Here they took up their abode; the family to some extent had come down in the world.

The change had been a disadvantageous one; they had lost in wealth and importance.

For two hundred years they played no very prominent part; they married with the neighbouring country gentry and fought in all the wars.

Rudolph, Friedrich's son, fought in France in behalf of the Huguenots, and then under the Emperor against the Turks.

His grandson, August, enlisted under Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar; afterwards he fought in the religious wars in France and Germany, always on the Protestant side; lastly, he took service under the Elector of Brandenburg.
It was in his lifetime that a great change began to take place which was to alter the whole life of his descendants.