Wallenstein soon recruited a new army, but he now began to be distrusted by both sides.[[5]] He failed to carry out the Edict of Restitution. He appointed Protestants to good positions in the army.
[5]. Read Schiller's "Drama of Wallenstein."
Proofs yet exist that he was negotiating with Oxenstiern. Count Schlick openly said: "Wallenstein is playing a double game." He received a messenger from Richelieu. He was aiming first for the crown of Bohemia, and it is believed that his astrologers had told him that the stars proclaimed he would yet be Emperor of Germany. Ferdinand had long watched him through spies, but Wallenstein, surrounded by his great generals, was not easy to take in case he should not choose to submit to arrest. Wallenstein had entered into a bond of friendship with about thirty of his officers, who promised to be faithful unto death to him, but even while the astrologer was telling him of coming triumph, an Imperial proclamation declared that Wallenstein had been found guilty of treasonable conspiracy, dismissed from the service and his officers forbidden to take any orders whatever from him.
Wallenstein went to the strong fortress of Eyer in Bohemia, followed by a good-sized army. Here he hoped to maintain himself till he could close negotiations with the Duke of Weimar, with the Swedes and with Richelieu, and carry his army to the other side. But the Emperor was prepared before he made the proclamation.
Only four of the thirty officers remained true to him; in spite of their written oaths of allegiance that they would sacrifice their estates and shed their heart's blood for him. The Emperor offered a reward for him dead or alive. These false friends proposed a great banquet in his honor. The banquet lasted late into the night, while they drank to the general's health and toasted him in fair speech. Suddenly a company of ruffians burst into the hall, and, with the assistance of the traitors, the four friends of Wallenstein were assassinated. The general had retired to rest, not being well. Hearing the confusion he rose, dressed and prepared for the worst. Suddenly the tramp of many feet were heard, the door was burst open, and Devereau, at the head of thirty men, cried: "Are you the villain who would betray our Emperor?" Wallenstein, like a brave man, opened his arms wide, receiving in the breast his mortal wound.
His vast property was confiscated and divided among his betrayers, all of whom received offices, honors and wealth. Twenty-four lower officers who were his friends fled, but were captured and beheaded at Pilsen. He had a strong personal following. His soldiers laughed at being known as Protestant, Catholic, German or foreigners; they declared they were Wallensteiners. He cared for neither friend nor foe, but led his robber band from State to State till it was laid waste, then moved on to the next, leaving devastation in his wake.
The fifth and last period of the war was now entered upon, known as the French-Swedish War. Richelieu made the Rhine the frontier of France, and concluded an open alliance with Sweden.
Ferdinand II. now died, after having made his son Roman king. This greatly angered Duke Maximilian, Richelieu and Pope Urban VIII., who had other plans for that throne. Ferdinand died unmourned, after causing as great sorrow as any human being who ever lived. During the remaining eleven years before the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Ferdinand III. would gladly have made peace, but Germany was so defenceless that she was simply in the hands of France and Sweden, one contending for, the other against the Edict of Restitution, but the awful story of rapine, murder, pestilence and death of those eleven years need not be told here. (See Schiller's "Thirty Years' War.")
What was Christian Germany doing all this time? It kept the faith; it sought consolation in God's word; it wrote the deep spiritual hymns of the Church, hymns which have comforted the sorrowing from that day to this.
The negotiations for peace extended over four years. While diplomats in comfortable rooms were bickering over terms, armies were fighting, soldiers dying, people starving, and utter misery prevailing. The parties who had to subscribe to the peace were France, Sweden, the Emperor, the various German States and princes, Frederick William, who afterward became known as the great Elector of Brandenburg, Denmark, Venice, Spain, Switzerland, England and the Netherlands. Sweden did not receive Pomerania, which she demanded, but secured Western Pomerania, with Rugen, Stettin and a few other places, and an indemnity of five million thalers. But what was that to her loss?