of the States of Holland he undertook, in 1593, a translation of the Scriptures from the original, and he was at the same time deeply engaged with a History of Christianity, which he intended for his literary master-piece.  The man whose sword had done knightly service on many a battle-field for freedom, whose tongue had controlled mobs and senates, courts and councils, whose subtle spirit had metamorphosed itself into a thousand shapes to do battle with the genius of tyranny, now quenched the feverish agitation of his youth and manhood in Hebrew and classical lore.  A grand and noble figure always:  most pathetic when thus redeeming by vigorous but solitary and melancholy hard labor, the political error which had condemned him to retirement.  To work, ever to work, was the primary law of his nature.  Repose in the other world, “Repos ailleurs” was the device which he assumed in earliest youth, and to which he was faithful all his days.

A great and good man whose life had been brim-full of noble deeds, and who had been led astray from the path, not of virtue, but of sound policy, by his own prejudices and by the fascination of an intellect even more brilliant than his own, he at least enjoyed in his retirement whatever good may come from hearty and genuine labor, and from the high regard entertained for him by the noblest spirits among his contemporaries.

“They tell me,” said La Noue, “that the Seigneur de Ste. Aldegonde has been suspected by the Hollanders and the English.  I am deeply grieved, for ’tis a personage worthy to be employed.  I have always known him to be a zealous friend of his religion and his country, and I will bear him this testimony, that his hands and his heart are clean.  Had it been otherwise, I must have known it.  His example has made me regret the less the promise I was obliged to make, never to bear arms again in the Netherlands.  For I have thought that since this man, who has so much credit and authority among your people, after having done his duty well, has not failed to be calumniated and ejected from service, what would they have done with me, who am a stranger, had I continued in their employment?  The consul Terentius Varro lost, by his fault, the battle of Canna; nevertheless, when he returned to Rome, offering the remainder of his life in the cause of his Republic reduced to extremity, he was not rejected, but well received, because he hoped well for the country.  It is not to be imputed as blame to Ste. Aldegonde that he lost Antwerp, for he surrendered when it could not be saved.  What I now say is drawn from me by the compassion I feel when persons of merit suffer without cause at the hands of their fellow citizens.  In these terrible tempests, as it is a duty rigorously to punish the betrayers of their country, even so it is an obligation upon us to honor good patriots, and to support them in venial errors, that we may all encourage each other to do the right.”