How Kaiser
Karl determined to have them back before the year
ended, cost what it might; and Henry H.
Karl determined to have them back before the year
ended, cost what it might; and Henry H.
Thomas Carlyle
J.
Weber: Das Rittertoesen (Stuttgart, 1837), lii.
208.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] HOCHMEISTER ALBERT. 29 5*
1525.
ther's answer to Albert was; -- but can infer the pur-
port of it: That such a Teutsch Ritterdom was not, at
any rate, a thing long for this world; that white cloaks
with black crosses on them would not, of themselves,
profit any Ritterdom; that solemn vows and high su-
pramundane professions, followed by such practice as
was notorious, are an afflicting, not to say a damnable,
spectacle on God's Earth; -- that a young Herr had
better marry; better have done with the wretched Ba-
bylonian Nightmare of Papistry altogether; better shake
oneself awake, in God's name, and see if there are not
still monitions in the eternal sky as to what it is wise
to do, and wise not to do! -- This I imagine to have
been, in modern language, the purport of Dr. Luther's
advice to Hochmeister Albreeht on the present interest-
ing occasion.
It is certain, Albert, before long, took this course;
Uncle Sigismund and the resident Officials of the Ritter-
dom having made agreement to it as the one practic-
able course. The manner as follows: 1? . Instead of
Elected Hochmeister, let us be Hereditary Duke of
Preussen, and pay homage for it to Uncle Sigismund
in that character. 2? . Such of the resident Officials
of the Ritterdom as are prepared to go along with
us, we will in like manner constitute permanent Feu-
dal Proprietors of what they now possess as Life-rent,
and they shall be Subvassals under us as Hereditary
Duke. 3? . In all which Uncle Sigismund and the
Republic of Poland engage to maintain us against the
world.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 296 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [bOOK III.
1516-1552.
That is, in sum, the Transaction entered into, by
King Sigismund I. of Poland, on the one part, and
Hochmeister Albert and his Ritter Officials, such as
went along with him (which of course none could do
that were not Protestant), on the other part: done at
Cracow, 8th April 1525* Whereby Teutsch Ritter-
dom, the Prussian part of it, vanished from the world;
dissolving itself, and its "hermaphrodite constitution,"
like a kind of Male Nunnery, as so many female ones
had done in those years. A Transaction giving rise to
endless criticism, then and afterwards. Transaction
plainly not reconcilable with the letter of the law; and
liable to have logic chopped upon it to any amount,
and to all lengths of time. The Teutschmeister and
his German Brethren shrieked murder; the whole world,
then, and for long afterwards, had much to say and
argue.
To us, now that the logic-chaff is all laid long since,
the question is substantial, not formal. If the Teutsch
Ritterdom was actually at this time dead, actually
stumbling about as a mere galvanised Lie beginning
to be putrid, -- then, sure enough, it behoved that
somebody should bury it, to avoid pestilential effects
"Rentsch, p. 850. -- Here, certified by Rentsch, volgt and others, is a
worn-out patch of Paper, which is perhaps worth printing:
1490, May 17, Albert is born. 1520, November 17, give it up.
1511, February 14, Hochmeister. 1521, April 10, Truce for Four 1519, December, King Sigismund's Tears.
Brat hostile movements. 1523, June, Albert consults Luther.
1520, October, German Mercenaries 1524, November, sees Luther,
arrive. 1525, April 8, Peace of Cracow, and
1520, November, try Siege of Danzig. Albert to be Duke of Prussia.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? ChaP. vI. ] nOCIIMEISTiiH ALBEBT. 297
1525.
in the neighbourhood. Somebody or other; -- first
flaying the skin off, as was natural, and taking
that for his trouble. All turns, in substance, on this
latter question! If, again, the Ritterdom was not
dead --? --
And truly it struggled as hard as Partridge the Al-
manac-maker to rebut that fatal accusation; complained
(Teutschmeister and German-Papist part of it) loudly
at the Diets; got Albert and his consorts put to the
Ban (gedchtet), fiercely menaced by the Kaiser Karl V.
But nothing came of all that; nothing but noise. Albert
maintained his point; Kaiser Karl always found his
hands full otherwise, and had nothing but stamped
parchments and menaces to fire-off at Albert . Teutsch
Kitterdom, the Popish part of it, did enjoy its valu-
able bailliwicks, and very considerable rents in various
quarters of Germany and Europe, having lost only
Preussen; and walked about, for three centuries more,
with money in its pocket, and a solemn white gown
with black cross on its back, -- the most opulent Social
Club in existence, and an excellent place for bestowing
younger sons of sixteen quarters. But it was, and con-
tinued through so many centuries, in every essential
respect, a solemn Hypocrisy; a functionless merely
eating Phantasm, of the nature of goblin, hungry ghost
or ghowl (of which kind there are many); -- till Na-
poleon finally ordered it to vanish; its time, even as
Phantasm, being come.
Albert, I can conjecture, had his own difficulties
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 298 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG, fa 0 OK in.
1516-1552.
as Regent in Preussen. * Protestant Theology, to make
matters worse for him, had split itself furiously into
'domes; and there was an Osianderism (Osiander being
the Duke's chaplain), much flamed-upon by the more
orthodox ism. "Foreigners," too, German-Anspach and
other, were ill seen by the native gentlemen; yet some-
times got encouragement. One Funccius, a shining
Niirnberg immigrant there, son-in-law of Osiander, who
from Theology got into Politics, had at last (1564) to
be beheaded, -- old Duke Albert himself "bitterly
weeping" about him; for it was none of Albert's doing.
Probably his new allodial Fatter gentlemen were not
the most submiss, when made hereditary? We can only
hope the Duke was a Hohenzollem, and not quite une-
qual to his task in this respect. A man with high
bald brow; magnificent spade-beard; air much-ponder-
ing, almost gaunt, -- gaunt kind of eyes especially,
and a slight cast in them, which adds to his severity
of aspect . He kept his possession well, every inch of
it; and left all safe at his decease in 1568. His age was then near eighty. It was the tenth year of our
Elizabeth as Queen; invincible Armada not yet built;
but Alba very busy, cutting-off high heads in Brabant;
and stirring-up the Dutch to such fury as was needful
for exploding Spain and him.
This Duke Albert was a profoundly religions man,
as all thoughtful men then were. Much given to
Theology, to Doctors of Divinity; being eager to know
God's Laws in this Universe, and wholesomely certain
* 1525-1568.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] HOCHMEISTER ALBERT. 299
1525.
of damnation if he should not follow them. Fond of
the profane Sciences too, especially of Astronomy:
Erasmus Reinhold and his Tabula Prutenicce were once
very celebrated; Erasmus Keinhold proclaims gratefully
how these his elaborate Tables (done according to the
latest discoveries, 1551 and onwards) were executed
upon Duke Albert's high bounty; for which reason they
are dedicated to Duke Albert, and called "Prutenicce,"
meaning Prussian. * The University of Konigsberg
was already founded several years before, in 1544.
Albert had not failed to marry, as Luther counsel-
led: by his first Wife he had only daughters; by his
second, one son, Albert Friedrich, who, without oppo-
sition or difficulty, succeeded his Father. Thus was
Preussen acquired to the Hohenzollern Family; -- for,
before long, the Electoral branch managed to get Mit-
belehnung (Co-infeftment), that is to say, Eventual Suc-
cession; and Preussen became a Family Heritage, as
Anspach and Baireuth were.
* Rentsob, p. 855.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? iiOO THE HOHENZOiiLEJUiS IN BRANDENBURG. [BOOK III.
1516-1552,
CHAPTER VII
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
One word must be spent on poor Albert, Casimir's
son,* already mentioned. This poor Albert, whom they
call Alcibiades, made a great noise in that epoch; being
what some define as the "Failure of a Fritz;" who has
really features of him we are to call "Friedrich the
Great," but who burnt-away his splendid qualities as a
mere temporary shine for the able-editors, and never
came to anything.
A high and gallant young fellow, left fatherless in
childhood; perhaps he came too early into power: --
he came, at any rate, in very volcanic times, when
Germany was all in convulsion; the Old Religion and
the New having at length broken-out into open battle,
with huge results to be hoped and feared; and the
largest game going on, in sight of an adventurous
youth. How Albert staked in it; how he played to
immense heights of sudden gain, and finally to utter
bankruptcy, I cannot explain here: some German de-
lineator of human destinies, "Artist" worth the name,
if there were any, might find in him a fine subject
.
He was ward of his Uncle George; and the probable
fact is, no guardian could have been more faithful.
Nevertheless, on approaching the years of majority, of
* 1522-1557.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHar. vII. ] ALBERT ALCIBIADES. 301
1552.
majority but not discretion, he saw good to quarrel
with his Uncle; claimed this and that, which was not
granted: quarrel lasting for years. Nay matters ran so
high at last, it was like to come to war between them,
had not George been wiser. The young fellow actually
sent a cartel to his Uncle; challenged him to mortal
combat, -- at which George only wagged his old beard,
we suppose, and said nothing. Neighbours interposed, the
Diet itself interposed; and the matter was got quenched
again. Leaving Albert, let us hope, a repentant
young man. We said he was full of fire, too much of
it wildfire.
His profession was Arms; he shone much in war;
went slashing and fighting through those Schmalkaldic
broils, and others of his time; a distinguished captain;
cutting his way towards something high, he saw not
well what. He had great comradeship with Moritz of
Saxony in the wars: two sworn brothers they, and
comrades in arms: it is the same dextrous Moritz, who,
himself a Protestant, managed to get his too Protestant
Cousin's Electorate of Saxony into his hand, by luck
of the game; the Moritz, too, from whom Albert by
and by got his last defeat, giving Moritz his death in
return. That was the finale of their comradeship. All
things end, and nothing ceases changing till it end.
He was by position originally on the Kaiser's side;
had attained great eminence, and done high feats of
arms and generalship, in his service. But being a
Protestant by creed, he changed after that Schmalkaldic
downfall (rout of Miihlberg, 24 th April 1547), which
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 302 THE HOHENZOLLEKNS IN BRANDENBUKG, [bOOK m.
1516-1552.
brought Moritz an Electorate, and nearly cost Moritz's too Protestant Cousin his life as well as lands. * The
victorious Kaiser growing now very high in his ways,
there arose complaints against him from all sides, very
loud from the Protestant side; and Moritz and Albert
took to arms, with loud manifestoes and the other phe-
nomena.
This was early in 1552, five years after Miihlberg
Rout or Battle. The there victorious Kaiser was now
suddenly almost ruined; chased like a partridge into
the Innspruck-Mountains, -- could have been caught,
only Moritz would not; "had no cage to hold so big a
bird," he said. So the Treaty of Passau was made,
and the Kaiser came much down from his lofty ways.
Famed Treaty of Passau (22d August 1552), which
was the finale of these broils, and hushed them up for
a Fourscore years to come. That was a memorable
year in German Reformation History.
Albert, meanwhile, had been busy in the interior
of the country; blazing aloft in Frankenland, his native
quarter, with a success that astonished all men. For
seven months he was virtually King of Germany; ran-
somed Bamberg, ransomed Wiirzburg, Niirnberg (places
he had a grudge at); ransomed all manner of towns
and places, -- especially rich Bishops and their towns,
with Verbum Diaboli sticking in them, -- at enormous
sums. King of the world for a brief season; must have
had some strange thoughts to himself, had they been
* Account of It in De Wette: Lebensgeschichte der HerzoQe zu Sachsm
(Weimar, 1770), pp. 82-85.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAF. VII. ]
303
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
1552.
recorded for us. A pious man, too; not in the least
like "Alcibiades," except in the sudden changes of
fortune he underwent . His Motto, or old rhymed
Prayer, which he would repeat on getting into the
saddle for military work,-- a rough rhyme of his own
composing, -- is still preserved. Let us give it, with
an English facsimile, or roughest mechanical pencil-
tracing, -- by way of glimpse into the heart of a
vanished Time and its Man-at-arms:*
Das wait der Herr Jesus Christ,
Mil dem Vatcr, der uber wis ist:
Wer sldtker ist alu dieser Mann,
Per komm und thu' ein Leid mir an.
Guide it the Lord Jesus Christ. **
And the Father, who over us is:
He that is stronger than thatMan,***
Let him do me a hurt when he can.
He was at the Siege of Metz (end of that same
1552), and a principal figure there. Readers have
heard of the Siege of Metz: How Henry H. of France
fished-up those "Three Bishoprics" (Metz, Toul, Verdun,
constituent part of Lorraine, a covetable fraction of
Teutschland) from the troubled sea of German things,
by aid of Moritz now Kur-Sachsen, and of Albert; and
would not throw them in again, according to bargain,
when Peace, the Peace of Passau came.
How Kaiser
Karl determined to have them back before the year
ended, cost what it might; and Henry H. to keep them,
cost what it might . How Guise defended, with all the
Chivalry of France; and Kaiser Karl besieged, f with
an Army of 100,000 men, under Duke Alba for chief
* Rentsch, p. 644
"Read "Chris" or "Chriz," for the rhyme's sake.
Sic. . )- 19th October 1852 and onwards.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 30 4 THE HOHENZOLLERNS LM BRANDENBURG. [book III.
1516-1552.
captain. Siege protracted into mid-winter; and the
"sound of his cannon heard at Strasburg," which is
eighty miles off, "in the winter nights. "*
It had depended upon Albert, who hung in the dis-
tance with an army of his own, whether the Siege
could even begin; but he joined the Kaiser, being re-
conciled again; and the trenches opened. By the valour
of Guise and his Chivalry, -- still more perhaps by
the iron frosts and by the sleety rains of Winter, and
the hungers and the hardships of a hundred-thousand
men, digging vainly at the icebound earth, or trampling
it when sleety into seas of mud, and themselves sinking
in it, of dysentery, famine, toil and despair, as they
cannonaded day and night, -- Metz could not be taken.
"Impossible! " said the Generals with one voice, after
trying it for a couple of months. "Try it one other
ten days," said the Kaiser with a gloomy fixity; "let
us all die, or else do it! " They tried, with double
desperation, another ten days; cannon booming through
the winter midnight far and wide, fourscore miles
round: "Cannot be done, your Majesty! Cannot, -- the
winter and the mud, and Guise and the walls; man's
strength cannot do it in this season. We must march
away! " Karl listened in silence; but the tears were
seen to run down his proud face, now not so young as
it once was: "Let us march, then! " he said, in a low
voice, after some pause.
* KBhler: Reichshistorie, p. 453; -- and more especially MUnzbe~
lusligunqen (NHrnberg, 1729-1750), be. 121-129. The Year of this Volume,
and of the Number in question, is 1737; the Mttnz or Medal "recreated
upon" is of Henri II.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHaP. vII. ]
305
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
1552.
Alcibiades covered the retreat to Diedenhoff (Thion-
ville they now call it); outmanoeuvred the French, re-
treated with success; he had already captured a grand
Due d'Aumale, a Prince of the Guises, -- valuable
ransom to be looked for there. It was thought he
should have made his bargain better with the Kaiser,
before starting; but he had neglected that . Albert's
course was downward thenceforth; Kaiser Karl's too.
The French keep these "Three Bishoprics (Trois
Eveches)" and Teutschland laments the loss of them,
to this hour. Kaiser Karl, as some write, never smiled
again; -- abdicated, not long after; retired into the
Monastery of St. Just, and there soon died. That is
the Siege of Metz, where Alcibiades was helpful. His
own bargain with the Kaiser should have been better
made beforehand.
Dissatisfied with any bargain he could now get;
dissatisfied with the Treaty of Passau, with such a finale
and hushing-up of the Religious Controversy, and in
general with himself and with the world, Albert again
drew sword; went loose at a high rate upon his Bam-
berg-Wurzburg enemies, and, having raised supplies
there, upon Moritz and those Passau-Treatiers. He was
beaten at last by Moritz, "Sunday, 9th July 1553," at
a place called Sievershausen in the Hanover Country,
where Moritz himself perished in the action. -- Albert
fled thereupon to France. No hope in France. No luck
in other small and desperate stakings of his: the game
is done. Albert returns to a Sister he had, to her Hus-
band's Court in Baden; a broken, bare and bankrupt
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. I. 20
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 306 THE I10HENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG, [book IIT.
1510-169*.
man; -- soon dies there, childless, leaving the shadow
of a name. *
His death brought huge troubles upon Baireuth and
the Family Possessions. So many neighbours, Bam-
berg, Wttrzburg and the rest, were eager for retalia-
tion; a new Kaiser greedy for confiscating. Plassen-
burgCastle was besieged, bombarded, taken by famine
and burnt; much was burnt and torn to waste. Nay,
had it not been for help from Berlin, the Family had
gone to utter ruin in those parts. For this Alcibiades
had, in his turn, been Guardian to Uncle George's Son,
the George Friedrich we once spoke of, still a minor,
but well known afterwards; and it was attempted, by
an eager Kaiser Ferdinand, to involve this poor youth
in his Cousin's illegalities, as if Ward and Guardian
had been one person. Baireuth which had been Alci-
biades's, Anspach which was the young man's own,
nay Jagerndorf with its Appendages, were at one time
all in the clutches of the hawk, -- had not help from
Berlin been there. But in the end, the Law had to be
allowed its course; George Friedrich got his own Ter-
* Here, chiefly from Kb'hler (Jfunzbelwtigungen, Hi. 414-416), is the
chronology of Albert's operations:
Seizure of Niirnberg, Ac, 11th May to 22d June 1552; Innspruck (with
Treaty of Passan) follows. Then Siege of Metz, October to December 1552;
Bamberg, Wiirzburg and Niirnberg ransomed again, April 1553; Battle of
Sievershausen, 9th July 1533. Wiirzburg Ac. explode against him; Ban
of the Empire, 4th May 1554. To France thereupon; returns, hoping to
negotiate, end of 1556; dies at Pforzheim, at his Sister's, 8th January 1557.
-- See Pauli, iii. 120-138. See also Dr. Kapp; Erinnerungen an diejsnigen
Markgrafen &c. (a reprint from the Archiv fur Geschichte und Alterthumt-
ktmde in Ober-Franken, Year 1841).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. TO. ] ALBERT ALCIBIADES. 307
1552.
ritories back (all but some surreptitious nibblings in the
Jagerndorf quarter, to be noticed elsewhere), and also
got Baireuth, his poor Cousin's Inheritance; -- sole
heir, he now, in Culmbach, the Line of Casimir being
out.
One owns to a kind of love for poor Albert Alci-
biades. In certain sordid times, even a "Failure of a
Fritz" is better than some Successes that are going. A
man of some real nobleness, this Albert; though not
with wisdom enough, not with good fortune enough.
Could he have continued to "rule the situation" (as
our French friends phrase it); to march the fanatical
Papistries, and Kaiser Karl, clear out of it, home to
Spain and San Justo a little earlier; to wave the coming
Jesuitries away, as with a flaming sword; to forbid
beforehand the doleful Thirty-Years War, and the still
dolefuller spiritual atrophy (the flaccid Pedantry, ever
rummaging and rearranging among learned marine-
stores, which thinks itself Wisdom and Insight; the
vague maunderings, flutings; indolent, impotent day-
dreaming and tobacco-smoking, of poor Modern Ger-
many) which has followed therefrom, -- Ach Gott, he
might have been a "Success of a Fritz" three times
over! He might have been a German Cromwell;
beckoning his People to fly, eagle-like, straight towards
the Sun; instead of screwing about it, in that sad, un-
certain, and far too spiral manner! -- But it lay not
in him; not in his capabilities or opportunities, after
all: and we but waste time in such speculations.
20*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 308 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [book in.
1516-1552.
CHAPTEE Vffl.
DISTORICAL MEANING OF THE REFORMATION.
The Culmbach Brothers, we observe, play a more
important part in that era than their seniors and chiefs
of Brandenburg. These Culmbachers, Markgraf George
and Albert of Preussen at the head of them, march
valiantly forward in the Reformation business; while
Kur-Brandenburg, Joachim L, their senior Cousin, is
talking loud at Diets, galloping to Innspruck and the
like, zealous on the Conservative side; and Cardinal
Albert, Kur-Mainz, his eloquent Brother, is eager to
make matters smooth and avoid violent methods.
The Reformation was the great Event of that Six-
teenth Century; according as a man did something in
that, or did nothing and obstructed doing, has he much
claim to memory, or no claim, in this age of ours.
The more it becomes apparent that the Reformation was the Event then transacting itself, was the thing
that Germany and Europe either did or refused to do,
the more does the historical significance of men attach
itself to the phases of that transaction. Accordingly we
notice henceforth that the memorable points of Bran-
denburg History, what of it sticks naturally to the
memory of a reader or student, connect themselves of
their own accord, almost all, with the History of the
Reformation. That has proved to be the Law of Na-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vm. ] MEANING OF THE REFORMATION. 309
1516-11)52.
ture in regard to them, softly establishing itself; and it
is ours to follow that law.
Brandenburg, not at first unanimously, by no means
too inconsiderately, but with overwhelming unanimity
when the matter became clear, was lucky enough to
adopt the Reformation; -- and stands by it ever since
in its ever-widening scope, amid such difficulties as
there might be. Brandenburg had felt somehow, that
it could do no other. And ever onwards through the
times even of our little Fritz and farther, if we will
understand the word "Reformation," Brandenburg so
feels; being, at this day, to an honourable degree, in-
capable of believing incredibilities, of adopting solemn
shams, or pretending to live on spiritual moonshine.
Which has been of uncountable advantage to Branden-
burg: -- how could it fail? This was what we must
call obeying the audible voice of Heaven. To which
same "voice," at that time, all that did not give ear,--
what has become of them since: have they not signally
had the penalties to pay!
"Penalties:" quarrel not with the old phraseology,
good reader; attend rather to the thing it means. The
word was heard of old, with a right solemn meaning
attached to it, from theological pulpits and such places;
and may still be heard there with a half-meaning, or
with no meaning, though it has rather become obsolete
to modern ears. But the thing should not have fallen
obsolete; the thing is a grand and solemn truth, ex-
pressive of a silent Law of Heaven, which continues
forever valid. The most untheological of men may still
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 310 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [bOOKHI.
1516-1552.
assert the thing; and invite all men to notice it, as a
silent monition and prophecy in this Universe; to take
it, with more of awe than they are wont, as a correct
reading of the Will of the Eternal in respect of such
matters; and, in their modern sphere, to bear the same
well in mind. For it is perfectly certain, and may be
seen with eyes in any quarter of Europe at this day.
Protestant or not Protestant? The question meant
everywhere: "Is there anything of nobleness in you, O
Nation, or is there nothing? Are there, in this Nation,
enough of heroic men to venture forward, and to battle
for God's Truth versus the Devil's Falsehood, at the
peril of life and more? Men who prefer death, and all
else, to living under Falsehood, -- who, once for all,
will not live under Falsehood; but having drawn the
sword against it (the time being come for that rare and
important step), throw away the scabbard, and can say,
in pious clearness, with their whole soul: 'Come on,
then! Life under Falsehood is not good for me; and
we will try it out now. Let it be to the death between
us, then! '"
Once risen into this divine white-heat of temper,
were it only for a season and not again, the Nation is
thenceforth considerable through all its remaining his-
tory. What immensities of dross and crypto-poisonous
matter will it not burn out of itself in that high tem-
perature, in the course of a few years! Witness Crom-
well and his Puritans, -- making England habitable
even under the Charles-Second terms for a couple of
centuries more. Nations are benefited, I believe, for
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] MEANING OF THE REFORMATION. 311
1516-1552.
ages, by being thrown once into divine white-heat in
this manner. And no Nation that has not had such
divine paroxysms at any time, is apt to come to much. That was now, in this epoch, the English of
"adopting Protestantism;" and we need not wonder at
the results which it has had, and which the want of it
has had. For the want of it is literally the want of
loyalty to the Maker of this Universe. He who wants
that, what else has he, or can he have? If you do not,
you Man or you Nation, love the Truth enough, but
try to make a chapman-bargain with Truth, instead of
giving yourself wholly soul and body and life to her,
Truth will not live with you, Truth will depart from
you; and only Logic, "Wit" (for example, "London
Wit"), Sophistry, Virtu, the ^Esthetic Arts, and per-
haps (for a short while) Book-keeping by Double En-
try, will abide with you. You will follow falsity, and
think it truth, you unfortunate man or nation. You
will right surely, you for one, stumble to the Devil;
and are every day and hour, little as you imagine it,
making progress thither.
Austria, Spain, Italy, France, Poland, -- the offer
of the Reformation was made everywhere; and it is
curious to see what has become of the Nations that
would not hear it . In all countries were some that
accepted; but in many there were not enough, and the
rest, slowly or swiftly, with fatal difficult industry,
contrived to burn them out. Austria was once full of
Protestants; but the hide-bound Flemish-Spanish Kai-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 312 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] HOCHMEISTER ALBERT. 29 5*
1525.
ther's answer to Albert was; -- but can infer the pur-
port of it: That such a Teutsch Ritterdom was not, at
any rate, a thing long for this world; that white cloaks
with black crosses on them would not, of themselves,
profit any Ritterdom; that solemn vows and high su-
pramundane professions, followed by such practice as
was notorious, are an afflicting, not to say a damnable,
spectacle on God's Earth; -- that a young Herr had
better marry; better have done with the wretched Ba-
bylonian Nightmare of Papistry altogether; better shake
oneself awake, in God's name, and see if there are not
still monitions in the eternal sky as to what it is wise
to do, and wise not to do! -- This I imagine to have
been, in modern language, the purport of Dr. Luther's
advice to Hochmeister Albreeht on the present interest-
ing occasion.
It is certain, Albert, before long, took this course;
Uncle Sigismund and the resident Officials of the Ritter-
dom having made agreement to it as the one practic-
able course. The manner as follows: 1? . Instead of
Elected Hochmeister, let us be Hereditary Duke of
Preussen, and pay homage for it to Uncle Sigismund
in that character. 2? . Such of the resident Officials
of the Ritterdom as are prepared to go along with
us, we will in like manner constitute permanent Feu-
dal Proprietors of what they now possess as Life-rent,
and they shall be Subvassals under us as Hereditary
Duke. 3? . In all which Uncle Sigismund and the
Republic of Poland engage to maintain us against the
world.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 296 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [bOOK III.
1516-1552.
That is, in sum, the Transaction entered into, by
King Sigismund I. of Poland, on the one part, and
Hochmeister Albert and his Ritter Officials, such as
went along with him (which of course none could do
that were not Protestant), on the other part: done at
Cracow, 8th April 1525* Whereby Teutsch Ritter-
dom, the Prussian part of it, vanished from the world;
dissolving itself, and its "hermaphrodite constitution,"
like a kind of Male Nunnery, as so many female ones
had done in those years. A Transaction giving rise to
endless criticism, then and afterwards. Transaction
plainly not reconcilable with the letter of the law; and
liable to have logic chopped upon it to any amount,
and to all lengths of time. The Teutschmeister and
his German Brethren shrieked murder; the whole world,
then, and for long afterwards, had much to say and
argue.
To us, now that the logic-chaff is all laid long since,
the question is substantial, not formal. If the Teutsch
Ritterdom was actually at this time dead, actually
stumbling about as a mere galvanised Lie beginning
to be putrid, -- then, sure enough, it behoved that
somebody should bury it, to avoid pestilential effects
"Rentsch, p. 850. -- Here, certified by Rentsch, volgt and others, is a
worn-out patch of Paper, which is perhaps worth printing:
1490, May 17, Albert is born. 1520, November 17, give it up.
1511, February 14, Hochmeister. 1521, April 10, Truce for Four 1519, December, King Sigismund's Tears.
Brat hostile movements. 1523, June, Albert consults Luther.
1520, October, German Mercenaries 1524, November, sees Luther,
arrive. 1525, April 8, Peace of Cracow, and
1520, November, try Siege of Danzig. Albert to be Duke of Prussia.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? ChaP. vI. ] nOCIIMEISTiiH ALBEBT. 297
1525.
in the neighbourhood. Somebody or other; -- first
flaying the skin off, as was natural, and taking
that for his trouble. All turns, in substance, on this
latter question! If, again, the Ritterdom was not
dead --? --
And truly it struggled as hard as Partridge the Al-
manac-maker to rebut that fatal accusation; complained
(Teutschmeister and German-Papist part of it) loudly
at the Diets; got Albert and his consorts put to the
Ban (gedchtet), fiercely menaced by the Kaiser Karl V.
But nothing came of all that; nothing but noise. Albert
maintained his point; Kaiser Karl always found his
hands full otherwise, and had nothing but stamped
parchments and menaces to fire-off at Albert . Teutsch
Kitterdom, the Popish part of it, did enjoy its valu-
able bailliwicks, and very considerable rents in various
quarters of Germany and Europe, having lost only
Preussen; and walked about, for three centuries more,
with money in its pocket, and a solemn white gown
with black cross on its back, -- the most opulent Social
Club in existence, and an excellent place for bestowing
younger sons of sixteen quarters. But it was, and con-
tinued through so many centuries, in every essential
respect, a solemn Hypocrisy; a functionless merely
eating Phantasm, of the nature of goblin, hungry ghost
or ghowl (of which kind there are many); -- till Na-
poleon finally ordered it to vanish; its time, even as
Phantasm, being come.
Albert, I can conjecture, had his own difficulties
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 298 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG, fa 0 OK in.
1516-1552.
as Regent in Preussen. * Protestant Theology, to make
matters worse for him, had split itself furiously into
'domes; and there was an Osianderism (Osiander being
the Duke's chaplain), much flamed-upon by the more
orthodox ism. "Foreigners," too, German-Anspach and
other, were ill seen by the native gentlemen; yet some-
times got encouragement. One Funccius, a shining
Niirnberg immigrant there, son-in-law of Osiander, who
from Theology got into Politics, had at last (1564) to
be beheaded, -- old Duke Albert himself "bitterly
weeping" about him; for it was none of Albert's doing.
Probably his new allodial Fatter gentlemen were not
the most submiss, when made hereditary? We can only
hope the Duke was a Hohenzollem, and not quite une-
qual to his task in this respect. A man with high
bald brow; magnificent spade-beard; air much-ponder-
ing, almost gaunt, -- gaunt kind of eyes especially,
and a slight cast in them, which adds to his severity
of aspect . He kept his possession well, every inch of
it; and left all safe at his decease in 1568. His age was then near eighty. It was the tenth year of our
Elizabeth as Queen; invincible Armada not yet built;
but Alba very busy, cutting-off high heads in Brabant;
and stirring-up the Dutch to such fury as was needful
for exploding Spain and him.
This Duke Albert was a profoundly religions man,
as all thoughtful men then were. Much given to
Theology, to Doctors of Divinity; being eager to know
God's Laws in this Universe, and wholesomely certain
* 1525-1568.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VI. ] HOCHMEISTER ALBERT. 299
1525.
of damnation if he should not follow them. Fond of
the profane Sciences too, especially of Astronomy:
Erasmus Reinhold and his Tabula Prutenicce were once
very celebrated; Erasmus Keinhold proclaims gratefully
how these his elaborate Tables (done according to the
latest discoveries, 1551 and onwards) were executed
upon Duke Albert's high bounty; for which reason they
are dedicated to Duke Albert, and called "Prutenicce,"
meaning Prussian. * The University of Konigsberg
was already founded several years before, in 1544.
Albert had not failed to marry, as Luther counsel-
led: by his first Wife he had only daughters; by his
second, one son, Albert Friedrich, who, without oppo-
sition or difficulty, succeeded his Father. Thus was
Preussen acquired to the Hohenzollern Family; -- for,
before long, the Electoral branch managed to get Mit-
belehnung (Co-infeftment), that is to say, Eventual Suc-
cession; and Preussen became a Family Heritage, as
Anspach and Baireuth were.
* Rentsob, p. 855.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? iiOO THE HOHENZOiiLEJUiS IN BRANDENBURG. [BOOK III.
1516-1552,
CHAPTER VII
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
One word must be spent on poor Albert, Casimir's
son,* already mentioned. This poor Albert, whom they
call Alcibiades, made a great noise in that epoch; being
what some define as the "Failure of a Fritz;" who has
really features of him we are to call "Friedrich the
Great," but who burnt-away his splendid qualities as a
mere temporary shine for the able-editors, and never
came to anything.
A high and gallant young fellow, left fatherless in
childhood; perhaps he came too early into power: --
he came, at any rate, in very volcanic times, when
Germany was all in convulsion; the Old Religion and
the New having at length broken-out into open battle,
with huge results to be hoped and feared; and the
largest game going on, in sight of an adventurous
youth. How Albert staked in it; how he played to
immense heights of sudden gain, and finally to utter
bankruptcy, I cannot explain here: some German de-
lineator of human destinies, "Artist" worth the name,
if there were any, might find in him a fine subject
.
He was ward of his Uncle George; and the probable
fact is, no guardian could have been more faithful.
Nevertheless, on approaching the years of majority, of
* 1522-1557.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHar. vII. ] ALBERT ALCIBIADES. 301
1552.
majority but not discretion, he saw good to quarrel
with his Uncle; claimed this and that, which was not
granted: quarrel lasting for years. Nay matters ran so
high at last, it was like to come to war between them,
had not George been wiser. The young fellow actually
sent a cartel to his Uncle; challenged him to mortal
combat, -- at which George only wagged his old beard,
we suppose, and said nothing. Neighbours interposed, the
Diet itself interposed; and the matter was got quenched
again. Leaving Albert, let us hope, a repentant
young man. We said he was full of fire, too much of
it wildfire.
His profession was Arms; he shone much in war;
went slashing and fighting through those Schmalkaldic
broils, and others of his time; a distinguished captain;
cutting his way towards something high, he saw not
well what. He had great comradeship with Moritz of
Saxony in the wars: two sworn brothers they, and
comrades in arms: it is the same dextrous Moritz, who,
himself a Protestant, managed to get his too Protestant
Cousin's Electorate of Saxony into his hand, by luck
of the game; the Moritz, too, from whom Albert by
and by got his last defeat, giving Moritz his death in
return. That was the finale of their comradeship. All
things end, and nothing ceases changing till it end.
He was by position originally on the Kaiser's side;
had attained great eminence, and done high feats of
arms and generalship, in his service. But being a
Protestant by creed, he changed after that Schmalkaldic
downfall (rout of Miihlberg, 24 th April 1547), which
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 302 THE HOHENZOLLEKNS IN BRANDENBUKG, [bOOK m.
1516-1552.
brought Moritz an Electorate, and nearly cost Moritz's too Protestant Cousin his life as well as lands. * The
victorious Kaiser growing now very high in his ways,
there arose complaints against him from all sides, very
loud from the Protestant side; and Moritz and Albert
took to arms, with loud manifestoes and the other phe-
nomena.
This was early in 1552, five years after Miihlberg
Rout or Battle. The there victorious Kaiser was now
suddenly almost ruined; chased like a partridge into
the Innspruck-Mountains, -- could have been caught,
only Moritz would not; "had no cage to hold so big a
bird," he said. So the Treaty of Passau was made,
and the Kaiser came much down from his lofty ways.
Famed Treaty of Passau (22d August 1552), which
was the finale of these broils, and hushed them up for
a Fourscore years to come. That was a memorable
year in German Reformation History.
Albert, meanwhile, had been busy in the interior
of the country; blazing aloft in Frankenland, his native
quarter, with a success that astonished all men. For
seven months he was virtually King of Germany; ran-
somed Bamberg, ransomed Wiirzburg, Niirnberg (places
he had a grudge at); ransomed all manner of towns
and places, -- especially rich Bishops and their towns,
with Verbum Diaboli sticking in them, -- at enormous
sums. King of the world for a brief season; must have
had some strange thoughts to himself, had they been
* Account of It in De Wette: Lebensgeschichte der HerzoQe zu Sachsm
(Weimar, 1770), pp. 82-85.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAF. VII. ]
303
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
1552.
recorded for us. A pious man, too; not in the least
like "Alcibiades," except in the sudden changes of
fortune he underwent . His Motto, or old rhymed
Prayer, which he would repeat on getting into the
saddle for military work,-- a rough rhyme of his own
composing, -- is still preserved. Let us give it, with
an English facsimile, or roughest mechanical pencil-
tracing, -- by way of glimpse into the heart of a
vanished Time and its Man-at-arms:*
Das wait der Herr Jesus Christ,
Mil dem Vatcr, der uber wis ist:
Wer sldtker ist alu dieser Mann,
Per komm und thu' ein Leid mir an.
Guide it the Lord Jesus Christ. **
And the Father, who over us is:
He that is stronger than thatMan,***
Let him do me a hurt when he can.
He was at the Siege of Metz (end of that same
1552), and a principal figure there. Readers have
heard of the Siege of Metz: How Henry H. of France
fished-up those "Three Bishoprics" (Metz, Toul, Verdun,
constituent part of Lorraine, a covetable fraction of
Teutschland) from the troubled sea of German things,
by aid of Moritz now Kur-Sachsen, and of Albert; and
would not throw them in again, according to bargain,
when Peace, the Peace of Passau came.
How Kaiser
Karl determined to have them back before the year
ended, cost what it might; and Henry H. to keep them,
cost what it might . How Guise defended, with all the
Chivalry of France; and Kaiser Karl besieged, f with
an Army of 100,000 men, under Duke Alba for chief
* Rentsch, p. 644
"Read "Chris" or "Chriz," for the rhyme's sake.
Sic. . )- 19th October 1852 and onwards.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 30 4 THE HOHENZOLLERNS LM BRANDENBURG. [book III.
1516-1552.
captain. Siege protracted into mid-winter; and the
"sound of his cannon heard at Strasburg," which is
eighty miles off, "in the winter nights. "*
It had depended upon Albert, who hung in the dis-
tance with an army of his own, whether the Siege
could even begin; but he joined the Kaiser, being re-
conciled again; and the trenches opened. By the valour
of Guise and his Chivalry, -- still more perhaps by
the iron frosts and by the sleety rains of Winter, and
the hungers and the hardships of a hundred-thousand
men, digging vainly at the icebound earth, or trampling
it when sleety into seas of mud, and themselves sinking
in it, of dysentery, famine, toil and despair, as they
cannonaded day and night, -- Metz could not be taken.
"Impossible! " said the Generals with one voice, after
trying it for a couple of months. "Try it one other
ten days," said the Kaiser with a gloomy fixity; "let
us all die, or else do it! " They tried, with double
desperation, another ten days; cannon booming through
the winter midnight far and wide, fourscore miles
round: "Cannot be done, your Majesty! Cannot, -- the
winter and the mud, and Guise and the walls; man's
strength cannot do it in this season. We must march
away! " Karl listened in silence; but the tears were
seen to run down his proud face, now not so young as
it once was: "Let us march, then! " he said, in a low
voice, after some pause.
* KBhler: Reichshistorie, p. 453; -- and more especially MUnzbe~
lusligunqen (NHrnberg, 1729-1750), be. 121-129. The Year of this Volume,
and of the Number in question, is 1737; the Mttnz or Medal "recreated
upon" is of Henri II.
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHaP. vII. ]
305
ALBERT ALCIBIADES.
1552.
Alcibiades covered the retreat to Diedenhoff (Thion-
ville they now call it); outmanoeuvred the French, re-
treated with success; he had already captured a grand
Due d'Aumale, a Prince of the Guises, -- valuable
ransom to be looked for there. It was thought he
should have made his bargain better with the Kaiser,
before starting; but he had neglected that . Albert's
course was downward thenceforth; Kaiser Karl's too.
The French keep these "Three Bishoprics (Trois
Eveches)" and Teutschland laments the loss of them,
to this hour. Kaiser Karl, as some write, never smiled
again; -- abdicated, not long after; retired into the
Monastery of St. Just, and there soon died. That is
the Siege of Metz, where Alcibiades was helpful. His
own bargain with the Kaiser should have been better
made beforehand.
Dissatisfied with any bargain he could now get;
dissatisfied with the Treaty of Passau, with such a finale
and hushing-up of the Religious Controversy, and in
general with himself and with the world, Albert again
drew sword; went loose at a high rate upon his Bam-
berg-Wurzburg enemies, and, having raised supplies
there, upon Moritz and those Passau-Treatiers. He was
beaten at last by Moritz, "Sunday, 9th July 1553," at
a place called Sievershausen in the Hanover Country,
where Moritz himself perished in the action. -- Albert
fled thereupon to France. No hope in France. No luck
in other small and desperate stakings of his: the game
is done. Albert returns to a Sister he had, to her Hus-
band's Court in Baden; a broken, bare and bankrupt
Carlyle, Frederic the Great. I. 20
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 306 THE I10HENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG, [book IIT.
1510-169*.
man; -- soon dies there, childless, leaving the shadow
of a name. *
His death brought huge troubles upon Baireuth and
the Family Possessions. So many neighbours, Bam-
berg, Wttrzburg and the rest, were eager for retalia-
tion; a new Kaiser greedy for confiscating. Plassen-
burgCastle was besieged, bombarded, taken by famine
and burnt; much was burnt and torn to waste. Nay,
had it not been for help from Berlin, the Family had
gone to utter ruin in those parts. For this Alcibiades
had, in his turn, been Guardian to Uncle George's Son,
the George Friedrich we once spoke of, still a minor,
but well known afterwards; and it was attempted, by
an eager Kaiser Ferdinand, to involve this poor youth
in his Cousin's illegalities, as if Ward and Guardian
had been one person. Baireuth which had been Alci-
biades's, Anspach which was the young man's own,
nay Jagerndorf with its Appendages, were at one time
all in the clutches of the hawk, -- had not help from
Berlin been there. But in the end, the Law had to be
allowed its course; George Friedrich got his own Ter-
* Here, chiefly from Kb'hler (Jfunzbelwtigungen, Hi. 414-416), is the
chronology of Albert's operations:
Seizure of Niirnberg, Ac, 11th May to 22d June 1552; Innspruck (with
Treaty of Passan) follows. Then Siege of Metz, October to December 1552;
Bamberg, Wiirzburg and Niirnberg ransomed again, April 1553; Battle of
Sievershausen, 9th July 1533. Wiirzburg Ac. explode against him; Ban
of the Empire, 4th May 1554. To France thereupon; returns, hoping to
negotiate, end of 1556; dies at Pforzheim, at his Sister's, 8th January 1557.
-- See Pauli, iii. 120-138. See also Dr. Kapp; Erinnerungen an diejsnigen
Markgrafen &c. (a reprint from the Archiv fur Geschichte und Alterthumt-
ktmde in Ober-Franken, Year 1841).
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. TO. ] ALBERT ALCIBIADES. 307
1552.
ritories back (all but some surreptitious nibblings in the
Jagerndorf quarter, to be noticed elsewhere), and also
got Baireuth, his poor Cousin's Inheritance; -- sole
heir, he now, in Culmbach, the Line of Casimir being
out.
One owns to a kind of love for poor Albert Alci-
biades. In certain sordid times, even a "Failure of a
Fritz" is better than some Successes that are going. A
man of some real nobleness, this Albert; though not
with wisdom enough, not with good fortune enough.
Could he have continued to "rule the situation" (as
our French friends phrase it); to march the fanatical
Papistries, and Kaiser Karl, clear out of it, home to
Spain and San Justo a little earlier; to wave the coming
Jesuitries away, as with a flaming sword; to forbid
beforehand the doleful Thirty-Years War, and the still
dolefuller spiritual atrophy (the flaccid Pedantry, ever
rummaging and rearranging among learned marine-
stores, which thinks itself Wisdom and Insight; the
vague maunderings, flutings; indolent, impotent day-
dreaming and tobacco-smoking, of poor Modern Ger-
many) which has followed therefrom, -- Ach Gott, he
might have been a "Success of a Fritz" three times
over! He might have been a German Cromwell;
beckoning his People to fly, eagle-like, straight towards
the Sun; instead of screwing about it, in that sad, un-
certain, and far too spiral manner! -- But it lay not
in him; not in his capabilities or opportunities, after
all: and we but waste time in such speculations.
20*
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 308 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [book in.
1516-1552.
CHAPTEE Vffl.
DISTORICAL MEANING OF THE REFORMATION.
The Culmbach Brothers, we observe, play a more
important part in that era than their seniors and chiefs
of Brandenburg. These Culmbachers, Markgraf George
and Albert of Preussen at the head of them, march
valiantly forward in the Reformation business; while
Kur-Brandenburg, Joachim L, their senior Cousin, is
talking loud at Diets, galloping to Innspruck and the
like, zealous on the Conservative side; and Cardinal
Albert, Kur-Mainz, his eloquent Brother, is eager to
make matters smooth and avoid violent methods.
The Reformation was the great Event of that Six-
teenth Century; according as a man did something in
that, or did nothing and obstructed doing, has he much
claim to memory, or no claim, in this age of ours.
The more it becomes apparent that the Reformation was the Event then transacting itself, was the thing
that Germany and Europe either did or refused to do,
the more does the historical significance of men attach
itself to the phases of that transaction. Accordingly we
notice henceforth that the memorable points of Bran-
denburg History, what of it sticks naturally to the
memory of a reader or student, connect themselves of
their own accord, almost all, with the History of the
Reformation. That has proved to be the Law of Na-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. vm. ] MEANING OF THE REFORMATION. 309
1516-11)52.
ture in regard to them, softly establishing itself; and it
is ours to follow that law.
Brandenburg, not at first unanimously, by no means
too inconsiderately, but with overwhelming unanimity
when the matter became clear, was lucky enough to
adopt the Reformation; -- and stands by it ever since
in its ever-widening scope, amid such difficulties as
there might be. Brandenburg had felt somehow, that
it could do no other. And ever onwards through the
times even of our little Fritz and farther, if we will
understand the word "Reformation," Brandenburg so
feels; being, at this day, to an honourable degree, in-
capable of believing incredibilities, of adopting solemn
shams, or pretending to live on spiritual moonshine.
Which has been of uncountable advantage to Branden-
burg: -- how could it fail? This was what we must
call obeying the audible voice of Heaven. To which
same "voice," at that time, all that did not give ear,--
what has become of them since: have they not signally
had the penalties to pay!
"Penalties:" quarrel not with the old phraseology,
good reader; attend rather to the thing it means. The
word was heard of old, with a right solemn meaning
attached to it, from theological pulpits and such places;
and may still be heard there with a half-meaning, or
with no meaning, though it has rather become obsolete
to modern ears. But the thing should not have fallen
obsolete; the thing is a grand and solemn truth, ex-
pressive of a silent Law of Heaven, which continues
forever valid. The most untheological of men may still
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 310 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG. [bOOKHI.
1516-1552.
assert the thing; and invite all men to notice it, as a
silent monition and prophecy in this Universe; to take
it, with more of awe than they are wont, as a correct
reading of the Will of the Eternal in respect of such
matters; and, in their modern sphere, to bear the same
well in mind. For it is perfectly certain, and may be
seen with eyes in any quarter of Europe at this day.
Protestant or not Protestant? The question meant
everywhere: "Is there anything of nobleness in you, O
Nation, or is there nothing? Are there, in this Nation,
enough of heroic men to venture forward, and to battle
for God's Truth versus the Devil's Falsehood, at the
peril of life and more? Men who prefer death, and all
else, to living under Falsehood, -- who, once for all,
will not live under Falsehood; but having drawn the
sword against it (the time being come for that rare and
important step), throw away the scabbard, and can say,
in pious clearness, with their whole soul: 'Come on,
then! Life under Falsehood is not good for me; and
we will try it out now. Let it be to the death between
us, then! '"
Once risen into this divine white-heat of temper,
were it only for a season and not again, the Nation is
thenceforth considerable through all its remaining his-
tory. What immensities of dross and crypto-poisonous
matter will it not burn out of itself in that high tem-
perature, in the course of a few years! Witness Crom-
well and his Puritans, -- making England habitable
even under the Charles-Second terms for a couple of
centuries more. Nations are benefited, I believe, for
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? CHAP. VIII. ] MEANING OF THE REFORMATION. 311
1516-1552.
ages, by being thrown once into divine white-heat in
this manner. And no Nation that has not had such
divine paroxysms at any time, is apt to come to much. That was now, in this epoch, the English of
"adopting Protestantism;" and we need not wonder at
the results which it has had, and which the want of it
has had. For the want of it is literally the want of
loyalty to the Maker of this Universe. He who wants
that, what else has he, or can he have? If you do not,
you Man or you Nation, love the Truth enough, but
try to make a chapman-bargain with Truth, instead of
giving yourself wholly soul and body and life to her,
Truth will not live with you, Truth will depart from
you; and only Logic, "Wit" (for example, "London
Wit"), Sophistry, Virtu, the ^Esthetic Arts, and per-
haps (for a short while) Book-keeping by Double En-
try, will abide with you. You will follow falsity, and
think it truth, you unfortunate man or nation. You
will right surely, you for one, stumble to the Devil;
and are every day and hour, little as you imagine it,
making progress thither.
Austria, Spain, Italy, France, Poland, -- the offer
of the Reformation was made everywhere; and it is
curious to see what has become of the Nations that
would not hear it . In all countries were some that
accepted; but in many there were not enough, and the
rest, slowly or swiftly, with fatal difficult industry,
contrived to burn them out. Austria was once full of
Protestants; but the hide-bound Flemish-Spanish Kai-
? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-11-14 09:13 GMT / http://hdl. handle. net/2027/hvd. hn6m7y Public Domain, Google-digitized / http://www. hathitrust. org/access_use#pd-google
? 312 THE HOHENZOLLERNS IN BRANDENBURG.
