Here is the start of a little timeline based on ideas from a discussion
started by Doug M. His (her?) original sugestions made me think of this, but it
departed somewhat from the actual topic of his thread. So since I had to open
another one anyway, why not try and concoct my first timeline?
As the title indicates, I am also going to vary the regular concept of a timeline
a bit. You'll see in time if you follow this thread.
And now let's just go medias in res. It would be my pleasure if you like it.
Your comments are highly welcome!
I. Business Contacts.
Regensburg, July, 18th 1630.
"Ite missa est!" The deacon's voice was hardly audible.
The archbishop had just completed the blessing, and presently
a solemn procession was forming in front of the altar, now pouring down through the
aisle of the cathedral. Michael Leber stiffened his neck and sent some quick
glances around the crowd. Less than two weeks before, the cathedral was crammed.
The citizens of Regenspurg were eager for any glimpse on such famous and influencial
figures as now were staying in the city. Von Umstadt, the Elector of Mainz,
the Emperor's Chancellor of Germany, and thus host of this Electoral Congress
was pacing through the crowd, surrounded by the clergical part of his
comprehensive entourage, indicating blessings to all sides. Leber had already worked
in the administration of predecessor, who had died the year before. He lowered his head again
and made a sign of the cross, keeping his eyes firmly down, as did the men kneeling
beside him. Fortunately, the excitement about the lords on their visit to Regenspurg
had somewhat abated; upon the arrival of the Emperor, Leber had feared to be crushed
to death in the crowd. Funny, he thought, less than a generation ago
this city used to be familiar to such noble visitors, more than any other city.
No doubt they had celebrated Reichstage as very special events, but they were meant to recur;
now most of the people present had never seen the Emperor or any of the Electors
before, save their own duke, and they could hardly tell whether there would
be another chance.
Pushing and pushed, Leber left the cathedral, always attentively scanning the crowd.
He had an errand, but it was not official, and he hoped nobody would notice.
After some time of searching around the appointed spot, he saw a man fitting the
description very well. Walking up to him he asked: "You're Jakob Axtmacher, aren't you?" [1]
"That's right. And you ..." Leber still had problems with the local dialect.
No wonder, as he had never travelled so far from his home before. But Axtmacher
was patient, and they came along quite well. "Michael Leber, citizen of Mainz. Right."
Back home he was considered a gentleman, but that rank would hardly mean anything abroad [2].
"I think I can make you an interesting offer."
Axtmacher was a merchant. More precisely, he was a news trader.
He would inquire for tidings from all over Germany, which he received
on a regular basis from correspondants in other cities. But he would not decline
getting them directly and without delay. So many people in the city of course
offered some really good opportunities to him.
What Axtmacher could collect would be published approximately every other week.
He was working with a craftsman owning a printing press, which allowed to multiply
their leaflets up to several scores. They could not yet make up their mind to
release an overview of news every week, as many of his trade now did.
Paper supply seemed too unstable too them.
Leber followed Axtmacher to his house. After some hints in low voice
he seemed convinced that Leber was reliable, and that they should rather
talk sheltered from eavesdroppers in the streets. Leber could not suppress
a smile. He had informed whoever he had access to, and would remind them again and again.
But alas, there were too many people he simply could never talk to.
Via Leber, he could reach many people of all companies, on all levels.
Was that treason? Actually, Leber only learnt the appalling news through
accidental eavesdropping. But anyway, he did not betray his state, so who could forbid it?
He really feared a propagation of the war. He still had not overcome the shock
that a rebellion in the East, in Bohemia had swept into their honorable ancient lands
West of the Rhine in less than a year [3]. And it had not stopped ever since.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Regensburg, July, 21th 1630
"New tidings! Truthful new tidings!" Michael Leber enjoyed the ring of the puffer boys' screams.
He would not buy a copy. He wanted a maximum number of leaflets to circulate.
But he had had the chance to read it.
"... Norsemen on German shores! ... seeking blood and predation like as they spill over
the fields and gardens of Brandenburg ... even their king among them,
an experienced commander who has expelled the last German knights and merchants from Livonia
in a heavy massacre in the time of his father ... thrice as numerous as any army ever on these
shores ... So save us God!" [4]
The hardest part of his job was to pursuade Axtmacher to print it right away,
without having a horrifying drawing made to match the news. This would have incurred
another day of delay at the very least.
Leber walked away from the market with fast and secure steps.
He would certainly not stop now.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
[*] The two acting dramatis personae are fictional, but as realistic as was possible
to me. In particular, there is no earlier a PoD than 1630, only assumption on details
not handed down to us.
[1] I could hardly resist writing "Jakob Axtmacher, I suppose?", which would evoke
quite the wrong associations ...
[2] I have Leber be what was later called a "Patrician", which means that he and his kin
had a certain influence within their city, and were considered peers to landed gentry.
Outside the city, however, they would not be accepted as gentlemen.
And indeed, other German states were considered "abroad" at that time.
[3] Mainz bordered on Electoral Palatinate, the hereditary territories of the "Winter King"
Frederic V. expelled at the beginning of the war.
[4] Not completely truthful, but at least _really_ new.
started by Doug M. His (her?) original sugestions made me think of this, but it
departed somewhat from the actual topic of his thread. So since I had to open
another one anyway, why not try and concoct my first timeline?
As the title indicates, I am also going to vary the regular concept of a timeline
a bit. You'll see in time if you follow this thread.
And now let's just go medias in res. It would be my pleasure if you like it.
Your comments are highly welcome!
I. Business Contacts.
Regensburg, July, 18th 1630.
"Ite missa est!" The deacon's voice was hardly audible.
The archbishop had just completed the blessing, and presently
a solemn procession was forming in front of the altar, now pouring down through the
aisle of the cathedral. Michael Leber stiffened his neck and sent some quick
glances around the crowd. Less than two weeks before, the cathedral was crammed.
The citizens of Regenspurg were eager for any glimpse on such famous and influencial
figures as now were staying in the city. Von Umstadt, the Elector of Mainz,
the Emperor's Chancellor of Germany, and thus host of this Electoral Congress
was pacing through the crowd, surrounded by the clergical part of his
comprehensive entourage, indicating blessings to all sides. Leber had already worked
in the administration of predecessor, who had died the year before. He lowered his head again
and made a sign of the cross, keeping his eyes firmly down, as did the men kneeling
beside him. Fortunately, the excitement about the lords on their visit to Regenspurg
had somewhat abated; upon the arrival of the Emperor, Leber had feared to be crushed
to death in the crowd. Funny, he thought, less than a generation ago
this city used to be familiar to such noble visitors, more than any other city.
No doubt they had celebrated Reichstage as very special events, but they were meant to recur;
now most of the people present had never seen the Emperor or any of the Electors
before, save their own duke, and they could hardly tell whether there would
be another chance.
Pushing and pushed, Leber left the cathedral, always attentively scanning the crowd.
He had an errand, but it was not official, and he hoped nobody would notice.
After some time of searching around the appointed spot, he saw a man fitting the
description very well. Walking up to him he asked: "You're Jakob Axtmacher, aren't you?" [1]
"That's right. And you ..." Leber still had problems with the local dialect.
No wonder, as he had never travelled so far from his home before. But Axtmacher
was patient, and they came along quite well. "Michael Leber, citizen of Mainz. Right."
Back home he was considered a gentleman, but that rank would hardly mean anything abroad [2].
"I think I can make you an interesting offer."
Axtmacher was a merchant. More precisely, he was a news trader.
He would inquire for tidings from all over Germany, which he received
on a regular basis from correspondants in other cities. But he would not decline
getting them directly and without delay. So many people in the city of course
offered some really good opportunities to him.
What Axtmacher could collect would be published approximately every other week.
He was working with a craftsman owning a printing press, which allowed to multiply
their leaflets up to several scores. They could not yet make up their mind to
release an overview of news every week, as many of his trade now did.
Paper supply seemed too unstable too them.
Leber followed Axtmacher to his house. After some hints in low voice
he seemed convinced that Leber was reliable, and that they should rather
talk sheltered from eavesdroppers in the streets. Leber could not suppress
a smile. He had informed whoever he had access to, and would remind them again and again.
But alas, there were too many people he simply could never talk to.
Via Leber, he could reach many people of all companies, on all levels.
Was that treason? Actually, Leber only learnt the appalling news through
accidental eavesdropping. But anyway, he did not betray his state, so who could forbid it?
He really feared a propagation of the war. He still had not overcome the shock
that a rebellion in the East, in Bohemia had swept into their honorable ancient lands
West of the Rhine in less than a year [3]. And it had not stopped ever since.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Regensburg, July, 21th 1630
"New tidings! Truthful new tidings!" Michael Leber enjoyed the ring of the puffer boys' screams.
He would not buy a copy. He wanted a maximum number of leaflets to circulate.
But he had had the chance to read it.
"... Norsemen on German shores! ... seeking blood and predation like as they spill over
the fields and gardens of Brandenburg ... even their king among them,
an experienced commander who has expelled the last German knights and merchants from Livonia
in a heavy massacre in the time of his father ... thrice as numerous as any army ever on these
shores ... So save us God!" [4]
The hardest part of his job was to pursuade Axtmacher to print it right away,
without having a horrifying drawing made to match the news. This would have incurred
another day of delay at the very least.
Leber walked away from the market with fast and secure steps.
He would certainly not stop now.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Notes:
[*] The two acting dramatis personae are fictional, but as realistic as was possible
to me. In particular, there is no earlier a PoD than 1630, only assumption on details
not handed down to us.
[1] I could hardly resist writing "Jakob Axtmacher, I suppose?", which would evoke
quite the wrong associations ...
[2] I have Leber be what was later called a "Patrician", which means that he and his kin
had a certain influence within their city, and were considered peers to landed gentry.
Outside the city, however, they would not be accepted as gentlemen.
And indeed, other German states were considered "abroad" at that time.
[3] Mainz bordered on Electoral Palatinate, the hereditary territories of the "Winter King"
Frederic V. expelled at the beginning of the war.
[4] Not completely truthful, but at least _really_ new.
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