Charles pree 
FRANCE. 
was to curtail the power and influence of the Emperor, 
rovided hi ious opinions did not create an objection, 
These, therefore, it was necessary to consider in the ne- 
gociation. It was also necessary for Maurice to antici- 
Biotest prises Se Goriuciy ight fel oy orang 
inces of Gi ight feel on i 
an alliance vith a prince, who rent not only a Catholic, 
but who had persecuted the reformed religion 
in his dominions. The and les of both 
phe however, were overcome by the wi and po- 
icy of Maurice ; and a treaty was concluded between 
Henry and the Protestant confederation. 
As soon as the ions of Maurice were comple- 
ted, and he had assembled his army amounting to 
25,000 men, he published a manifesto, containing his 
reasons for taking armg; to secure the. Protestant reli- 
ion ; to maintain the constitution of Germany ; and to 
iver the Landgraye of Hesse from his and 
unjust imprisonment. To this the aus, * of France; 
his own name, added a manifesto, in 
icious of the in- 
e pre ions, of 
the Protestant confederates, and of Henry, he was not 
in a condition to oppose such formidable enemies. Lor- 
raine was immediately invaded by the French armies. 
The young Duke Charles, the nephew of the Emperor, 
was sei Toul, Verdun, and Metz were occupied. 
Nor was Charles, even after Rae ae le to 
the 
tu pte 
Be 
civil and ecclesiastical independence eayirge 
oe taawae oat In this treaty, however, the con- 
totally overlooked the services of Henry, and 
the union they had formed with him. There zppears, 
Se 8 Sete one baa ess 
teed A Soro g measures an ions, 
'y such as weakened Clete’ aeeraa ed 
izement, even at the 
deavoured, by artifice, himeclt of the elty of 
' ; i to possess himse e city of 
Strasburgh ; and had he succeeded in his attempt, the 
m of the Rhine would have fallen inte his 
power. ‘was to desist, by the in- 
being thi Ror oye and rae can- 
As Metz, Toul, and Verdun, which Henry had con- 
, formed the barrier of the ine onthe side of 
eeply affected by their loss; and 
ided the treaty of Passau, he 
resolved to employ the most vigorous and powerful 
measures for their recovery. He therefore left his re- 
treat at Villach, and put himself at the head of the for- 
ces, which he had assembled against the confederates. 
Boi yaa tg be At first, in order 
toe his real object, he. circulated a report, that 
he intended to lead it into Hungary against the Turks ; 
and when the line of his march unequivocally proved 
that such was not his intention, he pretended that he 
was marching, in the first place, to chastise Albert of 
DestidieriOUiiit who had refused to be included in the 
treaty of Passau. Henry, however, was not deceived ; 
but guessing at the true object of the emperor's arma- 
ment, he resolved vigorously to defend his conquests. 
As it was to foresee that the reduction of Metz 
would be the first. object of the emperor, Henry resolved 
that it should be defended in the best possible manner. 
He therefore inted to the command of it Francis 
of Lorraine, Duke of Guise. No fitter man could pos- 
sibly have been chosen for this arduous enterprise. He 
was full of military ardour and zeal ; anxious to dis- 
tinguish himself, and to be classed among the heroes 
of France ; delighting in bold enterprises, and aspiring 
after fame by splendid and extraordinary actions. ‘These 
qualities, however, had they 
more solid and useful, ge not so dazzling, Sane 
haps, have prevented his sovereign from makin 
Thales of him on this occasion. But he was no les 
distinguished for city and presence of mind, than 
for zeal and pict. nin To' this nobleman the de- 
fence of Metz was intrusted ; and he received the com- 
mission with joy. His zeal’and enthusiasm were hard- 
565 
History. 
—_—— 
The Duke 
of Guise op- 
poses him. 
not been united with others: 
ly necessary to induce many others of the French no- . 
bility to offer their services, so that Metz soon saw 
within its walls, some of the best blood of France, 
which, if necessary, would be most chearfully shed to- 
eit to the French kingdom. As soon as the 
e of Guise entered the place, he carefully examined « 
it: it was of great extent, ill fortified, and the suburbs: 
large. These defects, therefore, it was absolutely ne- 
immediately to remedy. For this purpose, the 
cessary 
Duke ordered the old fortifications to be repaired with 
all possible ition, even assisting and. animatin 
the labourers his example. The officers and ath: 
diers thus encouraged, chearfully submitted to the most ~ 
severe toil. After repairing the old fortifications, the 
Duke directed his skill to the erection of new ones, The 
suburbs were levelled to the ground, in order that they 
might not favour or protect the approaches of the ene- 
my ; and with a similar object in view, he gave orders 
that the country, for several miles round, should be laid 
waste. At the same time, he filled the magazines with 
provisions and military stores, and compelled all useless 
persons to leave the place; yet such were his ‘popular 
talents, and his power of acquiring an ascendency over 
the minds of men, that the citizens not only ined 
from murmuring, but seconded him, with no less ar- 
dour than his soldiers, in all his operations ; even in- 
the ruin of their estates, and in the destruction of their 
public and private buildings. 
In the mean time, Albert of Brandenburgh entered 
Lorraine, with 20,000 men, seemingly with an intention 
to join the French. The emperor, notwithstanding the 
vicinity of this army, and the advanced season of the 
ear, for it was now the month of October, resolved to 
ay siege to Metz, contrary to the advice of his most 
experienced officers. One of his first attempts was’ to 
secure the tion, or at least the neutr. ity of Al- 
bert. | This he affected, by rok up to his price, and 
he joined the imperial army. The emperor now flat- 
tered himself that Metz would be soon reduced ; ‘but 
he was most lamentably mistaken. The winter set in 
with unusual rigour, in little more than a month from 
the commencement of the siege. The imperial camp 
was exposed to almost constant alternations of snow and 
rain, which, of course, produced disease even among 
the hardy Germans ; while the Spaniards and Italians, 
