Having given this very deliberate and succinct contradiction to the statements of the French King, the Prince proceeded to express his sympathy for the oppressed Christians everywhere.  He protested that he would give them all the aid, comfort, counsel, and assistance that he was able to give them.  He asserted his conviction that the men who professed the religion demanded nothing else than the glory of God and the advancement of His word, while in all matters of civil polity they were ready to render obedience to his Majesty.  He added that all his doings were governed by a Christian and affectionate regard for the King and his subjects, whom his Majesty must be desirous of preserving from extreme ruin.  He averred, moreover, that if he should perceive any indication that those of the religion were pursuing any other object than liberty of conscience and security for life and property, he would not only withdraw his assistance from them, but would use the whole strength of his army to exterminate them.  In conclusion, he begged the King to believe that the work which the Prince had undertaken was a Christian work, and that his intentions were good and friendly towards his Majesty.

   [This very eloquently written letter was dated Ciasonne, December
   3rd, 1568.  It has never been published.  It is in the Collection of
   MSS, Pivoen concernant, etc., Hague archives.]

It was, however, in vain that the Prince endeavoured to induce his army to try the fortunes of the civil war in France.  They had enlisted for the Netherlands, the campaign was over, and they insisted upon being led back to Germany.  Schomberg, secretly instructed by the King of France, was active in fomenting the discontent, and the Prince was forced to yield.  He led his army through Champagne and Lorraine to Strasburg, where they were disbanded.  All the money which the Prince had been able to collect was paid them.  He pawned all his camp equipage, his plate, his furniture.

What he could not pay in money he made up in promises, sacredly to be fulfilled, when he should be restored to his possessions.  He even solemnly engaged, should he return from France alive, and be still unable to pay their arrears of wages, to surrender his person to them as a hostage for his debt.

Thus triumphantly for Alva, thus miserably for Orange, ended the campaign.  Thus hopelessly vanished the army to which so many proud hopes had attached themselves.  Eight thousand teen had been slain in paltry encounters, thirty thousand were dispersed, not easily to be again collected.  All the funds which the Prince could command had been wasted without producing a result.  For the present, nothing seemed to afford a ground of hope for the Netherlands, but the war of freedom had been renewed in France.  A band of twelve hundred mounted men-at-arms were willing to follow the fortunes of the Prince.  The three brothers accordingly; William, Louis, and Henry—­a lad of eighteen, who had abandoned his studies at the university to obey the chivalrous instincts of his race—­set forth early in the following spring to join the banner of Conde.