A Retrospect
Baron Leuchtmar received a reply to his letter to the Electoress in
which she authorized him to communicate any information to the Prince
about the events connected with the war which he could understand. In
reality she would have preferred to have him remain ignorant about it,
but as that was no longer possible, he might inform him so far as it
seemed necessary.
Leuchtmar began his task at once. He went back to the times of the
Reformation to show the Prince that the war which had cost Germany so
much blood and so many tears was a war of religious faiths. Then he told
him about conditions in Bohemia, the elevation of his uncle Frederick
the Fifth to the throne of that country and his downfall, and finally
the appearance of Wallenstein upon the arena of war. This occupied one
evening. The Prince was deeply interested in what he heard, and would
gladly have learned further details about the careers of this or that
person, but he realized, as Leuchtmar had pointed out, that to
understand the events of the existing war he must first be acquainted
with events leading up to it.
The next evening the Prince, Leuchtmar, the Preceptor, and the pages
assembled in the hunting-room and took their places at a long oval table
lit by silver sconces. All listened as Leuchtmar began his talk:--
"Before I go on with Wallenstein's operations I must mention two of the
fiercest, stoutest champions of the Protestant cause as well as of your
unfortunate uncle. They are the Count von Mansfeld and Duke Christian of
Brunswick. The first was actively engaged in Frederick's cause while he
was still King of Bohemia. He was exceedingly able and had many hard
battles with the League, as also did Duke Christian. Both were very
vindictive against the Catholic bishops and abbots, especially the Duke.
He once looted a Catholic monastery of its silver, had it melted down
and coined, and inscribed upon the coins: 'God's friend, the priests'
enemy.' Your uncle, who had found refuge in Holland, was told that if he
would discharge these generals the Emperor would be delighted to restore
the Palatinate to him. Frederick believed what was told him and
dismissed them, only to find himself disappointed. The two went to
Holland to assist that country against Spain. Christian, at the very
outset, was so badly wounded in the arm that it had to be amputated. The
operation was performed by his orders, to an accompaniment of trumpet
fanfares, and when it was over he sent word to the opposing general that
the mad duke had lost one arm but he was keeping the other to inflict
vengeance upon his enemies. This he did not fail in doing. The two
generals were in Holland but a short time. Count von Mansfeld was
defeated on the Elbe, at the bridge of Dessau in 1626 by Wallenstein;
and of his twenty thousand men he could only rally five thousand about
him in Germany. We have suffered much from the outrages of his troops,
for there were many very bad men among them. He marched through Silesia
and Moravia into Transylvania. Wallenstein pursued him, which gave
Christian of Denmark, who had espoused the Protestant cause, an
opportunity to take the field.
"The Count von Mansfeld supposed that he would have no difficulty in
conducting operations against the Emperor in Transylvania. He knew that
Prince Bethlen Gabor, who was ruling at that time, had been engaged in a
fierce contest with the Emperor a short time previously; but he soon
discovered, greatly to his surprise, that peace had been made between
them. He then went to England to raise troops for fresh undertakings,
and died while thus engaged. When he realized that his end was near he
donned his armor and helmet and died erect, supported by two of his
officers. The Duke of Brunswick died in the same year.
"In the meantime, as I have already mentioned, another champion of the
Protestant cause appeared, Christian the Fourth, King of Denmark, and
the Dukes of Brunswick and Mecklenburg joined him. Their union was
already accomplished when Wallenstein appeared upon the scene. Supposing
that they were confronted by the League alone, they now discovered that
they had to meet a second and much stronger foe. While Wallenstein was
pursuing Count von Mansfeld the League's forces were contending with
those of the King of Denmark. The former were led by Tilly. The King
tried to evade a battle, but he was finally forced into it at the
village of Lutter. Christian fought bravely, but his troops were no
match for those of the League. He lost the battle and had to fly. Tilly
pursued him and captured one strong place after another. Meanwhile
Wallenstein returned from his pursuit of the Count von Mansfeld and
improved the opportunity to make a trip from Frankfurt to Berlin."
"Was he in Berlin?" asked the Prince, in amazement. "Did he go there as
friend or enemy?"
"Not as a friend and yet not as an avowed enemy."
[Illustration: _In the dark days_]
"But we are Protestants, and he is the leader on the Catholic side,"
said the Prince.
"You are right," replied Leuchtmar, "and yet we made no hostile movement
against him."
"Was no assistance tendered by us to the Protestants who rose in arms
against the Catholics?"
"None."
"Why not?"
"My Prince," said Leuchtmar, after a pause, "it is not so easy to answer
that question as you think. Perhaps some time you may be able to do so.
You must trust your father in this matter. In this great war he has thus
far not taken sides with the Protestants. Be assured he has good reasons
for his course. Now listen to me once more. Our first minister, Count
Schwarzenberg, is a Cath--"
"Pardon me, Herr Leuchtmar, for interrupting you," said the Prince. "We
are Protestants and our first minister is a Catholic?"
"I can give you a reason for that," replied Leuchtmar. "There is an
unfortunate division among the Protestants. The two factions are called
Lutherans and Reformers. They are very bitter against each other, the
Lutherans especially so. Were not this the case the Catholics would not
have been so successful. I think your father did not care to add oil to
the flames by selecting his first minister from either of those two
factions. Their enmity was so strong that they would rather see a
Catholic at the head of the Privy Council in Berlin than any one from
either faction. It is undoubtedly due to our Catholic minister
Schwarzenberg that Wallenstein was much gentler among us at the
beginning of the campaign than we had any reason to expect he would be.
Schwarzenberg implored him to spare the country, and upon the same
occasion invited him to go to Berlin. He accepted the invitation and
went there with thirty princes, counts, and barons, sixteen pages,
twenty-four halberdiers, twelve lackeys, and a great number of
chamberlains, cooks, and servants,--in all fifteen hundred persons and a
thousand horses. He remained in Berlin only one night and on the next
day went back to his army, which already had been increased to a hundred
thousand men. He advanced with this army, driving the Danes before him.
His monthly stipend at that time, six thousand gulden, had increased by
the end of 1627 to one hundred and eighty thousand, and as it had not
been paid, the Emperor indemnified him with the dukedom of Sagan as a
feudal tenure and also made him a prince of the empire. Thereupon he
aspired to the possession of Mecklenburg. As both the dukes were allies
of the King of Denmark and had therefore incurred the enmity of the
Emperor, he had no difficulty in getting his consent. Ferdinand outlawed
the dukes and granted Wallenstein the possession of Mecklenburg."
"About what time did this occur?" asked the Prince.
"In the year 1629," replied Leuchtmar.
"You have forgotten one very important event, Herr Leuchtmar," remarked
the Preceptor, "the siege of Stralsund, the year before, in 1628."
"That is true," said Leuchtmar, "and I thank you, Herr Preceptor, for
reminding me of it. Stralsund is one of the Hanseatic cities and has a
regular military force. As Wallenstein absolutely dominated city and
country, wherever he was, he thought he could do the same in Stralsund.
He sent a force there which he expected would garrison the city. The
Stralsunders, however, closed their gates and would not admit the
imperial troops. Doubtless they were sufficiently familiar with imperial
outrages even against friends. They sent an embassy to Wallenstein to
justify their action. He turned upon them in a rage and declared in
substance that even were Stralsund bound to the heavens by a chain he
would break it and enter the city. The brave Stralsunders in the
meantime made preparations for a stout resistance. They also applied to
the King of Denmark for help, as well as to another sovereign who is a
near relation of yours, my Prince."
"Ah! you mean Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden."
"Yes. Both sent help,--Gustavus Adolphus ammunition, the Danish king
four companies of foot soldiers. Wallenstein's force besieged and
assaulted the city without any effect. Then Wallenstein came in person,
demanded the city's surrender, and swore that if it refused he would
spare neither old nor young. The magistrates hesitated, but the
burghers, encouraged by the arrival of four hundred Danes and two
thousand Swedes, refused to open the gates to the enemy. It will be to
their honor for all time that they were so courageous and resolute. All
Wallenstein's exertions were useless; after losing twelve thousand men
before the walls of the city he had to make a dishonorable, shameful
retreat."
With this, the talk for that day closed.
Early the next morning Leuchtmar went out for a walk in the castle
grounds. The air was fresh and fragrant, and the golden morning light
shimmered among the trees. As it was nearly six o'clock, he went in to
wake the Prince. He walked up to his bed and drew back the silken
curtains. The Prince lay before him the picture of health. His cheeks
glowed, and his lips were deep red in color. "Poor little fellow," he
thought to himself, "thy peace is forever gone. The knowledge of the
world thou hast acquired will wither many an innocent joy in the bud. As
the years increase, thy anxiety and cares will increase. Is not the lot
of a prince harder than that of any one of his subjects?"
The clock struck six and Leuchtmar aroused the Prince. His first words
were: "Herr Leuchtmar, I have been in Stralsund all night, fighting upon
the walls against the Emperor's troops. Wallenstein came, wearing a
blood-red cloak, and rose to such a towering height that his head
overtopped the walls. Some of our men fled, but the most remained and
shot and thrust at him. At last a cannon ball took off his head and he
fell." At breakfast, also, the Prince mentioned his dream.