roused in an injured people. It is mor- est supporters of the Evangelical union tifying to observe how soon, in all ages, against the Catholic league, finding his the prejudices of party have arisen to end approaching at a miserable village obscure the search after truth-how in Dalmatia, attires himself in one of. Boon impediments have been raised in his richest uniforms, girds on a favonthe most laudable pursuits, by that prin- rite sword, and, supported by two of his ciple of pride or obstinacy, inherent in officers, calmly awaits. the final stroke the nature of man, which perpetually of death, whilst exhorting those around leads him to overlook the grand whole him to persevere in their pursuit of of a design, in order to dwell upon some giory, their inveterate hostility towards petty part, wherein he conceives his Austria. Of this man anecdotes are told own individual actions or opinions can that would reflect lustre npon the annals be made to appear of more importance. of Greece or Rome; but the most splenIt would be natural to imagine, that wherein Gustavus Adolphus and Wallen-t did era of the whole performance, is that the common bond subsisting between the followers of Luther and of Calvin, in the stein appear on the field together, firs common danger which threatened them, circumstances impelled them to become as open enemies, then as friends, so far as and which it required all their united efforts to avert, would have proved suffici- Gustavus ill assorting with the brilliant so, but soon-the native rectitude of ently powerful to have silenced, at least during the intermediate time of exertion, their original animosity, both brave, chicaneries of Wallenstein-returning to all other considerations of pre-eminence both men of splendid talents, both dying in theological rank, all ridicnlous at the victims of that superiority which tempts to impose upon each other the made them the mark of treachery, both very same shackles of conscience that they were together resisting from the leaving their names imprinted for ever hands of Austria and Rome--yet so it ference, that the virtues of Gustavus on the historic page, with this only difwas, that the world was called upon to witness two vast parties, agreed only in Wallenstein were those of expediency. were those of his heart-the virtues of finding fault with the dotage of the mother church, without being able to settle endeavoured in all things to follow the Gustavus seldom did wrong, because he the system of belief that they would wish to erect in her place. Yet the the contrary, suspected truth itself to be simple rule of right; Wallenstein, on characters and events that crowd this of little worth when it lay upon the surimportant period of modern history, are face, so much more highly did he prize often of a description calculated as pow-all that he gained by intrigue and cunerfully to excite the imagination, as to furnish food for reflection. We see crowns offered by victorious despots to individuals, whose talents were all their claim to distinction, and refused by them in the proud consciousness, that more real glory would accrue to them by freeing a nation, than in availing themselves of its distresses to usurp dominion over it. We find the spirit of chivalry renewed in the enthusiastic fancy of a Prince of Brunswick, who, devoted to the wife of the Elector Palatine, resolves to reinstate her husband in his rights, and rushes forth to battle with the motto "for God and her," on his shield, and supported by Bethlem Gabor, who unites in himself sufficient attractions for the hero of a crusade romance. Mansfeldt, another of the brav ning. In Gustavus Adolphus, the protestants found a brave and stedfast champion, whose arm was raised in their deconscience-himself a friend to the docfence from the unbiassed dictates of his trines of Luther, yet he made no inviand those of Calvin; he took the sword dious distinctions between his followers, in hand to maintain the most sacred of all rights, liberty of conscience, and he invariably set an example of the tolera tion for which he fought. Wallenstein, attached to no party, could be relied on by none, for he made all in turn the tools of his ambition, Educated by his father as a protestant, converted by a Jesuit to the Church of Rome, still he the tenets of the Evangelical Union, or retained more faith in the stars, than in the Catholic league; he regulated his actions by astrological calculations, and by the same enthusiasm which rendered him the dupe of the most visionary and unsatisfactory of all sciences, performed actions which astonished the world, and which need only be reflected upon in the present day, to abate our wonder at the daring exploits of him who lately held all Europe in awe, who from an obscure adventurer, seemed to aim at becoming dictator of the world, but whose rapid rise, considering the peculiarly favouring circumstances under which he was placed, is by no means unprecedented even in modern history. Wallenstein began his military career, by forming a regiment of cavalry for the service of Ferdinand II. before his accession to the imperial throne, which he afterwards filled with as much bigotry, pride, and oppression, as ever the annals of Austria can instance in any other of her monarchs, or as Spain herself can shew in his name-sake. Wallenstein's next step was to submit to the Court of Vienna, a project to raise and equip an army at his own expense, and to maintain it without any charge to the imperial treasury, provided he was permitted to augment it to fifty thousand men, was entrusted with the absolute command, and allowed to dispose of all the commissions, independently of every control.. This romantic plan was acceded to, and attended with such success, that at the end of a few weeks, Wallenstein quitted the. Austrian territory at the head of an army of twenty thousand men, which was augmented to thirty thousand by the time he entered Saxony. In this body destined for the destruction of the protestants, even princes of the protestant persuasion were to be found, either prompted by motives of private pique, lured by ambition of military renown, or dazzled by the extraordinary qualities of Wallenstein, which seemed to deck all his followers in light borrowed from their patrons lustre. The successis of a man so enterprising, heartless, and ambitious as Wallenstein, under the protection of a monarch so blindly attached to his favourites as Ferdinand, were calculated to strike terror throughout Germany. The protestauts were reduced almost to despair, and must infallibly have submitted to the relinquishment of all the privileges, in defending which they had already lost their bravest generals, and exhausted a great part of their resources, but fortunately, human pride and arrogance generally carry in their own excess a remedy for the evils they would otherwise occasion. The insolence of Austria, awakened fears in the catholics, as well as the protestants, whose subjugation they plainly foresaw would be followed by their own. They were disgusted likewise with the arrogance and rapacity of Wallenstein, who made his appearance at the diet assembled by the Emperor, in a style of magnificence superior even to that of the imperial commanders themselves, and attended by a train of six hundred gentlemen, whose costly attire at once contrasted forcibly with the general misery of the people, and drew forth imprecations on the ruinous war by which such splendour was afforded to its abettors. Wallenstein's stars had promised him success in all his undertakings, but had neglected to inform him of the consequences which night accrue from an ostentatious and ill-timed display of it, by which the displeasure of the German Princes was roused so strongly, that they refused to treat with the Emperor, until Wallenstein should be dismissed from his counsels and his armies. The whole account leaving the intrigues of priests and thẹ of this period is highly interesting, but jealousy of princes for the perusal of our readers in the work itself, we shall extract from it, for the present, the following account of the behaviour of Wallenstein in his disgrace, which will serve as a specimen of our author's manner. "With a mixed sensation of indignation and sorrow, the imperial army learned the degradation of their triumphant commander, whose generosity, indulgence, and splendid talents, equally attracted their love and admiration. Many officers of distinction threw up their commissions, and solicited permission to share his fortunes. Those whose merits or attachment had raised them highest in his favour, received the honourable distinction of a household employment; while where unsoiled linen was regarded as a luxury, we may readily con eive that every thing approaching to common comfort must have excited the greatest admiration. When he removed from Prague to Gedsen or Sagan, a hundred waggons trausported his plate and wardrobe, and sixty carriages conveyed his attendants, while the cavalcade was closed by fifty grooms, each leading a noble courser, richly caparisoned." Vol. 1. pp. 374- 377. Wallenstein's magnificence which as reOur author rejects several stories of lated by some writers would rather waft the imagination into fairy-laud, than throw light upon the comparative magificence of ages. The stables belong to others, whose zeal was less conspicuous. | and it is remarked by some contemporary or on whose fidelity he could not rely with writers, as an instance of uncommon reequal confidence, pensious were assigned finement, that clean napkins were fursufficient to procure all the comforts of life, uished at every repast; it would be diffiand to attach them for ever to his interest: cult to produce a more striking proof of for though he had resigned his employ- the semi-barbarity of the times. The richments with the magnanimity of a sage, it ness of his liveries, the splendour of his was not with the intention of burying his retinue, and the magnificence of his furtalents in obscurity, but in order to pre-niture, are represented as almost surpasspare for his return to power with more ex-ing belief; yet, in an age and country tensive and more permanent authority. Disdaining to gratify the malice of his opponents, by the most trifling indication of mental depression, he lived at Prague in a style of magnificence, more suitable to the Sovereign of a wealthy people than to the degraded people of Austria. Six spacious gates conducted to a palace, erected in the midst of the capital of Bohemia, on a commanding spot, where a hundred houses had been cleared away to make room for the stately edifice. Profusion and taste were equally displayed in the Corinthian columns which adorned the portico, and in the painted cielings and costly tapestries which decorated the long suite of apart ments, and which presented to the inquisitive eye of the philosopher the singular phenomenon of a retired officer surpassing monarchs in affluence. His honsehold,ing to a certain marine residence sink established after the expensive model of a royal court, comprehended all those idle appendages of pomp and ostentation, who are accustomed to waste an useless exist ence in the flimsy ceremonies of etiquette. Gentlemen of illustrious families accepted with pride the key of chamberlain; many even are said to have resigned the offices which they held about the person of Ferdinand, for the more flattering distinction of being permitted to wait in the anticham. ber of Wallenstein. Sixty pages, instructed by the ablest masters in all the sciences and accomplishments which enrich the understanding, or give grace and agility to the body, attended him when he aptracting all that is improbable in what peared in public. A guard of fifty soldiers, we are told of this extraordinary man, in costly uniform, was stationed in an out- enough of the surprising, remains to ward hall, to preserve their master against rivet our attention somewhat longer to the plots of his enemies, or the too great a portrait which displays such striking importunity of his friends. Four cham-characteristics as that of Wallenstein. berlains were placed at the door of his apartment, whose business it was minutely to investigate the name, the quality, and the business of every one who demanded. access, that none might intrude through motives of curiosity on the leisure of a man, whose moments were to precious to be consumed in colloquial intercourse, or .complimentary salutations. His table, consisting regularly of a hundred covers, was daily spread with the most delicate viands into insignificance when opposed to the 1 tended daily to receive and communicate "Six barons, and as many knights, athis orders, while a party of soldiers conprevent his meditations from being instantly patrolled the adjacent streets, to terrupted by the bustle of commerce, or the shouts of festivity. No carriages were permitted to approach the palace; no sounds of active industry were heard, but gloony precincts of a Carthusian monassad and solemn silence prevailed, as in the tery. An enemy to frivolity of every kind, | defender of the Lutheran faith. It is he never wasted a minute in those trifling painful to reflect that one of the most amusements, which frequently constitute perfect characters that ever appeared on the most serious occupation of courtiers. the grand stage of human existence, Grave and reserved in his deportment, as if he regarded taciturnity to be the crite should have been hurried from it after rion of wisdom, he was far more liberal of escaping every open danger, by the his money than of his conversation; and hand of treachery. Yet there is but too even when he deigned to impart his ideas, much reason to fear that this was the he did it reluctantly, and with repulsive case with Gustavus; for however policondescension. Disliking mirth, and even tical fury may set afloat opinions which innocent recreation, he was scarcely ever when they have answered the immeknown to relax the severity of his features; diate object of party spirit, vanish into and the coldness of his constitution ena- nothing when the test of dispassionate enquiry is applied to them, yet when one generation succeeds another, and suspicion still maintains her ground, surely it may be believed that she is strengthened in it by truth herself. As to fix upon the perpetrator of so foul bled him to resist the seductions of the senses with stoic apathy. Though engaged in a correspondeuce with persons of eminence in every European nation, he seldom had recourse to the assistance of a secretary, so little confidence did he repose in the discretion or the fidelity of others." "In this stately obscurity Wallenstein awaited with a steady, though not with a tranquil mind, the happy hour when fortune, more just to his perfections, might render him once more an object of terror to the enemies of his country and his own. The victories of Gustavus announced that moment to be rapidly approaching, and he looked forward to it with all the ardour of a mind inflamed alike by ambition and revenge." The false glitter of Wallenstein's character, his tumultuous life, and tragical end, betrayed by those he had best served, assassinated by those he had most trusted, peculiarly fit him for dramatic exhibition; accordingly we find him continually upon the German Stage, and Schiller has made him the hero of one of his finest tragedies. a deed is to clear thousands from, the possible imputation of a crime they would shudder to look upon, we conceive Mr. Naylor has done well in taking pains to prove that Gustavus Adolphus fell by the hand of his kinsmau Francis Albert, Duke of Saxe Lunenburg. The destruction of Magdeburgh, under the orders of Tilly, the renowned Austrian General, is described by our Author in terms of becoming indignation. The cruelties and enormities practised by the victors, under the imwho remarked, that after the fatigues mediate sanction of their commander, the soldiers had undergone in the siege of the place, they were entitled to some indulgence, form a disgraceful contrast to the moderation and humanity of the The simple dignity, the inviolable troops of Gustavus, at the capture of fidelity of Gustavus Adolphus, form a Leipsic, which happened shortly after, fine contrast to the character and con- the account of which will be read with duct of Wallenstein. In the closet or the more interest, familiarised as we the field, at his devotions or in his have lately been' with the name of that councils, we still contemplate the King part of Germany, as the scene of many of Sweden with delight, and every of those grand events which have lately where see the homage of the heart paid restored independence to Europe. The to his virtues: even his enemies could intrigues of France after the death of not withhold from them the tribute of Gustavus, the ungrateful conduct of the praise, and those for whose civil and German Powers towards Sweden, the moral freedom he drained his coffers fluctuating and unsteady conduct of and risked his life, regarded him with even the most zealous among the Proan enthusiastic veneration, which, deck-testant party, are all well delineated by ing its object in celestial brightness, viewed him as divinely commissioned to become the champion of liberty and the Mr. Naylor, whose remarks, at all times judicious, acquire additional strength from the nervous brevity with which they are delivered his authorities are visits of itinerant friars, commissioned carefully given, and are of the most to scrutinize the opinions of the insatisfactory nature. He is well versed habitants with inquisitorial severity; in the best German historians, and pre-and if they found them polluted with sents us with many curious facts from the smallest stain, the offence was the Swedish Intelligencer, a scarce and expiated by capital punishment. A valuable work, for which he acknow-military force sufficient to impress the ledges his obligations to Marquis Wel-most courageous with awe, attended this lesley. bloody tribunal, whose natural ferocity receiving an additional stimulus from the savage zeal of their coadjutors, exposed the wretched peasantry to every calamity that fauaticism or licentiousness could inflict. Some were murdered We cannot refrain from laying before our readers the following picture, as drawn by Catholic writers themselves, of the misery to which a people may speedily be reduced by bigotry and in-in their houses with deliberate cruelty, tolerance, within the pale of the church, were banished for ever from Bohemia. By this decree no less remarkable for its impolicy than its injustice, thirty thousand families were driven into exile; and as in this number many were included conspicuous for the acquirements of knowledge, the talents of in after beholding the violation of their "Bohemia was treated with still wives and daughters; others pursued ingreater severity, for as he (Ferdinand) to the woods and mountains, like beasts no longer dreaded the spirit of a people of prey, were compelled to receive the broken down by oppression, he gave mystic symbol of charity and faith ununbounded scope to his natural violence, der a form abhorrent to their souls, arevenging with relentless cruelty, the mid the insults and mockery of their insult formerly offered to his authority persecutors. To sum up his vengeance under pretence of vindicating the honor in one sweeping act of proscription, a of the Almighty. Though three fourths period was fixed at the expiration of of the inhabitants were sincerely at-which, all persons who refused to return tached to the Lutheran tenets, he published an edict forbidding the public profession of any form of worship except that of the Vatican; ejecting the protestants from the schools and replacing them by mendicant friars, indiscriminately chosen for this important office, not on account of their learning but of their religious opinions. No per-dustry, and the gifts of fortune, a sons except those of orthodox tenets were permitted to exercise any trade or manufactory; heavy fines were imposed on all who presumed, even in domestic .retirement, to address their Creator in the language of the heart; marriages were declared invalid unless they had been solemnised according to the pompous ceremonial of Rome; even the wills of protestants were no longer binding in the tribunals of Austria. With a barbarity characteristic of bigotry alone, he deprived sickness and age of those very houses which charity had -erected for their solace, unless admission was purchased by apostavy. From the towns and cities the burghers were expelled unless they renounced the worship of their fathers. Even the remotest hamlets were not exempt from persecution, but were exposed to the wound was inflicted on that devoted country from which it never recovered." Vol. I. p. 286. When it is remembered that bigotry and ignorance always go hand in band, that tyrants have upon principle uniformly endeavoured to keep in darkness the minds they would enslave, surely we have abundant reason to be grateful for living in an age when instruction is held out to the meanest individual, and we trust the perusal of Mr. Naylor's interesting and instructive work, will strengthen in our readers their attachment to the cause of civil and religious liberty, and unite them to the promulgation of that knowledge, and the practise of that morality which are the strongest bulwarks of justice apl virtue, and the surest safeguards of national prosperity. |