The Sun.
London, England, 1824-05-29 00:00:00

CATTIARINA, THE lItROIC.

In the year 1547, as the Emperor CHARLES
the Fifth, on his return from the Castle of Muhl-
burg, to his camp in Swabia, was passing through
Thuringin, CATTIARINA DOWAGER of SWRTIZ"
burg, born Princess of Henneburg, obtained of
him a letter of safeguard, that her subjects might
have nothing to suffer from the Spanish army on
its march through her territory ; binding herself
in return, to allow the Spaniards that were trans-
ported to Kudotstadt, on the Saalbruckt, to sup-
ply themselves with bread, beer, and other pro-
visions, at a reasonable price in that place. At
the same time, she took the precaution to have
the bridge, which stood close to the town, de-
molished in all haste, and reconstructed over the
river at a considerable distance, that the too
great proximity of the city might afford no temp-
tation to her rapacious guests. The inhabitants,
who, of all the places through %hich the arm,
was to pass, were informed that they might send
all their most valuable effects to the Castle of
Kudotstadt.

Meanwhile, the Spanish General, attended bY
Prince Henry. of Brunswick, and his sons, !IP'
preached the city, and invited themselves by a
messenger whom they dispatched before, to take
their morning's repast with the Countess of
Swartzburg. So modest a request made at the
head of an army, was not to be rejected : the
answer was, that they should be welcome to what
the house afforded, and that his Excellency
might rely upon the most hospitable reception.
However she did not neglect, at the same time,
to remind the Spanish General of the safeguard,
and to urge home to him the conscientious ob-
servance of it.

A friendly reception and a well furnished table
welcomed the arrival of the Duke at the Castle.
He was obliged to confess that the Thuringian
Ladies had an excellent notion of cookery, and
did honour to the laws of hospitality. But
scarcely had they taken their seats, when a mes-
senger, out of breath, called the Countess from
the hall, and informed her, that the Spanish sol-
diers had used violence in some villages on the
way, and had driven off the cattle belonging to
some of the peasants. Catharina was a true
mother to her people ; whatever the poorest of
her subjects unjustly suffered, wounded her to
the very quick. Full of indignation at this
breach of faith, yet not forsaken by her presence
of mind, she ordered her retinue to arm themselves
immediately in private, and to bolt and bar:all
the gates of the castle : which being done, she
returned into the hall, and rejoined the Princes
who were still at table. Here she coMplained
to them in the most moving terms of the usage
she had met with, and how badly the imperial
promise was kept. They told her laughing, that
this was the custom in war, and that such trifling
disorders of soldiers in marching through a place
were not to be minded. " That we shall pre-
sently see," she replied stoutly ; " my ponr sub-
jects must have their own again, or (raising her
voice in a threatening tone), prince's blood. for
oxen's blood." With this emphatical declara-
tion, she gave a signal, on which the room was
in a few moments filled with armed men, who
sword in hand, yet with great reverence, plant,
ing themselves behind the chairs of the princeil
took place of the waiters. On the entrance of
so many fierce-looking fellows, Duke Aloe
changed colour, and all the company gazed at
one another with silent terror. Cut off from the
army, surrounded by a resolute body of men,
what could they do ? The Duke instantly dis-
patched an order to the,army, to restore the cat-
tle without delay to the persons from whom it
had been stolen. On the return of the courier,
with a certificate that all damages had been made
good, the Countess Schwartzburg politely thank-
ed her guests for the honour they had done her,
castle ; and they in return, very joyfully took
their leave.

It was in honour of this action that she receiv-
ed the surname of THE HEROIC.

EDINBURGH, MAY 24.—Yesterday forenoon
his Grace the Commissioner held a levee in the Merchants
Hall, but was so much indisposed, as to be unable to walk
in procesion to the church. Among those present at the
levee, were the Lord Provost, the Earl of Glasgow, Lord
Napier, Sir Thomas Bradford, K. C. 8., Sir Michael Shaw.
Stewart, Bart., Sir John Hope, Bart., Sir Wm. Arbuthnot,
Bart., besides a number of Clergymen, Naval and Militarf
Officers, and other Gentlemen.

At Morpeth, on the 19th instant, Robert Mil;.l
burn, who had been confined in the gaol for the
murder of his mother about 16 months ago (and
was proved insane at the Lent Assizes of 18237
and' sentenced to be confined for life), put a pe-
riod to his existence by cutting his throat with a
razor, which he had taken out of the turnkeyi-
room.

BIRTH.
On the 28th inst., in Alfred-place, Bedford-square, Mrs.
William Keene, of a son.

MARRIED.

On the 27th inst., at Lowestoft, John Barnard Turner, Es 4.
grandson of the late Sir Barnard Turner, Knight, to Chafiotte
Louisa, third daughter of the late Colonel Belford, formerly
of the Blues.