ht breeze playing through the
towers of his castle, a fearful impression still haunted his mind, that
his fate was destined to some other awful change. The warnings of his
old and tried friend Lichtenstein would often whisper its voice to his
mind; in vain he sought to smother it by calling to his aid the artful
advice of his chancellor, by which he tried to palliate his own conduct
and quiet his conscience. But that faithful monitor upbraided him with
having acted without due circumspection and caution since his return to
his capital. His enemies, it was well known, had re-assembled a
powerful force, with which they threatened the country, and were
approaching into the heart of Wuertemberg. The imperial town of
Esslingen presented itself as a very favourable starting point for
their undertakings; being but a short distance from the capital, nearly
in the centre of the country: as soon, therefore, as the army of the
League could open its communication with it, it became a formidable
stronghold, to favour and cover their incursions into Wuertemberg. The
country people in many places received the Leaguists favourably, for
the Duke, by his new regulations, which he had made them swear to, had
rendered them distrustful of his intentions. The Wuertembergers, from
time immemorial, being attached to ancient customs and privileges,
handed down through successive generations, regard their old laws and
ordinances as so many golden words, though they may scarcely understand
their import, or seldom consider whether some reform would not be
advantageous.

The peaceable character of the peasant, generally so universal
throughout the country, fostered by the tranquil occupations of
domestic and agricultural affairs, would lead to a supposition that
political strifes were subjects indifferent to their minds; but it was
far otherwise: on the occasion of any change or reform in the usages of
their ancient laws and customs, which interfered with their ideas of
government, they manifested an obstinate caprice, with an ardour and
enthusiasm quite out of keeping, and foreign to their ordinary
inoffensive dispositions.

The Duke had experienced this love of old institutions in his people,
when he some few years back, by the advice of his council, for the
purpose of bettering his finances, made an alteration in the public
weights and measures. An organised insurrection of peasants, entitled,
"The League of Poor Conrad," had made him reflect,