The Revolt of The Netherlands, book 3 | Page 3

made him
worthy of appearing on so noble and important a stage. In Geneva,
where he studied, he had imbibed at once a hatred to the hierarchy and
a love to the new religion, and on his return to his native country had
not failed to enlist proselytes to his opinions. The republican bias which
his mind had received in that school kindled in him a bitter hatred of
the Spanish name, which animated his whole conduct and only left him
with his latest breath. Popery and Spanish rule were in his mind
identical-- as indeed they were in reality--and the abhorrence which he
entertained for the one helped to strengthen his dislike for the other.
Closely as the brothers agreed in their inclinations and aversions the
ways by which each sought to gratify them were widely dissimilar.
Youth and an ardent temperament did not allow the younger brother to
follow the tortuous course through which the elder wound himself to
his object. A cold, calm circumspection carried the latter slowly but
surely to his aim, and with a pliable subtilty he made all things
subserve his purpose; with a foolhardy impetuosity which overthrew all
obstacles, the other at times compelled success, but oftener accelerated
disaster. For this reason William was a general and Louis never more
than an adventurer; a sure and powerful arm if only it were directed by

a wise head. Louis' pledge once given was good forever; his alliances
survived every vicissitude, for they were mostly formed in the pressing
moment of necessity, and misfortune binds more firmly than
thoughtless joy. He loved his brother as dearly as he did his cause, and
for the latter he died.
Henry of Brederode, Baron of Viane and Burgrave of Utrecht, was
descended from the old Dutch counts who formerly ruled that province
as sovereign princes. So ancient a title endeared him to the people,
among whom the memory of their former lords still survived, and was
the more treasured the less they felt they had gained by the change.
This hereditary splendor increased the self-conceit of a man upon
whose tongue the glory of his ancestors continually hung, and who
dwelt the more on former greatness, even amidst its ruins, the more
unpromising the aspect of his own condition became. Excluded from
the honors and employments to which, in his opinion, his own merits
and his noble ancestry fully entitled him (a squadron of light cavalry
being all which was entrusted to him), he hated the government, and
did not scruple boldly to canvass and to rail at its measures. By these
means he won the hearts of the people. He also favored in secret the
evangelical belief; less, however, as a conviction of his better reason
than as an opposition to the government. With more loquacity than
eloquence, and more audacity than courage, he was brave rather from
not believing in danger than from being superior to it. Louis of Nassau
burned for the cause which he defended, Brederode for the glory of
being its defender; the former was satisfied in acting for his party, the
latter discontented if he did not stand at its head. No one was more fit
to lead off the dance in a rebellion, but it could hardly have a worse
ballet-master. Contemptible as his threatened designs really were, the
illusion of the multitude might have imparted to them weight and terror
if it had occurred to them to set up a pretender in his person. His claim
to the possessions of his ancestors was an empty name; but even a
name was now sufficient for the general disaffection to rally round. A
pamphlet which was at the time disseminated amongst the people
openly called him the heir of Holland; and his engraved portrait, which
was publicly exhibited, bore the boastful inscription:--
Sum Brederodus ego, Batavae non infima gentis Gloria, virtutem non
unica pagina claudit.

(1565.) Besides these two, there were others also from among the most
illustrious of the Flemish nobles the young Count Charles of Mansfeld,
a son of that nobleman whom we have found among the most zealous
royalists; the Count Kinlemburg; two Counts of Bergen and of
Battenburg; John of Marnix, Baron of Toulouse; Philip of Marnix,
Baron of St. Aldegonde; with several others who joined the league,
which, about the middle of November, in the year 1565, was formed at
the house of Von Hanimes, king at arms of the Golden Fleece. Here it
was that six men decided the destiny of their country as formerly a few
confederates consummated the liberty of Switzerland, kindled the torch
of a forty years' war, and laid the basis of a freedom which they
themselves were never to enjoy. The objects of the league were set
forth in the following declaration, to