For a time Maximilian seemed quite encouraged, for quite a wave of religious enthusiasm seemed to roll over Europe.  All the energies of the pope were apparently enlisted, and he raised, through all the domains of the Church, large sums of money for the holy enterprise of driving the invading infidels out of Europe.  England and France both proffered their co-operation, and England, opening her inexhaustible purse, presented a subsidy of ten thousand pounds.  The German nobles rallied in large numbers under the banner of the cross.  But disappointment seemed to be the doom of the emperor.  The King of France sent no aid.  The pope, iniquitously squandered all the money he had raised upon his infamous, dissolute son, Caesar Borgia.  And the emperor himself was drawn into a war with Bavaria, to settle the right of succession between two rival claimants.  The settlement of the question devolved upon Maximilian as emperor, and his dignity was involved in securing respect for his decision.  Thus the whole gorgeous plan of a war against the Turks, such as Europe had never beheld, vanished into thin air, and Maximilian was found at the head of fourteen thousand infantry, and twelve thousand horse, engaged in a quarrel in the heart of Germany.  In this war Maximilian was successful, and he rewarded himself by annexing to Austria several small provinces, the sum total of which quite enlarged his small domains.

By this time the kings of France and Spain were fiercely fighting over their conquest of Naples and Sicily, each striving to grasp the lion’s share.  Maximilian thought his interests would be promoted by aiding the Spaniards, and he accordingly sent three thousand men to Trieste, where they embarked, and sailing down the Adriatic, united with the Spanish troops.  The French were driven out of Italy.  There then ensued, for several years, wars and intrigues in which France, Spain, Italy and Austria were involved; all alike selfish and grasping.  Armies were ever moving to and fro, and the people of Europe, by the victories of kings and nobles, were kept in a condition of misery.  No one seemed ever to think of their rights or their happiness.

Various circumstances had exasperated Maximilian very much against the Venetians.  All the powers of Europe were then ready to combine against any other power whatever, if there was a chance of obtaining any share in the division of the plunder.  Maximilian found no difficulty in secretly forming one of the most formidable leagues history had then recorded, the celebrated league of Cambray.  No sympathy need be wasted upon the Venetians, the victims of this coalition, for they had rendered themselves universally detestable by their arrogance, rapacity, perfidy and pride.  France joined the coalition, and, in view of her power, was to receive a lion’s share of the prey—­the provinces of Brescia, Bergamo, Cremona, and the Ghiradadda.  The King of Arragon was to send ships and troops, and receive his pay