the King of Sweden.
Wallenstein, now. Wallenstein and his wolves.
Part Six
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears
Chapter 49
Cardinal Richelieu set the letter down on the bench in his garden. For several minutes, sitting next to it, he stared down at the detested thing.
Since he had been appointed head of the Royal Council on August 13, 1624, the cardinal had pursued a consistent policy in foreign affairs. Officially, of course, he had expressed his full support for the Counter-Reformation and the assault on Protestantism. Such was necessary, if nothing else, to retain the allegiance of the Catholic fanatics led by the Capucin Father Joseph and those organized in the secret society called the Company of the Holy Sacrament. But, underlying that pious surface, was Richelieu’s true aim: strengthen France. And that meant, first and foremost, humble the Habsburgs—especially the Spanish branch of the family, who ruled the greatest military power in Europe.
All in ruins . . .
Without lifting his head, he asked the man standing nearby: “It is true, Etienne?”
Etienne Servien nodded. He was one of the cardinal’s intendants, the special agents who maintained Richelieu’s iron rule over France. Officially, the intendants were nothing but minor functionaries, appointed directly by the crown. In reality, they were the cardinal’s private army of enforcers, spies, dictators by proxy. Servien had just returned from a protracted mission. First, to Vienna; then to Brussels; and along the way—
“Yes it is,” he said. “I spent a week in Thuringia myself, Cardinal. Most of it in Grantville. It’s all true.”
“Witchcraft?”
Servien shrugged. “My opinion? No. Not, at least, in minor things. I spoke to many
Wallenstein, now. Wallenstein and his wolves.
Part Six
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears
Chapter 49
Cardinal Richelieu set the letter down on the bench in his garden. For several minutes, sitting next to it, he stared down at the detested thing.
Since he had been appointed head of the Royal Council on August 13, 1624, the cardinal had pursued a consistent policy in foreign affairs. Officially, of course, he had expressed his full support for the Counter-Reformation and the assault on Protestantism. Such was necessary, if nothing else, to retain the allegiance of the Catholic fanatics led by the Capucin Father Joseph and those organized in the secret society called the Company of the Holy Sacrament. But, underlying that pious surface, was Richelieu’s true aim: strengthen France. And that meant, first and foremost, humble the Habsburgs—especially the Spanish branch of the family, who ruled the greatest military power in Europe.
All in ruins . . .
Without lifting his head, he asked the man standing nearby: “It is true, Etienne?”
Etienne Servien nodded. He was one of the cardinal’s intendants, the special agents who maintained Richelieu’s iron rule over France. Officially, the intendants were nothing but minor functionaries, appointed directly by the crown. In reality, they were the cardinal’s private army of enforcers, spies, dictators by proxy. Servien had just returned from a protracted mission. First, to Vienna; then to Brussels; and along the way—
“Yes it is,” he said. “I spent a week in Thuringia myself, Cardinal. Most of it in Grantville. It’s all true.”
“Witchcraft?”
Servien shrugged. “My opinion? No. Not, at least, in minor things. I spoke to many