say, Anarchy or Government by the Pawnbroker; and sank faster and
faster, towards annihilation as it seemed. That was its fate under
the Luxemburg Kurfursts, who made even the Bavarian and all
others be regretted.

One thing Kaiser Karl did, which ultimately proved the saving of
Brandenburg: made friendship with the Hohenzollern Burggraves.
These, Johann II., temporary "STUTTHALTER" Johann, and his
Brother, who were Co-regents in the Family Domain, when Karl first
made appearance,--had stood true to Kaiser Ludwig and his Son, so
long as that play lasted at all; nay one of these Burggraves was
talked of as Kaiser after Ludwig's death, but had the wisdom not
to try. Kaiser Ludwig being dead, they still would not recognize
the PFAFFEN-KAISER Karl, but held gloomily out. So that Karl had
to march in force into the Nurnberg country, and by great
promises, by considerable gifts, and the "example of the other
Princes of the Empire," ["Hallow-eve, 1347, on the Field of
Nurnberg," Agreement was come to (Rentsch, p. 326).] brought them
over to do homage.

After which, their progress, and that of their successor (Johann's
son, Friedrich V.), in the grace of Karl, was something
xtraordinary. Karl gave his Daughter to this Friedrich V.'s eldest
Son; appointed a Daughter of Friedrich's for his own Second
Prince, the famed Sigismund, famed that is to be,--which latter
match did not take effect, owing to changed outlooks after Karl's
death. Nay there is a Deed still extant about marrying children
not yet born: Karl to produce a Princess within five years, and
Burggraf Friedrich V. a Prince, for that purpose! [Rentsch,
p. 336.] But the Burggraf never had another Prince; though Karl