were getting 8,000 of his troops to march against the Turks + for them; a very needful service at the moment. "By the bye, do not march + through Silesia, you!—Or march faster!" said the cautious Austrians + on this occasion: "Other roads will answer better than Silesia!" said + they. [Pauli, v. 327, 332.] Baron Freytag, their Ambassador at Berlin, had + negotiated the affair so far: "Circle of Schwiebus," said Freytag, "and + let us have done with these thorny talks!" + </p> + <p> + But Baron Freytag had been busy, in the mean while, with the young Prince; + secretly offering Sympathy, counsel, help; of all which the poor Prince + stood in need enough. "We will help you in that dangerous matter of the + Apanages," said Freytag; "Help you in all things,"—I suppose he + would say,—"necessary pocket-money is not a thing your Highness need + want!" And thus Baron Freytag, what is very curious, had managed to + bargain beforehand with the young Prince, That directly on coming to + power, he would give up Schwiebus again, SHOULD the offer of Schwiebus be + accepted by Papa. To which effect Baron Freytag held a signed Bond, duly + executed by the young man, before Papa had concluded at all. Which is very + curious indeed!— + </p> + <p> + Poor old Papa, worn out with troubles, accepted Schwiebus in liquidation + of all claims (8th April, 1686), and a few days after set his men on march + against the Turks:—and, exactly two months beforehand, on the 8th of + February last, the Prince had signed HIS secret engagement, That Schwiebus + should be a mere phantasm to Papa; that he, the Prince, would restore it + on his accession. Both these singular Parchments, signed, sealed and done + in the due legal form, lay simultaneously in Freytag's hand; and probably + enough they exist yet, in some dusty corner, among the solemn sheepskins + of the world. This is literally the plan hit upon by an Imperial Court, to + assist a young Prince in his pecuniary and other difficulties, and get rid + of Silesian claims. Plan actually not unlike that of swindling + money-lenders to a young gentleman in difficulties, and of manageable + turn, who has got into their hands. + </p> + <p> + The Great Elector died two years after; Schwiebus then in his hand. The + new Elector, once instructed as to the nature of the affair, refused to + give up Schwiebus; [19th September, 1689 Pauli, vii. 74.] declared the + transaction a swindle:—and in fact, for seven years more, retained + possession of Schwiebus. But the Austrian Court insisted, with emphasis, + at length with threats (no insuperable pressure from Louis, or the Turks, + at this time); the poor cheated Elector had, at last, to give up + Schwiebus, in terms of his promise. [31st December, 1694.] He took act + that it had been a surreptitious transaction, palmed upon him while + ignorant, and while without the least authority or power to make such a + promise; that he was not bound by it, nor would be, except on compulsion + thus far: and as to binding Brandenburg by it, how could he, at that + period of his history, bind Brandenburg? Brandenburg was not then his to + bind, any more than China was. + </p> + <p> + His Raths had advised Friedrich against giving up Schwiebus in that + manner. But his answer is on record: "I must, I will and shall keep my own + word. But my rights on Silesia, which I could not, and do not in these + unjust circumstances, compromise, I leave intact for my posterity to + prosecute. If God and the course of events order it no otherwise than now, + we must be content. But if God shall one day send the opportunity, those + that come after me will know what they have to do in such case." [Pauli, + vii. 150.] And so Schwiebus was given up, the Austrians paying back what + Brandenburg had laid out in improving it, "250,000 GULDEN (25,000 + pounds);"—and the Hand of Power had in this way, finally as it + hoped, settled an old troublesome account of Brandenburg's. Settled the + Silesian-Duchies Claim, by the temporary Phantasm of a Gift of Schwiebus. + That is literally the Liegnitz-Jagerndorf case; and the reader is to note + it and remember it. For it will turn up again in History. The Hand of + Power is very strong: but a stronger may perhaps get hold of its knuckles + one day, at an advantageous time, and do a feat upon it. + </p> + <p> + The "eventual succession to East Friesland," which had been promised by + the Reich, some ten years ago, to the Great Elector, "for what he had done + against the Turks, and what he had suffered from those Swedish Invasions, + in the Common Cause:" this shadow of Succession, the Kaiser now said, + should not be haggled with any more; but be actually realized, and the + Imperial sanction to it now given,—effect to follow IF the Friesland + Line died out. Let this be some consolation for the loss of Schwiebus and + your Silesian Duchies. Here in Friesland is the ghost of a coming + possession; there in Schwiebus was the ghost of a going one: phantasms you + shall not want for; but the Hand of Power parts not with its realities, + however come by. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0041" id="link2H_4_0041"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + HIS REAL CHARACTER. + </h2> + <p> + Poor Friedrich led a conspicuous life as Elector and King; but no public + feat he did now concerns us like this private one of Schwiebus. + Historically important, this, and requiring to be remembered, while so + much else demands mere oblivion from us. He was a spirited man; did + soldierings, fine Siege of Bonn (July-October, 1689), sieges and + campaignings, in person,—valiant in action, royal especially in + patience there,—during that Third War of Louis-Fourteenth's, the + Treaty-of-Ryswick one. All through the Fourth, or Spanish Succession-War, + his Prussian Ten-Thousand, led by fit generals, showed eminently what + stuff they were made of. Witness Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau (still a YOUNG + Dessauer) on the field of Blenheim;—Leopold had the right wing + there, and saved Prince Eugene who was otherwise blown to pieces, while + Marlborough stormed and conquered on the left. Witness the same Dessauer + on the field of Hochstadt the year before, [Varnhagen von Ense, <i>Biographische + Denkmale</i> (Berlin, 1845), ii, 155.] how he managed the retreat there. + Or see him at the Bridge of Cassano (1705); in the Lines of Turin (1706); + [<i> Des weltheruhnden Furstens Leopoldi von Anhult-Dessau Leben und + Thaten</i> (Leipzig, 1742, anonymous, by one MICHAEL RANFFT), pp. 53, 61.] + wherever hot service was on hand. At Malplaquet, in those murderous + inexpugnable French Lines, bloodiest of obstinate Fights (upwards of + thirty thousand left on the ground), the Prussians brag that it was they + who picked their way through a certain peat-bog, reckoned impassable; and + got fairly in upon the French wing,—to the huge comfort of + Marlborough, and little Eugene his brisk comrade on that occasion. + Marlborough knew well the worth of these Prussian troops, and also how to + stroke his Majesty into continuing them in the field. + </p> + <p> + He was an expensive King, surrounded by cabals, by Wartenbergs male and + female, by whirlpools of intrigues, which, now that the game is over, + become very forgettable. But one finds he was a strictly honorable man; + with a certain height and generosity of mind, capable of other nobleness + than the upholstery kind. He had what we may call a hard life of it; did + and suffered a good deal in his day and generation, not at all in a + dishonest or unmanful manner. In fact, he is quite recognizably a + Hohenzollern,—with his back half broken. Readers recollect that sad + accident: how the Nurse, in one of those headlong journeys which his + Father and Mother were always making, let the poor child fall or jerk + backward; and spoiled him much, and indeed was thought to have killed him, + by that piece of inattention. He was not yet Hereditary Prince, he was + only second son: but the elder died; and he became Elector, King; and had + to go with his spine distorted,—distortion not glaringly + conspicuous, though undeniable;—and to act the Hohenzollern SO. Nay + who knows but it was this very jerk, and the half-ruin of his nervous + system,—this doubled wish to be beautiful, and this crooked back + capable of being hid or decorated into straightness,—that first set + the poor man on thinking of expensive ornamentalities, and Kingships in + particular? History will forgive the Nurse in that case. + </p> + <p> + Perhaps History has dwelt too much on the blind side of this expensive + King. Toland, on entering his country, was struck rather with the signs of + good administration everywhere. No sooner have you crossed the Prussian + Border, out of Westphalia, says Toland, than smooth highways, well-tilled + fields, and a general air of industry and regularity, are evident: solid + milestones, brass-bound, and with brass inscription, tell the traveller + where he is; who finds due guidance of finger-posts, too, and the blessing + of habitable inns. The people seem all to be busy, diligently occupied; + villages reasonably swept and whitewashed;—never was a better set of + Parish Churches; whether new-built or old, they are all in brand-new + repair. The contrast with Westphalia is immediate and great; but indeed + that was a sad country, to anybody but a patient Toland, who knows the + causes of phenomena. No inns there, except of the naturally savage sort. + "A man is very happy if he finds clean straw to sleep on, without + expecting sheets or coverings; let him readily dispense with plates, forks + and napkins, if he can get anything to eat.... He must be content to have + the cows, swine and poultry for his fellow-lodgers, and to go in at the + same passage that the smoke comes out at, for there's no other vent for it + but the door; which makes foreigners commonly say that the people of + Westphalia enter their houses by the chimney." And observe withal: "This + is the reason why their beef and hams are so finely prepared and ripened; + for the fireplace being backwards, the smoke must spread over all the + house before it gets to the door; which makes everything within of a + russet or sable color, not excepting the hands and faces of the meaner + sort." [<i>An Account of the Courts of Prussia and Hanover,</i> by Mr. + Toland (cited already), p. 4.] If Prussia yield to Westphalia in ham, in + all else she is strikingly superior. + </p> + <p> + He founded Universities, this poor King; University of Halle; Royal + Academy of Berlin, Leibnitz presiding: he fought for Protestantism;—did + what he could for the cause of Cosmos VERSUS Chaos, after his fashion. The + magnificences of his Charlottenburgs, Oranienburgs and numerous + Country-houses make Toland almost poetic. An affable kindly man withal, + though quick of temper; his word sacred to him. A man of many troubles, + and acquainted with "the infinitely little (L'INFINIMENT PETIT)," as his + Queen termed it. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Chapter XX. — DEATH OF KING FRIEDRICH I. + </h2> + <p> + Old King Friedrich I. had not much more to do in the world, after + witnessing the christening of his Grandson of like name. His leading forth + or sending forth of troops, his multiplex negotiations, solemn + ceremonials, sad changes of ministry, sometimes transacted "with tears," + are mostly ended; the ever-whirling dust-vortex of intrigues, of which he + has been the centre for a five-and-twenty years, is settling down finally + towards everlasting rest. No more will Marlborough come and dexterously + talk him over,—proud to "serve as cupbearer," on occasion, to so + high a King—for new bodies of men to help in the next campaign: we + have ceased to be a King worthy of such a cupbearer, and Marlborough's + campaigns too are all ended. + </p> + <p> + Much is ended. They are doing the sorrowful Treaty of Utrecht; Louis XIV. + himself is ending; mournfully shrunk into the corner, with his Missal and + his Maintenon; looking back with just horror on Europe four times set + ablaze for the sake of one poor mortal in big periwig, to no purpose. + Lucky if perhaps Missal-work, orthodox litanies, and even Protestant + Dragonnades, can have virtue to wipe out such a score against a man! + Unhappy Louis: the sun-bright gold has become dim as copper; we rose in + storms, and we are setting in watery clouds. The Kaiser himself (Karl VI., + Leopold's Son, Joseph I.'s younger Brother) will have to conform to this + Treaty of Utrecht: what other possibility for him? + </p> + <p> + The English, always a wonderful Nation, fought and subsidied from side to + side of Europe for this Spanish-Succession business; fought ten years, + such fighting as they never did before or since, under "John Duke of + Marlborough," who, as is well known, "beat the French thorough and + thorough." French entirely beaten at last, not without heroic difficulty + and as noble talent as was ever shown in diplomacy and war, are ready to + do your will in all things; in this of giving up Spain, among others:—whereupon + the English turn round, with a sudden new thought, "No, we will not have + our WILL done; it shall be the other way, the way it WAS,—now that + we bethink ourselves, after all this fighting for our will!" And make + Peace on those terms, as if no war had been; and accuse the great + Marlborough of many things, of theft for one. A wonderful People; and in + their Continental Politics (which indeed consist chiefly of Subsidies) + thrice wonderful. So the Treaty of Utrecht is transacting itself; which + that of Rastadt, on the part of Kaiser and Empire, unable to get on + without Subsidies, will have to follow: and after such quantities of + powder burnt, and courageous lives wasted, general AS-YOU-WERE is the + result arrived at. + </p> + <p> + Old Friedrich's Ambassadors are present at Utrecht, jangling and pleading + among the rest; at Berlin too the despatch of business goes lumbering on; + but what thing, in the shape of business, at Utrecht or at Berlin, is of + much importance to the old man? Seems as if Europe itself were waxing dim, + and sinking to stupid sleep,—as we, in our poor royal person, full + surely are. A Crown has been achieved, and diamond buttons worth 1,500 + pounds apiece; but what is a Crown, and what are buttons, after all?—I + suppose the tattle and SINGERIES of little Wilhelmina, whom he would spend + whole days with; this and occasional visits to a young Fritzchen's cradle, + who is thriving moderately, and will speak and do aperies one day,—are + his main solacements in the days that are passing. Much of this + Friedrich's life has gone off like the smoke of fire-works, has faded + sorrowfully, and proved phantasmal. Here is an old Autograph Note, written + by him at the side of that Cradle, and touching on a slight event there; + which, as it connects two venerable Correspondents and their Seventeenth + Century with a grand Phenomenon of the Eighteenth, we will insert here. + The old King addresses his older Mother-in-law, famed Electress Sophie of + Hanover, in these terms (spelling corrected):— + </p> + <p> + "CHARLOTTENBURG, den 30 August, 1712. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Ew. Churf. Durchlaucht werden sich zweifelsohne mit uns +erfreuen, dass der kleine Printz (PRINZ) Fritz nuhnmero (NUNMEHR) 6 +Zehne (ZAHNE) hat und ohne die geringste incommoditet (-TAT). Daraus +kann man auch die PREDESTINATION sehen, dass alle seine Bruder haben +daran sterben mussen, dieser aber bekommt sie ohne Muhe wie seine +Schwester. Gott erhalte ihn uns noch lange zum trohst (TROST), in dessen +Schutz ich dieselbe ergebe und lebenslang verbleibe, + + "Ew. Churf. Durchl. gehorsamster Diener und treuer Sohn, +</pre> + <p> + "FRIEDRICH R." + </p> + <p> + [Preuss, <i>Friedrich der Grosse (Historische Skizze,</i> Berlin, 1838), + p. 380.] + </p> + <p> + Of which this is the literal English:—"Your Electoral Serenity will + doubtless rejoice with us that the little Prince Fritz has now got his + sixth tooth without the least INCOMMODITE. And therein we may trace a + pre-destination, inasmuch as his Brothers died of teething [<i>Not of + cannon-sound and weight of head-gear, then, your Majesty thinks? That were + a painful thought?</i>]; and this one, as his Sister [WILHELMINA] did, + gets them [THE TEETH] without trouble. God preserve him long for a comfort + to us:—to whose protection I commit DIESELBE [<i>Your Electoral + Highness, in the third person</i>], and remain lifelong, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + "Your Electoral Highness's most obedient Servant and true Son, +</pre> + <p> + "FRIEDRICH REX." + </p> + <p> + One of Friedrich Rex's worst adventures was his latest; commenced some + five or six years ago (1708), and now not far from terminating. He was a + Widower, of weakly constitution, towards fifty: his beautiful ingenious + "Serena," with all her Theologies, pinch-of-snuff Coronations and other + earthly troubles, was dead; and the task of continuing the Hohenzollern + progeny, given over to Friedrich Wilhelm the Prince Royal, was thought to + be in good hands. Majesty Friedrich with the weak back had retired, in + 1708, to Karlsbad, to rest from his cares; to take the salutary waters, + and recruit his weak nerves a little. Here, in the course of confidential + promenadings, it was hinted, it was represented to him by some pickthank + of a courtier, That the task of continuing the Hohenzollern progeny did + not seem to prosper in the present good hands; that Sophie Dorothee, + Princess Royal, had already borne two royal infants which had speedily + died: that in fact it was to be gathered from the medical men, if not from + their words, then from their looks and cautious innuendoes, that Sophie + Dorothee, Princess Royal, would never produce a Prince or even Princess + that would live; which task, therefore, did now again seem to devolve upon + his Majesty, if his Majesty had not insuperable objections? Majesty had no + insuperable objections; old Majesty listened to the flattering tale; and, + sure enough, he smarted for it in a signal manner. + </p> + <p> + By due industry, a Princess was fixed upon for Bride, Princess Sophie + Louisa of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, age now twenty-four: she was got as Wife, + and came home to Berlin in all pomp;—but good came not with her to + anybody there. Not only did she bring the poor old man no children, which + was a fault to be overlooked, considering Sophie Dorothee's success; but + she brought a querulous, weak and self-sufficient female humor; found his + religion heterodox,—he being Calvinist, and perhaps even + lax-Calvinist, she Lutheran as the Prussian Nation is, and strict to the + bone:—heterodox wholly, to the length of no salvation possible; and + times rose on the Berlin Court such as had never been seen before! "No + salvation possible, says my Dearest? Hah! And an innocent Court-Mask or + Dancing Soiree is criminal in the sight of God and of the Queen? And we + are children of wrath wholly, and a frivolous generation; and the Queen + will see us all—!" + </p> + <p> + The end was, his Majesty, through sad solitary days and nights, repented + bitterly that he had wedded such a She-Dominic; grew quite estranged from + her; the poor She-Dominic giving him due return in her way,—namely, + living altogether in her own apartments, upon orthodoxy, jealousy and + other bad nourishment. Till at length she went quite mad; and, except the + due medical and other attendants, nobody saw her, or spoke of her, at + Berlin. Was this a cheering issue of such an adventure to the poor old + expensive Gentleman? He endeavored to digest in silence the bitter morsel + he had cooked for himself; but reflected often, as an old King might, What + dirt have I eaten! + </p> + <p> + In this way stands that matter in the Schloss of Berlin, when little + Friedrich, who will one day be called the Great, is born. Habits of the + expensive King, hours of rising, modes of dressing, and so forth, are to + be found in Pollnitz; [Pollnitz, <i>Memoiren zur Lebens-und + Regierungs-Geschichte der Vier letzten Regenten des Preussischen Staats</i> + (Berlin, 1791). A vague, inexact, but not quite uninstructive or + uninteresting Book: Printed also in FRENCH, which was the Original, same + place and time.] but we charitably omit them all. Even from foolish + Pollnitz a good eye will gather, what was above intimated, that this + feeble-backed, heavy-laden old King was of humane and just disposition; + had dignity in his demeanor; had reticence, patience; and, though + hot-tempered like all the Hohenzollerns, that he bore himself like a + perfect gentleman for one thing; and tottered along his high-lying + lonesome road not in an unmanful manner at all. Had not his nerves been + damaged by that fall in infancy, who knows but we might have had something + else to read of him than that he was regardless of expense in this world! + </p> + <p> + His last scene, of date February, 1713, is the tragical ultimatum of that + fine Karlsbad adventure of the Second marriage,—Third marriage, in + fact, though the First, anterior to "Serena," is apt to be forgotten, + having lasted short while, and produced only a Daughter, not memorable + except by accident. This Third marriage, which had brought so many sorrows + to him, proved at length the death of the old man. For he sat one morning, + in the chill February days of the Year 1713, in his Apartment, as usual; + weak of nerves, but thinking no special evil; when, suddenly with huge + jingle, the glass door of his room went to sherds; and there rushed in—bleeding + and dishevelled, the fatal "White Lady" (WEISSE FRAU), who is understood + to walk that Schloss at Berlin, and announce Death to the Royal + inhabitants. Majesty had fainted, or was fainting. "Weisse Frau? Oh no, + your Majesty!"—not that; but indeed something almost worse.—Mad + Queen, in her Apartments, had been seized, that day, when half or quarter + dressed; with unusual orthodoxy or unusual jealousy. Watching her + opportunity, she had whisked into the corridor, in extreme deshabille; and + gone, like the wild roe, towards Majesty's Suite of Rooms; through + Majesty's glass door, like a catapult; and emerged as we saw,—in + petticoat and shift, with hair streaming, eyes glittering, arms cut, and + the other sad trimmings. O Heaven, who could laugh? There are tears due to + Kings and to all men. It was deep misery; deep enough "SIN and misery," as + Calvin well says, on the one side and the other! The poor old King was + carried to bed; and never rose again, but died in a few days. The date of + the WEISSE FRAU'S death, one might have hoped, was not distant either; but + she lasted, in her sad state, for above twenty years coming. + </p> + <p> + Old King Friedrich's death-day was 25th February, 1713; the unconscious + little Grandson being then in his Fourteenth month. To whom, after this + long, voyage round the world, we now gladly return. + </p> + <p> + By way of reinforcement to any recollection the reader may have of these + Twelve Hohenzollern Kurfursts, I will append a continuous list of them, + with here and there an indication. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0043" id="link2H_4_0043"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE TWELVE HOHENZOLLERN ELECTORS. + </h2> + <p> + 1. FRIEDRICH I. (as Burggraf, was Friedrich VI.): born, it is inferred, + 1372 (Rentsch, p. 350); accession, 18th April, 1417; died 21st September, + 1440. Had come to Brandenburg, 1412, as Statthalter. The Quitzows and + HEAVY PEG. + </p> + <p> + 2. FRIEDRICH II.: 19th November, 1413; 21st September, 1440; 10th + February, 1472. Friedrich IRONTEETH; tames the Berlin Burghers. Spoke + Polish, was to have been Polish King. Cannon-shot upon his dinner-table + shatters his nerves so, that he abdicates, and soon dies. JOHANNES + ALCHYMISTA his elder Brother; ALBERT ACHILLES his younger. + </p> + <p> + 3. ALBERT (Achilles): 24th November, 1414; 10th February, 1471; 11th + March, 1486. Third son of Friedrich I.; is lineal Progenitor of all the + rest. Eldest Son, JOHANN CICERO, follows as Kurfurst; a Younger Son, + FRIEDRICH (by a different Mother), got Culmbach, and produced the Elder + Line there. (See Genealogical Diagram.) + </p> + <p> + 4. JOHANN (Cicero): 2d August, 1455; 11th March, 1486; 9th January, 1499. + Big John. Friedrich of Culmbach's elder (Half-) Brother. + </p> + <p> + 5. JOACHIM I.: 21st February, 1484; 9th January, 1499; 11th July, 1535. + Loud in the Reformation times; finally declares peremptorily for the + Conservative side. Wife (Sister of Christian II. of Denmark) runs away. + </p> + <p> + Younger Brother Albert Kur-Mainz, whom Hutten celebrated; born 1490; + Archbishop of Magdeburg and Halberstadt 1513, of Maim 1514; died 1545: set + Tetzel, and the Indulgence, on foot. + </p> + <p> + 6. JOACHIM II. (Hector): 9th January, 1505; 11th July, 1535; 3d January, + 1571. Sword drawn on Alba once. ERBVERBRUDERUNG with Liegnitz. Staircase + at Grimnitz. A weighty industrious Kurfurst. + </p> + <p> + Declared himself Protestant, 1539. First Wife (mother of his Successor) + was Daughter to Duke George of Saxony, Luther's "If it rained Duke + Georges."—Johann of Custrin was a younger Brother of his: died ten + days after Joachim; left no Son. + </p> + <p> + 7. JOHANN GEORGE: 11th September, 1525; 3d January, 1571; 8th January, + 1598. Cannon-shot, at Siege of Wittenberg, upon Kaiser Karl and him. Gera + Bond. + </p> + <p> + Married a Silesian Duke of Liegnitz's Daughter (result of the + ERBVERBRUDERUNG there,—Antea, p. 231). Had twenty-three children. It + was to him that Baireuth and Anspach fell home: he settled them on his + second and his third sons, Christian and Joachim Ernst; founders of the + New Line of Baireuth and Anspach. (See Genealogical Diagram.) + </p> + <p> + 8. JOACHIM FRIEDRICH: 27th January, 1546; 8th January, 1598; 18th July, + 1608. Archbishop of Magdeburg first of all,—to keep the place + filled. Joachimsthal School at old Castle of Grimnitz. Very vigilant for + Preussen; which was near falling due. + </p> + <p> + Two of his Younger Sons, Johann George (1577-1624) to whom he gave + JAGERNDORF, and that Archbishop of Magdeburg, who was present in Tilly's + storm, got both wrecked in the Thirty-Years War;—not without + results, in the Jagerndorf case. + </p> + <p> + 9. JOHANN SIGISMUND: 8th November, 1572; 18th July, 1608; 23d December, + 1619. Preussen: Cleve; Slap on the face to Neuburg. + </p> + <p> + 10. GEORGE WILHELM: 3d November, 1595; 22d November, 1619; 21st November, + 1640. The unfortunate of the Thirty-Years War. <i>"Que faire; ils ont des + canons!"</i> + </p> + <p> + 11. FRIEDRICH WILHELM: 6th February, 1620; 21st November, 1640; 29th + April, 1688. The Great Elector. + </p> + <p> + 12. FRIEDRICH III.: 1st July, 1657; 29th April, 1688; 25th February, 1713. + First King (18th January, 1701). + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0044" id="link2H_4_0044"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + GENEALOGICAL DIAGRAM: THE TWO CULMBACH LINES. + </h2> + <h3> + 3d KURFURST (1471-1486) ALBERT ACHILLES. ELDER CULMBACH LINE. + </h3> + <p> + FRIEDRICH, second son of Kurfurst Albert Achilles, younger Brother of + Johannes Cicero, got CULMBACH: Anspach first, then Baireuth on the death + of a younger Brother. Born 1460; got Anspach 1486; Baireuth 1495; followed + Max in his VENETIAN CAMPAIGN, 1508; fell IMBECILE 1515; died 1536. Had a + Polish Wife; from whom came interests in Hungary as well as Poland to his + children. Friedrich had Three notable Sons, + </p> + <p> + 1. CASIMIR, who got BAIREUTH (1515): born 1481; died 1527. Very truculent + in the Peasants' War. ALBERT ALEIBIADES: a man of great mark in his day + (1522-1557); never married. Two Sisters, with one of whom he took shelter + at last; no Brother. + </p> + <p> + 2. GEORGE THE PIOUS, who got ANSPACH (1515): born 1484; died 1543; got + Jagerndorf, by purchase, from his Mother's Hungarian connection, 1524. + Protestant declared, 1528; and makes honorable figure in the Histories + thenceforth. The George of Kaiser Karl's <i>"Nit-Kop-ab."</i> One Son, + GEORGE FRIEDRICH; born 1539; went to administer Preussen when Cousin + became incompetent; died 1603. Heir to his Father in ANSPACH and + JAGERNDORF; also to his Cousin Alcibiades in BAIREUTH. Had been left a + minor (boy of 4, as the reader sees); Alcibiades his Guardian for a little + while: from which came great difficulties, and unjust ruin would have + come, had not Kurfurst Joachim I. been helpful and vigorous in his behalf. + George Friedrich got at length most of his Territories into hand: Anspach + and Baireuth unimpaired, Jagerndorf too, except that Ratibor and Oppeln + were much eaten into by the Imperial chicaneries in that quarter. Died + 1603, without children;—upon which his Territories all reverted to + the main Brandenburg line, namely, to Johann George Seventh Kurfurst, or + his representatives, according to the GERA BOND; and the "Elder Culmbach + Line" had ended in this manner. + </p> + <p> + 3. ALBERT; born 1490; Hochmeister of the Teutsch Ritters, 1511; declares + himself Protestant, and Duke of Prussia, 1525; died 1568. One Son, ALB + declared MELANCHOLIC 1573; died 1618. His Cousin George Friedrich + administered for him till 1603; after which Joachim Friedrich; and then, + lastly, Joachim Friedrich's Son, Johann Sigismund the Ninth Kurfurst. Had + married the Heiress of Cleve (whence came a celebrated Cleve Controversy + in after-times). No son; a good many daughters; eldest of whom was married + to Kurfurst Johann Sigismund; from her came the controverted Cleve + Property. + </p> + <p> + 7th KURFURST (1571-1598), JOHANN GEORGE. YOUNGER CULMBACH LINE. + </p> + <p> + Kurfurst Johann George settled Baireuth and Anspach on Two of his Younger + Sons, who are Founders of the "Younger Culmbach Line" (SPLIT Line or Pair + of LINES). Jagerndorf the new Kurfurst, Joachim Friedrich, kept; settled + it on one of his younger sons. Here are the two new Founders in Baireuth + and Anspach, and some indication of their "Lines," so far as important to + us at present: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + BAIREUTH. +</pre> + <p> + (1.) CHRISTIAN, second son of Kurfurst Johann George: born 1581; got + Baireuth 1603; died 1655. A distinguished Governor in his sphere. Had two + sons; the elder died before him, but left a son, Christian Ernst; who (2.) + succeeded, and (3.) whose son, George Wilhelm: 1644, 1655, 1712; 1678, + 1712, 1726 (are BIRTH, ACCESSION, END of these two); the latter of whom + had no son that lived. Upon which the posterity of Christian's second son + succeeded. Second son of Christian notable to us in two little ways: + FIRST, That HE, George Albert, Margraf of CULMbach, is the inscrutable + "Marquis de LULENbach" of <i>Bromley's Letters</i> (antea p. 184, let the + Commentators take comfort!); SECOND and better, That from him came our + little Wilhelmina's Husband,—as will be afterwards explained. It was + his grandson (4.) that succeeded in Baireuth, George Friedrich Karl (1688, + 1726, 1735); Father of Wilhelmina's Husband. After whom (5.) his Son + Friedrich (1711, 1735, 1763), Wilhelmina's Husband; who leaving (1763) + nothing hut a daughter, Baireuth fell to Anspach, 1769, after an old Uncle + (6.), childless, had also died. SIX Baireuth Margraves of this Line; FIVE + generations; and then to Anspach, in 1769. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + ANSPACH. +</pre> + <p> + (1.) JOACHIM ERNST, third son of Kurfurst Johann George: born 1583; got + Anspach 1603; died 1625. Had military tendencies, experiences; did not + thrive as Captain of the EVANGELICAL UNION (1619-1620) when WINTER-KING + came up and THIRTY-YEARS WAR along with him. Left two sons; elder of whom, + (2.) Friedrich, nominally Sovereign, age still only eighteen, fell in the + Battle of Nordlingen (worst battle of the Thirty-Years War, 1634); and the + younger of whom, (3.) Albert, succeeded (1620, 1634, 1667), and his son, + (4.) Johann Friedrich (1654, 1667, 1686); and (5, 6, 7.) no fewer than + three grandsons,—children mostly, though entitled "sovereign"—in + a PARALLEL way (Christian Albert, 1675, 1686, 1692; George Friedrich, + 1678, 1692, 1703; Wilhelm Friedrich, 1685, 1703, 1723). Two little points + notable here also, and no third: + </p> + <p> + FIRST, That one of the grand-DAUGHTERS, full-sister of the last of these + three parallel figures, half-sister of the two former, was—Queen + Caroline, George II.'s wife, who has still some fame with us. + </p> + <p> + SECOND, That the youngest of said three grandsons, Queen Caroline's + full-brother, left a son then minor, who became major, (8.) and wedded a + Sister of our dear little Wilhelmina's, of whom we shall hear (Karl + Wilhelm Friedrich, 1712, 1723, 1757); unmomentous Margraf otherwise. His + and her one son it was, (9.) Christian Friedrich Karl Alexander (1736, + 1757, 1806), who inherited Baireuth, inherited Actress Clairon, Lady + Craven, and at Hammersmith (House once Bubb Doddington's, if that has any + charm) ended the affair. + </p> + <p> + NINE Anspach Margraves; in FIVE generations: end, 1806. + </p> + <p> + END OF BOOK III <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, +Vol. III. (of XXI.), by Thomas Carlyle + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY OF FRIEDRICH II. *** + +***** This file should be named 2103-h.htm or 2103-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/0/2103/ + +Produced by D.R. 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