History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 2

History of the United
Netherlands, 1585 part 2

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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1585
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4840] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 2,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1585 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS From the Death of
William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609
By John Lothrop Motley

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Volume 40
History United Netherlands, 1585
CHAPTER V
., Part 2.
Position of Alexander and his Army--La Motte attempts in vain
Ostend--Patriots gain Liefkenshoek--Projects of Gianibelli--Alarm on
the Bridge--The Fire Ships--The Explosion--Its Results--Death of the
Viscount of Ghent--Perpetual Anxiety of Farnese--Impoverished State
of the Spaniards--Intended Attack of the Kowenstyn--Second Attack of
the Kowenstyn--A Landing effected--A sharp Combat--The Dyke
pierced --Rally of the Spaniards--Parma comes to the Rescue--Fierce
Struggle on the Dyke--The Spaniards successful--Premature Triumph at
Antwerp --Defeat of the Patriots--The Ship War's End--Despair of the
Citizens
Notwithstanding these triumphs, Parma was much inconvenienced by

not possessing the sea-coast of Flanders. Ostend was a perpetual
stumbling- block to him. He therefore assented, with pleasure to a
proposition made by La Motte, one of the most experienced and
courageous of the Walloon royalist, commanders, to attempt the place
by surprise. And La Motte; at the first blow; was more than half
successful.
On the night of the 29th March, (1585) with two thousand foot and
twelve hundred cavalry, he carried the whole of the old port of Ostend.
Leaving a Walloon officer, in whom he had confidence, to guard the
position already gained, he went back in person for reinforcements.
During his advance, the same ill luck attended his enterprise which had
blasted Hohenlo's achievement at Bois-le-Duc. The soldiers he left
behind him deserted their posts for the sake of rifling the town. The
officer in command, instead of keeping them to their duty, joined in the
chase. The citizens roused themselves, attacked their invaders, killed
many of them, and put the rest to flight. When La Motte returned; he
found the panic general. His whole force, including the fresh soldiers
just brought to the rescue, were beside themselves with fear. He killed
several with his own hand, but the troops were not to be rallied. His
quick triumph was changed into an absolute defeat.
Parma, furious at the ignominious result of a plan from which so much
had been expected, ordered the Walloon captain, from whose
delinquency so much disaster had resulted, to be forthwith hanged.
"Such villainy," said he, "must never go unpunished."
It was impossible for the Prince to send a second expedition to attempt
the reduction of Ostend, for the patriots were at last arousing
themselves to the necessity of exertion. It was very obvious--now that
the bridge had been built, and the Kowenstyn fortified--that one or the
other was to be destroyed, or Antwerp abandoned to its fate.
The patriots had been sleeping, as it were, all the winter, hugging the
delusive dream of French sovereignty and French assistance. No
language can exaggerate the deadly effects from the slow poison of that
negotiation. At any rate, the negotiation was now concluded. The
dream was dispelled. Antwerp must now fall, or a decisive blow must
be struck by the patriots themselves, and a telling blow had been
secretly and maturely meditated. Certain preparatory steps were
however necessary.

The fort of Liefkenshoek, "darling's corner," was a most important post.
The