The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 1 | Page 3

in his city of Viane.

There, in virtue of his seignorial rights, he had removed all statues and
other popish emblems from the churches, performing the operation,
however, with much quietness and decorum. He had also collected
many disorderly men at arms in this city, and had strengthened its
fortifications, to resist, as he said, the threatened attacks of Duke Eric
of Brunswick and his German mercenaries. A printing-press was
established in the place, whence satirical pamphlets, hymn-books, and
other pestiferous productions, were constantly issuing to the annoyance
of government. Many lawless and uproarious individuals enjoyed the
Count's hospitality. All the dregs and filth of the provinces, according
to Doctor Viglius, were accumulated at Viane as in a cesspool. Along
the placid banks of the Lech, on which river the city stands, the "hydra
of rebellion" lay ever coiled and threatening.
Brederode was supposed to be revolving vast schemes, both political
and military, and Margaret of Parma was kept in continual
apprehension by the bravado of this very noisy conspirator. She called
upon William of Orange, as usual, for assistance. The Prince, however,
was very ill- disposed to come to her relief. An extreme disgust for the
policy of the government already began to, characterize his public
language. In the autumn and winter he had done all that man could do
for the safety of the monarch's crown, and for the people's happiness.
His services in Antwerp have been recorded. As soon as he could tear
himself from that city, where the magistrates and all classes of citizens
clung to him as to their only saviour, he had hastened to tranquillize the
provinces of Holland, Zeland, and Utrecht. He had made arrangements
in the principal cities there upon the same basis which he had adopted
in Antwerp, and to which Margaret had consented in August. It was
quite out of the question to establish order without permitting the
reformers, who constituted much the larger portion of the population, to
have liberty of religious exercises at some places, not consecrated,
within the cities.
At Amsterdam, for instance, as he informed the Duchess, there were
swarms of unlearned, barbarous people, mariners and the like, who
could by no means perceive the propriety of doing their preaching in
the open country, seeing that the open country, at that season, was quite
under water.--Margaret's gracious suggestion that, perhaps, something
might be done with boats, was also considered inadmissible. "I know

not," said Orange, "who could have advised your highness to make
such a proposition." He informed her, likewise; that the barbarous
mariners had a clear right to their preaching; for the custom had already
been established previously to the August treaty, at a place called the
"Lastadge," among the wharves. "In the name of God, then," wrote
Margaret; "let them continue to preach in the Lastadge." This being all
the barbarians wanted, an Accord, with the full consent of the Regent,
was drawn up at Amsterdam and the other northern cities. The
Catholics kept churches and cathedrals, but in the winter season, the
greater part of the population obtained permission to worship God upon
dry land, in warehouses and dock-yards.
Within a very few weeks, however, the whole arrangement was coolly
cancelled by the Duchess, her permission revoked, and peremptory
prohibition of all preaching within or without the walls proclaimed.
The government was growing stronger. Had not Noircarmes and
Rassinghem cut to pieces three or four thousand of these sectaries
marching to battle under parsons, locksmiths, and similar chieftains?
Were not all lovers of good government "erecting their heads like
dromedaries?"
It may easily be comprehended that the Prince could not with
complacency permit himself to be thus perpetually stultified by a weak,
false, and imperious woman. She had repeatedly called upon him when
she was appalled at the tempest and sinking in the ocean; and she had
as constantly disavowed his deeds and reviled his character when she
felt herself in safety again. He had tranquillized the old Batavian
provinces, where the old Batavian spirit still lingered, by his personal
influence and his unwearied exertions. Men of all ranks and religions
were grateful for his labors. The Reformers had not gained much, but
they were satisfied. The Catholics retained their churches, their
property, their consideration. The states of Holland had voted him fifty
thousand florins, as an acknowledgment of his efforts in restoring peace.
He had refused the present. He was in debt, pressed for money, but he
did not choose, as he informed Philip, "that men should think his
actions governed by motives of avarice or particular interest, instead of
the true affection which he bore to his Majesty's service and the good
of the country." Nevertheless, his back was hardly turned before all his
work was undone by the Regent.

A new and important