more liberty and for at least a trifling influence in the state—­the poor little king instantly betrayed her to the favourite and she was severely punished.  The duke took the monarch off at once on a long journey, leaving her alone for weeks long with the terrible duchess and countess.  Never before had she been separated for a day from her husband, it having been the king’s uniform custom to take her with him in all his expeditions.  Her ambition to interfere was thus effectually cured.  The duke forbade her thenceforth ever to speak of politics to her husband in public or in private—­not even in bed—­and the king was closely questioned whether these orders had been obeyed.  She submitted without a struggle.  She saw how completely her happiness was at Lerma’s mercy.  She had no one to consult with, having none but Spanish people about her, except her German father-confessor, whom, as a great favour, and after a severe struggle, she had beep allowed to retain, as otherwise her ignorance of the national language would have made it impossible for her to confess her little sins.  Moreover her brothers, the archdukes at Gratz, were in receipt of considerable annual stipends from the Spanish exchequer, and the duke threatened to stop those pensions at once should the queen prove refractory.  It is painful to dwell any longer on the abject servitude in which the king and queen were kept.  The two were at least happy in each other’s society, and were blessed with mutual affection, with pretty and engaging children, and with a similarity of tastes.  It is impossible to imagine anything more stately, more devout, more regular, more innocent, more utterly dismal and insipid, than the lives of this wedded pair.

This interior view of the court and council of Spain will suffice to explain why, despite the languor and hesitations with which the transactions were managed, the inevitable tendency was towards a peace.  The inevitable slowness, secrecy, and tergiversations were due to the dignity of the Spanish court, and in harmony with its most sacred traditions.

But what profit could the Duke of Lerma expect by the continuance of the Dutch war, and who in Spain was to be consulted except the Duke of Lerma?

     Etext editor’s bookmarks: 

     A man incapable of fatigue, of perplexity, or of fear
     Converting beneficent commerce into baleful gambling
     Gigantic vices are proudly pointed to as the noblest
     No generation is long-lived enough to reap the harvest
     Proclaiming the virginity of the Virgin’s mother
     Steeped to the lips in sloth which imagined itself to be pride
     To shirk labour, infinite numbers become priests and friars

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 80, 1607