own with a firm hand, and then,
when it was over, treated the conspirators and rebels with marvelous
clemency. When his reign was concluded he left a record of wisdom and
sagacity rare in those days, in any land.

His taking off the stage was as remarkable as his coming on. He fell
into a trance (October 14, 680), and after long insensibility it was
concluded that the King was dying. According to a custom of the period
Wamba's head was shaved, and he was clothed in the habit of a monk.
The meaning of this was that if he died, he would, as was fitting,
pass into the Divine presence in penitential garb. But if,
peradventure, the patient survived, he was pledged to spend the rest
of his life in that holy vocation, renouncing every worldly advantage.

So when, after a few hours, Wamba, in perfect health, opened his eyes,
he found that instead of a King he was transformed into a Monk!

Whether this was a cunning device of this philosophic King to lay
down the burdens which wearied him, and spend the rest of his days
in tranquility; or whether it was the work of the Royal Prince, who
joyfully assumed the diadem which he had so unwillingly worn, nobody
knows. But Wamba passed the remainder of his days in a monastery near
Burgos, and the ambitious Ervigius reigned as his successor.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Visigoth kingdom, which had stood for three centuries, had passed
its meridian. It had created a magnificent background for historic
Spain, and a heritage which would be the pride and glory of the
proudest nation in Europe. The Goths had come as only rude intruders
into that country; but to be descended from the Visigoth Kings was
hereafter to be the proudest boast of the Spaniard. And the man who
could make good such claim to distinction was a _Hidalgo_; or in its
original form, _hijo-de-algo_--son of somebody.

But many generations of peace had impaired the rugged strength and
softened the sinews of the nation. It was the beginning of the end
when, at the close of the seventh century, there were two rival
claimants to the throne; and while the vicious and cruel Witiza
reigned at Toledo, Roderick, the son of Theodofred, also reigned in
Andalusia. There had been a long struggle, during which it is said
that Theodofred's eyes had been put out by his victorious rival, and
his son Roderick had obtained assistance from the Greek Emperor at
Byzantium in asserting his own claims. He succeeded in driving Witiza
out of the