The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1574-84 | Page 3

soon to take place, yet Doctor Junius

fairly and faithfully represented the sentiment of his nation.
Towards the close of the year, Doctor Elbertus Leoninus, professor of
Louvain, together with Hugo Bonte, ex-pensionary of Middelburg, was
commissioned by the Grand Commander to treat secretly with the
Prince. He was, however, not found very tractable when the
commissioners opened the subject of his own pardon and reconciliation
with the King, and he absolutely refused to treat at all except with the
cooperation of the estates. He, moreover, objected to the use of the
word "pardon" on the ground that he had never done anything requiring
his Majesty's forgiveness. If adversity should visit him, he cared but
little for it; he had lived long enough, he said, and should die with some
glory, regretting the disorders and oppressions which had taken place,
but conscious that it had not been in his power to remedy them. When
reminded by the commissioners of the King's power, he replied that he
knew his Majesty to be very mighty, but that there was a King more
powerful still--even God the Creator, who, as he humbly hoped, was
upon his Side.
At a subsequent interview with Hugo Bonte, the Prince declared it
almost impossible for himself or the estates to hold any formal
communication with the Spanish government, as such communications
were not safe. No trust could be reposed either in safe conducts or
hostages. Faith had been too often broken by the administration. The
promise made by the Duchess of Parma to the nobles, and afterwards
violated, the recent treachery of Mondragon, the return of three
exchanged prisoners from the Hague, who died next day of poison
administered before their release, the frequent attempts upon his own
life--all such constantly recurring crimes made it doubtful, in the
opinion of the Prince, whether it would be possible to find
commissioners to treat with his Majesty's government. All would fear
assassination, afterwards to be disavowed by the King and pardoned by
the Pope. After much conversation in this vein, the Prince gave the
Spanish agents warning that he might eventually be obliged to seek the
protection of some foreign power for the provinces. In this connection
he made use of the memorable metaphor, so often repeated afterwards,
that "the country was a beautiful damsel, who certainly did not lack
suitors able and willing to accept her and defend her against the world."
As to the matter of religion, he said he was willing to leave it to be

settled by the estates-general; but doubted whether anything short of
entire liberty of worship would ever satisfy the people.
Subsequently there were held other conferences, between the Prince
and Doctor Leoninus, with a similar result, all attempts proving
fruitless to induce him to abandon his position upon the subject of
religion, or to accept a pardon on any terms save the departure of the
foreign troops, the assembling of the estates-general, and entire
freedom of religion. Even if he were willing to concede the religious
question himself, he observed that it was idle to hope either from the
estates or people a hand's-breadth of concession upon that point.
Leoninus was subsequently admitted to a secret conferenc with the
estates of Holland, where his representations were firmly met by the
same arguments as those already used by the Prince.
These proceedings on the part of Saint Aldegonde, Champagny, Junius,
and Elbertus Leoninus extended through the whole summer and
autumn of 1574, and were not terminated until January of the following
year.
Changes fast becoming necessary in the internal government of the
provinces, were also undertaken during this year. Hitherto the Prince
had exercised his power under the convenient fiction of the King's
authority, systematically conducting the rebellion in the name of his
Majesty, and as his Majesty's stadholder. By this process an immense
power was lodged in his hands; nothing less, indeed, than the supreme
executive and legislative functions of the land; while since the revolt
had become, as it were, perpetual, ample but anomalous functions had
been additionally thrust upon him by the estates and by the general
voice of the people.
The two provinces, even while deprived of Harlem and Amsterdam,
now raised two hundred and ten thousand florins monthly, whereas
Alva had never been able to extract from Holland more than two
hundred and seventy-one thousand florins yearly. They paid all rather
than pay a tenth. In consequence of this liberality, the cities insensibly
acquired a greater influence in the government. The coming contest
between the centrifugal aristocratic principle, represented by these
corporations, and the central popular authority of the stadholder, was
already foreshadowed, but at first the estates were in perfect harmony
with the Prince. They even urged upon him more power than he desired,

and declined functions which he