consider,besides,youarefemale,Iammale!"ThatwasPfalz—
Neuburg’slogic:noneofthebest,Ithink,inforensicgenealogy。
Histenthpointwasperhapsratherweak;buthehadpossession,co—possession,andtheninepointsgood。TheotherTwoSisters,bytheirSonsorHusbands,claimedlikewise;butnotthewhole:
"Divideit,"saidthey:"thatsurelyistherealmeaningofKarlV。’sDeedofPrivilegetomakesuchaTestament。DivideitamongtheFourDaughtersortheirrepresentatives,andletusallhaveshares!"
Norwerethesefourclaimantsbyanymeansall。TheSaxonPrincesnextclaimed;twosetsofSaxonPrinces。Firsttheminorset,Gotha—Weimarandtherest,theErnestineLinesocalled;
representativesofJohannFriedrichtheMagnanimous,wholosttheElectorateforreligion’ssakeatMuhlberginthepastcentury,andfromMAJORbecameMINORinSaxonGenealogy。"MagnanimousJohannFriedrich,"saidthey,"hadtowifeanAuntofthenowdeceasedDukeofCleve;WifeSibylla(sisteroftheFlandersMare),offamousmemory,ourlinealAncestress。InfavorofwhomHERFather,thethenreigningDukeofCleve,madeamarriage—
contractofpreciselysimilarimporttothisyourPrussianone:
he,andbarredallhisdescendants,ifcontractsaretobevalid。"
ThisistheclaimoftheErnestineLineofSaxonPrinces;notliketogoformuch,intheirpresentdisintegratedcondition。
ButtheAlbertineLine,thepresentElectorofSaxony,alsoclaims:"HereisaDeed,"saidhe,"executedbyKaiserFriedrichIII。intheyear1483,[Pauli,ubisupra;Hubner,t。286。]
generationsbeforeyourKaiserKarl;DeedsolemnlygrantingtoAlbert,juniorofSachsen,andtohisheirs,thereversionofthosesameDuchies,shouldtheMaleLinehappentofail,asitwasthenlikelytodo。HowcouldKaiserMaxrevokehisFather’sdeed,orKaiserKarlhisGreat—grandfather’s?LittleAlbert,theAlbertofthePRINZENRAUB,hewhogrewbig,andfoughtlion—likeforhisKaiserintheNetherlandsandWesternCountries;heandhishaveclearlytheheirshipofClevebyright;andwe,nowgrownElectors,andSeniorsofSaxony,demanditofagratefulHouseofHapsburg,——andwillstudytomakeourselvesconvenientinreturn。"——
"Nay,ifthatisyourrule,thatoldLawsandDeedsaretocomeinbarofnew,we,"cryamultitudeofpersons,——FrenchDukesofNevers,andallmannerofremote,exoticfiguresamongthem,——
"wearetherealheirs!Ravensburg,Mark,Berg,Ravenstein,thispatchandtheotherofthatlargeDuchyofyours,weretheynotfromprimevaltimeexpresslylimitedtoheirs—male?Heirs—male;
andwenowarethenearestheirs—maleofsaidpatchesandportions;andwillproveit!"——Inshort,thereneverwassuchaLawsuit,——sofatanaffairfortheattorneyspecies,ifthathadbeenthewayofmanagingit,——asthisofClevewaslikelytoprove。
THEKAISER’STHOUGHTSABOUTIT,ANDTHEWORLD’S。
Whatgreatlycomplicatedtheaffair,too,wastheinteresttheKaisertookinit。TheKaisercouldnotwellbrookapowerfulProtestantinthatcountry;stilllesscouldhisCousintheSpaniard。Spaniards,worntotheground,coercingthatworld—
famousDutchRevolt,andastonishedtofindthattheycouldnotcoerceitatall,hadresolvedatthistimetotakebreathbeforetryingfarther。SpaniardsandDutch,afterFiftyyearsofsuchfightingasweknow,havemadeaTwelve—years’Truce(1609):butthebattledSpaniard,panting,paleinhisfutilerageandsweat,hasnotgivenupthematter;heisonlytakingbreath,andwilltryitagain。NowCleveishisroadintoHolland,insuchadventure;nosuccesspossibleifClevebenotingoodhands。
BrandenburgisProtestant,powerful;Brandenburgwillnotdoforaneighborthere。
NorwillPfalz—Neuburg。AProtestantofProtestants,thisPalatineNeuburgtoo,——juniorbranch,possibleheirintimecoming,ofKUR—PFALZ(ElectorPalatine)himself,intheRhineCountries;
ofKur—Pfalz,whoisacknowledgedChiefProtestant:official"President"ofthe"EvangelicalUnion"theyhavelatelymadeamongtheminthesemenacingtimes;——Pfalz—Neuburgtoo,thisyoungWolfgangWilhelm,ifhedonotbreakoffkind,mightbeveryawkwardtotheKaiserinCleve—Julich。NaySaxonyitself;fortheyareallProtestants:——unlessperhapsSaxonymightbecomepliant,andtrytomakeitselfusefultoamunificentImperialHouse?
EvidentlywhatwouldbestsuittheKaiserandSpaniards,werethis,ThatnostrongPowerwhatevergotfootinginCleve,togrowstrongerbythepossessionofsuchacountry:——BETTERthanbestitwouldsuit,ifhe,theKaiser,couldhimselfgetitsmuggledintohishands,andthereholditfast!Whichprivatelywasthecourseresolveduponatheadquarters。——Inthiswaythe"SuccessionControversyoftheCleveDuchies"iscomingtobeaveryhighmatter;mixingitself,upwiththegrandProtestant—PapalControversy,thegeneralarmed—lawsuitofmankindinthatgeneration。Kaiser,Spaniard,Dutch,English,FrenchHenriIV。andallmortals,aregettingconcernedinthedecisionofit。
ChapterXIV。
SYMPTOMSOFAGREATWARCOMING。
MeanwhileBrandenburgandNeuburgbothholdgripofCleveinthatmanner,withamutuallymenacinginquiringexpressionofcountenance;eachgraspsit(sotospeak)convulsivelywiththeonehand,andhaswiththeotherhandhisswordbythehilt,readytoflyout。ButtounderstandthisBrandenburg—NeuburgphenomenonandthethensignificanceoftheCleve—JulichControversy,wemusttakethefollowingbitsofChronologyalongwithus。FortheGermanEmpire,withProtestantcomplaints,andPapistusurpationsandseverities,wasatthistimeallacontinentofsourthicksmoke,alreadybreakingoutintodull—redflasheshereandthere,——
symptomsoftheuniversalconflagrationofaThirty—YearsWar,whichfollowed。SYMPTONFIRSTisthatofDonauworth,anddatesaboveayearback。
FIRSTSYMPTOM;DONAUWORTH,1608。
Donauworth,aProtestantImperialFree—town,intheBavarianregions,hadbeen,forsomefaultonthepartofthepopulaceagainstaflaringMass—processionwhichhadnobusinesstobethere,putunderBanoftheEmpire;hadbeenseizedaccordingly(December,1607),andmuchcuffed,andshakenabout,byDukeMaximilianofBavaria,asexecutorofthesaidBan;[Michaeelis,ii。216;BuddaeiLEXICON,i。853。]——who,whatwasstillworse,wouldbynomeansgiveuptheTownwhenhehaddonewithit;
Townbeinghandytohim,andthemanbeingstoutandviolentlyPapist。Hencethe"EvangelicalUnion"whichwesaw,——whichhasnottakenDonauworthyet。Noreverwill!Donauworthneverwasretaken;butisBavarianatthishour,ATownnamableinHistoryeversince。Nottosaywithal,thatitiswhereMarlborough,did"theLinesofSchellenberg"longafter:Schellenberg("Jingle—
Hill,"sotorenderit)looksdownacrosstheDanubeorDonauRiver,uponDonauworth,——its"Lines,"andotherhistories,nowmuchabolished,andquietundergrass。
ButnowallProtestantismsoundingeverywhere,inangrymournfultone,"Donauwarth!GiveupDonauworth!"——andan"EvangelicalUnion,"withmoneys,withtheoreticcontingentsofforce,beingonfootforthatandthelikeobjects;——wecanfancywhatascramblethisofCleve—Julichwasliketobe;andespeciallywhateffectthisduellingattitudeofBrandenburgandNeuburghadontheProtestantmind。Protestantneighbors,LandgrafMoritzofHessen—Casselattheirhead,interveneintremuloushaste,intheCleve—Julichaffair:"Peace,Ofriends!Somebargain;peaceablejoint—possession;anytemporarybargain,tillwesee!CantwoProtestantsfalltoslashingoneanother,insuchanaspectoftheReichanditsJesuitries?"——Andtheydidagree(Dortmund,10thMay,1609)thefirstoftheirinnumerable"agreements,"tosometemporaryjoint—possession;——thethrice—thankfulCountrydoinghomagetoboth,"withoathtotheonethatSHALLbefoundgenuine。"Andtheydidendeavortogovernjointly,andtokeepthepeaceonthoseterms,thoughitwasnoteasy。
FortheKaiserhadalreadysaid(orhisAulicCouncilandSpanishCousin,poorKaiserRodolfcaringtoolittleaboutthesethings,[RodolfII。(Kepler’stooinsolvent"Patron"),1576—1612;thenMatthias,Rodolf’sBrother,1612—1619,rathertoleranttoProtestants;——thenFerdinandII。hisUncle’sSon,1619—1637,muchthereverseoftolerant,bywhommainlycametheThirty—YearsWar,——weretheKaisersofthisPeriod。
FerdinandIII。,SonofII:(1637—1657),whofinishedouttheThirty—YearsWar,partlybyfightingofhisowninyoungdays(BattleofNordlingenhisgrandestfeat),wasFatherofKaiserLeopold(1658—1705),——whoseTwoSonswereKaiserJoseph(1705—1711)andKaiserKarlVI。(1711—1740),MariaTheresa’sFather。]hadalreadysaid),Clevemustabsolutelynotgointowronghands。Forwhichwhatsafemethodisthere,butthattheKaiserhimselfbecomeproprietor?ALetterisyetextant,fromtheAulicCounciltotheirVice—Chancellor,whohadbeensenttonegotiatethismatterwiththeparties;Lettertotheeffect,Thatsuchresultwastheonlygoodone;thatitmustbeachieved;
"thathemustdeviseallmannerofquirks(alleSpitzfindigkeitenauffordernsollte),"andachieveit。[Pauli,iii。5055。]ThiscuriousLetterofasublimeAulicCouncil,orImperialHOF—RATH,toitsVICE—KANZLER,stillexists。
AndaccordinglyquirksdidnotproveundevisableonbehalfoftheKaiser。"Sinceyoucannotagree,"saidtheKaiser,"andtherearesomanyofyouwhoclaim(wehavingprivatelystirredupseveralofyoutothefeat),therewillbenothingforit,buttheKaisermustputtheCountryundersequestration,andtakepossessionofitwithhisowntroops,tilladecisionbearrivedat,——whichprobablywillnotbesoon!"
SECONDSYMPTOM;SEIZUREOFJULICHBYTHEKAISER,ANDSIEGE
ANDRECAPTUREOFITBYTHEPROTESTANTPARTIES,1610。WHEREUPON
WHEREUPON"CATHOLICLEAGUE,"TOBALANCEE"EVANGELICALUNION。"
AndtheKaiserforthwithdidashehadsaid;sentArchdukeLeopoldwithtroops,whoforciblytooktheCastleofJulich;commandingallothercastlesandplacestosurrenderandsequestratethemselves,inlikefashion;threateningBrandenburgandNeuburg,inadreadfulmanner,withREICHS—ACHT(BanoftheEmpire),iftheypresumedtoshowcontumacy。UponwhichBrandenburgandNeuburg,rankingthemselvestogether,showeddecidedcontumacy;
"toredowntheKaiser’sProclamation,"[Ib。iii。524。Emperor’sProclamation,inDusseldorf,23dJuly,1609,——takendownsolemnly,1stAugust,1609,]havinggoodhelpattheirback。
Andaccordingly,"onthe4thofSeptember,1610,"afteratwo—months’siege,they,ortheDutch,French,andEvangelicalUnionTroopsbombardingalongwiththem,and"manyEnglishvolunteers"tohelp,retookJulich,andpackedLeopoldawayagain。
[Ib。iii。527。]TheDutchandtheFrenchwereespeciallyanxiousaboutthisClevebusiness,——poorHenriIV。wasjustputtingthoseFrenchtroopsinmotiontowardsJulich,whenRavaillac,thedistractedDevil’s—Jesuit,didhisstrokeuponhim;sothatanotherthanHenrihadtoleadinthatexpedition。TheactualCaptainattheSiegewasPrinceChristianofAnhalt,byreputethefirstsoldierofGermanyatthatperiod:hehadahorseshotunderhim,thebusinessbeingveryhotandfurious;——hehadstillworsefortuneinthecourseofyears。Therewere"manyEnglishvolunteers"atthisSiege;Englishnationhugelyinterestedinit,thoughtheirKingwouldnotactexceptdiplomatically。Itwasthetalkofallthethenworld,——theeveningsongandthemorningprayerofProtestantsespecially,——tillitwasgotendedinthismanner。ItdeservestorankasSYMPTONSECONDinthisbusiness;
farbiggerflareofdullredintheuniversalsmoke—continent,thanthatofDonauworthhadbeen。Aretherenomemorialsleftofthose"Englishvolunteers,"then?[InCarlyle’s
Miscellanies(vi。?"TwoHundredandFiftyYearsago:
aFragmentaboutDuels")isonesmallscenebelongingtothem。]
Alas,theymightgeteditedasBromley’sRoyalLettersare;——andhadbetterliequiet!
"EvangelicalUnion,"formedsometwoyearsbefore,withwhatcausewesaw,hasKur—Pfalz[Winter—King’sFather;died9thSeptember,1610,fewdaysafterthisrecaptureofJulich。]attheheadofit:
butitstroopsoroperationswereneverofaveryforciblecharacter。Kur—Brandenburgnowjoineditformally,asdidmanymore;Kur—Sachsen,anxioustomakehimselfconvenientinotherquarters,neverwould。Addtothesephenomena,thenowdecisiveappearanceofa"CatholicLIGA"(LeagueofCatholicPrinces),which,bywayofcounterpoisetothe"Union,"hadbeengotupbyDukeMaximilianofBavariaseveralmonthsago;andwhichnow,underthesameguidance,inthesebadcircumstances,tookagreatexpansionoffigure。DukeMaximilian,"DONAUWORTHMax,"findingtheEvangelicalUniongosoveryhigh,andhisownKaiserliketobegoodforlittleinsuchbusiness(poorhypochondriacKaiserRodolfII。,moretakenupwithturning—loomsandblow—pipesthanwithmatterspolitical,whoaccordinglyissweptoutofJulichinsuchsummaryway),——DonauworthMaxhasseenthisanecessaryinstitutioninthepresentaspect。——Both"Union"and"League"rapidlywaxedunderthesoundoftheJulichcannon,aswasnatural。
Kur—Sachsen,forstandingsowellalooffromtheUnion,gotfromthethankfulKaiserwrittenTitlesfortheseDuchiesofCleveandJulich;Imperialparchmentsandinfeftmentsofdueextent;
butneveranyTerritoryinthoseparts。Heneverofferedfightforhispretensions;andBrandenburgandNeuburg——Neuburgespecially——
alwaysansweredhim,"No!"withswordhalf—drawn。SoKur—Sachsenfadedoutagain,andtookonlyparchmentsbytheadventure。
PracticallytherewasnoprivateCompetitorofmomenttoBrandenburg,exceptthisWolfgangWilhelmofPfalz—Neuburg;
healonehavingclutchedhold。——ButwehastentoSYMPTOMTHIRD,whichparticularlyconcernsus,andwillbeintelligiblenowatlast。
SYMPTOMTHIRD:ADINNER—SCENEATDUSSELDORF,1613:
SPANIARDSANDDUTCHSHOULDERARMSINCLEVE。
BrandenburgandNeuburgstoodtogetheragainstthirdparties;
buttheirjoint—governmentwasapttofallintwo,whenlefttoitself,andthepressureofdangerwithdrawn。"TheygovernedbytheRATHSandSTANDEoftheCountry;"oldmethodsandoldofficialmen:eachofthetwohadhisownVice—Regent(STATTHALTER)presentontheground,whojointlypresidedastheycould。Jarringswereunavoidable;buthowmendit?SettlethelitigatedTerritoryitself,andendtheirbiglawsuit,theycouldnot;oftenastheytriedit,withthewholeworldencouragingandurgingthem。
[OldSirHenryWotton,ProvostofEtoninhisolddays,remembershowhewentAmbassadoronthiserrand,——asonmanyothersequallybootless;——andwriteshimself"Legatus,"notonly"thricetoVenice,twiceto"&c。&c。,butalso"oncetoHollandintheJuliersmatter(semelinJuliacensinegotio):"seeReliquiaeWottonianae(London,1672),Preface。Itwas"in1614,"saytheBiographiesvaguely。
HisDespatches,aretheyinthePaper—Officestill?HisgoodoldBookdeservesnewediting,hisgoodoldgeniallypiouslifeaproperelucidation,bysomefaithfulman。]Themeetingstheyhad,andthetreatiesandtemporarybargainstheymade,andkept,andcouldnotkeep,intheseandinthefollowingyearsandgenerations,passourpowerofrecording。
In1613theBrandenburgSTATTHALTERwasErnst,theElector’syoungerBrother,WolfgangWilhelminperson,forhisFather,orratherforhimselfasheirofhisMother,representedPfalz—
Neuburg。ErnstofBrandenburghadadoptedCalvinismashiscreed;
athinghatefulandhorribletotheLutheranmind(ofwhichsortwasWolfgangWilhelm),toadegreenowaltogetherinconceivable。
DiscordaroseinconsequencebetweentheSTATTHALTERS,astoofficialappointments,sacredandsecular:"YouareforpromotingCalvinists!"——"Andyou,Isee,areforpromotingLutherans!"——
JohannSigismundhimselfhadtointervene:WolfgangWilhelmandhehadtheirmeetings,friendlycolloquies:——thefinalcelloquyofwhichisstillmemorable;andissuesinSYMPTOMTHIRD。
Wesaid,astrongflameofcholerburntinalltheseHohenzollerns,thoughtheyhelditwelldown。JohannSigismund,anexcellentmanofbusiness,knewhowessentialamildtoneis:
neverthelesshefound,asthiscolloquywenton,thathumanpatiencemightatlengthgettoomuch。Thescene,aftersomeexamination,isconceivableinthiswise:PlaceDusseldorf,Elector’sapartmentintheSchlossthere;timelateintheYear1613,Daynotdiscoverablebyme。Thetwosatatdinner,aftermuchcolloquyallmorning:JohannSigismund,amiddle—aged,big—headed,stern—faced,honest—lookingman;haircropped,Iobserve;andeyelidsslightlycontracted,asifforsharpervisionintomatters:WolfgangWilhelm,offeaturesfallendimtome;anairygentleman,welloutofhisteens,but,Idoubt,notofwisdomsufficient;evidentlyveryhighandstiffinhisways。
Hisproposal,bywayoffinalsettlement,andendtoallthesebrabbles,wasthis,andheinsistedonit:"GivemeyoureldestPrincesstowife;letherdowrybeyourwholeclaimonCleve—
Julich;Iwillmarryheronthatcondition,andweshallbefriends!"Hereevidentlyisagentlemanthatdoesnotwantforconceitinhimself:——considertoo,inJohannSigismund’sopinion,hehadnorighttoasquareinchoftheseTerritories,thoughforpeace’sakeajointsharehadbeenallowedhimforthetime!
"Onthatcondition,jackanapes?’thoughtJohannSigismund:
"Mygirlisnotamonster;noratalossforhusbandsfullybetterthanyou,Ishouldhope!"Thishethought,andcouldnothelpthinking;butendeavoredtosaynothingofit。Theyoungjackanapeswenton,insisting。Natureatlastprevailed;JohannSigismundliftedhishand(princelyetiquettesmeltingallintosmokeonthesudden),andgavetheyoungjackanapesaslapovertheface。Veritableslap;whichopenedinadreadfulmannertheeyesofyoungPfalz—Neuburgtohisrealsituation;andsenthimoffhigh—flaming,vowingnever—imaginedvengeance。Aremarkableslap;welltestifiedto,——thoughtheoldHistories,struckblankwithterror,reverenceandastonishment,canformostpartonlysymbolitindumb—show;[Pufendorf(Rer。Brandenb。lib。iv。?16,p。213),andmanyothers,areinthiscase。
TobiasPfanner(HistoriaPacisWestphalicae,
lib。i。?9,p。26)isexplicit:"Neque,utinfidaregnandisocietasest,BrandenburgioetNeoburgiodiuconveniebat;
eorumquejurgia,cummatrimoniifaederepacaripossepropinquiipsorumcredidissent,acriusezarsere;interepulas,quibusfuturumgenerumSeptemvir(the"Sevensman,"orElector,"OneofTheSeven")excipiebat,hujusenimfiliaWolfgangosperabatur,obnescioquossermoneseointerutrumquealtercalioneprovecta,utElectoriraeimpotestior,nulladignitatis,hospitii,cognationis,affinitatisveverecundiacohibitus,intenderitNeoburgiomanus,etcontratendentisosverberaverit。Ita,quaeapudconcordesvinculacaritatis,incitamentairarumapudinfensoserant。"(CitedinKohler,Munzbelustiqungen,xxi。341;
whorefersalsotoLevassor,HistoiredeLouisXII。)——Pauli(iii。542)bedomesqnitevaporous。]aslapthathadimportantconsequencesinthisworld。
FornowWolfgangWilhelm,flamingoffinnever—imaginedvengeance,postedstraighttoMunchen,toMaxofBavariathere;declaredhimselfconvinced,ornearlyso,oftheRoman—CatholicReligion;
wooed,andinafewweeks(10thNovember,1613)weddedMax’syoungerSister;andsoonafter,atDusseldorf,pompouslyprofessedsuchhisblessedchangeofBelief,——withimmenseflourishoftrumpeting,andjubilantpamphleteering,fromHolyChurch。
[Kohler,ubisupra。]HispooroldFather,thedevoutestofProtestants,wailedaloudhis"Ichabod!thegloryisdeparted!"——
holding"weeklyfastandhumiliation"everafter,——anddiedinfewmonthsofabrokenheart。TheCatholicLeaguehasnowanewMemberonthoseterms。
Andontheotherhand,JohannSigismund,nearlywiththelikehaste(25thDecember,1613),declaredhimselfconvincedofCalvinism,hisyoungerBrother’screed;[Pauli,iii。546。]——whichcontinueseversincetheBrandenburgCourt—creed,thatofthePeoplebeingmostlyLutheran。Mensaid,itwastopleasetheDutch,topleasetheJulichers,mostofwhomareCalvinist。
ApologeticPauliiselaborate,butinconclusive。ItwasveryilltakenatBerlin,whereevenpopularriotaroseonthematter。
InPrussiatooithaditsdrawbacks。[Ib。iii。544;Michaelis,i。349。]
Andnow,allbeingfullofmutation,rearrangementandinfiniterumor,theremarchednextyear(1614),onslightpretext,restingongreatsuspicions,SpanishtroopsintotheJulich—Clevecountry,and,countenancedbyNeuburg,beganseizinggarrisonsthere。
WhereuponDutchtroopslikewisemarched,countenancedbyBrandenburg,andoccupiedotherfortressesandgarrisons:andso,ineverystrong—place,thesewereeitherPapist—SpaniardsorCalvinist—Dutch;whostoodthere,frontingoneanother,andcouldnotbytreatyingbegotoutagain;——likecloudspositivelyelectricVERSUScloudsnegatively。AsindeedwasgettingtobethecaseofGermanyingeneral;casefatallyvisibleineveryProvince,PrincipalityandParishthere:tillathunder—storm,andsuccessionofthunder—storms,ofThirtyYears’continuance,brokeout。Ofwhichthesehugerumorsandmutations,andmenacingsofwar,springingoutofthatfinalcolloquyandslapintheface,aretobetakenastheTHIRDpremonitorySymptom。SpaniardsandDutchstandelectricallyfrontingoneanotherinCleveforsevenyears,tilltheirTruceisout,beforetheyclashtogether;
Germanydoesnotwaitsolongbyacoupleofyears。
SYMPTOMFOURTH,ANDCATASTROPHEUPONTHEHEELSOFIT。
Fiveyearsmore(1618),andtherewillhavecomeaFOURTHSymptom,biggestofall,rapidlyconsummatingtheprocess;——Symptomstillfamed,ofthefollowingexternalfigure:ThreeOfficialGentlemendescendingfromawindowintheCastleofPrag:hurledoutbyimpatientBohemianProtestantism,adepthofseventyfeet,——
happilyonlyintodung,andwithoutlossoflife。Fromwhichfollowsa"KingofBohemia"electedthere,Kingnotunknowntous;——"thunder—clouds"allinonehugeclash,andthe"continentofsoursmoke"blazingallintoacontinentofthunderousfire:
THIRTY—YEARSWAR,astheynowcallit!SuchaconflagrationaspoorGermanyneversawbeforeorsince。
TheseweretheFOURpreliminarySYMPTOMSofthatdismalbusiness。
"AstotheprimaryCAUSESofit,"saysoneofmyAuthorities,"theseliedeep,deepalmostasthoseofOriginalSin。Buttheproximatecausesseemtometohavebeenthesetwo:FIRST,ThattheJesuit—PriestsandPrincipalitieshadvowedandresolvedtohave,byGod’shelpandbytheDevil’s(thiswasthepeculiarityofit),EuropemadeOrthodoxagain:andthenSECONDLY,ThefactthataMaxofBavariaexistedatthattime,whosefierycharacter,cunningbutrashhead,andfanaticallyPapistheartdisposedhimtoattemptthatenterprise,himwithsuchresourcesandcapacities,undertheirbadguidance。"
JohannSigismunddidmanyswiftdecisivestrokesofbusinessinhistime,businessesofextensiveandimportantnature;butthisoftheslaptoNeuburghasstuckbestintheidlememoryofmankind。Dusseldorf,Year1613:itwaspreciselyinthetimewhenthatsameFriedrioh,notyetbyanymeans"KingofBohemia,"butalreadyKur—Pfalz(CousinofthisNeuburg,andheadmanoftheProtestants),wasoverhereinEngland,onafineerrand;——namely,hadmarriedthefairElizabeth(14thFebruary,1613),JamestheFirst’sPrincess;"GoodyPalsgrave,"asherMotherfloutinglycalledher,notlikingtheconnection。Whatkindofa"KingofBohemia"thisFriedrichmade,fiveorsixyearsafter,andwhatseaoftroublesheandhisenteredinto,weknow;
the"WINTER—KONIG"(Winter—King,fallenintimesofFROST,orbuiltofmerefrost,aSNOW—kingaltogethersolubleagain)isthenamehegetsinGermanHistories。ButhereisanotherhooktohangChronologyupon。
ThisbriefBohemianKingshiphadnotyetexplodedontheWeissenbergofPrag,[Battlethere,Sunday8thNovember,1620。]
whenoldSirHenryWottonbeingsentasAmbassador"toLIEabroad"
(ashewittilycalledit,tohiscost)inthatBusiness,saw,intheCityofLintzinthepicturesquegreencountrybytheshoresoftheDonauthere,aningeniousperson,whoisnowrecognizableasoneoftheremarkablestofmankind,Mr。JohnKepler,namely:
KeplarasWottonwriteshim;addressingthegreatLordBacon(unhappilywithoutstrictdateofanykind)onthatamongothersubjects。Mr。John’snowever—memorablewatchingofthose
MotionsoftheStarMars,[DeMotibusStellaeMartis;Prag,1609。]with"calculationsrepeatedseventytimes,"andalsowithDiscoveryofthePlanetaryLawsofthisUniverse,some,tenyearsago,appearstobeunknowntoWottonandBacon;butthereissomethingelseofMr。John’sdevising[Itseems,BaptistaPorta(ofNaples,deadsomeyearsbefore)musthavegivenhimtheessentialhint,——ofwhom,orwhosehint,Mr。JohndoesnothappentoinformhisExcellencyatpresent。]whichdeservesattentionfromanInstauratorofPhilosophy:——
"HehathalittleblackTent(ofwhatstuffisnotmuchimporting),"saystheAmbassador,"whichhecansuddenlysetupwherehewillinaField;anditisconvertible(likeawindmill)toallquartersatpleasure;capableofnotmuchmorethanoneman,asIconceive,andperhapsatnogreatease;exactlycloseanddark,——saveatonehole,aboutaninchandahalfinthediameter,towhichheappliesalongperspectiveTrunk,withtheconvexglassfittedtothesaidhole,andtheconcavetakenoutattheotherend,whichextendethtoaboutthemiddleofthiserectedTent:throughwhichthevisibleradiationsofalltheObjectswithoutareintromitted,fallinguponaPaper,whichisaccommodatedtoreceivethem;andsohetraceththemwithhispenintheirnaturalappearance;turninghislittleTentroundbydegrees,tillhehathdesignedthewholeAspectoftheField。"
[ReliquiWottonianae,(london1672),p。300。]——InfacthehathaCAMERAOBSCURA,andisexhibitingthesameforthedelectationofImperialgentlemenloungingthatway。
Mr。Johninventssuchtoys,writesalmanacs,practisesmedicine,forgoodreasons;hisencouragementfromtheHolyRomanEmpireandmankindbeingonlyapensionof18poundsayear,andthathardlyeverpaid。Aningeniousperson,truly,ifthereeverwasoneamongAdam’sPosterity。Justturnedoffiftyandilloffforcash。Thisglimpseofhim,inhislittleblacktentwithperspectiveglasses,whiletheThirty—YearsWarblazesout,iswelcomeasadate。
WHATBECAMEOFTHECLEVE—JULICHHERITAGE,ANDOFTHEPREUSSENONE。
IntheCleveDuchiesjointgovernmenthadnowbecomemoredifficultthanever:butithadtobepersistedin,——undermutualoffences,suspicionsandoutbreakshardlyrepressed;——nofinalBargainofSettlementprovingbyanymethodpossible。Treatiesenough,andconferencesandpleadings,manifestoings:——CouldnotsomepainfulGermancollectorofStatisticstrytogiveustheapproximatequantityofimpracticabletreaties,futileconferences,manifestoescorrespondences;inbrief,someauthenticalcipher(sayinroundmillions)ofidleWordsspokenbyofficialhumancreaturesandapproximately(insquaremiles)theextentofLawStationeryandotherPaperwritten,firstandlast,aboutthisControversyoftheCleveDuchies?Inthatformitmighthaveamomentaryinterest。
WhentheWinter—King’sexplosiontookplace,[CrownedatPrag,4thNovemberN。S。1619;beatentoruinthere,andobligedtogallop(almostbeforedinnerdone),Sunday,8thNovember,1620。]
andhisownunfortunatePfalz(Palatinate)becamethetheatreofwar(Tilly,Spinola,VERSUSPfalzers,English,Dutch),involvingalltheneighboringregions,Cleve—Julichdidnotescapeitsfate。
TheSpaniardsandtheDutch,whohadlongsatingloomyarmed—
truce,occupyingwithobstinateprecautionthemainFortressesoftheseJulich—Clevecountries,didnowstraightway,theirTwelve—
Years’trucebeingout(1621),[Pauli,vi。578—580。]falltofightingandbesiegingoneanotherthere;thehugeWar,whichprovedofThirtyYears,beingnowallablaze。Whatthecountrysufferedintheinterimmaybeimagined。
In1624,inpitytoallparties,someattemptatpracticalDivisionoftheTerritorywasagainmade:NeuburgtohaveBergandJulich,BrandenburgtohaveCleve,Mark,Ravensburgandtheminorappurtenances:andTreatytothateffectwasgotsigned(11thMay,1624)。Butitwasnotwellkept,norcouldbe;andthestatisticcipherofnewtreaties,manifestoes,conferences,andapproximatewrittenareaofLaw—Papergoesonincreasing。
Itwasnottillforty—twoyearsafter,in1666,aswillbemoreminutelynoticeablebyandby,thataneffectivepartitioncouldbepracticallybroughtabout。NorinthisstatewastheLawsuitbyanymeansended,——asweshallwearisomelysee,intimeslongfollowingthat。Infactthereneverwas,intheGermanChanceriesoroutofthem,suchaLawsuit,ArmedorWigged,asthisoftheCleveDuchiesfirstandlast。Andthesentencewasnotpracticallygiven,tilltheCongressofVienna(1815)inourowndaygaveit;
andthethingJohannSigismundhadclaimedlegallyin1609wasactuallyhandedovertoJohannSigismund’sDescendantintheseventhgeneration,aftertwohundredandsixyears。Handedovertohimthen,——andaliberalrateofinterestallowed。TheselitigatedDuchiesarenowthePrussianProvinceJulich—Berg—Cleve,andthenucleusofPrussia’spossessionsintheRhinecountry。
AyearbeforeJohannSigismund’sdeath,AlbertFriedrich,thepooreclipsedDukeofPrussia,died(8thAugust,1618):uponwhichourswiftKurfurst,notwithoutneedofhisdexteritiestheretoo,gotpeaceablepossessionofPrussia;——norhashisFamilylostholdofthat,uptothepresenttime。Nextyear(23dDecember,1619),hehimselfclosedaswiftbusylife(laborenoughinitforhimperhaps,thoughonlyanageofforty—nine);andsanktohislongrest,hisworksfollowinghim,——unalterablethenceforth,notunfruitfulsomeofthem。
ChapterXV。
TENTHKURFURST,GEORGEWILHELM。
ByfartheunluckiestoftheseElectors,whetherthemostunworthyofthemornot,wasGeorgeWilhelm,TenthElector,whonowsucceededJohannSigismundhisFather。TheFather’seyeshadclosedwhenthisgreatflamewasbreakingout;andtheSon’sdayswereallspentamidthehotashesandfierceblazingsofit。
ThepositionofBrandenburgduringthissadThirty—YearsWarwaspassiveratherthanactive;distinguishedonlyintheformerway,andasfaraspossiblefrombeinggloriousorvictorious。
NeversincetheHohenzollernscametothatCountryhadBrandenburgsuchatime。Difficulttohavemendedit;impossibletohavequiteavoidedit;——andKurfurstGeorgeWilhelmwasnotamansosuperiortoallhisneighbors,thathecouldclearlyseehiswayinsuchanelement。Theperfectoridealcoursewasclear:TohavefranklydrawnswordforhisReligionandhisRights,sosoonasthebattlefairlyopened;andtohavefoughtforthesesame,tillhegoteitherthemordied。Alas,thatiseasilysaidandwritten;butitis,foraGeorgeWilhelmespecially,difficulttodo!Hiscapabilityinallkindswaslimited;hisconnections,withthissideandthat,wereveryintricate。GustavusandtheWinter—KingwerehisBrothers—in—law;GustavusweddedtohisSister,hetoWinter—King’s。HisrelationstoPoland,feudalsuperiorofPreussen,weredelicate;andGustavuswasindeadlyquarrelwithPoland。AndthenGustavus’ssuddenlaying—holdofPommern,whichhadjustescapedfromWallensteinandtheKaiser?
Itmustbegranted,poorGeorgeWilhelm’scasedemandedcircumspectness。
OnecanforgivehimfordecliningtheBohemian—Kingspeculation,thoughhisUncleofJagerndorfandhisCousinsofLiegnitzweresoheartyandforwardinit。PardonableinhimtodeclinetheBohemianspeculation;——thoughsurelyitisverysadthathefoundhimselfsoshortof"butterandfirewood"whenthepoorEx—King,andhisyoungWife,theninaspeciallyinterestingstate,cametotakeshelterwithhim![Solltl(GeschichtedesDreissigjahrigenKrieges,——atrivialmodernBook)
givesanotablememorialfromtheBrandenburgRATHS,concerningthesetheirdifficultiesofhousekeeping。Theirrealobject,weperceive,wastogetridofaGuestsodangerousastheEx—King,underBanoftheEmpire,hadnowbecome。]ButwhenGustavuslanded,andflungoutuponthewindssuchabannerasthatofhis,——trulyitwasrequiredofaProtestantGovernorofmentobeabletoreadsaidbannerinacertaindegree。AGovernor,nottooIMperfect,wouldhaverecognizedthisGustavus,whathispurposesandlikelihoodswere;thefeelingwouldhavebeen,checkedbyduecircumspectness:"Up,mymen,letusfollowthisman;letusliveanddieintheCausethismangoesfor!Liveotherwisewithhonor,ordieotherwisewithhonor,wecannot,inthepassthingshavecometo!"——Andthus,attheveryworst,Brandenburgwouldhavehadonlyoneclassofenemiestoravageit;andmighthaveescapedwith,arithmeticallyspeaking,HALFtheharryingitgotinthatlongBusiness。
ButProtestantGermany——sadshametoit,whichprovedlastingsorrowaswell——wasallaliketorpid;Brandenburgnotanexceptionalcase。NoPrincestoodupasbeseemed:oronlyone,andhenotagreatone;LandgrafWilhelmofHessen,who,andhisbraveWidowafterhim,seemedalwaystoknowwhathouritwas。
WilhelmofHessenallalong;——andafewwildhands,ChristianofBrunswick,ChristianofAnhalt,JohannGeorgeofJagerndorf,whostormedouttumultuouslyatfirst,butweresoonblownawaybytheTilly—WallensteinTRADE—WINDSandregulatedarmaments:——therestsatstill,andtriedalltheycouldtokeepoutofharm’sway。
The"EvangelicalUnion"didagreatdealofmanifestoing,pathetic,indignantandother;heldsolemnMeetingsatHeilbronn,oldSirHenryWottongoingasAmbassadortothem;butnevergotanyredress。HadtheEvangelicalUnionshutupitsinkhornssooner;girtonitsfighting—toolswhenthetimecame,anddonesomelittleexecutionwiththemthen,insteadofnoneatall,——
wemayfancytheEvangelicalUnionwouldhavebetterdischargeditsfunction。ItmighthavesavedimmensewretchednesstoGermany。
Butitscoursewentnotthatway。
Infact,hadtherebeennobetterProtestantismthanthatofGermany,allwasoverwithProtestantism;andMaxofBavaria,withfanaticalFerdinandII。asKaiseroverhim,andFatherLammerleinathisrighthandandFatherHyacinthathisleft,hadgottheirownsweetwayinthisworld。ButProtestantGermanywasnotProtestantEurope,afterall。OverseastheredweltandreignedacertainKinginSweden;therefarmed,andwalkedmusingbytheshoresoftheOuseinHuntingdonshire,acertainman;——therewasaGustavAdolfoverseas,anOliverCromwelloverseas;
and"acompanyofpoormen"werefoundcapableoftakingLuciferbythebeard,——whoaccordingly,withhisLammerleins,Hyacinths,Habernfeldtsandothers,wasforcedtowithdraw,afteratoughstruggle!——
ChapterXVI。
THIRTY—YEARSWAR。
TheenormousThirty—YearsWar,mostintricateofmodernOccurrencesinthedomainofDryasdust,dividesitself,aftersomeunravelling,intoThreeprincipalActsorEpochs;inallofwhich,oneaftertheother,ourKurfursthadaninterestmountingprogressively,butcontinuingtobeapassiveinterest。
ActFIRSTgoesfrom1620to1624;andmightbeentitled"TheBohemianKingMadeandDemolished。"PersonallytheBohemianKingwassoondemolished。HisKingshipmaybesaidtohavegoneoffbyexplosion;byoneFight,namely,doneontheWeissenbergnearPrag(Sunday,8thNovember,1620),whilehesatatdinnerintheCity,theboomofthecannoncominginwithinterestuponhishighguestsandhim。Hehadtorun,inhothaste,thatnight,leavingmanyofhisimportantpapers,——andbecomesaWinter—King。Winter—
King’saccountwassoonsettled。ButtheextirpatingofhisAdherents,andcapturingofhisHereditaryLands,PalatinateandUpper—Palatinate,tookthreeyearsmore。HardfightingforthePalatinate;TillyandCompanyagainstthe"Evangelical—UnionTroops,andtheEnglishunderSirHoraceVere。"Evangelical—UnionTroops,thoughmarchingaboutthere,underanUncleofourKurfurst(MargrafJoachimErnst,thatluckyAnspachUncle,founderof"theLine"),whoprofessedsomeskillinsoldiering,wereamerePictureofanArmy;wouldonly"observe,"andwouldnotfightatall。SothatthewholefightingfelltoSirHoraceandhispoorhandfulofEnglish;ofwhosegrimposture"inFrankendale"
[Frankenthal,alittleTowninthePalatinate,N。W。fromMannheimashortway。]andotherStrongholds,formonthslong,thereistalkenoughintheoldEnglishHistory—Books。
ThentherewerecertainsternWar—Captains,whoralliedfromtheWeissenbergDefeat:——ChristianofBrunswick,thechiefofthem,titularBishopofHalberstadt,ahigh—flown,fieryyoungfellow,ofterriblefightinggifts;heflamedupconsiderably,with"theQueenofBohemia’sglovestuckinhisHat:""BrightLady,itshallstickthere,tillIgetyouyourownagain,ordie!"[1621—1623,agenotyettwenty—five;died(bypoison),1626,havingagainbecomesupremelyimportantjustthen。"GottesFreund,derPfaffenFeind(God’sFriend,Priests’Foe);"
"AllesfurRuhmundIhr(AllforGloryandHer,"
——thebrightElizabeth,becomeEx—Queen),weremottoesofhis。——
BuddausINVOCE(i。649);Michaelis,i。110。]ChristianofBrunswick,GeorgeofJagerndorf(ourKurfurst’sUncle),CountMansfeldtandothers,madestormyfightonceandagain,hanginguponthiscentral"Frankendale"Business,tilltheyanditbecamehopeless。FortheKaiserandhisJesuitswerenotindoubt;
aKaiserveryproud,unscrupulous;nowclearlysuperiorinforce,——andallalongofgreatsuperiorityinfraud。
ChristianofBrunswick,JohannGeorgeandMansfeldtweregotridof:Christianbypoison;JohannGeorgeandMansfeldtbyothermethods,——chieflybyplayinguponpoorKingJamesofEngland,andleadinghimbythelongnosehewasfoundtohave。ThePalatinatebecametheKaiser’sforthetimebeing;UpperPalatinate(OBER—
PFALZ)DukeMaxofBavaria,lyingcontiguoustoit,hadeasilytaken。"IncorporatetheOber—PfalzwithyourBavaria,"saidtheKaiser,"you,illustrious,thrice—serviceableMax!AndletLammerleinandHyacinth,withtheirGospelofIgnatius,looseuponit。Nay,asastillricherreward,beyourstheforfeitedKUR
(Electorship)ofthismadKur—Pfalz,orWinter—King。IwillholdhisRhine—Lands,hisUNTER—PFALZ:hisElectorshipandOBER—PFALZ,Isay,areyours,Duke,henceforthKURFURSTMaximilian!"[Kohler,Reichs—Historie,p。520。]WhichwasahardsayingintheearsofBrandenburg,SaxonyandtheotherFive,andoftheReichingeneral;buttheyhadalltocomply,afterwincing。FortheKaiserproceededwithahighhand。HehadputtheEx—KingunderBanoftheEmpire(neverasking"theEmpire"aboutit);puthisThreeprincipalAdherents,JohannGeorgeofJagerndorfoneofthem,PrinceChristianofAnhalt(oncecaptainattheSiegeofJuliers)another,likewiseunderBanoftheEmpire;[22dJan。1621(ibid。p。518)。]andinshorthadflungabout,andwasflinging,histhunder—boltsinaveryOlympianmanner。Underallwhich,whatcouldBrandenburgandtheothersdo;
butwhimpersometremblingprotest,"ClearagainstLaw!"——andsitobedient?TheEvangelicalUniondidnotnowanymorethanformerlydrawoutitsfighting—tools。Infact,theEvangelicalUnionnowfairlydissolveditself;meltedintoadeliquiumofterrorunderthesethunder—boltsthatwereflying,andwasnomoreheardofintheworld。——
SECONDACT,OREPOCH,1624—1629。ASECONDUNCLEPUTTO
THEBAN,ANDPOMMERNSNATCHEDAWAY。
Exceptinthe"NETHER—SAXONCIRCLE"(distantNorthwestregion,withitsHanover,Mecklenburg,withitsrichHamburgs,Lubecks,Magdeburgs,allProtestant,andabuttingontheProtestantNorth),tremblingGermanylayriddenoverastheKaiserwilled。ForeignLeaguegotupbyFrance,KingJames,ChristianIV。ofDenmark(James’sBrother—in—law,withwhomhehadsuch"drinking"inSomersetHouse,longago,onChristian’svisithither[OldHistoriesofJamesI。(Wilson,&c。)]),wenttowater,orworse。
Onlythe"Nether—SaxonCircle"showedsomelife;waslevyinganarmy;andhadappointedChristianofBrunswickitsCaptain,tillhewasgotpoisoned;——uponwhichthedrinkingKingofDenmarktookthecommand。
ActSECONDgoesfrom1624to1627oreven1629;andcontainsdrunkenChristian’sExploits。Whichwereunfortunate,almosttotheruinofDenmarkitself,aswellasoftheNether—SaxonCircle;——tillinthelatteroftheseyearsheslightlyrallied,andgotasupportablePeacegrantedhim(PeaceofLubeck,1629);
afterwhichhesitsquiet,contemplative,withanevileyeuponSwedennowandthen。Thebeatingshegot,inquiteregularsuccession,fromTillyandConsorts,arenotworthmentioning:
theonlythingonenowremembersofhimishisalarmingaccidentontherampartsofHameln,justattheopeningoftheseCampaigns。
AtHameln,whichwastobeastrongpost,drunkenChristianrodeoutonce,onasummerafternoon(1624),toseethattherampartswereallright,orgettingallright;——andtumbled,horseandself(selfinliquor,itisthought),inanominousalarmingmanner。
Takenupfordead;——naysomeofthevagueHistoriesseemtothinkhewasreallydead:——buthelivedtobeoftenbeatenafterthat,andhadmanymoistyearsmore。
OurKurfursthadanotherUncleputtotheBaninthisSecondAct,——ChristianWilhelmArchbishopofMagdeburg,"forassistingtheDanishKing;"norwasBanalltheruinthatfellonthispoorArchbishop。WhatcouldanunfortunateKurfurstdo,buttrembleandobey?TherewasstillaworsesmartgotbyourpoorKurfurstoutofActSecond;theglaringinjusticedonehiminPommern。
DoesthereaderrememberthatsceneintheHighChurchofStettinahundredandfiftyyearsago?HowtheBurgermeisterthrewswordandhelmetintothegraveofthelastDukeofPommern—Stettinthere;andaforwardCitizenpickedthemoutagaininfavorofaCollateralBranch?Neversince,anymorethanthen,couldBrandenburggetPommernaccordingtoclaim。CollateralBranch,inspiteofFriedrichIronteeth,inspiteevenofAlbertAchillesandsomefightingofhis;contrived,bypleadingattheDietsandstirringupnoise,tomaintainitspretensions:andTreatieswithoutendensued,asusual;Treatiesrefreshedandnew—signedbyeverySuccessorofAlbert,toawearisomedegree。Thesumofwhichalwayswas:"PommerndoesactualhomagetoBrandenburg;vassalofBrandenburg;——andfallshometoit,ifthenowExtantLinegoextinct。"NaythereisanERBVERBRUDERUNG(Heritage—Fraternity)
overandabove,establishedthislongtime,andwearisomelyrenewedateverynewAccession。HundredsofTreaties,oppressivetothinkof:——andnowthelastDuke,oldBogislaus,ishere,withouthopeofchildren;andthefruitofallthathaggling,actualPommerntowit,willatlastfallhome?Alas,no;
farotherwise。
FortheKaiserhavingsotriumphantlysweptofftheWinter—King,andChristianIV。intherearofhim,andgotGermanyreadyforconvertingtoOrthodoxy,——wishednowtohavesomeholdoftheSeaboard,therebytopunishDenmark;naythereby,asishoped,toextendtheblessingsofOrthodoxyintoEngland,Sweden,Holland,andtheotherHereticStates,induetime。Forourplansgofar!
ThisistheKaiser’sfixedwish,risingtotherankofhopenowandthen:allEuropeshallbecomePapistagainbythehelpofGodandtheDevil。SotheKaiser,onhardlyanypretext,seizedMecklenburgfromtheProprietors,——"Traitors,howdurstyoujoinDanishChristian?"——andmadeWallensteinDukeofit。DukeofMecklenburg,"AdmiraloftheEASTSEA(Baltic);"andsetto"buildingshipsofwarinRostock,"——hisplansgoingfar。[Kohler,Reichs—Historie,pp,524,525。]Thisdone,heseizedPommern,whichalsoisafineSea—country,——stirringupMaxofBavariatomakesomeidlepretencetoPommern,thatsotheKaisermightseizeit"insequestrationtilldecidedon。"
Underwhichhardtreatment,GeorgeWilhelmhadtositsadandsilent,——thoughtheStralsunderswouldnot。Hencetheworld—famousSiegeofStralsund(1628);fierceWallensteindeclaring,"IwillhavetheTown,ifithungbyachainfromHeaven;"butfindinghecouldnotgetit;owingtotheSwedishsuccor,tothestubborntemperprevalentamongtheTownsfolk,andalsogreatlytotherainsandpeat—bogs。
AsecondUncleofGeorgeWilhelm’s,thatunluckyArchbishopofMagdeburgabovementioned,theKaiser,oncemorebyhisownarbitrarywill,putunderBanoftheEmpire,inthisSecondAct:
"Traitor,howdurstyoujoinwiththeDanes?"TheresultofwhichwasTilly’sSackofMagdeburg(10—12thMay,1631),atransactionneverforgettablebymankind。——AsforPommern,GustavAdolf,onhisinterveninginthesematters,landedthere:PommernwasnowseizedbyGustavAdolf,asalanding—placeandplace—of—arms,indispensableforSwedeninthepresentemergency;andwassoheldthenceforth。PommernwillnotfalltoGeorgeWilhelmatthistime。
THIRDACT,ANDWHATTHEKURFURSTSUFFEREDINIT。
AndnowweareatActTHIRD:——LandingofGustavAdolf"intheIsleofUsedom,24thJune,1630,"andonwardforEighteenYearstillthePeaceofWestphalia,in1648;——onwhich,asprobablybetterknowntothereader,wewillnotheregointodetails。InthisThirdActtoo,GeorgeWilhelmfollowedhisoldscheme,peaceatanyprice;——asshyofGustavashehadbeenofotherChampionsoftheCause;andexceptcomplaining,petitioningandmanifestoing,studiouslydidnothing。
Poorman,itwashisfatetostandintherangeofthesehugecollisions,——BridgeofDessau,SiegeofStralsund,SackofMagdeburg,BattleofLeipzig,——wheretheTitanswerebowlingrocksatoneanother;andhehoped,bydexterousskipping,toescapeshareofthegame。TokeepwellwithhisKaiser,——andsuchaKaisertoGermanyandtohim,——this,forGeorgeWilhelm,wasalwaysthefirstcommandment。IftheKaiserconfiscateyourUncles,againstlaw;seizeyourPommern;robyouonthepublichighways,——GeorgeWilhelm,eveninsuchcase,isfullofdubitations。NayhisPrime—Minister,oneSchwartzenberg,aCatholic,anAustrianOfficialatonetime,——ProgenitoroftheAustrianSchwartzenbergsthatnoware,——wassecretlyintheKaiser’sinterest,andiseventhoughttohavebeenintheKaiser’spay,allalong。
Gustav,athisfirstlanding,hadseizedPommern,andsweptitclearofAustrians,forhimselfandforhisownwants;nottooregardfulofGeorgeWilhelm’sclaimsonit。HeclearedoutFrankfurt—on—Oder,CustrinandotherBrandenburgTowns,inasimilarmanner,——bycannonandstorm,whenneedful;——drovetheImperialistsandTillyforthofthesecountries。Advancing,nextyear,tosaveMagdeburg,nowshriekingunderTilly’sbombardment,Gustavinsistedonhaving,ifnotsomebondofunionfromhisBrother—in—lawofBrandenburg,atleastthetemporarycessionoftwoPlacesofWarforhimself,SpandauandCustrin,indispensableinanyfartheroperation。WhichcessionKurfurstGeorgeWilhelm,thoughgivingallhisprayerstotheGoodCause,couldbynomeansgrant。Gustavhadtoinsist,withmoreandmoreemphasis;
advancingatlast,withmilitarymenace,uponBerlinitself。
HewasmetbyGeorgeWilhelmandhisCouncil,"inthewoodsofCopenick,"shortwaytotheeastofthatCity:thereGeorgeWilhelmandhisCouncilwanderedabout,sendingmessages,hopelesslyconsulting;sayingamongeachother,"Quefaire;ilsontdescanons,whatcanonedo;theyhavegotcannon?"[OEvresdeFredericleGrand
(Berlin,1846—1856etseqq。:MemoiresdeBrandebourg),i。38。Fortherest,Friedrich’sAccountoftheTransactionisverylooseandscanty:seePauli(iv。568)andhisminutedetails。]Formanyhoursso;roundtheinflexibleGustav,——
whowastherelikeafixedmilestone,andtoallquestionsandcomershadonlyoneanswer!——"Quefaire;ilsontdescanons?"Thiswasthe3dMay,1631。Thisprobablyisaboutthenadir—pointoftheBrandenburg—HohenzollernHistory。
ThelittleFriedrich,whobecameFredericktheGreat,inwritingofit,hasacertaingrimbanterinhistone;andlooksratherwithmockeryontheperplexitiesofhispoorAncestor,sofatallyignorantofthetimeofdayithadnowbecome。
Onthewhole,GeorgeWilhelmdidwhatistobecallednothing,intheThirty—YearsWar;hisfunctionwasonlythatofsuffering。
HefollowedalwaysthebadleadofJohannGeorge,ElectorofSaxony;amanofnostrength,devoutnessoradequatehumanworth;
whoproved,onthesenegativegrounds,andwithoutflagrancyofpositivebadness,anunspeakablecursetoGermany。NottilltheKaiserfulminatedforthhisRestitution—Edict,andshowedhewasinearnestaboutit(1629—1631),"RestoretoourHolyChurchwhatyouhavetakenfromhersincethePeaceofPassau!"——couldthisJohannGeorgeprevailuponhimselftojoinSweden,oreventodootherthanhateitforreasonshesaw。Seizedbythethroatinthismanner,andorderedtoDELIVER,Kur—Sachsendid,andBrandenburgalongwithhim,makeTreatywiththeSwede。[8thFebruary,1631(Kohler,Reichs—Historie,
pp。526—531。]inconsequenceofwhichtheytwo,somemonthsafter,bywayofco—operatingwithGustavonhisgreatmarchVienna—ward,sentaninvadingforceintoBohemia,Brandenburgcontributingsomepoor3,000toit;whotookPrag,andsomeotheropenTowns;
but"didalmostnothingthere,"saytheHistories,"exceptdineanddrink。"Itisclearenoughtheywereinstantlyscatteredhome[October,1633(Stenzel,i。503)。]atthefirstglimpseofWallensteindawningonthehorizonagaininthoseparts。
Gustavhavingvanished(FieldofLutzen,6thNovember,1632
[Pauli,iv。576。]),Oxenstiern,withhishighattitude,and"Presidency"ofthe"UnionofHeilbronn,"wasratheranoffencetoKur—Sachsen,whousedtobeforemostmanonsuchoccasions。
Kur—Sachsenbrokeawayagain;madehisPeaceofPrag,[1635,20thMay(Stenzel,i。513)。]whomBrandenburgagainfollowed;
Brandenburgandgraduallyalltheothers,exceptthenobleWilhelmofHessen—Casselalone。MiserablePeace;bitofChaoscloutedup,anddoneoverwithOfficialvarnish;——whichprovedtobethesignalforcontinuingtheWarbeyondvisiblelimits,andrenderingpeaceimpossible。
Afterthis,GeorgeWilhelmretiresfromthescene;livesinCustrinmainly;meremiserabledays,whichshallbeinvisibletous。Hediedin1640;and,exceptproducinganactivebraveSonveryunlikehimself,didnothingconsiderableintheworld。
"Quefaire;ilsontdescanons!"
AmongtheinnumerablesanguinarytusslingsofthisWararecountedThreegreatBattles,Leipzig,Lutzen,Nordlingen。UnderonegreatCaptain,SwedishGustav,andthetwoorthreeotherconsiderableCaptains,whoappearedinit,highpassagesoffuriousvalor,offinestrategyandtactic,areonrecord。Butonthewhole,thegrandweaponinit,andtowardsthelattertimestheexclusiveone,wasHunger。TheopposingArmiestriedtostarveoneanother;
atlowest,triedeachnottostarve。Eachtryingtoeatthecountry,oratanyratetoleavenothingeatableinit:whatthatwillmeanforthecountry,wemayconsider。AstheArmiestoofrequently,andtheKaiser’sArmieshabitually,livedwithoutcommissariat,oftenenoughwithoutpay,allhorrorsofwarandofbeingaseatofwar,thathavebeensinceheardof,arepoortothosethenpractised。Thedetailofwhichisstillhorribletoread。Germany,inalleatablequartersofit,hadtoundergotheprocess;——tortured,torntopieces,wrecked,andbrayedasinamortarundertheironmaceofwar。[Curiousincidentaldetailsofthestateitwasreducedto,intheRhineandDanubeCountries,turnupintheEarlofArundelandSurrey’sTRAVELS("ArundeloftheMarbles")asAmbassadorExtraordinarytotheEmperorFerdinandoII。in1636(asmallVolume,orPamphlet,London,1637)。]Brandenburgsawitstownssiegedandsacked,itscountrypopulationsdriventodespair,bytheonepartyandtheother。Threetimes,——firstinthe。WallensteinMecklenburgperiod,whilefireandswordweretheweapons,andagain,twiceover,intheultimatestagesofthestruggle,whenstarvationhadbecomethemethod——Brandenburgfelltobetheprincipaltheatreofconflict,whereallformsofthedismalwereattheirheight。
In1638,threeyearsafterthatprecious"PeaceofPrag,"theSwedes(BanierVERSUSGallas)starvingouttheImperialistsinthoseNorthwesternparts,theravagesofthestarvingGallasandhisImperialistsexcelledallprecedent;andthe"famineaboutTangermundehadrisensohighthatmenatehumanflesh,nayhumancreaturesatetheirownchildren。"[1638:Pauli,iv。604。]
"Quefaire;ilsontdescanons!"
ChapterXVII。
DUCHYOFJAGERNDORF。
ThisunfortunateGeorgeWilhelmfailedingettingPommernwhendue;Pommern,firmlyheldbytheSwedes,wasfarfromhim。
Butthatwasnottheonlylossofterritoryhehad。Jagerndorf,——
wehaveheardofJohannGeorgeofJagerndorf,UncleofthisGeorgeWilhelm,howoldJoachimFriedrichputhimintoJagerndorf,longsince,whenitfellhometotheElectoralHouse。Jagerndorfisnowlost;JohannGeorgeisunderREICHS—ACHT(BanofEmpire),eversincetheWinter—King’sexplosion,andthethunder—boltsthatfollowed;andwanderslandless;——nayheislongsincedead,andhassixfeetofearthforaterritory,farawayinTransylvania,ortheRIESEN—GEBIRGE(GiantMountains)somewhere。Concerningwhomawordnow。
DUKEOFJAGERNDORF,ELECTOR’SUNCLE,ISPUTUNDERBAN。
JohannGeorge,afrank—heartedvaliantman,concerningwhomonlygoodactions,andnobadone,areonrecord,hadnotabletroublesintheworld;badtroublestobeginwith,andworsetoendin。
HewassecondSonofKurfurstJoachimFriedrich,whohadmeanthimfortheChurch。[1577—1624:Rentsch,p。486。]TheyoungfellowwasCoadjutorofStrasburg,almostfromthetimeofgettingintoshort—clothes。Hewasthen,stillveryyoung,electedBishopthere(1592);BishopofStrasburg,——butonlybytheProtestantpartoftheCanons;theCatholicpart,unabletosubmitlonger,andthinkingitagoodtimeforrevoltagainstaProtestantpopulationandobstinatelyheterodoxmajority,electedanotherBishop,——one"KarloftheHouseofLorraine;"andtherecametobedispute,andcameeventobefightingneeded。Fighting;whichprudentPapawouldnotenterinto,exceptfaintlyatsecond—hand,throughtheAnspachCousins,orothersthatwereinthehumor。Troublesometimesfortheyoungman;whichlastedadozenyearsormore。
AtlastaBargainwasmade(1604);ProtestantandCatholicCanonssplittingthedifferenceinsomeway;andtheHouseofLorrainepayingJohannGeorgeagreatdealofmoneytogohomeagain。
[OEuvrescompletesdeVoltaire,97vols。
(Paris,1825—1832),xxxiii。284。——Kohler(Reichs—
Historie,p。487)givestheauthenticparticulars。]
PoorJohannGeorgecameoutofitinthatway;notsecond—best,thinkseveral。
Hewasthen(1606)putintoJagerndorf,whichhadjustfallenvacant;ourexcellentfatfriend,GeorgeFriedrichofAnspach,AdministratorofPreussen,havinglatelydied,andleftitvacant,aswesaw。GeorgeFriedrich’sdeathyieldedfineapanages,threeoftheminall:FIRSTAnspach,SECOND,Baireuth,andthisTHIRDofJagerndorfforastillyoungerBrother。TherewasstillafourthyoungerBrother,UncleofGeorgeWilhelm;ArchbishopofMagdeburgthisone;whoalso,aswehaveseen,gotintoREICHS—ACHT,intodeeptroubleintheThirty—YearsWar。HewasinTilly’sthrice—
murderousStormofMagdeburg(10thMay,1631);wascaptured,tumbledaboutbythewildsoldiery,andnearlykilledthere。
Poorman,withhismitreandrochetsleftinsuchastate!IntheendheevenbecameCATHOLIC,——fromconviction,aswasevident,andbewildermentofmind;——andlivedinAustriaonapension;
occasionallypublishingpolemicalpamphlets。[1587;1628;1665
(Rentsch,pp。905—910)。]——
AstoJohannGeorge,hemuchrepairedandbeautifiedtheCastleofJagerndorf,saysRentsch:butheunfortunatelywentaheadintotheWinter—King’sadventure;which,inthatsadbattleoftheWeissenberg,madetotalshipwreckofitself,drawingJohannGeorgeandmuchelsealongwithit。JohannGeorgewasstraightwaytyrannouslyputtotheBan,forfeitedoflifeandlands:[22dJanuary,1621(Kohler,Reichs—Historie,
p。518:andrectifyHubner,t。178)。]JohannGeorgedisownedthesaidBan;stoodoutfiercelyforselfandWinter—King;anddidgoodfightingintheSilesianstrongholdsandmountain—passes:
butwasforcedtoseektemporaryshelterinSIEBENBURGEN
(Transylvania);anddiedfaraway,inayearortwo(1624),whilereturningtotryitagain。Sleeps,Ithink,inthe"JablunkaPass;"thedumbGiant—Mountains(RIESEN—GEBIRGE)shroudinguphissadshipwreckandhim。
JagerndorfwasthusseizedbyFerdinandII。oftheHouseofHapsburg;andthoughitwascontrarytoalllawthattheKaisershouldkeepit,——poorJohannGeorgehavingleftSonsveryinnocentoftreason,andBrothers,andanElectoral。Nephew,veryinnocent,——towhom,byoldcompactsandnew,theHeritageindefectofhimwastofall,——neitherKaiserFerdinandII。norKaiserFerdinandIII。noranyKaiserwouldletgothehold;
butkeptJagerndorffastclenched,deaftoallpleadings,andmonitionsofgodsormen。Tillatlength,inthefourthgenerationafterwards,one"FriedrichtheSecond,"notunknowntous,——
asharplittleman,littleinstature,butlargeinfacultyandrenown,whoisnowcalled"FredericktheGreat,"——clutchedholdoftheImperialfist(sotospeak),seizinghisopportunityin1740;
andsowrenchedandtwistedsaidclosefist,thatnotonlyJagerndorfdroppedoutofit,butthewholeofSilesiaalongwithJagerndorf,therebeingotherclaimswithal。Andtheaccountwasatlastsettled,withcompoundinterest,——asinfactsuchaccountsaresuretobe,onewayorother。AndsoweleaveJohannGeorgeamongthedumbGiant—Mountainsagain。
ChapterXVIII。
FRIEDRICHWILHELM,THEGREATKURFURST,ELEVENTHOFTHESERIES。
BrandenburghadagainsunkverylowundertheTenthElector,intheunutterabletroublesofthetimes。ButitwasgloriouslyraisedupagainbyhisSonFriedrichWilhelm,whosucceededin1640。Thisishewhomtheycallthe"GreatElector(GROSSE
KURFURST);"ofwhomthereismuchwritingandcelebratinginPrussianBooks。Asfortheepithet,itisnotuncommonamongpettyGermanpopulations,andmanytimesdoesnotmeantoomuch:
thusMaxofBavaria,withhisJesuitLambkinsandHyacinths,is,byBavarians,called"MaximiliantheGreat。"FriedrichWilhelm,bothbyhisintrinsicqualitiesandthesuccesshemetwith,deservesitbetterthanmost。Hissuccess,ifwelookwherehestartedandwhereheended,wasbeyondthatofanyothermaninhisday。HefoundBrandenburgannihilated,andheleftBrandenburgsoundandflourishing;agreatcountry,oralreadyonthewaytowardsgreatness。Undoubtedlyamostrapid,clear—eyed,activeman。Therewasastrokeinhimswiftaslightning,well—aimedmostly,andofarespectableweight,withal;whichshatteredasunderawholeworldofimpedimentsforhim,byassiduousrepetitionofitforfiftyyears。[1620;1640;1688。]
Therehardlyevercametosovereignpowerayoungmanoftwentyundermoredistressing,hopeless—lookingcircumstances。PoliticalsignificanceBrandenburghadnone;amereProtestantappendagedraggedaboutbyaPapistKaiser。HisFather’sPrime—Minister,aswehaveseen,wasintheinterestofhisenemies;notBrandenburg’sservant,butAustria’s。TheveryCommandantsofhisFortresses,CommandantofSpandaumoreespecially,refusedtoobeyFriedrichWilhelm,onhisaccession;"wereboundtoobeytheKaiserinthefirstplace。"Hehadtoproceedsoftlyaswellasswiftly;withthemostdelicatehandtogethimofSpandaubythecollar,andputhimunderlock—and—key,himasawarningtoothers。
Fortwentyyearspast,Brandenburghadbeenscouredbyhostilearmies,which,especiallytheKaiser’spartofwhich,committedoutragesnewinhumanhistory。Inayearortwohence,Brandenburgbecameagainthetheatreofbusiness;AustrianGallasadvancingthitheragain(1644),withintent"toshutupTorstensonandhisSwedesinJutland,"wheretheyhadbeenchastisingoldChristianIV。,nowmeddlesomeagain,forthelasttime,andneveragoodneighbortoSweden。Gallascouldbynomeansdowhatheintended:
onthecontrary,hehadtorunfromTorstenson,whatfeetcoulddo;washunted,heandhisMERODE—BRUDER(beautifulinventorsofthe"Marauding"Art),"tilltheyprettymuchalldied(CREPERTIN),"saysKoh1er。[Reichs—Historie,p。556;Pauli,v。24。]Nogreatlosstosociety,thedeathoftheseArtists:butwecanfancywhattheirlife,andespeciallywhattheprocessoftheirdying,mayhavecostpoorBrandenburgagain!——
FriedrichWilhelm’saim,inthisasinotheremergencies,wassun—cleartohimself,butformostpartdimtoeverybodyelse。
Hehadtowalkverywarily,Swedenononehandofhim,suspiciousKaiserontheother;hehadtowearsemblances,tobereadywithevasivewords;andadvancenoiselesslybymanycircuits。
Moredelicateoperationcouldnotbeimagined。Butadvancehedid:
advanceandarrive。Withextraordinarytalent,diligenceandfelicitytheyoungmanwoundhimselfoutofthisfirstfatalposition:gotthoseforeignArmiespushedoutofhisCountry,andkeptthemout。Hisfirstconcernhadbeentofindsomevestigeofrevenue,toputthatuponaclearfooting;andbyloansorotherwisetoscrapealittlereadymoneytogether。Onthestrengthofwhichasmallbodyofsoldierscouldbecollectedabouthim,anddrilledintorealabilitytofightandobey。Thisasabasis:
onthisfollowedallmannerofthings:freedomfromSwedish—
Austrianinvasions,asthefirstthing。