respects with Christian living, and--as if that
were not a part of Christian living--forbidding _ablutions_, led to a
serious revolt. And this again led to the forcible expulsion of every
Morisco in Spain.

In 1609, by order of Philip III., the last of the Moors were conveyed
in galleys to the African coast whence they had come just nine hundred
years before.

In a narrative so drenched with tears, it is pleasant to hear of
light-hearted laughter. We are told that when the young King Philip
III. saw from his window a man striking his forehead and laughing
immoderately he said: "That man is either mad, or he is reading
'Don Quixote'"--which latter was the case. But the story written
by Cervantes did more than entertain. Chivalry had lingered in the
congenial soil of Spain long after it had disappeared in every other
part of Europe; but when in the person of Don Quixote it was made to
appear so utterly ridiculous, it was heard of no more.

Philip III., who died in 1621, was succeeded by his son Philip IV.
As in the reign of his father worthless favorites ruled, while
a profligate king squandered the money of the people in lavish
entertainments and luxuries. Much has been written about the visit of
Charles, Prince of Wales (afterward Charles I.), accompanied by the
Duke of Buckingham, at his court; whither the young Prince had come
disguised, to see the Infanta, Philip's sister, whom he thought of
making his queen. Probably she did not please him, or perhaps the
alliance with Protestant England was not acceptable to the pious
Catholic family of Philip. At all events, Henrietta, sister of
Louis XIII. of France, was his final choice; and shared his terrible
misfortunes a few years later.

A revolt of the Catalonians on the French frontier led to a difficulty
with France, which was finally adjusted by the celebrated "treaty of
the Pyrenees." In this treaty was included the marriage of the young
King Louis XIV. and Maria Theresa, daughter of Philip IV., the King
of Spain. The European Powers would only consent to this union upon
condition that Louis should solemnly renounce all claim to the Spanish
crown for himself and his heirs; which promise had later a somewhat
eventful history.

Seven of the United Provinces had achieved their independence during
the reign of the third Philip, who had also driven out of his kingdom
six hundred thousand Moriscos; by far the most skilled and industrious
portion of the community. And