登陆注册
5244000000020

第20章 Book I(19)

According to his design, no Roman Catholic state was to have cause to think this preparation aimed against itself, or to make the quarrel of Austria its own. Religion was in nowise to be mixed up with the matter.

But how could the German princes forget their own purposes in furthering the plans of Henry? Actuated as they were by the desire of aggrandizement and by religious hatred, was it to be supposed that they would not gratify, in every passing opportunity, their ruling passions to the utmost? Like vultures, they stooped upon the territories of the ecclesiastical princes, and always chose those rich countries for their quarters, though to reach them they must make ever so wide a detour from their direct route.

They levied contributions as in an enemy's country, seized upon the revenues, and exacted, by violence, what they could not obtain of free-will.

Not to leave the Roman Catholics in doubt as to the true objects of their expedition, they announced, openly and intelligibly enough, the fate that awaited the property of the church. So little had Henry IV. and the German princes understood each other in their plan of operations, so much had the excellent king been mistaken in his instruments.

It is an unfailing maxim, that, if policy enjoins an act of violence, its execution ought never to be entrusted to the violent;and that he only ought to be trusted with the violation of order by whom order is held sacred.

Both the past conduct of the Union, which was condemned even by several of the evangelical states, and the apprehension of even worse treatment, aroused the Roman Catholics to something beyond mere inactive indignation.

As to the Emperor, his authority had sunk too low to afford them any security against such an enemy. It was their Union that rendered the confederates so formidable and so insolent; and another union must now be opposed to them.

The Bishop of Wurtzburg formed the plan of the Catholic union, which was distinguished from the evangelical by the title of the League.

The objects agreed upon were nearly the same as those which constituted the groundwork of the Union. Bishops formed its principal members, and at its head was placed Maximilian, Duke of Bavaria.

As the only influential secular member of the confederacy, he was entrusted with far more extensive powers than the Protestants had committed to their chief. In addition to the duke's being the sole head of the League's military power, whereby their operations acquired a speed and weight unattainable by the Union, they had also the advantage that supplies flowed in much more regularly from the rich prelates, than the latter could obtain them from the poor evangelical states. Without offering to the Emperor, as the sovereign of a Roman Catholic state, any share in their confederacy, without even communicating its existence to him as emperor, the League arose at once formidable and threatening; with strength sufficient to crush the Protestant Union and to maintain itself under three emperors.

It contended, indeed, for Austria, in so far as it fought against the Protestant princes; but Austria herself had soon cause to tremble before it.

The arms of the Union had, in the meantime, been tolerably successful in Juliers and in Alsace; Juliers was closely blockaded, and the whole bishopric of Strasburg was in their power.

But here their splendid achievements came to an end. No French army appeared upon the Rhine; for he who was to be its leader, he who was the animating soul of the whole enterprize, Henry IV., was no more!

Their supplies were on the wane; the Estates refused to grant new subsidies;and the confederate free cities were offended that their money should be liberally, but their advice so sparingly called for.

Especially were they displeased at being put to expense for the expedition against Juliers, which had been expressly excluded from the affairs of the Union -- at the united princes appropriating to themselves large pensions out of the common treasure -- and, above all, at their refusing to give any account of its expenditure.

The Union was thus verging to its fall, at the moment when the League started to oppose it in the vigour of its strength. Want of supplies disabled the confederates from any longer keeping the field.

And yet it was dangerous to lay down their weapons in the sight of an armed enemy. To secure themselves at least on one side, they hastened to conclude a peace with their old enemy, the Archduke Leopold;and both parties agreed to withdraw their troops from Alsace, to exchange prisoners, and to bury all that had been done in oblivion.

Thus ended in nothing all these promising preparations.

The same imperious tone with which the Union, in the confidence of its strength, had menaced the Roman Catholics of Germany, was now retorted by the League upon themselves and their troops.

The traces of their march were pointed out to them, and plainly branded with the hard epithets they had deserved. The chapters of Wurtzburg, Bamberg, Strasburg, Mentz, Treves, Cologne, and several others, had experienced their destructive presence; to all these the damage done was to be made good, the free passage by land and by water restored, (for the Protestants had even seized on the navigation of the Rhine,)and everything replaced on its former footing. Above all, the parties to the Union were called on to declare expressly and unequivocally its intentions. It was now their turn to yield to superior strength.

They had not calculated on so formidable an opponent; but they themselves had taught the Roman Catholics the secret of their strength.

It was humiliating to their pride to sue for peace, but they might think themselves fortunate in obtaining it.

The one party promised restitution, the other forgiveness.

同类推荐
  • 外科方外奇方

    外科方外奇方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 明宪宗宝训

    明宪宗宝训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE STORY OF WAITSTILL BAXTER

    THE STORY OF WAITSTILL BAXTER

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 放翁词

    放翁词

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鬼谷子天髓灵文

    鬼谷子天髓灵文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 神医绝色娘子别惹桃花

    神医绝色娘子别惹桃花

    她是杀手界的女王,却不谙世事。他是冥界的冷面修罗,却唯独对她倾心。她像一张白纸,纯洁的让他忍不住想上面弄上墨。然而,她的腹黑,她的懵懂,却让他心动不已。山有木兮木有枝,心悦君兮君不知。不恋尘世浮华,不写红尘纷扰,不叹世道苍凉,不惹情思哀怨,闲看花开,静待花落,冷暖自知,干净如始。
  • 朱文公政训

    朱文公政训

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 民间风情:三百六十行

    民间风情:三百六十行

    “三百六十行,行行出状元”是我们再耳熟能详不过的话。社会百业,就是我们俗称的三百六十行。所谓三百六十行的行,最早似乎是指街巷所设的贩卖摊和商店的行列,这点可以在唐人小说文献中得以证明。传统的三百六十行,是我国农耕社会中的各行各业,特别是指人们赖以为生产、生活,即与衣食住行用等紧密相联的手工业、商业的泛称。
  • 慈氏菩萨所说大乘缘生稻干喻经

    慈氏菩萨所说大乘缘生稻干喻经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 商不厌诈

    商不厌诈

    本书是一部商战小说。本书以国内某日化公司现实场景和真实案例为蓝本,以作者亲身经历为基点,披露了日化行业的营销、策划、公关等内幕和生死博弈。
  • For Now and Forever (The Inn at Sunset Harbor—Book

    For Now and Forever (The Inn at Sunset Harbor—Book

    Emily Mitchell, 35, living and working in New York City, has struggled through a string of failed relationships. When her boyfriend of 7 years takes her out for their long-awaited anniversary dinner, Emily is sure that this time will be different, that this time she will finally get the ring.When he gives her a small bottle of perfume instead, Emily knows the time has come to break up with him—and for her entire life to have a fresh start.
  • 九天帝女公主本惊华

    九天帝女公主本惊华

    她,九天最尊贵的公主,却有着不一样的宿命,他,九洲九幽的神话,天生帝王之气,狭路相逢,谁主沉浮,是王者与王者的对决,还是……(纯属虚构,纯属虚构,纯属虚构)
  • 曾国藩为官五十年

    曾国藩为官五十年

    曾国藩去世已经一百多年了,但是他影响了几代人,人们至今仍然对其顶礼膜拜。很多名人都对他推崇备至。梁启超说:“吾谓曾文正集,不可不日三复也。”毛泽东年轻时说:“愚于近人,独服曾文正。”即使是晚年,他还曾说:曾国藩是地主阶级最厉害的人物。而蒋介石则认为曾国藩可以做自己的老师,他把《曾胡治兵语录》当作教导高级将领的教科书,又将《曾文正公全集》常置案旁,终生捧读不辍。的确,曾国藩是中国历史上的一个异数,尤其是他独到的思想见解,集中体现了他对中国五千年智慧的独到感悟,而且这些见解是他历经官场、战场磨难之后提炼出来的,不空洞、不浮夸,有积极的实用价值。
  • 脚

    姐姐特地赶来,陪桑孟森一起办理结清住院费的手续。人很多,一楼大厅的收费柜台前队伍排得很长,终于轮到他们时,关于某项检查费该由病患自费负担或由健保给付的问题,他姐姐与收费小姐争执起来,双方各自坚持着,最后桑孟森不耐烦起来,提议打电话找保险业务员,确定父亲的寿险能给付后才解决。剩最后一件事,一切便结束了。结完账,他们默默走到电梯前,准备乘那半年来已进出无数回的电梯上八楼,到病房取走父亲的东西。在等姐姐来以前,桑孟森已经先把东西收拾好了,全塞进一个大纸袋里,搁在病床上。方才他想说提下去碍手碍脚,决定先放着,等办完手续再上来拿。
  • 少侠万岁

    少侠万岁

    武破虚空失败的初不言被甩到了异世界,成了武力值NO.1的隐藏BOSS。在这混乱的世间,低调着成为传说。