Which lasted from 1254 onwards; and is called "the Interregnum,"
or Anarchy "of Nineteen Years," in German History.

Let us at least name the Three Kaisers, or Triple-elixir of
No-Kaiser; though, except as chronological landmarks, we have not
much to do with them. First Kaiser is William Count of Holland,
a rough fellow, Pope's protege, Pope even raising cash for him;
till William perished in the Dutch peat-bogs (horse and man,
furiously pursuing, in some fight there, and getting swallowed up
in that manner); which happily reduces our false Kaisers to two:
Second and Third, who are both foreign to Germany.

Second Kaiser is Alphonso King of Castille, Alphonso the Wise,
whose saying about Ptolemy's Astronomy, "That it seemed a crank
machine; that it was pity the Creator had not taken advice!" is
still remembered by mankind;--this and no other of his many
sayings and doings. He was wise enough to stay at home; and except
wearing the title, which cost nothing, to concern himself very
little about the Holy Roman Empire,--some clerk or two dating
"TOLETI (at Toledo)," did languidly a bit of official writing
now and then, and that was all. Confused crank machine this of
the German Empire too, your Majesty? Better stay at home, and
date "TOLETI."

The Third false Kaiser--futile call him rather, wanting clear
majority--was the English Richard of Cornwall; younger Son of John
Lackland; and little wiser than his Father, to judge by those
symptoms. He had plenty of money, and was liberal with it;--no
other call to Germany, you would say, except to get rid of his
money;--in which he succeeded. He lived actually in Germany,