History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 1 | Page 8

disagreeable to him he would do that which should make all
the women and children in the Netherlands shriek and tremble. What
this nameless horror was to be he never divulged, but meantime he
went down to Middelburg, and swore that not a boat-load of corn
should go up to Antwerp until two members of the magistracy, whom
he considered unpleasant, had been dismissed from their office.
Wearied with all this bluster, and imbued with grave suspicion as to his
motives, the States at last rose upon their High Admiral and threw him
into prison. He was accused of many high crimes and misdemeanours,
and, it was thought, would be tried for his life. He was suspected and
even openly accused of having been tampered with by Spain, but there
was at any rate a deficiency of proof.
"Treslong is apprehended," wrote Davison to Burghley, "and, is
charged to have been the cause that the fleet passed not up to Antwerp.
He is suspected to have otherwise forgotten himself, but whether justly
or not will appear by his trial. Meantime he is kept in the common
prison of Middelburg, a treatment which it is thought they would not
offer him if they had not somewhat of importance against him."
He was subsequently released at the intercession of Queen Elizabeth,
and passed some time in England. He was afterwards put upon trial, but
no accuser appearing to sustain the charges against him, he was
eventually released. He never received a command in the navy again,
but the very rich sinecures of Grand Falconer and Chief Forester of
Holland were bestowed upon him, and he appears to have ended his
days in peace and plenty.
He was succeeded in the post of Admiral of Holland and Zeeland by
Justinus de Nassau, natural son of William the Silent, a young man of
much promise but of little experience.
General Count Hohenlo, too, lieutenant for young Maurice, and virtual
commander-in-chief of the States' forces, was apt to give much trouble.
A German noble, of ancient descent and princely rank; brave to
temerity, making a jest of danger; and riding into a foray as if to a
merry-making; often furiously intoxicated, and always turbulent and
uncertain; a handsome, dissipated cavalier, with long curls floating
over his shoulders, an imposing aristocratic face, and a graceful,
athletic figure, he needed some cool brain and steady hand to guide
him--valuable as he was to fulfil any daring project but was hardly

willing to accept the authority of a burgomaster. While the young
Maurice yet needed tutelage, while "the sapling was growing into the
tree," Hohenlo was a dangerous chieftain and a most disorderly
lieutenant.
With such municipal machinery and such coadjutors had Sainte
Aldegonde to deal, while, meantime, the delusive French negociation
was dragging its slow length along, and while Parma was noiselessly
and patiently proceeding with his preparations.
The burgomaster--for Sainte Aldegonde, in whom vulgar ambition was
not a foible, had refused the dignity and title of Margrave of Antwerp,
which had been tendered him--had neglected no effort towards carrying
into effect the advice of Orange, given almost with his latest breath.
The manner in which that advice was received furnished a striking
illustration of the defective machinery which has been pourtrayed.
Upon his return from Delft, Sainte Aldegonde had summoned a
meeting of the magistracy of Antwerp. He laid before the board the
information communicated by Orange as to Parma's intentions. He also
explained the scheme proposed for their frustration, and urged the
measures indicated with so much earnestness that his
fellow-magistrates were convinced. The order was passed for piercing
the Blauw-garen Dyke, and Sainte Aldegonde, with some engineers,
was requested to view the locality, and to take order for the immediate
fulfilment of the plan.
Unfortunately there were many other boards in session besides that of
the Schepens, many other motives at work besides those of patriotism.
The guild of butchers held a meeting, so soon as the plan suggested was
known, and resolved with all their strength to oppose its execution.
The butchers were indeed furious. Twelve thousand oxen grazed
annually upon the pastures which were about to be submerged, and it
was represented as unreasonable that all this good flesh and blood
should be sacrificed. At a meeting of the magistrates on the following
day, sixteen butchers, delegates from their guild, made their appearance,
hoarse with indignation. They represented the vast damage which
would be inflicted upon the estates of many private individuals by the
proposed inundation, by this sudden conversion of teeming meadows,
fertile farms, thriving homesteads, prolific orchards, into sandy
desolation. Above all they depicted, in glowing colours and with

natural pathos, the vast destruction of beef which was imminent, and
they urged--with some show of reason--that if Parma were really about
to