wig's race having died out. Ancestor of the unfortunate
WINTERKONIG, Friedrich King of Bohemia, who is too well known in English
History;--ancestor also of Charles XII. of Sweden, a highly creditable
fact of the kind to him. Fact indisputable: A cadet of Pfalz-Zweibruck
(DEUX-PONTS, as the French call it), direct from Rupert, went to
serve in Sweden in his soldier business; distinguished himself in
soldiering;--had a Sister of the great Gustav Adolf to wife; and from
her a renowned Son, Karl Gustav (Christina's Cousin), who succeeded as
King; who again had a Grandson made in his own likeness, only still more
of iron in his composition.--Enough now of Rupert SMITH'S-VICE; who died
in 1410, and left the Reich again vacant.

Rupert's funeral is hardly done, when, over in Preussen, far off in
the Memel region, place called Tannenberg, where there is still "a
churchyard to be seen," if little more, the Teutsch Ritters had,
unexpectedly, a terrible Defeat: consummation of their Polish
Miscellaneous quarrels of long standing; and the end of their high
courses in this world. A ruined Teutsch Ritterdom, as good as ruined,
ever henceforth. Kaiser Rupert died 18th May; and on the 15th
July, within two months, was fought that dreadful "Battle of
Tannenberg,"--Poland and Polish King, with miscellany of savage Tartars
and revolted Prussians, VERSUS Teutsch Ritterdom; all in a very high
mood of mutual rage; the very elements, "wild thunder, tempest and
rain-deluges," playing chorus to them on the occasion. [Voigt, vii. 82.
Busching, _Erdbeschreibung_ (Hamburg, 1770), ii. 1038.] Ritterdom fought
lion-like, but with insufficient strategic and other wisdom; and was
driven nearly distracted to see its pride tripped into the ditch by
such a set. Vacant Reich could not in the least attend to it; nor can we
farther at present.

SIGISMUND, WITH A STRUGGLE, BECOMES KAISER.

Jobst and Sigismund were competitors for the Kaisership; Wenzel, too,
striking in with claims for reinstatement: the House of Luxemburg
divided against itself. Wenzel, finding reinstatement not to be thought
of, threw his weight, such as it was, into the scale of Cousin Jobst;
remembering angrily how Brother Sigismund voted in the Deposition case,
ten years ago. The contest was vehement, and like to be lengthy. Jobst,
though he had made over his pawn-ticket, claimed to be Elector of
Brandenburg; and voted for Himself. The like, with still more emphasis,
did Sigismu