h power in Germany, as this prince was merely the passive
instrument of Spain.

It was only with the view of weakening the army that six thousand troops
were ordered to be detached from it, and solely to harass it by a winter
campaign that they were now called upon at this inhospitable season
to undertake the recovery of Ratisbon. The Jesuits and the ministry
enriched themselves with the treasure wrung from the provinces, and
squandered the money intended for the pay of the troops.

The general, then, abandoned by the court, was forced to acknowledge
his inability to keep his engagements to the army. For all the services
which for two-and-twenty years he had rendered to the house of Austria,
in return for all the difficulties with which he had struggled, for all
the treasures of his own which he had expended in the Imperial service,
a second disgraceful dismissal awaited him. But he was resolved the
matter should not come to this; he was determined voluntarily to resign
the command before it should be wrested from his hands, "and this,"
continued the speaker, "is what he has summoned you here to make known
to you, and what he has commissioned me to inform you."

It was now for them to say whether they would permit him to leave them;
it was for each man present to consider who was to repay him the sums
he had expended in the emperor's service; how he was ever to reap the
rewards for his bravery and devotion, when the chief who alone was
cognizant of their efforts, who was their sole advocate and champion,
was removed from them.

When the speaker concluded a loud cry broke from all the officers that
they would not permit Wallenstein to be taken from them. Then a babel
of talk arose, and after much discussion four of the officers were
appointed as a deputation to wait upon the duke to assure him of the
devotion of the army, and to beg him not to withdraw himself from
them. The four officers intrusted with the commission left the room and
repaired to the private chamber of the general. They returned in a short
time, saying that the duke refused to yield.

Another deputation was sent to pray him in even stronger terms to remain
with them. These returned with the news that Wallenstein had reluctantly
yielded to their request; but upon the condition that each of them
should give a written promise to truly and firmly adhere to him, neither
to separate or to allow himself to be separated from him, and to
shed his last drop