CHAPTER XXI. Effect of the Assassination of Henry III.--Concentration of forces for the invasion of France--The Netherlands determine on striking a blow for freedom--Organization of a Dutch army--Stratagem to surprise the castle of Breda--Intrepidity and success of the enterprise.The dagger of Jacques Clement had done much, and was likely to domore, to change the face of Europe. Another proof was afforded thatassassination had become a regular and recognised factor in the politicalproblems of the sixteenth century. Another illustration was exhibited ofthe importance of the individual--even although that individual was inhimself utterly despicable--to the working out of great historicalresults. It seemed that the murder of Henry III.--that forlorncaricature of kingship and of manhood--was likely to prove eminentlybeneficial to the cause of the Netherland commonwealth. Five yearsearlier, the murder of William the Silent had seemed to threaten itsvery existence.For Philip the Prudent, now that France was deprived of a head, conceivedthat the time had arrived when he might himself assume the sovereignty ofthat kingdom. While a thing of straw, under the name of Charles X. andshape of a Cardinal Bourbon, was set up to do battle with that livingsovereign and soldier, the heretic Bearnese, the Duke of Parma wasprivately ordered to bend all his energies towards the conquest of therealm in dispute, under pretence of assisting the Holy League.Accordingly, early in the year 1590, Alexander concentrated aconsiderable force on the French frontier in Artois and Hainault,apparently threatening Bergen-op-Zoom and other cities in South Holland,but in reality preparing to invade France. The Duke of Mayenne, who hadassumed the title of lieutenant-general of that kingdom, had alreadyvisited him at Brussels in order to arrange the plan of the campaign.While these measures were in preparation, an opportunity was likely to beafforded to the Netherlanders of striking a blow or two for liberty