The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1572 | Page 9

detachment was, however, soon driven in,
with the information that Don Frederic of Toledo, with ten thousand
men, was coming instantly upon them. The Spanish force, in reality,
numbered four thousand infantry, and fifteen hundred cavalry; but three
thousand half-armed boors had been engaged by Don Frederic, to swell
his apparent force. The demonstration produced its effect, and no
sooner had the first panic of the intelligence been spread, than
Noircarmes came charging upon them at the head of his cavalry. The
infantry arrived directly afterwards, and the Huguenots were routed
almost as soon as seen. It was a meeting rather than a battle. The
slaughter of the French was very great, while but an insignificant
number of the Spaniards fell. Chiappin Vitelli was the hero of the day.
It was to his masterly arrangements before the combat, and to his

animated exertions upon the field, that the victory was owing. Having
been severely wounded in the thigh but a few days previously, he
caused himself to be carried upon a litter in a recumbent position in
front of his troops, and was everywhere seen, encouraging their
exertions, and exposing himself, crippled as he was, to the whole brunt
of the battle. To him the victory nearly proved fatal; to Don Frederic it
brought increased renown. Vitelli's exertions, in his precarious
condition, brought on severe inflammation, under which he nearly
succumbed, while the son of Alva reaped extensive fame from the total
overthrow of the veteran Huguenots, due rather to his lieutenant and to
Julian Romero.
The number of dead left by the French upon the plain amounted to at
least twelve hundred, but a much larger number was butchered in detail
by the peasantry, among whom they attempted to take refuge, and who
had not yet forgotten the barbarities inflicted by their countrymen in the
previous war. Many officers were taken prisoners, among whom was
the Commander- in-chief, Genlis.
That unfortunate gentleman was destined to atone for his rashness and
obstinacy with his life. He was carried to the castle of Antwerp, where,
sixteen months afterwards, he was secretly strangled by command of
Alva, who caused the report to be circulated that he had died a natural
death. About one hundred foot soldiers succeeded in making their
entrance into Mona, and this was all the succor which Count Louis was
destined to receive from France, upon which country he had built such
lofty and such reasonable hopes.
While this unfortunate event was occurring, the Prince had already put
his army in motion. On the 7th of July he had crossed the Rhine at
Duisburg, with fourteen thousand foot, seven thousand horse, enlisted
in Germany, besides a force of three thousand Walloons. On the 23rd
of July, he took the city of Roermond, after a sharp cannonade, at
which place his troops already began to disgrace the honorable cause in
which they were engaged, by imitating the cruelties and barbarities of
their antagonists. The persons and property of the burghers were, with a
very few exceptions, respected; but many priests and monks were put
to death by the soldiery under circumstances of great barbarity. The
Prince, incensed at such conduct, but being unable to exercise very
stringent authority over troops whose wages he was not yet able to pay

in full, issued a proclamation, denouncing such excesses, and
commanding his followers, upon pain of death, to respect the rights of
all individuals, whether Papist or Protestant, and to protect religious
exercises both in Catholic and Reformed churches.
It was hardly to be expected that the troops enlisted by the Prince in the
same great magazine of hireling soldiers, Germany, from whence the
Duke also derived his annual supplies, would be likely to differ very
much in their propensities from those enrolled under Spanish banners;
yet there was a vast contrast between the characters of the two
commanders. One leader inculcated the practice of robbery, rape, and
murder, as a duty, and issued distinct orders to butcher every mother's
son in the cities which he captured; the other restrained every excess to,
the utmost of his ability, protecting not only life and property, but even
the ancient religion.
The Emperor Maximilian had again issued his injunctions against the
military operations of Orange. Bound to the monarch of Spain by so
many family ties, being at once cousin, brother-in-law, and
father-in-law of Philip, it was difficult for him to maintain the attitude
which became him, as chief of that Empire to which the peace of
Passau had assured religious freedom. It had, however, been
sufficiently proved that remonstrances and intercessions addressed to
Philip were but idle breath. It had therefore become an insult to require
pacific conduct from the Prince on the ground of any past or future
mediation. It was a still grosser