harles XII., ever since that Stralsund business. The
peril was real, especially with a Gortz and Alberoni putting hand to it;
and the alarm, the rumor, and uncertainty were great in those years. The
wounded Lion driven indignant into his lair, with Plotting Artists now
operating upon the rage of the noble animal: who knows what spring he
will next take? George I. had a fleet cruising in the Baltic Sounds,
and again a fleet;--paying, in that oblique way, for Bremen and Verden;
which were got, otherwise, such a bargain to his Hanover. Czar Peter
had marched an Army into Denmark; united Russians and Danes count fifty
thousand there; for a conjunct invasion, and probable destruction, of
Sweden: but that came to nothing; Charles looking across upon it too
dangerously, "visible in clear weather over from the Danish side."
[1716: Fassmann, p. 171.] So Peter's troops have gone home again;
Denmark too glad to get them away. Perhaps they would have stayed
in Denmark altogether; much liking the green pastures and convenient
situation,--had not Admiral Norris with his cannon been there! Perhaps?
And the Pretender is coming again, they say? And who knows what is
coming?--How Gortz, in about a year hence was laid hold of, and let
go, and then ultimately tried and beheaded (once his lion Master was
disposed of); [19th March, 1719: see Kohler (_Munzbelustiggungen,_ vi.
233-240, xvii. 297-304) for many curious details of Gortz and his end.]
how, Ambassador Cellamare, and the Spanish part of the Plot, having been
discovered in Paris, Cardinal Alberoni at Madrid was discovered, and
the whole mystery laid bare; all that mad business, of bringing the
Pretender into England, throwing out George I., throwing out the Regent
d'Orleans, and much more,--is now sunk silent enough, not worthy of
reawakening; but it was then a most loud matter; filling the European
Courts, and especially that of Berlin, with rumors and apprehensions. No
wonder Friedrich Wilhelm was grateful for that Swedish Peace of his,
and named his little daughter "Ulrique" in honor of it. Tumultuous
cloud-world of Lapland Witchcraft had ceased hereby, and daylight
had begun: old women (or old Cardinals) riding through the sky, on
broomsticks, to meet Satan, where now are they? The fact still dimly
perceptible is, Europe, thanks to that pair of Black-Artists, Gortz
and Alberoni, not to mention Law the Finance-Wizard and his French
incantations, had been kept generally, for these th