LORD OF RAVENSTEIN,

and of the Territories of Lauenburg and Bütow, &c. &c. &c.

Ravenstein, Lauenburg, and Bütow were territories in Pomerania held as fiefs by the Electors of Brandenburg.

IT is a saying of an ancient comic poet, The "ancient comic poet" is Plautus (c. 254–184 BC); the line is from his play Captivi: "The gods use us mortals as footballs." MOST SERENE and MOST HIGH PRINCE, that the Gods hold us just like balls; that is, that we are the sports and playthings of fortune. If anyone can consider that saying to apply to himself, surely I am that man—a plaything original Greek: παίγνιον (paignion), meaning a toy or sport. of fortune, and if not a ball, then certainly not much different from a similar toy: a child’s spinning top. I am driven now here, now there; I am forced to change my plans; those which were well-conceived and started, I must let go; I must enter into new ones in their place; and, just as fortune wills, I must then turn my sail. For I had decided, and I had promised, (and it seemed that...