victims into the oven, lit the straw behind them, and so they were obliged to creep through the flames. Ragamuffins were everywhere to be found who bargained with the soldiers, to betray their own neighbours. And these were not the most horrible torments. What was done to the women and maidens, to the old women and children, must be passed over in silence. Thus did the army misbehave amongst the people, dishonouring every bed, robbing every house, devastating every field, till they were themselves involved in the general ruin. And the destruction of these thirty years increased progressively. It was the years from 1635 to 1641 which annihilated the last powers of the nation; from that period to the peace, a death-like lassitude pervaded the country; it communicated itself to the armies, and one can easily understand that the bitter misery of the soldiers called for some consideration for the citizens and peasants. The remaining population were once more reduced to despair, as they had to pay the cost, maintenance, and peace subsidies for the standing army. And the army dispersed itself amongst the population. CHAPTER III. THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR.--THE VILLAGES AND THEIR PASTORS. Oft have the soldier's sword And jeering Croat horde, With usage rude and fierce, Threaten'd my heart to pierce. Yet I drew unhurt my breath, No mishap could bring me death. In water, 'gainst my will, Plunged deep, I far'd but ill; Closed in a wat'ry grave, God deign'd my life to save; Wond'rous 'tis I was not drown'd; Brought to land all safe and sound. Into my mouth once or more, As 'twere a tub, they did pour A mess of liquid dung; Four churls, cords round me strung; Yet I drew unhurt my breath, No mishap could bring me death. One of an exile band, There in Thuringia's land At Notleben, I dwelt, Till I God's blessing felt, And to Heubach's parsonage pass'd Where kind Heaven sent peace at last. God's servant, here have I The church kept orderly, Have preach'd the word therein, The bad expell'd, of sin Absolv'd the penitent heart, And labour'd truth to impart. _From 'Four Christian Hymns of Martin Bötzinger_.' (1663.) Whoever could portray the desolation of the German people, would be able to explain to us the striking peculiarities of the modern German character; the remarkable mixture of fresh youth and hoary wisdom, aspiring enthusiasm, and vacillating caution; but above all, why we, among all the nations of Europe, still strive in vain after much which our neighbours, not more noble by nature, not more strongly organized, not more highly gifted, have long secured to themselves.