Patriotism was the very air the Spaniard breathed. In Italy it was a vice, for an Italian had no country for which to live or to die. Italy, since France and Spain had quarrelled over the division of its carcase, had ceased to be anything but a name. In the south, the Spanish House had made good its hold on Naples, in central Italy the States of the Church were thrust in like a great wedge to separate north and south. The north was still the battle-field between the rival powers. Venice lay entrenched along the eastern coast and commanded the mouth of the Brenner Pass, too formidable as yet to be attacked, too independent to be won, by either side. In the middle of the rich plain of Lombardy was the Milanese, which belonged to Spain, and was held by Austrian or Spanish troops, who kept up a precarious communication with Austria through the Valtelline and Tirol, or with Spain through the friendly republic of Genoa. To the west of the Milanese came Piedmont and Savoy, the duke of which from his geographical position was usually obliged to be on good terms with France, but respected the obligation no longer than necessary. Italy thus torn and divided was always ready to produce, whenever it was wanted, a crop of international questions of the greatest nicety for her neighbours to quarrel over, and, as the century advanced, she seemed more and more to find her appropriate function to lie in providing the necessary pawns for the game of diplomatic chess characteristic of the new European states’ system. CHAPTER II FRANCE UNDER HENRY IV. Difficulties of Henry IV.--Henry IV. and Sully--Economical policy of Sully--His financial reforms--French taxation in the seventeenth century--Policy of Henry IV. towards the nobles--His foreign policy--Acquisition of Bresse and Bugey--The Cleves-Jülich question--Death of Henry IV.--Regency of Marie de Medicis--Mismanagement of affairs--The States-General of 1614--The Huguenot rising--Entry of Richelieu into the ministry. [Sidenote: =Difficulties of Henry IV. 1596.=]