call him among Kaisers. Contest attended with the usual election
expenses; war-wrestle, namely, between the parties till one threw the
other. There was much confused wrestling and throttling for seven years
or more (1315-1322). Our Nurnberg Burggraf, Friedrich IV., held with
Ludwig, as did the real majority, though in a languid manner, and was
busy he as few were; the Austrian Hapsburgs also doing their best, now
under, now above. Johann King of Bohemia was on Ludwig's side as yet.
Ludwig's own Brother, Kur-Pfalz (ancestor of all the Electors, and their
numerous Branches, since known there), an elder Brother, was, "out of
spite" as men thought, decidedly against Ludwig.

In the eighth year came a Fight that proved decisive. Fight at Muhldorf
on the Inn, 23th September, 1322,--far down in those Danube Countries,
beyond where Marlborough ever was, where there has been much fighting
first and last; Burggraf Friedrich was conspicuously there. A very
great Battle, say the old Books,--says Hormayr, in a new readable
Book, [Hormayr, _OEsterreichischer Plutarch,_ ii. 31-37.] giving minute
account of it. Ludwig rather held aloof rearward; committed his business
to the Hohenzollern Burggraf and to one Schweppermann, aided by a noble
lord called Rindsmaul ("COWMOUTH," no less), and by others experienced
in such work. Friedrich the Hapsburger DER SCHONE, Duke of Austria, and
self-styled Kaiser, a gallant handsome man, breathed mere martial
fury, they say: he knew that his Brother Leopold was on march with a
reinforcement to him from the Strasburg quarter, and might arrive any
moment; but he could not wait,--perhaps afraid Ludwig might run;--he
rashly determined to beat Ludwig without reinforcement. Our rugged
fervid Hormayr (though imitating Tacitus and Johannes von Muller
overmuch) will instruct fully any modern that is curious about this big
Battle: what furious charging, worrying; how it "lasted ten hours;" how
the blazing Handsome Friedrich stormed about, and "slew above fifty with
his own hand." To us this is the interesting point: At one turn of the
Battle, tenth hour of it now ending, and the tug of war still desperate,
there arose a cry of joy over all the Austrian ranks, "Help coming!
Help!"--and Friedrich noticed a body of Horse, "in Austrian cognizance"
(such the cunning of a certain man), coming in upon his rear. Austrians
and Friedrich never doubted but it was Brother Leopold just getting on
the ground; and rushed forwa