第5章
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  TherewereplentyofAscanierCousinsstillextantinthoseparts,Saxondignitaries,Anhaltdignitaries,linealdescendantsofAlberttheBear;tosomeofwhom,inusualtimes,Albert’sinheritancewouldnaturallyhavebeengranted。Butthetimeswereofbattle,uncertainty,contestedelection:andtheAscaniers,Iperceive,hadrathertakenFriedrichofAustria’sside,whichprovedthelosingone。KaiserLudwigDERBAIERwouldappointnoneofthese;Anti—KaiserFriedrich’sappointments,ifhemadeany,couldbeonlynominal,inthosedistantNorthernparts。Ludwig,afterhisvictoryofMuhldorf,preferredtoconsidertheElectorateofBrandenburgaslapsed,lyingvacant,ungovernedthesethreeyears;andnowbecometheKaiser’sagain。Kaiser,inconsequence,gaveittohisSon;whosenamealsoisLudwig:

  thedateoftheInvestitureis1323(yearafterthatvictoryofMuhldorf);adateunfortunatetoBrandenburg。WecomenowintoaLineofBAVARIANMarkgraves,andthenofLUXEMBURGones;bothofwhichareoffatalsignificancetoBrandenburg。

  TheAscanierCousins,highSaxondignitariessomeofthem,gloomedmeredisappointment,andprotestedhard;butcouldnotmendthematter,noworafterwards。TheirLinewentoutinSaxonytoo,incourseoftime;gaveplacetotheWETTINS,whoarestillthere。

  TheAscanierhadtobecontentwiththemorepristinestateofacquisitions,——highpedigrees,oldcastlesofAscanienandBallenstadt,territoriesofAnhaltorwhatelsetheyhad;——andneverroseagaintothelostheight,thoughtheracestilllives,andhasqualitiesbesidesitspedigree。Wesaidthe\"OldDessauer,\"LeopoldPrinceofAnhalt—Dessau,wastheheadofitinFriedrichWilhelm’stime;andtothisdayhehasdescendants。

  CatharineII。ofRussiawasofAnhalt—Zerbst,ajuniorbranch。

  AlberttheBear,ifthatisofanyusetohim,hasstilloccasionallynotablerepresentatives。

  Ludwigjunior,KaiserLudwigtheBavarian’seldestson,wasstillunderagewhenappointedKurfurstofBrandenburgin1323:

  ofcoursehehada\"STATEHOLDER\"(Viceregent,STATTHALTER);

  then,andafterwardsinoccasionalabsencesofhis,aseriesofsuch,Kaiser’sCouncillors,BurggrafFriedrichIV。amongthem,hadtotakesomethoughtofBrandenburginitsnewposture。WhotheseBrandenburgStatthalterswere,isheartilyindifferenteventoDryasdust,——exceptthatoneofthemforsometimewasaHohenzollern:whichcircumstanceDryasdustmarkswiththeduenoteofadmiration。\"Whathedidthere,\"Dryasdustadmits,\"isnotwrittenanywhere;\"——good,wewillhope,andnotevil;——butonlytheDiplomanominatinghim(ofdate1346,notinLudwig’sminority,butmanyyearsafterthatended[Rentsch,p。323。])nowexistsbywayofrecord。Adifficultproblemhe,liketheotherregentsandviceregents,musthavehad;littledreamingthatitwasintrinsicallyforagrandsonofhisown,andlonglineofgrandsons。ThenameofthistemporaryStatthalter,thefirstHohenzollernwhohadevertheleastconcernwithBrandenburg,isBurggrafJohannII。,eldestSonofourdistinguishedMuhldorffriendFriedrichIV。;andGrandfather(throughanotherFriedrich)

  ofBurggrafFriedrichVI。,——whichlastgentleman,aswillbeseen,diddoubtlessreapthesowings,goodandbad,ofallmannerofmeninBrandenburg。ThesameJohannII。itwaswhopurchasedPlassenburgCastleandTerritory(cheap,formoneydown),wheretheFamilyafterwardshaditschiefresidence。Hof,TownandTerritory,hadfallentohisFatherinthoseparts;agiftofgratitudefromKaiserLudwig:——mostoftheVoigtlandisnowHohenzollern。

  KaiserLudwigtheBavarianlefthissonsElectorsofBrandenburg;

  ——\"Electors,KURFURSTS,\"nowbecomesthecommonertermforsoimportantaCountry;——Electorsnotineasycircumstances。ButnosonofhissucceededLudwigasKaiser,——successorintheReichwasthatPfaffen—Kaiser,JohannofBohemia’sson,aLuxemburgeroncemore。NosonofLudwig’s;nordidanydescendant,——except,afterfourhundredyears,thatunfortunateKaiserKarlVII。,inMariaTheresa’stime。Hewasadescendant。Ofwhomweshallhearmorethanenough。TheunluckiestofallKaisers,thatKarlVII。;lessaSovereignKaiserthanabonethrownintotheringforcertainroyaldogs,LouisXV。,GeorgeII。andothers,toworryabout;——

  watch—dogsofthegods;aptsometimestorunintohuntinginsteadofwarding。——WewillsaynothingmoreofLudwigtheBaier,orhisposterity,atpresent:wewillglanceacrosstoPreussen,andsee,foronemoment,whattheTeutschRittersaredoingintheirnewCentury。Itistheyear1330;JohannII。atNurnberg,asyetonlycomingtobeBurggraf,bynomeansyetadministeringinBrandenburg;andLudwigjuniorsevenyearsoldinhisnewdignitythere。

  TheTeutschRitters,afterinfinitetravail,havesubduedheathenPreussen;colonizedthecountrywithindustriousGermanimmigrants;bankedtheWeichselandtheNogat,subduingtheirquagmiresintomeadows,andtheirwastestreamsintodeepship—

  courses。Townsarebuilt,Konigsberg(KINGOttocar’sTOWN),Thoren(Thorn,CITYoftheGATES),withmanyothers:sothatthewildpopulationandthetamenowlivedtolerablytogether,underGospelandLubeckLaw;andallwasploughingandtrading,andarichcountry;whichhadmadetheTeutschRittersrich,andvictoriouslyattheireaseincomparison。Butalongwithrichesandtheeaseofvictory,thecommonbadconsequenceshadensued。Rittersgivenuptoluxuries,tosecularambitions;rittersnolongercladinausteremailandprayer;rittersgivenuptowantonnessofmindandconduct;solemnlyvowing,andquietlynotdoing;withoutremorseorconsciousnessofwrong,dailyeatingforbiddenfruit;

  rittersswellingmoreandmoreintothefatted—oxcondition,forwhomthereisbutonedoom。Howfartheyhadcarriedit,hereisonesymptomthatmayteachus。

  Intheyear1330,oneWernervonOrselnwasGrand—masteroftheseRitters。TheGrand—master,whoisstillusuallythebestmantheycanget,andwhobytheoryissacredtothemasaGrand—LamaorPopeamongCardinal—Lamas,orasanAbbottohisMonks,——Grand—

  masterWerner,wesay,hadlaindowninMarienburgoneafternoonofthisyear1330,totakehissiesta,andwasdreamingpeaceablyafteramoderaterepast,whenacertaindevil—riddenmortal,JohannvonEndorf,oneofhisRitters,longgrumblingaboutseverity,wantofpromotionandthelike,rushedinuponthegoodoldman;ranhimthrough,deadforaducat;[Voigt,iv。474,482。]——andconsummatedaPARRICIDEatwhichtheverycrossonone’swhitecloakshudders!Parricideworse,agreatdeal,thanthatattheFordofReussuponone—eyedAlbert。

  WeleavetheshudderingRitterstosettleit,sternlyvengeful;

  whom,foramoment,ithasstruckbroad—awaketosomesenseoftheveryquestionableconditiontheyaregettinginto。

  ChapterXI。

  BAYARIANKURFURSTSINBRANDENBURG。

  YoungLudwigKurfurstofBrandenburg,KaiserLudwig’seldestson,havingcomeofyears,theTutorsorStatthalterswenthome,——notwantedexceptincasesofoccasionalabsencehenceforth;——andtheyoungmanendeavoredtomanageonhisownstrength。Hissuccesswasbutindifferent;heheldon,however,foraspaceoftwentyyears,betterorworse。\"HehelpedKingEdwardIII。attheSiegeofCambray(A。D。1339);\"[Michaelis,i。279。]whoseFrenchpoliticswereoftenconnectedwiththeKaiser’s:itiscertain,KurfurstLudwig\"servedpersonallywith600horse[ongoodpayment,Iconclude]atthatSiegeofCambray;\"——andprobablysawtheactualBlackPrince,andsometimesdinedwithhim,asEnglishreaderscanimagine。InBrandenburghehadmanychecksanddifficultpassages,butwasneverquitebeatenout,whichitwaseasytohavebeen。

  Amanofsomeability,aswecangather,thoughnotofenough:

  heplayedhisgamewithresolution,notwithoutskill;butfromthefirstthecardswereagainsthim。HisFather’saffairsgoingmostlyillwerenohelptohis,whichofthemselveswentnotwell。

  TheBrandenburgers,mindfuloftheiroldAscaniersovereigns,wereillaffectedtoLudwigandthenewBavariansort。TheAnhaltCousinrygloomedirreconcilable;wereneveridle,diggingpitfalls,raisingtroubles。FromthemandothersKurfurstLudwighadtroublesenough;whichwerefrontedbyhimreallynotamiss;

  whichwewholly,orallbutwholly,omitinthisplace。

  ARESUSCITATEDASCANIER;THEFALSEWALDEMAR。

  ThewickedestandworsttroubleoftheirraisingwasthatoftheresuscitatedWaldemar(A。D。1345):\"FalseWaldemar,\"asheisnowcalledinBrandenburgBooks。Waldemarwasthelast,orasgoodasthelast,oftheAscanierMarkgraves;andhe,twoyearsbeforeLudwigeversawthosecountries,diedinhisbed,twenty—fivegoodyearsago;andwasburied,andseeminglyended。Butno;aftertwenty—fiveyears,Waldemarreappears:\"Notburiedordead,onlysham—buried,sham—dead;havebeenintheHolyLandallthiswhile,doingpilgrimageandpenance;andamcometoclaimmyownagain,——

  whichstrangersaremuchmisusing!\"[Michaelis,i。279。]

  PerkinWarbeck,POST—MORTEMRichardII。,DimitriofRussia,MartinGuerreoftheCAUSESCELEBRES:itisacommonstoryintheworld,andneedsnocommentarynow。POST—MORTEMWaldemar,itissaid,wasaMiller’sMan,\"ofthenameofJakobRehback;\"whousedtobeabouttherealWaldemarinamenialcapacity,andhadsomeresemblancetohim。Heshowedsignets,recountedexperiences,whichhadbelongedtotherealWaldemar。Manybelievedinhispretension,andtookarmstoassertit;theReichbeinginmuchinternalbattleatthetime;poorKaiserLudwig,withhisAvignonPopesandangryKingsJohann,wadingindeepwaters。EspeciallythedisaffectedCousinry,orPrincesofAnhalt,believedandbattledforPOST—MORTEMWaldemar;whowerethoughttohavegothimupfromthefirst。KurfurstLudwighadfourorfivemostsadyearswithhim;——alltheworsewhenthePFAFFEN—KAISER(KingJohann’sson)cameonthestage,inthecourseofthem(A。D。1346),andKaiserLudwig,yieldingnotindeedtohim,buttoDeath,vanishedfromittwoyearsafter;[Elected,1314;Muhldorf,andElectionCOMPLETE,1322;died,1347,age60。]leavingKurfurstLudwigtohisownshiftswiththePfaffen—Kaiser。WhomhecouldnotnowhinderfromsucceedingtotheReich。Hetriedhard;setup,heandothers,anAnti—Kaiser(GUNTHEROFSCHWARTZBURG,temporaryAnti—

  Kaiser,whomEnglishreaderscanforgetagain):hebustled,battled,negotiated,upanddown;andranacross,atonetime,toPreussentotheTeutschRitters,——presumablytoborrowmoney:——butitallwouldnotdo。ThePfaffen—Kaisercarriedit,intheDietandoutoftheDiet:KarlIV。bytitle;asorryenoughKaiser,andbynatureanenemyofLudwig’s。

  ItwasinthiswhirlofintricatemisventuresthatKurfurstLudwighadtodealwithhisFalseWaldemar,conjuredfromthedeepsuponhim,likeanewgoblin,wherealreadytherewereplenty,inthedanceroundpoorLudwig。Ofwhichnearlyinextricablegoblin—

  dance;threateningBrandenburg,foronething,withannihilation,andyetleadingBrandenburgabstruselytowardsnewbirthandhigherdestinies,——howwillitbepossible(withoutraisingnewghosts,inasense)togivereadersanyintelligiblenotion?——

  Here,flickeringontheedgeofconflagrationafterdutydone,isapoorNotewhichperhapsthereaderhadbetter,attheriskofsuperfluity,stillinparttakealongwithhim:——

  \"KaiserHenryVII。,whodiedofsacramentalwine,FirstoftheLuxemburgKaisers,leftJohannstillaboyoffifteen,whocouldnotbecomethesecondofthem,butdidintimeproducetheSecond,whoagainproducedtheThirdandFourth。

  \"JohannwasalreadyKingofBohemia;theimportantyounggentleman,Ottocar’sgrandson,whomwesaw’murderedatOlmutznoneyetknowsbywhom,’hadleftthatthronevacant,anditlapsedtotheKaiser;who,theNationalsofavoring,dulyputinhissonJohann。Therewasacompetitor,’DukeoftheTyrol,’whoclaimedonloosegrounds;’MywifewasAuntoftheyoungmurderedKing,’saidhe;’wherefore’——!Kaiser,andJohannafterhim,rebuttedthiscompetitor;buthelonggavesometrouble,havinggreatwealthandmeans。HeproducedaDaughter,MargaretHeiressoftheTyrol,——withaterribleMOUTHtoherface,andnoneofthegentlestheartsinherbody:——thatwasperhapshisprincipalfeatintheworld。Hedied1331;hadstyledhimself’KingofBohemia’

  fortwentyyears,——eversince1308;——butinthelasttwoyearsofhislifehegaveitup,andceasedfromtroubling,havingcometoabeautifulagreementwithJohann。

  \"Johann,namely,weddedhiseldestSontothiscompetitor’sfineDaughterwiththemouth(Year1329):’InthismannerdonotBohemiaandtheTyrolcometogetherinmybloodandinyours,andbothofusaremademen?’saidthetwocontractingparties。——Alas,no:thecompetitorDuke,fatheroftheBride,diedsometwoyearsafter,probablywithdiminishedhopesofit;andKingJohannlivedtoseethehopeexpiredismallyaltogether。Therecamenochildren,therecameno——InfactMargaret,afteradozenyearsofwedlock,inunpleasantcircumstances,brokeitoffasifbyexplosion;tookherselfandherTyrolirrevocablyovertoKaiserLudwig,quiteawayfromKingJohann,——who,hishopesoftheTyrolexpiringinsuchdismalmanner,wasthenceforththebitterenemyofLudwigandwhatheldofhim。\"

  Tyrolexplosionwasin1342。Andnow,keepingthesepreliminarydatesandoutlinesinmind,weshallunderstandthebig—mouthedLadybetter,andtheconsequencesofherintheworld。

  MARGARETWITHTHEPOUCH—MOUTH。

  WhatprincipallyraisedthisdanceofthedevilsroundpoorLudwig,Iperceive,wasamarriagehehadmade,threeyearsbeforeWaldemaremerged;ofwhich,wereitonlyforthesakeoftheBride’sname,somementionispermissible。MargaretoftheTyrol,commonlycalled,bycontemporariesandposterity,MAULTASCHE

  (Mouthpoke,Pocket—mouth),shewasthebride:——marriagedoneatInnspruck,1342,underfurtheranceoffatherLudwigtheKaiser:——

  suchamouthaswecanfancy,andacharactercorrespondingtoit。

  This,whichseemedtothetwoLudwigsaveryconquestofthegolden—fleeceunderconditions,provedthebeginningoftheirworstdaystobothofthem。

  Notalovelybrideatall,thisMaultasche;whoisvergingnowtowardsmiddlelifewithal,andhashadenoughtocrossherintheworld。Wasalreadymarriedthirteenyearsago;notwiselynorbyanymeanstoowell。Aterribledragonofawoman。Hasbeeninnamelessdomesticquarrels;inwarsandsiegeswithrebelliousvassals;clapsyouanironcaponherhead,andtakesthefieldwhenneedis:furiousshe—bearoftheTyrol。Butshehasimmensepossessions,ifwantinginfemalecharms。ShecamebymothersfromthatDukeofMeranwhomwesawgethisdeath(forcause),inthePlassenburgahundredyearsago。[Antes,p。102。]HerancestorwasHusbandtoanAuntofthathomicidedDuke:fromhim,principallyfromhim,sheinheritstheTyrol,Carinthia,Styria;isherselfanonlychild,thelastofaline:hugestHeiressnowgoing。Sothat,inspiteofthemouthandhumor,shehasnotwantedforwooers,——especiallyprudentFatherswooingherfortheirsons。

  InherFather’slifetime,JohannKingofBohemia,alwaysawaketosuchsymptomsofthings,andhavingverypeculiarinterestsinthiscase,courtedandgotherforhisCrown—Prince(aswejustsaw),ayouthofgreatoutlooks,outlookstowardsKaisershipitselfperhaps;towhomshewaswedded,thirteenyearsago,anddulybroughttheTyrolforHeritage:butwiththeworstresults。

  Heritage,namely,couldnotbehadwithoutstrifewithAustria,whichlikewisehadclaims。Farworse,themarriageitselfwentawry:Johann’sCrown—Princewas\"asoft—naturedHerr,\"saytheBooks:whybringyourbigshe—bearintoapoordeer’sden?Enough,themarriagecametonothing,excepttohugebrawlingsfarenoughawayfromus:andMargaretPouch—mouthhasnowdivorcedherBohemianCrown—PrinceasaNullity;andagainweds,onsimilarterms,KaiserLudwig’sson,ourBrandenburgKurfurst,——whohopespossiblythatHEnowmaysucceedasKaiser,onthestrengthofhisFatherandoftheTyrol。Whichturnedoutfarotherwise。

  ThemarriagewasdoneintheChurchofInnspruck,10thFebruary,1342(forwelovetobeparticular),\"KaiserLudwig,\"happyman,\"andmanyPrincesoftheEmpire,lookingon;\"littlethinkingwhatacoilitwouldprove。\"Atthehighaltarshestriptoffherveil,\"symbolofwifehoodorwidowhood,\"andputonaJUNGFERNKRANZ(maiden’s—garland),\"symbolicallytestifyinghowhappyLudwigjuniorstillwas。Theyhadasonbyandby;buttheircourseotherwise,andindeedthis—wisetoo,wasmuchcheckered。

  KingJohann,seeingtheTyrolgoneinthismanner,gloomedterriblyuponhisCrown—Prince;flunghimasideasaNullity,\"GotoMoravia,outofsight,onanapanage,you;beCrown—Princenolonger!\"——AndtooktofightingKaiserLudwig;colleagueddiligentlywiththehostilePope,withtheKingofFrance;

  intriguedandcolleaguedfarandwide;swearingbyeverymethodeverlastingenmitytoKaiserLudwig;andsetuphissonKarlasPfaffen—Kaiser。Nay,perhapshewasatthebottomofPOST—OBIT

  Waldemartoo。Inbrief,heraised,hemainly,thisdevils’—dance,inwhich,KaiserLudwighavingdied,poorKurfurstLudwig,withMaultaschehangingonhim,issometimesnearhiswits’end。

  Johann’spoorCrown—Prince,findingmatterstakethisturn,retiredintoMAHREN(Moravia)asbidden;\"MargraveofMahren;\"

  andpeaceablyadjustedhimselftohischaracterofNullityandtothelossofMaultasche;——chose,fortherest,anewPrincessinwedlock,withmoremoderatedimensionsofmouth;anddidproducesonsanddaughtersonafreshscore。Produced,amongothers,oneJobsthissuccessorintheapanageorMargrafdom;who,asJOBST,orJodocus,OFMAHREN,madesomenoiseforhimselfinthenextgeneration,andwillturnupagaininreferencetoBrandenburginthisHistory。

  AsforMargaretPouch—mouth,she,withhernewHusbandaswithherold,continuedtohavetroubles,prettymuchasthesparksflyupwards。Shehadfiercesiegingsafterthis,andexplosiveprocedures,——littleshortofMonkSchwartz,whowasjustinventinggunpowderatthetime。WecannothopeshelivedinElysianharmonywithKurfurstLudwig;——thereverse,infact;andoftenestwiththewholebreadthofGermanybetweenthem,heinBrandenburg,sheintheTyrol。NordidLudwigjuniorevercometobeKaiser,ashisFatherandshehadhoped;onthecontrary,KingJohannofBohemia’speople,——itwastheythatnextgottheKaisershipandkeptit;anewprovocationtoMaultasche。

  Ludwigandshehadason,aswesaid;PrinceoftheTyrolandappendages,titularMargrafofMahrenandmuchelse,bynature:

  butalas,hediedaboutten;aprecociousboy,——fancythewildweepingofamaternalShe—bear!AndtheFatherhadalreadydied;

  [In1361,diedKurfurstLudwig;1363,theBoy;1366,Maultascheherself。]amaliciousworldwhisperingthatperhapsshepoisonedthemBOTH。Theproudwoman,nowoldtoo,pursedherbigcoarselipstogetheratsuchrumor,andherbigcoarsesoul,——inagloomyscornappealingbeyondtheworld;inasorrowthattheworldknewnotof。ShesolemnlysettledherTyrolandappendagesupontheAustrianArchdukes,whowerechildrenofherMother’sSister;

  whomsheeveninstalledintotheactualgovernment,tomakematterssurer。Thisdone,sheretiredtoVienna,onapensionfromthem,theretomeditateandprayalittle,beforeDeathcame;

  asitdidnowinashortyearortwo。TyrolandtheappendagescontinuewithAustriafromthathourtothis,Margaret’slittleboyhavingdied。

  MargaretofthePouch—mouth,ruggeddragoon—majorofawoman,withoccasionalsteelcaponherhead,andcapableofswearingterriblyinFlandersorelsewhere,remainsinsomemeasurememorabletome。

  ComparedwithPompadour,DuchessofCleveland,ofKendalandotherhigh—rougedunfortunatefemales,whomitisnotpropertospeakofwithoutnecessity,thoughitisoftendone,——MaultascherisestotherankofHistorical。ShebroughttheTyrolandappendagespermanentlytoAustria;wasnearleadingBrandenburgtoannihilation,raisingsuchagoblin—danceroundLudwigandit,yetdidabstruselyleadBrandenburgtowardsafarothergoal,whichlikewisehasprovedpermanentforit。

  ChapterXII。

  BRANDENBURGINKAISERKARL’STIME;ENDOFTHEBAVARIANKURFURSTS。

  KaiserLudwigdiedin1347,whiletheFalseWaldemarwasstillbusy。WesawKarlIV。,JohannofBohemia’ssecondson,cometotheKaisershipthereupon,Johann’seldestNullitybeingomitted。

  ThisFourthKarl,——otherthreeKarlsareoftheCharlemagneset,KarltheBald,theFat,andsuchlike,andlieunderourhorizon,whileCHARLESFIFTHisofastillotherset,andknowntoeverybody,——thisKarlIV。istheKaiserwhodiscoveredtheWellofKARLSBAD(BathofKarl),knowntoTouristsofthisday;andmadetheGOLDENBULL,whichIforbidallEnglishmentotakeforanagriculturalPrizeAnimal,thethingbeingfarother,asisknowntoseveral。

  ThereislittlefarthertobesaidofKarlinReichs—History。

  Anunesteemedcreature;whostrovetomakehistimepeaceableinthisworld,bygivingfromtheHolyRomanEmpirewithbothhandstoeverybull—beggar,orready—payerwhoapplied。SadsignwhattheRomanEmpirehadcomeandwascomingto。TheKaiser’sshield,setupaloftintheRoncalicPlaininBarbarossa’stime,intimated,andinearnesttoo,\"Ho,everyonethathassufferedwrong!\"——intimatesnow,\"Ho,everyonethatcanbullyme,orhasmoneyinhispocket!\"UnadmiringposterityhasconfirmedthenicknameofthisKarlIV。;andcallshimPFAFFEN—KAISER。HekeptmainlyatPrag,readyforreceiptofcash,andholdingwelloutofharm’sway。InyoungeryearshehadbeenmuchabouttheFrenchCourt;inItalyhehadsufferedtroubles,almostassassinations;

  muchblowntoandfro,poorlightwretch,onthechaoticWindsofhisTime,——steeringtowardsnostar。

  Johann,KingofBohemia,didnotlivetoseeKarlanacknowledgedKaiser。OldJohann,blindforsometimeback,hadperishedtwoyearsbeforethatevent;——bequeathingaHeraldicSymboltotheWorld’sHistoryandtoEngland’s,ifnothingmore。Poorman,hehadcrusadedinPreusseninabrilliantmanner,beingfondoffighting。HewrungSilesia,graduallybypurchaseandentreaty(pretioacprece),fromthePolishKing;

  [1327—1341(Kohler,p。302)。]joinedITfirmlytoBohemiaandGermany,——unconsciouslywaitingforwhathigherdestiniesSilesiamighthave。ForMaultascheandtheTyrolhebroughtsadwoesonBrandenburg;andyetwasunconsciouslyleadingBrandenburg,byabstrusecourses,whitherithadtogo。Arestless,ostentatious,far—grasping,strong—handedman;whokepttheworldinastirwhereverhewas。AllwhichhasprovedvoicelessintheWorld’smemory;whilethecasualShadowofaFeatherheonceworehasprovedvocalthere。World’smemoryisverywhimsicalnowandthen。

  BeingmuchimplicatedwiththeKingofFrance,whowiththePopewashischiefstayinthesefinalAnti—Ludwigoperations,Johann——

  in1346,Pfaffen—KaiserKarljustsetonfoot——hadledhischivalryintoFrance,tohelpagainsttheEnglishEdwards,whowerethenveryintrusivethere。Johannwasblind,buthehadgoodideasinwar。AttheBattleofCrecy,24thAugust,1346,headvisedweknownotwhat;butheactuallyfought,thoughstone—

  blind。\"TiedhisbridletothatoftheKnightnexthim;

  andchargedin,\"——likeanoldblindwar—horsekindlingmadlyatthesoundofthetrumpet;——andwasthere,bysomeEnglishlanceoryew,laidlow。Theyfoundhimonthatfieldofcarnage(fieldofhonor,too,inasort);hisoldblindfacelooking,veryblindly,tothestars:onhisshieldwasblazonedaPlumeofthreeostrich—

  featherswith\"ICHDIEN(Iserve)\"writtenunder:——withwhichemblemeveryEnglishreaderisfamiliareversince!ThisEditorhimself,inverytenderyears,noticeditontheBritannicMajesty’swar—drums;andhadtoinquireofchildrenofalargergrowthwhatthemeaningmightbe。

  ThatisallIhadtosayofKingJohannandhis\"ICHDIEN。\"OftheLuxemburgKaisers(fourinnumber,twosonsofKarlstilltocome);who,excepthimofthesacramentalwine,with\"ICHDIEN\"

  forson,aregoodforlittle;anddeservenomemoryfrommankindexceptastheymaystick,noteasilyextricable,tothehistoryofnoblermen:——ofthemalsoIcouldwishtobesilent,butmustnot。

  Mustatleastexplainhowtheycamein,as\"LuxemburgKurfursts\"

  inBrandenburg;andhowtheywentout,leavingBrandenburgnotannihilated,butverynearit。

  ENDOFRESUSCITATEDWALDEMAR;KURFURSTLUDWIGSELLSOUT。

  ImaginaryWaldemarbeingstillbusyinBrandenburg,itwasnaturalforKaiserKarltofindhimgenuine,andkeepupthatgoblin—danceroundpoorKurfurstLudwig,thelateKaiser’sson,bynomeansaloverofKarl’s。ConsiderablesupportwasmanagedtoberaisedforWaldemar。KaiserKarlregularlyinfeoffedhimasrealKurfurst,sofarasparchmentcoulddoit;andincaseofhisdecease,saysKarl’sdiplomafarther,thePrincesofAnhaltshallsucceed,——

  Ludwiginanycaseistobezerohenceforth。Warfollowed,orwhattheycalledwar:muchconfusedinvading,bickeringandthrottling,fortwoyearstocome。\"MostoftheTownsdeclaredforWaldemar,andtheiroldAnhaltlineofMargraves:\"LudwigandtheBavariansortareclearlynotpopularhere。Ludwigheldoutstrenuously,however;wouldnotbebeaten。HehadtheKingofDenmarkforBrother—in—law;hadconnectionsintheReich:perhapsstillbetterhehadtheREICHS—INSIGNIA,latelyhisFather’s,stillinhand。

  HestoodobstinatesiegefromtheKaiser’speopleandtheAnhalters;shouted—inDenmarktohelp;startedanAnti—Kaiser,aswesaid,——temporaryAnti—KaiserGuntherofSchwartzburg,whomthereadercanforgetasecondtime:——inbrief,LudwigcontrivedtobringKaiserKarl,andImaginaryWaldemarwithhisAnhalters,toaquietusandnegotiation,andtogetBrandenburgclearedofthem。

  Year1349,theywenttheirways;andthatdevils’—dance,whichhadragedfiveyearsandmoreroundLudwig,wasfairlygotlaidorlulledagain。

  ImaginaryWaldemar,aftersomefartherineffectualwrigglings,retiredaltogetherintoprivatelife,attheCourtofDessau;

  andhappilydiedbeforelong。DiedattheCourtofDessau;

  theAnhaltCousinstreatinghimtothelastasHeadRepresentativeofAlberttheBear,andrealPrinceWaldemar;forwhichtheyhadtheirreasons。PortraitsofthisFalseWaldemarstillturnupintheGermanPrint—shops;[InKloss(VaterlandischeGemalde,ii。29),asorryCompilation,abovereferredto,withoutvalueexceptfortheoldExcerpts,&c。,thereisaCopyofit。]andrepresentaveryabsurdfellow,muchmuffledindrapery,mouthpartiallyopen,eyeswhollyandwidelyso,——neveryetrecoveredfromhisastonishmentathimselfandthingsingeneral!HowitfaredwithpoorBrandenburg,inthesechaoticthrottlingsandvicissitudes,undertheBavarianKurfursts,wecantoowellimagine;andthatislittletowhatliesaheadforit。

  However,inthatsameyear,1349,temporaryquietushavingcome,KurfurstLudwig,wearyofthematter,gaveitovertohisBrother:

  \"HavenotIanopulentMaultasche,Gorgon—Wife,susceptibletokindness,intheTyrol;havenotIintheReichelsewhereresources,appliances?\"thoughtKurfurstLudwig。AndgavethethingovertohisnextBrother。BrotherwhosenamealsoisLUDWIG

  (astheirFather’salsohadbeen,threeLudwigsatonce,forourdearGermansshineinnomenclature):\"LudwigTHEROMAN\"thisnewone;——theelderBrother,ouracquaintance,beingLudwigsimply,distinguishabletooasKURFURSTLudwig,orevenasLudwigSENIOR

  atthisstageoftheaffair。KurfurstLudwig,therefore,Year1349,washeshishandsofBrandenburgwhilethequietuslasts;

  retainingonlytheElectorshipandTitle;andgoeshisways,resolvingtotakehiseaseinBavariaandtheTyrolthenceforth。

  Howitfaredwithhimthere,withhislovingGorgonandhim,wewillnotaskfarther。Theyhadalwaysseparatehousestoflyto,incaseofextremity!Theyheldout,betterorworse,twelveyearsmore;andLudwiglefthislittleBoystillsurvivinghim,in1361。

  SECOND,ANDTHENTHIRDANDLAST,OFTHEBAVARIANKURFURSTSINBRANDENBURG。

  InBrandenburg,thenewMarkgrafLudwig,whowesayiscalled\"THE

  ROMAN\"(LUDWIGDERROMER,havingbeeninRome)todistinguishhim,continuedwarringwiththeAnarchies,fifteenyearsinarathertoughmanner,withoutmuchvictoryoneitherside;——madehispeacewithKaiserKarlhowever,deliveringuptheREICHS—INSIGNIA;

  andtriedtoputdownthedomesticRobbers,whohadgotonfoot,\"manyofthempersonsofquality;\"[Michaelis,i。282。]tillhealsodied,childless,A。D。1365;havingbeenKurfursttoo,sincehisBrother’sdeath,forsomefouryears。

  WhereuponBrandenburg,ElectorshipandallTitleswithit,cametoOtto,thirdsonofKaiserLudwig,whoishappilythelastoftheseBavarianElectors。TheywereanunluckysetofSovereigns,nothithertowithoutdesert;andtheunluckyCountrysufferedmuchunderthem。Byfartheunluckiest,andbyfartheworst,wasthisOtto;adissolute,drinking,entirelyworthlessHerr;underwhom,foreightyears,confusionwentworseconfounded;asifplainchaoswerecoming;andBrandenburgandOttogrewtiredofeachothertothelastdegree。

  Inwhichstateofmatters,A。D。1373,KaiserKarlofferedOttoatrifleofreadymoneytotakehimselfaway。Ottoacceptedgreedily;soldhisElectorateandbigMarkofBrandenburgtoKaiserKarlforanoldsong,——200,000thalers(about30,000

  pounds,andonlyhalfofiteverpaid);[Michaelis,i。283。]——

  withdrewtohisSchlossofWolfsteininBavaria;andthere,onthestrengthofthatorothersums,\"rolleddeepaspossibleineverysortofdebauchery。\"Andsoinfewyearspuddledhimselftodeath;

  foullyendingtheBavariansetofKurfursts。Theyhadlastedfiftyyears;withendlesstroubletotheCountryandtothemselves;andwithsuchmutualprofitaswehaveseen。

  ChapterXIII。

  LUXEMBURGKURFURSTSINBRANDENBURG。

  IfBrandenburgsufferedmuchundertheBavarianKurfurstsforFiftyyears,itwasworse,andapproachedtothestateofworst,undertheLuxemburgers,wholastedforsomeFortymore。

  Ninetyyearsofanarchyinall;whichatlengthbroughtittogreatneedofhelpfromtheFates!——

  KarlIV。madehiseldestBoyWenzel,stillonlyabouttwelve,ElectorofBrandenburg;[1373(born1361)。]WenzelshallbeKaiserandKingofBohemia,oneday,thinksKarl;——whichactuallycametopass,andlittletoWenzel’sprofit,byandby。InthemeanwhileKarlaccompaniedhimtoBrandenburg;whichcountryKarllikedmuchatthemoney,andindeedeverafter,inhisolddays,heseemedrathertobusyhimselfwithit。HeassembledsomekindofSTANDE

  (States)twiceover;gottheCountry\"incorporatedwithBohemia\"

  bythem,andmadetightandhandysofar。Brandenburgshallrestfromitswoes,andbeasilentportionofBohemiahenceforth,thinksKarl,——iftheHeavenssoplease。Karl,afutileKaiser,wouldfainhavedonesomethingto\"encouragetrade\"inBrandenburg;thoughoneseesnotwhatitwashedid,ifanything。

  HebuilttheSchlossofTangermunde,andoftenestlivedthereintimecoming;aquieterplacethanevenPragforhim。Inshort,heappearstohavefanciedhischeapPurchase,andtohavecheeredhispooroldfutilelifewithit,aswithonethingthathadbeensuccessful。Pooroldcreature:hehadbeenaKaiseronfalseterms,\"Hoeveryonethatdarebullyme,orthathasmoneyinhispocket;\"——aKaiserthatcouldnotbutbefutile!Infiveyears’

  timehedied;[KingofBohemia,1346,onhisFather’sdeath;

  Kaiser(acknowledgedonLudwigtheBAIER’Sdeath),1347;died,1378,age62。]anddoubtlesswasregrettedinBrandenburgandevenintheReich,incomparisonwithwhatcamenext。

  InBrandenburgheleft,insteadofoneindifferentorevenbadgovernorsteadilytiedtotheplaceandinearnesttomakethebestofit,afluctuatingseriesofgovernorsholdingloose,andnotinearnest;whichwasinfinitelyworse。Thesedidnottrytogovernit;sentittothePawnbroker,toafluctuatingseriesofPawnbrokers;underwhom,forthenextfive—and—thirtyyears,BrandenburgtastedallthefruitsofNon—government,thatistosay,AnarchyorGovernmentbythePawnbroker;andsankfasterandfaster,towardsannihilationasitseemed。ThatwasitsfateundertheLuxemburgKurfursts,whomadeeventheBavarianandallothersberegretted。

  OnethingKaiserKarldid,whichultimatelyprovedthesavingofBrandenburg:madefriendshipwiththeHohenzollernBurggraves。

  These,JohannII。,temporary\"STUTTHALTER\"Johann,andhisBrother,whowereCo—regentsintheFamilyDomain,whenKarlfirstmadeappearance,——hadstoodtruetoKaiserLudwigandhisSon,solongasthatplaylastedatall;nayoneoftheseBurggraveswastalkedofasKaiserafterLudwig’sdeath,buthadthewisdomnottotry。KaiserLudwigbeingdead,theystillwouldnotrecognizethePFAFFEN—KAISERKarl,butheldgloomilyout。SothatKarlhadtomarchinforceintotheNurnbergcountry,andbygreatpromises,byconsiderablegifts,andthe\"exampleoftheotherPrincesoftheEmpire,\"[\"Hallow—eve,1347,ontheFieldofNurnberg,\"Agreementwascometo(Rentsch,p。326)。]broughtthemovertodohomage。

  Afterwhich,theirprogress,andthatoftheirsuccessor(Johann’sson,FriedrichV。),inthegraceofKarl,wassomethingxtraordinary。KarlgavehisDaughtertothisFriedrichV。’seldestSon;appointedaDaughterofFriedrich’sforhisownSecondPrince,thefamedSigismund,famedthatistobe,——whichlattermatchdidnottakeeffect,owingtochangedoutlooksafterKarl’sdeath。NaythereisaDeedstillextantaboutmarryingchildrennotyetborn:KarltoproduceaPrincesswithinfiveyears,andBurggrafFriedrichV。aPrince,forthatpurpose![Rentsch,p。336。]ButtheBurggrafneverhadanotherPrince;thoughKarlproducedtheduePrincess,andwasready,forhisshare。

  Unlessindeedthisstrangeeager—lookingDocument,notdatedintheoldBooks,mayitselfrelatetotheaboveweddingwhichdidcometopass?——Yearsbeforethat,Karlhadmadehismuch—esteemedBurggrafFriedrichV。\"Captain—GeneraloftheReich;\"\"ImperialVicar,\"(SUBSTITUTE,ifneedwere),andmuchbesides;nayhadgivenhimtheLandgraviateofElsass(ALSACE),——sofaraslaywithhimtogive,——ofwhichvaluablecountrythisFriedrichhadactualpossessionsolongastheKaiserlived。\"Bestofmen,\"thoughtthepoorlightKaiser;\"neversawsuchaman!\"

  Whichprovedasalutarythought,afterall。ThemanhadalittleBoyFritz(notthebetrothedtoKarl’sPrincess),stillchasingbutterfliesatCulmbach,whenKarldied。InthisBoylienewdestiniesforBrandenburg:towardshim,andnottowardsannihilation,areKarlandtheLuxemburgKurfurstsandPawnbrokersunconsciouslyguidingit。

  ChapterXIV。

  BURGGRAFFRIEDRICHVI。

  KarlleftthreeyoungSons,Wenzel,Sigismund,Johann;andalsoacertainNephewmucholder;allofwhomnowmoreorlessconcernusinthisunfortunateHistory。

  WenzeltheeldestSon,heritableKurfurstofBrandenburgaswellasKingofBohemia,wasasyetonlyseventeen,whoneverthelessgottobeKaiser,[1378,onhisFather’sdeath。]——andwentwidelyastray,poorsoul。TheNephewwasnootherthanMargraveJobstofMoravia(sonofMaultasche’slateNullitythere),nowinthevigorofhisyearsandastirringman:tohim,foratime,thechiefmanagementinBrandenburgfell,inthesecircumstances。

  Wenzel,stillaminor,andalreadyKaiserandKingofBohemia,gaveupBrandenburgtohistwoyoungerBrothers,mostofittoSigismund,withacuttingforJohann,tohelptheirapanages;

  andappliedhisownpowerstogoverntheHolyRomanEmpire,atthatearlystageoflife。

  TogoverntheHolyRomanEmpire,poorsoul;——orrather\"todrinkbeer,anddancewiththegirls;\"inwhich,ifdefectiveinotherthings,Wenzelhadaneminenttalent。HewasoneoftheworstKaisers,andtheleastvictoriousonrecord。HewouldattendtonothingintheReich;\"thePragwhitebeer,andgirls\"ofvariouscomplexion,beingmuchpreferable,ashewasheardtosay。HehadtoflinghispoorQueen’sConfessorintotheRiverMoldau,——JohannofNepomuk,Saintsocalled,ifheisnotafablealtogether;

  whoseStatuestandsonBridgeseversince,inthoseparts。

  Wenzel’sBohemiansrevoltedagainsthim;puthiminjail;andhebrokeprison,aboatman’sdaughterhelpinghimout,withadventures。HisGermansweredisgustedwithhim;deposedhimfromtheKaisership;[25thMay,1400(Kohler,p。331)。]choseRupertofthePfalz;andthenafterRupert’sdeath,[1410(ib。p。336)。]

  choseWenzel’sownBrotherSigismund,inhisstead,——leftWenzeltojumbleaboutinhisnativeBohemianelement,asKingthere,fornineteenyearslonger,stillbreakingpotstoaruinousextent。

  Heended,byapoplexy,orsuddenspasmoftheheart;terribleZisca,asitwere,killinghimatsecond—hand。ForZisca,stoutandfurious,blindofoneeyeandatlastofboth,akindofhumanrhinocerosdrivenmad,hadrisenoutoftheashesofmurderedHuss,andotherbadPapisticdoings,intheinterim;andwastearinguptheworldatahugerate。RhinocerosZiscawasontheWeissenberg,orastillnearerHillofPragsincecalledZISCA—

  BERG(ZiscaHill):andnonedurstwhisperofittotheKing。

  Aservantwaitingatdinnerinadvertentlyletsliptheword:——

  \"Ziscathere?Denyit,slave!\"criedWenzelfrantic。Slavedurstnotdeny。Wenzeldrewhisswordtorunathim,butfelldowndead:

  thatwasthelastpotbrokenbyWenzel。Thehaplessroyalex—imperialPhantasmself—brokeninthismanner。[30thJuly,1419

  (Hormayr,vii。119)。]Poorsoul,hecametotheKaisershiptooearly;wasathinviolentcreature,sensibletothecharmsandhorrorsofcreatedobjects;andhadterriblerhinocerosZiscasandunrulyhorned—cattletodrive。HewasoneoftheworstKaiserseverknown,——couldhavedoneOpera—singingmuchbetter;——andasadsighttoBohemia。Letusleavehimthere:hewasneveractualElectorofBrandenburg,havinggivenitupintime;neverdidanyilltothatpoorCountry。

  SIGISMUNDISKURFURSTOFBRANDENBURG,BUTISKINGOFHUNGARYALSO。

  TherealKurfurstofBrandenburgallthiswhilewasSigismundWenzel’snextBrother,undertutelageofCousinJobstorotherwise;——realandyetimaginary,forheneverhimselfgoverned,butalwayshadJobstofMahrenorsomeotherinhisplacethere。

  Sigismund,asabovesaid,wastohavemarriedaDaughterofBurggrafFriedrichV。;andhewashimself,aswastheyounglady,wellinclinedtothisarrangement。Buttheoldpeoplebeingdead,andsomeofferofaKing’sDaughterturningupforSigismund,Sigismundbrokeoff;andtooktheKing’sDaughter,KingofHungary’s,——notwithoutregretthenandafterwards,asisbelieved。Atanyrate,theHungariancharmerprovedawifeofsmallmerit,andaHungariansuccessorshehadwasawifeoflightconducteven;Hungariancharmers,andHungarianaffairs,weremuchotherthanacomforttoSigismund。

  AsforthedisappointedPrincess,BurggrafFriedrich’sDaughter,shesaidnothingthatwehear;silentlybecameaNun,anAbbess:

  andthroughalonglifelookedout,withherthoughtstoherself,upontheloudwhirlwindofthings,whereSigismund(oftenestlikeanimponderousragofconspicuouscolor)wasridingandtossing。

  HertwoBrothersalso,jointBurggravesaftertheirFather’sdeath,seemedtohavereconciledthemselveswithoutdifficulty。

  TheelderofthemwasalreadySigismund’sBrother—in—law;marriedtoSigismund’sandWenzel’ssister,——bysuchpredestinationaswesaw。BurggrafJohannIII。wasthenameofthisone:astoutfighterandmanagerformanyyears;muchliked,andlookedto,bySigismund。AsindeedwereboththeBrothers,forthatmatter;

  always,togetherorinsuccession,akindofright—handtoSigismund。FriedrichtheyoungerBurggraf,andultimatelythesurvivorandinheritor(Johannhavingleftnosons),isthefamedBurggrafFriedrichVI。,thelastandnotablestofalltheBurggraves。Amanofdistinguishedimportance,extrinsicandintrinsic;chieforamongtheverychiefofGermanpublicmeninhistime;——andmemorabletoPosterity,andtothisHistory,onstillothergrounds!Butletusnotanticipate。

  Sigismund,ifapanagedwithBrandenburgalone,andweddedtohisfirstlove,notaKing’sDaughter,mighthavedonetolerablywellthere;——betterthanWenzel,withtheEmpireandBohemia,did。

  ButdelusiveFortunethrewhergoldenappleatSigismundtoo;

  andhe,inthewidehighworld,hadtoplaystrangepranks。

  HisFather—in—lawdiedinHungary,Sigismund’sfirstwifehisonlychild。Father—in—lawbequeathedHungarytoSigismund:[1387

  (Sigismund’sagethentwenty)。]whoplungedintoastrangeseathereby;gottroubleswithoutnumber,beatingsnotafew,——andhadeventotakeboat,andsailforhislifedowntoConstantinople,atonetime。InwhichsadadventureBurggrafJohannescortedhim,andasitweretorehimoutbythehairofthehead。Thesetroublesandadventureslastedmanyyears;inthecourseofwhich,Sigismund,tryingallmanneroffriendsandexpedients,foundintheBurggravesofNurnberg,JohannandFriedrich,withtheirtalents,possessionsandresources,themainoralmostonlysuresupporthegot。

  NoendoftroublestoSigismund,andtoBrandenburgthroughhim,fromthissublimeHungarianlegacy!Likearemotefabulousgolden—

  fleece,whichyouhavetogoandconquerfirst,andwhichisworthlittlewhenconquered。Beforeeversettingout(A。D。1387),Sigismundsawtooclearlyhewouldhavecashtoraise:

  anoperationhehadneverdonewith,allhislifeafterwards。

  HepawnedBrandenburgtoCousinJobstofMahren;got\"20,000

  Bohemiangulden,\"——Iguess,amostslendersum,ifDryasdustwouldbutinterpretit。ThiswasthebeginningofPawningstoBrandenburg;ofwhichwhenwilltheendbe?JobsttherebycameintoBrandenburgonhisownrightforthetime,notasTutororGuardian,whichhehadhithertobeen。IntoBrandenburg;andtherewasnochanceofrepaymenttogethimoutagain。

  COUSINJOBSTHASBRANDENBURGINPAWN。

  Jobsttriedatfirsttodosomegoverning;butfindingallveryanarchic,grewunhopeful;tooktomakingmatterseasyforhimself。

  Took,infact,toturningapennyonhispawn—ticket;alienatingcrowndomains,winkinghardatrobber—barons,andthelike;——andafterafewyears,wenthometoMoravia,leavingBrandenburgtoshiftforitself,underaStatthalter(VICEREGENT,morelikeahungryland—steward),whomnobodytookthetroubleofrespecting。

  Robber—castlesflourished;allelsedecayed。Nohighwaynotunsafe;manyaTurpinwithsixteenquarters,andstylinghimselfEDDLEHERR(nobleGentleman),tookto\"livingfromthesaddle:\"——

  whatareHamburgpedlersmadeforbuttoberobbed?

  TheTownssufferedmuch;anytradetheymighthavehad,goingtowreckinthismanner。Nottospeakofprivatefeuds,whichaboundedadlibitum。Neighboringpotentates,ArchbishopofMagdeburgandothers,struckinalsoatdiscretion,astheyhadgraduallygotaccustomedtodo,andsnappedaway(ABZWACKTEN)someconvenientbitofterritory,or,morelegitimately,theycameacrosstocoerce,attheirownhand,thisortheotherEdleHerroftheTurpinsort,whomtherewasnootherwayofgettingat,whenhecarriedmattersquitetoohigh。\"Drovesofsixhundredswine,\"——Ihaveseen(byreadinginthoseoldBooks)certainnobleGentlemen,\"ofPutlitz,\"Ithink,drivingthemopenly,capturedbythestrongerhand;andhaveheardtheshortqueruloussqueakofthebristlycreatures:\"Whatistheuseofbeingapigatall,ifIamtobestoleninthisway,andsurreptitiouslymadeintoham?\"PigsdocontinuetobebredinBrandenburg:butitisundersuchdiscouragements。Agriculture,trade,well—beingandwell—doingofanykind,itisnotencouragementtheyaremeetinghere。Probablyfewcountries,notevenIreland,haveaworseoutlook,unlesshelpcome。[Pauli,i。541—612。Michaelis,i。283—285。]Jobstcamebackin1398,aftereightyears’absence;butnohelpcamewithJobst。TheNEUMARK

  partofBrandenburg,whichwasBrotherJohann’sportion,hadfallenhometoSigismund,BrotherJohannhavingdied:butSigismund,farfromredeemingoldpawn—ticketswiththeNewmark,pawnedtheNewmarktoo,——thesecondPawnageofBrandenburg。

  PawnedtheNewmarktotheTeutschRitters\"for63,000Hungariangoldgulden\"(Ithink,about30,000pounds):andgavenopartofittoJobst;hadnotnearlyenoughforhimselfandhisHungarianoccasions。

  Seeingwhich,andhearingsuchsqueakofpigssurreptitiouslydriven,withlittlebutdiscordantsightsandsoundseverywhere,Jobstbecamedisgustedwiththematter;andresolvedtowashhishandsofit,atleasttohavehismoneyoutofitagain。

  HavingsoldwhatoftheDomainshecouldtopersonsofquality,atanuncommonlyeasyrate,andsopocketedwhatreadycashtherewasamongthem,hemadeoverhispawn—ticket,orproperlyhehimselfrepawnedBrandenburgtotheSaxonPotentate,aspeculativemoneyedman,MarkgrafofMeissen,\"WilhelmtheRich\"socalled。PawnedittoWilhelmtheRich,——sumnotnamed;andwenthometoMoravia,theretowaitevents。ThisisthethirdBrandenburgpawning:

  letushopetheremaybeafourthandlast。

  BRANDENBURGINTHEHANDSOFTHEPAWNBROKERS;

  RUPERTOFTHEPFALZISKAISER。

  AndsowehavenowreachedthatpointinBrandenburgHistorywhen,ifsomehelpdonotcome,Brandenburgwillnotlongbeacountry,butwilleithergetdissipatedinpiecesandstucktotheedgeofotherswheresomegovernmentis,orelsegowasteagainandfalltothebisonsandwildbears。

  WhonowisKurfurstofBrandenburg,mightbeaquestion。

  \"IUNquestionably!\"Sigismundwouldanswer,withastonishment。

  \"Soft,yourHungarianMajesty,\"thinksJobst:\"tillmycashispaid,mayitnotprobablybeanother?\"Thisquestionhasitsinterest:theElectorsjustnow(A。D。1400)areaboutdeposingWenzel;mustchoosesomebetterKaiser。IftheywantedanotherscionoftheHouseofLuxemburg;amatureoldgentlemanofsixty;

  fullofplans,plausibilities,pretensions,——Jobstistheirman。

  JobstandSigismundwereofonemindastoWenzel’sgoing;atleastSigismundvotedclearlyso,andJobstsaidnothingcounter:

  buttheKurfurstsdidnotthinkofJobstforsuccessor。Aftersomestumbling,theyfixeduponRupertKUR—PFALZ(ElectorPalatine,RUPRECHTVONDERPFALZ)asKaiser。

  RupertofthePfalzprovedahighlyrespectableKaiser;lastedfortenyears(1400—1410),withhonortohimselfandtheReich。

  Astrongheart,stronghead,butshortofmeans。Hechastisedpettymutinywithvigor;couldnotbringdowntheMilaneseVisconti,whohadperchedthemselvessohighonmoneypaidtoWenzel;couldnothealtheschismoftheChurch(DoubleorTriplePope,Rome—Avignonaffair),orawakentheReichtoasenseofitsolddignityandpresentloosecondition。Inthelateloosetimes,asAntiquariesremark,[Kohler,p。334;whoquotesSchilter。]mostMembersoftheEmpire,PettyPrincesevenandImperialTowns,hadbeenstrugglingtosetupforthemselves;andwerenowconcernedchieflytobecomeSovereignintheirownTerritories。AndSchilterinformsus,itwasaboutthisperiodthatmostofthemattainedsuchratherunblessedconsummation;Rupertofhimselfnotabletohelpit,withallhiswillingness。ThePeoplecalledhim\"RupertKLEMM(RupertSMITH’S—VICE)\"fromhisresoluteways;whichnickname——givenhimnotinhatred,butpartlyinsatiricalgood—

  will——isitselfakindofhistory。FromHistoriansoftheREICHhedeserveshonorableregretfulmention。

  HehadforEmpressaSisterofBurggrafFriedrich’s;whichhighlady,unknowntousotherwise,exceptbyherTombatHeidelberg,werememberforherBrother’ssake。KaiserRupert——great—grandsonofthatKur—PfalzwhowasKaiserLudwig’selderbrother——istheculminatingpointoftheElectorsPalatine;theHighestthatHeidelbergproduced。AncestorofthosefamedProtestant\"Palatines;\"ofallthePalatinesorPFLAZESthatreignintheselatecenturies。AncestorofthepresentBavarianMajesty;

  KaiserLudwig’sracehavingdiedout。AncestoroftheunfortunateWINTERKONIG,FriedrichKingofBohemia,whoistoowellknowninEnglishHistory;——ancestoralsoofCharlesXII。ofSweden,ahighlycreditablefactofthekindtohim。Factindisputable:

  AcadetofPfalz—Zweibruck(DEUX—PONTS,astheFrenchcallit),directfromRupert,wenttoserveinSwedeninhissoldierbusiness;distinguishedhimselfinsoldiering;——hadaSisterofthegreatGustavAdolftowife;andfromherarenownedSon,KarlGustav(Christina’sCousin),whosucceededasKing;whoagainhadaGrandsonmadeinhisownlikeness,onlystillmoreofironinhiscomposition。——EnoughnowofRupertSMITH’S—VICE;whodiedin1410,andlefttheReichagainvacant。

  Rupert’sfuneralishardlydone,when,overinPreussen,faroffintheMemelregion,placecalledTannenberg,wherethereisstill\"achurchyardtobeseen,\"iflittlemore,theTeutschRittershad,unexpectedly,aterribleDefeat:consummationoftheirPolishMiscellaneousquarrelsoflongstanding;andtheendoftheirhighcoursesinthisworld。AruinedTeutschRitterdom,asgoodasruined,everhenceforth。KaiserRupertdied18thMay;andonthe15thJuly,withintwomonths,wasfoughtthatdreadful\"BattleofTannenberg,\"——PolandandPolishKing,withmiscellanyofsavageTartarsandrevoltedPrussians,VERSUSTeutschRitterdom;allinaveryhighmoodofmutualrage;theveryelements,\"wildthunder,tempestandrain—deluges,\"playingchorustothemontheoccasion。

  [Voigt,vii。82。Busching,Erdbeschreibung

  (Hamburg,1770),ii。1038。]Ritterdomfoughtlion—like,butwithinsufficientstrategicandotherwisdom;andwasdrivennearlydistractedtoseeitspridetrippedintotheditchbysuchaset。

  VacantReichcouldnotintheleastattendtoit;norcanwefartheratpresent。

  SIGISMUND,WITHASTRUGGLE,BECOMESKAISER。

  JobstandSigismundwerecompetitorsfortheKaisership;

  Wenzel,too,strikinginwithclaimsforreinstatement:theHouseofLuxemburgdividedagainstitself。Wenzel,findingreinstatementnottobethoughtof,threwhisweight,suchasitwas,intothescaleofCousinJobst;rememberingangrilyhowBrotherSigismundvotedintheDepositioncase,tenyearsago。Thecontestwasvehement,andliketobelengthy。Jobst,thoughhehadmadeoverhispawn—ticket,claimedtobeElectorofBrandenburg;andvotedforHimself。Thelike,withstillmoreemphasis,didSigismund,orBurggrafFriedrichactingforhim:\"Sigismund,sure,isKur—

  Brandenburgthoughunderpawn!\"arguedFriedrich,——and,Ialmostguess,thoughthatisnotsaid,producedfromhisownpurse,atsomestageofthebusiness,theactualmoneyforJobst,toclosehisBrandenburgpretension。

  Bothwereelected(majoritycontestedinthismanner);andoldJobst,thenaboveseventy,wasliketohavegivenmuchtrouble:

  buthappilyinthreemonthshedied;[\"JodocusBARBATUS,\"21stJuly,1411。]andSigismundbecameindisputable。JobstwasthesonofMaultasche’sNullity;himtoo,inaninvoluntarysort,shewasthecauseof。InhisdayJobstmademuchnoiseintheworld,butdidlittleornogoodinit。\"Hewasthoughtagreatman,\"saysonesatiricaloldChronicler;\"andtherewasnothinggreatabouthimbutthebeard。\"

  \"ThecauseofSigismund’ssuccesswiththeElectors,\"saysKohler,\"orofhishavinganypartyamongthem,wasthefaithfulandunwearieddiligencewhichhadbeenusedforhimbytheabove—namedBurggrafFriedrichVI。ofNurnberg,whotookextremepainstoforwardSigismundtotheEmpire;pleadingthatSigismundandWenzelwouldbesuretoagreewellhenceforth,andthatSigismund,havingalreadysuchextensiveterritories(Hungary,Brandenburgandsoforth)byinheritance,wouldnotbesoexactabouttheREICHS—TollsandotherImperialIncomes。ThissameFriedrichalso,whentheElectionfelloutdoubtful,wasSigismund’sbestsupportinGermany,nayalmosthisright—hand,throughwhomhedidwhateverwasdone。\"[Kohler,p。337。]

  SigismundisKaiser,then,inspiteofWenzel。KingofHungary,afterunheard—oftroublesandadventures,endingsomeyearsagoinakindofpeaceandconquest,hehaslongbeenKingofBohemia,too,heatlastbecame;havingsurvivedWenzel,whowaschildless。

  KaiseroftheHolyRomanEmpire,andsomuchelse:isnotSigismundnowagreatman?Trulytheloomheweavesupon,inthisworld,isverylarge。Buttheweaverwasofheadlong,high—pacing,flimsynature;andbothwarpandwoofweregonedreadfullyentangled!——

  ThisistheKaiserSigismundwhoheldtheCouncilofConstance;and\"blushedvisibly,\"whenHuss,abouttodie,alludedtotheLetterofSafe—conductgrantedhim,whichwasissuinginsuchfashion。[15thJune,1415。]Sigismundblushed;butcouldnotconvenientlymendthematter,——somanymatterspressingonhimjustnow。Astheyperpetuallydid,andhaddone。

  Analways—hoping,never—resting,unsuccessful,vainandemptyKaiser。Specious,speculative;giventoeloquence,diplomacy,andthewindyinsteadofthesolidarts;——alwaysshortofmoneyforonething。Heroamedabout,andtalkedeloquently;——

  aiminghigh,andgenerallymissing:——howhewenttoconquerHungary,andhadtofloatdowntheDonauinstead,withanattendantortwo,inamostprivatemanner,andtakerefugewiththeGrandTurk:thiswehaveseen,andthisisageneralemblemofhim。HungaryandeventheReichhaveatlengthbecomehis;

  buthavebroughtsmalltriumphinanykind;andinsteadofreadymoney,debtondebt。HisMajestyhasnomoney,andhisMajesty’soccasionsneeditmoreandmore。

  Heisnow(A。D。1414)holdingthisCouncilofConstance,bywayofhealingtheChurch,whichissickofThreesimultaneousPopesandofmuchelse。Hefindstheproblemdifficult;findshewillhavetorunintoSpain,topersuadearefractoryPopethere,ifeloquencecan(asitcannot):allwhichrequiresmoney,money。

  AtopeningoftheCouncil,he\"officiatedasdeacon;\"actuallydidsomekindoflitanying\"withasurpliceoverhim,\"[25thDecember,1414(Kohler,p。340)。]thoughKaiserandKingoftheRomans。

  ButthispassageofhisopeningspeechiswhatIrecollectbestofhimthere:\"RightReverendFathers,dateoperamutillanefandaschismaeradicetur,\"exclaimsSigismund,intentonhavingtheBohemianSchismwelldealtwith,——whichhereckonstobeofthefemininegender。TowhichaCardinalmildlyremarking,\"Domine,schismaestgenerisneutrius(Schismaisneuter,yourMajesty),\"——Sigismundloftilyreplies,\"EgosumRexRomanusetsupergrammaticam(IamKingoftheRomans,andaboveGrammar)!\"[WolfgangMentzel,GeschichtederDeutschen,i。477。]

  ForwhichreasonIcallhiminmyNote—booksSigismundSUPER

  GRAMMATICAM,todistinguishhimintheimbroglioofKaisers。

  BRANDENBURGISPAWNEDFORTHELASTTIME。

  HowJobst’spawn—ticketwassettledIneverclearlyheard;butcanguessitwasbyBurggrafFriedrich’sadvancingthemoney,inthepinchaboveindicated,orpayingitafterwardstoJobst’sheirswhoevertheywere。Thusmuchiscertain:BurggrafFriedrich,thesethreeyearsandmore(eversince8thJuly,1411)holdsSigismund’sDeedofacknowledgment\"for100,000guldenlentatvarioustimes:\"

  andhaslikewisegottheElectorateofBrandenburginpledgeforthatsum;anddoeshimselfadministerthesaidElectoratetillhebepaid。Thisistheimportantnews;butthisisnotall。

  ThenewjourneyintoSpainrequiresnewmoneys;thisCouncilitself,withsuchapompassuitedSigismund,hascosthimendlessmoneys。Brandenburg,torntoruinsinthewaywesaw,isasorrowfulmatter;and,exceptthetitleofit,asafeatherinone’scap,isworthnothingtoSigismund。Andheisstillshortofmoney;andwillforeverbe。WhycouldnothegiveupBrandenburgaltogether;since,insteadofpaying,heisstillmakingnewloansfromBurggrafFriedrich;andthehopeofeverpayingweremerelunacy!Sigismundrevolvesthesesadthoughtstoo,amidhisworld—

  widediplomacies,andeffortstohealtheChurch。\"Pledgedfor100,000gulden,\"sadlyruminatesSigismund;\"and50,000moreborrowedsince,bylittleandlittle;andmoreeverneeded,especiallyforthisgrandSpanishjourney!\"thesewereSigismund’ssadthoughts:——\"Advanceme,inaroundsum,250,000guldenmore,\"

  saidhetoBurggrafFriedrich,\"250,000more,formymanifoldoccasionsinthistime;——thatwillbe400,000inwhole;[Rentsch,pp。75,357。]——andtaketheElectorateofBrandenburgtoyourself,Land,Titles,SovereignElectorshipandall,andmakemeridofit!\"Thatwasthesettlementadopted,inSigismund’sapartmentatConstance,onthe30thofApril,1415;signed,sealedandratified,——andthemoneypaid。AverynotableeventinWorld—

  History;virtuallyoompletedonthedaywemention。

  TheceremonyofInvestituredidnottakeplacetilltwoyearsafterwards,whentheSpanishjourneyhadprovedfruitless,whenmuchelseoffruitlesshadcomeandgone,andKaiserandCouncilwereprobably——moreatleisureforsuchathing。DoneatlengthitwasbyKaiserSigismundinutmostgala,withtheGrandeesoftheEmpireassisting,andaugustmembersoftheCouncilandworldingenerallookingon;inthebigSquareorMarket—placeofConstance,17thApril,1417;——istobefounddescribedinRentsch,fromNauclerusandtheoldNewsmongersofthetime。Verygrandindeed:muchprocessioningonhorseback,underpowerfultrumpet—

  pealsandflourishes;muchstatelykneeling,statelyrising,steppingbackwards(donewell,ZIERLICH,ontheKurfurst’spart);

  liberalexpenditureofclothandpomp;inshort,\"above100,000

  peoplelookingonfromroofsandwindows,\"[Pauli,

  AllgemeinePreussischeStaats—Geschichte,ii。14。

  Rentsch,pp。76—78。]andKaiserSigismundinallhisglory。

  SigismundwasonahighPlatformintheMarket—place,withstairstoitandfromit;theillustriousKaiser,——redasaflamingo,\"withscarletmantleandcrownofgold,\"——atreattotheeyesofsimplemankind。

  Whatsumofmodernmoney,inrealpurchasingpower,this\"400,000

  HungarianGoldGulden\"is,Ihaveinquiredinthelikelyquarterswithoutresult;anditisprobablenomanexactlyknows。

  ThelatestexistingrepresentativeoftheancientGoldGuldenistheDucat,worthgenerallyaboutaHalf—sovereigninEnglish。

  Takingthesumatthatlatestrate,itamountsto200,000pounds;

  andthereadercanusethatasanoteofmemoryforthesale—priceofBrandenburgwithallitslandsandhonors,——multiplyingitperhapsbyfourorsixtobringoutitseffectiveamountincurrentcoin。Dog—cheap,itmustbeowned,forsizeandcapability;butinthemostwastecondition,fullofmutiny,injustice,anarchyandhighwayrobbery;apurchasethatmighthaveproveddearenoughtoanothermanthanBurggrafFriedrich。

  Butso,atanyrate,moribundBrandenburghasgotitsHohenzollernKurfurst;andstartedonanewcareeritlittledreamtof;——andwecannow,rightwillingly,quitSigismundandtheReichs—History;

  leaveKaiserSigismundtosinkorswimathisownwillhenceforth。

  Hisgrandfeat,inlife,thewonderofhisgeneration,wasthissameCouncilofConstance;whichprovedentirelyafailure;oneofthelargestWIND—EGGSeverdroppedwithnoiseandtravailinthisworld。Twohundredthousandhumancreatures,reckonedandreckoningthemselvestheelixiroftheIntellectandDignityofEurope;twohundredthousand,naysome,countingthelowermenialsandnumerousunfortunatefemales,sayfourhundredthousand,——weregotcongregatedintothatlittleSwissTown;andthereasanEcumenicCouncil,orsolemnlydistilledelixirofwhatpiousIntellectandValorcouldbescrapedtogetherintheworld,theylaboredwithalltheirselectmightforfouryears’space。ThatwastheCouncilofConstance。AndexceptthistransferofBrandenburgtoFriedrichofHohenzollern,resultingfromsaidCouncilinthequitereverseandinvoluntaryway,oneseesnotwhatgoodresultithad。

  TheydidindeedburnHuss;butthatcouldnotbecalledabeneficialincident;thatseemedtoSigismundandtheCouncilamostsmallandinsignificantone。AnditkindledBohemia,andkindledrhinocerosZisca,intonever—imaginedflameofvengeance;

  broughtmeredisaster,disgrace,anddefeatondefeattoSigismund,andkepthishandsfullfortherestofhislife,howeversmallhehadthoughtit。Asforthesublimefouryears’

  deliberationsanddebatesofthisSanhedrimoftheUniverse,——

  eloquentdebates,conducted,wemaysay,undersuchextentofWIG

  aswasneverseenbeforeorsince,——theyhavefallenwhollytothedomainofDryasdust;andamount,formankindatthistime,tozeroPLUStheBurningofHuss。Onthewhole,BurggrafFriedrich’sElectorship,andthefirstHohenzollerntoBrandenburg,istheonegoodresult。

  Adieu,then,toSigismund。Letusleavehimatthishisculminatingpoint,intheMarket—placeofConstance;redasaflamingo;doingoneactofimportance,thoughunconsciouslyandagainsthiswill。——Isubjoinhere,forrefreshmentofthereader’smemory,aSynopsis,orbarearithmeticalList,ofthoseIntercalaryNon—HapsburgKaisers,which,nowthatitsoriginalsmalldutyisdone,mayaswellbeprintedasburnt:—

  THESEVENINTERCALARYORNON—HAPSBURGKAISERS。

  RudolfofHapsburgdiedA。D。1291,afterareignofeighteenvigorousyears,veryusefultotheEmpireafteritsAnarchicINTERREGNUM。Hewassucceeded,notbyanyofhisownsonsorkindred,butbyl。AdolfofNassau,1291—1298。AstalwartbutnecessitousHerr;

  muchconcernedintheFrenchprojectsofourEdwardLongshanks:

  milesstipendiariusEduardi,astheOppositionpartyscornfullytermedhim。SlaininbattlebytheAnti—Kaiser,AlbrechtorAlberteldestsonofRudolf,whothereuponbecameKaiser。

  AlbertI。(ofHapsburg,he),1298—1308。Parricided,inthatlatteryear,attheFordoftheReuss。

  2(a)。HenryVII。ofLuxemburg,1308—1313;poisoned(1313)insacramentalwine。ThefirstoftheLuxemburgers;whoaremarkedhere,intheirorder,bytheadditionofanalphabeticletter。

  3。LudwigderBaier,1314—1347(DukeofOBER—BAIERN,UpperBavaria;progenitorofthesubsequentKurfurstsofBaiern,whoareCOUSINSofthePfalzFamily)。

  4(b)。KarlIV。,1347—1378,SonofJohannofBohemia(JohannICH—DIEN),andGrandsonofHenryVII。NicknamedthePFAFFEN—KAISER

  (Parsons’—Kaiser)。Karlsbad;theGoldenBull;CastleofTangermunde。

  5(c)。Wenzel(orWenceslaus),1378—1400,Karl’seldestSon。

  Elected1378,stillveryyoung;deposedin1400,KaiserRupertsucceeding。ContinuedKingofBohemiatillhisdeath(byZiscaATSECOND—HAND)nineteenyearsafter。HadbeenKaiserfortwenty—

  twoyears。

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