nd, or Burggraf Friedrich acting for him: "Sigismund, sure,
is Kur-Brandenburg though under pawn!" argued Friedrich,--and, I almost
guess, though that is not said, produced from his own purse, at
some stage of the business, the actual money for Jobst, to close his
Brandenburg pretension.

Both were elected (majority contested in this manner); and old Jobst,
then above seventy, was like to have given much trouble: but happily
in three months he died; ["Jodocus BARBATUS," 21st July, 1411.] and
Sigismund became indisputable. Jobst was the son of Maultasche's
Nullity; him too, in an involuntary sort, she was the cause of. In his
day Jobst made much noise in the world, but did little or no good in it.
"He was thought a great man," says one satirical old Chronicler; "and
there was nothing great about him but the beard."

"The cause of Sigismund's success with the Electors," says Kohler,
"or of his having any party among them, was the faithful and unwearied
diligence which had been used for him by the above-named Burggraf
Friedrich VI. of Nurnberg, who took extreme pains to forward Sigismund
to the Empire; pleading that Sigismund and Wenzel would be sure to
agree well henceforth, and that Sigismund, having already such extensive
territories (Hungary, Brandenburg and so forth) by inheritance, would
not be so exact about the REICHS-Tolls and other Imperial Incomes.
This same Friedrich also, when the Election fell out doubtful, was
Sigismund's best support in Germany, nay almost his right-hand, through
whom he did whatever was done." [Kohler, p. 337.]

Sigismund is Kaiser, then, in spite of Wenzel. King of Hungary, after
unheard-of troubles and adventures, ending some years ago in a kind of
peace and conquest, he has long been King of Bohemia, too, he at last
became; having survived Wenzel, who was childless. Kaiser of the Holy
Roman Empire, and so much else: is not Sigismund now a great man? Truly
the loom he weaves upon, in this world, is very large. But the weaver
was of headlong, high-pacing, flimsy nature; and both warp and woof were
gone dreadfully entangled!--

This is the Kaiser Sigismund who held the Council of Constance; and
"blushed visibly," when Huss, about to die, alluded to the Letter of
Safe-conduct granted him, which was issuing in such fashion. [15th
June, 1415.] Sigismund blushed; but could not conveniently mend the
matter,--so many matters pressing on him just now. As they perpetually
did, and had done. An