History of Friedrich II of Prussia, vol 3 | Page 4

ill habits of long
continuance.
Friedrich was very patient with them; hoped to prevail by gentle
methods. He "invited them to dinner;" "had them often at dinner for a
year or more:" but could make no progress in that way. "Who is this we
have got for a Governor?" said the noble lords privately to each other:
"A NURNBERGER TAND (Nurnberg Plaything,-- wooden image,
such as they make at Nurnberg)," said they, grinning, in a thick-skinned
way: "If it rained Burggraves all the year round, none of them would
come to luck in this Country;"--and continued their feuds, toll-levyings,
plunderings and other contumacies. Seeing matters come to this pass
after waiting above a year, Burggraf Friedrich gathered his Frankish
men-at-arms; quietly made league with the neighboring Potentates,
Thuringen and others; got some munitions, some artillery
together--especially one huge gun, the biggest ever seen, "a twenty-four
pounder" no less; to which the peasants, dragging her with difficulty
through the clayey roads, gave the name of FAULE GRETE (Lazy, or
Heavy Peg); a remarkable piece of ordnance. Lazy Peg he had got from
the Landgraf of Thuringen, on loan merely; but he turned her to

excellent account of his own. I have often inquired after Lazy Peg's fate
in subsequent times; but could never learn anything distinct:--the
German Dryasdust is a dull dog, and seldom carries anything human in
those big wallets of his!--
Equipped in this way, Burggraf Friedrich (he was not yet Kurfurst, only
coming to be) marches for the Havel Country (early days of 1414);
[Michaelis, i. 287; Stenzel, i. 168 (where, contrary to wont, is an
insignificant error or two). Pauli (ii. 58) is, as usual, lost in water.]
makes his appearance before Quitzow's strong-house of Friesack, walls
fourteen feet thick: "You Dietrich von Quitzow, are you prepared to
live as a peaceable subject henceforth: to do homage to the Laws and
me?"--"Never!" answered Quitzow, and pulled up his drawbridge.
Whereupon Heavy Peg opened upon him, Heavy Peg and other guns;
and, in some eight-and-forty hours, shook Quitzow's impregnable
Friesack about his ears. This was in the month of February, 1414, day
not given: Friesack was the name of the impregnable Castle (still
discoverable in our time); and it ought to be memorable and venerable
to every Prussian man. Burggraf Friedrich VI., not yet quite become
Kurfurst Friedrich I., but in a year's space to become so, he in person
was the beneficent operator; Heavy Peg, and steady Human Insight,
these were clearly the chief implements.
Quitzow being settled,--for the country is in military occupation of
Friedrich and his allies, and except in some stone castle a man has no
chance,--straightway Putlitz or another mutineer, with his drawbridge
up, was battered to pieces, and his drawbridge brought slamming down.
After this manner, in an incredibly short period, mutiny was quenched;
and it became apparent to Noble Lords, and to all men, that here at
length was a man come who would have the Laws obeyed again, and
could and would keep mutiny down.
Friedrich showed no cruelty; far the contrary. Your mutiny once ended,
and a little repented of, he is ready to be your gracious Prince again:
Fair-play and the social wine-cup, or inexorable war and Lazy Peg, it is
at your discretion which. Brandenburg submitted; hardly ever rebelled
more. Brandenburg, under the wise Kurfurst it has got, begins in a

small degree to be cosmic again, or of the domain of the gods; ceases to
be chaotic and a mere cockpit of the devils. There is no doubt but this
Friedrich also, like his ancestor Friedrich III., the First Hereditary
Burggraf, was an excellent citizen of his country: a man conspicuously
important in all German business in his time. A man setting up for no
particular magnanimity, ability or heroism, but unconsciously
exhibiting a good deal; which by degrees gained universal recognition.
He did not shine much as Reichs-Generalissimo, under Kaiser
Sigismund, in his expeditions against Zisca; on the contrary, he
presided over huge defeat and rout, once and again, in that capacity;
and indeed had represented in vain that, with such a species of militia,
victory was impossible. He represented and again represented, to no
purpose; whereupon he declined the office farther; in which others
fared no better. [Hormayr, OEsterreichischer Plutarch italic> vii. 109-158, ? Zisca.]
The offer to be Kaiser was made him in his old days; but he wisely
declined that too. It was in Brandenburg, by what he silently founded
there, that he did his chief benefit to Germany and mankind. He
understood the noble art of governing men; had in him the justice,
clearness, valor and patience needed for that. A man of sterling probity,
for one thing. Which indeed is the first requisite in said art:--if you will
have your