“I am only waiting for the return of the messenger whom I sent to Sebastian von Waldow.  He will bring us reliable information as to the progress of organization among your adherents in Prussia, for Waldow has gone himself to Koenigsberg to hold a consultation with Count Martinitz, and to concert with our loyal friends a fixed plan of operations.”

“We shall be obliged to go very slowly and cautiously to work,” said Count Adam thoughtfully.  “We must first secure ourselves on all sides, and be sure of the result before we venture to assume the offensive.  The most important thing now is to assure ourselves of the Emperor’s favor and approval.  You, my son, must repair forthwith to Regensburg, where the Emperor is at present.  You will inform him that I have obtained orders from the Elector to release the troops from their oath to the Emperor, and to swear them into the Elector’s service alone.  You will say to his Majesty that I have declined to yield to this order, and in the oath administered to the officers have made their allegiance to the Elector quite secondary to their obligations to himself.  You will further notify the Emperor that the soldiers’ pay has been in arrears for a month, because all our coffers are empty.  Therefore ask, in my name, if it would not perhaps be advisable, if we come to extremities, to take the Brandenburg troops into the Emperor’s pay, to give them rations in the Emperor’s name, and renew their oath to his Imperial Majesty.  To effect this, we have only to stimulate a little the discontent of the troops.  They are already tolerably desperate because they have not received their wages.  If the Elector does not speedily pay off the troops, the desperation will reach its height, and a revolt break forth spontaneously.”

“Thence it follows, most gracious sir, that they will become as wax to be molded at your will.”

“You are right, my son; we must manage to retain authority over friend and foe.  The troops here are a wild, lawless horde, knowing little of discipline and order, and bearing much closer resemblance to a robber band than a princely army.  We must aim at having disciplined troops at hand, such as are accustomed to obedience, and to this end must introduce imperial troops into the Mark.  Nothing further is necessary for this than to begin hostilities against the Swedes with renewed activity, drawing them down upon Berlin.  It will then seem quite natural, considering the weakness of the forces here, to invite the aid of the Emperor and his troops in defending Berlin and protecting ourselves against the Swedes, but in truth to help us in this great movement against the seditious Elector, who would revolt against Emperor and empire.

“I commission you, my son, to unravel this whole scheme to the Emperor, and to petition him for his countenance.  For, without the imperial approbation and without an assurance of success, we dare not proceed further in this dangerous undertaking.  We must have some security, too, that the Emperor’s Majesty will proportionately reward us if we gain the Mark for him, and rid him of that mutinous, heretical Elector.”