have done
the most of this consumption of wine, there is not one who is going to
give any assistance on the frontier. In consequence of these disorders my
purse is drained so low, that unless the king helps me I am ruined. You
must tell our master that the reputation of his grandeur and strength has
never been so low as it is now in Germany. The events in France and those
which followed in the Netherlands have thrown such impediments in the
negotiations here, that not only our enemies make sport of Marquis Havre
and myself, but even our friends--who are very few--dare not go to public
feasts, weddings, and dinners, because they are obliged to apologize for
us."

Truly the world-empire was beginning to crumble. "The emperor has been
desiring twenty times," continued the envoy, "to get back to Prague from
the Diet, but the people hold him fast like a steer. As I think over all
that passes, I lose all judgment, for I have no money, nor influence, nor
reputation. Meantime, I see this rump of an empire keeping itself with
difficulty upon its legs. 'Tis full of wrangling and discord about
religion, and yet there is the Turk with two hundred thousand men
besieging a place forty miles from Vienna, which is the last outpost. God
grant it may last!"

Such was the aspect of the Christian world at the close of the year 1594

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Beneficent and charitable purposes (War)
Chronicle of events must not be anticipated
Eat their own children than to forego one high mass
Humanizing effect of science upon the barbarism of war
Slain four hundred and ten men with his own hand

CHAPTER XXXI. 1595

Formal declaration of war against Spain--Marriage festivities--Death
of Archduke Ernest--His year of government--Fuentes declared
governor-general--Disaffection of the Duke of Arschot and Count
Arenberg--Death of the Duke of Arschot----Fuentes besieges Le
Catelet--The fortress of Ham, sold to the Spanish by De Gomeron,
besieged and taken by the Duke of Bouillon--Execution of De
Gomeron--Death of Colonel Verdugo--Siege of Dourlens by Fuentes--
Death of La Motte--Death of Charles Mansfeld--Total defeat of the
French--Murder of Admiral De Pillars--Dourlens captured, and the
garrison and citizens put to the sword--Military operations in
eastern Netherlands and on the Rhine--Maurice lays siege to Groento
--Mondragon hastening to its relief, Prince Mauric