Whereupon King Sigismund bestirred himself in earnest; came out with vast clouds of Polish chivalry; overset Albert's 8,000;--who took to eating the country, instead of fighting for it; being indeed in want of all things.
One of the gladdest days Albert had yet seen, was when he got the 8,000 sent home again.
What then is to be done?
"Armistice for four years," Sigismund was still kind enough to consent to that: "Truce for four years: try everywhere, my poor Nephew; after that, your mind will perhaps become pliant." Albert tried the Reich again: "Four years, O Princes, and then I must do it, or be eaten!" Reich, busy with Lutheran-Papal, Turk-Christian quarrels, merely shrugged its shoulders upon Albert.

Teutschmeister did the like; everybody the like.

In Heaven or Earth, then, is there no hope for me?
thought Albert.

And his stock of ready money--we will not speak of that! Meanwhile Dr.Osiander of Anspach had come to him; and the pious young man was getting utterly shaken in his religion.

Monkish vows, Pope, Holy Church itself, what is one to think, Herr Doctor?
Albert, religious to an eminent degree, was getting deep into Protestantism.