Tannenberg, there began to rise murmurs,--in the Holy Roman Empire
first of all. "Preussen is a piece of the Reich," said hot,
inconsiderate people; "Preussen could not be alienated without
consent of the Reich!" To which discourses the afflicted Ritters
listened only too gladly; their dull eyes kindling into new false
hopes at sound of them. The point was, To choose as Hochmeister
some man of German influence, of power and connection in the
Country, who might help them to their so-called right. With this
view, they chose one and then another of such sort;--and did not
find it very hopeful, as we shall see.

Albert was chosen Grand-Master of Preussen, in February, 1511;
age then twenty-one. Made his entry into Konigsberg, November next
year; in grand cavalcade, "dreadful storm of rain and wind at the
time,"--poor Albert all in black, and full of sorrow, for the loss
of his Mother, the good Polish Princess, who had died since he
left home. Twenty months of preparation he had held since his
Election, before doing anything: for indeed the case was
intricate. He, like his predecessor in office, had undertaken to
refuse that Homage to Poland; the Reich generally, and Kaiser Max
himself, in a loose way of talk, encouraging him: "A piece of the
Reich," said they all; "Teutsch Ritters had no power to give it
away in that manner." Which is a thing more easily said, than
made good in the way of doing.

Albert's predecessor, chosen on this principle, was a Saxon
Prince, Friedrich of Meissen; cadet of Saxony; potently enough
connected, he too; who, in like manner, had undertaken to refuse
the Homage. And zealously did refuse it, though to his cost, poor
man. From the Reich, for all its big talking, he got no manner of