the Republic planted on the fortress
of Cadiz--Capitulation of the city--Letter of Elizabeth to the Dutch
Admirals--State of affairs in France--Proposition of the Duke of
Montpensier for the division of the kingdom--Successes of the
Cardinal Archduke in Normandy--He proceeds to Flanders--Siege and
capture of Hulat--Projected alliance against Spain--Interview of De
Sancy with Lord Burghley--Diplomatic conference at Greenwich--
Formation of a league against Spain--Duplicity of the treaty--
Affairs in Germany--Battle between the Emperor and the Grand Turk--
Endeavours of Philip to counteract the influence of the league--His
interference in the affairs of Germany--Secret intrigue of Henry
with Spain--Philip's second attempt at the conquest of England.

Another governor-general arrived in the early days of the year 1596, to
take charge of the obedient provinces. It had been rumoured for many
months that Philip's choice was at last fixed upon the Archduke Cardinal
Albert, Archbishop of Toledo, youngest of the three surviving brothers,
of the Emperor Rudolph, as the candidate for many honours. He was to
espouse the Infanta, he was to govern the Netherlands, and, as it was
supposed, there were wider and wilder schemes for the aggrandizement of
this fortunate ecclesiastic brooding in the mind of Philip than yet had
seen the light.

Meantime the cardinal's first care was to unfrock himself. He had also
been obliged to lay down the most lucrative episcopate in Christendom,
that of Toledo, the revenues of which amounted to the enormous sum of
three hundred thousand dollars a year. Of this annual income, however, he
prudently reserved to himself fifty thousand dollars, by contract with
his destined successor.

The cardinal reached the Netherlands before the end of January. He
brought with him three thousand Spanish infantry, and some companies of
cavalry, while his personal baggage was transported on three hundred and
fifty mules. Of course there was a triumphal procession when, on the 11th
February, the new satrap entered the obedient Netherlands, and there was
the usual amount of bell-ringing, cannon-firing, trumpet-blowing, with
torch-light processions, blazing tar-barrels, and bedizened platforms,
where Allegory, in an advanced state of lunacy, performed its wonderful
antics. It was scarcely possible for human creatures to bestow more
adulation, or to abase themselves more thoroughly, than the