The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 1 | Page 4

step on the part of the government had now
placed him in an attitude of almost avowed rebellion. All functionaries,
from governors of provinces down to subalterns in the army, were
required to take a new oath of allegiance, "novum et hactenua
inusitatum religionia juramentum," as the Prince characterized it, which
was, he said, quite equal to the inquisition. Every man who bore his
Majesty's commission was ordered solemnly to pledge himself to obey
the orders of government, every where, and against every person,
without limitation or restriction.--Count Mansfeld, now "factotum at
Brussels," had taken the oath with great fervor. So had Aerachot,
Berlaymont, Meghem, and, after a little wavering, Egmont. Orange
spurned the proposition. He had taken oaths enough which he had
never broken, nor intended now to break: He was ready still to do every
thing conducive to the real interest of the monarch. Who dared do more
was no true servant to the government, no true lover of the country. He
would never disgrace himself by a blind pledge, through which he
might be constrained to do acts detrimental, in his opinion, to the safety
of the crown, the happiness of the commonwealth, and his own honor.
The alternative presented he willingly embraced. He renounced all his
offices, and desired no longer to serve a government whose policy he
did not approve, a King by whom he was suspected.
His resignation was not accepted by the Duchess, who still made efforts
to retain the services of a man who was necessary to her administration.
She begged him, notwithstanding the purely defensive and watchful
attitude which he had now assumed, to take measures that Brederode
should abandon his mischievous courses. She also reproached the
Prince with having furnished that personage with artillery for his
fortifications. Orange answered, somewhat contemptuously, that he
was not Brederode's keeper, and had no occasion to meddle with his
affairs. He had given him three small field-pieces, promised long ago;
not that he mentioned that circumstance as an excuse for the donation.
"Thank God," said he, "we have always had the liberty in this country
of making to friends or relatives what presents we liked, and methinks
that things have come to a pretty pass when such trifles are
scrutinized." Certainly, as Suzerain of Viane, and threatened with
invasion in his seignorial rights, the Count might think himself justified
in strengthening the bulwarks of his little stronghold, and the Prince

could hardly be deemed very seriously to endanger the safety of the
crown by the insignificant present which had annoyed the Regent.
It is not so agreeable to contemplate the apparent intimacy which the
Prince accorded to so disreputable a character, but Orange was now in
hostility to the government, was convinced by evidence, whose
accuracy time was most signally to establish, that his own head, as well
as many others, were already doomed to the block, while the whole
country was devoted to abject servitude, and he was therefore disposed
to look with more indulgence upon the follies of those who were
endeavoring, however weakly and insanely, to avert the horrors which
he foresaw. The time for reasoning had passed. All that true wisdom
and practical statesmanship could suggest, he had already placed at the
disposal of a woman who stabbed him in the back even while she
leaned upon his arm--of a king who had already drawn his death
warrant, while reproaching his "cousin of Orange" for want of
confidence in the royal friendship. Was he now to attempt the
subjugation of his country by interfering with the proceedings of men
whom he had no power to command, and who, at least, were
attempting to oppose tyranny? Even if he should do so, he was
perfectly aware of the reward, reserved for his loyalty. He liked not
such honors as he foresaw for all those who had ever interposed
between the monarch and his vengeance. For himself he had the
liberation of a country, the foundation of a free commonwealth to
achieve. There was much work for those hands before he should fall a
victim to the crowned assassin.
Early in February, Brederode, Hoogstraaten, Horn, and some other
gentlemen, visited the Prince at Breda. Here it is supposed the advice of
Orange was asked concerning the new movement contemplated by
Brederode. He was bent upon presenting a new petition to the Duchess
with great solemnity. There is no evidence to show that the Prince
approved the step, which must have seemed to him superfluous, if not
puerile. He probably regarded the matter with indifference. Brederode,
however, who was fond of making demonstrations, and thought himself
endowed with a genius for such work, wrote to the Regent for letters of
safe conduct that he might come to Brussels with his petition. The
passports were