The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 2 | Page 6

confidential attendants: I am here, so much is certain, whether I am
welcome or not is to me a matter of little consequence. At Tirlemont,
on the 22d August, he was met by Count Egmont, who had ridden forth
from Brussels to show him a becoming respect, as the representative of
his sovereign, The Count was accompanied by several other noblemen,
and brought to the Duke a present of several beautiful horses. Alva
received him, however, but coldly, for he was unable at first to adjust
the mask to his countenance as adroitly as was necessary. Behold the
greatest of all the heretics, he observed to his attendants, as soon as the
nobleman's presence was announced, and in a voice loud enough for
him to hear.
Even after they had exchanged salutations, he addressed several

remarks to him in a half jesting, half biting tone, saying among other
things, that his countship might have spared him the trouble of making
this long journey in his old age. There were other observations in a
similar strain which might have well aroused the suspicion of any man
not determined, like Egmont, to continue blind and deaf. After a brief
interval, however, Alva seems to have commanded himself. He passed
his arm lovingly over that stately neck, which he had already devoted
to the block, and the Count having resolved beforehand to place
himself, if possible, upon amicable terms with the new Viceroy--the
two rode along side by side in friendly conversation, followed by the
regiment of infantry and three companies of light horse, which
belonged to the Duke's immediate command. Alva, still attended by
Egmont, rode soon afterwards through the Louvain gate into Brussels,
where they separated for a season. Lodgings had been taken for the
Duke at the house of a certain Madame de Jasse, in the neighborhood
of Egmont's palace. Leaving here the principal portion of his attendants,
the Captain-General, without alighting, forthwith proceeded to the
palace to pay his respects to the Duchess of Parma.
For three days the Regent had been deliberating with her council as to
the propriety of declining any visit from the man whose presence she
justly considered a disgrace and an insult to herself. This being the
reward of her eight years' devotion to her brother's commands; to be
superseded by a subject, and one too who came to carry out a policy
which she had urgently deprecated, it could hardly be expected of the
Emperor's daughter that she should graciously submit to the indignity,
and receive her successor with a smiling countenance. In consequence,
however, of the submissive language with which the Duke had
addressed her in his recent communications, offering with true
Castilian but empty courtesy, to place his guards, his army, and himself
at her feet, she had consented to receive his visit with or without his
attendants.
On his appearance in the court-yard, a scene of violent altercation and
almost of bloodshed took place between his body-guard and the archers
of the Regent's household, who were at last, with difficulty, persuaded
to allow the mercenaries of the hated Captain-General to pass.
Presenting himself at three o'clock in the afternoon, after these not very
satisfactory preliminaries, in the bedchamber of the Duchess, where it

was her habit to grant confidential audiences, he met, as might easily be
supposed, with a chilling reception: The Duchess, standing motionless
in the centre of the apartment, attended by Berlaymont, the Duke of
Aerachot, and Count Egmont, acknowledged his salutations with calm
severity. Neither she nor any one of her attendants advanced a step to
meet him. The Duke took off his hat, but she, calmly recognizing his
right as a Spanish grandee, insisted upon his remaining covered. A stiff
and formal conversation of half an hour's duration then ensued, all
parties remaining upon their feet. The Duke, although respectful; found
it difficult to conceal his indignation and his haughty sense of
approaching triumph. Margaret was cold, stately, and forbidding,
disguising her rage and her mortification under a veil of imperial pride.
Alva, in a letter to Philip, describing the interview, assured his Majesty
that he had treated the Duchess with as much deference as he could
have shown to the Queen, but it is probable, from other
contemporaneous accounts, that an ill-disguised and even angry
arrogance was at times very visible in his demeanor. The state council
had advised the Duchess against receiving him until he had duly
exhibited his powers. This ceremony had been waived, but upon being
questioned by the Duchess at this interview as to their nature and extent,
he is reported to have coolly answered that he really did not exactly
remember, but that he would look them over, and send her information
at his earliest convenience.
The next day, however, his commission