what stuff he was. In which prosperities, as indeed he continued
to do in the perils and toils, Burggraf Friedrich III. of Nurnberg
naturally partook: hence, and not gratis at all, the Hereditary
Burggrafdom, and many other favors and accessions he got. For he
continued Rudolf's steady helper, friend and first-man in all
things, to the very end. Evidently one of the most important men
in Germany, and candor will lead us to guess one of the worthiest,
during those bad years of Interregnum, and the better ones of
Kaisership. After Conrad his great-grandfather he is the second
notable architect of the Family House;--founded by Conrad;
conspicuously built up by this Friedrich III., and the first STORY
of it finished, so to speak. Then come two Friedrichs as
Burggrafs, his son and his grandson's grandson, "Friedrich IV."
and "Friedrich VI.," by whom it was raised to the second story and
the third,--thenceforth one of the high houses of the world.

That is the glimpse we can give of Friedrich first Hereditary
Burggraf, and of his Cousin Rudolf first Hapsburg Kaiser.
The latest Austrian Kaisers, the latest Kings of Prussia,
they are sons of these two men.



Chapter VIII.

ASCANIER MARKGRAVES IN BRANDENBURG.

We have said nothing of the Ascanier Markgraves, Electors of
Brandenburg, all this while; nor, in these limits, can we now or
henceforth say almost anything. A proud enough, valiant and