The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577-78

The Rise of the Dutch Republic,
1577-78

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1577-78
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Title: The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577-78
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4829] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 26,
2002]

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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1577-78 ***

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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Vol. 29
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1577-1578
By John Lothrop Motley
1855

CHAPTER IV
.
Orange invited to visit Brussels--His correspondence upon the subject
with the estates--general--Triumphant journey of the Prince to the
capital----Stop put by him to the negotiations with Don John --New and
stringent demands made upon the Governor--His indignation --Open
rupture--Intrigue of Netherland grandees with Archduke
Matthias--Policy of Orange--Attitude of Queen Elizabeth--Flight of
Matthias from Vienna--Anxiety of Elizabeth--Adroitness of the
Prince--The office of Reward--Election of Orange to that dignity-- His
complaints against the great nobles--Aerschot Governor of Flanders--A
storm brewing in Ghent--Ryhove and Imbize--Blood- Councillor
Hessels--Arrogance of the aristocratic party in Flanders --Ryhove's
secret interview with Orange--Outbreak at Ghent--Arrest of Aerschot,

Hessels, and others of the reactionary party--The Duke liberated at
demand of Orange--The Prince's visit to Ghent-- Rhetorical
demonstrations--The new Brussels Union characterized-- Treaty with
England--Articles by which Matthias is nominally constituted
Governor-General--His inauguration at Brussels-- Brilliant and
fantastic ceremonies--Letter of Don John to the Emperor--His anger
with England--An army collecting--Arrival of Alexander
Farnese--Injudicious distribution of offices in the States' army--The
States' army fall back upon Gemblours, followed by Don
John--Tremendous overthrow of the patriots--Wonderful disparity in
the respective losses of the two armies.
While these matters were in progress, an important movement was
made by the estates-general. The Prince of Orange was formally and
urgently invited to come to Brussels to aid them with his counsel and
presence. The condemned traitor had not set foot in the capital for
eleven years. We have narrated the circumstance of his departure, while
the advancing trumpets of Alva's army were almost heard in the
distance. His memorable and warning interview with Egmont has been
described. Since that period, although his spirit had always been
manifesting itself in the capital like an actual presence; although he had
been the magnet towards which the states throughout all their,
oscillations had involuntarily vibrated, yet he had been ever invisible.
He had been summoned by the Blood Council to stand his trial, and had
been condemned to death by default. He answered the summons by a
defiance, and the condemnation by two campaigns, unsuccessful in
appearance, but which had in reality prostrated the authority of the
sovereign.
Since that period, the representative of royalty had sued the condemned
traitor for forgiveness. The haughty brother of Philip had almost gone
upon his knees, that the Prince might name his terms, and accept the
proffered hand of majesty.
The Prince had refused, not from contumely, but from distrust. He had
spurned the supplications, as he had defied the proscription of the King.
There could be no friendship between the destroyer and the protector of
a people. Had the Prince desired only the reversal of his death-sentence,
and the infinite aggrandizement of his family, we have seen how
completely he had held these issues in his power. Never had it been

more easy, plausible, tempting, for a proscribed patriot to turn his back
upon an almost sinking cause. We have seen how his brave and subtle
Batavian prototype, Civilis, dealt with the representative of Roman
despotism. The possible or impossible Netherland Republic of the