History of the United Netherlands, 1588a

History of the United
Netherlands, 1588a

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1588
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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1588
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4855] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 5,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1588 ***

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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, Vol. 55
History of the United Netherlands, 1588

CHAPTER XVIII
. Part 1.
Prophecies as to the Year 1588--Distracted Condition of the Dutch
Republic--Willoughby reluctantly takes Command--English
Commissioners come to Ostend--Secretary Gamier and Robert Cecil--
Cecil accompanies Dale to Ghent--And finds the Desolation complete--
Interview of Dale and Cecil with Parma--His fervent Expressions in
favour of Peace--Cecil makes a Tour in Flanders--And sees much that
is remarkable--Interviews of Dr. Rogers with Parma--Wonderful
Harangues of the Envoy--Extraordinary Amenity of Alexander--With
which Rogers is much touched--The Queen not pleased with her

Envoy-- Credulity of the English Commissioners--Ceremonious
Meeting of all the Envoys--Consummate Art in wasting Time--Long
Disputes about Commissions--The Spanish Commissions meant to
deceive--Disputes about Cessation of Arms--Spanish Duplicity and
Procrastination-- Pedantry and Credulity of Dr. Dale--The Papal Bull
and Dr. Allen's Pamphlet--Dale sent to ask Explanations--Parma denies
all Knowledge of either--Croft believes to the last in Alexander.
The year 1588 had at last arrived--that fatal year concerning which the
German astrologers--more than a century before had prognosticated
such dire events. As the epoch approached it was firmly believed by
many that the end of the world was at hand, while the least
superstitious could not doubt that great calamities were impending over
the nations. Portents observed during the winter and in various parts of
Europe came to increase the prevailing panic. It rained blood in
Sweden, monstrous births occurred in France, and at Weimar it was
gravely reported by eminent chroniclers that the sun had appeared at
mid-day holding a drawn sword in his mouth--a warlike portent whose
meaning could not be mistaken.
But, in truth, it needed no miracles nor prophecies to enforce the
conviction that a long procession of disasters was steadily advancing.
With France rent asunder by internal convulsions, with its imbecile
king not even capable of commanding a petty faction among his own
subjects, with Spain the dark cause of unnumbered evils, holding Italy
in its grasp, firmly allied with the Pope, already having reduced and
nearly absorbed France, and now, after long and patient preparation,
about to hurl the concentrated vengeance and hatred of long years upon
the little kingdom of England, and its only ally--the just organized
commonwealth of the Netherlands--it would have been strange indeed
if the dullest intellect had not dreamed of tragical events. It was not
encouraging that there should be distraction in the counsels of the two
States so immediately threatened; that the Queen of England should be
at variance with her wisest and most faithful statesmen as to their
course of action, and that deadly quarrels should exist between the
leading men of the Dutch republic and the English governor, who had
assumed the responsibility of directing its energies against the common
enemy.
The blackest night that ever descended upon the Netherlands--more

disappointing because succeeding a period of comparative prosperity
and triumph--was the winter of 1587-8, when Leicester had terminated
his career by his abrupt departure for England, after his second brief
attempt at administration. For it was exactly at this moment