History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 03

Burggraf Friedrich, on his first coming to Brandenburg, found but a cool reception as Statthalter. [“Johannistage” (24 June) “1412, ” he first set foot in Brandenburg, with due escort, in due state; only Statthalter (Viceregent) as yet: Pauli, i. 594, ii. 58; Stenzel, Geschichte des Preussischen Staats (Hamburg, 1830, 1851), i. 167-169. ] He came as the representative of law and rule; and there had been many helping themselves by a ruleless life, of late. Industry was at a low ebb, violence was rife; plunder, disorder everywhere; too much the habit for baronial gentlemen to “live by the saddle, ” as they termed it, that is by highway robbery in modern phrase.