Friedrich and another had been proposed as umpires; and Friedrich
now waited on his Cousin, in this hasty manner,--not about the
Basel feud, but on a far higher quite unexpected errand,--to say,
That he Rudolf was elected Kaiser, and that better times for the
Holy Roman Empire were now probable, with Heaven's help. [Rentsch,
pp. 299, 285, 298.] We call him Cousin; though what the kindred
actually was, a kindred by mothers, remains, except the general
fact of it, disputable by Dryasdust. The actual visit, under the
walls of Basel, is by some considered romantic. But that Rudolf,
tough steel-gray man, besieging Basel on his own quarrel, on the
terms just stated, was altogether unexpectedly apprised of this
great news, and that Cousin Friedrich of Nurnberg had mainly
contributed to such issue, is beyond questioh. [Kohler, pp. 249,
251.] The event was salutary, like life instead of death,
to anarchic Germany; and did eminent honor to Friedrich's judgment
in men.

Richard of Cornwall having at last died, and his futile German
clerks having quitted Berkhamstead forever,--Alphonso of Castille,
not now urged by rivalry, and seeing long since what a crank
machine the thing was, had no objection to give it up; said so to
the Pope,--who was himself anxious for a settled Kaiser, the
supplies of Papal German cash having run almost dry during these
troubles. Whereupon ensued earnest consultations among leading
German men; Diet of the Empire, sternly practical (we may well
perceive), and with a minimum of talk, the Pope too being held
rather well at a distance: the result of which was what we see.
[29th September, 1273.] Mainly due to Friedrich of Nurnberg, say
all Historians; conjoining with him the then Archbishop of Mainz,
who is officially President Elector (literally CONVENER of