, had made its first successful opening
under the Hohenstaufen rule; but during the evil days when the foreign
monarchs had neglected Germany and her welfare, it sustained the most
serious losses. By the election of Rudolph of Hapsburg who, with vigour,
good-will, and intelligence, had devoted his attention to the security of
commerce in the countries over which he reigned, better days for the
merchant had returned, and it was very evident what his work required,
what injured and robbed it of its well-earned reward. Confidence at home
and abroad was the foundation of prosperity, not alone of the Nuremberg
merchant but of trade in general. Under the Hohenstaufen rule their
upright ancestors had so strengthened this confidence that wherever he
went the Nuremberg merchant received respect and confidence above
many--perhaps all others. The insecurity of the roads and of justice in
the lawless times before the election of the Hapsburgs might have
impaired this great blessing; but since Rudolph had wielded the sceptre
with virile energy, made commerce secure, and administered justice,
confidence had also returned, and to maintain it no sacrifice should be
too great. As for him, Berthold Vorchtel, he would not spare himself, and
if he expected the city to imitate him he would know how to answer for
it.

Here he was interrupted by loud shouts of applause; but, without heeding
them, he quietly went on: "And it is necessary to secure confidence in
the Nuremberg merchant in two directions: his honesty and the capital at
his command. Our business friends, far and near, must be permitted to
continue to rely upon our trustworthiness as firmly as upon rock and
iron. If we brought the arrogant Italian to say of us that, amongst the
German cities who were blind, Nuremberg was the one-eyed, we ought now to
force them to number us amongst those who see with both eyes, the honest,
trust-inspiring blue eyes of the German. But to attain this goal we need
the imperial protection, the watchful power of a great and friendly
ruler. The progress which our trade owed to the Hohenstaufen proves this;
the years without an Emperor, on the contrary, showed what threatens our
commerce as soon as we lack this aid. Rights and privileges from
sovereigns smoothed the paths in which we have surpassed others. To
obtain new and more important ones must be our object. From the first
Reichstag which the Emperor Rudolph held here, he has shown that he
esteems us