This eBook was produced by David Widger, widger@cecomet.net
Translated from the German
Illustrated
The weak bond of union, by which Gustavus Adolphus contrived to holdtogether the Protestant members of the empire, was dissolved by hisdeath: the allies were now again at liberty, and their alliance, tolast, must be formed anew. By the former event, if unremedied, theywould lose all the advantages they had gained at the cost of so muchbloodshed, and expose themselves to the inevitable danger of becomingone after the other the prey of an enemy, whom, by their union alone,they had been able to oppose and to master. Neither Sweden, nor any ofthe states of the empire, was singly a match with the Emperor and theLeague; and, by seeking a peace under the present state of things, theywould necessarily be obliged to receive laws from the enemy. Union was,therefore, equally indispensable, either for concluding a peace orcontinuing the war. But a peace, sought under the presentcircumstances, could not fail to be disadvantageous to the alliedpowers. With the death of Gustavus Adolphus, the enemy had formed newhopes; and however gloomy might be the situation of his affairs afterthe battle of Lutzen, still the death of his dreaded rival was an eventtoo disastrous to the allies, and too favourable for the Emperor, not tojustify him in entertaining the most brilliant expectations, and not toencourage him to the prosecution of the war. Its inevitableconsequence, for the moment at least, must be want of union among theallies, and what might not the Emperor and the League gain from such adivision of their enemies? He was not likely to sacrifice suchprospects, as the present turn of affairs held out to him, for anypeace, not highly beneficial to himself; and such a peace the allieswould not be disposed to accept. They naturally determined, therefore,to continue the war, and for this purpose, the maintenance of theexisting union was acknowledged to be indispensable.
But how was this union to be renewed? and whence were to be derived thenecessary means for continuing the war? It was not the power of Sweden,but the talents and personal influence of its late king, which had givenhim so overwhelming an influence in Germany, so great a command over theminds of men; and even he had innumerable difficulties to overcome,before he could establish among the states even a weak and waveringalliance. With his death vanished all, which his personal qualitiesalone had rendered practicable; and the mutual obligation of the statesseemed to cease with the hopes on which it had been founded. Severalimpatiently threw off the yoke which had always been irksome; othershastened to seize the helm which they had unwillingly seen in the handsof Gustavus, but which, during his lifetime, they did not dare todispute with him. Some were tempted, by the seductive promises of theEmperor, to abandon the alliance; others, oppressed by the heavy burdensof a fourteen years' war, longed for the repose of peace, upon anyconditions, however ruinous. The generals of the army, partly Germanprinces, acknowledged no common head, and no one would stoop to receiveorders from another. Unanimity vanished alike from the cabinet and thefield, and their c