Prince Frederick and the dawn of the reformation

Contents

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II. Lost in the Forest 12

III. The Mark oe Brandenburg 21

CHAPTER I. A Bear Hunt in Franconia

It was Sylvester day, in the year 1408, and the old year was not giving place to its successor with smiling countenance; instead, the heavens wore a dull gray hue, and a cold mist lay drearily upon mountain and valley. Wild gusts of wind dislodged snow from the branches, and the rooks which had been resting high in the leafless trees, flew cawing away at the sound of a footstep.

In the distance could be heard the barking of foxes, and the howling of wolves, for it had been a bitterly severe winter, and wild animals were suflfering from cold and hunger.

Near an untraveled path that lay between two roads leading through the forest, was a hut, which at first sight might be mistaken for a mound of earth; but it was the dwelling of Walter Hagener, forester and huntsman of Prince Frederick Von Hohenzollern — Burgrave of Nuremberg.

The doorway was so low, that Walter — a tall, robust man, — bent his head and shoulders in passing out to join in the hunt which was to take place that day.

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

He wore a doublet of thick green cloth, a cap of foxskin, decorated with an eagle feather, and high-top boots. A cross-bow and arrows hung from' his shoulder, at his side was a huntsman's knife and a bugle-horn, and in his right hand, a hunting-spear.

“A miserable day for a hunt,” he said to his son, Arnold, a strong, stout boy of thirteen, who had followed him out. “I wish I could remain at home with you and your sister Korbula.”

But father, must I stay in all day, and not see anything of the hunt?” asked the boy anxiously.

“If Korbula is not afraid to stay alone during the din of the hunt, you may go out when you hear the hunters nearing the bear’s cave.”

“O, thank you, father!” cried Arnold, with beaming eyes, “I am sure that Korbula will let me go.”

“It is indeed a miserable day for a hunt;” repeated the father, glancing up at the sullen clouds ; “I can only hope that the Burgrave Frederick will give it up for to-day ; but I can scarcely expect it ; he is not one to give up or put off anything he undertakes.”

The forester strode away and was soon lost to the sight of the watching boy, as he wound his way between the trunks of trees, past clumps of thick underbrush and the low branches that hung over his path.

In the distance he could occasionally see a deer nibbling at the wiry tufts of grass that showed above the snow; but hungry as it undoubtedly was, it fled before its enemy — man.

From behind a clump of bushes a wolf glared at him with voracious eyes ; he thrust at it with his spear, which shook the snow from the branches; the animal fled through the forest, and he heard its mornful howl in the distance.

At length he became conscious of a sound that caused him to halt, put his hand behind his ear and listen. It was a sound he well knew, that of a bugle, calling all to meet, and he hastened his steps, for princes and other noblemen do not wish to wait for their servitors, especially upon the day of a great hunt.

‘‘Then they are really preparing for a start,” said the forester to himself ; “I have never before known of a hunt on Sylvester day, the eve of our blessed New Year.”

From the high point Hagener had reached, he looked down into the valley upon a company of at least a hundred horsemen, all of them knights and other noblemen of beautiful Franconia.

All were richly dressed and wore costly furs at throat and wrist, were mounted on fine horses, and each had cross-bow, hunting knife, spear and bugle.

In the centre of the cavalcade, upon a splendid black horse, rode Frederick Von Hohenzollern, Burgrave of Nuremberg; and upon his youthful, handsome face was a look of keen interest in the prospect of a successful day.

Besides him, upon a milk-white horse, rode his lovely wife — the Princess Elizabeth, esteemed by everyone for her many virtues, among them, her helpfulness to the poor and the afflicted. There could be no princely pair

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

more beloved and honored than were the Burgrave Frederick and his beautiful wife.

The whole company were members of the nobility of Franconia, but following them were many who were not of the great of the earth, who did not ride upon fine horses, wear costly raiment, nor have bright weapons.

These were the peasants, whose duty it was to drive the wild animals from their covert, many of them carrying cudgels, others short, rusty spears or their working implements, kept always near at hand as a protection against wild animals.

With them were wagons bearing nets, ropes, decoys, and other things required for hunting, also a bountiful supply of good food and drink which was to add to the enjoyment of the day.

Hagener hurried down to join them and was cordially greeted by the young Burgrave, who had great esteem for the trustworthy forester who had many a time informed him where the finest deer could be captured, or a bear’s den could be found.

Yes, and more than once they had met danger together, and had not deserted each other, although one was a prince and the other a poor forester.

“Bad weather for hunting, Hagener,” said the Burgrave, calling attention to the large flakes of snow that were settling like stars upon the rich hunting costumes of the horsemen, and the gay, trappings of the horses.

Yes, gracious Prince, and I fear it will grow worse as the day wears on, much snow and perhaps a high wind.”

A Bear Hunt in Franconia.

'‘I would be sorry for that,’’ commented the Burgrave, casting an anxious glance upon his wife, and then up at the clouds which were fleeing before the wind like frightened sheep followed by wolves; “but good huntsmen should not be kept back by a little snow; have you tracked to his den that huge bear that has been such a terror to the region about us. I don’t wish the new year to find him living.”

“Yes, I have found it, and it is a long distance from here; it is beyond my hut in the valley.”

“Then we must hurry, Hagener; w-e must not let the storm: drive us home before we dispatch him.”

“The hunt should begin now and here, gracious Prince.”

With youthful eagerness the Burgrave gave the order, and the hunt began. No hill was too high, no path too rough, no chasm too wide for the well-trained hunting horses to make their way; every one was in the hunt except the wagoners; they remained in the valley with their wagons.

The great forest was now teeming with life and sound ; bugles played, peasants shouted, hounds bellowed, and wolves and foxes, the gentle roe and the stately deer, and other denizens of the forest, terrorized by the noise, ran wildly about, and were caught in the ropes and nets and killed with the spears and arrows of the hunters.

It was past noon when they reached the valley in which the bear had his den.

The Princess Elizabeth had followed the hunt, but in

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

the attack upon the bear, the Burgrave wishing her to run no risk of danger, advised that she remain upon a high point overlooking the valley, and left his shieldbearer, a tall, slender boy, as protection.

As expected, the hunters found the bear in his den. The attack was made, and a little later, amid the din of the hunt, the princess and the young nobleman heard a growling, snarling sound which caused their pulses to thrill with horror.

“Let us ride nearer the hunters,’’ said the princess, for though brave, she knew the danger, and they were about to flee from the spot, when they heard the crushing of the snow under heavy pressure, the bushes cracked, their horses snorted and reared, and the shield-bearer, pale from fright, dropped his spear as the wounded bear with distended jaws rushed toward the princess.

The hunters were in hot pursuit, but the bear would not have waited for them, had not Arnold Hagener rushed through the thicket, caught up the spear of the young shield-bearer, and thrust it down the throat of the enraged monster.

It fell to the earth unable to rise, and was quickly dispatched by the hunters who first reached the spot.

The princess was very pale but composed, and when the Burgrave rode to her side, they clasped hands, and raised their eyes to heaven in devout thankfulness.

“But where is the brave boy who saved your life?” exclaimed the Burgrave, looking about him:

But no one knew; he had disappeared the moment

A Bear Hunt in Franconia.

the bear fell, and the shield-bearer was so humiliated at the sight of a boy of thirteen becoming the protector because of his failure in being so, and so horrified at the sight of the bear, that he could not speak. But the princess described the boy as handsome, with brown hair and eyes, regular features and a manly, earnest cast of countenance.

The Burgrave sent several of his people to search for him, but they returned with the report that he could not be found, and he impatiently resolved that he would seek him, believing that he could not be far away.

It was now nearly evening of the short winter day, and all were looking anxiously toward a warm fireside and a hot supper, but out of courtesy they could not disband without the order of the Burgrave, and he was not there to give it.

Another reason for remaining was, that the princess was in terrible anxiety in regard to his prolonged absence, and had sent messengers in every direction, but they returned without having seen, or heard of him.

The whole company waited some time longer, but listen as they did, they heard nothing but the howling of the wind among the leafless trees.

It was now twilight, and it was no light matter to remain upon that high point of land in a fierce snow storm, and with a heavy heart the princess gave orders for return.

CHAPTER II. Lost in the Forest

The hunt was over for the day, and after seeing the horsemen leave for their homes, Walter Hagener set out in the direction of his cabin.

He was cold, weary and hungry, for they had taken no time, owing to the snow-storm, to partake of the food provided by the burgrave, night was coming on, and the snow was swirled so rapidly by the wind that he could scarcely see three steps ahead.

He had lived all his life in the forest, and knew the way through it as well as if it were the one room of his cabin; but his experience as forester and hunter availed him nothing; he became bewildered by the whirling snow, and could not find the path to his home. He asked himself which direction was north, and which south, but could not answer the question. The wind drove the sleet against his face, and he must halt and turn from it in order to regain his breath, then he went forward as quickly as his strength would permit, for his feet seemed leaden.

At length he came to the upturned roots of a fallen tree; it furnished shelter and he sat down to rest, and thus gain strength for further exertion.

Oh, how sweet was rest to the exhausted man! A pleasant warmth stole over him; he was very sleepy and could not summon courage to leave the spot. His head rested upon the earth among the roots, his eyes

Lost in the Forest.

closed in slumber, and the snow wove a pure white winding sheet about him.

His two children — Arnold and Korbula — were in the meantime watching and waiting for him, and were keeping bright the fire of pine-knots upon the broad hearth, that its light might shine through the small window and be a guide to the way-farer.

The wind howled about the cabin and seemed as if trying to break through the weak door, or shatter the poor window, but the boy of thirteen and the girl of eight talked hopefully of the father’s return, and of the holiday on the morrow, when he would remain at home with them.

Although the snow was now deep, their alert ears detected the steady beat of a horse’s hoofs, and Arnold went to the window and peered out.

Yes, there upon a large, coal black horse, sat the stately form of a man, so covered with sleet that his garments sparkled in the gleam of light from the window.

^‘Who lives here?” he asked.

"‘Walter Hagener, the Burgrave’s huntsman and forester.”

“Thanks and praise be to God! Is he at home?”

“No, gracious Herr,” replied Arnold, noticing that he was one of the noblemen who had taken part in the hunt that day.

“What!” was the anxious exclamation; “then like myself, he has lost his way in the forest. If I had this day to live over again there would be no hunt. I have

Prince Prederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

not seen your father since early in the evening when we unearthed the bear. But do not be anxious, my boy ; he knows the forest well, and if he does not come to-night he will be here by daylight. I am deeply sorry that we got separated in the hunt.”

“Did you wish any help from father?” asked Arnold.

“Yes; I do not know the way out of the woods, and have been wandering around since it grew dark.”

“I can show you the way out; I know the way to the the main road as well as does my father, if my little sister Korbula is not afraid to stay alone, I will go.”

“No, I am not afraid; I will stay alone;” said the little girl.

“Then, come in God’s name, my boy; you will be doing me one of the greatest of favors.”

Arnold shut the window, put on a pair of boots, a warm jacket, a fur cap and a comfort over his ears, and taking a stick in his hand he went out.

The great black horse was tired and very gentle; it allowed Arnold to lead it, and in less than half an hour the highway was reached and the traveler could not fail to reach home without further trouble.

“Now, my boy,” he said gratefully, “as soon as it becomes daylight, I will send out men to search for your father, and bring him home to you.”

“Oh, will you?” cried Arnold, eagerly.

“Yes, and now give me your hand, my boy, and promise me that if for any cause and in any way you need help, you will come to the castle in Nuremberg and ask

Lost in the Forest.

to see the Burgrave Frederick;” and he pressed a coin in Arnold’s hand.

“I will,” replied the boy, for father has often told us of the goodness of the gracious Burgrave; but please take back the money; I cannot keep it for doing you such a little service as showing you the way out of the forest.”

“It was not a little service; you may perhaps have saved my life.”

“But I cannot take it;” and Arnold held on to the stirrup and placed the coin in the hand of the giver.

“Well, this is the first time I have known a boy to refuse money. I must find some other way to return the favor. I hope we will meet again ; now, I can only thank you heartily for your kindness. Good-night ;” and the prince rode away in the darkness.

When Arnold reached home, he found his sister alone ; their father had not come.

“I will not sleep, but will watch, and keep up the fire to give light for father,” he said.

“Then I will watch with you,” replied Korbula.

“No, sister, I am older and stronger than you; do you sleep, and when you wake I will lie down.”

The clock struck twelve. “It is the blessed New Year,” said the children ; we have watched the old year out.”

For a little while longer they talked of the simple pleasure promised them by their father; then the drooping lids shut over the blue eyes of the little girl, and she dropped gently down upon the settle and slept.

IS

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

All had grown still outside the cabin; the wind had subsided, the sleet ceased to beat against the window and door, and toward morning, nature asserted itself ; the boy’s head rested upon the back of the settle ; he, too, slept until the sun’s rays peeped through the little window of the cabin.

At daylight four men sent by the Burgrave Frederick had searched in the forest for Walter Hagener; had found him and had brought his body to the cabin upon a bier, made of the branches of the fallen oak.

With his head upon its roots he had fallen to sleep never to waken upon this earth, and his children were orphans.

“Korbula, father has come, and it is New Year,” cried Arnold, rousing from his sleep when he heard footsteps upon the hard snow, and he hurried to open the door.

“Father has come!” echoed his sister, joyously; but alas, it proved to be a sad New Year to them, and tears stood in the eyes of the strong men as they witnessed their grief.

A few days after the four men had laid the body of the kind father in his grave in the heart of the great forest, the streets of Nuremberg were alive with people, especially in the poorer parts of the city, for it was a beautiful clear day and mild, for the season.

The doors and windows of inns and ale-houses in the narrow, crooked streets, stood open, and outside of them, the peasants were refreshing themselves after the cares of the week.

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Lost in the Forest.

Their dwellings were little more than armories and sleeping places, and unless the weather were stormy, they lived in the open.

The citizens in the better streets were also enjoying the warm sunshine after many dull days that preceded it, and greeted neighbors and friends with cheerfulness.

At length a horseman, richly dressed and followed by his shieldbearer, came riding slowly through the streets; and all hats were doffed until he passed, he returning the greetings with a wave of the hand and genial smile.

As he passed the entrance to a narrow street, he noticed a group of boys who seemed bent upon mischief, and he halted to see if he were judging correctly.

In the centre of the group was a boy armed as a hunter. Upon his back was a large cross-bow and a quiver of arrows; on his breast, a bugle horn held by the string about his neck, at his side a hunter’s knife, and in his right hand a spear.

This boy was Arnold Hagener, carrying the weapons which had belonged to his father, and with his sister, Korbula, was on his way to the casttle of the Burgrave Frederick, in Nuremberg.

The little girl was shedding tears of fright at the rudeness of the street boys who were doing their best to capture the weapons; but Arnold looked upon his tormentors with fearless eyes.

“You are all cowards,” he cried ; “these things would be of no use to you, for you would not dare to go into 17

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

the forest among the wolves and bears. Stand back! stand back, or you will be sorry and taking the spear by the handle he swung it around, striking some of the urchins. But it was not the spear that sent them flying in every direction, but the sight of Prince Frederick, who had ridden to the spot, followed by his attendant.

'‘What is your name, my boy, and that of the little girl?’* he asked kindly.

“Arnold Hagener, and this is my sister Korbula.”

“So you are Arnold ; do you recognize me as the one you guided through the woods that terrible night?”

“I know your voice, but I could not see your face that night, but I know you are kind and good, for you told me if I needed help to come to the castle and ask for the Burgrave Frederick, and we are on our way to see him.

“I am the Burgrave Frederick; and so you are in need of help; and a shadow passed over his fine face at the remembrance of the faithful huntsman.

“Yes; my father is dead, and we could not stay in the forest.”

“No, certainly not; you can go directly to the castle; any one can point it out to you, and I will soon meet you there.”

He turned away, and the brother and sister resumed their journey, and soon reached the castle, where they were kindly received by the Princess Elizabeth, who recognized Arnold as the boy who brought the wounded bear to the ground the day of the hunt, in time to prevent its attack upon her.

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Lost in the Porest.

shall be always grateful to you,” she said, ''and especially grateful to my Heavenly Father, who allowed you to preserve me from harm.”

"And I am glad, too,” said the boy, earnestly. "You are good and kind, like the Burgrave, and speak to me just as if I were not a poor peasant boy and you a great lady.”

"God has indeed given us a higher position in the world, my boy, and it brings with it greater cares, and greater duties to perform, in order to serve Him; and we are trying to serve Him to the best of our ability. Now I hope you and your sister will feel at home here, for you are welcome, and will be treated as are our own dear children.”

She touched a bell, and the housekeeper appeared, into whose care she gave them, with the request that they be provided with a good meal, and a comfortable place to rest, after their long walk.

Though so entirely different from the home they had left, they soon grew accustomed to the change, and were treated by every member of the large household with kindness.

Korbula was happy there, as was Arnold, so far as it was possible to be amid luxury which was foreign to his nature. He longed for the free life of the forest; he courted danger in the hunting of wild animals; and had, ever since he could remember, looked forward to the life of a forester with his uncle, the only brother of his mother, and a great hunter.

This uncle lived in the Province of Brandenburg, far IS)

Prince Prederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

north of Franconia, was without wife or children, and lived alone in his cabin in the forest.

Now the time had come for him to go, not only that it was his heartfelt wish, but he knew that it was his parents’ desire that he and Korbula should go, if left orphans, unless for the girl a less lonely home were offered.

The Prince and Princess grieved to part from him, but felt that it was right that he should go. They promised to care for Korbula as for their own children, and Arnold knew the promise would be kept, and upon a day in March, 1409, well provided with money and weapons, he set out for Brandenburg.

CHAPTER III. The Mark of Brandenburg

At the time that Frederick Von Hohenzollern ruled over the Burgraviate of Nuremberg, Sigismund, King of Hungary, and afterward Emperor of Germany, was ruler of Brandenburgs having inherited that province from his father, Kaiser Charles IV, who had captured it in 1373, from the Margrave Otho.

Sigismund was a handsome young sovereign of noble presence, loved luxury and pleasure, and cared nothing for Brandenburg, which he considered but a sandy plain.

He loved Hungary, and his gay associates there, and sent successive Governor-Generals to rule over the Province of Brandenburg.

These rulers oppressed and robbed the country, and in July, 1411, ambassadors were sent by the people of Brandenburg to Ofen in Hungary, where Sigismund held his court, to lay before him the state of affairs.

They impressed it upon him that there was no justice in the land, that life and property were not secure, that citizens and peasants were without protection, and poverty and misery reigned.

They had hoped that Sigismund, upon being informed of the state of affairs, would come in person to his possessions, but nothing was further from his intention ; instead he promised to send a Governor-General, who would bring order out of confusion, and would be a ruler, helper, protector and |[iiide to all.

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

This ruler was Frederick Von Hohenzollern, the progenitor of a long line of rulers, one of whom now reigns over a united Germany. Frederick was a faithful adherent of the young king, had loaned him large sums of money ; but more than all, was worthy of confidence ; and it was a wise decision of Sigismund to make him ruler of Brandenburg, thus winning the influence of the powerful house of Hohenzollern.

Frederick was invited to come to Ofen to receive his commission from the king, and a few days after his arrival there was a great gathering of the noble and great of the kingdom to witness the ceremony, which took place July 3d, 1411, when Sigismund, with Queen Barbara by his side, announced that Prince Frederick Von Hohenzollern was appointed Governor-General of Brandenburg.

The ambassadors, with great pleasure, took the oath of allegiance, and before they departed for Brandenburg, their new ruler gave a banquet in their honor, attended by the King, Queen, and the nobility ; such a festival as the royal resident city had seldom seen.

During this visit, Frederick had questioned the ambassadors of the inner conditions of his new territory, that he might have knowledge of what he had undertaken.

He learned that he would have much to contend with, owing to the enmity of the nobility, especially that of two wealthy and powerful noblemen, brothers, Johann and Dietrich Von Quitzow.

These two noblemen had been in league with former Governor-Generals, especially one Jobst, a cousin of

The Mark of Brandenburg.

Sigismund, who, when in need of money, sold to the Von Quitzows and other noblemen, now a castle, now a citadel, now a village; for in those days, a ruler could sell such property as he would sell a cow or a horse.

Enemies from the outside came to have a share of the spoils, and Jobst impoverished and oppressed the people to make up these losses. The Duke of Saxony, Pomerania, and Mecklenburg, captured all they could, but the most rapacious among them was the Bishop of Magdeburg, who came with a wild horde and captured or destroyed what its own princes and other enemies had left.

It was a sad day for the people of Nuremberg when their beloved Prince Frederick took his departure for Brandenburg, and his parting from his beloved wife and children was as great a trial to him, as to them.

He longed to take them with him, and the Princess Elizabeth would have braved every danger to accompany him, but he felt that he must first bring order out of chaos in that unhappy Province, and with a heavy heart, he bade them farewell.

It was a beautiful spring day, in the year 1412, when Frederick, at the head of his retinue, reached the town of Wilsnach.

Wherever his eyes turned, he saw the lamd, the halt, and the blind going along the streets, their goal being a hill upon which was the village church.

This goal was not a fount of healing waters, nor the consulting place of some celebrated physician ; no, it was a supposed miracle known throughout Germany, to which these poor deluded people were making a pilgrimage.

Prince Frederick and the Dawn of the Reformation.

It was truly surprising and piteable, that people even in that early day, could be so superstitious as to come from long distances and under the most trying circumstances, to regain health or other treasure, together with spiritual blessings.

And it was equally surprising that the obscure little village of Wilsnach should become so celebrated, but there was a cause which seemed plausible to the pilgrims.

In the month of August, 1383, the hitherto unknown village of Wilsnach, was attacked by a wild horde of barbarians, who plundered it and then set it on fire.

The terror-stricken inhabitants, including the priest and the sachristan, fled to the dense forests and for several days were afraid to return; and when they at last summoned courage they found the village reduced to ashes.

Nor had the humble church escaped ; it too was wholly destroyed, and in great grief the priest realized that his people were too poor to build another.

He sunk his head in his hands in deep thought, and being fertile in expedients, a scheme came into his mind which brought about the result he desired.