Descartes : his life and times / by Elizabeth S. Haldane.

  • Elizabeth Haldane
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Descartes : his life and times / by Elizabeth S. Haldane. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    1620] on the Danube, he prepared to precede them there in order to give himself once more the pleasure of meeting his fellow-countrymen, for volunteers appear to have had in such matters complete liberty of action. On the 6th of June 1620, the ambassadors arrived at Ulm. They were followed by the Dukes of Wurtemberg and Anspach, the Elector Frederick’s deputies, and those of the Protestant princes of Bohemia and Bavaria. To this mingled party the Due d’Angouleme discoursed in conciliatory language. Perhaps these negotiations at Ulm were as interest- ing as any of the other public functions at which Descartes had been present. While the Duke was speaking peace and mutual consideration, the Bavarian troops were pouring in from the Rhine, and an army of 25,000 men crossed the Danube at Donauorth, and awaited the results of the deliberations. The Protestant troops, 15,000 strong, emerged from Ulm, and encamped within speaking distance of the others. Baillet does not know whether Descartes felt con- strained to join the army, but naively thinks it probable that he did not do so, but remained in the town, where there were numbers of French gentlemen of a similar age, and where he doubtless was having an agreeable and entertaining time. While these two armies were confronting one another so closely that the slightest accident would have caused a general rupture, the treaty was concluded, after four weeks’ consideration, being signed by Maximilian on the one hand, and the Margrave of Anspach on the other: this was on 3rd July 1620. Peace was to be established as before the troubles began, and the affairs of Bohemia were to be left to the Elector and Ferdinand to settle between themselves. But it was easier to declare peace than to establish it. The Protestants had been brought into signing a treaty so unfavourable to their cause in Bohemia, no doubt owing to the firmness of Maximilian and the fear of the Imperial army from the Netherlands, but Frederick remained resolute as before. The ambassadors, however, departed for Vienna