The Thirty Years' War - James Aitken Wylie

he said, the moment he heard of the danger of
Magdeburg, to march to its relief: but first the
Elector of Saxony refused a passage for his troops
through his dominions; and, secondly, the Elector
of Brandenburg was equally unwilling to guarantee
an open retreat for his army through his territory in
case of defeat. The fate of Magdeburg was thus
mainly owing to the vacillating and cowardly
policy of these two Electors, who had, up to that
moment, not made it plain to Gustavus whether
they were his friends or his enemies, and whether
they were to abide with the League or join their
arms with his in defense of Protestantism.
But the fall of Magdeburg was helpful to the
Protestant cause. It sent a thrill of horror through
Germany, and it alarmed the wavering Electors of
Brandenburg and Saxony, who began to see that
the end of that neutrality which they thought so
dexterous would be that they would be the last to
be devoured by the imperial arms. Accordingly,
first the Landgrave of Hesse made a firm compact
with Gustavus Adolphus, and ever after continued
his staunchest friend. A raid which Tilly made into
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