were ordered to announce from the
pulpit, that whoever spoke favourably of the Duke was to be put in
prison, and those who supported or assisted him were to lose their
eyes, and perhaps their heads.

Ulerich had many faithful friends among the country people, who
secretly gave him intelligence how things were going on in Wuertemberg.
He remained in Moempelgard with the men who had followed him in his
misfortune, waiting a favourable moment to return to his country. He
wrote to many Princes, imploring their assistance, but none would
bestir themselves in his behalf. He petitioned also the Electors,
assembled for the purpose of electing a new Emperor. The only aid they
rendered him was to oblige the new Emperor to add an additional clause
to his contract, favourable to Wuertemberg and the Duke,--but he paid no
attention to it. Though he felt himself thus deserted by all the world,
he did not give way to despondency, but set all his energies at work to
recover his lost country by the resources of his own mind. Many
circumstances appeared to favour his project: the League, having
satisfied themselves that no one would dare shelter the exile in the
country, disbanded most of their troops, composed chiefly of
lansquenet, retaining only weak garrisons in the towns and castles; and
in Stuttgardt itself, the capital, there remained but few infantry
under their banners.

These measures of the League, however, were the cause of creating a
formidable enemy to themselves, in a quarter they did not suspect, but
which very soon contributed essentially to produce a change in the
Duke's favour. This enemy were the common foot soldiers, or the
lansquenet. This body of men, collected together from all ends and
corners of the empire, and composed of all nations, generally offered
their services to those who paid them best. The cause for which they
were to fight was perfectly indifferent to them. Being a licentious
set, and difficult to be restrained even by severity of discipline,
they indemnified themselves by robbery, murder, plunder, and forcibly
exacting contributions, if they were not regularly paid. George von
Fronsberg had been the first to keep them in some measure in
subordination, and by the renown of his name, by daily exercise, and
unbending severity, succeeded in forming them into something like an
army. He divided them into regular companies and brigades, appointed
special officers to each, and taught them to move and fight