The Message
Count Schwarzenberg gave a banquet in honor of the Prince, who accepted
the invitation, although he had no sympathy with the Count, because his
father desired him to do so. A sudden illness seized him at the table
and he was taken home very sick. On the next day he felt better and soon
recovered. It was whispered among the people that an attempt had been
made to poison him. The Electoral Prince, they said, is the only
survivor of his family who can enter upon the inheritance, and
Schwarzenberg is the Emperor's favorite. Two other stories were also
circulated. A man was said to have been discovered under the Prince's
bed with a dagger. It was also said that an attempt had been made upon
his life while he was hunting. These and similar stories passed from
mouth to mouth, which had the effect to make the people more
uncomfortable and wretched. At last the citizens of Berlin and Coln
decided to send a message to the Prince. It read as follows:
"It is well known how greatly the country has been weakened and wasted
by friend and foe, and that many officers have been sumptuously
entertained though they had no commands, and have been paid large
salaries, while under-officers and soldiers have had but scanty
allowances and have been wretched and hungry. The outrages of the
Elector's troopers have been so monstrous that neither horse, cow, ox,
nor man was safe from them; and for that reason tillage in the best
localities has been abandoned. Business has stopped; cities, towns, and
villages are deserted, and for miles you will find neither men nor
cattle nor even a dog or a cat. In spite of all this, heavy tribute has
been levied and collected by military force. They have taken houses,
farms, gardens, fields, and vineyards, and given them to officers who
were exempt from levies. Berlin has paid immense sums monthly for the
support of the Elector's troops, and Coln in proportion. The Swedes
under Colonel von Debitz, after the Elector's troops had abandoned the
roads to Landsberg, Frankfort, and Purstenwald, and left everything in
the greatest disorder, invaded the residences and stripped them of
almost everything. Merchants, tradespeople, and travellers were robbed
of their goods and property. Villages lay in ashes. The town-house
servants, church and school teachers have not been paid. In short,
Berlin and Coln have been reduced to poverty by fire, robbery, and
oppression. Many have put an end to their wretched lives by water, the
rope, or the knife; while others, taking wives and children, have
forsaken their homes and are wandering about in wretched plight."
Burgsdorf handed this message to the Prince on the forenoon of the day
it was received. He hoped that he would graciously receive the message,
meet his friends, consult with them about the condition of the country,
settle upon some plan of action for its relief, and afterwards lay it
before the Elector, and especially insist upon Schwarzenberg's
dismissal. But Burgsdorf had greatly deceived himself. The Prince, whose
motto was the words of the Psalm "Lord, show me the way that I must go,"
had decided upon his homeward journey the position he would take at the
Electoral Court. After reading the message he looked earnestly at
Burgsdorf and said: "You know the story of Absalom, how he sat by the
gate and did obeisance to all who came nigh to the King for judgment and
stole the hearts of the men of Israel. Do you think these stories are
unknown to me? I know also the story in which we are told how David met
Saul, who would have killed him in the cave, and how some of David's
friends bade him kill Saul. You ought to know these stories; but better
still you ought to understand that mere knowing is of little use. 'Be it
far from me,' said David, 'to lay my hand upon the Lord's anointed.' You
seem astonished that I have referred to these past events. You certainly
do not desire to make an attempt upon the life of the Prince of this
country. But I say to you, 'Far be it from me to stretch out my hand
against the country's anointed,' so take back the message. If my father
seeks my advice, my word for the good cause shall not be lacking, so far
as God gives me the power to perceive what is right."