A man of a different mould, the turbulent, high-born, hard fighting, hard-drinking Hohenlo, died also this year, brother-in-law and military guardian, subsequently rival and political and personal antagonist, of Prince Maurice.  His daring deeds and his troublesome and mischievous adventures have been recounted in these pages.  His name will be always prominent in the history of the republic, to which he often rendered splendid service, but he died, as he had lived, a glutton and a melancholy sot.

The third remarkable personage who passed away was one whose name will be remembered as long as the Netherlands have a history, old Count John of Nassau, only surviving brother of William the Silent.  He had been ever prominent and deeply interested in the great religious and political movements of upper and lower Germany, and his services in the foundation of the Dutch commonwealth were signal, and ever generously acknowledged.  At one period, as will be recollected, he was stadholder of Gelderland, and he was ever ready with sword, purse, and counsel to aid in the great struggle for independence.

CHAPTER XLVI.

General desire for peace—­Political aspect of Europe—­Designs of the kings of England, France, and Spain concerning the United Provinces —­Matrimonial schemes of Spain—­Conference between the French ministers and the Dutch envoy—­Confidential revelations—­Henry’s desire to annex the Netherlands to France—­Discussion of the subject—­Artifice of Barneveld—­Impracticability of a compromise between the Provinces and Spain—­Formation of a West India Company—­ Secret mission from the archdukes to the Hague—­Reply of the States- General—­Return of the archdukes’ envoy—­Arrangement of an eight months’ armistice.

The general tendency towards a pacification in Europe at the close of the year could hardly be mistaken.  The languor of fatigue, rather than any sincere desire for peace seemed to make negotiations possible.  It was not likely that great truths would yet be admitted, or that ruling individuals or classes would recognise the rise of a new system out of the rapidly dissolving elements of the one which had done its work.  War was becoming more and more expensive, while commerce, as the world slowly expanded itself, and manifested its unsuspected resources, was becoming more and more lucrative.  It was not, perhaps, that men hated each other less, but that they had for a time exhausted their power and their love for slaughter.  Meanwhile new devices for injuring humanity and retarding its civilization were revealing themselves out of that very intellectual progress which ennobled the new era.  Although war might still be regarded as the normal condition of the civilized world, it was possible for the chosen ones to whom the earth and its fulness belonged, to inflict general damage otherwise than by perpetual battles.