Part 2 (1/2)

134, 161. Green's Princesses. V. 468-9.

[26] Warburton, Vol. I. p. 49, _note_.

[27] Strickland, Elizabeth Stuart, p. 138.

[28] Bromley Letters, p. 20.

[29] Spruner's Pfalzgraf Ruprecht, p. 17. Staatsbibliothek zu Munchen.

[30] Green, English Princesses, Vol. V. p. 515.

[31] Bromley Letters, p. 124.

[32] Dict. of National Biography. Art. Elizabeth of Bohemia.

[33] Letters and Negotiations of Roe, p. 146.

[34] Memoiren der Herzogin Sophie, p. 43.

[35] Spruner, p. 15. MSS. der Staatsbibliothek zu Munchen.

[36] Briefwechsel der Herzogin Sophie mit Karl Ludwig von der Pfalz, p.

309.

[37] Dom. State Papers. Chas. I. Vol. 325. Fol. 47. Eliz. to Roe, 4 June, 1636.

[38] Ibid. Roe to Eliz., 20 July, 1636. Vol. 329. fol. 21.

[39] Memoiren der Herzogin Sophie, pp. 38-39.

[40] Bromley Letters, p. 97.

[41] Forster's Statesmen, Vol. VI. p. 81, _note_

[42] Memoiren der Herzogin Sophie, pp. 36-37.

[43] Memoirs of the Princess Palatine. Blaze de Bury. p. 112.

[44] Strickland, Elizabeth Stuart, p. 174.

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CHAPTER II

RUPERT'S EARLY CAMPAIGNS. FIRST VISIT TO ENGLAND. MADEMOISELLE DE ROHAN

At the age of thirteen Rupert made his first campaign. Prince Henry of Orange had succeeded his brother Maurice as Stadtholder, and under his Generals.h.i.+p, the Protestant states of Holland still carried on the struggle against Spain and the Spanish Netherlands, which had raged since the days of William the Silent. The close alliance of Spain with the Empire, and of Holland with the Palatines, connected this war with the religious wars of Germany; young Rupert was full of eagerness to share in it, and the Stadtholder, with whom the boy was a special favourite, begged Elizabeth's leave to take him and his elder brother on the campaign of 1633. The Queen consented, saying, ”He cannot too soon be a soldier in these active times.”[1] But hardly was the boy gone, than she was seized with fears for his morals, and recalled him to the Hague. Rupert submitted reluctantly, but the remonstrances of the Stadtholder, ere long, procured his return to the army.

A brief campaign resulted in the capture of Rhynberg, which triumph Prince Henry celebrated with a tournament held at the Hague. On this occasion Rupert greatly distinguished himself, carrying off the palm, ”with such a graceful air accompanying all his actions, as drew the hearts and eyes of all spectators towards him ... The ladies also contended among themselves which should crown him with the greatest and most welcome glory.”[2]

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After all this excitement, the boy found his life at Leyden irksome, and ”his thoughts were so wholly taken up with the love of arms, that he had no great pa.s.sion for any other study.” He was therefore allowed to return to active service, and on the next campaign he served in the Stadtholder's Life Guards. With eager delight, he ”delivered himself up to all the common duties and circ.u.mstances of a private soldier;”[3]

in which capacity he witnessed the sieges of Louvain, Schenkenseyan, and the horrible sack of Tirlemont. Even thus early he showed something of the impatience and impetuosity which was afterwards his bane. The dilatory methods and cautious policy of the Stadtholder fretted him; ”an active Prince, like ours, was always for charging the enemy.” His courage indeed ”astonished the eldest soldiers,” and they exerted themselves to preserve from harm the young comrade who took no care of himself.[4] Eventually Rupert returned from his second campaign, covered with glory, and not a little spoilt by the petting of the Stadtholder, and of his companions in arms. A visit to England, which followed soon after, did not tend to lessen his good opinion of himself.