 present, however, the Swedes were the preponderant party in the
neighbourhood; they had fortified the chateau of Falkenberg, and made it a very
strong military post; at the same time, however, sending in to Klosterheim
whatsoever was valuable amongst the furniture of that establishment, with a care
which of itself proclaimed the footing upon which they were anxious to stand
with the Landgrave.
    Encouraged by the vicinity of his military friends, that Prince now began to
take a harsher tone in Klosterheim. The minor Princes of Germany at that day
were all tyrants in virtue of their privileges; and, if in some rarer cases they
exercised these privileges in a forbearing spirit, their subjects were well
aware that they were indebted for this extraordinary indulgence to the temper
and gracious nature of the individual, not to the firm protection of the laws.
But the most reasonable and mildest of the German Princes had been little taught
at that day to brook opposition. And the Landgrave was by nature, and the
gloominess of his constitutional temperament, of all men the last to learn that
lesson readily. He had already met with just sufficient opposition from the
civic body and the university interest to excite his passion for revenge. Ample
indemnification he determined upon for his wounded pride; and he believed that
the time and circumstances were now matured for favouring his most vindictive
schemes. The Swedes were at hand; and a slight struggle with the citizens would
remove all obstacles to their admission into the garrison; though, for some
private reasons, he wished to abstain from this extremity, if it should prove
possible. Maximilian also was absent, and might never return. The rumour was
even that he was killed; and, though the caution of Adorni and the Landgrave led
them to a hesitating reliance upon what might be a political fabrication of the
opposite party, yet at all events he was detained from Klosterheim by some
pressing necessity; and the period of his absence, whether long or short, the
Landgrave resolved to improve in such a way as should make his return
unavailing.
    Of Maximilian the Landgrave had no personal knowledge; he had not so much as
seen him. But by his spies and intelligencers he was well aware that he had been
the chief combiner and animater of the Imperial party against himself in the
university, and by his presence had given life and confidence to that party in
the city which did not expressly acknowledge him as their head. He was aware of
the favour which Maximilian enjoyed with the Emperor, and knew in general, from
public report, the brilliancy of those military services on which it had been
built. That he was
