, except this Wolfgang Wilhelm of
Pfalz-Neuburg; he alone having clutched hold.--But we hasten to SYMPTOM
THIRD, which particularly concerns us, and will be intelligible now at
last.

SYMPTOM THIRD: A DINNER-SCENE AT DUSSELDORF, 1613: SPANIARDS AND DUTCH
SHOULDER ARMS IN CLEVE.

Brandenburg and Neuburg stood together against third parties; but their
joint-government was apt to fall in two, when left to itself, and the
pressure of danger withdrawn. "They governed by the RATHS and STANDE of
the Country;" old methods and old official men: each of the two had
his own Vice-Regent (STATTHALTER) present on the ground, who jointly
presided as they could. Jarrings were unavoidable; but how mend it?
Settle the litigated Territory itself, and end their big lawsuit, they
could not; often as they tried it, with the whole world encouraging and
urging them. [Old Sir Henry Wotton, Provost of Eton in his old days,
remembers how he went Ambassador on this errand,--as on many others
equally bootless;--and writes himself "Legatus," not only "thrice to
Venice, twice to" &c. &c., but also "once to Holland in the Juliers
matter _(semel in Juliacensi negotio):"_ see _Reliquiae Wottonianae_
(London, 1672), Preface. It was "in 1614," say the Biographies vaguely.
His Despatches, are they in the Paper-Office still? His good old
Book deserves new editing, his good old genially pious life a proper
elucidation, by some faithful man.] The meetings they had, and the
treaties and temporary bargains they made, and kept, and could not keep,
in these and in the following years and generations, pass our power of
recording.

In 1613 the Brandenburg STATTHALTER was Ernst, the Elector's younger
Brother, Wolfgang Wilhelm in person, for his Father, or rather for
himself as heir of his Mother, represented Pfalz-Neuburg. Ernst of
Brandenburg had adopted Calvinism as his creed; a thing hateful and
horrible to the Lutheran mind (of which sort was Wolfgang Wilhelm), to
a degree now altogether inconceivable. Discord arose in consequence
between the STATTHALTERS, as to official appointments, sacred and
secular: "You are for promoting Calvinists!"--"And you, I see, are
for promoting Lutherans!"--Johann Sigismund himself had to intervene:
Wolfgang Wilhelm and he had their meetings, friendly colloquies:--the
final celloquy of which is still memorable; and issues in SYMPTOM THIRD.

We said, a strong flame of choler burnt in all these Hohenzollerns,
though they h