loosediskoffeltflungcarelesslyon，almostlikeanightcapartificiallyextended，soadmirablysoft；——andthelookofthemanCasimir，betweenhiscataractofblackbeardandthissemi—
nightcap，iscarelesslytruculent。HehadmuchfightingwiththeNurnbergersandothers；laiditrightterriblyon，inthewayofstrokes，whenneedful。HewasespeciallytruculentupontheRevoltofPeasantsintheirBAUERNKRIEG（1525）。Themintheirwildestragehefronted；he，thatothersmightrallytohim:
"Unhappymortals，willyoushaketheworldtopieces，then，becauseyouhavemuchtocomplainof？"andhangedtheringleadersofthemliterallybythedozen，whenquelledandcaptured。
Asevere，rathertruculentHerr。HisbrotherGeorge，whohadAnspachforheritage，andarighttohalfthoseprisoners，admonishedandforgavehishalf；andpleadedhardwithCasimirformercytotheothers，inafineLetterstillextant；[InRentsch，p。627。]whichproducednoeffectonCasimir。Forthedog’ssake，andforallsakes，"letnotthedoglearntoeatLEATHER；"（ofwhichhisindispensableleashesandmuzzlesaremade）！Thatwasaproverboftenheardontheoccasion，inLuther’smouthamongtherest。
Casimirdiedin1527，agethentowardsfifty。Forthelastdozenyearsorso，whentheFather’smaladybecamehopeless，hehadgovernedCulmbach，bothpartsofit；theAnspachpart，whichbelongedtohisnextbrotherGeorge，goingnaturally，inalmostallthings，alongwithBaireuth；andGeorge，whowascommonlyabsent，notinterfering，exceptonimportantoccasions。
CasimirleftonelittleBoy，agethenonlysix，nameAlbert；
towhomGeorge，henceforthpracticalsovereignofCulmbach，ashisBrotherhadbeen，wasappointedGuardian。Thisyouth，veryfulloffire，wildfiretoomuchofit，explodeddreadfullyonGermanybyandby（AlbertALCIBIADESthenametheygavehim）；nay，towardstheendofhisnonage，hehadbeenrathersputteryuponhisUncle，theexcellentGuardianwhohadchargeofhim。
FRIEDRICH’SSECONDSON，MARGRAFGEORGEOFANSPACH。
UncleGeorgeofAnspach，Casimir’snextBrother，hadalwaysbeenofapeaceablerdispositionthanCasimir；notindeedwithoutheatoftemper，andsufficientvivacityofeverykind。Asayouth，hehadaidedKaiserMaxintwoofhispettywars；butwasalwaysrathergiven"toreadingLatin，"toLearning，andingeniouspursuits。HisPolishMother，who，weperceive，hadgiven"Casimir"
hisname，provedmuchmoreimportanttoGeorge。AtanearlyagehewenttohisUncleVladislaus，KingofHungaryandBohemia:for——
Alas，afterall，weshallhavetocastaglanceintothatunbeautifulHungarian—Bohemianscramble，comparabletoan"IrishDonnybrook，"whereAlbertAchilleslongwalkedasChief—Constable。
Itbehoovesus，afterall，topointoutsomeofthetallestheadsinit；andwhitherward，bludgeoninhand，theyseemtobeswayingandstruggling。——Courage，patientreader！
George，then，atanearlyagewenttohisUncleVladislaus，KingofHungaryandBohemia:forGeorge’sMother，asweknow，wasofroyalkin；daughterofthePolishKing，CasimirIV。（latemauleroftheTeutschRitters）；whichcircumstancehadresultsforGeorgeandus。DaughterofCasimirIV。theLadywas；andthereforeoftheJagellonbloodbyherfather，whichamountstolittle；butbyhermothershewasGranddaughterofthatKaiserAlbertII。who"gotThreeCrownsinoneyear，anddiedthenext；"whoseposterityhaveeversince，——uptothelipsintroublewiththeirconfusedcompetitiveaccompaniments，Hunniades，Corvinus，GeorgePodiebradandothers，nottospeakofdragonTurkscoilingevercloserroundyouonthefrontier，——beenKingsofHungaryandBohemia；TWOofthecrowns（theHERITABLEtwo）whichweregotbyKaiserAlbertinthatmemorableyear。Hegotthem，asthereadermayremember，byhavingthedaughterofKaiserSigismundtowife，——SigismundSUPER—
GRAMMATICAM，whomweleftstanding，redasaflamingo，inthemarket—placeofConstanceahundredyearsago。ThusTimerollsoninitsmany—coloredmanner，edaciousandferacious。
ItisinthiswaythatGeorge’sUncle，Vladislaus，Albert’sdaughter’sson，isnowKingofHungaryandBohemia:thelastKingVladislaustheyhad；andthelastKingbutone，ofanykind，asweshallseeanon。VladislauswasheirofPolandtoo，couldhehavemanagedtogetit；buthegaveupthattohisbrother，tovariousyoungerbrothersinsuccession；havinghishandsfullwiththeHungarianandBohemiandifficulty。HewasveryfondofNephewGeorge；wellrecognizingtheingenuous，wiseandloyalnatureoftheyoungman。HeappointedGeorgetutorofhispoorsonLudwig；
whomheleftattheearlyageoften，inanevilworld，andevilpositionthere。"BornwithoutSkin，"theysay，thatis，bornintheseventhmonth；——calledLudwigOHNEHAUT（LudwigNO—Skin），onthataccount。Borncertainly，Icanperceive，ratherthinofskin；
andhewouldhaveneededoneofarhinocerosthickness！
Georgedidhisfunctionhonestly，andwithsuccess:Ludwiggrewupagallant，airy，briskyoungKing，inspiteofdifficulties，constitutionalandother；gotaSisterofthegreatKaiserKarlV。towife；——determined（A。D。1526）tohaveastrokeattheTurkdragon；which，wascoilingroundhisfrontier，andspittingfireatanintolerablerate。Ludwig，afineyoungmanoftwenty，marchedawaywithmuchHungarianchivalry，rightfortheTurk（Summer1526）；GeorgemeanwhilegoingbusilytoBohemia，andtherewithallhisstrengthlevyingtroopsforreinforcement。Ludwigfoughtandfenced，forsometime，withtheTurkoutskirts；cameatlasttoafuriousgeneralbattlewiththeTurk（29thAugust，1526），ataplacecalledMohacz，fareastintheflatsoftheLowerDonau；andwastheretragicallybeatenandended。SeeingtheBattlegone，andhischivalryallinflight，Ludwigtoohadtofly；gallopingforlife，hecameuponbogwhichprovedbottomless，asgoodasbottomless；andLudwig，horseandman，vanishedinitstraightwayfromthisworld。Haplessyoungman，likeaflashoflightningsuddenlygoingdownthere——andtheHungarianSovereigntyalongwithhim。ForHungaryispartofAustriaeversince；
having，withBohemia，fallentoKarlV。’sBrotherFerdinand，asnowthenearestconvenientheirofAlbertwithhisThreeCrowns。
Uptothelipsindifficultiestothisday！——
Georgemeanwhile，withfinelyappointedreinforcements，wasinfullmarchtojoinLudwig；butthesadnewsofMohaczmethim:
hewithdrew，assoonasmightbe，tohisownterritory，andquittedHungarianpolitics。This，Ithink，wasGeorge’sthirdandlasttrialofwar。Hebynomeansdelightedinthatart，orhadcultivateditlikeCasimirandsomeofhisbrothers。——
Georgebythistimehadconsiderableproperty；partofitimportanttothereadersofthisHistory。Anspachwealreadyknow；
buttheDuchyofJagerndorf，——thatanditspleasantvalleys，finehunting—groundsandlarch—cladheights，amongtheGiantMountainsofSilesia，——thatistousthememorableterritory。Georgegotitinthismanner:——
Sometenorfifteenyearsago，thelateKingVladislaus，ourUncleofblessedmemory，lovingGeorge，andnothavingroyalmoneysatcommand，permittedhimtoredeemwithhisowncashcertainHungarianDomains，pledgedataruinouslycheaprate，butunredeemablebyVladislaus。Georgedidso；yearsago，guesstenorfifteen。GeorgedidnotliketheHungarianDomains，withtheirTurkandotherinconveniences；heproposedtoexchangethemwithKingVladislausfortheBohemian—SilesianDuchyofJagerndorf；
whichhadjustthen，byfailureofheirs，lapsedtotheKing。
ThisalsoVladislaus，thebeneficentcashlessUncle，likingGeorgemoreandmore，permittedtobedone。Anddoneitwas；Iseenotinwhatyear；onlythattheultimateinvestiture（done，thispartoftheaffair，byLudwigOHNEHAUT，anddulysanctionedbytheKaiser）dates1524，twoyearsbeforethefatalMohaczbusiness。
Fromthetimeofthispurchase，andespeciallytillBrotherCasimir’sdeath，whichhappenedin1527，GeorgeresidedofteneratJagerndorfthanatAnspach。Anspach，bythesideofBaireuth，needednomanagement；andinJagerndorfmuchprobablyrequiredthehandofagoodGovernortoputitstraightagain。TheCastleofJagerndorf，whichtowersupthereinarathergrandmannertothisday，Georgebuilt:"theoldCastleoftheSchellenbergs"（extinctpredecessorLine）nowgonetoruins，"standsonaHillwithlarchesonit，somemilesoff。"MargrafGeorgewasmuchesteemedasDukeofJagerndorf。Whathisactionsinthatregionwere，Iknownot；butitseemshewassowellthoughtofinSilesia，twosmallerneighboringPotentates，theDukeofOppelnandtheDukeofRatibor，whohadnoheirsoftheirbody，bequeathed，withtheKaiser’sassent，thesetownsandterritoriestoGeorge:[Rentsch，pp。623，127—131。KaiserisFerdinand，KarlV。’sBrother，——asyetonlyKINGofBohemiaandHungary，butsupremeinregardtosuchpoints。Hisassentisdated"17thJune，1531"inRentsch。]——inmerelovetotheirsubjects（Rentschintimates），thatpoormenmightbegovernedbyawisegoodDuke，inthetimecoming。
TheKaiserwouldhavegottheDuchiesotherwise。
NaytheKaiser，inspiteofhispreliminaryassent，provedextortionatetoGeorgeinthismatter；andexactedheavysumsfortheactualpossessionofOppelnandRatibor。George，goingsozealouslyaheadinProtestantaffairs，grewlessandlessafavoritewithKaisers。Butso，atanyrate，onpeaceableunquestionablegrounds，groundsvalidasImperialLawandreadymoney，GeorgeisatlastLordofthesetwolittleCountries，intheplainofSouth—Silesia，asofJagerndorfamongtheMountainshardby。GeorgehasandholdstheDuchyofJagerndorf，withtheseappendages（Jagerndorfsince1524，RatiborandOppelnsincesomeyearslater）；andlivesconstantly，oratthedueintervals，inhisownstrongMountain—CastleofJagerndorfthere，——wehavenodoubt，tothemarkedbenefitofgoodmeninthoseparts。
HerebyhasJagerndorfjoineditselftotheBrandenburgTerritories:andthereadercannotethecircumstance，foritwillprovememorableoneday。
InthebusinessoftheReformation，MargrafGeorgewasverynoble。
Asimple—hearted，truth—loving，modestlyvaliantman；risingunconsciously，inthatgreatelement，intotheheroicfigure。
"GeorgethePious（DERFROMME），""GeorgetheConfessor（BEKENNER），"werethenameshegotfromhiscountrymen。
Oncethisbusinesshadbecomepractical，GeorgeinterferedalittlemoreintheCulmbachGovernment；hisbrotherCasimir，wholikewisehadReformationtendencies，ratherhangingbackincomparisontoGeorge。
In1525theTown—populations，intheCulmbachregion，bigNurnberginthevan，hadgonequiteaheadinthenewDoctrine；andwerebecomingirrepressiblyimpatienttoclearouttheoldmendacities，andhavetheGospelpreachedfreelytothem。Thiswasaquestionablestep；feasibleperhapsforagreatElectorofSaxony；——butforaMargrafofAnspach？GeorgehadcomehomefromJagerndorf，somethreehundredmilesaway，tolookintoitforhimself；foundit，whatwithdarknessallround，whatwithprecipicesmenacingonbothhands，andzealous，inconsiderateTown—populationsthreateningtotakethebitbetweentheirteeth，afrightfullyintricatething。Georgemountedhishorse，onedaythisyear，daynotdatedfarther，and"withonlysixattendants"
privatelyrodeoff，anothertwohundredmiles，agoodthreedays’
ride，toWittenberg；andalightedatDr。MartinusLutherus’sdoor。
[Rentsch，p。625。]Anotablepassage；worththinkingof。ButsuchvisitsofhighPrinces，tothatpoorhouseoftheDoctor’s，werenotthenuncommon。LutherclearedthedoubtsofGeorge；Georgereturnedwitharesolutiontaken；"Aheadthen，yepoorVoigtlandGospelpopulations！Imustleadyou，wemuston！"——Andperilsenoughthereprovedtobe，andprecipicesoneachhand:
BAUERNKRIEG，thatistosayPeasants’—War，AnabaptistryandRed—
Republic，ontheonehand；REICHS—ACHT，BanofEmpire，ontheother。ButGeorge，eagerly，solemnlyattentive，withevernewlightrisingonhim，dealtwiththeperilsastheycame；andwentsteadilyon，inasimple，highlymanfulandcourageousmanner。
HedidnotlivetoseetheactualWarsthatfollowedonLuther’spreaching:——hewasofthesameagewithLuther，bornfewmonthslater，anddiedtwoyearsbeforeLuther；[4thMarch，1484，——
27thDec。，1543，George；10thNovember，1483——18thFebruary，1546，Luther。]——butinalltheintermediateprincipaltransactionsGeorgeisconspicuouslypresent；"GeorgeofBrandenburg，"astheBookscallhim，orsimply"MargrafGeorge。"
AttheDietofAugsburg（1530），andthesigningoftheAugsburgConfessionthere，hewassuretobe。HerodethitherwithhisAnspachKnightageabouthim，"fourhundredcavaliers，"——
Seckendorfs，Huttens，Flansesandotherknownkindreds，recognizableamongthelists；[Rentsch，p。633。]——andspokethere，notburstsofparliamentaryeloquence，butthingsthathadmeaninginthem。Onespeechofhis，notintheDiet，butintheKaiser’sLodging（15thJune，1530；nodoubt，inAntonFugger’shouse，wheretheKaiser"lodgedforyearandday"thistimebutWITHOUTthe"firesofcinnamon"theytalkofonotheroccasions[SeeCarlyle’sMiscellanies（iii。259n。）。TheHouseisatpresentanInn，"GasthauszudendreiMohren；"wheretouristslodge，andarestillshowntheroomwhichtheKaiseroccupiedonsuchvisits。]），isstillverycelebrated。
ItwastheeveningoftheKaiserKarlFifth’sarrivalattheDiet；
whichwasthenalready，sometimesince，assembledthere。
AndgreathadbeentheKaiser’sreceptionthatmorning；theflowerofGermany，allthePrincesoftheEmpire，ProtestantandPapalalike，ridingouttomeethim，intheopencountry，attheBridgeoftheLech。Withhigh—flownspeechesandbenignities，onbothsides；——onlythattheKaiserwilledallmen，Protestantandother，shouldinthemeanwhiledothePopishlitanyings，waxlightprocessioningsandidolatrousstage—performanceswithhimonthemorrow，whichwasCORPUS—CHRISTIDay；andtheProtestantscouldnotnorwould。Imperialhintstherehadalreadybeen，fromInnspruck；benignhopes，ofthenatureofcommands，ThatloyalProtestantPrinceswouldintheinterimavoidopendiscrepancies，——perhapsbesoloyalaskeeptheirchaplains，peculiardivine—
services，privateintheinterim？Thesewerehints；——andnowthisoftheCORPUS—CHRISTI，astillmorepregnanthint！LoyalProtestantsrefusedit，therefore；flatlydeclined，thoughbiddenandagainbidden。Theyattendedinabody，oldJohannofSaxony，youngPhilipofHessen，andtherest；MargrafGeorge，asspokesman，witheloquentsimplicitystatingtheirreasons，——tosomewhatthiseffect:——
Invinciblestall—graciousKaiser，loyalarewetoyourhighMajesty，readytodoyourbiddingbynightandbyday。
ButitisyourbiddingunderGod，notagainstGod。Askusnot，0graciousKaiser！Icannot，andwecannot；andwemustnot，anddarenot。And"beforeIwoulddenymyGodandhisEvangel，"theseareGeorge’sownwords，"IwouldratherkneeldownherebeforeyourMajesty，andhavemyheadstruckoff，"——hittinghishind—head，orneck，withtheedgeofhishand，bywayofaccompaniment；astrangeradianceintheeyesofhim，voicerisenintomusicalalt:"EheIchwoltemeinenGottundseinEvangeliumverlaugnen，ehewolteIchhiervorEurerMajestatniderknien，undmirdenKopfabhauenlassen。"——"NitKopab，loverForst，nitKopab！"answeredCharlesinhisFlemish—
German；"Notheadoff，dearFurst，notheadoff！"saidtheKaiser，afaintsmileenlighteningthoseweightygrayeyesofhis，andimperceptiblyanimatingthethickAustrianunder—lip。[Rentsch，p。637。Marheineke，GeschichtederTeutschenReformation（Berlin，1831），ii。487。]
Speakerandcompanyattendedagainonthemorrow；MargrafGeorgestillmoreeloquent。WhoseSpeechflewoverGermany，likefireoverdryflax；andstillexists，——bothSpeechesnowoftenestrolledintoonebyinaccurateeditors。[AsbyRentsch，ubisupra。]
AndtheCORPUS—CHRISTIidolatrieswereforbornetheMargrafandhiscompanythistime；——theKaiserhimself，however，walking，nearlyroastedinthesun，inheavypurple—velvetcloak，withabigwax—candle，verysuperfluous，gutteringandblubberingintherighthandofhim，alongthestreetsofAugsburg。Kur—Brandenburg，Kur—Mainz，highcousinsofGeorge，wereatthisDietofAugsburg；
Kur—Brandenburg（ElectorJoachimI。，Cicero’sson，ofwhomwehavespoken，andshallspeakagain）beingoftenveryloudontheconservativeside；andeloquentKur—Mainzgoingontheconciliatorytack。Kur—Brandenburg，inhiszeal，hadriddenontoInnspruck，tomeettheKaiserthere，andhaveapreliminarywordwithhim。BoththesehighCousinsspoke，andbestirredthemselves，agooddeal，atthisDiet。TheyhadmettheKaiserontheplainsoftheLech，thismorning；and，nodoubt，gloomedunutterablethingsonGeorgeandhisSpeech。Georgecouldnothelpit。
Tillhisdeathin1543，GeorgeistobefoundalwaysinthefrontlineofthishighMovement，inthelinewhereKur—Sachsen，JohntheSteadfast（DERBESTANDIGE），andyoungPhiliptheMagnanimousofHessenwere，andwheredangeranddifficultywere。Readersofthisenlightenedgold—nuggetgenerationcanformtothemselvesnoconceptionofthespiritthatthenpossessedthenoblerkinglymind。"ThecommandofGodenduresthroughEternity，
VerbumDeiManetInAEternum，"wastheEpigraphandLife—mottowhichJohntheSteadfasthadadoptedforhimself；
"V。D。M。I。AE。，"theseinitialshehadengravedonallthefurnituresofhisexistence，onhisstandards，pictures，plate，ontheverysleevesofhislackeys，——andIcanperceive，onhisowndeepheartfirstofall。V。D。M。I。E。:——ormightitnotbereadwithal，asPhilipofHessensometimessaid（Philip，stillayoungfellow，capableofsportinhismagnanimousscorn），
"VerbumDiaboliManetInEpiscopis，TheDevil’sWordsticksfastintheBishops"？
WemustnowtakeleaveofMargrafGeorgeandhisfineproceduresinthatcrisisofWorld—History。HehadgotJugerndorf，whichbecameimportantforhisFamilyandothers:butwhatwasthattothePrometheanconquests（suchwemaycallthem）whichhehadthehonortoassistinmakingforhisFamily，andforhisCountry，andforallmen；——veryunconsciousheof"bringingfirefromHeaven，"
goodmodestsimpleman！SofarasIcangather，therelived，inthatday，fewtruerspecimensoftheHonestMan。Arugged，rough—hewn，ratherblunt—nosedphysiognomy:cheek—boneshigh，cheekssomewhatbaggedandwrinkly；eyeswithadueshadeofanxietyandsadnessinthem；affectionatesimplicity，faithfulness，intelligence，veracitylookingoutofeveryfeatureofhim。Wearsplentifulwhitebeardshort—cut，plentifulgold—chains，ruffs，ermines；——ahatnottobeapprovedof，incomparisonwithbrotherCasimir’s；miserableinverted—colanderofahat；hangingatanangleofforty—fivedegrees；withbandofpearlsroundthetopnotthebottomofit；insecureuponthefineheadofGeorge，andbynomeanstoitsembellishment。
OneofhisDaughtershemarriedtotheDukeofLiegnitz，anewlinkinthatconnection。HeleftoneBoy，GeorgeFriedrich；
whocameunderALCIBIADES，hisCousinofBaireuth’stutelage；
andsufferedmuchbythatconnection，orindeedchieflybyhisownconspicuouslyProtestantturn，topunishwhich，theAlcibiadesconnectionwastakenasapretext。Inriperyears，GeorgeFriedrichgothiscalamitiesbroughtwellunder；andlivedtodogoodwork，Protestantandother，intheworld。Towhichwemayperhapsalludeagain。TheLineofMargrafGeorgethePiousendsinthisGeorgeFriedrich，whohadnochildren；theLineofMargrafGeorge，andtheElderCulmbachLinealtogether（1603），AlbertAlcibiades，Casimir’soneson，havinglikewisediedwithoutposterity。
"OftheyoungerBrothers，"saysmyAuthority，"somefourwereintheChurch；twoofwhomrosetobePrelates；——herearethefour:——
"1。One，Wilhelmbyname，wasBishopofRiga，intheremotePrussianoutskirts，andbecameProtestant；——amongthefirstgreatPrelateswhotookthathereticalcourse；beingfavoredbycircumstancestocastoutthe’V。D。（VerbumDiaboli），’
asPhilipreadit。Heisawise—lookingman，withmagnificentbeard，withsomethingofcontemptuouspatienceinthemeditativeeyesofhim。HehadgreattroubleswithhisRigapeople，——asindeedwasaperennialcasebetweentheirBishopandthem，ofwhatevercreedhemightbe。
"2。TheotherPrelateheldfastbythePapalOrthodoxy:hehadgotupontheladderofpromotiontowardsMagdeburg；hopingtofollowhisCousinKUR—MAINZ，theeloquentconciliatoryCardinal，inthatpartofhispluralities。Ashedid，——littletohiscomfort，poorman；havingsufferedagooddealinthesiegesandreligioustroublesofhisMagdeburgers；whoendedbyorderinghimaway，havingopenlydeclaredthemselvesProtestant，atlength。Hehadtogo；andoccupyhimselfcomplaining，solicitingAulic—Councilsandthelike，fortherestofhislife。
"3。ThePROBSTofWurzburg（PROVOST，kindofHead—Canonthere）；
orthodoxPapalhetoo；andoftengavehisBrotherGeorgetrouble。
"4。Astillmoreorthodoxspecimen，theyoungestmemberofthefamily，whoislikewiseinorders:Gumbrecht（’Gumbertus，aCanonicusof’Somethingorother，saytheBooks）；whowentearlytoRome，andbecameoneofhisHolinessLeoTenth’sChamberlains；
——stoodthe’SackofRome’（ConstabledeBourbon’s），andwascapturedthereandransomed；——butdiedstillyoung（1528）。
ThesethreewereCatholics，heofWurzburgarathervirulentone。"
CatholicalsowasJOHANNES，afifthBrother，whofollowedthesoldieringanddiplomaticprofessions，oftenestinSpain；
didGovernment—messagestoDiets，andthelike，forKarlV。；
ahighmanandwellseenofhisKaiser；——hehadweddedtheyoungWidowofoldKingFerdinandinSpain；whichproved，seemingly，atroubloussceneforpoorJohannes。Whatweknowis，hewasappointedCommandantofValencia；anddiedthere，stilllittleturnedofthirty，——bypoisonitissupposed，——andlefthisyoungWidowtomarryathirdtime。
ThesearetheFiveminorBrothers，fourofthemCatholic，sonsofoldblindFriedrichofPlassenburg；whoarenot，fortheirownsake，memorable，butarementionableforthesakeofthethreemajorBrothers。SomanyorthodoxCatholics，whileBrotherGeorgeandotherswentintotheheresiesatsucharate！Afamilymuchsplitbyreligion:——andblindoldFriedrich，dimofintellect，knewnothingofit；andtheexcellentPolishMothersaidandthought，weknownotwhat。AdividedTime！——
JohannesofValencia，andtheseChiefPriests，wereallmenofmark；conspicuoustotheableeditorsoftheirday:buttheonlyBrothernowgenerallyknowntomankindisAlbert，HochmeisteroftheTeutschRitterdom；bywhomPreussencameintotheFamily。
Ofhimwemustnowspeakalittle。
ChapterVI。
HOCHMEISTERALBERT，THIRDNOTABLESONOFFRIEDRICH。
Albertwasbornin1490；George’sjuniorbysixyears，Casimir’sbynine。HetoohadbeenmeantfortheChurch；butsoonquittedthat，otherprospectsandtendenciesopening。Hehadalwayslovedtheingenuousarts；buttheactivitiestoohadcharmsforhim。
Heearlyshoneinhisexercisesspiritualandbodily；grewtallabovehisfellows，expertinarts，especiallyinarms；——rodewithhisFathertoKaiserMax’sCourt；waspresentedbyhim，asthelightofhiseyes，toKaiserMax；whothoughthimaverylikelyyoungfellow；andborehiminmind，whentheMastershipoftheTeutschRitterdomfellvacant。[Rentsch，pp。840—863。]
TheTeutschRitterdom，eversinceitgotitsbackbrokeninthatBattleofTannenbergin1410，andwasdrivenoutofWest—Preussenwithsuchignominiouskicks，hasbeenlyingbedrid，eatingitsremainingrevenues，orsprawlingaboutinhelplesseffortstoriseagain，whichrequirenonoticefromus。HopelessofeverrecoveringWest—Preussen，ithadquietlypaiditshomagetoPolandfortheEasternpartofthatCountry；quietlyforsomecoupleofgenerations。But，inthethirdorfourthgenerationafterTannenberg，therebegantorisemurmurs，——intheHolyRomanEmpirefirstofall。"PreussenisapieceoftheReich，"saidhot，inconsideratepeople；"PreussencouldnotbealienatedwithoutconsentoftheReich！"TowhichdiscoursestheafflictedRitterslistenedonlytoogladly；theirdulleyeskindlingintonewfalsehopesatsoundofthem。Thepointwas，TochooseasHochmeistersomemanofGermaninfluence，ofpowerandconnectionintheCountry，whomighthelpthemtotheirso—calledright。Withthisview，theychoseoneandthenanotherofsuchsort；——anddidnotfinditveryhopeful，asweshallsee。
AlbertwaschosenGrand—MasterofPreussen，inFebruary，1511；
agethentwenty—one。MadehisentryintoKonigsberg，Novembernextyear；ingrandcavalcade，"dreadfulstormofrainandwindatthetime，"——poorAlbertallinblack，andfullofsorrow，forthelossofhisMother，thegoodPolishPrincess，whohaddiedsincehelefthome。TwentymonthsofpreparationhehadheldsincehisElection，beforedoinganything:forindeedthecasewasintricate。He，likehispredecessorinoffice，hadundertakentorefusethatHomagetoPoland；theReichgenerally，andKaiserMaxhimself，inaloosewayoftalk，encouraginghim:"ApieceoftheReich，"saidtheyall；"TeutschRittershadnopowertogiveitawayinthatmanner。"Whichisathingmoreeasilysaid，thanmadegoodinthewayofdoing。
Albert’spredecessor，chosenonthisprinciple，wasaSaxonPrince，FriedrichofMeissen；cadetofSaxony；potentlyenoughconnected，hetoo；who，inlikemanner，hadundertakentorefusetheHomage。Andzealouslydidrefuseit，thoughtohiscost，poorman。FromtheReich，forallitsbigtalking，hegotnomannerofassistance；hadtostaveoffaPolishWarashecould，byfair—
speaking，bydiplomaciesandcontrivances；anddiedatmiddleage，worndownbythesorrowsofthatsadposition。
Anideaprevails，inill—informedcircles，thatournewGrand—
MasterAlbertwasnobetterthanakindofcheat；thathetookthisGrand—MastershipofPreussen；andthen，ingayetyofheart，surreptitiouslypocketedPreussenforhisownbehoof。Whichisanidleidea；inconsistentwiththeleastinquiry，orrealknowledgehowthematterstood。[Voigt，ix。740—749；Pauli，iv。404—407。]
Bynomeansingayetyofheart，didAlbertpocketPreussen；
nortillafterastoughastruggletodootherwithitascouldhavebeenexpectedofanyman。
OnethingnotsuspectedbytheTeutschRitters，andleastofallbytheiryoungHochmeister，was，ThattheTeutschRittershadwelldeservedthatterribledown—comeatTannenberg，thatignominiousdismissaloutofWest—Preussenwithkicks。Theirinsolence，luxury，degeneracyhadgonetogreatlengths。Nordidthathumiliationmendthematall；thereverserather。ItwasdeeplyhiddenfromtheyoungHochmeisterasfromthem，Thatprobablytheywerenowatlengthgottotheendoftheircapability:andreadytobewithdrawnfromthescene，assoonasanygoodwayoffered！——
Ofcourse，theyWerereluctantenoughtofulfiltheirbargaintoPoland；veryloaththeytodoHomagenowforPreussen，andownthemselvessunktotheseconddegree。FortheRittershadstilltheiroldhaughtinessofhumor，theirdeepseatedprideofplace，gonenowintotheunhappyCONSCIOUSstate。ThatisusuallythelastthingthatdesertsasinkingHouse:prideofplace，gonetotheconsciousstate；——asif，inareversemanner，theHousefeltthatitdeservedtosink。
Fortherest，Albert’spositionamongthemwaswhatFriedrichofSachsen’shadbeen；worse，notbetter；andthemainultimatedifferencewas，hedidnotdieofit，likeFriedrichofSachsen；
butfoundanoutlet，notopeninFriedrich’stime，andlived。
TotheRitters，andvaguePublicwhichcalleditselftheReich，AlberthadpromisedhewouldrefusetheHomagetoPoland；onwhichRittersandReichhadclapttheirhands:andthatwasprettymuchalltheassistancehegotofthem。TheReich，asaformalbody，hadneverasserteditsrighttoPreussen，norindeedspokendefinitelyonthesubject:itwasonlythevaguePublicthathadspoken，inthenameoftheReich。FromtheReich，orfromanyindividualofit，KaiserorPrince，whenactuallyappliedto，Albertcouldgetsimplynothing。Fromwhat，RitterswereinPreussen，hemightperhapsexpectpromptitudetofight，ifitcametothat；whichwasnotmuchasthingsstood。But，fromthegreatbodyoftheRitters，scatteredoverGermany，withtheirrichterritories（BALLEYS，bailliwicks），saferesources，andcomfortable"Teutschmeister"overthem，hegotflatrefusal:[ThetitlesHOCHMEISTERandTEUTSCHMEISTERaredefined，inmanyBooksandinallmannerofDictionaries，asmeaningthesamething。
Butthatisnotquitethecase。Theywereatfirstsynonymous，sofarasIcansee；andafterAlbert’stime，theyagainbecameso；
butatthedatewherewenoware，andforalongwhileback，theyrepresentdifferententities，andindeedoftenest，sincethePrussianDECLINEbegan，antagonisticones。Teutschmeister，Sub—
presidentovertheGERMANaffairsandpossessionsoftheOrder，residesatMergentheiminthatCountry:HochmeisterisChiefPresidentofthewhole，butresidentatMarienburginPreussen，andfeelsthereacutelywheretheshoepinches，——muchtooacutely，thinkstheTeutschmeisterinhissoftlist—slippers，atMergentheiminthesafeWurzburgregion。]"Wewillnotbeconcernedintheadventureatall；wewishyouwellthroughit！"
Neverwasaspiritedyoungfellowplacedinmoreimpossibleposition。HisBrotherCasimir（GeorgewastheninHungary），hisCousinJoachimKur—Brandenburg，FriedrichDukeofLiegnitz，aSilesianconnectionoftheFamily，["DukeFriedrichII。:"comesbymothersfromKurfurstFriedrichI。；marriesMargrafGeorge’sDaughterevennow，1519（Hubner，tt。179，100，101）。]consulted，advised，negotiatedtoalllengths，Albert’sowneffortwasincessant。"AgreewithKingSigismund，"saidthey；"UncleSigismund，yourgoodMother’sBrother；aKingsoftlyinclinedtousall！"——"Howagree？"answeredAlbert:"HeinsistsontheHomage，whichIhavepromisednottogive！"Casimirwentandcame，toKonigsberg，toBerlin；wentoncehimselftoCracow，totheKing，onthiserrand:butitwasacaseof"YesANDNo；"nottobesolvedbyCasimir。
AstoKingSigismund，hewaspatientwithittoadegree；madethefriendliestpaternalprofessions；——testifyingwithal，Thattheclaimwasundeniable；andcouldbyhim，Sigismund，neverbeforegonewiththeleastshadowofhonor，andofcourseneverwould:"MydearNephewcanconsiderwhetherhisdissolute，vain—minded，half—hereticalRitterdom，naywhetherthisPrussianfractionofit，isinaconditiontotakePolandbythebeardinanunjustquarrel；orcanhopetodoTannenbergoveragaininthereverseway，byBeelzehub’shelp？"——
Forsevenyears，Albertheldoutinthisintermediatestate，neitherpeacenorwar；movingHeavenandEarthtoraisesupplies，thathemightbeabletodefyPoland，andbeginwar。TheReichanswers，"Wehavereallynothingforyou。"Teutschmeisteranswersagainandagain，"Itellyouwehavenothing！"Intheend，Sigismundgrewimpatient；made（December，1519）somemovementsofahostilenature。Albertdidnotyield；eageronlytoprocrastinatetillhewereready。Bysuperhumanefforts，ofborrowing，bargaining，soliciting，andgallopingtoandfro，Albertdid，abouttheendofnextyear，getupsomeappearanceofanArmy:"14，000Germanmercenarieshorseandfoot，"somanyintheory；who，totheextentof8，000inactualresult，camemarchingtowardshim（October，1520）；toserve"foreightmonths。"
WiththesehewillbesiegeDantzig，besiegeThorn；willplunge，suddenly，likeafieryjavelin，intotheheartofPoland，andmakePolandsurrenderitsclaim。WhereuponKingSigismundbestirredhimselfinearnest；cameoutwithvastcloudsofPolishchivalry；
oversetAlbert’s8，000；——whotooktoeatingthecountry，insteadoffightingforit；beingindeedinwantofallthings。OneofthegladdestdaysAlberthadyetseen，waswhenhegotthe8，000senthomeagain。
Whatthenistobedone？"Armisticeforfouryears，"Sigismundwasstillkindenoughtoconsenttothat:"Truceforfouryears:tryeverywhere，mypoorNephew；afterthat，yourmindwillperhapsbecomepliant。"AlberttriedtheReichagain:"Fouryears，0Princes，andthenImustdoit，orbeeaten！"Reich，busywithLutheran—Papal，Turk—Christianquarrels，merelyshruggeditsshouldersuponAlbert。Teutschmeisterdidthelike；everybodythelike。InHeavenorEarth，then，istherenohopeforme？thoughtAlbert。Andhisstockofreadymoney——wewillnotspeakofthat！
MeanwhileDr。OsianderofAnspachhadcometohim；andthepiousyoungmanwasgettingutterlyshakeninhisreligion。Monkishvows，Pope，HolyChurchitself，whatisonetothink，HerrDoctor？
Albert，religioustoaneminentdegree，wasgettingdeepintoProtestantism。Inhismanyjourneyings，toNurnberg，toBrandenburg，andupanddown，hehadbeenatWittenbergtoo:
hesawLutherinpersonmorethanoncethere；correspondedwithLuther；infinebelievedinthetruthofLuther。TheCulmbachBrotherswereboth，atleastGeorgeardentlywas，inclinedtoProtestantism，aswehaveseen；butAlbertwasforemostofthethreeinthiscourse。OsianderandflightsofzealousCulmbachPreachersmademanyconvertsinPreussen。InthesecircumstancestheFourYearscametoaclose。
Albert，wemaybelieve，isgreatlyataloss；anddeepdeliberations，Culmbach，Berlin，Liegnitz，Polandallcalledin，areheld:——acasebeyondmeasureintricate。Youhavegivenyourword；wordmustbekept，——andcannot，withoutplainhurt，orruineven，tothosethattookitofyou。Withdraw，therefore；flingitup！——Flingitup？Avaluablearticletoflingup；flingitupisthelastresource。Nay，infact，towhomwillyouflingitup？
ThePrussianRittersthemselvesaregettinggreatlydividedonthepoint；andatlastonallmannerofpoints，Protestantismevermorespreadingamongthem。AsfortheGermanBrethren，theyandtheircomfortableTeutschmeister，whorefusedtopartakeinthedangerousadventureatall；aretheyentitledtohavemuchtosayinthesettlementofitnow？——
Amongothers，oraschieforacleofall，Lutherwasconsulted。
"WhatwouldyouhavemedotowardsreformingtheTeutschOrder？"
inquiredAlbertofhisoracle。Luther’sanswerwas，asmaybeguessed，emphatic。"Luther，"saysonereporter，"hasinhisWritingsdeclaredtheOrdertobe’athingserviceableneithertoGodnorman，’andtheconstitutionofit’amonstrous，frightful，hermaphroditish，neithersecularnorspiritualconstitution。’"
[C。J。Weber，DaaRitterwessen（Stuttgard，1837），iii。
208。]WedonotknowwhatLuther’sanswertoAlbertwas；——butcaninferthepurportofit:ThatsuchaTeutschRitterdomwasnot，atanyrate，athinglongforthisworld；thatwhitecloakswithblackcrossesonthemwouldnot，ofthemselves，profitanyRitterdom；thatsolemnvowsandhighsupramundaneprofessions，followedbysuchpracticeaswasnotorious，areanafflicting，nottosayadamnable，spectacleonGod’sEarth；——thatayoungHerrhadbettermarry；betterhavedonewiththewretchedBabylonianNightmareofPapistryaltogether；bettershakeoneselfawake，inGod’sname，andseeiftherearenotstillmonitionsintheeternalskyastowhatitiswisetodo，andwisenottodo！——
ThisIimaginetohavebeen，inmodernlanguage，thepurportofDr。Luther’sadvicetoHochmeisterAlbrechtonthepresentinterestingoccasion。
Itiscertain，Albert，beforelong，tookthiscourse；UncleSigismundandtheresidentOfficialsoftheRitterdomhavingmadeagreementtoitastheonepracticablecourse。Themannerasfollows:1。InsteadofElectedHochmeister，letusbeHereditaryDukeofPreussen，andpayhomageforittoUncleSigismundinthatcharacter。2。SuchoftheresidentOfficialsoftheRitterdomasarepreparedtogoalongwithus，wewillinlikemannerconstitutepermanentFeudalProprietorsofwhattheynowpossessasLife—rent，andtheyshallbeSub—vassalsunderusasHereditaryDuke。3。InallwhichUncleSigismundandtheRepublicofPolandengagetomaintainusagainsttheworld。
Thatis，insum，theTransactionenteredinto，byKingSigismundI。ofPoland，ontheonepart，andHochmeisterAlbertandhisRitterOfficials，suchaswentalongwithhim，（whichofcoursenonecoulddothatwerenotProtestant），ontheotherpart:
doneatCracow，8thApril，1525。[Rentsch，p。850。——Here，certifiedbyRentsch，Voigtandothers，isaworn—outpatchofPaper，whichisperhapsworthprinting:——
1490，May17，Albertisborn。
1511，February14，Hochmeister。
1519，December，KingSigismund’sfirsthostilemovements。
1520，October，GermanMercenariesarrive。
1520，November，trySiegeofDantzig。
1520，November17，giveitup。
1521，April10，TruceforFourYears。
1523，June，AlbertconsultsLuther。
1524，November，seesLuther。
1525，April8，PeaceofCracow，andAlberttobeDukeofPrussia。]WherebyTeutschRitterdom，thePrussianpartofit，vanishedfromtheworld；dissolvingitself，andits"hermaphroditeconstitution，"likeakindofMaleNunnery，assomanyfemaleoneshaddoneinthoseyears。ATransactiongivingrisetoendlesscriticism，thenandafterwards。Transactionplainlynotreconcilablewiththeletterofthelaw；andliabletohavelogicchoppeduponittoanyamount，andtoalllengthsoftime。
TheTeutschmeisterandhisGermanBrethrenshriekedmurder；
thewholeworld，then，andforlongafterwards，hadmuchtosayandargue。
Tous，nowthatthelogic—chaffisalllaidlongsince，thequestionissubstantial，notformal。IftheTeutschRitterdomwasactuallyatthistimeDEAD，actuallystumblingaboutasameregalvanizedLiebeginningtobeputrid，——then，sureenough，itbehoovedthatsomebodyshouldburyit，toavoidpestilentialeffectsintheneighborhood。Somebodyorother；——firstflayingtheskinoff，aswasnatural，andtakingthatforhistrouble。
Allturns，insubstance，onthislatterquestion！If，again，theRitterdomwasnotdead——？
AndtrulyitstruggledashardasPartridgetheAlmanac—
makertorebutthatfatalaccusation；complained（TeutschmeisterandGerman—Papistpartofit）loudlyattheDiets；gotAlbertandhisconsortsputtotheBan（GEACHTET），fiercelymenacedbytheKaiserKarlV。Butnothingcameofallthat；nothingbutnoise。
Albertmaintainedhispoint；KaiserKarlalwaysfoundhishandsfullotherwise，andhadnothingbutstampedparchmentsandmenacestofireoffatAlbert。TeutschRitterdom，thePopishpartofit，didenjoyitsvaluablebailliwicks，andveryconsiderablerentsinvariousquartersofGermanyandEurope，havinglostonlyPreussen；
andwalkedabout，forthreecenturiesmore，withmoneyinitspocket，andasolemnwhitegownwithblackcrossonitsback，——themostopulentSocialClubinexistence，andanexcellentplaceforbestowingyoungersonsofsixteenquarters。Butitwas，andcontinuedthroughsomanycenturies，ineveryessentialrespect，asolemnHypocrisy；afunctionlessmerelyeatingPhantasm，ofthenatureofgoblin，hungryghostorghoul（ofwhichkindtherearemany）；——tillNapoleonfinallyorderedittovanish；itstime，evenasPhantasm，beingcome。
Albert，Icanconjecture，hadhisowndifficultiesasRegentinPreussen。[1525—1568。]ProtestantTheology，tomakemattersworseforhim，hadsplititselffuriouslyinto’DOXIES；andtherewasanOSIANDERISM（OsianderbeingtheDuke’schaplain），muchflameduponbythemoreorthodoxISM。"Foreigners，"too，German—Anspachandother，wereillseenbythenativegentlemen；yetsometimesgotencouragement。OneFunccius，ashiningNurnbergimmigrantthere，son—in—lawofOsiander，whofromTheologygotintoPolitics，hadatlast（1564）tobebeheaded，——oldDukeAlberthimself"bitterlyweeping"abouthim；foritwasnoneofAlbert’sdoing。ProbablyhisnewallodialRittergentlemenwerenotthemostsubmiss，whenmadehereditary？WecanonlyhopetheDukewasaHohenzollern，andnotquiteunequaltohistaskinthisrespect。
Amanwithhighbaldbrow；magnificentspade—beard；airmuch—
pondering，almostgaunt，——gauntkindofeyesespecially，andaslightcastinthem，whichaddstohisseverityofaspect。Hekepthispossessionwell，everyinchofit；andleftallsafeathisdeceasein1568。Hisagewasthenneareighty。ItwasthetenthyearofourElizabethasQueen；invincibleArmadanotyetbuilt；
butAlbaverybusy，cuttingoffhighheadsinBrabant；
andstirringuptheDutchtosuchfuryaswasneedfulforexplodingSpainandhim。
ThisDukeAlbertwasaprofoundlyreligiousman，asallthoughtfulmenthenwere。MuchgiventoTheology，toDoctorsofDivinity；
beingeagertoknowGod’sLawsinthisUniverse，andwholesomelycertainofdamnationifheshouldnotfollowthem。FondoftheprofaneSciencestoo，especiallyofAstronomy:ErasmusReinholdandhisTabulaePrutenicaewereonceverycelebrated；ErasmusReinholdproclaimsgratefullyhowthesehiselaborateTables（doneaccordingtothelatestdiscoveries，1551
andonwards）wereexecuteduponDukeAlbert’shighbounty；
forwhichreasontheyarededicatedtoDukeAlbert，andcalled"PRUTENICAE，"meaningPRUSSIAN。[Rentsch，p。855。]TheUniversityofKonigsbergwasalreadyfoundedseveralyearsbefore，in1544。
Alberthadnotfailedtomarry，asLuthercounselled:byhisfirstWifehehadonlydaughters；byhissecond，oneson，AlbertFriedrich，who，withoutoppositionordifficulty，succeededhisFather。ThuswasPreussenacquiredtotheHohenzollernFamily；
for，beforelong，theElectoralbranchmanagedtogetMITBELEHNUNG
（Co—infeftment），thatistosay，EventualSuccession；andPreussenbecameaFamilyHeritage，asAnspachandBaireuthwere。
ChapterVII。
ALBERTALCIBIADES。
OnewordmustbespentonpoorAlbert，Casimir’sson，[1522—1557]
alreadymentioned。ThispoorAlbert，whomtheycallALCIBIADES，madeagreatnoiseinthatepoch；beingwhatsomedefineasthe"FailureofaFritz；"whohasreallyfeaturesofhimwearetocall"FriedrichtheGreat，"butwhoburntawayhissplendidqualitiesasameretemporaryshinefortheableeditors，andnevercametoanything。
Ahighandgallantyoungfellow，leftfatherlessinchildhood；
perhapshecametooearlyintopower:——hecame，atanyrate，inveryvolcanictimes，whenGermanywasallinconvulsion；theOldReligionandtheNewhavingatlengthbrokenoutintoopenbattle，withhugeresultstobehopedandfeared；andthelargestgamegoingon，insightofanadventurousyouth。HowAlbertstakedinit；howheplayedtoimmenseheightsofsuddengain，andfinallytoutterbankruptcy，Icannotexplainhere:someGermandelineatorofhumandestinies，"Artist"worththename，iftherewereany，mightfindinhimafinesubject。
HewaswardofhisUncleGeorge；andtheprobablefactis，noguardiancouldhavebeenmorefaithful。Nevertheless，onapproachingtheyearsofmajority，ofmajoritybutnotdiscretion，hesawgoodtoquarrelwithhisUncle；claimedthisandthat，whichwasnotgranted:quarrellastingforyears。Naymattersransohighatlast，itwasliketocometowarbetweenthem，hadnotGeorgebeenwiser。TheyoungfellowactuallysentacarteltohisUncle；challengedhimtomortalcombat，——atwhichGeorgeonlywaggedhisoldbeard，wesuppose，andsaidnothing。Neighborsinterposed，theDietitselfinterposed；andthematterwasgotquenchedagain。LeavingAlbert，letushope，arepentantyoungman。Wesaidhewasfulloffire，toomuchofitwildfire。
HisprofessionwasArms；heshonemuchinwar；wentslashingandfightingthroughthoseSchmalkaldicbroils，andothersofhistime；adistinguishedcaptain；cuttinghiswaytowardssomethinghigh，hesawnotwellwhat。HehadgreatcomradeshipwithMoritzofSaxonyinthewars:twoswornbrothersthey，andcomradesinarms:——itisthesamedexterousMoritz，who，himselfaProtestant，managedtogethistooProtestantCousin’sElectorateofSaxonyintohishand，byluckofthegame；theMoritz，too，fromwhomAlbertbyandbygothislastdefeat，givingMoritzhisdeathinreturn。Thatwasthefinaleoftheircomradeship。Allthingsend，andnothingceaseschangingtillitend。
HewasbypositionoriginallyontheKaiser’sside；hadattainedgreateminence，anddonehighfeatsofarmsandgeneralshipinhisservice。ButbeingaProtestantbycreed，hechangedafterthatSchmalkaldicdownfall（routofMuhlberg，24thApril，1547），whichbroughtMoritzanElectorate，andnearlycostMoritz’stooProtestantCousinhislifeaswellaslands。[AccountofitinDeWette，LebensgeschichtederHerzogezuSachsen（Weimar，1770），pp。32—35。]ThevictoriousKaisergrowingnowveryhighinhisways，therearosecomplaintsagainsthimfromallsides，veryloudfromtheProtestantside；andMoritzandAlberttooktoarms，withloudmanifestosandtheotherphenomena。
Thiswasearlyin1552，fiveyearsafterMuhlbergRoutorBattle。
ThetherevictoriousKaiserwasnowsuddenlyalmostruined；chasedlikeapartridgeintotheInnspruckMountains，——couldhavebeencaught，onlyMoritzwouldnot；"hadnocagetoholdsobigabird，"hesaid。SotheTreatyofPassauwasmade，andtheKaisercamemuchdownfromhisloftyways。FamedTREATYOFPASSAU（22dAugust，1552），whichwasthefinaleofthesebroils，andhushedthemupforaFourscoreyearstocome。ThatwasamemorableyearinGermanReformationHistory。
Albert，meanwhile，hadbeenbusyintheinteriorofthecountry；
blazingaloftinFrankenland，hisnativequarter，withasuccessthatastonishedallmen。ForsevenmonthshewasvirtuallyKingofGermany；ransomedBamberg，ransomedWurzburg，Nurnberg（placeshehadagrudgeat）；ransomedallmanneroftownsandplaces，——
especiallyrichBishopsandtheirtowns，withVERBUMDIABOLI
stickinginthem，——atenormoussums。Kingoftheworldforabriefseason；——musthavehadsomestrangethoughtstohimself，hadtheybeenrecordedforus。Apiousman，too；notintheleastlike"Alcibiades，"exceptinthesuddenchangesoffortuneheunderwent。HisMotto，oroldrhymedPrayer，whichhewouldrepeatongettingintothesaddleformilitarywork，——aroughrhymeofhisowncomposing，——isstillpreserved。Letusgiveit，withanEnglishfac—simile，orroughestmechanicalpencil—tracing，——bywayofglimpseintotheheartofavanishedTimeanditsMan—at—arms:
[Rentsch，p。644。]
DasWaltderHerrJesusChrist，MitdemVater，deruberunsist:
WerstarkeristalsdieserMann，Derkommundthu’einLeidmiran。
GuideittheLordJesusChrist，[Read"Chris"or"Chriz，"fortherhyme’ssake。]
AndtheFather，whooverusis:
HethatisstrongerthanthatMan，[Sic。]
Lethimdomeahurtwhenhecan。
HewasattheSiegeofMetz（endofthatsame1552），andaprincipalfigurethere。ReadershaveheardoftheSiegeofMetz:
HowHenryII。ofFrancefishedupthose"ThreeBishoprics"（Metz，Toul，Verdun，constituentpartofLorraine，acovetablefractionofTeutschland）fromthetroubledseaofGermanthings，byaidofMoritznowKUR—SACHSEN，andofAlbert；andwouldnotthrowtheminagain，accordingtobargain，whenPeace，thePEACEOFPASSAUcame。
HowKaiserKarldeterminedtohavethembackbeforetheyearended，costwhatitmight；andHenryII。tokeepthem，costwhatitmight。HowGuisedefended，withalltheChivalryofFrance；
andKaiserKarlbesieged，[19thOctober，1552，andonwards。]withanArmyof100，000men，underDukeAlbaforchiefcaptain。
Siegeprotractedintomidwinter；andthe"soundofhiscannonheardatStrasburg，"whichiseightymilesoff，"inthewinternights。"[Kohler，Reichs—Historie，p。453；——
andmoreespeciallyMunzbelustigungen
（Nurnberg，1729—1750），ix。121—129。TheYearofthisVolume，andoftheNumberinquestion，is1737；theMUNZEorMedal"recreatedupon"inofHenriII。]
IthaddependeduponAlbert，whohunginthedistancewithanarmyofhisown，whethertheSiegecouldevenbegin；buthejoinedtheKaiser，beingreconciledagain；andthetrenchesopened。BythevalorofGuiseandhisChivalry，——stillmoreperhapsbytheironfrostsandbythesleetyrainsofWinter，andthehungersandthehardshipsofahundredthousandmen，diggingvainlyattheice—boundearth，ortramplingitwhensleetyintoseasofmud，andthemselvessinkinginit，ofdysentery，famine，toilanddespair，astheycannonadeddayandnight，——Metzcouldnotbetaken。
"Impossible！"saidtheGeneralswithonevoice，aftertryingitforacoupleofmonths。"Tryitoneothertendays，"saidtheKaiserwithagloomyfixity；"letusalldie，orelsedoit！"
Theytried，withdoubledesperation，anothertendays；cannonboomingthroughthewintermidnightfarandwide，fourscoremilesround:"Cannotbedone，yourMajesty！Cannot，——thewinterandthemud，andGuiseandthewalls；man’sstrengthcannotdoitinthisseason。Wemustmarchaway！"Karllistenedinsilence；butthetearswereseentorundownhisproudface，nownotsoyoungasitoncewas:"Letusmarch，then！"hesaid，inalowvoice，aftersomepause。
AlcibiadescoveredtheretreattoDiedenhof（THIONVILLE）theynowcallit）:outmanoeuvredtheFrench，retreatedwithsuccess；hehadalreadycapturedagrandDued’Aumale，aPrinceoftheGuises，——
valuableransomtobelookedforthere。ItwasthoughtheshouldhavemadehisbargainbetterwiththeKaiser，beforestarting；
buthehadneglectedthat。Albert’scoursewasdownwardthenceforth；KaiserKarl’stoo。TheFrenchkeepthese"ThreeBishoprics（TROISEVECHES），"andTeutschlandlamentsthelossofthem，tothishour。KaiserKarl，assomewrite，neversmiledagain；——abdicated，notlongafter；retiredintotheMonasteryofSt。Just，andtheresoondied。ThatisthesiegeofMetz，whereAlcibiadeswashelpful。HisownbargainwiththeKaisershouldhavebeenbettermadebeforehand。
Dissatisfiedwithanybargainhecouldnowget；dissatisfiedwiththeTreatyofPassau，withsuchafinaleandhushing—upoftheReligiousControversy，andingeneralwithhimselfandwiththeworld，Albertagaindrewsword；wentlooseatahighrateuponhisBamberg—Wurzburgenemies，and，havingraisedsuppliesthere，uponMoritzandthosePassau—Treatiers。HewasbeatenatlastbyMoritz，"Sunday，9thJuly，1553，"ataplacecalledSievershausenintheHanoverCountry，whereMoritzhimselfperishedintheaction。——AlbertfledthereupontoFrance。NohopeinFrance。
Noluckinothersmallanddesperatestakingsofhis:thegameisdone。AlbertreturnstoaSisterhehad，toherHusband’sCourtinBaden；abroken，bareandbankruptman；——soondiesthere，childless，leavingtheshadowofaname。[Here，chieflyfromKohler（Munzbelustigungen，iii。414—416），isthechronologyofAlbert’soperations:——
SeizureofNurnberg&c。，11thMayto22dJune，1552；Innspruck（withTreatyofPassau）follows。ThenSiegeofMetz，OctobertoDecember，1552；Bamberg，WurzburgandNurnbergransomedagain，April，1553；BattleofSievershausen，9thJuly，1553。Wurzburg&c。
explodeagainsthim；BanoftheEmpire，4thMay，1554。ToFrancethereupon；returns，hopingtonegotiate，endof1556；diesatPforzheim，athisSister’s，8thJanuary，1557。——SeePauli，iii。
120—138。SeealsoDr。Kapp，ErinnerungenandiejenigenMarkgrafen&c。（areprintfromtheArchivfurGeschichteundAlterthumskundeinOber—Franken，
Year1841）。]
HisdeathbroughthugetroublesuponBaireuthandtheFamilyPossessions。Somanyneighbors，Bamberg，Wurzburgandtherest，wereeagerforretaliation；anewKaisergreedyforconfiscating。
PlassenburgCastlewasbesieged，bombarded，takenbyfamineandburnt；muchwasburntandtorntowaste。Nay，haditnotbeenforhelpfromBerlin，theFamilyhadgonetoutterruininthoseparts。
ForthisAlcibiadeshad，inhisturn，beenGuardiantoUncleGeorge’sSon，theGeorgeFriedrichweoncespokeof，stillaminor，butwellknownafterwards；anditwasattempted，byaneagerKaiserFerdinand，toinvolvethispooryouthinhisCousin’sillegalities，asifWardandGuardianhadbeenoneperson。
BaireuthwhichhadbeenAlcibiades’s，Anspachwhichwastheyoungman’sown，nayJagerndorfwithitsAppendages，wereatonetimeallintheclutchesofthehawk，——hadnothelpfromBerlinbeenthere。Butintheend，theLawhadtobealloweditscourse；
GeorgeFriedrichgothisownTerritoriesback（allbutsomesurreptitiousnibblingsintheJagerndorfquarter，tobenoticedelsewhere），andalsogotBaireuth，hispoorCousin’sInheritance；
——soleheir，henow，inCulmbath，theLineofCasimirbeingout。
OneownstoakindofloveforpoorAlbertAlcibiades。Incertainsordidtimes，evena"FailureofaFritz"isbetterthansomeSuccessesthataregoing。Amanofsomerealnobleness，thisAlbert；thoughnotwithwisdomenough，notwithgoodfortuneenough。Couldhehavecontinuedto"rulethesituation"（asourFrenchfriendsphraseit）；tomarchthefanaticalPapistries，andKaiserKarl，clearoutofit，hometoSpainandSanJustoalittleearlier；towavethecomingJesuitriesaway，aswithaflamingsword；toforbidbeforehandthedolefulThirty—YearsWar，andthestilldolefulerspiritualatrophy（theflaccidPedantry，everrummagingandrearrangingamonglearnedmarine—stores，whichthinksitselfWisdomandInsight；thevaguemaunderings，flutings；
indolent，impotentdaydreamingandtobacco—smoking，ofpoorModernGermany）whichhasfollowedtherefrom，——ACHGOTT，hemighthavebeena"SUCCESSofaFritz"threetimesover！HemighthavebeenaGermanCromwell；beckoninghisPeopletofly，eagle—like，straighttowardstheSun；insteadofscrewingaboutitinthatsad，uncertain，andfartoospiralmanner！——Butitlaynotinhim；
notinhiscapabilitiesoropportunities，afterall:andwebutwastetimeinsuchspeculations。
ChapterVIII。
HISTORICALMEANINGOFTHEREFORMATION。
TheCulmbachBrothers，weobserve，playamoreimportantpartinthaterathantheirseniorsandchiefsofBrandenburg。TheseCulmbachers，MargrafGeorgeaudAlbertofPreussenattheheadofthem，marchvaliantlyforwardintheReformationbusiness；
whileKUR—BRANDENBURG，JoachimI。，theirseniorCousin，istalkingloudatDiets，gallopingtoInnspruckandthelike，zealousontheConservativeside；andCardinalAlbert，KUR—MAINZ，hiseloquentbrother，iseagertomakematterssmoothandavoidviolentmethods。
TheReformationwasthegreatEventofthatSixteenthCentury；
accordingasamandidsomethinginthat，ordidnothingandobstructeddoing，hashemuchclaimtomemory，ornoclaim，inthisageofours。ThemoreitbecomesapparentthattheReformationwastheEventthentransactingitself，wasthethingthatGermanyandEuropeeitherdidorrefusedtodo，themoredoesthehistoricalsignificanceofmenattachitselftothephasesofthattransaction。AccordinglywenoticehenceforththatthememorablepointsofBrandenburgHistory，whatofitsticksnaturallytothememoryofareaderorstudent，connectthemselvesoftheirownaccord，almostall，withtheHistoryoftheReformation。ThathasprovedtobetheLawofNatureinregardtothem，softlyestablishingitself；anditisourstofollowthatlaw。
Brandenburg，notatfirstunanimously，bynomeanstooinconsiderately，butwithoverwhelmingunanimitywhenthematterbecameclear，wasluckyenoughtoadopttheReformation；——andstandsbyiteversinceinitsever—wideningscope，amidsuchdifficultiesastheremightbe。Brandenburghadfeltsomehow，thatitcoulddonoother。AndeveronwardsthroughthetimesevenofourlittleFritzandfarther，ifwewillunderstandtheword"Reformation，"Brandenburgsofeels；being，atthisday，toanhonorabledegree，incapableofbelievingincredibilities，ofadoptingsolemnshams，orpretendingtoliveonspiritualmoonshine。WhichhasbeenofuncountableadvantagetoBrandenburg:
——howcoulditfail？ThiswaswhatwemustcallobeyingtheaudiblevoiceofHeaven。Towhichsame"voice，"atthattime，allthatdidnotgiveear，——whathasbecomeofthemsince；havetheynotsignallyhadthepenaltiestopay！
"Penalties:"quarrelnotwiththeoldphraseology，goodreader；
attendrathertothethingitmeans。Thewordwasheardofold，witharightsolemnmeaningattachedtoit，fromtheologicalpulpitsandsuchplaces；andmaystillbeheardtherewithahalf—
meaning，orwithnomeaning，thoughithasratherbecomeobsoletetomodernears。ButtheTHINGshouldnothavefallenobsolete；
thethingisagrandandsolemntruth，expressiveofasilentLawofHeaven，whichcontinuesforevervalid。Themostuntheologicalofmenmaystillassertthething；andinviteallmentonoticeit，asasilentmonitionandprophecyinthisUniverse；totakeit，withmoreofawethantheyarewont，asacorrectreadingoftheWilloftheEternalinrespectofsuchmatters；and，intheirmodernsphere，tobearthesamewellinmind。Foritisperfectlycertain，andmaybeseenwitheyesinanyquarterofEuropeatthisday。
ProtestantornotProtestant？Thequestionmeanteverywhere:
"Isthereanythingofnoblenessinyou，ONation，oristherenothing？Arethere，inthisNation，enoughofheroicmentoventureforward，andtobattleforGod’sTruthVERSUStheDevil’sFalsehood，attheperiloflifeandmore？Menwhopreferdeath，andallelse，tolivingunderFalsehood，——who，onceforall，willnotliveunderFalsehood；buthavingdrawntheswordagainstit（thetimebeingcomeforthatrareandimportantstep），throwawaythescabbard，andcansay，inpiousclearness，withtheirwholesoul:’Comeon，then！LifeunderFalsehoodisnotgoodforme；andwewilltryitoutnow。Letitbetothedeathbetweenus，then！’"
Oncerisenintothisdivinewhite—heatoftemper，wereitonlyforaseasonandnotagain，theNationisthenceforthconsiderablethroughallitsremaininghistory。WhatimmensitiesofDROSSandcrypto—poisonousmatterwillitnotburnoutofitselfinthathightemperature，inthecourseofafewyears！WitnessCromwellandhisPuritans，——makingEnglandhabitableevenundertheCharles—Secondtermsforacoupleofcenturiesmore。Nationsarebenefited，Ibelieve，forages，bybeingthrownonceintodivinewhite—heatinthismanner。AndnoNationthathasnothadsuchdivineparoxysmsatanytimeisapttocometomuch。
Thatwasnow，inthisepoch，theEnglishof"adoptingProtestantism；"andweneednotwonderattheresultswhichithashad，andwhichthewantofithashad。ForthewantofitisliterallythewantofloyaltytotheMakerofthisUniverse。
Hewhowantsthat，whatelsehashe，orcanhehave？Ifyoudonot，youManoryouNation，lovetheTruthenough，buttrytomakeaChapman—bargainwithTruth，insteadofgivingyourselfwhollysoulandbodyandlifetoher，Truthwillnotlivewithyou，Truthwilldepartfromyou；andonlyLogic，"Wit"（forexample，"LondonWit"），Sophistry，Virtu，theAEstheticArts，andperhaps（forashortwhile）BookkeepingbyDoubleEntry，willabidewithyou。
Youwillfollowfalsity，andthinkittruth，youunfortunatemanornation。Youwillrightsurely，youforone，stumbletotheDevil；andareeverydayandhour，littleasyouimagineit，makingprogressthither。
Austria，Spain，Italy，France，Poland，——theofferoftheReformationwasmadeeverywhere；anditiscurioustoseewhathasbecomeofthenationsthatwouldnothearit。Inallcountriesweresomethataccepted；butinmanytherewerenotenough，andtherest，slowlyorswiftly，withfataldifficultindustry，contrivedtoburnthemout。AustriawasoncefullofProtestants；
butthehide—boundFlemish—SpanishKaiser—elementpresidingoverit，obstinately，fortwocenturies，keptsaying，"No；we，withourdullobstinateCimburgisunder—lipandlazyeyes，withourponderousAustriandepthofHabitualityandindolenceofIntellect，weprefersteadyDarknesstouncertainnewLight！"——andallmenmayseewhereAustrianowis。Spainstillmore；
poorSpain，goingabout，atthistime，makingits"PRONUNCIAMIENTOS；"allthefactiousattorneysinitslittletownsassemblingtoPRONOUNCEvirtuallythis，"TheOldISalie，then；——
goodHeavens，afterwesolongtriedhard，harderthananynation，tothinkitatruth！——andifitbenotRightsofMan，RedRepublicandProgressoftheSpecies，weknownotwhatnowtobelieveortodo；andareasapeoplestumblingonsteepplaces，inthedarknessofmidnight！"——TheyrefusedTruthwhenshecame；andnowTruthknowsnothingofthem。Allstars，andheavenlylights，havebecomeveiledtosuchmen；theymustnowfollowterrestrialIGNESFATUI，andthinkthemstars。Thatisthedoompasseduponthem。
ItalytoohaditsProtestants；butItalykilledthem；managedtoextinguishProtestantism。ItalyputupsilentlywithPracticalLiesofallkinds；and，shruggingitsshoulders，preferredgoingintoDilettantismandtheFineArts。TheItalians，insteadofthesacredserviceofFactandPerformance，didMusic，Painting，andthelike:——tilleventhathasbecomeimpossibleforthem；andnonobleNation，sunkfromvirtuetoVIRTU，everofferedsuchaspectaclebefore。HethatwillpreferDilettantisminthisworldforhisoutfit，shallhaveit；butallthegodswilldepartfromhim；andmanfulveracity，earnestnessofpurpose，devoutdepthofsoul，shallnomorebehis。Hecanifhelikemakehimselfasoprano，andsingforhire；——andprobablythatistherealgoalforhim。