The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1555-1566 | Page 3

those of Mendoza, Carnero,

Cabrera, Herrera, Ulloa, Bentivoglio, Peres, Strada. The manuscript
relations of those Argus-eyed Venetian envoys who surprised so many
courts and cabinets in their most unguarded moments, and
daguerreotyped their character and policy for the instruction of the
crafty Republic, and whose reports remain such an inestimable source
for the secret history of the sixteenth century, have been carefully
examined-- especially the narratives of the caustic and accomplished
Badovaro, of Suriano, and Michele. It is unnecessary to add that all the
publications of M. Gachard--particularly the invaluable correspondence
of Philip II. and of William the Silent, as well as the "Archives et
Correspondence" of the Orange Nassau family, edited by the learned
and distinguished Groen van Prinsterer, have been my constant guides
through the tortuous labyrinth of Spanish and Netherland politics. The
large and most interesting series of pamphlets known as "The Duncan
Collection," in the Royal Library at the Hague, has also afforded a great
variety of details by which I have endeavoured to give color and
interest to the narrative. Besides these, and many other printed works, I
have also had the advantage of perusing many manuscript histories,
among which may be particularly mentioned the works of Pontua
Payen, of Renom de France, and of Pasquier de la Barre; while the vast
collection of unpublished documents in the Royal Archives of the
Hague, of Brussels, and of Dresden, has furnished me with much new
matter of great importance. I venture to hope that many years of labour,
a portion of them in the archives of those countries whose history forms
the object of my study, will not have been entirely in vain; and that the
lovers of human progress, the believers in the capacity of nations for
self-government and self-improvement, and the admirers of
disinterested human genius and virtue, may find encouragement for
their views in the detailed history of an heroic people in its most
eventful period, and in the life and death of the great man whose name
and fame are identical with those of his country.
No apology is offered for this somewhat personal statement. When an
unknown writer asks the attention of the public upon an important
theme, he is not only authorized, but required, to show, that by industry
and earnestness he has entitled himself to a hearing. The author too
keenly feels that he has no further claims than these, and he therefore
most diffidently asks for his work the indulgence of his readers.

I would take this opportunity of expressing my gratitude to Dr. Klemm,
Hofrath and Chief Librarian at Dresden, and to Mr. Von Weber,
Ministerial-rath and Head of the Royal Archives of Saxony, for the
courtesy and kindness extended to me so uniformly during the course
of my researches in that city. I would also speak a word of sincere
thanks to Mr. Campbell, Assistant Librarian at the Hague, for his
numerous acts of friendship during the absence of, his chief, M.
Holtrop. To that most distinguished critic and historian, M. Bakhuyzen
van den Brinck, Chief Archivist of the Netherlands, I am under deep
obligations for advice, instruction, and constant kindness, during my
residence at the Hague; and I would also signify my sense of the
courtesy of Mr. Charter-Master de Schwane, and of the accuracy with
which copies of MSS. in the archives were prepared for me by his care.
Finally, I would allude in the strongest language of gratitude and
respect to M. Gachard, Archivist- General of Belgium, for his
unwearied courtesy and manifold acts of kindness to me during my
studies in the Royal Archives of Brussels.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
Part 1.
I.
The north-western corner of the vast plain which extends from the
German ocean to the Ural mountains, is occupied by the countries
called the Netherlands. This small triangle, enclosed between France,
Germany, and the sea, is divided by the modern kingdoms of Belgium
and Holland into two nearly equal portions. Our earliest information
concerning this territory is derived from the Romans. The wars waged
by that nation with the northern barbarians have rescued the damp
island of Batavia, with its neighboring morasses, from the obscurity in
which they might have remained for ages, before any thing concerning
land or people would have been made known by the native inhabitants.
Julius Caesar has saved from, oblivion the heroic savages who fought
against his legions in defence of their dismal homes with ferocious but
unfortunate patriotism; and the great poet of England, learning from the
conqueror's Commentaries the name of the boldest tribe, has kept the
Nervii, after almost twenty centuries, still fresh and familiar in our ears.

Tacitus, too, has described with singular minuteness the struggle
between the people of these regions and the power of Rome,
overwhelming,