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The Thirty Years' War - James Aitken Wylie

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Chapter 6<br />

Arrival of Gustavus Adolphus<br />

in Germany<br />

THE Catholic reaction, borne onwards by the<br />

force of the imperial arms, had rolled up to the<br />

borders of Sweden, chasing before it Christian of<br />

Denmark, and every one who had striven to stem<br />

its advancing torrent. But a mightier Potentate than<br />

Ferdinand or any earthly emperor had fixed the<br />

limits of the reaction, and decreed that beyond the<br />

line it had now reached it should not pass. From the<br />

remote regions of the North Sea a deliverer came<br />

forth, summoned by a Divine voice, and guided by<br />

a Divine hand, empowered to roll back its swelling<br />

wave, and bid the nations it had overwhelmed<br />

stand up and again assume, the rights of free men.<br />

<strong>The</strong> champion who now arose to confront Rome<br />

was Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden.<br />

A sincere Protestant, as well as valorous<br />

soldier, Gustavus Adolphus had seen with pain and<br />

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