Prince Augustus of Wolfenbüttel, the accepted lover of Sophia --Superstition of the Duke of Zell--Intrigues of Madame von Platen--A rival lover--Prince George Louis: makes an offer of marriage to Princess Anne--Policy of the Prince of Orange--Prince George in England: festivities on account of his visit--Execution of Lord Stafford--Illness of Prince Rupert--The Bill of Exclusion, and the Duke of York at Holyrood--Probable succession of the House of Brunswick-- Prince George recalled--Successful intrigues of Sophia, wife of Ernest--A group for an artist--Ill-fated marriage of Sophia--Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia--‘Goody Palsgrave’--The Electress Sophia, and her intellectual skirmishes 18 CHAPTER IV. THE HOUSEHOLD OF GEORGE AND SOPHIA. Reception of Sophia at the Court of Ernest Augustus--Similar position of Marie Antoinette and Sophia--Misfortune of the abigail Use--Compassionated by the Duchess of Zell --Intrigues and revenge of Madame von Platen--A new favourite, Mademoiselle Ermengarda von der Schulenburg--A marriage _fête_, and intended insult to the Princess Sophia --Gross vice of George Louis 33 CHAPTER V. THE ELECTORATE OF HANOVER. The House of Hanover ranges itself against France--Ernest Augustus created Elector--Domestic rebellion of his son Maximilian--His accomplice, Count von Moltke, beheaded-- The Electors of Germany 43 CHAPTER VI. THE KÖNIGSMARKS. Count Charles John Königsmark’s roving and adventurous life --The great heiress--An intriguing countess--‘Tom of Ten Thousand’--The murder of Lord John Thynne--The fate of the count’s accomplices--Court influence shelters the guilty count 49 CHAPTER VII. KÖNIGSMARK AT COURT. Various accomplishments of Count Philip Christopher Königsmark --The early companion of Sophia Dorothea--Her friendship for him--An interesting interview--Intrigues of Madame von Platen--Foiled in her machinations--A dramatic incident--The unlucky glove--Scandal against the honour of the Princess--A mistress enraged on discovery of her using rouge--Indiscretion of the Princess--Her visit to Zell--The Elector’s criminal intimacy with Madame von der Schulenburg--William the Norman’s brutality to his wife --The elder Aymon--Brutality of the Austrian Empress to ‘Madame Royale’--Return of Sophia, and reception by her husband 58 CHAPTER VIII. THE CATASTROPHE.