Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-02-18
Prescott's Last Work.

HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF PHILIP !
THE SECOND, KING OF SPAIN. BY |
VIM. Fl. Prescott. Boston: Phillips, !
Sampson & Co.
The third volume Of this History is
now published. The last work of the
great blind historian was done upon this
History. Six volumes were designed
three of which have been.published. The
work must now fall into other hands, but
the public will hardly fail to observe the
line where the one finished and the other
begins. Mr.. Prescott was one OF the
greatest historians of his, or any age
and was so acknowledged in Europe as
well as his father-land-and Philip the
Second is his masterpiece.
This volume begins with the conquest
of Spain by the Arabs in 1861. Much
of it, however, is taken up with the re-
bellion of the Moriscoes, and the terrible
war of over two years duration between
them and the Spaniards. Those familiar
with the Conquests of Mexico and Peru,
by the same author,-will find much
in this war to remind them of the bloody
massacres ofthe Kings and lncas of those
unhappy lands. The story is told in such
an interesting, exciting way, that though
it is mostly tale of blood, there is a
charm about it that will enchain the at
tention of the reader till the book is fin
ished. We will append paragraph or
two taken from the very last of the Mo-
risco rebellion, when the contending par
ties were most desperate:
% More than one instance is recorded
of the desperate courage to which the
women as well as the men were reused
in their extremity. a MOriscO girl,
whose father had persisted in the first
assault in the Gardens, after firing her
dwelling, is said to have dragged her
two little brothers along with one hand,
and welding a scimitar with the other,
to have rushed against the foe, by whom
they were all speedily cut to pieces
Another instance is told, of man who,
after killing his wife, and bis two daugh-
tiers, sailed forth, and calling out, There
is nothing more to lose let US die to-
gether," threw himself into the thick OF
the enemy. Some fell by their own
weapons, others by those of their friends,
preferring to receive death by any hands
but those of the Spaniards.
Some two thousand Moriscoes were
huddled together in square not far from
the gate where a strong body of Casti'
Ian infantry cut off the means of escape
Spent with toll, and loss of blood, with
out ammunition, without arms, or witt
such only as were too much battered Oh
broken for service, the wretched fugitive.
would gladly have made some terms witt
their pursuers who now closed darkly
around them. But the stag at bay nigh
as easily have made terms with his hunt
ers and the fierce hounds that were al
ready on his launches. Their prayer
were answered by volley after volley
until not a man was left alive.
More than four hundred women ant
children were gathered together withou
the walls, and the soldiers, mindful Of tht
value of such booty, were willing t
spare their lives. This was remarked
by Don John, and no sooner did he oh
serve the symptoms of lenity in til
troops, than the finty-hearted chief re
buked their remisness, and sternly re
minded them of the orders of the day
He even sent the halberdiers of hi
guard and the cavaliers about his person
TO assist the soldiers in their blood
work while he sat, a calm spectatC
on his horse, as immovable as a marbl
statue, and as insensible TO the agonii
ing screams of his victims, and the
heart-breaking prayers for mercy"