ered garrison
of Torgau, he retreated beyond the Oder into Pomerania. In 1639, however,
he again overran northern Germany, defeated the Saxons at Chemnitz and
invaded Bohemia itself. The winter of 1640-1641 Baner spent in the west.
His last achievement was an audacious _coup-de-main_ on the Danube.
Breaking camp in mid-winter (a very rare event in the 17th century) he
united with the French under the comte de Guebriant and surprised
Regensburg, where the diet was sitting. Only the break-up of the ice
prevented the capture of the place. Baner thereupon had to retreat to
Halberstadt. Here, on the 10th of May 1641, he died, after designating
Torstensson as his successor. He was much beloved by his men, who bore his
body with them on the field of Woelfenbuttel. Baner was regarded as the
best of Gustavus's generals, and tempting offers (which he refused) were
made him by the emperor to induce him to enter his service. His son
received the dignity of count.
See _Baners Bref till Axel Oxenstjerna_ (Stockholm, 1893); B. P. von
Chemnitz, _Koeniglichen Schwedscher in Deutschland gefuehrten Kriegs_;
Martin Veibull, _Sveriges Storhedsted_ (Stockholm, 1881); Lundblad, _Johan
Baner_ (Stockholm, 1823); Ardwisson, _Trittioariga Krigets maerkvaerdigaste
personer_ (Stockholm, 1861).
BANFF, a royal, municipal and police burgh, seaport and capital of
Banffshire, Scotland. Pop. (1901) 7161. It is beautifully situated on high
ground, on the left bank of the mouth of the Deveron, 50 m. N.W. of
Aberdeen by the Great North of Scotland railway. It is a place of great
antiquity, its first charter having been granted by Malcolm IV. in 1163,
and further privileges were conferred by Robert Bruce in 1324 and Robert
II. in 1372. Of the old castle on the hill by the sea, in which Archbishop
Sharp was born, scarcely a trace remains; but upon its site was erected the
modern Banff Castle, belonging to the earl of Seafield. The chief public
edifices include the county buildings; town hall, surmounted by a spire 100
ft. high; Chalmers hospital (founded by Alexander Chalmers of Clunie, a
merchant and shipowner of the town); a masonic hall of tasteful design; and
the academy, a modern structure in the Grecian style, to which there is
attached an extensive museum, containing examples of the early mechanical
genius of James Ferguson, the astronomer. Of the museum, which originally
belonged to the defunct Banff Institution and was afterwards taken over by
the
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