Butthesharpest—cutexampleisFrance；，towhichweconstantlyreturnforillustration。France，withitskeenintellect，sawthetruthandsawthefalsity，inthoseProtestanttimes；and，withitsardorofgenerousimpulse，wasproneenoughtoadopttheformer。Francewaswithinahair’s—breadthofbecomingactuallyProtestant。ButFrancesawgoodtomassacreProtestantism，andenditinthenightofSt。Bartholomew，1572。ThecelestialApparitorofHeaven’sChancery，sowemayspeak，theGeniusofFactandVeracity，hadlefthisWritofSummons；Writwasread；——andrepliedtointhismanner。TheGeniusofFactandVeracityaccordinglywithdrew；——wasstavedoff，gotkeptaway，fortwohundredyears。ButthewritofSummonshadbeenserved；
Heaven’sMessengercouldnotstayawayforever。No；hereturnedduly；withaccountsrunup，oncompoundinterest，totheactualhour，in1792；——andthen，atlast，therehadtobea"Protestantism；"andweknowofwhatkindthatwas！——
Nationsdidnotsounderstandit，nordidBrandenburgmorethantheothers；butthequestionofquestionsforthematthattime，decisiveoftheirhistoryforhalfathousandyearstocome，was，Willyouobeytheheavenlyvoice，orwillyounot？
ChapterIX。
KURFURSTJOACHIMI。
Brandenburg，inthematteroftheReformation，wasatfirst——withAlbertofMainz，Tetzel’sfriend，ontheoneside，andPiousGeorgeofAnspach，"NITKOPAB，"ontheother——certainlyadividedhouse。But，afterthefirstact，itconspicuouslyceasedtobedivided；nayKur—BrandenburgandKur—MainzthemselveshadknowntendenciestotheReformation，andwerewellawarethattheChurchcouldnotstandasitwas。NordidthecausewantpartisansinBerlin，inBrandenburg，——hardlytoberepressedfrombreakingintoflame，whileKurfurstJoachimwassoprudentandconservative。
OfthisloudKurfurstJoachimI。，hereandtherementionedalready，letusnowsayamoreexpressword。[1484，1499，1535:
birth，accession，deathofJoachim。]
JoachimI。，BigJohn’sson，hesitatedhitherandthitherforsometime，tryingifitwouldnotdotofollowtheKaiserKarlV。’slead；andatlength，crossedinhistemperperhapsbythespeedhisfriendsweregoingat，declaredformallyagainstanyfartherReformation；andinhisownfamilyandcountrywasstrictuponthepoint。Heisaman，asIjudge，bynomeanswithoutatemperofhisown；veryloudoccasionallyintheDietsandelsewhere；——
remindsmealittleofacertainKingFriedrichWilhelm，whommyreadersshallknowbyandby。Abig，surly，ratherbottle—nosedman，withthicklips，abstruseweariedeyes，andnoeyebrowstospeakof:notabeautifulman，whenyoucrosshimovermuch。
OFJOACHIM’SWIFEANDBROTHER—IN—LAW。
HiswifewasaDanishPrincess，SisterofpoorChristianII。，KingofthatCountry:dissoluteChristian，whotookupwithahuckster—
woman’sdaughter，——"mothersoldgingerbread，"itwouldappear，"atBergeninNorway，"whereChristianwasViceroy；Christianmadeacceptablelovetothedaughter，"DIVIKE（Dovekin，COLUMBINA），"
ashecalledher。Nayhemadethegingerbreadmotherakindofprime—minister，saidtheangrypublic，justlyscandalizedatthisofthe"Dovekin。"Hewasmarried，meanwhile，toKarlV。’sownSister；butcontinuedthatotherconnection。[HerearethedatesofthispoorChristian，inalump。Born，1481；King，1513（Dovekinbefore）；married，1515；turnedoff，1523；invades，takenprisoner，1532；dies，1559。Cousin，andthenCousin’sSon，succeeded。]
Hehadrashnotions，nowfortheReformation，nowagainstit，whenhegottobeKing；averyrash，unwise，explosiveman。Hemadea"StockholmBLUTBAD"stillfamedinHistory（kindofopen，orderedorpermitted，Massacreofeightyorahundredofhischiefenemiesthere），"Bloodbath，"sotheynameit；inStockholm，whereindeedhewaslawfulKing，andnotwithoutunlawfulenemies，hadabloodbathbeenthewaytodealwiththem。GustavusVasawasayoungfellowthere，whodexterouslyescapedthisBloodbath，andafterwardscametosomething。
InDenmarkandSweden，rashChristianmadeevermoreenemies；
atlengthhewasforcedtorun，andtheychoseanotherKingorsuccessivepairofKings。ChristianfledtoKaiserKarlatBrussels；complainedtoKaiserKarl，hisBrother—in—law，——whoseSisterhehadnotusedwell。KaiserKarllistenedtohiscomplaints，withhangingunder—lip，withheavy，deep，undecipherableeyes；evidentlynohelpfromKarl。
Christian，afterthat，wanderedaboutwithinexecutablespeculations，andprojectstorecoverhiscrownorcrowns；
shelteringoftenwithKurfurstJoachim，whotookagreatdealoftroubleabouthim，firstandlast；orwiththeElectorofSaxony，FriedrichtheWise，orafterhim，withJohanntheSteadfast（"V。D。M。I。AE。"whomwesawatAugsburg），whowerehisMother’sBrothers，andbeneficentmen。HewasinSaxony，onsuchterms，comingandgoing，whenacertainotherFlightthithertookplace，soontobespokenof，whichisthecauseofourmentioninghimhere。——Intheend（A。D。1532）hedidgetsomeforcetogether，andmadesailtoNorway；butcoulddonoexecutionwhateverthere；——onthecontrary，wasfrozeninonthecoastduringwinter；seized，carriedtoCopenhagen，andpackedintothe"CastleofSonderburg，"
agrimsea—lodgingontheshoreofSchleswig，——prisonerfortherestofhislife，whichlastedlongenough。Six—and—twentyyearsofprison；thefirstseventeenyearsofitstrictandhard，almostofthedungeonsort；theremainder，onhisfairlyabdicating，wasinanotherCastle，thatofCallundborgintheIslandofZealand，"withfineapartmentsandconveniences，"andeven"agoodbouseofliquornowandthen，"atdiscretionoftheoldsoul。ThatwastheendofheadlongChristianII。；helastedinthismannertotheageofseventy—eight。[Kohler，Munzbelustigungen，xi。47，48；Holberg，DanemarckischeStaats—undReichs—Historie（Copenhagen，1731，NOTthehigBookbyHolberg），p。241；Buddaus，AllgemeinesHistorischesLexicon（Leipzig，1709），？ChristianusII。]
HisSisterElizabethatBrandenburgisperhaps，inregardtonaturalcharacter，recognizablyofthesamekinasChristian；
butherbehaviorisfardifferentfromhis。ShetooiszealousfortheReformation；butshehasarighttobeso，andhernotionsthatwayaresteady；andshehashitherto，thoughinadifficultposition，donehonortohercreed。SurlyJoachimisdifficulttodealwith；isverypositivenowthathehasdeclaredhimself:
"Inmyhouseatleastshallbenothingfartherofthatunblessedstuff。"PoorLady，Iseedomesticdifficultiesverythickuponher；nothingbutdivision，theverychildrenrangingthemselvesinparties。ShecanpraytoHeaven；shemustdoherwisest。
Shepartookonce，bysomesecretopportunity，ofthe"communionunderbothkinds；"oneofherDaughtersnoticedandknew；
toldFatherofit。Fatherknitsuphisthicklips；rollshisabstrusedissatisfiedeyes，inanominousmanner:thepoorLady，probablypossessedofanexcitableimaginationtoo，tremblesforherself。"Itisthought，HisDURCHLAUCHTwillwallyouupforlife，mySereneLady；darkprisonforlife，whichprobablymaynotbelong！"Thesesurmiseswereofnocredibility:butthereandthenthepoorLady，inashiverofterror，decidesthatshemustrun；goesoffactually，onenight（"MondayaftertheLAETARE，"
whichwefindis24thMarch）intheyear1528，[Pauli（ii。584）；
whocitesSeckendorf，andthisfractionofaLetterofLuther’s，toone"LINCKUS"orLincke，writtenontheFridayfollowing（28thMarch，1528）:——
"TheElectress[MARGRAVINEhecallsher]hasfledfromBerlin，byhelpofherBrothertheKingofDenmark[poorChristianII。]toourPrince[JohanntheSteadfast]，becauseherElectorhaddeterminedtowallherup，asisreported，onaccountoftheEucharistunderbothspecies。PrayforourPrince；thepiousmanandaffectionatesoulgetsagreatdealoftroublewithhiskindred。"OrthusintheOriginal:——
"MarchionissaaufugitaBerlin，auxiliofratris，RegisDaniae，adnostrumPrincipem，quodMarchiostatuerateamimmurare（utdicitur）propterEucharistiamutriusquespeciei。OrapronostroPrincipe；derfrommeMannundherzlicheMenschistdochjawohlgeplaget"（Seckendorf，HistoriaLutheranismi，ii。？62，No。8，p。122）。]inameanvehicleundercloudofdarkness，withonlyonemaidandgroom，——
drivingforlife。Thatisverycertain:shetooisonflighttowardsSaxony，toshelterwithheruncleKurfurstJohann，——unlessforreasonsofstatehescruple？Onthedarkroadhervehiclebrokedown；aspokegivenway，——"Notabitofropetospliceit，"
saidtheimprovidentgroom。"Takemylace—veilhere，"saidthepoorPrincess；andinthisguiseshegottoTorgau（Icouldguess，herpoorBrother’slodging），——andthence，inshorttime，tothefineSchlossofLichtenberghardby；UncleJohann，towhomshehadzealouslyleftanoptionofrefusal，havingaszealouslypermittedandinvitedhertocontinuethere。Whichshedidformanyyears。
NordidshegettheleastmolestationfromHusbandJoachim；——whoI
conjecturehadintended，thoughamanofacertaintemper，andstrictinhisownhouse，somethingshortofwallingupforlife:——
poorJoachimwithal！"However，sinceyouaregone，Madam，go！"
NordidheconcernhimselfwithChristianII。farther，butlethimlieinprisonathisleisure。AsfortheLady，heevenlethischildrenvisitheratLichtenberg；Crypto—Protestantsall；and，amongthem，therepentantDaughterwhohadpeacheduponher。
PoorJoachim，hemakesapiousspeechonhisdeath—bed，solemnlywarninghisSonagainstthesenew—fangledheresies；theSonbeingalreadypossessedoftheminhisheart。[SpeechgiveninRentsch，pp。484—439。]WhatcouldFatherdomore？BothFatherandSon，Isuppose，wereweeping。Thiswasin1535，thislastscene；
thingslookingnowmoreominousthanever。OfKurfurstJoachimIwillremembernothingfarther，exceptthatonce，twenty—threeyearsbefore，he"heldaTourneyinNeu—Ruppin，"year1612；
Tourneyonthemostmagnificentscale，andinNew—Ruppin，[Pauli，ii。466。]aplaceweshallknowbyandby。
AstotheLady，shelivedeighteenyearsinthatfineSchlossofLichtenberg；sawherchildrenaswesaid；and，silentlyorotherwise，rejoicedinthecreedtheyweregetting。ShesawLuther’sselfsometimes；"hadhimseveraltimestodinner；"
hewouldcallatherMansion，whenhisjourneyslaythatway。
Shecorrespondedwithhimdiligently；nayonce，forathreemonths，sheherselfwentacrossandlodgedwithDr。LutherandhisKate；asaroyalLadymightwithaheroicSage，——thoughtheSage’sincomewasonlyTwenty—fourpoundssterlingannually。Thereisnodoubtaboutthatvisitofthreemonths；onethinksofit，asofsomethinghuman，somethinghomely，ingenuousandpretty。
NothinginsurlyJoachim’shistoryishalfsomemorabletome，orindeedmemorableatallinthestagewearenowcometo。
TheLadysurvivedJoachimtwentyyears；oftheseshespentelevenstillatLichtenberg，innoover—hastetoreturn。However，herSon，thenewElector，declaringforProtestantism，sheatlengthyieldedtohisinvitations:cameback（1546），andendedherdaysatBerlininapeaceableandvenerablemanner。LucklessBrotherChristianislyingunderlock—and—keyallthiswhile；smugglingoutmessages，andsoon；likeavoicefromthelandofDreamsorofNightmares，painful，impracticable，comingnowandthen。
ChapterX。
KURFURSTJOACHIMII。
JoachimII。，SixthElector，nodoubtafterpainfulstudy，andintricatesilentconsiderationeversincehistwelfthyearwhenLutherwasfirstheardofovertheworld，camegradually，andbeforehisFather’sdeathhadalreadycome，totheconclusionofadoptingtheConfessionofAugsburg，asthetrueInterpretationofthisUniverse，sofaraswehadyetgot；anddidso，publicly，intheyear1539。[Rentsch，p。452。]TothegreatjoyofBerlinandtheBrandenburgpopulationsgenerally，whohadbeenofaProtestauthumor，hardlyrestrainablebyLaw，forsomeyearspast。
BythisdecisionJoachimheldfast，withastout，weightygrasp；
nothingspasmodicinhiswayofhandlingthematter，andyetaheartinesswhichisagreeabletosee。HecouldnotjoinintheSchmalkaldicWar；seeing，itisprobable，smallchanceforsuchaWar，ofmanychiefsandlittlecounsel；norwashewillingyettopartfromtheKaiserKarlV。，whowasotherwiseverygoodtohim。
HehadfoughtpersonallyforthisKaiser，twiceover，againsttheTurks；firstasBrandenburgCaptain，learninghisart；andafterwardsasKaiser’sGeneralissimo，in1542。HedidnogoodupontheTurks，onthatlatteroccasion；asindeedwhatgoodwastobedone，insuchaquagmireoffutilitiesasJoachim’selementtherewas？"Toosumptuousinhisdinners，toomuchwinewithal！"hintsomecalumniously。[PaulusJovius，&c。SeePauli，iii。70—73。]
"HectorofGermany！"sayothers。HetriedsomesmallprefatorySiegeorscaladeofPesth；couldnotdoit；andcamehiswayshomeagain，asthebestcourse。PedantChroniclersgivehimthenameHECTOR，"JoachimHector，"——tomatchthatofCICEROandthatofACHILLES。Amanofsolidstructure，thisourHector，inbodyandmind:extensivecheeks，verylargeheavy—ladenface；capableofterribleburstsofanger，ashiskindgenerallywere。
TheSchmalkaldicWarwenttowater，astheGermansphraseit:
Kur—Sachsen，——thatis，JohannFriedrichtheMagnanimous，SonofJohann"V。D。M。I。AE。，"andNephewofFriedrichtheWise，——hadhissorrowfullyvalidreasonsfortheWar；largeforcetoo，plentyofzealouscopartners，PhilipofHessenandothers；butnogeneralship，ornotenough，forsuchabusiness。BigArmy，asisaptenoughtohappen，fellshortoffood；KaiserKarlhungontheoutskirts，waitingconfidentlytillitcametofamine。JohannFriedrichwouldattemptnothingdecisivewhileprovenderlasted；——
andhavingintheend，strangelyenough，andsomewhatdeaftoadvice，dividedhisbigArmyintothreeseparateparts；——JohannFriedrichwashimself，withoneofthoseparts，surprisedatMuhlberg，onaSundaywhenatchurch（24thApril，1547）；andwastherebeatentosuddenruin，andeventakencaptive，liketohavehisheadcutoff，bythetriumphantangryKaiser。PhilipofHessen，somewhatwiser，washometoMarburg，safewithHISpart，intheinterim。——ElectorJoachimII。ofBrandenburghadgoodreasontorejoiceinhisowncautiousreluctancesonthisoccasion。However，hedidnowcomevaliantlyup，hearingwhatseveritieswereinthewind。
Hepleadedearnestly，passionately，heandCousinoralready"Elector"Moritz，[Pauli，iii。102。]——whowasjustgettingJohannFriedrich’sElectorshipfishedawayfromhimoutofthesetroubles，[Kurfurst，4thJune，1547。]——forJohannFriedrichofSaxony’slife，firstofall。ForJohann’slifeFIRST；thisisathingnottobedispensedwith，yourMajesty，onanytermswhatever；asinequanon，[enditalic]thislifetoProtestantGermanyatlarge。TowhichtheKaiserindicated，"Hewouldsee；notimmediatedeathatanyrate；wewillsee。"
Alifethatcouldnotandmustnotbetakeninthismanner:
thiswastheFIRSTpoint。Then，SECONDLY，thatPhilipofHessen，nowhomeagainatMarburg，——notabadordisloyalman，thoughheadlong，andwithtwowives，——mightnotbeforfeited；butthatpeaceandpardonmightbegrantedhim，onhisentiresubmission。
TowhichsecondpointtheKaiseranswered，"Yes，then，onhissubmission。"Thesewerethetwopoints。ThesepleadingswentonatHalle，wheretheKaisernowlies，intriumphantlyvictorioushumor，intheearlydaysofJune，Year1547。JohannFriedrichofSaxonyhadbeen，bysomeImperialCourt—Councilorother，——
Spanishmerely，Isuppose，——doomedtodie。Sentencewassignifiedtohimwhilehesatatchess:"Canwaittillweendthegame，"
thoughtJohann；——"PERGAMUS，"saidhetohiscomrade，"Letusgoon，then！"Sentencenottobeexecutedtillonesee。
WithPhilipofHessenthingshadamoreconclusiveaspect。
Philiphadacceptedthetermsprocuredforhim；whichhadbeenlaboriouslynegotiated，broughttopaper，andnowwantedonlythesign—manualtothem:"OhneeinigenGefangniss（withoutanyimprisonment），"oneofthechiefclauses。
AndsoPhilipnowcameovertoHalle；wasmetandwelcomedbyhistwofriends，JoachimandMoritz，atNaumburg，astagebeforeHalle；——clearnowtomakehissubmission，andbegpardonoftheKaiser，accordingtobargain。Onthemorrow，19thJune，1547，thePapersweregotsigned。Andnextday，20thJune，Philipdid，accordingtobargain，openlybegpardonoftheKaiser，inhisMajesty’sHallofAudience（TownHouseofHalle，Isuppose）；
"kneltattheKaiser’sfeetpubliclyonbothknees，whilehisKanzlerreadthesubmissionandentreaty，asagreedupon；"and，alas，thentheKaisersaidnothingatalltohim。！Kaiserlookedhaughtily，withimpenetrableeyesandshelf—lip，overtheheadofhim；gavehimnohandtokiss；andleftpoorPhilipkneelingthere。Anawkwardpositionindeed；——whichanyGermanPainterthattherewere，mightmakeaPictureof，Ihavesometimesthought。
Pictureofsomerealmeaning，moreorless，——ifforsymbolic。
TowersofBabel，medievalmythologies，andextensivesmearingsofthatkind，hecouldfindleisure！——Philiphavingkneltareasonabletime，andfindingtherewasnohelpforit，roseinthedreadsilence（somesay，withtoosturdyanexpressionofcountenance）；andretiredfromtheaffair，havingatleastdonehispartofit。
Thenextpracticalthingwasnowsupper，orasweofthisageshouldcallit，dinner。Uncommonlyselectandhighsupper:
hosttheDukeofAlba；whereJoachim，ElectorMoritz，andanotherhighOfficial，theBishopofArras，weretowelcomepoorPhilipafterhistroubles。Howthegrandsupperwent，Idonothear:
possiblyalittleconstrained；theKaiser’sstrangesilencesittingonallmen’sthoughts；nottobespokenofinthepresentcompany。Atlengththeguestsrosetogoaway。Philip’slodgingiswithMoritz（whoishisson—in—law，aslearnedreadersknow）:
"YouPhilip，yourlodgingismine；mylodgingisyours，——Ishouldsay！Cannotweridetogether？"——"Philipisnotpermittedtogo，"
saidImperialOfficiality；"Philipistocontinuehere，andwefeargotoprison。"——"Prison？"criedtheyall:"OHNEEINIGEN
GEFANGNISS（withoutANYimprisonment）！"——"Aswereadthewords，itis’OHNEEWIGENGEFANGNISS（withoutETERNALimprisonment），’"
answertheothers。Andso，accordingtopopulartradition，whichhaslittleornocredibility，thoughprintedinmanyBooks，theirfalseSecretaryhadactuallymodifiedit。
"NointentionofimprisoninghisDURCHLAUCHTofHessenFOREVER；
notforever！"answeredthey。AndKurfurstJoachim，inastonishedindignation，aftersomeremonstratingandarguing，louderandlouder，whichprofitednothing，blazedoutintoaverywhirlwindofrage；drewhissword，itiswhisperedwithashudder，——drewhissword，orwasfordrawingit，upontheDukeofAlba；andwouldhavedone，Godknowswhat，hadnotfriendsflungthemselvesbetween，andgottheDukeaway，orhimaway。{Pauli，iii。103。]
Otheraccountsbear，thatitwasupontheBishopofArrashedrewhissword；whichisasomewhatdifferentmatter。Perhapshedrewitonboth；oronmenandthingsingeneral；——forhisindignationknewnobounds。Theheavysolidman；yetwithahumanheartinhimafterall，andaHohenzollernabhorrenceofchicanery，capableofrisingtothetranscendentpitch！HiswarsagainsttheTurks，andhisotherHectorships，Iwillforget；butthis，ofafacesoextensivekindledallintodivinefireforpoorPhilip’ssake，shallbememorabletome。
Philipgotoutbyandby，thoughwithdifficulty；theKaiserprovingverystiffinthematter；andonlyyieldingtoobstinatepressures，andtheforceoftimeandevents。Philipgotaway；
andthenhowJohannFriedrichofSachsen，afterbeingledaboutforfiveyears，intheKaiser’strain，acondemnedman，liabletobeexecutedanyday，didlikewiseatlastgetaway，withhisheadsafeandElectorategone:theseareknownHistoricalevents，whichweglancedatalready，onanotherscore。
For，byandby，theKaiserfoundtoughersolicitationthanthisofJoachim’s。TheKaiser，byhishighcarriageinthisandothersuchmatters，hadatlengthkindledanewWarroundhim；andhethensoonfoundhimselfreducedtoextremitiesagain；chasedtotheTyrolMountains，andobligedtocomplywithmanythings。NewWar，ofquiteotheremphasisandmanagementthantheSchmalkaldicone；
managedbyElectorMoritzandourpoorfriendAlbertAlcibiadesasprincipals。AKaiserchasedintothemountains，capableofbeingseizedbyalittlespurring；——"Capturehim？"saidAlbert。"Ihavenocagebigenoughforsuchabird！"answeredMoritz；andtheKaiserwasletrun。HowheranthentowardsTreatyofPassau（1552），towardsSiegeofMetzandothersadconclusions，"Abdication"thefinaleofthem:thesealsoareknownphasesintheReformationHistory，ashintedatabove。
HereatHalle，intheyear1547，thegreatKaiser，withProtestantismmanacledathisfeet，andmanythingsgoingprosperous，wasathisculminatingpoint。HepublishedhisINTERIM（1548，WhatyoutroublesomeProtestantsaretodo，inthemeantime，whiletheCouncilofTrentissitting，andtillitandIdecideforyou）；andinshort，droveandreined—intheReichwithahighhandandasharpwhip，forthetimebeing。TroublesomeProtestantsmostlyrejectedtheInterim；MoritzandAlcibiades，withFranceintherearofthem，tooktoarmsinthatway；tooktoransomingfatBishoprics（"VerbumDiaboliManet，"weknowwhere！）；——tooktochasingKaisersintothemountains；——andtimescamesoonroundagain。InalltheselatterbroilsKurfurstJoachimII。，deeplyinterested，aswemayfancy，strovetokeepquiet；andtoprevail，byweightofinfluenceandwisecounsel，ratherthanbyfightingwithhisKaiser。
OnesadlittleanecdoteIrecollectofJoachim:anAccident，whichhappenedinthosePassau—Interimdays，ayearortwoafterthatdrawingoftheswordonAlba。KurfurstJoachimunfortunatelyoncefellthroughastaircase，inthattime；being，asIguess，aheavyman。ItwasintheCastleofGrimnitz，oneofhismanyCastles，aspaciousenougholdHunting—seat，therepairsofwhichhadnotbeenwellattendedto。ThegoodHerr，weightyoffoot，wasleadingdownhisElectresstodinneronedayinthisSchlossofGrimnitz；
broadstairclimbsroundagrandHall，hungwithstag—trophies，groupsofweapons，andthelikehall—furniture。Anunluckytimberyielded；yawningchasminthestaircase；JoachimandhisgoodPrincesssankbygravitation；Joachimtothefloorwithlittlehurt；hispoorPrincess（horribletothinkof），beingnextthewall，cameuponthestag—hornsandboar—spearsdownbelow！[Pauli，iii。112。]ThepoorLady’shurtwasindescribable:shewalkedlamealltherestofherclays；andJoachim，Ihope（hope，butnotwithconfidence），[Ib。iii。194。]lovedherallthebetterforit。
ThisunfortunateoldSchlossofGrimnitz，somethirtymilesnorthwardofBerlin，was——bytheEighthKurfurst，JoachimFriedrich，Grandsonofthisone，withgreatrenowntohimselfandtoit——convertedintoanEndowedHighSchool:thefamed
JoachimsthalGymnasium，stillfamed，thoughnowundersomechangeofcircumstances，andremovedtoBerlinitself。
[Nicolai，p。725。]
Joachim’sfirstWife，fromwhomdescendthefollowingKurfursts，wasadaughterofthatDukeGeorgeofSaxony，Luther’scelebratedfriend，"IfitrainedDuke—Georgesninedaysrunning。"
JOACHIMGETSCO—INFEFTMENTINPREUSSEN。
ThissecondWife，sheoftheaccidentatGrimnitz，wasHedwig，KingSigismundofPoland’sdaughter；whichconnection，itisthought，helpedJoachimwellingettingwhattheycalltheMITBELEHNUNGofPreussen（foritwashethatachievedthispoint）fromKingSigismund。
MITBELEHNUNG（Co—infeftment）inPreussen；——wherebyissolemnlyacknowledgedtherightofJoachimandhisPosteritytothereversionofPreussen，shouldtheCulmbachLineofDukeAlberthappentofail。ItwasathingJoachimlongstrovefor；tillatlengthhisFather—in—lawdid，sometwentyyearshence，concedeithim。[Date，Lublin，19thJuly，1568:Pauli，iii。177—179，193；
Rentsch，p。457；Stenzel，i。341，342。]ShouldAlbert’sLinefail，then，theotherCulmbachersgetPreussen；shouldtheCulmbachersallfail，theBerlinBrandenburgersgetit。TheCulmbachersareatthistimeratherscarceofheirs:poorAlcibiadesdiedchildless，asweknow，andCasimir’sLineisextinct；DukeAlberthimselfhasleftonlyoneSon，whonowsucceedsinPreussen；stillyoung，andnotofthebestomens。MargrafGeorgethePious，heleftonlyGeorgeFriedrich；anexcellentman，whoisnowprosperousintheworld，andweddedlongsince，buthasnochildren。Sothat，betweenJoachim’sLineandPreussenthereareonlytwointermediateheirs；——anditwasathingeminentlyworthlookingafter。Norhasitwantedthat。AndsoKurfurstJoachim，almostattheendofhiscourse，hasnowmadesureofit。
JOACHIMMAKES"HERITAGE—BROTHERHOOD"WITHTHEDUKEOFLIEGNITZ。
AnotherfeatoflikenatureJoachimII。hadlongagoachieved；
whichlikewiseinthelong—runprovedimportantinhisFamily，andintheHistoryoftheworld:an"ERBVERBRUDERUNG，"sotheytermit，withtheDukeofLiegnitz，——date1537。ERBVERBRUDERUNG
（"Heritage—brotherhood，"meaningCovenanttosucceedreciprocallyonFailureofHeirstoeither）hadinalltimesbeenacommonpactionamongGermanPrinceswellaffectedtoeachother。
FriedrichII。，thethenDukeofLiegnitz，wehavetransientlyseen，wasrelatedtotheFamily；hehadbeenextremelyhelpfulinbringinghisyoungfriendAlbertofPreussen’saffairstoagoodissue，——whoseNiece，withal，hehadwedded:——infact，hewasaclosefriendofthisourJoachim’s；andtherehadlongbeenagrowingconnectionbetweenthetwoHouses，byintermarriagesandgoodoffices。
TheDukesofLiegnitzwereSovereign—Princes，comeoftheoldPiastsofPoland；andhadperfectrighttoenterintothistransactionofanERBVERBRUDERUNGwithwhomtheyliked。
True，theyhad，abovetwohundredyearsbefore，inthedaysofKingJohannICH—DIEN（A。D。1329），voluntarilyconstitutedthemselvesVassalsoftheCrownofBohemia:[Pauli，iii。22。]buttherighttodisposeoftheirLandsastheypleasedhad，allalong，beencarefullyacknowledged，andsavedentire。And，solateas1521，justsixteenyearsago，theBohemianKingVladislaustheLast，ourgoodMargrafGeorge’sfriend，hadexpressly，inaDeedstillextant，confirmedtothem，withalltheemphasisandamplitudethatLaw—Phraseologycouldbringtobearuponit，therighttodisposeofsaidLandsinanymannerofway:"bywrittentestament，orbyverbalontheirdeath—bed，theycan，astheyseewisest，giveaway，sell，pawn，disposeof，andexchange
（vergeben，verkaufen，versetzen，verschaffen，verwechseln）thesesaidlands，"toalllengths，andwithallmanneroffreedom。Whichprivilegehadlikewisebeenconfirmed，twiceover（1522，1524），byLudwigthenextKing，LudwigOHNE—HAUT，whoperishedinthebogsofMohacz，andendedthenativeLineofBohemian—HungarianKings。Nay，Ferdinand，KingoftheRomans，KarlV。’sBrother，afterwardsKaiser，whoabsorbedthatBohemianCrownamongtheothers，hadhimself，byimplication，sanctionedoradmittedtheprivilege，in1529，onlyeightyearsago。[Stenzel，i。323。]TherighttomaketheERBVERBRUDERUNGcouldnotseemdoubtfultoanybody。
Andmadeaccordinglyitwas:signed，sealed，drawnoutontheproperparchments，18thOctober，1537；tothefollowingcleareffect:"ThatifDukeFriedrich’sLineshoulddieout，allhisLiegnitzcountries，Liegnitz，Brieg，Wohlau，shouldfalltotheHohenzollernBrandenburgers:andthat，iftheLineofHohenzollernBrandenburgshouldfirstfail，thenallandsingulartheBohemianFiefsofBrandenburg（asCrossen，Zullichauandsevenothersthereenumerated）shouldfalltotheHouseofLiegnitz。"[Stenzel，i。
320。]ItseemedaclearPaction，questionablebynomortal。
Double—marriagebetweenthetwoHouses（eldestSon，oneachside，tosuitablePrincessontheother）wastofollow:anddidfollow，aftersomedelays，17thFebruary，1545。Sothatthematterseemednowcomplete:secureonallpoints，andamatterofquietsatisfactiontoboththeHousesandtotheirfriends。
ButFerdinand，KingoftheRomans，KingofBohemiaandHungary，andcomingtobeEmperoroneday，wasnotofthatsentiment。
Ferdinandhadonceimplicitlyrecognizedtheprivilege，butFerdinand，nowwhenhesawtheprivilegeturnedtouse，andsuchaterritoryasLiegnitzexposedtothepossibilityoffallingintoinconvenienthands，explicitlytookotherthoughts:andgraduallydeterminedtoprohibitthisERBVERBRUDERUNG。TheStatesofBohemia，accordingly，in1544（itisnotdoubtful，byFerdinand’ssuggestion），weremovedtomakeinquiriesastothisHeritage—
FraternityofLiegnitz。[Ib。i。322。]OnwhichhintKingFerdinandstraightwayinformedtheDukeofLiegnitzthattheactwasnotjustifiable，andmustberevoked。TheDukeofLiegnitz，grievedtotheheart，hadnomeansofresisting。Ferdinand，KingoftheRomans，backedbyKaiserKarl，withtheStatesofBohemiabarkingathiswink，weretoostrongforpoorDukeFriedrichofLiegnitz。
GreatcorrespondingbetweenBerlin，Liegnitz，Pragensuedonthismatter:buttheendwasasummonstoDukeFriedrich，——summonsfromKingFerdinandinMarch，1546，"ToappearintheImperialHall（KAISERHOF）atBreslau，"andtosubmitthatDeedofEBVERBRUDERUNGtotheexaminationoftheStatesthere。TheStates，alreadyuptotheaffair，soonfinishedtheirexaminationofit（8thMay，1546）。Thedeedwasannihilated:andFriedrichwasordered，furthermore，toproduceproofswithinsixmonthsthathissubjectstoowereabsolvedofalloathsorthelikeregardingit，andthatinfacttheTransactionwasentirelyabolishedandreducedtozero。Friedrichcomplied，hadtocomply:verymuchchagrined，hereturnedhome:anddiednextyear，——itissupposed，ofheartbreakfromthisbusiness。Hehadyieldedoutwardly:buttoforceonly。InaCodicilappendedtohislastWill，somemonthsafterwards（whichWill，writtenyearsago，hadtreatedtheERBVERBRUDERUNGasaFactsettled），heindicates，aswithhislastbreath，thatheconsideredthethingstillvalid，thoughoverruledbythehandofpower。Letthereadermarkthismatter；foritwillassuredlybecomememorable，oneday。
Thehandofpower，namely，Ferdinand，KingoftheRomans，hadappliedinlikemannertoJoachimofBrandenburgtosurrenderhisportionoftheDeed，andannihilateonhissidetoothisERBVERBRUDERUNG。ButJoachimrefusedsteadily，andallhissuccessorssteadily，togiveupthisBitofWrittenParchment:
keptthesame，amongtheirpreciousdocuments，againstsomedaythatmightcome（andIsupposeitliesintheArchivesofBerlinevennow）:silently，orinwords，assertingthattheDeedofHeritage—Brothershipwasgood，andthatthoughsomehandsmighthavethepower，nohandcouldhavetherighttoabolishitonthoseterms。
HowKingFerdinandpermittedhimselfsuchaprocedure？Ferdinand，saysoneofhislatestapologistsinthismatter，"consideredtheprivilegesgrantedbyhisPredecessors，inrespecttorightsofSovereignty，asfallenextinctontheirdeath。"[Stenzel，i。323。]
Which——ifRealityandFactwouldbutlikewisebesokindas"consider"itso——wasnodoubtconvenientforFerdinand！
JoachimwasnotsogreatwithFerdinandashehadbeenwithCharlestheImperialBrother。JoachimandFerdinandhadmanydebatesofthiskind，someofthemratherstiff。Jagerndorf，forinstance，andtheBaireuth—Anspachconfiscations，inGeorgeFriedrich’sminority。Ferdinand，nowKaiser，hadsnatchedJagerndorffrompooryoungGeorgeFriedrich，sonofexcellentMargrafGeorgewhomweknew:"PartofthespoilsofAlbertAlcibiades，"thoughtFerdinand，"andagoodwindfall，"——thoughyoungGeorgeFriedrichhadmerelybeentheWardofCousinAlcibiades，andtotallywithoutconcerninthosepoliticalexplosions。"Excellentwindfall，"thoughtFerdinand:andheldhisgrip。ButJoachim，inhisweightysteadyway，intervened:
Joachim，emphaticintheDietsandelsewhere，madeFerdinandquitgrip，andproduceJagerndorfagain。Jagerndorfandtheresthadalltoberestored:and，exceptsomefilchingsintheJagerndorfAppendages（RatiborandOppeln，"restored"onlyinsemblance，andatlengthjuggledawayaltogether），[Rentsch，pp。129，130。]
everythingcametoitsrightowneragain。NorwouldJoachimresttillAlcibiades’sTerritoriestoowereallpunctuallygivenback，tothissameGeorgeFriedrich:towhom，bylawandjustice，theybelonged，InthesepointsJoachimprevailedagainstastrong—
handedKaiser，aptto"considerone’srightsfallenextinct"nowandthen。InthisofLiegnitzallhecoulddowastokeeptheDeed，insteadyprotestsilentorvocal。
ButenoughnowofJoachimHector，SixthKurfurst，andofhisworkingsandhisstrugglings。Hewalkedthroughthisworld，treadingassoftlyasmightbe，yetwithastrongweightystep:
rendingthejunglesteadilyasunder；wellseeingwhitherhewasbound。RatheranexpensiveHerr:builtagooddeal，completionoftheSchlossatBerlinoneexample:[Nicolai，p。82。]andwasnototherwiseafraidofoutlay，intheReich’sPolitics，orinwhatseemedneedful:Ifthereisaharvestahead，evenadistantone，itispoorthrifttobestingyofyourseed—corn！
JoachimwasalwaysaconspicuousPublicMan，abusyPoliticianintheReich:stanchtohiskindred，andbynomeansblindtohimselforhisowninterests。Stanchalso，wemustgrant，andeveractive，thoughgenerallyinacautious，weighty，neverinarashswiftway，tothegreatCauseofProtestantism，andtoallgoodcauses。
Hewashimselfasolemnlydevoutman；deepawe—strickenreverencedwellinginhisviewofthisUniverse。Mostserious，thoughwithajocosedialectcommonly，havingacheerfulwitinspeakingtomen。
Luther’sBookshecalledhisSEELENSCHATZ（Soul’s—treasure）:
LutherandtheBiblewerehischiefreading。Fondofprofanelearningtoo，andoftheusefulorornamentalArts；giventomusic，and"wouldhimselfsingaloud"whenhehadamelodiousleisure—hour。Excellentoldgentleman:hedied，rathersuddenly，butwithmuchnobleness，3dJanuary，1571；agesixty—six。
OldRentsch’saccountofthiseventisstillworthreading:
[Rentsch，p。458。]Joachim’sdeath—scenehasamildpiousbeautywhichdoesnotdependoncreed。
HehadaBrothertoo，notalittleoccupiedwithPolitics，andalwaysonthegoodside:awisepiousman，whosefamewasinallthechurches:"JohannofCustrin，"calledalso"JohannTHEWISE，"
whobusiedhimselfzealouslyinProtestantmatters，secondonlyinpietyandzealtohisCousin，MargrafGeorgethePious；andwasnotsoheldbackbyofficialconsiderationsashisBrothertheElectornowandthen。JohannofCustrinisaveryfamousmanintheoldBooks:JohannwasthefirstthatfortifiedCustrin:builthimselfanillustriousSchloss，and"roofeditwithcopper，"inCustrin（whichisaplaceweshallbewellacquaintedwithbyandby）；andlivedthere，withtheNeumarkforapanage，atrueman’slife；——mostlywithagooddealofbusiness，warlikeandother，onhishands；withgoodBooks，goodDeeds，andoccasionallygoodMen，comingtoenlivenit，——accordingtothetermsthengiven。
ChapterXI。
SEVENTHKURFURST，JOHANNGEORGE。
KaiserKarl，wesaid，wasverygoodtoJoachim；whoalwaysstrove，sometimeswithastretchuponhisveryconscience，tokeepwellwiththeKaiser。TheKaisertookJoachim’syoungPrincealongwithhimtothoseSchmalkaldicWars（notthecomfortablesideforJoachim’sconscience，butthesafesideforananxiousFather）；
KaisermadeaKnightofthisyoungPrince，ononeoccasionofdistinction；hewroteoftentoPapaabouthim，whatapromisingyoungherohewas，——seemsreallytohavelikedtheyoungman。
ItwasJohannGeorge，Electorafterwards，SeventhElector。——Thislittleincidentisknowntomeonevidence。[Rentsch，p。465。]
Asmallthingthatcertainlybefell，atthesiegeofWittenberg（A。D。1547），duringthosePhilip—of—HessenNegotiations，threehundredandoddyearsago。
TheSchmalkaldicWarhavingcomealltonothing，theSaxonElectorsittingcaptivewithswordoverheadinthewaywesaw，SaxonWittenbergwasbesieged，andtheKaiserwasingreathurrytogetit。Kaiserinperson，andyoungJohannGeorgeforsoleattendant，roderoundtheplaceoneday，totakeaviewoftheworks，andjudgehowsoon，orwhetherever，itcouldbecompelledtogivein。
Gunnersnoticedthemfromthebattlements；gunnersSaxon—
Protestantmostlikely，andinjustgloomattheperilsandindignitiesnowlyingontheirpiousKurfurstJohannFriedrichtheMagnanimous。"Lo，you！Kaiser’sselfridingyonder，andoneofhissilkJUNKERS。SupposewegavetheKaiser’sselfashot，then？"
saidthegunner，orthought:"Itmighthelpabettermanfromhislife—perils，ifsuchshotdid——！"Infactthegunflashedoff，withdueoutburst，andalmostwithdueeffect。Theballstruckthegroundamongtheveryhorses’feetofthetworiders；sothattheywerethrown，ornearlyso，andcoveredfromsightwithacloudofearthandsand；——andthegunnersthought，forsomeinstants，anunjust，obstinateKaiser’slifewasgone；andapiousElector’ssaved。Butitprovednotso。KaiserKarlandJohannGeorgebothemerged，inaminuteortwo，littletheworse；——KaiserKarlperhapsblushingsomewhat，andflurriedthistime，Ithink，intheimpenetrableeyes；andhisCimburgislipclosedforthemoment；——
andgallopedoutofshot—range。"Ineverforgetthislittleincident，"exclaimsSmelfungus:"ItisoneofthefewtimesIcanget，afterallmyreadingaboutthatsurprisingKarlV。，Idonotsaytheleastunderstandingorpracticalconceptionofhimandhischaracterandhisaffairs，buttheleastocularvieworimaginationofhim，asafactamongfacts！"WhichisunluckyforSmelfungus。——JohannGeorge，stillmoreemphatically，nevertotheendofHISlifeforgotthisincident。Andindeeditmustbeowned，hadtheshottakeneffectasintended，thewholecourseofhumanthingswouldhavebeensurprisinglyaltered；——andforonething，neitherFREDERICHTHEGREAT，northepresentHISTORYOFFRIEDRICH，hadeverrisenaboveground，ortroubledanenlightenedpublicorme！
OfJohannGeorge，thisSeventhElector，[1525；1571—1598。]whoprovedagoodGovernor，andcarriedontheFamilyAffairsintheoldstyleofslowsteadysuccess，Iwillremembernothingmore，exceptthathehadthesurprisingnumberofThree—and—Twentychildren；oneofthemposthumous，thoughhediedattheageofseventy—three。——
HeisFounderoftheNewCulmbachline:twosonsofthesetwenty—
threechildrenhesettled，oneinBaireuth，theotherinAnspach；
fromwhomcomeallthesubsequentHeadsofthatPrincipality，tillthelastofthemdiedinHammersmithin1806，asabovesaid。
[Rentsch，p。475（CHRISTIANtoBaireuth；JOACHIMERNSTtoAnspach）；——8eeGenealogicalDiagram，inra，p。309a。]Hewasaprudent，thriftyHerr；nomistresses，noluxuriesallowed；atthesightofanew—fashionedcoat，hewouldflyoutonanunhappyyouth，andpackhimfromhispresence。Verystrictinpointofjustice:apeasantonceappealingtohim，inoneofhisinspection—journeysthroughthecountry，"Grantmejustice，DURCHLAUCHT，againstSo—and—so；Iamyourhighness’sbornsubject！"——"Thoushouldsthaveit，man，wertthouabornTurk！"
answeredJohannGeorge。——Thereissomethinganxious，graveand，asitwere，surprisedinthelookofthisgoodHerr。HemadetheGERA
BONDabovespokenof；——foundedtheYoungerCulmbachLine，withthatimportantLawofPrimogeniturestrictlysuperadded。
Aconspicuousthrift，veracity，modestsolidity，looksthroughtheconductofthisHerr；——adeterminedProtestanthetoo，asindeedallthefollowingwereandare。[Rentsch，pp。470，471。]
OfJoachimFriedrich，hiseldestSon，whoatonetimewasArchbishopofMagdeburg，——calledhomefromthewarstofillthatvaluableHeirloom，whichhadsuddenlyfallenvacantbyanUncle’sdeath，andkeepitwarm；——andwhoafterwards，induecourse，carriedonaLOBLICHEREGIERUNGoftheoldstyleandphysiognomy，asEighthKurfurst，fromhisfiftiethtohissixtiethyear（1598—1608）:[Born，1547；Magdehurg，1566—1598（whenhisThirdSongotit，——veryunluckyintheThirty—YearsWarafterwards）。]ofhimwealreadynoticedthefine"JOACHIMS—thalGymnasium，"orFoundationforlearnedpurposes，intheoldSchlossofGrimnitz，wherehissereneGrandmothergotlamed；andwillnoticenothingfarther，inthisplace，excepthisverygreatanxietytoprofitbythePrussianMITBELEHNUNG，——thatCo—infeftmentinPreussen，achievedbyhisGrandfatherJoachimII。，whichwasnowaboutcomingtoitsfullmaturity。JoachimFriedrichhadalreadymarriedhiseldestPrincetothedaughterofAlbertFriedrich，SecondDukeofPreussen，whoitwasbythistimeevidentwouldbethelastDukethereofhisLine。JoachimFriedrich，havinghimselffallenawidower，didnextyear，thoughnowcountingfifty—six——
Butitwillbebetterifweexplainfirst，alittle，howmattersnowstoodwithPreussen。
ChapterXII。
OFALBERTFRIEDRICH，THESECONDDUKEOFPREUSSEN。
DukeAlbertdiedin1568，ladenwithyears，andinhislattertimegreatlybrokendownbyothertroubles。HisPrussianRATHS
（Councillors）weredisobedient，hisOsiandersandLutheran—
CalvinistTheologianswereallinfireandflameagainsteachother:thepooroldman，withthebestdispositions，butwithoutpowertorealizethem，hadmuchtodoandtosuffer。Pious，justandhonorable，intendingthebest；butlosinghismemory，andincapableofbusiness，ashenowcomplained。Inhissixtiethyearhehadmarriedasecondtime，ayoungBrunswickPrincess，withwhosefoolishBrother，Eric，hehadmuchtrouble；andwhoatlastherselftooksoillwiththeinsolenceandviolenceoftheseintrusiveCouncillorsandTheologians，thatthehousehold—lifesheledbesideheroldHusbandandthembecameintolerabletoher；
andshewithdrewtoanotherresidence，——alittleHunting—seatatNeuhausen，halfadozenmilesfromKonigsberg；——andthere，oratLabiaustillfartheroff，livedmostly，inaseparatecondition，fortherestofherlife。Separateforlife:——neverthelesstheyhappenedtodieonthesameday；20thMarch，1568，theyweresimultaneouslydeliveredfromtheirtroublesinthisworld。
[Hubner，t。181；Stenzel，i。342。]
AlbertleftoneSon；thesecondchildofthislastWife:hisonechildbytheformerWife，adaughternowofgoodyears，wasmarriedtotheDukeofMecklenburg。Son’snamewasAlbertFriedrich；age，athisFather’sdeath，fifteen。ApromisingyoungPrince，butofsensitiveabstrusetemper；——heldunderheavytutelagebyhisRathsandTheologians；andspurtingupagainstthem，inexplosiverebellion，fromtimetotime。Henow（1568）
wastobesovereignDukeofPreussen，andtheonerepresentativeoftheCulmbachLineinthatfineTerritory；MargrafGeorgeFriedrichofAnspach，theonlyotherCulmbacher，beingchildless，thoughwedded。
Weneednotdoubt，theBrandenburgHouse——oldKurfurstJoachimII。
stillalive，andthriftyJohannGeorgetheHeir—Apparent——keptawatchfuleyeonthoseemergencies。Butitwasdifficulttointerferedirectly；thenativePrussianRathswereveryjealous，andPolanditselfwasaticklishSovereigntytodealwith。
AlbertFriedrichbeingstillaMinor，thePolishKing，Sigismund，proposedtoundertaketheguardianshipofhim，asbecameasuperiorlordtoasubjectvassalonsuchanoccasion。ButthePrussianRathsassuredhisMajesty，"TheiryoungPrincewasofsuchalivelyintellect，hewasperfectlyfittoconducttheaffairsoftheGovernment，"especiallywithsuchaBodyofexpertCouncillorstohelphim，"andmightbeatoncedeclaredofage。"
Whichwasaccordinglythecoursefollowed；Polandcaringlittleforit；Brandenburgdigestingthearrangementasitcould。
Andthusitcontinuedforsomeyears，evenundernewdifficultiesthatarose；theofficialCliqueofRathsbeingtherealGovernmentoftheCountry；andpooryoungAlbertFriedrichburstingoutoccasionallyintotearsagainstthem，occasionallyintofutilehumorsofafierynature。Osiander—Theology，andthebattleofthe’DOXIES，ranveryhigh；norwasPrussianOfficialityabeautifulthing。
ThesePrussianRaths，andthePrussianRITTERSCHAFTgenerally（Knightage，Land—Aristocracy），whichhaditsSTANDE（States:
ormeetingsofParliamentafterasort），wereallalongofamutinous，contumacioushumor。Theideahadgotintotheirminds，ThattheywerebybirthwhattheancientRittersbyelectionhadbeen；entitled，fitornotfit，tosharetheGovernmentpromotionsamongthem:"TheDukeishereditaryinhisoffice；whynotwe？
AllOffices，aretheynot，bynature，ourstoshareamongus？"
TheDuke’snotion，again，wastohavetheworkofhisOfficeseffectuallydone；smallmatterbywhom:theRitterslookedlesstothatsideofthequestion；——regardedany"Foreigner"（German—
Anspacher，orotherNon—Prussian），whateverhismerit，asanintruder，usurper，orkindofthief，whenseeninoffice。
Theircontentions，contumaciesandpretensionswereaccordinglymanifold。Theyhaddreamsofan"AristocraticRepublic，withtheSovereignreducedtozero，"likewhattheirPolishneighborsgrewto。Theyhadvariousdreams；andindividualsamongthembrokeout，fromtimetotime，intohighactsofinsolenceandmutiny。IttookahundredandfiftyyearsofBrandenbufghorse—breaking，sometimeswithsharpmanipulationandapotentcurb—bit，todispossessthemofthatnotion，andmakethemgosteadilyinharness。Whichalso，however，wasatlastgotdonebytheHohenzollerns。
OFDUKEALBERTFRIEDRICH’SMARRIAGE:WHOHISWIFEWAS，ANDWHATHERPOSSIBLEDOWRY。
Inayearortwo，therecametobequestionofthemarryingofyoungDukeAlbertFriedrich。Afterdueconsultation，thePrincessfixeduponwasMariaEleonora，eldestDaughterofthethenDukeofCleve:tohimaproperEmbassywassentwiththatobject；andcamebackwithYesforanswer。DukeofCleve，atthattime，wasWilhelm，called"theRich"inHistory—Books；aSovereignofsomeextentinthoselowerRhinecountries。WhomIcanconnectwiththeEnglishreader’smemoryinnoreadierwaythanbythefact，Thathewasyoungerbrother，oneyearyounger，ofacertain"AnneofCleves；"——alargefatLady，whowasratherscurvilyusedinthiscountry；beingcalled，byHenryVIII。andus，a"greatFlandersmare，"unsuitableforespousalwithaKingofdelicatefeelings！
ThisAnneofCleves，whotookmattersquietlyandlivedonherpension，whenrejectedbyKingHenry，wasAuntoftheyoungLadynowinquestionforPreussen。ShewasstillalivehereinEngland，pleasantlyquiet，"atBurleyontheHill，"tillMariaEleonorawassevenyearsold；——whopossiblyenoughstillreadsinhermemorysomefadingvestigeofnewblackfrocksortrimmings，andbriefcourt—mourning，onthedeathofpoorAuntAnneoverseas。——
AnotherAuntismorehonorablydistinguished；Sibylla，WifeofournobleSaxonElector，JohannFriedrichtheMagnanimous，wholosthisElectorateandalmosthisLifeforreligion’ssake，aswehaveseen；bywhom，inhisperilsanddistresses，Sibyllastoodalways，likeaverytrueandnobleWife。
DukeWilhelmhimselfwasamanofconsiderablemarkinhisday。
HisDuchyofCleveincludednotonlyCleve—Proper，butJulich（JULIERS），Berg，whichlatterpairofDuchieswereabetterthingthanCleve—Proper:——Julich，BergandvariousothersmallPrincipalities，which，graduallyagglomeratingbymarriage，heritageandthechanceofeventsinsuccessivecenturies，hadatlengthcomeallintoWilhelm’shands；sothathegotthenameofWilhelmtheRichamonghiscontemporaries。Heseemstohavebeenofaheadlong，blustery，uncertaindisposition；muchtossedaboutinthecontroversiesofhisday。AtonetimehewasaProtestantdeclared；notwithoutreasonsofvariouskinds。TheDuchyofGeldern（whatwecallGUELDERS）hadfallentohim，byexpressbequestofthelastOwner，whoseLinewasout；andWilhelmtookpossession。ButtheKaiserKarlV。quiterefusedtolethimkeeppossession。WhereuponWilhelmhadjoinedwiththeFrench（itwasintheMoritz—Alcibiadestime）；haddeclaredwar，andtakenotherhighmeasures:butitcametonothing，ortoless。Theendwas，Wilhelmhadto"comeuponhisknees"beforetheKaiser，andbegforgiveness；quiterenouncingGeldern，whichaccordinglyhasgoneitsowndifferentroadeversince。WilhelmwaszealouslyProtestantinthosedays；ashispeopleare，andashestillis，attheperiodwetreatof。ButhewentintoPapistry，notlongafter；andmadeothersuddenturnsandmisventures:toallappearance，ratheranabrupt，blustery，uncertainHerr。ItistohimthatAlbertFriedrich，theyoungDukeofPreussen，guidedbyhisCouncil，now（Year1572）sendsanEmbassy，demandinghiseldestDaughter，MariaEleonora，towife。
DukeWilhelmansweredYea；"sentaCounter—Embassy，"withwhateverelsewasnecessary；andinduetimetheyoungBride，withherFather，setouttowardsPreussen，suchbeingthearrangement，theretocompletethematter。Theyhadgotasfaras"Berlin，warmlywelcomedbytheKurfurstJohannGeorge；when，fromKonigsberg，asadmessagereachedthem:namely，thattheyoungDukehadsuddenlybeenseizedwithaninvincibledepressionandovercloudingofmind，notquitetobecharacterizedbythenameofmadness，butstilllessbythatofperfectsanity。HiseagernesstoseehisBridewasthesameasformerly；buthisspiritualhealthwasinthequestionablestatedescribed。TheyoungLadypausedforalittle，insuchmoodaswemayfancy。Shehadalreadylosttwooffers，Bridegroomssnatchedawaybydeath，saysPauli；
[Pauli，iv。512。]andthoughtitmightbeominoustorefusethethird。Soshedecidedtogoon；dashedasideherfather’sdoubts；
sentherunhealthyBridegroom"aflower—garlandaslove—token，"
whodulyresponded；andFatherWilhelmandsheproceeded，asifnothingwerewrong。ThespiritualstateofthePrince，shefound，hadnotbeenexaggeratedtoher。Hishumorsandwayswerestrange，questionable；otherthanonecouldhavewished。Suchashewas，however，sheweddedhimontheappointedterms；——hopingprobablyforarecovery，whichnevercame。
ThecaseofAlbert’smaladyistothisdaydim；andstrangetalesarecurrentastotheoriginofit，whichthecuriousinPhysiologymayconsult；theyarenotfitforreportinghere。
[Ib。iv。476。]Itseemstohaveconsistedinanoverclouding，ratherthanatotalruinofthemind。Incurabledepressiontherewas；gloomytorporalternatingwithfitsofvehementactivityorsuffering；greatdiscontinuityatalltimes:——evidentunfitnessforbusiness。Itwaslonghopedhemightrecover。AndDoctorsinDivinityandinMedicineundertookhim:Theologians，Exorcists，Physicians，Quacks；butnocurecameofit，nothingbutmutualcondemnations，violencesandevenexecrations，fromthesaidDoctorsandtheirrespectiveOfficialpatrons，layandclerical。
MusthavebeensuchasceueforayoungWifeashasseldomoccurred，inromanceorreality！Childrencontinuedtobeborn；
daughterafterdaughter；butnosonthatlived。
MARGRAFGEORGEFRIEDRICHCOMESTOPREUSSENTOADMINISTER。
Afterfiveyears’space，in1578，[Pauli，iv。476，481，482。]curebeingnowhopeless，andtheveryCounciladmittingthattheDukewasincapableofbusiness，——GeorgeFriedrichofAnspach—Baireuthcameintothecountrytotakechargeofhim；havingalready，heandtheotherBrandenburgers，negotiatedthematterwiththeKingofPoland，inwhosepoweritmostlylay。
GeorgeFriedrichwasbynomeanswelcometothePrussianCouncil，nortotheWife，nortotheLandedAristocracy；——otherthanwelcome，forreasonswecanguess。Butheproved，inthejudgmentofallfairwitnesses，anexcellentGovernor；and，forsix—and—
twentyyears，administeredthecountrywithgreatandlastingadvantagetoit。HisPortraitsrepresenttousalargeponderousfigureofaman，veryfatinhislatteryears；withanairofhonestsense，dignity，composedsolidity；——veryfitforthetasknowonhand。
Heresolutely，thoughinmildform，smootheddowntheflamingfiresofhisClergy；commandingnowthiscontroversyandthenthatothercontroversy（"deconcretoetdeinconcreto，"orwhatevertheywere）tofallstrictlysilent；tocarrythemselvesonbythoughtandmeditationmerely，andwithoutwords。
HetamedthemutinousAristocracy，themutinousBurgermeisters，Town—CouncilofKonigsberg，whatevermutinytherewas。Hedrainedbogs，saysoldRentsch；hefelledwoods，maderoads，establishedinns。PrussiawaswellgovernedtillGeorge’sdeath；whichhappenedintheyear1603。[Rentsch，pp。666—688。]Anspach，inthemeanwhile，Anspach，BaireuthandJagerndorf，whichwerelatterlyallhis，hehadgovernedbydeputy；noneedofvisitingthosequietcountries，exceptforpurposesofkindlyrecreation，orforaswiftgeneralsupervision，nowandthen。Byallaccounts，anexcellent，steadfast，wiseandjustman，thisfatGeorgeFriedrich；worthyoftheFatherthatproducedhim（"NitKopab，loverForst，nitKopab！"），———andthatissayingmuch。
ByhisdeathwithoutchildrenmuchterritoryfellhometotheElderHouse；tobedisposedofaswassettledintheGERABOND
fiveyearsbefore。AnspachandBaireuthwenttotwoBrothersofthenowElector，KurfurstJoachimFriedrich，sonsofJohannGeorgeofblessedmemory:founders，they，ofthe"NewLine，"ofwhomweknow。JagerndorftheElectorhimselfgot；andhe，notlongafter，settleditononeofhisownsons，anewJohannGeorge，whoatthattimewasfallenratherlandlessandoutofacareer:"JohannGeorgeofJagerndorf，"socalledthenceforth:whosehistorywillconcernusbyandby。PreussenwastobeincorporatedwiththeElectorate，——werepossessionofitoncehad。Butthatisaticklishpoint；stillticklishinspiteofrights，andliabletoperverseaccidentsthatmayarise。
JoachimFriedrich，asweintimatedonce，wasnotwantingtohimselfonthisoccasion。Buttheaffairwasfullofintricacies；
averywasps’—nestofangryhumors；andrequiredtobehandledwithdelicacy，thoughwithforceanddecision。JoachimFriedrich’seldestSon，JohannSigismund，ElectoralPrinceofBrandenburg，hadalready，in1594，marriedoneofAlbertFriedrichthehypochondriacDukeofPreussen’sdaughters；andtherewasapromisingfamilyofchildren；nolackofchildren。NeverthelessprudentJoachimFriedrichhimself，nowawidower，agetowardssixty，didfarther，inthepresentemergency，marryanotherofthesePrincesses，ayoungerSisterofhisSon’sWife，——sevenmonthsafterGeorgeFriedrich’sdeath，——tomakeassurancedoublysure，Amannottobebalked，ifhecanhelpit。Byvirtueofexcellentmanagement，——Duchess，PrussianSTANDE（States），andPolishCrown，needingalltobeoontented，——JoachimFriedrich，withgentlestrongpressure，didfurthermoresqueezehiswayintotheactualGuardianshipofPreussenandtheimbecileDuke，whichwashisbyright。Thislatterfeatheachievedinthecourseofanotheryear（11thMarch，1605）；[Stenzel，i。358。]andtherebyfairlygotholdofPreussen；whichhegrasped，"knuckles—white，"
aswemaysay；andwhichhisdescendantshaveneverquittedsince。
Goodmanagementwasverynecessary。Thethingwasdifficult；——andalsowasofmoreimportancethanweyetaltogethersee。
NotPreussenonly，butastillbettercountry，theDuchyofCleve，Cleve—Julich，DukeWilhelm’sHeritagedownintheRhineland，——
HeritageturningoutnowtobeofrighthiseldestDaughter’shere，andlikelynowtodropsoon，——isinvolvedinthething。
Thisfirstcrisis，ofgettingintothePrussianAdministratorship，fallenvacant，ourvigilantKurfurstJoachimFriedrichhassuccessfullymanaged；andheholdshisgrip，knuckles—white。
Beforelong，asecondcrisiscomes；wherealsohewillhavetograspdecisivelyin，——he，orthosethatstandforhim，andwhoseknucklescanstillhold，ButthatmaygotoanewChapter。
ChapterXIII。
NINTHKURFURST，JOHANNSIGISMUND。
Inthesummerof1608（23dMay，1608）JohannSigismund’s（andhisFather’s）Mother—in—law，thepoorWifeofthepoorimbecileDukeofPreussen，died。[MariaEleonora，DukeWilhelmofCleve’seldestDaughter:1550，1573，1608（Hubner，t。286）。]UponwhichJohannSigismund，Heir—ApparentofBrandenburganditsexpectancies，wasinstantlydespatchedfromBerlin，togatherupthethreadscutloosebythatevent，andseethatthemattertooknodamage。
OntheroadthithernewsreachedhimthathisownFather，oldJoachimFriedrich，wasdead（18thJuly，1608）；thathehimselfwasnowKurfurst；[1572，1608—1619。]andthatnumerousthreadswerelooseatbothendsofhisaffairs。
The"youngman"——notnowsoyoung，beingfullthirty—fiveandoffairexperience——wasindifficulty，undertheseoverwhelmingtidings；andpuzzled，foralittle，whethertoadvanceortoreturn。Hedecidedtoadvance，andsettlePrussianmatters，wheretheperilandtheriskwere；Brandenburgbusinesshecoulddobyrescripts。
HisdifficultiesinPreussen，andatthePolishCourt，wereinfactimmense。Butafteraspaceofeightorninemonths，hedid，byexcellentmanagement，notsparingmoneyjudiciouslylaidoutonindividuals，arriveatsomeadjustment，betterorworse，andgotPreusseninhand；[29thApril，1609。Stenzel，i。370。]legalAdministratoroftheimbecileDuke，ashisFatherhadbeen。
AfterwhichhehadtorunforBrandenburg，withoutlossoftime:
greatmattersbeingthereinthewind。NothingwronginBrandenburg，indeed；butthegreatCleveHeritageisdropping，hasdropped；overinCleve，animmenseexpectancyisnowcometothepointofdecidingitself。
TAKEINMAPS————————————————————————————————————————————
HOWTHECLEVEHERITAGEDROPPED，ANDMANYSPRANGTOPICKITUP。
WilhelmofCleve，theexplosiveDuke，whomwesawatBerlinandKonigsbergattheweddingofthispoorLadynowdeceased，hadinthemarriage—contract，ashedidinallsubsequentcontractsanddeedsoflikenature，announcedaSettlementofhisEstates，whichwasnowbecomeofthehighestmomentforJohannSigismund。
TheCountryatthattimecalledDuchyofCleve，consisted，aswesaidabove，notonlyofCleve—Proper，butoftwootherstillbetterDuchies，JulichandBerg；thenoftheGRAFSCHAFT（County）
ofRavensburg，CountyofMark，Lordshipof———Infactitwasamultifariousagglomerateofmanylittlecountries，gatheredbymarriage，heritageandluck，inthecourseofcenturies，andnowunitedinthehandofthisDukeWilhelm。ItamountedperhapstotwoYorkshiresinextent。[SeeBusching，Erdbeschreibung，v。642—734。]AnaturallyopulentCountry，offertilemeadows，shippingcapabilities，metalliferoushills；and，atthistime，inconsequenceoftheDutch—SpanishWar，andthemultitudeofProtestantrefugees，itwasgettingfilledwithingeniousindustries；andrisingtobe，whatitstillis，thebusiestquarterofGermany。ACountrylowingwithkine；thehumoftheflax—spindleheardinitscottages，inthoseolddays，——"muchofthelinencalledHollandsismadeinJulich，andonlybleached，stampedandsold，bytheDutch，"saysBusching。ACountry，inourdays，whichisshroudedatshortintervalswiththeduecanopyofcoal—smoke，andloudwithsoundsoftheanvilandtheloom。
ThisDuchyofCleve，allthisfineagglomerateofDuchies，DukeWilhelmsettled，weretobeinheritedinapiece，byhiseldest（orindeed，asitsoonproved，hisonly）SonandtheheirsofthatSon，iftherewereany。FailingheirsofthatonlySon，thentheentireDuchyofClevewastogotoMariaEleonoraaseldestDaughter，nowmarryingtoFriedrichAlbert，DukeofPrussia，andtotheirheirslawfullybegotten:heirsfemale，iftherehappenedtobenomale。TheotherSisters，ofwhomtherewerethree，werenoneofthemtohavetheleastpretencetoinheritCleveoranypartofit。Onthecontrary，theywere，insuchevent，oftheeldestDaughterorherheirscomingtoinheritCleve，tohaveeachofthemasumofreadymoneypaid["200，000GOLDGULDEN，"about100，000pounds；Pauli，vi。542；iii。504。]bythesaidinheritrixofCleveorherheirs；andonreceivingthat，weretoconsidertheirclaimsentirelyfulfilled，andtoceasethinkingofCleveforthefuture。
ThisSettlement，byexpressprivilegeofKaiserKarlV。，nayofKaiserMaximilianbeforehim，andtheLawsoftheReich，DukeWilhelmdoubtednothewasentitledtomake；andthisSettlementhemade；hisLawyerswritingdowntheterms，intheirwearisomeway，perhapssixtimesover；andstrugglingbyallmethodstoguardagainsttheleastmisunderstanding。Clevewithallitsappurtenances，Julich，Bergandtherest，goestotheeldestSisterandherheirs，maleorfemale:Ifshehavenoheirs，maleorfemale，then，butnottillthen，thenextSisterstepsintohershoesinthatmatter:butifshehave，then，werepeatforthesixthandlasttime，noSisterorSister’sRepresentativehastheleastwordtosaytoit，buttakesher100，000pounds，andceasesthinkingofCleve。
TheotherthreeSisterswereallgraduallymarried；——oneofthemtoPfalz—Neuburg，aneminentPrince，intheBavarianregioncalledtheOBER—PFALZ（UpperPalatinate），who，oratleastwhoseeldestSon，ismuchworthmentioningandrememberingbyushere；——and，inallthesemarriage—contracts，WilhelmandhisLawyersexpressedthemselvestothelikeeffect，andinthelikeelaboratesixfoldmanner:sothatWilhelmandtheythoughttherecouldnowhereintheworldbeanydoubtaboutit。
Shortlyaftersigningthelastofthesemarriage—contracts，orperhapsitwasinthecourseofsigningthem，DukeWilhelmhadastrokeofpalsy。Hehad，beforethat，goneintoPapistryagain，poorman。Thetruthis，hehadrepeatedstrokes；andbeinganabrupt，explosiveHerr，heatlastquiteyieldedtopalsy；
andsankslowlyoutoftheworld，inacloudofsemi—insanity，whichlastedalmosttwentyyears。[Died25thJanuary，1592，age76。]DukeWilhelmdidleaveaSon，JohannWilhelm，whosucceededhimasDuke。ButthisSonalsoprovedexplosive；wenthalfandatlengthwhollyinsane。JesuitPriests，andtheirintriguestobringbackaProtestantcountrytothebosomoftheChurch，wrappedthepoorman，allhisdays，asinaburningNessus’—Shirt；andhedidlittlebutmischiefintheworld。Hemarried，hadnochildren；
heaccusedhisinnocentWife，theJesuitsandhe，ofinfidelity。
Gotherjudged，notproperlysentenced；andthenstrangledher，heandthey，inherbed:——"JacobeaofBaden（1597）；"athrice—tragichistory。Thenhemarriedagain；JesuitsbeingextremelyanxiousforanOrthodoxheir:butagaintherecamenoheir；therecameonlynewblazingsoftheNessus’—Shirt。Infine，thepoormandied（Spring，1609），andmadetheworldridofhim。Died25thMarch，1609；thatistheprecisedate；——aboutamonthbeforeournewElector，JohannSigismund，gothisaffairswindedupatthePolishCourt，andcamegallopinghomeinsuchhaste。TherewaspressingneedofhimintheCleveregions。
ForthepainfulexactitudeofDukeWilhelmandhisLawyershasprofitedlittle；andthereareclaimantsonclaimantsrisingforthatvaluableCleveCountry。AsindeedJohannSigismundhadanticipated，andbeenwarnedfromallquarters，toexpect。
Formonthspast，hehashadhisfacultiesbent，withlynx—eyedattention，onthatsceneofthings；doublyandtreblyimpatienttogetPreussensolderedup，eversincethisothermattercametothebursting—point。WhatcouldbedonebytheutmostvigilanceofhisDeputies，hehaddone。Itwasthe25thofMarchwhenthemadDukedied:onthe4thofApril，JohannSigismund’sDeputy，attendedbyaNotarytorecordtheact，"fixeduptheBrandenburgArmsontheGovernment—HouseofCleve；"[Pauli，vi。566。]onthe5th，theydidthesameatDusseldorf；onthefollowingdays，atJulichandtheotherTowns。Butalreadyonthe5th，theyhadhardlygotdoneatDusseldorf，whenthereappeared——youngWolfgangWilhelm，Heir—
ApparentofthateminentPfalz—Neuburg，heinperson，toputupthePfalz—NeuburgArms！Pfalz—Neuburg，whomarriedtheSecondDaughter，heisactuallyclaiming，then；——thewhole，orpart？
Botharesensiblethatpossessionisninepointsinlaw。
Pfalz—Neuburg’sclaimwasforthewholeDuchy。"AllmysereneMother’s！"criedtheyoungHeirofPfalz—Neuburg:"Properlyallmine！"criedhe。"IsnotsheNEARESTofkin？SecondDaughter，true；buttheDaughter；notDaughterOFaDaughter，asyouare（asyourSereneElectressis），ODURCHLAUCHTofBrandenburg:——