t of a truly noble
campaign opened before him. In carrying out the extensive plan against the
Spanish king, it was indispensable--so thought the wisest politicians of
the time--to secure the co-operation of the Turk. The extent of Philip's
dominions in the Old and the New World, the prestige of his successes, the
enormous treasure he was said to derive yearly from his colonial
establishments in the Indies, all gave him a reputation for power which a
more critical examination would have dissipated; but the time for this had
not yet arrived. Consequently Charles had sent his ambassador to
Constantinople, intending through him to conclude an alliance offensive
and defensive with the Moslems. And his declarations to the
half-Protestant prelate were explicit enough: "All my humors conspire to
make me oppose the greatness of the Spaniards, and I am deliberating how I
may therein conduct myself the most skilfully that I can."[898] "I have
concluded a league with the Queen of England--a circumstance which, with
the understanding I have with the Princes of Germany, puts the Spaniards
in a wonderful jealousy."[899] Not only so, but he instructs the
ambassador to inform the Grand Seignior that he has a large number of
vessels ready, with twelve or fifteen thousand troops about to embark,
ostensibly to protect his own harbors, "but in reality intended to keep
the Catholic king uneasy, and to give boldness to those Beggars of the
Netherlands to bestir themselves and form such enterprises as they already
have done."[900] If these assurances had been addressed to a Protestant
prince, it would readily be comprehended that they might have had for
their object to lull his co-religionists into a fatal security. But, as
they were intended only for a Mohammedan ruler, I can see no room for the
suspicion that Charles was at this time animated by anything else than an
unfeigned desire to realize the plan of Coligny, of a confederacy that
should shatter the much-vaunted empire of Philip the Second.

[Sidenote: Mons and Valenciennes captured.]

An event now occurred which for a time raised high the hopes of the French
Huguenots. This was the capture of the important cities of Mons and
Valenciennes. To Count Louis of Nassau the credit of this bold and
successful stroke was due. With the secret connivance of Charles, he had
recruited in France a body of five hundred horsemen and a thousand foot
soldiers, among whom, as was natural, the Huguenot e