The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1576-77 | Page 8

and who
would soon be undermining the work of their own hands. The
Pacification of Ghent would never be maintained in letter and spirit by
the vicegerent of Philip; for however its sense might be commented
upon or perverted, the treaty, while it recognized Catholicism as the
state religion, conceded, to a certain extent, liberty of conscience. An
immense stride had been taken, by abolishing the edicts, and
prohibiting persecution. If that step were now retraced, the new religion
was doomed, and the liberties of Holland and Zealand destroyed. "If
they make an arrangement with Don John, it will be for us of the
religion to run," wrote the Prince to his brother, "for their intention is to

suffer no person of that faith to have a fixed domicile in the
Netherlands." It was, therefore, with a calm determination to counteract
and crush the policy of the youthful Governor that William the Silent
awaited his antagonist. Were Don John admitted to confidence, the
peace of Holland and Zealand was gone. Therefore it was necessary to
combat him both openly and secretly--by loud remonstrance and by
invisible stratagem. What chance had the impetuous and impatient
young hero in such an encounter with the foremost statesman of the age?
He had arrived, with all the self-confidence of a conqueror; he did not
know that he was to be played upon like a pipe--to be caught in meshes
spread by his own hands--to struggle blindly--to rage impotently--to die
ingloriously.
The Prince had lost no time in admonishing the states-general as to the
course which should now be pursued. He was of opinion that, upon
their conduct at this crisis depended the future destinies of the
Netherlands. "If we understand how to make proper use of the new
Governor's arrival," said he, "it may prove very advantageous to us; if
not, it will be the commencement of our total ruin." The spirit of all his
communications was to infuse the distrust which he honestly felt, and
which he certainly took no pains to disguise; to impress upon his
countrymen the importance of improving the present emergency by the
enlargement, instead of the threatened contraction of their liberties, and
to enforce with all his energy the necessity of a firm union. He assured
the estates that Don John had been sent, in this simple manner, to the
country, because the King and cabinet had begun to despair of carrying
their point by force. At the same time he warned them that force would
doubtless be replaced by fraud. He expressed his conviction that so
soon as Don John should attain the ascendency which he had been sent
to secure, the gentleness which now smiled upon the surface would
give place to the deadlier purposes which lurked below. He went so far
as distinctly to recommend the seizure of Don John's person. By so
doing, much bloodshed might be saved; for such was the King's respect
for the Emperor's son that their demands would be granted rather than
that his liberty should be permanently endangered. In a very striking
and elaborate letter which he addressed from Middelburg to the
estates-general, he insisted on the expediency of seizing the present
opportunity in order to secure and to expand their liberties, and urged

them to assert broadly the principle that the true historical polity of the
Netherlands was a representative, constitutional government, Don John,
on arriving at Luxemburg, had demanded hostages for his own security,
a measure which could not but strike the calmest spectator as an
infraction of all provincial rights. "He asks you to disarm," continued
William of Orange; "he invites you to furnish hostages, but the time has
been when the lord of the land came unarmed and uncovered, before
the estates-general, and swore to support the constitutions before his
own sovereignty could be recognized."
He reiterated his suspicions as to the honest intentions of the
government, and sought, as forcibly as possible, to infuse an equal
distrust into the minds of those he addressed. "Antwerp," said he, "once
the powerful and blooming, now the most forlorn and desolate city of
Christendom, suffered because she dared to exclude the King's troops.
You may be sure that you are all to have a place at the same banquet.
We may forget the past, but princes never forget, when the means of
vengeance are placed within their hands. Nature teaches them to arrive
at their end by fraud, when violence will not avail them. Like little
children, they whistle to the birds they would catch. Promises and
pretences they will furnish in plenty."
He urged them on no account to begin any negotiation with the
Governor, except on the basis of the immediate departure of the
soldiery. "Make no agreement with him; unless the Spanish and other
foreign troops