The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1561-62

The Rise of the Dutch Republic,
1561-62

The Project Gutenberg EBook Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1561-62, by
Motley #7 in our series by John Lothrop Motley
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Title: The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1561-62
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4807] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 12,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1561-62 ***

This etext was produced by David Widger

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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION,
VOLUME 7.
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC
JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, D.C.L., LL.D.
1855

1561-1562 [

CHAPTER III
.]
The inquisition the great cause of the revolt--The three varieties of the
institution--The Spanish inquisition described--The Episcopal
inquisition in the Netherlands--The Papal inquisition established in the
provinces by Charles V.--His instructions to the inquisitors-- They are
renewed by Philip--Inquisitor Titelmann--Instances of his manner of
proceeding--Spanish and Netherland inquisitions compared-- Conduct
of Granvelle--Faveau and Mallart condemned at Valenciennes--
"Journee des maubrulea"--Severe measures at Valenciennes--Attack of
the Rhetoric Clubs Upon Granvelle--Granvelle's insinuations against
Egmont and Simon Renard--Timidity of Viglius--Universal hatred
toward the Cardinal--Buffoonery of Brederode and Lumey--Courage of
Granvelle--Philip taxes the Netherlands for the suppression of the

Huguenots in France--Meeting of the Knights of the Fleece--Assembly
at the house of Orange--Demand upon the estates for supplies--
Montigny appointed envoy to Spain--Open and determined opposition
to Granvelle--Secret representations by the Cardinal to Philip,
concerning Egmont and other Seigniors--Line of conduct traced out for
the King--Montigny's representations in Spain--Unsatisfactory result of
his mission.
The great cause of the revolt which, within a few years, was to break
forth throughout the Netherlands; was the inquisition. It is almost
puerile to look further or deeper, when such a source of convulsion lies
at the very outset of any investigation. During the war there had been,
for reasons already indicated, an occasional pause in the religious
persecution. Philip had now returned to Spain, having arranged, with
great precision, a comprehensive scheme for exterminating that
religious belief which was already accepted by a very large portion of
his Netherland Subjects. From afar there rose upon the provinces the
prophetic vision of a coming evil still more terrible than any which had
yet oppressed them. As across the bright plains of Sicily, when the sun
is rising, the vast pyramidal shadow of Mount Etna is definitely and
visibly projected--the phantom of that ever-present enemy, which holds
fire and devastation in its bosom--so, in the morning hour of Philip's
reign, the shadow of the inquisition was cast from afar across those
warm and smiling provinces--a spectre menacing fiercer flames and
wider desolation than those which mere physical agencies could ever
compass.
There has been a good deal of somewhat superfluous discussion
concerning the different kinds of inquisition. The distinction drawn
between the papal, the episcopal, and the Spanish inquisitions, did not,
in the sixteenth century, convince many unsophisticated minds of the
merits of the establishment in any of its shapes. However classified or
entitled, it was a machine for inquiring into a man's thoughts, and for
burning him if the result was not satisfactory.
The Spanish inquisition, strictly so called, that is to say, the modern or
later institution established by Pope Alexander the Sixth and Ferdinand
the Catholic, was doubtless invested with a more complete apparatus
for inflicting human misery, and for appalling human imagination, than
any of the other less artfully arranged inquisitions, whether papal or

episcopal. It had been originally devised for Jews or Moors, whom the
Christianity of the age did not regard as human beings, but who could
not be banished without depopulating certain districts. It was