New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-27

great portrait. and he who reads TINS
book will all the better understand u
and fathom its potency.
All that is generally known nova
DAYS Of Christina 81 Denmark IS that
Holbcin iourncycd from London 10
Brussels To paint her by order of Henry
VIII. who wished 10 make her his "lie'
II was only an episode in her career
most plcturcsquc one. to bc sure. espe-
riallv nc Mrs. ADJ tells n here. hut
what went before and what followed
after is Il infinitely greater historical
inheritance and interest. for ~ all the
ROYAL matrimonial pawns IN the game
Of international politics Christina was
pcrhaps the one most sought after IN
all European history. Born IN "NIle ~
l542 tho daughter of Christian II NJ
nmark and Norway, who conquered
Sweden and planned and almost ere
atci-a united Scand .nayian kingdom
independent of tho Holy Empire. bat
who lost what ne had gained through
the whence of his methods ana me
scandals of his pri,at" life. CHRISTINE
was married at twclN" 20 the si'k'\
but energetic Duke OF Milan. VINO I''l
bcr widow before she was fourteen
Her mother had been princess 81
Harrisburg. sister to the Emperor
Charles y. tho greatest ruler Of MS
time. Hence the great political value
attached To- tho child widow. Charles
sent his niece to Brussels. whcr" the
struggle for her hand began. Prince
Louis Of SAVOY. the Duk" az AngoI-
lime. - nephew Of the Pope, Henri ~
Navarro. Albert of Brandcnburg tho
Duke Of vendor 90. Rene Orang" the
Duke of Clcyos-thc princes Of the en-
pre-. Of France and ItalN-wcrc, at one
time or Inothor. her suIt"rs. Henry
VIII Was one of IN" most ardent II
them and certainly TN" most pulssant.
but Catherine. who played in all TINS
matchmaking a passiy" part. declared
aftcrward that she had only one head;
if she had had two sh" might have
riskcd one Of them. Vet. while the ne
gotiations for this marriage were IN
progress. while her imperial uncle was
playing .ugiand against France, she
was unmistakubly dazzicd b. the splen-
dor Of this alliance, for she sent her
Italian conddant Forrari, To London tos
spy out the glory Of the King md
bring hack - report As to his personal
appearance. hut Charles and the KING
Of France reached an understanding
and the match WAS broken on.
Hcnry's communication 10y the Pope,
lust then, serving as "A timely prctcAt.
Yet Charles V had been the first TO
propose this marriage in lI.}J immedi-
ately after the execution of Anne
BUlcyn.
Christina was given to the Duke Of
Lorraine instead, in lJll. and became
a widow for the second time less than
four years later IT was believed that
the duke had been poisoned by order OF
the King of France. once more she
became one OF the great matrimonial
prizes of the age; once more alliances
were suggested from all parts Of Eu
rope. She resided mostly ~ Brussels,
where she was Of great service To her
uncle, the Emperor, through the gra-
cious influence she cxcrtcd over the
Flemish and Dutch mobiles. an in
nucucc that was even more needed
when Philip IL succeeded his father
and alienatcd his northern subjects by
his Spanish arrogance. by right Of
service Christina should have been APP
pointed rcgcntess of the Low Countries
instead Of Philips illcgitimate half
sister. Margaret of Parma. but graft
tudc was not one Of Philips few
virtues: neither was "A clear outlook in
political affairs. Christina resented the
slight which. MIS-. Ady suggests, may
also have been due in part to Philips
anger at the rejection of his unwcl-
come advances made while his mar
riagc To Mary Of England had already
been arranged.
Christina saw the Inheritance of her
first husband pass into Spanish hands;
her son of Lorraine, the last ruler Of
the duchy. was taken from her in in |
fancy by the French, and she herself