Germany is not less rife in romantic events than other countries; and she can likewise draw largely upon the history of civil strife, equally interesting to our mind, as those recorded in the pages of more well-known states. We have, consequently, ventured to unroll an historical Swabian painting, which, if it does not exhibit the bold outline of figures, the same enchanting composition of landscape--if the colouring be less brilliant, and the pencilling less clearly defined--than the works of other authors, the artist may safely shelter himself under its historical truth, to make up for the deficiencies of composition. FOOTNOTES TO THE "INTRODUCTION": [Footnote 1: Ulerich von Würtemberg was born in 1487, was invested in 1498 as Duke, with a Co-regency, which he dissolved in his sixteenth year, and reigned alone from the year 1508. He died in 1550.] [Footnote 2: Eberhard with the beard was born in 1445, and died 1469. He was the first Duke of Würtemberg, and founded the University of Tübingen in 1477. Christoph, born in 1515, and died in 1568, was a prince whose remembrance is not only blessed in Würtemberg, but also in all Germany. He was the founder of the constitution of Würtemberg.] [Footnote 3: So called from the name of a poor peasant, who headed his oppressed fellow-sufferers, in an insurrection for the redress of their wrongs, calling themselves the "League of poor Conrad."] THE BANISHED. CHAPTER I. What means the drum, that deeply rolls? What means this warlike cry? I'll to the casement, tho' my soul's Misgivings tell me why. L. UHLAND.