ter match did not take effect, owing to
changed outlooks after Karl's death. Nay there is a Deed still extant
about marrying children not yet born: Karl to produce a Princess within
five years, and Burggraf Friedrich V. a Prince, for that purpose!
[Rentsch, p. 336.] But the Burggraf never had another Prince; though
Karl produced the due Princess, and was ready, for his share. Unless
indeed this strange eager-looking Document, not dated in the old Books,
may itself relate to the above wedding which did come to pass?--Years
before that, Karl had made his much-esteemed Burggraf Friedrich V.
"Captain-General of the Reich;" "Imperial Vicar," (SUBSTITUTE, if need
were), and much besides; nay had given him the Landgraviate of Elsass
(ALSACE),--so far as lay with him to give,--of which valuable country
this Friedrich had actual possession so long as the Kaiser lived. "Best
of men," thought the poor light Kaiser; "never saw such a man!"

Which proved a salutary thought, after all. The man had a little Boy
Fritz (not the betrothed to Karl's Princess), still chasing butterflies
at Culmbach, when Karl died. In this Boy lie new destinies for
Brandenburg: towards him, and not towards annihilation, are Karl and the
Luxemburg Kurfursts and Pawnbrokers unconsciously guiding it.

Chapter XIV. -- BURGGRAF FRIEDRICH VI.

Karl left three young Sons, Wenzel, Sigismund, Johann; and also a
certain Nephew much older; all of whom now more or less concern us in
this unfortunate History.

Wenzel the eldest Son, heritable Kurfurst of Brandenburg as well as
King of Bohemia, was as yet only seventeen, who nevertheless got to be
Kaiser, [1378, on his Father's death.]--and went widely astray, poor
soul. The Nephew was no other than Margrave Jobst of Moravia (son of
Maultasche's late Nullity there), now in the vigor of his years and a
stirring man: to him, for a time, the chief management in Brandenburg
fell, in these circumstances. Wenzel, still a minor, and already Kaiser
and King of Bohemia, gave up Brandenburg to his two younger Brothers,
most of it to Sigismund, with a cutting for Johann, to help their
apanages; and applied his own powers to govern the Holy Roman Empire, at
that early stage of life.

To govern the Holy Roman Empire, poor soul;--or rather "to drink beer,
and dance with the girls;" in which, if defective in other things,
Wenzel had an eminent talent. He was one of the worst Kaisers, and the
least victorious on record. He w