n. At first the strength and extent of the
new revolution were not altogether apparent. While the Inquisition was
vigorously crushing out the first symptoms of disaffection in Spain, it
at one time seemed as if the Reformers were about to gain the whole of
the Empire, besides acquiring an excellent foothold in France. Again,
while England was wavering between the old and the new faith, the last
hopes of the Reform in Germany seemed likely to be destroyed by the
military genius of Charles. But in Maurice, the red-bearded hero of
Saxony, Charles found more than his match. The picture of the rapid
and desperate march of Maurice upon Innspruck, and of the great Emperor
flying for his life at the very hour of his imagined triumph, has still
for us an intenser interest than almost any other scene of that age; for
it was the event which proved that Protestantism was not a mere local
insurrection which a monarch like Charles could easily put down, but a
gigantic revolution against which all the powers in the world might well
strive in vain.

With the abdication of Charles in 1556 the new period may be said
to begin, and it is here that Mr. Motley's history commences. Events
crowded thick and fast. In 1556 Philip II., a prince bred and educated
for the distinct purpose of suppressing heresy, succeeded to the rule
of the most powerful empire which had been seen since the days of the
Antonines. In the previous year a new era had begun at the court of
Rome. The old race of pagan pontiffs, the Borgias, the Farneses, and the
Medicis, had come to an end, and the papal throne was occupied by the
puritanical Caraffa, as violent a fanatic as Robespierre, and a foe of
freedom as uncompromising as Philip II. himself. Under his auspices
took place the great reform in the Church signalized by the rise of the
Jesuits, as the reform in the thirteenth century had been attended
by the rise of the Cordeliers and Dominicans. His name should not be
forgotten, for it is mainly owing to the policy inaugurated by him that
Catholicism was enabled to hold its ground as well as it did. In 1557
the next year, the strength of France was broken at St. Quentin, and
Spain was left with her hands free to deal with the Protestant powers.
In 1558, by the accession of Elizabeth, England became committed to the
cause of Reform. In 1559 the stormy administration of Margaret began in
the Netherlands. In 1560 the Scotch nobles achieved the destruction of
Catholicism