第7章
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  loosediskoffeltflungcarelesslyon,almostlikeanightcapartificiallyextended,soadmirablysoft;——andthelookofthemanCasimir,betweenhiscataractofblackbeardandthissemi—

  nightcap,iscarelesslytruculent。HehadmuchfightingwiththeNurnbergersandothers;laiditrightterriblyon,inthewayofstrokes,whenneedful。HewasespeciallytruculentupontheRevoltofPeasantsintheirBAUERNKRIEG(1525)。Themintheirwildestragehefronted;he,thatothersmightrallytohim:

  \"Unhappymortals,willyoushaketheworldtopieces,then,becauseyouhavemuchtocomplainof?\"andhangedtheringleadersofthemliterallybythedozen,whenquelledandcaptured。

  Asevere,rathertruculentHerr。HisbrotherGeorge,whohadAnspachforheritage,andarighttohalfthoseprisoners,admonishedandforgavehishalf;andpleadedhardwithCasimirformercytotheothers,inafineLetterstillextant;[InRentsch,p。627。]whichproducednoeffectonCasimir。Forthedog’ssake,andforallsakes,\"letnotthedoglearntoeatLEATHER;\"(ofwhichhisindispensableleashesandmuzzlesaremade)!Thatwasaproverboftenheardontheoccasion,inLuther’smouthamongtherest。

  Casimirdiedin1527,agethentowardsfifty。Forthelastdozenyearsorso,whentheFather’smaladybecamehopeless,hehadgovernedCulmbach,bothpartsofit;theAnspachpart,whichbelongedtohisnextbrotherGeorge,goingnaturally,inalmostallthings,alongwithBaireuth;andGeorge,whowascommonlyabsent,notinterfering,exceptonimportantoccasions。

  CasimirleftonelittleBoy,agethenonlysix,nameAlbert;

  towhomGeorge,henceforthpracticalsovereignofCulmbach,ashisBrotherhadbeen,wasappointedGuardian。Thisyouth,veryfulloffire,wildfiretoomuchofit,explodeddreadfullyonGermanybyandby(AlbertALCIBIADESthenametheygavehim);nay,towardstheendofhisnonage,hehadbeenrathersputteryuponhisUncle,theexcellentGuardianwhohadchargeofhim。

  FRIEDRICH’SSECONDSON,MARGRAFGEORGEOFANSPACH。

  UncleGeorgeofAnspach,Casimir’snextBrother,hadalwaysbeenofapeaceablerdispositionthanCasimir;notindeedwithoutheatoftemper,andsufficientvivacityofeverykind。Asayouth,hehadaidedKaiserMaxintwoofhispettywars;butwasalwaysrathergiven\"toreadingLatin,\"toLearning,andingeniouspursuits。HisPolishMother,who,weperceive,hadgiven\"Casimir\"

  hisname,provedmuchmoreimportanttoGeorge。AtanearlyagehewenttohisUncleVladislaus,KingofHungaryandBohemia:for——

  Alas,afterall,weshallhavetocastaglanceintothatunbeautifulHungarian—Bohemianscramble,comparabletoan\"IrishDonnybrook,\"whereAlbertAchilleslongwalkedasChief—Constable。

  Itbehoovesus,afterall,topointoutsomeofthetallestheadsinit;andwhitherward,bludgeoninhand,theyseemtobeswayingandstruggling。——Courage,patientreader!

  George,then,atanearlyagewenttohisUncleVladislaus,KingofHungaryandBohemia:forGeorge’sMother,asweknow,wasofroyalkin;daughterofthePolishKing,CasimirIV。(latemauleroftheTeutschRitters);whichcircumstancehadresultsforGeorgeandus。DaughterofCasimirIV。theLadywas;andthereforeoftheJagellonbloodbyherfather,whichamountstolittle;butbyhermothershewasGranddaughterofthatKaiserAlbertII。who\"gotThreeCrownsinoneyear,anddiedthenext;\"whoseposterityhaveeversince,——uptothelipsintroublewiththeirconfusedcompetitiveaccompaniments,Hunniades,Corvinus,GeorgePodiebradandothers,nottospeakofdragonTurkscoilingevercloserroundyouonthefrontier,——beenKingsofHungaryandBohemia;TWOofthecrowns(theHERITABLEtwo)whichweregotbyKaiserAlbertinthatmemorableyear。Hegotthem,asthereadermayremember,byhavingthedaughterofKaiserSigismundtowife,——SigismundSUPER—

  GRAMMATICAM,whomweleftstanding,redasaflamingo,inthemarket—placeofConstanceahundredyearsago。ThusTimerollsoninitsmany—coloredmanner,edaciousandferacious。

  ItisinthiswaythatGeorge’sUncle,Vladislaus,Albert’sdaughter’sson,isnowKingofHungaryandBohemia:thelastKingVladislaustheyhad;andthelastKingbutone,ofanykind,asweshallseeanon。VladislauswasheirofPolandtoo,couldhehavemanagedtogetit;buthegaveupthattohisbrother,tovariousyoungerbrothersinsuccession;havinghishandsfullwiththeHungarianandBohemiandifficulty。HewasveryfondofNephewGeorge;wellrecognizingtheingenuous,wiseandloyalnatureoftheyoungman。HeappointedGeorgetutorofhispoorsonLudwig;

  whomheleftattheearlyageoften,inanevilworld,andevilpositionthere。\"BornwithoutSkin,\"theysay,thatis,bornintheseventhmonth;——calledLudwigOHNEHAUT(LudwigNO—Skin),onthataccount。Borncertainly,Icanperceive,ratherthinofskin;

  andhewouldhaveneededoneofarhinocerosthickness!

  Georgedidhisfunctionhonestly,andwithsuccess:Ludwiggrewupagallant,airy,briskyoungKing,inspiteofdifficulties,constitutionalandother;gotaSisterofthegreatKaiserKarlV。towife;——determined(A。D。1526)tohaveastrokeattheTurkdragon;which,wascoilingroundhisfrontier,andspittingfireatanintolerablerate。Ludwig,afineyoungmanoftwenty,marchedawaywithmuchHungarianchivalry,rightfortheTurk(Summer1526);GeorgemeanwhilegoingbusilytoBohemia,andtherewithallhisstrengthlevyingtroopsforreinforcement。Ludwigfoughtandfenced,forsometime,withtheTurkoutskirts;cameatlasttoafuriousgeneralbattlewiththeTurk(29thAugust,1526),ataplacecalledMohacz,fareastintheflatsoftheLowerDonau;andwastheretragicallybeatenandended。SeeingtheBattlegone,andhischivalryallinflight,Ludwigtoohadtofly;gallopingforlife,hecameuponbogwhichprovedbottomless,asgoodasbottomless;andLudwig,horseandman,vanishedinitstraightwayfromthisworld。Haplessyoungman,likeaflashoflightningsuddenlygoingdownthere——andtheHungarianSovereigntyalongwithhim。ForHungaryispartofAustriaeversince;

  having,withBohemia,fallentoKarlV。’sBrotherFerdinand,asnowthenearestconvenientheirofAlbertwithhisThreeCrowns。

  Uptothelipsindifficultiestothisday!——

  Georgemeanwhile,withfinelyappointedreinforcements,wasinfullmarchtojoinLudwig;butthesadnewsofMohaczmethim:

  hewithdrew,assoonasmightbe,tohisownterritory,andquittedHungarianpolitics。This,Ithink,wasGeorge’sthirdandlasttrialofwar。Hebynomeansdelightedinthatart,orhadcultivateditlikeCasimirandsomeofhisbrothers。——

  Georgebythistimehadconsiderableproperty;partofitimportanttothereadersofthisHistory。Anspachwealreadyknow;

  buttheDuchyofJagerndorf,——thatanditspleasantvalleys,finehunting—groundsandlarch—cladheights,amongtheGiantMountainsofSilesia,——thatistousthememorableterritory。Georgegotitinthismanner:——

  Sometenorfifteenyearsago,thelateKingVladislaus,ourUncleofblessedmemory,lovingGeorge,andnothavingroyalmoneysatcommand,permittedhimtoredeemwithhisowncashcertainHungarianDomains,pledgedataruinouslycheaprate,butunredeemablebyVladislaus。Georgedidso;yearsago,guesstenorfifteen。GeorgedidnotliketheHungarianDomains,withtheirTurkandotherinconveniences;heproposedtoexchangethemwithKingVladislausfortheBohemian—SilesianDuchyofJagerndorf;

  whichhadjustthen,byfailureofheirs,lapsedtotheKing。

  ThisalsoVladislaus,thebeneficentcashlessUncle,likingGeorgemoreandmore,permittedtobedone。Anddoneitwas;Iseenotinwhatyear;onlythattheultimateinvestiture(done,thispartoftheaffair,byLudwigOHNEHAUT,anddulysanctionedbytheKaiser)dates1524,twoyearsbeforethefatalMohaczbusiness。

  Fromthetimeofthispurchase,andespeciallytillBrotherCasimir’sdeath,whichhappenedin1527,GeorgeresidedofteneratJagerndorfthanatAnspach。Anspach,bythesideofBaireuth,needednomanagement;andinJagerndorfmuchprobablyrequiredthehandofagoodGovernortoputitstraightagain。TheCastleofJagerndorf,whichtowersupthereinarathergrandmannertothisday,Georgebuilt:\"theoldCastleoftheSchellenbergs\"(extinctpredecessorLine)nowgonetoruins,\"standsonaHillwithlarchesonit,somemilesoff。\"MargrafGeorgewasmuchesteemedasDukeofJagerndorf。Whathisactionsinthatregionwere,Iknownot;butitseemshewassowellthoughtofinSilesia,twosmallerneighboringPotentates,theDukeofOppelnandtheDukeofRatibor,whohadnoheirsoftheirbody,bequeathed,withtheKaiser’sassent,thesetownsandterritoriestoGeorge:[Rentsch,pp。623,127—131。KaiserisFerdinand,KarlV。’sBrother,——asyetonlyKINGofBohemiaandHungary,butsupremeinregardtosuchpoints。Hisassentisdated\"17thJune,1531\"inRentsch。]——inmerelovetotheirsubjects(Rentschintimates),thatpoormenmightbegovernedbyawisegoodDuke,inthetimecoming。

  TheKaiserwouldhavegottheDuchiesotherwise。

  NaytheKaiser,inspiteofhispreliminaryassent,provedextortionatetoGeorgeinthismatter;andexactedheavysumsfortheactualpossessionofOppelnandRatibor。George,goingsozealouslyaheadinProtestantaffairs,grewlessandlessafavoritewithKaisers。Butso,atanyrate,onpeaceableunquestionablegrounds,groundsvalidasImperialLawandreadymoney,GeorgeisatlastLordofthesetwolittleCountries,intheplainofSouth—Silesia,asofJagerndorfamongtheMountainshardby。GeorgehasandholdstheDuchyofJagerndorf,withtheseappendages(Jagerndorfsince1524,RatiborandOppelnsincesomeyearslater);andlivesconstantly,oratthedueintervals,inhisownstrongMountain—CastleofJagerndorfthere,——wehavenodoubt,tothemarkedbenefitofgoodmeninthoseparts。

  HerebyhasJagerndorfjoineditselftotheBrandenburgTerritories:andthereadercannotethecircumstance,foritwillprovememorableoneday。

  InthebusinessoftheReformation,MargrafGeorgewasverynoble。

  Asimple—hearted,truth—loving,modestlyvaliantman;risingunconsciously,inthatgreatelement,intotheheroicfigure。

  \"GeorgethePious(DERFROMME),\"\"GeorgetheConfessor(BEKENNER),\"werethenameshegotfromhiscountrymen。

  Oncethisbusinesshadbecomepractical,GeorgeinterferedalittlemoreintheCulmbachGovernment;hisbrotherCasimir,wholikewisehadReformationtendencies,ratherhangingbackincomparisontoGeorge。

  In1525theTown—populations,intheCulmbachregion,bigNurnberginthevan,hadgonequiteaheadinthenewDoctrine;andwerebecomingirrepressiblyimpatienttoclearouttheoldmendacities,andhavetheGospelpreachedfreelytothem。Thiswasaquestionablestep;feasibleperhapsforagreatElectorofSaxony;——butforaMargrafofAnspach?GeorgehadcomehomefromJagerndorf,somethreehundredmilesaway,tolookintoitforhimself;foundit,whatwithdarknessallround,whatwithprecipicesmenacingonbothhands,andzealous,inconsiderateTown—populationsthreateningtotakethebitbetweentheirteeth,afrightfullyintricatething。Georgemountedhishorse,onedaythisyear,daynotdatedfarther,and\"withonlysixattendants\"

  privatelyrodeoff,anothertwohundredmiles,agoodthreedays’

  ride,toWittenberg;andalightedatDr。MartinusLutherus’sdoor。

  [Rentsch,p。625。]Anotablepassage;worththinkingof。ButsuchvisitsofhighPrinces,tothatpoorhouseoftheDoctor’s,werenotthenuncommon。LutherclearedthedoubtsofGeorge;Georgereturnedwitharesolutiontaken;\"Aheadthen,yepoorVoigtlandGospelpopulations!Imustleadyou,wemuston!\"——Andperilsenoughthereprovedtobe,andprecipicesoneachhand:

  BAUERNKRIEG,thatistosayPeasants’—War,AnabaptistryandRed—

  Republic,ontheonehand;REICHS—ACHT,BanofEmpire,ontheother。ButGeorge,eagerly,solemnlyattentive,withevernewlightrisingonhim,dealtwiththeperilsastheycame;andwentsteadilyon,inasimple,highlymanfulandcourageousmanner。

  HedidnotlivetoseetheactualWarsthatfollowedonLuther’spreaching:——hewasofthesameagewithLuther,bornfewmonthslater,anddiedtwoyearsbeforeLuther;[4thMarch,1484,——

  27thDec。,1543,George;10thNovember,1483——18thFebruary,1546,Luther。]——butinalltheintermediateprincipaltransactionsGeorgeisconspicuouslypresent;\"GeorgeofBrandenburg,\"astheBookscallhim,orsimply\"MargrafGeorge。\"

  AttheDietofAugsburg(1530),andthesigningoftheAugsburgConfessionthere,hewassuretobe。HerodethitherwithhisAnspachKnightageabouthim,\"fourhundredcavaliers,\"——

  Seckendorfs,Huttens,Flansesandotherknownkindreds,recognizableamongthelists;[Rentsch,p。633。]——andspokethere,notburstsofparliamentaryeloquence,butthingsthathadmeaninginthem。Onespeechofhis,notintheDiet,butintheKaiser’sLodging(15thJune,1530;nodoubt,inAntonFugger’shouse,wheretheKaiser\"lodgedforyearandday\"thistimebutWITHOUTthe\"firesofcinnamon\"theytalkofonotheroccasions[SeeCarlyle’sMiscellanies(iii。259n。)。TheHouseisatpresentanInn,\"GasthauszudendreiMohren;\"wheretouristslodge,andarestillshowntheroomwhichtheKaiseroccupiedonsuchvisits。]),isstillverycelebrated。

  ItwastheeveningoftheKaiserKarlFifth’sarrivalattheDiet;

  whichwasthenalready,sometimesince,assembledthere。

  AndgreathadbeentheKaiser’sreceptionthatmorning;theflowerofGermany,allthePrincesoftheEmpire,ProtestantandPapalalike,ridingouttomeethim,intheopencountry,attheBridgeoftheLech。Withhigh—flownspeechesandbenignities,onbothsides;——onlythattheKaiserwilledallmen,Protestantandother,shouldinthemeanwhiledothePopishlitanyings,waxlightprocessioningsandidolatrousstage—performanceswithhimonthemorrow,whichwasCORPUS—CHRISTIDay;andtheProtestantscouldnotnorwould。Imperialhintstherehadalreadybeen,fromInnspruck;benignhopes,ofthenatureofcommands,ThatloyalProtestantPrinceswouldintheinterimavoidopendiscrepancies,——perhapsbesoloyalaskeeptheirchaplains,peculiardivine—

  services,privateintheinterim?Thesewerehints;——andnowthisoftheCORPUS—CHRISTI,astillmorepregnanthint!LoyalProtestantsrefusedit,therefore;flatlydeclined,thoughbiddenandagainbidden。Theyattendedinabody,oldJohannofSaxony,youngPhilipofHessen,andtherest;MargrafGeorge,asspokesman,witheloquentsimplicitystatingtheirreasons,——tosomewhatthiseffect:——

  Invinciblestall—graciousKaiser,loyalarewetoyourhighMajesty,readytodoyourbiddingbynightandbyday。

  ButitisyourbiddingunderGod,notagainstGod。Askusnot,0graciousKaiser!Icannot,andwecannot;andwemustnot,anddarenot。And\"beforeIwoulddenymyGodandhisEvangel,\"theseareGeorge’sownwords,\"IwouldratherkneeldownherebeforeyourMajesty,andhavemyheadstruckoff,\"——hittinghishind—head,orneck,withtheedgeofhishand,bywayofaccompaniment;astrangeradianceintheeyesofhim,voicerisenintomusicalalt:\"EheIchwoltemeinenGottundseinEvangeliumverlaugnen,ehewolteIchhiervorEurerMajestatniderknien,undmirdenKopfabhauenlassen。\"——\"NitKopab,loverForst,nitKopab!\"answeredCharlesinhisFlemish—

  German;\"Notheadoff,dearFurst,notheadoff!\"saidtheKaiser,afaintsmileenlighteningthoseweightygrayeyesofhis,andimperceptiblyanimatingthethickAustrianunder—lip。[Rentsch,p。637。Marheineke,GeschichtederTeutschenReformation(Berlin,1831),ii。487。]

  Speakerandcompanyattendedagainonthemorrow;MargrafGeorgestillmoreeloquent。WhoseSpeechflewoverGermany,likefireoverdryflax;andstillexists,——bothSpeechesnowoftenestrolledintoonebyinaccurateeditors。[AsbyRentsch,ubisupra。]

  AndtheCORPUS—CHRISTIidolatrieswereforbornetheMargrafandhiscompanythistime;——theKaiserhimself,however,walking,nearlyroastedinthesun,inheavypurple—velvetcloak,withabigwax—candle,verysuperfluous,gutteringandblubberingintherighthandofhim,alongthestreetsofAugsburg。Kur—Brandenburg,Kur—Mainz,highcousinsofGeorge,wereatthisDietofAugsburg;

  Kur—Brandenburg(ElectorJoachimI。,Cicero’sson,ofwhomwehavespoken,andshallspeakagain)beingoftenveryloudontheconservativeside;andeloquentKur—Mainzgoingontheconciliatorytack。Kur—Brandenburg,inhiszeal,hadriddenontoInnspruck,tomeettheKaiserthere,andhaveapreliminarywordwithhim。BoththesehighCousinsspoke,andbestirredthemselves,agooddeal,atthisDiet。TheyhadmettheKaiserontheplainsoftheLech,thismorning;and,nodoubt,gloomedunutterablethingsonGeorgeandhisSpeech。Georgecouldnothelpit。

  Tillhisdeathin1543,GeorgeistobefoundalwaysinthefrontlineofthishighMovement,inthelinewhereKur—Sachsen,JohntheSteadfast(DERBESTANDIGE),andyoungPhiliptheMagnanimousofHessenwere,andwheredangeranddifficultywere。Readersofthisenlightenedgold—nuggetgenerationcanformtothemselvesnoconceptionofthespiritthatthenpossessedthenoblerkinglymind。\"ThecommandofGodenduresthroughEternity,

  VerbumDeiManetInAEternum,\"wastheEpigraphandLife—mottowhichJohntheSteadfasthadadoptedforhimself;

  \"V。D。M。I。AE。,\"theseinitialshehadengravedonallthefurnituresofhisexistence,onhisstandards,pictures,plate,ontheverysleevesofhislackeys,——andIcanperceive,onhisowndeepheartfirstofall。V。D。M。I。E。:——ormightitnotbereadwithal,asPhilipofHessensometimessaid(Philip,stillayoungfellow,capableofsportinhismagnanimousscorn),

  \"VerbumDiaboliManetInEpiscopis,TheDevil’sWordsticksfastintheBishops\"?

  WemustnowtakeleaveofMargrafGeorgeandhisfineproceduresinthatcrisisofWorld—History。HehadgotJugerndorf,whichbecameimportantforhisFamilyandothers:butwhatwasthattothePrometheanconquests(suchwemaycallthem)whichhehadthehonortoassistinmakingforhisFamily,andforhisCountry,andforallmen;——veryunconsciousheof\"bringingfirefromHeaven,\"

  goodmodestsimpleman!SofarasIcangather,therelived,inthatday,fewtruerspecimensoftheHonestMan。Arugged,rough—hewn,ratherblunt—nosedphysiognomy:cheek—boneshigh,cheekssomewhatbaggedandwrinkly;eyeswithadueshadeofanxietyandsadnessinthem;affectionatesimplicity,faithfulness,intelligence,veracitylookingoutofeveryfeatureofhim。Wearsplentifulwhitebeardshort—cut,plentifulgold—chains,ruffs,ermines;——ahatnottobeapprovedof,incomparisonwithbrotherCasimir’s;miserableinverted—colanderofahat;hangingatanangleofforty—fivedegrees;withbandofpearlsroundthetopnotthebottomofit;insecureuponthefineheadofGeorge,andbynomeanstoitsembellishment。

  OneofhisDaughtershemarriedtotheDukeofLiegnitz,anewlinkinthatconnection。HeleftoneBoy,GeorgeFriedrich;

  whocameunderALCIBIADES,hisCousinofBaireuth’stutelage;

  andsufferedmuchbythatconnection,orindeedchieflybyhisownconspicuouslyProtestantturn,topunishwhich,theAlcibiadesconnectionwastakenasapretext。Inriperyears,GeorgeFriedrichgothiscalamitiesbroughtwellunder;andlivedtodogoodwork,Protestantandother,intheworld。Towhichwemayperhapsalludeagain。TheLineofMargrafGeorgethePiousendsinthisGeorgeFriedrich,whohadnochildren;theLineofMargrafGeorge,andtheElderCulmbachLinealtogether(1603),AlbertAlcibiades,Casimir’soneson,havinglikewisediedwithoutposterity。

  \"OftheyoungerBrothers,\"saysmyAuthority,\"somefourwereintheChurch;twoofwhomrosetobePrelates;——herearethefour:——

  \"1。One,Wilhelmbyname,wasBishopofRiga,intheremotePrussianoutskirts,andbecameProtestant;——amongthefirstgreatPrelateswhotookthathereticalcourse;beingfavoredbycircumstancestocastoutthe’V。D。(VerbumDiaboli),’

  asPhilipreadit。Heisawise—lookingman,withmagnificentbeard,withsomethingofcontemptuouspatienceinthemeditativeeyesofhim。HehadgreattroubleswithhisRigapeople,——asindeedwasaperennialcasebetweentheirBishopandthem,ofwhatevercreedhemightbe。

  \"2。TheotherPrelateheldfastbythePapalOrthodoxy:hehadgotupontheladderofpromotiontowardsMagdeburg;hopingtofollowhisCousinKUR—MAINZ,theeloquentconciliatoryCardinal,inthatpartofhispluralities。Ashedid,——littletohiscomfort,poorman;havingsufferedagooddealinthesiegesandreligioustroublesofhisMagdeburgers;whoendedbyorderinghimaway,havingopenlydeclaredthemselvesProtestant,atlength。Hehadtogo;andoccupyhimselfcomplaining,solicitingAulic—Councilsandthelike,fortherestofhislife。

  \"3。ThePROBSTofWurzburg(PROVOST,kindofHead—Canonthere);

  orthodoxPapalhetoo;andoftengavehisBrotherGeorgetrouble。

  \"4。Astillmoreorthodoxspecimen,theyoungestmemberofthefamily,whoislikewiseinorders:Gumbrecht(’Gumbertus,aCanonicusof’Somethingorother,saytheBooks);whowentearlytoRome,andbecameoneofhisHolinessLeoTenth’sChamberlains;

  ——stoodthe’SackofRome’(ConstabledeBourbon’s),andwascapturedthereandransomed;——butdiedstillyoung(1528)。

  ThesethreewereCatholics,heofWurzburgarathervirulentone。\"

  CatholicalsowasJOHANNES,afifthBrother,whofollowedthesoldieringanddiplomaticprofessions,oftenestinSpain;

  didGovernment—messagestoDiets,andthelike,forKarlV。;

  ahighmanandwellseenofhisKaiser;——hehadweddedtheyoungWidowofoldKingFerdinandinSpain;whichproved,seemingly,atroubloussceneforpoorJohannes。Whatweknowis,hewasappointedCommandantofValencia;anddiedthere,stilllittleturnedofthirty,——bypoisonitissupposed,——andlefthisyoungWidowtomarryathirdtime。

  ThesearetheFiveminorBrothers,fourofthemCatholic,sonsofoldblindFriedrichofPlassenburg;whoarenot,fortheirownsake,memorable,butarementionableforthesakeofthethreemajorBrothers。SomanyorthodoxCatholics,whileBrotherGeorgeandotherswentintotheheresiesatsucharate!Afamilymuchsplitbyreligion:——andblindoldFriedrich,dimofintellect,knewnothingofit;andtheexcellentPolishMothersaidandthought,weknownotwhat。AdividedTime!——

  JohannesofValencia,andtheseChiefPriests,wereallmenofmark;conspicuoustotheableeditorsoftheirday:buttheonlyBrothernowgenerallyknowntomankindisAlbert,HochmeisteroftheTeutschRitterdom;bywhomPreussencameintotheFamily。

  Ofhimwemustnowspeakalittle。

  ChapterVI。

  HOCHMEISTERALBERT,THIRDNOTABLESONOFFRIEDRICH。

  Albertwasbornin1490;George’sjuniorbysixyears,Casimir’sbynine。HetoohadbeenmeantfortheChurch;butsoonquittedthat,otherprospectsandtendenciesopening。Hehadalwayslovedtheingenuousarts;buttheactivitiestoohadcharmsforhim。

  Heearlyshoneinhisexercisesspiritualandbodily;grewtallabovehisfellows,expertinarts,especiallyinarms;——rodewithhisFathertoKaiserMax’sCourt;waspresentedbyhim,asthelightofhiseyes,toKaiserMax;whothoughthimaverylikelyyoungfellow;andborehiminmind,whentheMastershipoftheTeutschRitterdomfellvacant。[Rentsch,pp。840—863。]

  TheTeutschRitterdom,eversinceitgotitsbackbrokeninthatBattleofTannenbergin1410,andwasdrivenoutofWest—Preussenwithsuchignominiouskicks,hasbeenlyingbedrid,eatingitsremainingrevenues,orsprawlingaboutinhelplesseffortstoriseagain,whichrequirenonoticefromus。HopelessofeverrecoveringWest—Preussen,ithadquietlypaiditshomagetoPolandfortheEasternpartofthatCountry;quietlyforsomecoupleofgenerations。But,inthethirdorfourthgenerationafterTannenberg,therebegantorisemurmurs,——intheHolyRomanEmpirefirstofall。\"PreussenisapieceoftheReich,\"saidhot,inconsideratepeople;\"PreussencouldnotbealienatedwithoutconsentoftheReich!\"TowhichdiscoursestheafflictedRitterslistenedonlytoogladly;theirdulleyeskindlingintonewfalsehopesatsoundofthem。Thepointwas,TochooseasHochmeistersomemanofGermaninfluence,ofpowerandconnectionintheCountry,whomighthelpthemtotheirso—calledright。Withthisview,theychoseoneandthenanotherofsuchsort;——anddidnotfinditveryhopeful,asweshallsee。

  AlbertwaschosenGrand—MasterofPreussen,inFebruary,1511;

  agethentwenty—one。MadehisentryintoKonigsberg,Novembernextyear;ingrandcavalcade,\"dreadfulstormofrainandwindatthetime,\"——poorAlbertallinblack,andfullofsorrow,forthelossofhisMother,thegoodPolishPrincess,whohaddiedsincehelefthome。TwentymonthsofpreparationhehadheldsincehisElection,beforedoinganything:forindeedthecasewasintricate。He,likehispredecessorinoffice,hadundertakentorefusethatHomagetoPoland;theReichgenerally,andKaiserMaxhimself,inaloosewayoftalk,encouraginghim:\"ApieceoftheReich,\"saidtheyall;\"TeutschRittershadnopowertogiveitawayinthatmanner。\"Whichisathingmoreeasilysaid,thanmadegoodinthewayofdoing。

  Albert’spredecessor,chosenonthisprinciple,wasaSaxonPrince,FriedrichofMeissen;cadetofSaxony;potentlyenoughconnected,hetoo;who,inlikemanner,hadundertakentorefusetheHomage。Andzealouslydidrefuseit,thoughtohiscost,poorman。FromtheReich,forallitsbigtalking,hegotnomannerofassistance;hadtostaveoffaPolishWarashecould,byfair—

  speaking,bydiplomaciesandcontrivances;anddiedatmiddleage,worndownbythesorrowsofthatsadposition。

  Anideaprevails,inill—informedcircles,thatournewGrand—

  MasterAlbertwasnobetterthanakindofcheat;thathetookthisGrand—MastershipofPreussen;andthen,ingayetyofheart,surreptitiouslypocketedPreussenforhisownbehoof。Whichisanidleidea;inconsistentwiththeleastinquiry,orrealknowledgehowthematterstood。[Voigt,ix。740—749;Pauli,iv。404—407。]

  Bynomeansingayetyofheart,didAlbertpocketPreussen;

  nortillafterastoughastruggletodootherwithitascouldhavebeenexpectedofanyman。

  OnethingnotsuspectedbytheTeutschRitters,andleastofallbytheiryoungHochmeister,was,ThattheTeutschRittershadwelldeservedthatterribledown—comeatTannenberg,thatignominiousdismissaloutofWest—Preussenwithkicks。Theirinsolence,luxury,degeneracyhadgonetogreatlengths。Nordidthathumiliationmendthematall;thereverserather。ItwasdeeplyhiddenfromtheyoungHochmeisterasfromthem,Thatprobablytheywerenowatlengthgottotheendoftheircapability:andreadytobewithdrawnfromthescene,assoonasanygoodwayoffered!——

  Ofcourse,theyWerereluctantenoughtofulfiltheirbargaintoPoland;veryloaththeytodoHomagenowforPreussen,andownthemselvessunktotheseconddegree。FortheRittershadstilltheiroldhaughtinessofhumor,theirdeepseatedprideofplace,gonenowintotheunhappyCONSCIOUSstate。ThatisusuallythelastthingthatdesertsasinkingHouse:prideofplace,gonetotheconsciousstate;——asif,inareversemanner,theHousefeltthatitdeservedtosink。

  Fortherest,Albert’spositionamongthemwaswhatFriedrichofSachsen’shadbeen;worse,notbetter;andthemainultimatedifferencewas,hedidnotdieofit,likeFriedrichofSachsen;

  butfoundanoutlet,notopeninFriedrich’stime,andlived。

  TotheRitters,andvaguePublicwhichcalleditselftheReich,AlberthadpromisedhewouldrefusetheHomagetoPoland;onwhichRittersandReichhadclapttheirhands:andthatwasprettymuchalltheassistancehegotofthem。TheReich,asaformalbody,hadneverasserteditsrighttoPreussen,norindeedspokendefinitelyonthesubject:itwasonlythevaguePublicthathadspoken,inthenameoftheReich。FromtheReich,orfromanyindividualofit,KaiserorPrince,whenactuallyappliedto,Albertcouldgetsimplynothing。Fromwhat,RitterswereinPreussen,hemightperhapsexpectpromptitudetofight,ifitcametothat;whichwasnotmuchasthingsstood。But,fromthegreatbodyoftheRitters,scatteredoverGermany,withtheirrichterritories(BALLEYS,bailliwicks),saferesources,andcomfortable\"Teutschmeister\"overthem,hegotflatrefusal:[ThetitlesHOCHMEISTERandTEUTSCHMEISTERaredefined,inmanyBooksandinallmannerofDictionaries,asmeaningthesamething。

  Butthatisnotquitethecase。Theywereatfirstsynonymous,sofarasIcansee;andafterAlbert’stime,theyagainbecameso;

  butatthedatewherewenoware,andforalongwhileback,theyrepresentdifferententities,andindeedoftenest,sincethePrussianDECLINEbegan,antagonisticones。Teutschmeister,Sub—

  presidentovertheGERMANaffairsandpossessionsoftheOrder,residesatMergentheiminthatCountry:HochmeisterisChiefPresidentofthewhole,butresidentatMarienburginPreussen,andfeelsthereacutelywheretheshoepinches,——muchtooacutely,thinkstheTeutschmeisterinhissoftlist—slippers,atMergentheiminthesafeWurzburgregion。]\"Wewillnotbeconcernedintheadventureatall;wewishyouwellthroughit!\"

  Neverwasaspiritedyoungfellowplacedinmoreimpossibleposition。HisBrotherCasimir(GeorgewastheninHungary),hisCousinJoachimKur—Brandenburg,FriedrichDukeofLiegnitz,aSilesianconnectionoftheFamily,[\"DukeFriedrichII。:\"comesbymothersfromKurfurstFriedrichI。;marriesMargrafGeorge’sDaughterevennow,1519(Hubner,tt。179,100,101)。]consulted,advised,negotiatedtoalllengths,Albert’sowneffortwasincessant。\"AgreewithKingSigismund,\"saidthey;\"UncleSigismund,yourgoodMother’sBrother;aKingsoftlyinclinedtousall!\"——\"Howagree?\"answeredAlbert:\"HeinsistsontheHomage,whichIhavepromisednottogive!\"Casimirwentandcame,toKonigsberg,toBerlin;wentoncehimselftoCracow,totheKing,onthiserrand:butitwasacaseof\"YesANDNo;\"nottobesolvedbyCasimir。

  AstoKingSigismund,hewaspatientwithittoadegree;madethefriendliestpaternalprofessions;——testifyingwithal,Thattheclaimwasundeniable;andcouldbyhim,Sigismund,neverbeforegonewiththeleastshadowofhonor,andofcourseneverwould:\"MydearNephewcanconsiderwhetherhisdissolute,vain—minded,half—hereticalRitterdom,naywhetherthisPrussianfractionofit,isinaconditiontotakePolandbythebeardinanunjustquarrel;orcanhopetodoTannenbergoveragaininthereverseway,byBeelzehub’shelp?\"——

  Forsevenyears,Albertheldoutinthisintermediatestate,neitherpeacenorwar;movingHeavenandEarthtoraisesupplies,thathemightbeabletodefyPoland,andbeginwar。TheReichanswers,\"Wehavereallynothingforyou。\"Teutschmeisteranswersagainandagain,\"Itellyouwehavenothing!\"Intheend,Sigismundgrewimpatient;made(December,1519)somemovementsofahostilenature。Albertdidnotyield;eageronlytoprocrastinatetillhewereready。Bysuperhumanefforts,ofborrowing,bargaining,soliciting,andgallopingtoandfro,Albertdid,abouttheendofnextyear,getupsomeappearanceofanArmy:\"14,000Germanmercenarieshorseandfoot,\"somanyintheory;who,totheextentof8,000inactualresult,camemarchingtowardshim(October,1520);toserve\"foreightmonths。\"

  WiththesehewillbesiegeDantzig,besiegeThorn;willplunge,suddenly,likeafieryjavelin,intotheheartofPoland,andmakePolandsurrenderitsclaim。WhereuponKingSigismundbestirredhimselfinearnest;cameoutwithvastcloudsofPolishchivalry;

  oversetAlbert’s8,000;——whotooktoeatingthecountry,insteadoffightingforit;beingindeedinwantofallthings。OneofthegladdestdaysAlberthadyetseen,waswhenhegotthe8,000senthomeagain。

  Whatthenistobedone?\"Armisticeforfouryears,\"Sigismundwasstillkindenoughtoconsenttothat:\"Truceforfouryears:tryeverywhere,mypoorNephew;afterthat,yourmindwillperhapsbecomepliant。\"AlberttriedtheReichagain:\"Fouryears,0Princes,andthenImustdoit,orbeeaten!\"Reich,busywithLutheran—Papal,Turk—Christianquarrels,merelyshruggeditsshouldersuponAlbert。Teutschmeisterdidthelike;everybodythelike。InHeavenorEarth,then,istherenohopeforme?thoughtAlbert。Andhisstockofreadymoney——wewillnotspeakofthat!

  MeanwhileDr。OsianderofAnspachhadcometohim;andthepiousyoungmanwasgettingutterlyshakeninhisreligion。Monkishvows,Pope,HolyChurchitself,whatisonetothink,HerrDoctor?

  Albert,religioustoaneminentdegree,wasgettingdeepintoProtestantism。Inhismanyjourneyings,toNurnberg,toBrandenburg,andupanddown,hehadbeenatWittenbergtoo:

  hesawLutherinpersonmorethanoncethere;correspondedwithLuther;infinebelievedinthetruthofLuther。TheCulmbachBrotherswereboth,atleastGeorgeardentlywas,inclinedtoProtestantism,aswehaveseen;butAlbertwasforemostofthethreeinthiscourse。OsianderandflightsofzealousCulmbachPreachersmademanyconvertsinPreussen。InthesecircumstancestheFourYearscametoaclose。

  Albert,wemaybelieve,isgreatlyataloss;anddeepdeliberations,Culmbach,Berlin,Liegnitz,Polandallcalledin,areheld:——acasebeyondmeasureintricate。Youhavegivenyourword;wordmustbekept,——andcannot,withoutplainhurt,orruineven,tothosethattookitofyou。Withdraw,therefore;flingitup!——Flingitup?Avaluablearticletoflingup;flingitupisthelastresource。Nay,infact,towhomwillyouflingitup?

  ThePrussianRittersthemselvesaregettinggreatlydividedonthepoint;andatlastonallmannerofpoints,Protestantismevermorespreadingamongthem。AsfortheGermanBrethren,theyandtheircomfortableTeutschmeister,whorefusedtopartakeinthedangerousadventureatall;aretheyentitledtohavemuchtosayinthesettlementofitnow?——

  Amongothers,oraschieforacleofall,Lutherwasconsulted。

  \"WhatwouldyouhavemedotowardsreformingtheTeutschOrder?\"

  inquiredAlbertofhisoracle。Luther’sanswerwas,asmaybeguessed,emphatic。\"Luther,\"saysonereporter,\"hasinhisWritingsdeclaredtheOrdertobe’athingserviceableneithertoGodnorman,’andtheconstitutionofit’amonstrous,frightful,hermaphroditish,neithersecularnorspiritualconstitution。’\"

  [C。J。Weber,DaaRitterwessen(Stuttgard,1837),iii。

  208。]WedonotknowwhatLuther’sanswertoAlbertwas;——butcaninferthepurportofit:ThatsuchaTeutschRitterdomwasnot,atanyrate,athinglongforthisworld;thatwhitecloakswithblackcrossesonthemwouldnot,ofthemselves,profitanyRitterdom;thatsolemnvowsandhighsupramundaneprofessions,followedbysuchpracticeaswasnotorious,areanafflicting,nottosayadamnable,spectacleonGod’sEarth;——thatayoungHerrhadbettermarry;betterhavedonewiththewretchedBabylonianNightmareofPapistryaltogether;bettershakeoneselfawake,inGod’sname,andseeiftherearenotstillmonitionsintheeternalskyastowhatitiswisetodo,andwisenottodo!——

  ThisIimaginetohavebeen,inmodernlanguage,thepurportofDr。Luther’sadvicetoHochmeisterAlbrechtonthepresentinterestingoccasion。

  Itiscertain,Albert,beforelong,tookthiscourse;UncleSigismundandtheresidentOfficialsoftheRitterdomhavingmadeagreementtoitastheonepracticablecourse。Themannerasfollows:1。InsteadofElectedHochmeister,letusbeHereditaryDukeofPreussen,andpayhomageforittoUncleSigismundinthatcharacter。2。SuchoftheresidentOfficialsoftheRitterdomasarepreparedtogoalongwithus,wewillinlikemannerconstitutepermanentFeudalProprietorsofwhattheynowpossessasLife—rent,andtheyshallbeSub—vassalsunderusasHereditaryDuke。3。InallwhichUncleSigismundandtheRepublicofPolandengagetomaintainusagainsttheworld。

  Thatis,insum,theTransactionenteredinto,byKingSigismundI。ofPoland,ontheonepart,andHochmeisterAlbertandhisRitterOfficials,suchaswentalongwithhim,(whichofcoursenonecoulddothatwerenotProtestant),ontheotherpart:

  doneatCracow,8thApril,1525。[Rentsch,p。850。——Here,certifiedbyRentsch,Voigtandothers,isaworn—outpatchofPaper,whichisperhapsworthprinting:——

  1490,May17,Albertisborn。

  1511,February14,Hochmeister。

  1519,December,KingSigismund’sfirsthostilemovements。

  1520,October,GermanMercenariesarrive。

  1520,November,trySiegeofDantzig。

  1520,November17,giveitup。

  1521,April10,TruceforFourYears。

  1523,June,AlbertconsultsLuther。

  1524,November,seesLuther。

  1525,April8,PeaceofCracow,andAlberttobeDukeofPrussia。]WherebyTeutschRitterdom,thePrussianpartofit,vanishedfromtheworld;dissolvingitself,andits\"hermaphroditeconstitution,\"likeakindofMaleNunnery,assomanyfemaleoneshaddoneinthoseyears。ATransactiongivingrisetoendlesscriticism,thenandafterwards。Transactionplainlynotreconcilablewiththeletterofthelaw;andliabletohavelogicchoppeduponittoanyamount,andtoalllengthsoftime。

  TheTeutschmeisterandhisGermanBrethrenshriekedmurder;

  thewholeworld,then,andforlongafterwards,hadmuchtosayandargue。

  Tous,nowthatthelogic—chaffisalllaidlongsince,thequestionissubstantial,notformal。IftheTeutschRitterdomwasactuallyatthistimeDEAD,actuallystumblingaboutasameregalvanizedLiebeginningtobeputrid,——then,sureenough,itbehoovedthatsomebodyshouldburyit,toavoidpestilentialeffectsintheneighborhood。Somebodyorother;——firstflayingtheskinoff,aswasnatural,andtakingthatforhistrouble。

  Allturns,insubstance,onthislatterquestion!If,again,theRitterdomwasnotdead——?

  AndtrulyitstruggledashardasPartridgetheAlmanac—

  makertorebutthatfatalaccusation;complained(TeutschmeisterandGerman—Papistpartofit)loudlyattheDiets;gotAlbertandhisconsortsputtotheBan(GEACHTET),fiercelymenacedbytheKaiserKarlV。Butnothingcameofallthat;nothingbutnoise。

  Albertmaintainedhispoint;KaiserKarlalwaysfoundhishandsfullotherwise,andhadnothingbutstampedparchmentsandmenacestofireoffatAlbert。TeutschRitterdom,thePopishpartofit,didenjoyitsvaluablebailliwicks,andveryconsiderablerentsinvariousquartersofGermanyandEurope,havinglostonlyPreussen;

  andwalkedabout,forthreecenturiesmore,withmoneyinitspocket,andasolemnwhitegownwithblackcrossonitsback,——themostopulentSocialClubinexistence,andanexcellentplaceforbestowingyoungersonsofsixteenquarters。Butitwas,andcontinuedthroughsomanycenturies,ineveryessentialrespect,asolemnHypocrisy;afunctionlessmerelyeatingPhantasm,ofthenatureofgoblin,hungryghostorghoul(ofwhichkindtherearemany);——tillNapoleonfinallyorderedittovanish;itstime,evenasPhantasm,beingcome。

  Albert,Icanconjecture,hadhisowndifficultiesasRegentinPreussen。[1525—1568。]ProtestantTheology,tomakemattersworseforhim,hadsplititselffuriouslyinto’DOXIES;andtherewasanOSIANDERISM(OsianderbeingtheDuke’schaplain),muchflameduponbythemoreorthodoxISM。\"Foreigners,\"too,German—Anspachandother,wereillseenbythenativegentlemen;yetsometimesgotencouragement。OneFunccius,ashiningNurnbergimmigrantthere,son—in—lawofOsiander,whofromTheologygotintoPolitics,hadatlast(1564)tobebeheaded,——oldDukeAlberthimself\"bitterlyweeping\"abouthim;foritwasnoneofAlbert’sdoing。ProbablyhisnewallodialRittergentlemenwerenotthemostsubmiss,whenmadehereditary?WecanonlyhopetheDukewasaHohenzollern,andnotquiteunequaltohistaskinthisrespect。

  Amanwithhighbaldbrow;magnificentspade—beard;airmuch—

  pondering,almostgaunt,——gauntkindofeyesespecially,andaslightcastinthem,whichaddstohisseverityofaspect。Hekepthispossessionwell,everyinchofit;andleftallsafeathisdeceasein1568。Hisagewasthenneareighty。ItwasthetenthyearofourElizabethasQueen;invincibleArmadanotyetbuilt;

  butAlbaverybusy,cuttingoffhighheadsinBrabant;

  andstirringuptheDutchtosuchfuryaswasneedfulforexplodingSpainandhim。

  ThisDukeAlbertwasaprofoundlyreligiousman,asallthoughtfulmenthenwere。MuchgiventoTheology,toDoctorsofDivinity;

  beingeagertoknowGod’sLawsinthisUniverse,andwholesomelycertainofdamnationifheshouldnotfollowthem。FondoftheprofaneSciencestoo,especiallyofAstronomy:ErasmusReinholdandhisTabulaePrutenicaewereonceverycelebrated;ErasmusReinholdproclaimsgratefullyhowthesehiselaborateTables(doneaccordingtothelatestdiscoveries,1551

  andonwards)wereexecuteduponDukeAlbert’shighbounty;

  forwhichreasontheyarededicatedtoDukeAlbert,andcalled\"PRUTENICAE,\"meaningPRUSSIAN。[Rentsch,p。855。]TheUniversityofKonigsbergwasalreadyfoundedseveralyearsbefore,in1544。

  Alberthadnotfailedtomarry,asLuthercounselled:byhisfirstWifehehadonlydaughters;byhissecond,oneson,AlbertFriedrich,who,withoutoppositionordifficulty,succeededhisFather。ThuswasPreussenacquiredtotheHohenzollernFamily;

  for,beforelong,theElectoralbranchmanagedtogetMITBELEHNUNG

  (Co—infeftment),thatistosay,EventualSuccession;andPreussenbecameaFamilyHeritage,asAnspachandBaireuthwere。

  ChapterVII。

  ALBERTALCIBIADES。

  OnewordmustbespentonpoorAlbert,Casimir’sson,[1522—1557]

  alreadymentioned。ThispoorAlbert,whomtheycallALCIBIADES,madeagreatnoiseinthatepoch;beingwhatsomedefineasthe\"FailureofaFritz;\"whohasreallyfeaturesofhimwearetocall\"FriedrichtheGreat,\"butwhoburntawayhissplendidqualitiesasameretemporaryshinefortheableeditors,andnevercametoanything。

  Ahighandgallantyoungfellow,leftfatherlessinchildhood;

  perhapshecametooearlyintopower:——hecame,atanyrate,inveryvolcanictimes,whenGermanywasallinconvulsion;theOldReligionandtheNewhavingatlengthbrokenoutintoopenbattle,withhugeresultstobehopedandfeared;andthelargestgamegoingon,insightofanadventurousyouth。HowAlbertstakedinit;howheplayedtoimmenseheightsofsuddengain,andfinallytoutterbankruptcy,Icannotexplainhere:someGermandelineatorofhumandestinies,\"Artist\"worththename,iftherewereany,mightfindinhimafinesubject。

  HewaswardofhisUncleGeorge;andtheprobablefactis,noguardiancouldhavebeenmorefaithful。Nevertheless,onapproachingtheyearsofmajority,ofmajoritybutnotdiscretion,hesawgoodtoquarrelwithhisUncle;claimedthisandthat,whichwasnotgranted:quarrellastingforyears。Naymattersransohighatlast,itwasliketocometowarbetweenthem,hadnotGeorgebeenwiser。TheyoungfellowactuallysentacarteltohisUncle;challengedhimtomortalcombat,——atwhichGeorgeonlywaggedhisoldbeard,wesuppose,andsaidnothing。Neighborsinterposed,theDietitselfinterposed;andthematterwasgotquenchedagain。LeavingAlbert,letushope,arepentantyoungman。Wesaidhewasfulloffire,toomuchofitwildfire。

  HisprofessionwasArms;heshonemuchinwar;wentslashingandfightingthroughthoseSchmalkaldicbroils,andothersofhistime;adistinguishedcaptain;cuttinghiswaytowardssomethinghigh,hesawnotwellwhat。HehadgreatcomradeshipwithMoritzofSaxonyinthewars:twoswornbrothersthey,andcomradesinarms:——itisthesamedexterousMoritz,who,himselfaProtestant,managedtogethistooProtestantCousin’sElectorateofSaxonyintohishand,byluckofthegame;theMoritz,too,fromwhomAlbertbyandbygothislastdefeat,givingMoritzhisdeathinreturn。Thatwasthefinaleoftheircomradeship。Allthingsend,andnothingceaseschangingtillitend。

  HewasbypositionoriginallyontheKaiser’sside;hadattainedgreateminence,anddonehighfeatsofarmsandgeneralshipinhisservice。ButbeingaProtestantbycreed,hechangedafterthatSchmalkaldicdownfall(routofMuhlberg,24thApril,1547),whichbroughtMoritzanElectorate,andnearlycostMoritz’stooProtestantCousinhislifeaswellaslands。[AccountofitinDeWette,LebensgeschichtederHerzogezuSachsen(Weimar,1770),pp。32—35。]ThevictoriousKaisergrowingnowveryhighinhisways,therearosecomplaintsagainsthimfromallsides,veryloudfromtheProtestantside;andMoritzandAlberttooktoarms,withloudmanifestosandtheotherphenomena。

  Thiswasearlyin1552,fiveyearsafterMuhlbergRoutorBattle。

  ThetherevictoriousKaiserwasnowsuddenlyalmostruined;chasedlikeapartridgeintotheInnspruckMountains,——couldhavebeencaught,onlyMoritzwouldnot;\"hadnocagetoholdsobigabird,\"hesaid。SotheTreatyofPassauwasmade,andtheKaisercamemuchdownfromhisloftyways。FamedTREATYOFPASSAU(22dAugust,1552),whichwasthefinaleofthesebroils,andhushedthemupforaFourscoreyearstocome。ThatwasamemorableyearinGermanReformationHistory。

  Albert,meanwhile,hadbeenbusyintheinteriorofthecountry;

  blazingaloftinFrankenland,hisnativequarter,withasuccessthatastonishedallmen。ForsevenmonthshewasvirtuallyKingofGermany;ransomedBamberg,ransomedWurzburg,Nurnberg(placeshehadagrudgeat);ransomedallmanneroftownsandplaces,——

  especiallyrichBishopsandtheirtowns,withVERBUMDIABOLI

  stickinginthem,——atenormoussums。Kingoftheworldforabriefseason;——musthavehadsomestrangethoughtstohimself,hadtheybeenrecordedforus。Apiousman,too;notintheleastlike\"Alcibiades,\"exceptinthesuddenchangesoffortuneheunderwent。HisMotto,oroldrhymedPrayer,whichhewouldrepeatongettingintothesaddleformilitarywork,——aroughrhymeofhisowncomposing,——isstillpreserved。Letusgiveit,withanEnglishfac—simile,orroughestmechanicalpencil—tracing,——bywayofglimpseintotheheartofavanishedTimeanditsMan—at—arms:

  [Rentsch,p。644。]

  DasWaltderHerrJesusChrist,MitdemVater,deruberunsist:

  WerstarkeristalsdieserMann,Derkommundthu’einLeidmiran。

  GuideittheLordJesusChrist,[Read\"Chris\"or\"Chriz,\"fortherhyme’ssake。]

  AndtheFather,whooverusis:

  HethatisstrongerthanthatMan,[Sic。]

  Lethimdomeahurtwhenhecan。

  HewasattheSiegeofMetz(endofthatsame1552),andaprincipalfigurethere。ReadershaveheardoftheSiegeofMetz:

  HowHenryII。ofFrancefishedupthose\"ThreeBishoprics\"(Metz,Toul,Verdun,constituentpartofLorraine,acovetablefractionofTeutschland)fromthetroubledseaofGermanthings,byaidofMoritznowKUR—SACHSEN,andofAlbert;andwouldnotthrowtheminagain,accordingtobargain,whenPeace,thePEACEOFPASSAUcame。

  HowKaiserKarldeterminedtohavethembackbeforetheyearended,costwhatitmight;andHenryII。tokeepthem,costwhatitmight。HowGuisedefended,withalltheChivalryofFrance;

  andKaiserKarlbesieged,[19thOctober,1552,andonwards。]withanArmyof100,000men,underDukeAlbaforchiefcaptain。

  Siegeprotractedintomidwinter;andthe\"soundofhiscannonheardatStrasburg,\"whichiseightymilesoff,\"inthewinternights。\"[Kohler,Reichs—Historie,p。453;——

  andmoreespeciallyMunzbelustigungen

  (Nurnberg,1729—1750),ix。121—129。TheYearofthisVolume,andoftheNumberinquestion,is1737;theMUNZEorMedal\"recreatedupon\"inofHenriII。]

  IthaddependeduponAlbert,whohunginthedistancewithanarmyofhisown,whethertheSiegecouldevenbegin;buthejoinedtheKaiser,beingreconciledagain;andthetrenchesopened。BythevalorofGuiseandhisChivalry,——stillmoreperhapsbytheironfrostsandbythesleetyrainsofWinter,andthehungersandthehardshipsofahundredthousandmen,diggingvainlyattheice—boundearth,ortramplingitwhensleetyintoseasofmud,andthemselvessinkinginit,ofdysentery,famine,toilanddespair,astheycannonadeddayandnight,——Metzcouldnotbetaken。

  \"Impossible!\"saidtheGeneralswithonevoice,aftertryingitforacoupleofmonths。\"Tryitoneothertendays,\"saidtheKaiserwithagloomyfixity;\"letusalldie,orelsedoit!\"

  Theytried,withdoubledesperation,anothertendays;cannonboomingthroughthewintermidnightfarandwide,fourscoremilesround:\"Cannotbedone,yourMajesty!Cannot,——thewinterandthemud,andGuiseandthewalls;man’sstrengthcannotdoitinthisseason。Wemustmarchaway!\"Karllistenedinsilence;butthetearswereseentorundownhisproudface,nownotsoyoungasitoncewas:\"Letusmarch,then!\"hesaid,inalowvoice,aftersomepause。

  AlcibiadescoveredtheretreattoDiedenhof(THIONVILLE)theynowcallit):outmanoeuvredtheFrench,retreatedwithsuccess;hehadalreadycapturedagrandDued’Aumale,aPrinceoftheGuises,——

  valuableransomtobelookedforthere。ItwasthoughtheshouldhavemadehisbargainbetterwiththeKaiser,beforestarting;

  buthehadneglectedthat。Albert’scoursewasdownwardthenceforth;KaiserKarl’stoo。TheFrenchkeepthese\"ThreeBishoprics(TROISEVECHES),\"andTeutschlandlamentsthelossofthem,tothishour。KaiserKarl,assomewrite,neversmiledagain;——abdicated,notlongafter;retiredintotheMonasteryofSt。Just,andtheresoondied。ThatisthesiegeofMetz,whereAlcibiadeswashelpful。HisownbargainwiththeKaisershouldhavebeenbettermadebeforehand。

  Dissatisfiedwithanybargainhecouldnowget;dissatisfiedwiththeTreatyofPassau,withsuchafinaleandhushing—upoftheReligiousControversy,andingeneralwithhimselfandwiththeworld,Albertagaindrewsword;wentlooseatahighrateuponhisBamberg—Wurzburgenemies,and,havingraisedsuppliesthere,uponMoritzandthosePassau—Treatiers。HewasbeatenatlastbyMoritz,\"Sunday,9thJuly,1553,\"ataplacecalledSievershausenintheHanoverCountry,whereMoritzhimselfperishedintheaction。——AlbertfledthereupontoFrance。NohopeinFrance。

  Noluckinothersmallanddesperatestakingsofhis:thegameisdone。AlbertreturnstoaSisterhehad,toherHusband’sCourtinBaden;abroken,bareandbankruptman;——soondiesthere,childless,leavingtheshadowofaname。[Here,chieflyfromKohler(Munzbelustigungen,iii。414—416),isthechronologyofAlbert’soperations:——

  SeizureofNurnberg&c。,11thMayto22dJune,1552;Innspruck(withTreatyofPassau)follows。ThenSiegeofMetz,OctobertoDecember,1552;Bamberg,WurzburgandNurnbergransomedagain,April,1553;BattleofSievershausen,9thJuly,1553。Wurzburg&c。

  explodeagainsthim;BanoftheEmpire,4thMay,1554。ToFrancethereupon;returns,hopingtonegotiate,endof1556;diesatPforzheim,athisSister’s,8thJanuary,1557。——SeePauli,iii。

  120—138。SeealsoDr。Kapp,ErinnerungenandiejenigenMarkgrafen&c。(areprintfromtheArchivfurGeschichteundAlterthumskundeinOber—Franken,

  Year1841)。]

  HisdeathbroughthugetroublesuponBaireuthandtheFamilyPossessions。Somanyneighbors,Bamberg,Wurzburgandtherest,wereeagerforretaliation;anewKaisergreedyforconfiscating。

  PlassenburgCastlewasbesieged,bombarded,takenbyfamineandburnt;muchwasburntandtorntowaste。Nay,haditnotbeenforhelpfromBerlin,theFamilyhadgonetoutterruininthoseparts。

  ForthisAlcibiadeshad,inhisturn,beenGuardiantoUncleGeorge’sSon,theGeorgeFriedrichweoncespokeof,stillaminor,butwellknownafterwards;anditwasattempted,byaneagerKaiserFerdinand,toinvolvethispooryouthinhisCousin’sillegalities,asifWardandGuardianhadbeenoneperson。

  BaireuthwhichhadbeenAlcibiades’s,Anspachwhichwastheyoungman’sown,nayJagerndorfwithitsAppendages,wereatonetimeallintheclutchesofthehawk,——hadnothelpfromBerlinbeenthere。Butintheend,theLawhadtobealloweditscourse;

  GeorgeFriedrichgothisownTerritoriesback(allbutsomesurreptitiousnibblingsintheJagerndorfquarter,tobenoticedelsewhere),andalsogotBaireuth,hispoorCousin’sInheritance;

  ——soleheir,henow,inCulmbath,theLineofCasimirbeingout。

  OneownstoakindofloveforpoorAlbertAlcibiades。Incertainsordidtimes,evena\"FailureofaFritz\"isbetterthansomeSuccessesthataregoing。Amanofsomerealnobleness,thisAlbert;thoughnotwithwisdomenough,notwithgoodfortuneenough。Couldhehavecontinuedto\"rulethesituation\"(asourFrenchfriendsphraseit);tomarchthefanaticalPapistries,andKaiserKarl,clearoutofit,hometoSpainandSanJustoalittleearlier;towavethecomingJesuitriesaway,aswithaflamingsword;toforbidbeforehandthedolefulThirty—YearsWar,andthestilldolefulerspiritualatrophy(theflaccidPedantry,everrummagingandrearrangingamonglearnedmarine—stores,whichthinksitselfWisdomandInsight;thevaguemaunderings,flutings;

  indolent,impotentdaydreamingandtobacco—smoking,ofpoorModernGermany)whichhasfollowedtherefrom,——ACHGOTT,hemighthavebeena\"SUCCESSofaFritz\"threetimesover!HemighthavebeenaGermanCromwell;beckoninghisPeopletofly,eagle—like,straighttowardstheSun;insteadofscrewingaboutitinthatsad,uncertain,andfartoospiralmanner!——Butitlaynotinhim;

  notinhiscapabilitiesoropportunities,afterall:andwebutwastetimeinsuchspeculations。

  ChapterVIII。

  HISTORICALMEANINGOFTHEREFORMATION。

  TheCulmbachBrothers,weobserve,playamoreimportantpartinthaterathantheirseniorsandchiefsofBrandenburg。TheseCulmbachers,MargrafGeorgeaudAlbertofPreussenattheheadofthem,marchvaliantlyforwardintheReformationbusiness;

  whileKUR—BRANDENBURG,JoachimI。,theirseniorCousin,istalkingloudatDiets,gallopingtoInnspruckandthelike,zealousontheConservativeside;andCardinalAlbert,KUR—MAINZ,hiseloquentbrother,iseagertomakematterssmoothandavoidviolentmethods。

  TheReformationwasthegreatEventofthatSixteenthCentury;

  accordingasamandidsomethinginthat,ordidnothingandobstructeddoing,hashemuchclaimtomemory,ornoclaim,inthisageofours。ThemoreitbecomesapparentthattheReformationwastheEventthentransactingitself,wasthethingthatGermanyandEuropeeitherdidorrefusedtodo,themoredoesthehistoricalsignificanceofmenattachitselftothephasesofthattransaction。AccordinglywenoticehenceforththatthememorablepointsofBrandenburgHistory,whatofitsticksnaturallytothememoryofareaderorstudent,connectthemselvesoftheirownaccord,almostall,withtheHistoryoftheReformation。ThathasprovedtobetheLawofNatureinregardtothem,softlyestablishingitself;anditisourstofollowthatlaw。

  Brandenburg,notatfirstunanimously,bynomeanstooinconsiderately,butwithoverwhelmingunanimitywhenthematterbecameclear,wasluckyenoughtoadopttheReformation;——andstandsbyiteversinceinitsever—wideningscope,amidsuchdifficultiesastheremightbe。Brandenburghadfeltsomehow,thatitcoulddonoother。AndeveronwardsthroughthetimesevenofourlittleFritzandfarther,ifwewillunderstandtheword\"Reformation,\"Brandenburgsofeels;being,atthisday,toanhonorabledegree,incapableofbelievingincredibilities,ofadoptingsolemnshams,orpretendingtoliveonspiritualmoonshine。WhichhasbeenofuncountableadvantagetoBrandenburg:

  ——howcoulditfail?ThiswaswhatwemustcallobeyingtheaudiblevoiceofHeaven。Towhichsame\"voice,\"atthattime,allthatdidnotgiveear,——whathasbecomeofthemsince;havetheynotsignallyhadthepenaltiestopay!

  \"Penalties:\"quarrelnotwiththeoldphraseology,goodreader;

  attendrathertothethingitmeans。Thewordwasheardofold,witharightsolemnmeaningattachedtoit,fromtheologicalpulpitsandsuchplaces;andmaystillbeheardtherewithahalf—

  meaning,orwithnomeaning,thoughithasratherbecomeobsoletetomodernears。ButtheTHINGshouldnothavefallenobsolete;

  thethingisagrandandsolemntruth,expressiveofasilentLawofHeaven,whichcontinuesforevervalid。Themostuntheologicalofmenmaystillassertthething;andinviteallmentonoticeit,asasilentmonitionandprophecyinthisUniverse;totakeit,withmoreofawethantheyarewont,asacorrectreadingoftheWilloftheEternalinrespectofsuchmatters;and,intheirmodernsphere,tobearthesamewellinmind。Foritisperfectlycertain,andmaybeseenwitheyesinanyquarterofEuropeatthisday。

  ProtestantornotProtestant?Thequestionmeanteverywhere:

  \"Isthereanythingofnoblenessinyou,ONation,oristherenothing?Arethere,inthisNation,enoughofheroicmentoventureforward,andtobattleforGod’sTruthVERSUStheDevil’sFalsehood,attheperiloflifeandmore?Menwhopreferdeath,andallelse,tolivingunderFalsehood,——who,onceforall,willnotliveunderFalsehood;buthavingdrawntheswordagainstit(thetimebeingcomeforthatrareandimportantstep),throwawaythescabbard,andcansay,inpiousclearness,withtheirwholesoul:’Comeon,then!LifeunderFalsehoodisnotgoodforme;andwewilltryitoutnow。Letitbetothedeathbetweenus,then!’\"

  Oncerisenintothisdivinewhite—heatoftemper,wereitonlyforaseasonandnotagain,theNationisthenceforthconsiderablethroughallitsremaininghistory。WhatimmensitiesofDROSSandcrypto—poisonousmatterwillitnotburnoutofitselfinthathightemperature,inthecourseofafewyears!WitnessCromwellandhisPuritans,——makingEnglandhabitableevenundertheCharles—Secondtermsforacoupleofcenturiesmore。Nationsarebenefited,Ibelieve,forages,bybeingthrownonceintodivinewhite—heatinthismanner。AndnoNationthathasnothadsuchdivineparoxysmsatanytimeisapttocometomuch。

  Thatwasnow,inthisepoch,theEnglishof\"adoptingProtestantism;\"andweneednotwonderattheresultswhichithashad,andwhichthewantofithashad。ForthewantofitisliterallythewantofloyaltytotheMakerofthisUniverse。

  Hewhowantsthat,whatelsehashe,orcanhehave?Ifyoudonot,youManoryouNation,lovetheTruthenough,buttrytomakeaChapman—bargainwithTruth,insteadofgivingyourselfwhollysoulandbodyandlifetoher,Truthwillnotlivewithyou,Truthwilldepartfromyou;andonlyLogic,\"Wit\"(forexample,\"LondonWit\"),Sophistry,Virtu,theAEstheticArts,andperhaps(forashortwhile)BookkeepingbyDoubleEntry,willabidewithyou。

  Youwillfollowfalsity,andthinkittruth,youunfortunatemanornation。Youwillrightsurely,youforone,stumbletotheDevil;andareeverydayandhour,littleasyouimagineit,makingprogressthither。

  Austria,Spain,Italy,France,Poland,——theofferoftheReformationwasmadeeverywhere;anditiscurioustoseewhathasbecomeofthenationsthatwouldnothearit。Inallcountriesweresomethataccepted;butinmanytherewerenotenough,andtherest,slowlyorswiftly,withfataldifficultindustry,contrivedtoburnthemout。AustriawasoncefullofProtestants;

  butthehide—boundFlemish—SpanishKaiser—elementpresidingoverit,obstinately,fortwocenturies,keptsaying,\"No;we,withourdullobstinateCimburgisunder—lipandlazyeyes,withourponderousAustriandepthofHabitualityandindolenceofIntellect,weprefersteadyDarknesstouncertainnewLight!\"——andallmenmayseewhereAustrianowis。Spainstillmore;

  poorSpain,goingabout,atthistime,makingits\"PRONUNCIAMIENTOS;\"allthefactiousattorneysinitslittletownsassemblingtoPRONOUNCEvirtuallythis,\"TheOldISalie,then;——

  goodHeavens,afterwesolongtriedhard,harderthananynation,tothinkitatruth!——andifitbenotRightsofMan,RedRepublicandProgressoftheSpecies,weknownotwhatnowtobelieveortodo;andareasapeoplestumblingonsteepplaces,inthedarknessofmidnight!\"——TheyrefusedTruthwhenshecame;andnowTruthknowsnothingofthem。Allstars,andheavenlylights,havebecomeveiledtosuchmen;theymustnowfollowterrestrialIGNESFATUI,andthinkthemstars。Thatisthedoompasseduponthem。

  ItalytoohaditsProtestants;butItalykilledthem;managedtoextinguishProtestantism。ItalyputupsilentlywithPracticalLiesofallkinds;and,shruggingitsshoulders,preferredgoingintoDilettantismandtheFineArts。TheItalians,insteadofthesacredserviceofFactandPerformance,didMusic,Painting,andthelike:——tilleventhathasbecomeimpossibleforthem;andnonobleNation,sunkfromvirtuetoVIRTU,everofferedsuchaspectaclebefore。HethatwillpreferDilettantisminthisworldforhisoutfit,shallhaveit;butallthegodswilldepartfromhim;andmanfulveracity,earnestnessofpurpose,devoutdepthofsoul,shallnomorebehis。Hecanifhelikemakehimselfasoprano,andsingforhire;——andprobablythatistherealgoalforhim。

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