Hapsburg monarchy in Europe, yet we can scarce forgive him for his alliance with the Porte. When we recall his cruel persecutions of the Huguenots at home, it is difficult to justify his support of the Lutherans in Germany. Jealous of the ascendency of Charles, he plunged his country into war as carelessly as a knight of old entered the lists, and, in spite of the lessons of the past, he grasped after the bauble of a kingdom beyond the Alps, and neglected to strengthen or extend the true frontiers of his country. A good captain of a division, rather than a general: a pleasant, clever, but wicked man, and a bad King, ‘Le roi galant homme’ left behind him an absolute monarchy, unchecked and unsupported by any constitutional system, an encumbered revenue, a heavy debt, a corrupt government, an immoral court, a factious nobility, and a nation flushed with the lust of war, and disturbed by religious discord. The troubles which came on France after the King’s death are in part at least attributable to his policy, and yet it is these very troubles which, by contrast, have led historians to judge more favourably of his reign than it deserves. FOOTNOTES: [46] On the question of Pescara’s motives, cf. Baumgarten, _Geschichte Karl V._, ii. 453. [47] On Charles’ responsibility for the sack of Rome, cf. Armstrong’s _Charles V._, i. 172. [48] On Francesco’s death in 1535, the duchy was annexed by the Emperor. [49] On the assassination of Alessandro, 1537, Cosimo of the younger branch of the Medici became Duke. [50] The Recess (_Reichsabscheid_) was the collection of the Decrees of the Diet which had received the assent of the Emperor (_Reichsschlüsse_). [51] Ferdinand had been recognised as King of Hungary after the death of Lewis at Mohacs (cf. p. 184). But his claim was opposed by Zapolya, Woivode of Transylvania, who was supported by Solyman. [52] Eck, however, had opposed it throughout. Granvelle the chancellor, Gropper and Pflug, two Catholic divines, were in favour of it. [53] James had married (1) Magdalen, daughter of Francis I.; (2) Mary of Guise. CHAPTER V FROM THE WAR OF SCHMALKALDE TO THE TREATY OF CATEAU CAMBRESIS Charles and the Protestants--Council of Trent, second session--Maurice won over--Death of Luther--Outbreak of war of Schmalkalde--Charles successful in Southern Germany--Council removed to Bologna--Battle of Mühlberg--Diet of Augsburg--Charles and Paul III.--The Interim--Charles and Julius III.--End of second session of Council of Trent--Maurice joins the Protestants--Treaty of Friedwald--Policy of Ferdinand--Charles flies from Innsbruck--Treaty of Passau--Death of Maurice--Diet and Peace of Augsburg--Truce of Vaucelles--Abdication and death of Charles--Last war between France and Spain--Battles of Gravelines and St. Quentin--Treaty of Cateau Cambrésis.