Jean Plaidy - The Princess of Celle

Christian Lewis was thoughtful.

‘I see no harm in it,’ he said. ‘Ernest Augustus is willing to take over your responsibilities and if you will agree to his terms then, for the love of our house, let us get the terms settled without delay. We are no longer children and this marriage should take place as soon as it can be arranged.’

‘I will prepare my statement at once,’ said George William.

‘There is one point that you have not considered,’ added Christian Lewis. ‘What of the lady? How will she take the change?’

George William agreed this was a matter which would need delicate handling. ‘A pity,’ he said, ‘that we did not come to this arrangement before I made the proposal. Never mind. It’s not a man she wants but marriage. You must admit that our young brother is a fine figure of a man.’

‘Let us hope that she thinks so,’ added Christian Lewis with a smile.

‘We will get the matter settled; then she shall be informed and Ernest Augustus can go to his nuptials.’

‘You understand all you are giving up?’

‘I understand absolutely.’

‘You may regret.’

‘I shall always remember that the price I paid for freedom was worth it.’

In his study George William was writing his renunciation of marriage.

‘Having perceived the necessity of taking into consideration how our House of this line may best be provided with heirs and be perpetuated in the future; yet having been and remaining up to the present date both unable and unwilling in my person to engage in any marriage contract, I have rather induced my brother, Ernest Augustus, to declare that, on condition of receiving from me a renunciation of marriage for myself, written and signed with my own hand, in favour of himself and his heirs male, he is prepared forthwith and without delay to enter into holy matrimony, and, as may be hoped, soon to bestow the blessing of heirs on people and country, as had been agreed and settled between him and myself; and whereas my brother, Ernest Augustus, for reasons before mentioned has entered into a marriage contract with Her Highness Princess Sophia, which contract he purposes shortly to fulfil so I, on my side, not only on account of my word given to and pledged, but also of my own free will and consent, desire to ratify and confirm the aforesaid conditions to my aforementioned brother and promise, so long as the said Princess and my brother continue in life and in the bonds of matrimony, or after their decease leave heirs male, that I neither will nor shall on any account enter into, much less carry out, any marriage contract with any person, and with nothing else than to spend what remains to me of life entirely

in caelibatu,

to the extent that the heirs male of the aforementioned Princess and my brother in whose favour this renunciation is made, may attain and succeed to the sovereignty over one or both of these our principalities. For the same and truer assurance of all which conditions I have, with my own hand, written and signed this renunciation and sealed it with my seal, and thereafter handed it over with all due care to my brother’s own charge and keeping.’

George William read through what he had written. It appeared to embrace every point. Now he must sign it and seal it in the presence of his brothers; and then the matter would be settled, apart from informing the Princess Sophia of the change.

The three brothers were waiting in the apartment of Christian Lewis for the arrival of the fourth. John Frederick had no notion as to why he was being summoned, but as George William had said, it was of no great concern of his for as the third brother he had nothing to lose by the transaction.

‘At last!’ cried George William as John Frederick entered. ‘Welcome, brother. An important ceremony is about to take place.’

‘It is evidently a pleasant one,’ replied John Frederick, ‘judging by the look of you and Ernest Augustus.’

George William glanced at his youngest brother. Good God, he thought, he is ambitious. He wants to produce the heir to the house. He wants to marry Sophia.

And he had been imagining this was a sacrifice his brother had been making for his sake!

So Ernest Augustus was ambitious! Well, George William was a generous man and it always pleased him better to give than to take. He was pleased therefore that Ernest Augustus was more than reconciled – gratified and delighted.

‘I am all eagerness to hear,’ pointed out John Frederick.

Christian Lewis nodded to George William. ‘Explain to him,’ he said.

‘Well, brother, it is like this. I was betrothed to the Princess Sophia.’

‘You mean you are no longer betrothed?’

‘No longer so. I have decided to abdicate in favour of a brother.’

Eagerness shot up in John Frederick’s eyes.

‘You understand,’ went on George William, ‘that I have no wish for marriage.’

‘I have always known that – and therefore it is right that you should pass on the opportunity to a brother.’

‘Then we are all in agreement.’

‘Of course it would be necessary for you to pass on not only the bride but certain monies.’

‘That has all been thought of. The bridegroom will have nothing of which to complain. I have drawn up the necessary documents and we shall sign them immediately.’

‘And the Princess has been acquainted with the change?’

‘Not yet. We thought it necessary to have the agreements signed and sealed before acquainting her.’

‘I will ride to Heidelberg tomorrow.’

‘You, John Frederick?’

‘As the future bridegroom …’

‘It is Ernest Augustus who has agreed to take over the marriage.’

‘Ernest Augustus! But he’s the youngest!’

‘I have made the arrangement with him and he has given me his promise.’

‘But I am the next in seniority. I should be the one.’

Ernest Augustus took a few paces towards his brother and said: ‘It’s too late, John Frederick. Everything is settled now. I am going to marry Sophia.’

‘I’ll not agree.’

‘You will have to. The three of us agree and you would be one against the rest.’

‘I agree to changing the bridegrooms, but I consider that my place in the family entitles me to be the marrying one.’

‘Too late, too late,’ said George William. ‘I have come to an agreement with Ernest Augustus.’

John Frederick seized his young brother’s arm. ‘You will stand aside for me.’

George William took John Frederick by the shoulder and wrenching him away from his brother threw him across the room.

‘Enough of this nonsense,’ he said. ‘I have the document here and I shall sign – and that is the end of the matter.’

John Frederick glowered; Ernest Augustus held his breath; he could scarcely wait for the signature to be put to the paper. Those few strokes of the pen would make him in a sense the head of the house. For the first time in his life he despised his handsome, amusing elder brother. George William was a fool. He was throwing away his birthright for a mess of potage. Pray God he did not realize this until his name was at the foot of that important paper.

George William laid the paper on a table and took up his pen.

‘George William,’ he wrote, ‘Duke of Brunswick and Lüneberg, April 11th, 1658.’

He stood up. ‘There!’ he cried. ‘The deed is done. Here, brother, is your assurance.’

As Ernest Augustus took the paper, John Frederick tried to snatch it from him. The paper fluttered to the floor to be picked up by George William while the two younger brothers, caught in an angry embrace, rolled on the floor.

George William stood laughing at them for a few seconds. Then he cried: ‘I’ll not have this solemn occasion changed into a brawl.’