Part 20
I went therefore to DESSAU, which is but Six Leagues from _Leipsick_: At that time none were there but the Princesses, for the Prince had been absent several Days, and was not expected till the Night following: I wrote to _Madame_ the Duchess of _Radzivil_, the Eldest of the Princesses, to desire that she would stand my Friend with the Prince her Brother: This Princess was so good as to send me one of her Officers to assure me that she would do every thing in her Power to prevail on the Prince to protect me; and she even desir'd me to write a Letter to the Prince, which she promis'd me to deliver to him with her own Hands: I laid hold on the Princess's kind Offer, sent her the Letter she desired of me, and as soon as the Prince was return'd, she had the Goodness to deliver it to him: I hop'd to carry all my Points after such a Recommendation; yet so far was I from seeing the Effect which I expected, that the Prince desir'd his Sister to engage me to make the best of my way out of _Dessau_, because if I staid there any longer, he should be oblig'd to put me under an Arrest: The Duchess, when she sent me this Message, was so kind as to sweeten it with one of the civillest Compliments that could be, and made me an Offer of Money, imagining, to be sure, that in the Condition I was in, I might have need of it: I most humbly thank'd her for all the Marks of Kindness with which she was pleas'd to honour me, and desir'd her to be assur'd, that I would that Instant pray Obedience to the Prince's Orders: And indeed, as I knew that with this Prince Execution follow'd close at the Heels of his Menaces, I speedily made an Enquiry for a Coach to carry me to _Barbi_, which is the Residence of a Duke of _Saxony_ of the Branch of _Weissenfels_, where I hop'd to meet with a Friend of mine, who was in that Prince's Service; but 'twas impossible for me to find either Horse or Coach in all _Dessau_, for nobody would stir by reason of the Sacredness of the Day, it being the Fourth _Sunday_ in _Advent_: Mean time, as I still dreaded the Prince's Anger, I resolv'd to set out on Foot: I made a Man shoulder my Portmanteau, which was then all my Equipage, and went with him to a little Town in the Duchy of _Magdebourg_, where I took a Chaise that carry'd me to BARBI.
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I there found the Friend that I wanted, who receiv'd me as well as I could wish: This was the late Baron _de Chalisac_ whom you knew; but he did not fail to chide me a little, for letting my Affairs run into such Confusion; and advis'd me to go to my Brother, and concert proper Measures with him for the Advantage of both of us: He also lent me 40 Crowns for my Journey: I spent the _Christmas_-Holidays with him, during which he heard, that my Brother was return'd to ZELL: I was very glad of this News, and next Day after the Holidays I set out to meet him: I found him in a very good Humour with me: He convinc'd me, that I had Reason to suspect my Steward, and advis'd me at the same time to turn him off, and to take his in his Room, whom he knew to be honest: I gave him full Power to examine my Steward's Accompts, and he made it out as clear as the Sun at Noon-day, that I had been bubbled: My Brother, in order to oblige me thoroughly, help'd me to some Money, and moreover, put my Affairs in such a State, that my Creditors might not only be satisfy'd in a little time, but I had something left over-and-above to subsist me.
My Affairs being thus settled, I had nothing to think of now but which way to steer my Course, to the end it might be said at least, that I had some sort of Business or other: I could have lik'd the Service well enough, but there was no War, nor none like to be very soon: Moreover, I had paid my Court with so little Success to different Sovereigns, that indeed I was under no Temptation to enter the Lists again: I might indeed have return'd to _Spain_, where I had obtain'd an Employ, but what signify'd it, where the Salaries are not paid, and the Establishment obliges one to spend high? This Fluctuation of different Ideas puzzled me the more, because which way soever I look'd, I saw nothing but Difficulty, and not the least Glimpse of any other Condition that I could embrace: One Friend advis'd me to take Orders in the Church, which was a Proposition that I thought at first a little extraordinary; yet when I had seriously consider'd the Matter, I judg'd it would not be so wrong a Step as I imagin'd; that sooner or later I should not fail of having some Preferment: In a Word, a Number of temporal Motives gave Birth to a Project in my Mind, which ought only to have been the Effect of a Spiritual Call: I was advis'd first of all to make my Court to the Cardinal of _Saxe_, who was at _Ratisbon_: This Prince, who from a _Lutheran_ turn'd _Roman-Catholic_, was very fond of new Converts.
I went therefore to find out his Eminency at _Ratisbon_: My Brother accompany'd me as far as _Brunswick_, where we stay'd some Days, after which he took Leave of me, and return'd to _Zell_; and I for my Part went to _Barbi_, to see the Baron _de Chalisac_ to whom I gave an Account of the Settlement I had made with my Brother, and of my Resolution to think now of the main Chance: He was overjoy'd to find me in such a Disposition; and after I had spent a few Days with him, I proceeded to _Zeitz_, by the way of _Leipsick_.
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You know that ZEITZ is a Town which has always been the Appenage of a Branch of the _Saxon_ Family: The last Duke that was in Possession of it marry'd a Princess of _Brandenbourg_, Sister of our late King. That Duke chang'd his Religion twice towards the Close of his Life: The first time he turn'd _Catholic_, in Imitation of his Brother the Cardinal of _Saxe_; and the second time he return'd to the _Lutheran_ Religion, in which he had been educated: As he left but one Daughter, who was marry'd to Prince _William_ of _Hesse-Cassel_, his Dominions ought to have fallen to the Cardinal, and to one of his Nephews; but they being both of them _Catholics_, are disinherited by virtue of an Article of the Treaty of _Westphalia_: Mean time the King of _Poland_, who is a _Catholic_, seiz'd them, and continues Master of them, so that those Dominions are govern'd by a Regency, which receives its Orders from _Dresden_: The King of _Poland_ made an Accommodation with the Cardinal and the young Prince, by giving each of them a Sum of Money, and engaging moreover to pay the late Duke's Debts.
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From _Zeitz_ I went to HOFF, the first Town in the Marquisate of _Brandenbourg-Bareith_, from whence I proceeded to _Bareith_, the Capital of the Margraviate of that Name, and from thence to _Erlangen_: Of both these Towns I shall have occasion to make Mention hereafter: From _Erlangen_ I went to NUREMBERG[33], which passes for the best built City in all _Germany_: The Houses are all very beautiful, lofty, and perfectly lightsome, and most of them are painted on the Outside, like those of _Augsbourg_: The Town-house, in which the Senate assembles, is a Structure remarkably beautiful, is very large, and completely well built: The principal Front is adorn'd by Three great Portico's with Marble Pillars: The Inside is every whit answerable to the Magnificence of the Outside, there being very fine Rooms in it, adorn'd with noble Paintings.
The Territory of _Nuremberg_ is considerable, there being several Towns and Villages depending on it: The _Brandenbourg_ Family have had frequent Disputes with the Republic on account of some Lands, that they claim for their Appurtenances; upon which Blood has been spilt more than once; nay, in the Reign of the Emperor _Frederic_ III. there was actually an open War upon that Occasion: At present _Nuremberg_ is secure against any manner of Insult; it having good Ramparts, an Arsenal well furnish'd, and a numerous Garison.
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After I had stay'd Two Days at _Nuremberg_, I set out for AICHSTEDT, which is the See of a Bishop, who is Prince of the Empire: I had the Honour of waiting on the then Bishop of the See, who was of the Family of the Barons of _Knebel_ of _Katzenellebogen_, and a Prelate not only of a noble Extraction, but extraordinary Merit: Having a Letter of Recommendation to him, I desir'd Audience of him, and he granted it to me with great Marks of Distinction; for he sent me one of his Coaches, and gave me the most civil Reception in the World: Being at that time violently afflicted with the Gout, he was seated, and made me sit down likewise; and after a good deal of Discourse, he invited me to Supper: The Supper was attended by a Concert, which his Musicians came to perform in his Chamber: It was a very numerous Band, and perfectly well adapted: I made my Court to him for the Five or Six Days that I stay'd at _Aichstedt_, and when I went away, he made me a Present of a Gold Snuffbox, which weigh'd 25 Ducats: He took it out of a Cabinet that he shew'd me, in which I observ'd a great many very valuable Jewels, particularly a Diamond Cross, reckon'd worth between 5 and 600,000 Florins: This Prelate had moreover the Complaisance to defray my Expences at my Inn, so that when I came to call for the Reckoning, I was very much surpriz'd to find that I had been beholden to the Prince to clear it.
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At my Departure from _Aichstedt_ I took the direct Road to _Ratisbon_, which carry'd me thro' INGOLSTADT, a strong Place of _Bavaria_: It serv'd for the Residence of several Dukes of _Bavaria_, whose Castle is still to be seen, where lives the Governor, who is always a General Officer of the Elector's Troops.
From _Ingolstadt_ Half a Day's Journey brought me to RATISBON, an Imperial City of _Bavaria_, and a Suffragan Bishoprick of _Saltzbourg_: There I found the Cardinal of _Saxe_, who was come thither to preside at the Dyet, in quality of the Emperor's Commissary: He had for his Adjunct the Baron _de Kirchner_, who had the Title of Joint Commissioner at the Dyet, and had the Care of all Affairs: This Post of Commissioner at the Dyet is the most honourable that the Emperor has in his Nomination; insomuch that a Commissioner does not yield Precedence to an Elector; and his very Instructions import, that if a King comes to _Ratisbon_, he must not yield him the Preference: The Cardinal of _Lamberg_, who was the Cardinal of _Saxe_'s Predecessor in the Post of Commissioner at the Dyet, had some Broil with the Electors, and with the Court of _Vienna_, because he gave way to the Duke of _Lorrain_: This Prince passing thro' _Ratisbon_ to take Possession of his Dominions, after the Treaty of _Ryswick_, sent Notice to the Cardinal of his Arrival, upon which he went immediately, and pay'd his Royal Highness a Visit, invited him to dine at his House, sent his Coaches for the Duke, and gave him the Right Hand upon all Occasions: Of this the Electors Envoys complain'd; but the Cardinal, not much intoxicated with his Dignity, made them Answer, That he thought it was a Deference which he ow'd to the Duke of _Lorrain_, not as a Sovereign Prince, but as the Emperor's Nephew: He made Use of the same Argument at the Court of _Vienna_, where, tho' for that one time only, his Conduct was approv'd.
This is not the only Prerogative enjoy'd by the Commissioner to the Dyet: He has a Right to have Guards, and is commonly serv'd by Gentlemen: When an Electoral Minister repairs to the Cardinal for Audience, he is receiv'd as he alights out of his Coach by Four Gentlemen, who conduct him to the Chamber of Audience; There's a Guard-Room, in which there are 50 Soldiers, always drawn up in a Line with Muskets on their Shoulders: Next to this Room is the Chamber of Audience: When the Minister enters it, the Commissioner advances half way to meet him; They then sit down in Two Chairs of State, under the same Canopy; in such manner that the Commissioner is placed in the middle, and the Envoy's almost over against him, but a little to one Side, so that it stands partly upon the Carpet, with the Back turn'd half way towards the Door. When the Audience is over, the Commissioner accompanies the Envoy half way out of the Chamber, from whence Four Gentlemen reconduct him to his Coach: The Envoys of the Princes are only receiv'd by Three Gentlemen. The Commissioner expects them in the Chamber of Audience standing, and leaning upon a Table, which is under a Canopy, with a Chair of State by his Side: When the Envoy is enter'd, the Commissioner sits down, and puts on his Hat, and the Envoy does the same: His Chair of State stands over-against the Commissioner's, with its Back turn'd towards the Door, and plac'd in such a manner, that the Envoy's Feet do but barely touch the Commissioner's Carpet: When the Audience is ended, Three Gentlemen reconduct the Envoy to his Coach: The Deputies of the Free States of the Empire have a Chair with only a Back, and no Arms to it, when they have Audience of the Commissioner, and only one Gentleman receives and reconducts them.
When the Commissioner gives any public Feast, he must send an Invitation to the Ministers of the Electors and of the Princes Three Days before-hand; and the Table must be plac'd under a Canopy, where the Commissioner has the chief Seat; and the Ministers place themselves on his Right and Left, according to the Rank of their Masters.
I had the Honour to pay my Respects to the Cardinal Commissioner, who receiv'd me with all the Good-nature possible, and talk'd to me in such a manner, as gave me Hopes of Success: The Envoys of the Princes spoke to him also in my Favour, and they thought him well dispos'd to serve me: I remain'd thus Four Months at _Ratisbon_ in continual Hopes, but still without seeing my Affairs settled: I was resolv'd to be somewhat urgent with him, that I might know without Delay what I had to depend upon: The Cardinal was so good as not to refuse me to my Face, but he sent me Word by one of the Elector's Envoys, who spoke to me for him, that 'twas in vain for me to stay at _Ratisbon_; that he could do me no Service; and he said also, without giving any Reason for it, that even tho' the whole Dyet was to intercede for me, he would do nothing for me: This Expression, which I could not think an ambiguous one, made me cease to sollicit him.
At this same time the Emperor declar'd the Marriage of his Niece the Archduchess with _Charles-Albert Cajetan_, the Electoral Prince of _Bavaria_: The Elector of _Bavaria_ had waited for this News a long time, and he receiv'd it almost at the same Instant when he heard that his Third Son the Duke _Clement_, the Bishop of _Munster_ and _Paderborn_, had been elected Coadjutor of _Cologne_, in spite of the Opposition which several Powers had secretly fomented against him in the Chapter. The Cardinal of _Saxe_ had conceiv'd some Hopes of attaining to this Dignity; but he desisted from his Pretensions for a very considerable Sum of Money in Hand, and for the Grant of the Provostship of _Alten-Ottingen_ in _Bavaria_ to the Prince his Nephew. _M. de Plettenberg_, the Envoy of _Munster_, gave a grand Feast on account of his Master's new Dignity: He caus'd a great Room and several Tents to be erected at the Gates of _Ratisbon_, where there was Play under the Tents, and a Supper in the long Room: The Cardinal of _Saxe_ was present at it, and the Envoys with their Ladies, and all the Quality there in general were invited to it: After the Feast there was a Firework, to give time to prepare the long Room for the Ball, which held till Day-light.
Not long after this Entertainment the Cardinal of _Saxe_ set out for _Hungary_, where he was to preside in quality of Primate of that Kingdom, at the Dyet which met there this Year: The Emperor and Empress assisted at it, to settle the Affairs of the Succession of that Crown, the Right of which the States of the Country acknowledg'd to belong to the Archduchesses, Daughters of their Imperial Majesties, and to their Posterity, in case it should please God not to grant their Majesties a Son.
After the Cardinal was gone, I stay'd at _Ratisbon_ no longer than was absolutely necessary to take Leave of the Ministers of the Electors and the other Envoys, from whom I had receiv'd all manner of Civilities; for many of them, not content with shewing me the utmost Complaisance, extended their Regards further, and knowing the State of my Affairs, they had behav'd with a Generosity to me, which I shall always remember with Gratitude; and happy should I be, could I one Day or other find an Opportunity to shew them Proofs of it! The only one I can give them now is, to mention their Names to you: The Regard you always had for me will no doubt engage you, _Madame_, to esteem them as such generous Friends deserve, which will be an Advantage they will prize the more, because as they have the Honour to be acquainted with you, they know full well that you never grant your Esteem, where it is not justly merited.
The Count _de Konigsfelt_, the Envoy of _Bavaria_, was one of those who strove most with the Cardinal to serve me: This Minister liv'd very grand at _Ratisbon_: Every thing about him was of the utmost Magnificence: His Table was exquisite, his Music perfectly well compos'd, his Equipages of a noble Fancy, and he had a great Number of Domestics, all well cloath'd: All this external Appearance diffus'd an Air of Grandeur throughout this Minister's Houshold, which gave a sublime Idea of the Prince whom he represented: The Sollicitations of this Minister for me were warmly seconded by the other Envoys, who also drew their Purse-strings for me: These were the Baron _de Kirchner_, the Joint Commissioner; _M. de Vriesberg_, the Envoy of _Hanover_; _M. de Plettenberg_, the Envoy of _Munster_; the Baron _de Duremberg_; the Envoy of _Hesse-Cassel_; and _M. de Hagen_, the Envoy of the Duke of _Saxe-Gotha_.
After having discharg'd what I thought Politeness and Gratitude demanded of me, I set out from _Ratisbon_, to meet my Brother, who was at _Dusseldorff_ solliciting a Law-Suit, which we were jointly carrying on with _Madamoiselle de Pollnitz_, and which we lost, no doubt because it was not the Decree of Providence that we should enjoy the good Things of this World.
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When I set out from _Ratisbon_ I took the shortest Road, which was to go thro' _Nuremberg_, _Wurtzbourg_ and _Francfort_: I stopp'd a few Days at WURTZBOURG[34], one of the richest and most considerable Bishopricks in the Empire: The Bishop assumes the Title of Duke of _Franconia_: He, who then possess'd this See, was of the Family _Schonborn_: This Prelate kept up a Court and Houshold as considerable as any Prince in _Germany_: I saw him in all his Glory upon the Festival of the Patron of the Cathedral: He went from his House to the Church, with a Pomp truly Royal. I saw first the Bishop's Harbinger, follow'd by all the Domestics and Gentlemen of his Court: Then came Six Coaches, drawn each by Six Horses, with the Bishop's Arms: Afterwards there follow'd Two of the Prince's Running-Footmen, and 24 of his other Footmen, all dress'd in his Livery, which was Purple, with Lace of green Velvet, mix'd with Silver Lace, and they had Waistcoats of green Cloth, lac'd with Silver: After the Footmen march'd 18 Pages with Cloaks of the Bishop's Livery, lin'd with green Sattin: These were follow'd by above 50 Gentlemen, who walk'd immediately before a stately Coach, in which the Prince rode alone: His Master of the Horse, and the Captain of his Guards walk'd on Foot by the Sides of the Coach, which was guarded by Two Files of the Hundred _Swiss_, dress'd in the antique manner: 50 Life-Guards in Habits of purple Cloth lac'd with Silver, and with Bandoleers of green Velvet, lac'd also with Silver, follow'd the Coach: The March was, clos'd by Three fine Coaches, drawn each by Six Horses, with the Bishop's Arms: Arriving with this Train at his Cathedral, he was receiv'd at the Gate by all the Chapter in a Body: A _Domicellaire_ carry'd the Banner of _Franconia_, and the Marshal of the Bishop's Court bore the Sword of State, to denote the Sovereignty of the Duchy of _Franconia_: The Prelate being conducted to the Vestry, and there array'd in his Pontificalibus, walk'd into the Choir: His Throne was rais'd Three Steps from the Floor, and plac'd under a magnificent Canopy, all of Tapistry, with a Silver Ground: As soon as he was seated the Office began, by a very fine Piece of Music, perform'd by the Bishop's Musicians: After a very short Anthem the Prelate took the Holy Sacrament from the Altar, and carry'd it in Procession out of the Church: He went all round the Cathedral with it, preceded by the _Domicellaire_, and the Marshal of his Court, bearing one the Banner of _Franconia_, and the other the Sword: The Streets thro' which the Procession pass'd were lin'd with 4000 Men of the Bishop's Troops, which he had order'd into the Town to give the greater Splendor to the Ceremony: When the Procession was return'd to the Church, Mass was sung to Music, and the Bishop officiated: The Ceremony being ended, he return'd to his Palace, with the same Train that attended him to the Church.
The City of _Wurtzbourg_ resembles the Magnificence of its Bishop, and has Buildings both sacred and profane, which are very grand: I will give you a more particular Account of some of them, after I have added a Word or Two of the City itself: 'Tis an ancient City, and has been subject to many Revolutions: 'Twas taken in 1526 by the Peasants of _Swabia_ and _Franconia_, who rebell'd against their Lords upon a Supposition that _Luther_, who at that time preach'd up Rebellion against the Authority of the Pope, would likewise approve of their Revolt from their Sovereigns: _Luther_, however, instead of approving of their Conduct, wrote strenuously against them, but there was a Necessity of employing other Methods than Remonstrances to reclaim them: _George Truchses_ of _Waldbourg_, Colonel of the _Swabian_ League, soon reduc'd them to their Duty: He fac'd them with a good Number of Soldiers, and the Peasants were so rash as to make Head against them; for which, however, they suffer'd dearly, for they were defeated in several Engagements; and I was assur'd, that it cost the Lives of above 50,000 of them: After this Defeat _Wurtzbourg_ remain'd quiet till _William of Grumbach_, who had some Complaint against the Bishop, caus'd him to be assassinated: The Chapter of _Wurtzbourg_ prepar'd to revenge the Death of their Bishop, but _Grumbach_ resolv'd to prevent them, and putting himself at the Head of 1200 Men, he surpriz'd the City in 1563, abandon'd it to the Pillage of his Soldiers, and by that means forc'd the Chapter to come to Terms with him: The Emperor _Ferdinand_ II. being soon inform'd of _Grumbach_'s Transactions, put him under the Ban of the Empire; whereupon _Grumbach_ retir'd to _John-Frederic_, Duke of _Saxony_, Son to that _John-Frederic_ whom the Emperor _Charles_ V. had degraded from the Electoral Dignity: This Misfortune of the Father ought to have been a Warning to the Son not to grant his Protection to such a Rebel as _Grumbach_: Nevertheless, it was no Restraint to him: The Emperor, incens'd at such Conduct, put the Duke also under the Ban of the Empire, and charg'd _Augustus_, Elector of _Saxony_, to see the Ban put in Execution: This Elector acquitted his Commission so well, that he secur'd _John-Frederic_, and sent him to the Emperor, who caus'd him to be committed Prisoner to _Neustad_, where, after 26 Years Imprisonment, the unhappy Prince dy'd: _Grumbach_, who was also arrested, was condemn'd to be broke alive, and his Accomplices were beheaded.