“Let this discussion be ended,” said the Electoress. “Herr Minister, what would you advise my brother to do if he were standing here before you and asked, ‘Shall I accept the crown of Bohemia?’”
Schwarzenberg replied: “I would implore him to decline it. A terrible struggle confronts your princely brother if he places Bohemia’s crown upon his head. He is a mild, peace-loving man and not capable of bringing that struggle to a favorable close. Once it breaks out, it will spread devastation far and wide, the end of which who can foresee?”
The Electoress had heard enough. “I thank you, Schwarzenberg,” she said, at the same time giving him permission to retire. But when the door closed, she said: “Now I know where I am. Schwarzenberg has greatly weakened my confidence.”
The Margrave and the Chancellor plucked up courage to address the Electoress once more. “Has the Protestant Union then been established for naught? Shall the princes who established it abandon it?”
“God forbid,” replied the Electoress; “but look you. There stands opposed to the Protestant Union a union of Catholic princes. Schwarzenberg spoke of a bitter struggle which must ensue if my brother accepts the crown of Bohemia. Schwarzenberg’s religious convictions may be opposed to ours but you will not deny that he has very clear eyes.”
Yes, clear eyes had Schwarzenberg. He saw in the events occurring in Bohemia the beginning of a mighty struggle. That it would last thirty years neither he nor any other could know, but he had the presentiment that he should not live to see its close.
Chapter II
An Unquiet Night
The sixteenth of February, 1620, was an important day for Prussia, for between three and four o’clock on the afternoon of that day, a son was born to the Electoress, Frederick William, the future “Great Elector.” It is remarkable that the heir who fought so many battles should have been disturbed even in his cradle by warlike tumult. Upon the evening of the twentieth of May the nurse and chambermaid were together in the Prince’s apartment which the Electoress had left to get some rest. The child was sleeping quietly in his handsomely decorated cradle. The two watched him a little while with pleasure, then seated themselves at a table upon which a wax light burned behind a screen, and began to spin. When they were fairly at work, the nurse said: “Our Princess little recks of the evil doings which are endangering our peace.”
“The Princess was anxious enough,” replied the chambermaid, “when she saw the people collecting in crowds in the streets, but the castellan has reassured her.”
“What were the people excited about?”