History of the United Netherlands, 1590(b)


CHAPTER XXIII.

Philip's scheme of aggrandizement--Projected invasion of France--
Internal condition of France--Character of Henry of Navarre--
Preparation for action--Battle of Ivry--Victory of the French king
over the League--Reluctance of the King to attack the French
capital--Siege of Paris--The pope indisposed towards the League--
Extraordinary demonstration of ecclesiastics--Influence of the
priests--Extremities of the siege--Attempted negotiation--State of
Philip's army--Difficult position of Farnese--March of the allies to
the relief of Paris--Lagny taken and the city relieved--Desertion of
the king's army--Siege of Corbeil--Death of Pope Sixtus V.--
Re-capture of Lagny and Corbeil--Return of Parma to the Netherlands
--Result of the expedition.

The scene of the narrative shifts to France. The history of the United
Netherlands at this epoch is a world-history. Were it not so, it would
have far less of moral and instruction for all time than it is really
capable of affording. The battle of liberty against despotism was now
fought in the hop-fields of Brabant or the polders of Friesland, now in
the: narrow seas which encircle England, and now on the sunny plains of
Dauphiny, among the craggy inlets of Brittany, or along the high roads
and rivers which lead to the gates of Paris. But everywhere a noiseless,
secret, but ubiquitous negotiation was speeding with never an instant's
pause to accomplish the work which lansquenettes and riders, pikemen and
carabineers were contending for on a hundred battle-fields and amid a din
of arms which for a quarter of a century had been the regular hum of