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。