A great man must use strong measures. The present age and
futurity will laud your courage in having burst asunder the chains
which now bind your hands."

"Are you so sure of that, Ambrosius Bolland?" replied the Duke, with a
look of doubt. "Will it not be said, Duke Ulerich was a tyrant: he
abrogated the old order of things, which was held sacred by his
forefathers; and, having broken the contract which he himself
established, treated his country as an enemy, and trod under foot the
laws which----"

"Permit me," interrupted the other: "the only question is, who is to be
master--the Duke or the country? If the country is to govern, the case
is different; for then pacts, contracts, clauses, and such like, are
necessary. The nobles, clergy, and commons, would be the masters, and
your grace--a mere cypher; but if you hold the reins in your own hand,
and wield your own will unrestricted, from that moment you become the
source of all law. The sword is now in your hand,--you are lord and
master; therefore, away with the old law--here is a new one--take the
pen, and, in God's name, sign."

The Duke remained some time in doubtful suspense, agitated between
conflicting struggles of conscience. At length, as if impelled by some
evil genius, he said, "Am not I Wuertemberg itself? the country and laws
are concentrated in my person--I will sign!" He stretched out his hand
to receive the pen from the chancellor, when he felt his arm arrested.
He looked around in surprise, and met the placid but stern eye of the
knight of Lichtenstein.

"Ha! welcome, my faithful Lichtenstein; I will be ready to speak with
you instantly, only let me sign this parchment."

"Allow me, your grace," said the old man: "having promised me a voice
in your council, may I look at the first ordinance which you are about
to issue to your country."

"With your most noble permission," said Ambrosius Holland, hastily,
"delay were dangerous: the citizens of Stuttgardt are already
assembled, and it is requisite to read the proclamation without loss of
time."

"The thing is not so very pressing, after all," said the Duke, "that we
cannot impart the contents to our friend. We have accordingly
determined," he added, addressing Lichtenstein, "to administer a new
oath of fidelity, making the people swear allegiance to us, under a
fresh contract and different laws. The old ones are null and void from
henceforth."

"Is that your determination?" replied the knight