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    IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY* 107

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    . Mam ^ The Roll Which The Muse Of Histo...

    There was sad lack often-times of love or sentiment , as we may suppose , in these marriages , arranged as they so frequently were

    between the fathers of the bride and bridegroom , from motives of , state policy . The girl-bride with her dowryher jewels , her

    trous-, seau of heavy velvets , embroidered satins , and gold and silver lace , was not unfrecjuently the price or the pledge of truce or league

    between two rival houses . Children were sometimes betrothed in infancy ; they were laid side "by side in the same cradle , and the

    betrothal ring placed on the finger of the baby bride . The alliance most eagerly covetedwas naturally that of some part

    , of the imperial family ; and it was only in keeping with the wily politics of Charles V . to hold out hopes of this kindwhich he had

    , no intention of realising , to the chief princes of the empire . In his secret soul the haughty emperor held the German princes far too

    cheap to grant them claim to an alliance with the house of Hapsburg . Yet we find a record of the most romantic marriage of the age in

    the annals of that house ; a marriage which might well have vexed the old emperor in his grave .

    Philippine Welser , the fairest maid in all Germany , was the daugher of a Lutheran citizen of Augsburg . She was no less wise

    than fair says the chronicle , which winds up a glowing description of her charms , both of person and mindby declaring her

    com-, plexion to have been so transparent , that when she drank the red wine , its color flushed through her throat . No marvel that the

    Archduke Frederick , son of the Emperor Ferdinand , fell in love with this paragon , whom he saw by cliance as she was passing along the

    street to church . He sought an interview , but only on one condition _, would Philippine listen to his love . She let the archduke

    know once for all that her u Last word must in lioly church be said , "

    as the prudent maiden in the song tells her lover . " And , " the historian goes on" because Duke Frederick could not live

    without his love he married , her in secret , though under the most deadly fear of his father the emperor . " But no one knew the power of her

    own beauty better than did the fair Philippine herself : without disclosing her intentions to any oneshe repaired to the court of

    Ferdinand , threw herself , arrayed , in a mourning robe , which , only served to heihten her charmsat the ' s feetconfessed that

    g , emperor , she , a burgher ' s daughter , had secretly married a noble , and entreated the emperor ' s favor for her husbandwhoshe saidsorely

    , , , feared his _father ' s anger . The house of Hapsburg always had an eye for beauty , and Ferdinand was so touched with the charms and

    comfort grace of , coniide his fair to supp him liant the name , that of , raising her husband her up ' , s he father bade , and her swore take

    by his knightly honor to set the matter in such a light before him , that a complete reconciliation must follow . _"No man living , "

    gallantly added the emperor , " could fail to be proud of such a daughter-in-law . '" Upon this , we are told , the lady took him at his

    vol . v . ii 2

    In The Sixteenth Century* 107

    IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY * 107

• Citation
  • English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), April 1, 1860, page 107, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01041860/page/35/