The Lion of the North: A Tale of the Times of Gustavus Adolphus. G. A. Henty

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       G. A. Henty

      The Lion of the North: A Tale of the Times of Gustavus Adolphus

      Published by Good Press, 2019

       [email protected]

      EAN 4057664634474

       PREFACE.

       CHAPTER I THE INVITATION

       CHAPTER II SHIPWRECKED

       CHAPTER III SIR JOHN HEPBURN

       CHAPTER IV NEW BRANDENBURG

       CHAPTER V MARAUDERS

       CHAPTER VI THE ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE

       CHAPTER VII A QUIET TIME

       CHAPTER VIII THE SIEGE OF MANSFELD

       CHAPTER IX THE BATTLE OF BREITENFELD

       CHAPTER X THE PASSAGE OF THE RHINE

       CHAPTER XI THE CAPTURE OF OPPENHEIM

       CHAPTER XII THE PASSAGE OF THE LECH

       CHAPTER XIII CAPTURED BY THE PEASANTS

       CHAPTER XIV IN THE CHURCHTOWER

       CHAPTER XV A TIMELY RESCUE

       CHAPTER XVI THE SIEGE OF NUREMBERG

       CHAPTER XVII THE DEATH OF GUSTAVUS

       CHAPTER XVIII WOUNDED

       CHAPTER XIX A PAUSE IN HOSTILITIES

       CHAPTER XX FRIENDS IN TROUBLE

       CHAPTER XXI FLIGHT

       CHAPTER XXII THE CONSPIRACY

       CHAPTER XXIII THE MURDER OF WALLENSTEIN

       CHAPTER XXIV MALCOLM'S ESCAPE

       CHAPTER XXV NORDLINGEN

       Table of Contents

      MY DEAR LADS,

      You are nowadays called upon to acquire so great a mass of learning and information in the period of life between the ages of twelve and eighteen that it is not surprising that but little time can be spared for the study of the history of foreign nations. Most lads are, therefore, lamentably ignorant of the leading events of even the most important epochs of Continental history, although, as many of these events have exercised a marked influence upon the existing state of affairs in Europe, a knowledge of them is far more useful, and, it may be said, far more interesting than that of the comparatively petty affairs of Athens, Sparta, Corinth, and Thebes.

      Prominent among such epochs is the Thirty Years' War, which arose from the determination of the Emperor of Austria to crush out Protestantism throughout Germany. Since the invasion of the Huns no struggle which has taken place in Europe has approached this in the obstinacy of the fighting and the terrible sufferings which the war inflicted upon the people at large. During these thirty years the population of Germany decreased by nearly a third, and in some of the states half the towns and two-thirds of the villages absolutely disappeared.

      The story of the Thirty Years' War is too long to be treated in one volume. Fortunately it divides itself naturally into two parts. The first begins with the entry of Sweden, under her chivalrous monarch Gustavus Adolphus, upon the struggle, and terminates with his death and that of his great rival Wallenstein. This portion of the war has been treated in the present story. The second period begins at the point when France assumed the leading part in the struggle, and concluded with the peace which secured liberty of conscience to the Protestants of Germany. This period I hope to treat some day in another story, so that you may have a complete picture of the war. The military events of the present tale, the battles, sieges, and operations, are all taken from the best authorities, while for the account of the special doings of Mackay's, afterwards Munro's Scottish Regiment, I am indebted to Mr. J. Grant's Life of Sir John Hepburn.

      Yours sincerely,

      G. A. HENTY

       Table of Contents

      It was late in the afternoon in the spring of the year 1630; the hilltops of the south of Scotland were covered with masses of cloud, and a fierce wind swept the driving rain before it with such force that it was not easy to make way against it. It had been raining for three days without intermission. Every little mountain

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