had held their lands from no emperor, in feudal tenure, like other German princes, but in their own right, as absolute lords, since five hundred years, and though for twenty years it seemed to rest upon five goodly princes, yet by permission of the incomprehensible God, it has now melted away until your Highness stands the last of his race, and no prospect is before us that it will ever be restored, but with your Highness (God have mercy upon us!) will be utterly extinguished, and for ever. "Woe to us, how have we sinned! " (Lament. v. 16).* I pray therefore the all-merciful God, that He will remove me before your Highness from this vale of tears, that I may not behold the last hour of your Highness or of my poor fatherland. Rather than witness these things, I would a thousand times sooner lie quiet in my grave. * Marginal note of Duke Bogislaff XIV.-" In tuas manus commendo spiritum meum, quia tu me redemisti fide deus." CONTENTS How Otto von Bork received the homage of his son-in-law, Vidante von Meseritz-And how the bride and bridegroom b How the young Prince prepared a petition to his mother, the How Sidonia makes the young Prince break his word-Item, how Clara von Dewitz in vain tries to turn her from her evil Of Appelmann's knavery-Item, how the birthday of her High- How the ghost continued to haunt the castle, and of its daring behaviour-Item, how the young lord regained his strength, How the horrible wickedness of Sidonia was made apparent; and How Otto von Bork demands the Jena dues from the Star- |