The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577 part 1

The Rise of the Dutch Republic,
1577 part 1

The Project Gutenberg EBook The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577
#27 in our series by John Lothrop Motley Copyright laws are changing
all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country
before downloading or redistributing this or any other Project
Gutenberg eBook.
This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project
Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the
header without written permission.
Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the
eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is
important information about your specific rights and restrictions in how
the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a
donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved.
**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts**
**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since
1971**
*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers*****
Title: The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4827] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 26,
2002]

Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE
DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1577 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger

[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the
file for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making
an entire meal of them. D.W.]

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Vol. 27
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1577
By John Lothrop Motley
1855

1577 [

CHAPTER II
.]
Triumphal entrance of Don John into Brussels--Reverse of the picture
--Analysis of the secret correspondence of Don John and Escovedo
with Antonio Perez--Plots against the Governor's liberty--His
desponding language and gloomy anticipations--Recommendation of
severe measures--Position and principles of Orange and his family--
His private views on the question of peace and war--His toleration to
Catholics and Anabaptists censured by his friends--Death of
Viglius--New mission from the Governor to Orange--Details of the
Gertruydenberg conferences--Nature and results of these
negotiations--Papers exchanged between the envoys and Orange--Peter
Panis executed for heresy--Three parties in the Netherlands--
Dissimulation of Don John--His dread of capture.

As already narrated, the soldiery had retired definitely from the country
at the end of April, after which Don John made his triumphal entrance
into Brussels on the 1st of May. It was long since so festive a May-day
had gladdened the hearts of Brabant. So much holiday magnificence
had not been seen in the Netherlands for years. A solemn procession of
burghers, preceded by six thousand troops, and garnished by the free
companies of archers and musketeers, in their picturesque costumes,
escorted the young prince along the streets of the capital. Don John was
on horseback, wrapped in a long green cloak, riding between the
Bishop of Liege and the Papal nuncio. He passed beneath countless
triumphal arches. Banners waved before him, on which the battle of
Lepanto, and other striking scenes in his life, were emblazoned.
Minstrels sang verses, poets recited odes, rhetoric clubs enacted
fantastic dramas in his honor, as he rode along. Young virgins crowned
him with laurels. Fair women innumerable were clustered at every
window, roof, and balcony, their bright robes floating like summer
clouds above him. "Softly from those lovely clouds," says a gallant
chronicler, "descended the gentle rain of flowers." Garlands were
strewed before his feet, laurelled victory sat upon his brow. The same
conventional enthusiasm and decoration which had characterized the
holiday marches of a thousand conventional heroes were successfully
produced. The proceedings began with the church, and ended with the
banquet, the day was propitious, the populace pleased, and after a
brilliant festival, Don John of Austria saw himself Governor-General of
the provinces.
Three days afterwards, the customary oaths, to be kept with the
customary conscientiousness, were rendered at the Town House, and
for a brief moment all seemed smiling and serene.
There was a reverse to the picture. In truth, no language can describe
the hatred which Don John entertained for the Netherlands and all the
inhabitants. He had come to the country only as a stepping-stone to the
English throne, and he never spoke, in his private letters, of the
provinces or the people but in terms of abhorrence. He was in a
"Babylon of disgust," in a "Hell," surrounded by "drunkards,"
"wineskins," "scoundrels," and the like. From the moment of his arrival
he had strained every nerve to retain the Spanish troops, and to send
them away by sea when it should be no longer feasible to keep