on his rebellious subject.  However greatly Ferdinand may have erred, the Emperor at least had a claim to obedience; the man might be mistaken, but the monarch could not confess his error.  If the Duke of Friedland had suffered by an unjust decree, he might yet be recompensed for all his losses; the wound which it had itself inflicted, the hand of Majesty might heal.  If he asked security for his person and his dignities, the Emperor’s equity would refuse him no reasonable demand.  Majesty contemned, admitted not of any atonement; disobedience to its commands cancelled the most brilliant services.  The Emperor required his services, and as Emperor he demanded them.  Whatever price Wallenstein might set upon them, the Emperor would readily agree to; but he demanded obedience, or the weight of his indignation should crush the refractory servant.”

Wallenstein, whose extensive possessions within the Austrian monarchy were momentarily exposed to the power of the Emperor, was keenly sensible that this was no idle threat; yet it was not fear that at last overcame his affected reluctance.  This imperious tone was of itself, to his mind, a plain proof of the weakness and despair which dictated it, while the Emperor’s readiness to yield all his demands convinced him that he had attained the summit of his wishes.  He now made a show of yielding to the persuasions of Eggenberg; and left him, in order to write down the conditions on which he accepted the command.

Not without apprehension, did the minister receive the writing in which the proudest of subjects had prescribed laws to the proudest of sovereigns.  But however little confidence he had in the moderation of his friend, the extravagant contents of his writing surpassed even his worst expectations.  Wallenstein required the uncontrolled command over all the German armies of Austria and Spain, with unlimited powers to reward and punish.  Neither the King of Hungary, nor the Emperor himself, were to appear in the army, still less to exercise any act of authority over it.  No commission in the army, no pension or letter of grace, was to be granted by the Emperor without Wallenstein’s approval.  All the conquests and confiscations that should take place were to be placed entirely at Wallenstein’s disposal, to the exclusion of every other tribunal.  For his ordinary pay, an imperial hereditary estate was to be assigned him, with another of the conquered estates within the Empire for his extraordinary expenses.  Every Austrian province was to be opened to him if he required it in case of retreat.  He further demanded the assurance of the possession of the Duchy of Mecklenburg, in the event of a future peace; and a formal and timely intimation, if it should be deemed necessary a second time to deprive him of the command.