“Not the only one, but the principal one.”
Prince Ludwig now spoke: “I do not believe it. Maximilian had a hand in the game, but the Emperor is mainly responsible. What a weak successor the Emperor’s oldest son will prove!”
“He is only nominally commander-in-chief of the army. The real leader is Gallas, and he has learned from his great predecessors. It almost seemed as if Tilly or Pappenheim were again leading the Imperialists, so bravely did they fight at Nordlingen, where Marshal Franz Horn was captured.”
“This is also an inestimable loss for our side,” said the Electoress with a sigh. “With my own ears I have heard Gustavus Adolphus call him his right hand. As long as the Swedes had a Marshal Franz Horn and a Chancellor Oxenstjern they decided to continue the war against the Emperor and the League. But Horn has been languishing in prison for several years.”
“Twenty years,” began Prince Ludwig, “the war has already lasted. If the Elector of Saxony did not continually temporize, possibly some settlement might be reached, but that vacillating gentleman thinks only of his own advantage. The Protestant cause has been left in the lurch. He does not consider our rights in treaties of peace with the Emperor. But the enraged Swedes now in his country will pay him off.”
The Electoress folded her hands. “May the Almighty,” she sighed, “soon bring peace to the German Empire and restore us our rights!”
Prince Ludwig replied: “Mother, we three must also play some part upon the stage of war. There is still much remaining to be done.”
The wild Rupert exclaimed: “Even if peace could be made, I would not have it so until I have done something in the field.”
The Electoral Prince said nothing, but his look and manner showed how ardently he longed to take part in the struggle.
The Elector of Brandenburg had agreed to the treaty of peace which had been concluded between the Emperor and the Elector of Saxony. That the Electoress of the Palatinate as well as her sons and daughters were dissatisfied may well be imagined. But up to this time nothing had been said of his father’s politics in the presence of the Electoral Prince. But now Prince Rupert broke out: “The Electors by this treaty with the Emperor have proved traitors to a good cause.”