What came after was a Teutonic and a Flemish Spain turned into a German colony, serving as a mercenary under foreign standards, ruining itself in undertakings in which it had no interest, shedding blood and gold for the ambition of the so-called Holy Roman Empire.

I can understand the enchantment that the emperor exercised over the bigoted and ignorant people who worshipped the past.

A great man that Don Carlos! Brave in fight, astute in politics, jolly and hearty as one of the burgomasters of his own country; a great eater, a great drinker, and loving to catch the girls round the waist.

But he had nothing Spanish about him.

He only appreciated his mother's heritage for what he could wring out of it.