In November of the Same Year
Six months have passed since that unquiet night. The people of both
cities were greatly excited during that time by some momentous events.
To understand them, we must narrate some occurrences which happened in
the Spring.
About that time a Swedish captain appeared at the Elector's court--a
handsome man of kingly bearing. He remained in Coln about fourteen days
and was very often at the castle. It was universally supposed he was
engaged upon a secret mission. This was actually the case, but the
people were mistaken: they thought he was acting for others, while in
reality he was acting for himself. This captain was no other than
Gustavus Adolphus, the chivalrous King of Sweden. Reports of the beauty
and goodness of the Princess Marie Eleonore, sister of the Elector, had
drawn him to the Brandenburg court. He wished to ascertain by his own
observation whether these reports were true. He found all that he
wished--modesty, intelligence, personal charm. He made her acquaintance,
pressed his suit, and she confidingly placed her destiny in his hands.
Not long after this, Oxenstjern, the Swedish Chancellor, escorted the
royal bride to Stockholm, where the marriage was to be celebrated. The
people then discovered for the first time that the Swedish captain, in
whom they had been so deeply interested the past six months, and King
Gustavus Adolphus were one and the same person. One may well imagine
that the event was the subject of eager discourse for a long time, and
that the union between Brandenburg and Sweden was hailed with rejoicing.
The popular interest, however, was still greater in the future of
Bohemia and its chosen ruler. The coronation of Frederick of the
Palatinate was celebrated with brilliant ceremonies, the first act in a
momentous drama. Bohemia was now the country in which the strength of
Catholicism and that of Protestantism were to be measured for the first
time. The Emperor was opposed to the Catholic union. The news reached
Berlin and Coln that a strong army was approaching the capital of
Bohemia, led by Maximilian of Bavaria, whose prowess as a soldier had
made his name one to be dreaded.
What days, what nights, the Electoress passed, alternating between hope
and anxiety! And more and more her hope grew fainter.