en him and Wallenstein, nor has any explanation ever been
given for such an extraordinary change of sides, made, too, at a moment
when it seemed that Gustavus was in a position almost desperate. By his
profession of religious zeal he managed to win the king's heart, but
Oxenstiern, when he saw him, entertained a profound distrust of him, and
even warned the king against putting confidence in this sudden convert.

Gustavus, however, naturally frank and open in disposition, could not
believe that treachery was intended, and continued to treat him with
kindness. After the assault made by Gustavus upon Wallenstein's position
Franz Albert quitted his camp, saying that he was desirous of raising
some troops for his service in his father's territory. He rejoined him,
however, with only his personal followers, on the very day before the
battle of Lutzen, and was received by Gustavus with great cordiality,
although the absence of his retainers increased the general doubts as to
his sincerity.

He was by the king's side when Gustavus received his first wound. He
was riding close behind him when the king received his second and fatal
wound in the back, and the moment the king had fallen he rode away from
the field, and it is asserted that it was he who brought the news of the
king's death to Wallenstein.

Very soon after the battle he exchanged the Swedish service for the
Saxon, and some eighteen months later he re-embraced the Roman Catholic
faith and re-entered the Imperial army.

A stronger case of circumstantial evidence could hardly be put together,
and it would certainly seem as if Lauenburg had entered the Swedish
service with the intention of murdering the king. That he did not carry
out his purpose during the attack on the Altenburg was perhaps due to
the fact that Gustavus may not have been in such a position as to afford
him an opportunity of doing so with safety to himself.

It is certainly curious that after that fight he should have absented
himself, and only rejoined on the eve of the battle of Lutzen. The only
piece of evidence in his favour is that of Truchsess, a chamberlain of
the king, who, affirmed that he saw the fatal shot fired at a distance
of ten paces from the king by an Imperial officer, Lieutenant General
Falkenberg, who at once turned and fled, but was pursued and cut down by
Luckau, master of horse of Franz Albert.

The general opinion of contemporary writers is certainly to the effect
that the