He was pledging his jewels and furniture like a bankrupt, but all was now in vain to stop the mutiny at Courtray.  If that went on it would be of most pernicious example, for the whole army was disorganised, malcontent, and of portentous aspect.  “These things,” said he, “ought not to surprise people of common understanding, for without money, without credit, without provisions, and in an exhausted country, it is impossible to satisfy the claims, or even to support the life of the army.”  When he sent the Flemish cavalry to Mayenne in March, it was under the impression that with it that prince would have maintained his reputation and checked the progress of the Bearnese until greater reinforcements could be forwarded.  He was now glad that no larger number had been sent, for all would have been sacrificed on the fatal field of Ivry.

The country around him was desperate, believed itself abandoned, and was expecting fresh horrors everyday.  He had been obliged to remove portions of the garrisons at Deventer and Zutphen purely to save them from starving and desperation.  Every day he was informed by his garrisons that they could feed no longer on fine words or hopes, for in them they found no sustenance.

But Philip told him that he must proceed forthwith to France, where he was to raise the siege of Paris, and occupy Calais and Boulogne in order to prevent the English from sending succour to the Bearnese, and in order to facilitate his own designs on England.  Every effort was to be made before the Bearnese climbed into the seat.  The Duke of Parma was to talk no more of difficulties, but to conquer them; a noble phrase on the battle field, but comparatively easy of utterance at the writing-desk!

At last, Philip having made some remittances, miserably inadequate for the necessities of the case, but sufficient to repress in part the mutinous demonstrations throughout the army, Farnese addressed himself with a heavy heart to the work required of him.  He confessed the deepest apprehensions of the result both in the Netherlands and in France.  He intimated a profound distrust of the French, who had, ever been Philip’s enemies, and dwelt on the danger of leaving the provinces, unable to protect themselves, badly garrisoned, and starving.  “It grieves me to the soul, it cuts me to the heart,” he said, “to see that your Majesty commands things which are impossible, for it is our Lord alone that can work miracles.  Your Majesty supposes that with the little money you have sent me, I can satisfy all the soldiers serving in these provinces, settle with the Spanish and the German mutineers—­because, if they are to be used in the expedition, they must at least be quieted—­give money to Mayenne and the Parisians, pay retaining wages (wartgeld) to the German Riders for the protection of these provinces, and make sure of the maritime places where the same mutinous language is held as at Courtray.  The poverty, the discontent, and