The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 2 | Page 4

variety of vices, but those which he had were colossal,
and he possessed no virtues. He was neither lustful nor intemperate, but
his professed eulogists admitted his enormous avarice, while the world
has agreed that such an amount of stealth and ferocity, of patient
vindictiveness and universal bloodthirstiness, were never found in a
savage beast of the forest, and but rarely in a human bosom. His history

was now to show that his previous thrift of human life was not derived
from any love of his kind. Personally he was stern and overbearing. As
difficult of access as Philip himself, he was even more haughty to those
who were admitted to his presence. He addressed every one with the
depreciating second person plural. Possessing the right of being
covered in the presence of the Spanish monarch, he had been with
difficulty brought to renounce it before the German Emperor. He was
of an illustrious family; but his territorial possessions were not
extensive. His duchy was a small one, furnishing him with not more
than fourteen thousand crowns of annual income, and with four
hundred soldiers. He had, however, been a thrifty financier all his life,
never having been without a handsome sum of ready money at interest.
Ten years before his arrival in the Netherlands, he was supposed to
have already increased his income to forty thousand a year by the
proceeds of his investments at Antwerp. As already intimated, his
military character was sometimes profoundly misunderstood. He was
often considered rather a pedantic than a practical commander, more
capable to discourse of battles than to gain them. Notwithstanding that
his long life had been an, almost unbroken campaign, the ridiculous
accusation of timidity was frequently made against him. A gentleman
at the court of the Emperor Charles once addressed a letter to the Duke
with the title of "General of his Majesty's armies in the Duchy of Milan
in time of peace, and major-domo of the household in the time of war."
It was said that the lesson did the Duke good, but that he rewarded very
badly the nobleman who gave it, having subsequently caused his head
to be taken off. In general, however, Alva manifested a philosophical
contempt for the opinions expressed concerning his military fame, and
was especially disdainful of criticism expressed by his own soldiers.
"Recollect," said he, at a little later period, to Don John of Austria,
"that the first foes with whom one has to contend are one's own troops;
with their clamors for an engagement at this moment, and--their
murmurs, about results at another; with their 'I thought that the battle
should be fought;' or, 'it was my, opinion that the occasion ought not to
be lost.' Your highness will have opportunity enough to display valor,
and will never be weak enough to be conquered by the babble of
soldiers."
In person he was tall, thin, erect, with a small head, a long visage, lean

yellow cheek, dark twinkling eyes, a dust complexion, black bristling
hair, and a long sable-silvered beard, descending in two waving streams
upon his breast.
Such being the design, the machinery was well selected. The best man
in Europe to lead the invading force was placed at the head of ten
thousand picked veterans. The privates in this exquisite little army, said
the enthusiastic connoisseur Brantome, who travelled post into
Lorraine expressly to see them on their march, all wore engraved or
gilded armor, and were in every respect equipped like captains. They
were the first who carried muskets, a weapon which very much
astonished the Flemings when it first rattled in their ears. The
musketeers, he observed, might have been mistaken, for princes, with
such agreeable and graceful arrogance did they present themselves.
Each was attended by his servant or esquire, who carried his piece for
him, except in battle, and all were treated with extreme deference by
the rest of the army, as if they had been officers. The four regiments of
Lombardy, Sardinia, Sicily, and Naples, composed a total of not quite
nine thousand of the best foot soldiers in Europe. They were
commanded respectively by Don Sancho de Lodiono, Don Gonzalo de
Bracamonte, Julien Romero, and Alfonso de Ulloa, all distinguished
and experienced generals. The cavalry, amounting to about twelve
hundred; was under the command of the natural son of the Duke, Don
Ferdinando de Toledo, Prior of the Knights of St. John. Chiapin Vitelli,
Marquis of Cetona, who had served the King in many a campaign, was
appointed Marechal de camp, and Gabriel Cerbelloni was placed in
command of the artillery. On the way the Duke received, as a present
from the Duke of Savoy, the services of the distinguished engineer,
Pacheco, or Paciotti, whose name was to be associated with the most
celebrated citadel