The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 2 | Page 7

was duly exhibited.
In this document, which bore date 31st January, 1567, Philip appointed
him to be Captain-General "in correspondence with his Majesty's dear
sister of Parma, who was occupied with other matters belonging to the
government," begged the Duchess to co-operate with him and to
command obedience for him, and ordered all the cities of the
Netherlands to receive such garrisons as he should direct.
At the official interview between Alva and Madame de Parma, at which
these powers were produced, the necessary preliminary arrangements
were made regarding the Spanish troops, which were now to be
immediately quartered in the principal cities. The Duke, however,
informed the Regent that as these matters were not within her province,
he should take the liberty of arranging them with the authorities,
without troubling her in the matter, and would inform her of the result

of his measures at their next interview, which was to take place on the
26th August.
Circular letters signed by Philip, which Alva had brought with him,
were now despatched to the different municipal bodies of the country.
In these the cities were severally commanded to accept the garrisons,
and to provide for the armies whose active services the King hoped
would not be required, but which he had sent beforehand to prepare a
peaceful entrance for himself. He enjoined the most absolute obedience
to the Duke of Alva until his own arrival, which was to be almost
immediate. These letters were dated at Madrid on the 28th February,
and were now accompanied by a brief official circular, signed by
Margaret of Parma, in which she announced the arrival of her dear
cousin of Alva, and demanded unconditional submission to his
authority.
Having thus complied with these demands of external and conventional
propriety, the indignant Duchess unbosomed herself, in her private
Italian letters to her brother, of the rage which had been hitherto
partially suppressed. She reiterated her profound regret that Philip had
not yet accepted the resignation which she had so recently and so
earnestly offered. She disclaimed all jealousy of the supreme powers
now conferred upon Alva, but thought that his Majesty might have
allowed her to leave the country before the Duke arrived with an
authority which was so extraordinary, as well as so humiliating to
herself. Her honor might thus have been saved. She was pained to
perceive that she was like to furnish a perpetual example to all others,
who considering the manner in which she had been treated by the King,
would henceforth have but little inducement to do their duty. At no
time, on no occasion, could any person ever render him such services
as hers had been. For nine years she had enjoyed not a moment of
repose. If the King had shown her but little gratitude, she was consoled
by the thought that she had satisfied her God, herself, and the world.
She had compromised her health, perhaps her life, and now that she had
pacified the country, now that the King was more absolute, more
powerful than ever before, another was sent to enjoy the fruit of her
labors and her sufferings.
The Duchess made no secret of her indignation at being thus
superseded and as she considered the matter, outraged. She openly

avowed her displeasure. She was at times almost beside herself with
rage. There was universal sympathy with her emotions, for all hated the
Duke, and shuddered at the arrival of the Spaniards. The day of doom
for all the crimes which had ever been committed in the course of ages,
seemed now to have dawned upon the Netherlands. The sword which
had so long been hanging over them, seemed now about to descend.
Throughout the provinces, there was but one feeling of cold and
hopeless dismay. Those who still saw a possibility of effecting their
escape from the fated land, swarmed across the frontier. All foreign
merchants deserted the great marts. The cities became as still as if the
plague-banner had been unfurled on every house-top.
Meantime the Captain-General proceeded methodically with his work.
He distributed his troops through Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and other
principal cities. As a measure of necessity and mark of the last
humiliation, he required the municipalities to transfer their keys to his
keeping. The magistrates of Ghent humbly remonstrated against the
indignity, and Egmont was imprudent enough to make himself the
mouth- piece of their remonstrance, which, it is needless to add, was
unsuccessful. Meantime his own day of reckoning had arrived.
As already observed, the advent of Alva at the head of a foreign army
was the natural consequence of all which had gone before. The
delusion of the royal visit was still maintained, and the affectation of a
possible clemency still displayed, while the monarch sat quietly in his
cabinet