History of the United Netherlands, 1594

History of the United
Netherlands, 1594

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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1594
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4866] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 9,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1594 ***

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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. 66
History of the United Netherlands, 1594

CHAPTER XXX
.
Prince Maurice lays siege to Gertruydenberg--Advantages of the new
system of warfare--Progress of the besieging operations--Superiority of
Maurice's manoeuvres--Adventure of Count Philip of Nassau--
Capitulation of Gertruydenberg--Mutiny among the Spanish troops--
Attempt of Verdugo to retake Coeworden--Suspicions of treason in the
English garrison at Ostend--Letter of Queen Elizabeth to Sir Edward
Norris on the subject--Second attempt on Coeworden--Assault on
Groningen by Maurice--Second adventure of Philip of Nassau--Narrow
escape of Prince Maurice--Surrender of Groningen--Particulars of the

siege--Question of religious toleration--Progress of the United
Netherlands--Condition of the "obedient" Netherlands--Incompetency
of Peter Mansfeld as Governor--Archduke Ernest, the successor of
Farnese--Difficulties of his position--His unpopularity--Great
achievements of the republicans--Triumphal entry of Ernest into
Brussels and Antwerp--Magnificence of the spectacle--Disaffection of
the Spanish troops--Great military rebellion--Philip's proposal to
destroy the English fleet--His assassination plans--Plot to poison Queen
Elizabeth--Conspiracies against Prince Maurice--Futile attempts at
negotiation--Proposal of a marriage between Henry and the
Infanta--Secret mission from Henry to the King of Spain--Special
dispatch to England and the Staten--Henry obtains further aid from
Queen Elizabeth and the States--Council--Anxiety of the Protestant
countries to bring about a war with Spain--Aspect of affairs at the close
of the year 1594.
While Philip's world-empire seemed in one direction to be so rapidly
fading into cloudland there were substantial possessions of the Spanish
crown which had been neglected in Brabant and Friesland.
Two very important cities still held for the King of Spain within the
territories of what could now be fairly considered the United Dutch
Republic--St. Gertruydenberg and Groningen.
Early in the spring of 1593, Maurice had completed his preparations for
a siege, and on the 24th March appeared before Gertruydenberg.
It was a stately, ancient city, important for its wealth, its strength, and
especially for its position. For without its possession even the province
of Holland could hardly consider itself mistress of its own little
domains. It was seated on the ancient Meuse, swollen as it approached
the sea almost to the dimension of a gulf, while from the south another
stream, called the Donge, very brief in its course, but with considerable
depth of water, came to mingle itself with the Meuse, exactly under the
walls of the city.
The site of the place was so low that it was almost hidden and protected
by its surrounding dykes. These afforded means of fortification, which
had been well improved. Both by nature and art the city was one of the
strongholds of the Netherlands.
Maurice had given the world a lesson in the beleaguering science at the
siege of Steenwyk, such as had never before been dreamt of; but he was

resolved that the operations before Gertruydenberg should constitute a
masterpiece.
Nothing could be more beautiful as a production of military art, nothing,
to the general reader, more insipid than its details.
On the land side, Hohenlo's headquarters were at Ramsdonck, a village
about a German mile to the east of Gertruydenberg. Maurice himself
was established on the west side of the