The Prince's Flight
While the campaigns of Banner in Bohemia and of the heroic Bernhard von
Weimar upon the Rhine were in progress, George William summoned the
Electoral Prince from Holland. The court residence was removed from
Berlin to the strong fortress of Spandau. The Prince arrived there with
Leuchtmar and Muller, whose functions had ceased. The jovial and
patriotic Colonel von Burgsdorf was also there. Speaking of the Prince,
and the events of the day upon one occasion when Leuchtmar was visiting
Burgsdorf, the former said: "The Prince would have been in Holland
to-day had it not been for him." (Leuchtmar made three crosses in the
air.)
"Schwarzenberg! Yes, he sits upon our necks like the Evil One himself!
They say he can do anything he wishes with the Elector. He has even
asserted that the Prince must marry a Catholic lady. And whom do you
suppose he has in mind? The Archduchess Isabella Clara. The Elector
knows nothing about it as yet, but Schwarzenberg believes the Prince
will be greatly pleased."
Leuchtmar smiled. "If he thinks the Prince can be moulded and pressed to
suit his pleasure he is mistaken. There are surely few young men of his
age who show an equal force of character. Here is one example out of
many. In The Hague, as you well know, there are many young and
distinguished people, sons of princes, counts, and others. A
clear-headed man can learn much from association with them, while a
frivolous man would only learn things destructive of body and soul
alike. When I received the letter requesting me to take the Prince to
The Hague I implored divine help to keep his life blameless. The Prince
surprised me reading it and asked what troubled me. I told him frankly
what disquieted me, and that in my trouble I had sought divine
assistance. The Prince, deeply moved, took my hand and said that he
would always heed my admonitions. I was consoled for a time, but anxiety
returned when we arrived at The Hague and I thought of the young men who
would be his associates. Many of them had been to Paris. I knew the
Prince's strength of character but I feared the insidious temptations to
which he might be exposed. I had no outward way of protecting him. What
power can a governor have over a nineteen-year-old prince? But he is not
a hypocrite, I can tell you. He likes jolly company and a beaker of good
wine, and he is very jovial. These young gentlemen of the Paris school
were in the habit of giving suppers at which some handsome but not very
reputable young women were present. Think of it! And to one of these
suppers the Prince was invited."
"I should like to have wrung the necks of those who invited him!"
exclaimed the Colonel.
"Listen further. The Prince went to the designated place with young Von
Loewen, from whom I learned the particulars. At first he could not trust
his own eyes. But when he was convinced of the kind of company he had
fallen into, he took his hat and indignantly left the place."
Interrupting the Baron, Burgsdorf exclaimed, "Did the Prince do that?"
"Why should you doubt it?" replied Leuchtmar. "He did still more. Some
of these sons of princes and counts sprang up and followed him, seized
him by the arm and hand and tried to induce him to stay. But he shook
them off and said: 'You may justify yourselves in what you are doing;
but I know what I owe to my parents, to my country, and to myself.'"
Burgsdorf vainly strove to keep back the tears. Pacing the floor to and
fro he exclaimed, "Lord, my God, he is every inch a prince. If he were
my child I would love him to death--that old ass--but what am I saying?
He is the Electoral Prince, and will he not be my Prince every day? Whom
have we to thank for such a Prince, whom else than--"
"Than God," replied Leuchtmar.
"Yes," replied the Colonel; "your first thanks for everything are due to
Him. But we also have to thank you for your judicious course, excellent
man. Believe me, if Frederick William turns out to be a great prince,
your name will not be forgotten. And should a thankless posterity forget
him, he will not be forgotten by God. Of one thing I am sure, the Prince
himself will be grateful to you as long as he lives."
"He has already more than repaid me for my efforts," replied Leuchtmar.
"I will show you in the morning a deed of gift which I lately received
from the Prince. But be seated. I have not yet finished what I wish to
say. A few days after this incident, the Prince left The Hague."
"Why? Did he fear that sometime he might yield to temptation?"
"It may be. But where did he go? Can you guess? To the camp. The Prince
of Orange was investing Breda at the time. He offered his services to
him, and there he had daily experience in the art of war under the eyes
of distinguished field officers. When Orange learned the cause of his
flight from The Hague, he said to him: 'My Prince, your flight displays
more heroic spirit than the taking of Breda will do. He who can conquer
himself so early will always be great.'"
Their further conversation was devoted to matters in Holland.