The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1577 part 1 | Page 3

to Philip. "Nevertheless, I do what you command without
regarding that I am sold, and that I am in great danger of losing, my
liberty, a loss which I dread more than anything in the world, for I wish
to remain justified before God and men." He expressed, however, no
hopes as to the result. Disrespect and rudeness could be pushed no
further than it had already gone, while the Prince of Orange, the actual

governor of the country, considered his own preservation dependent
upon maintaining things as they then were. Don John, therefore,
advised the King steadily to make preparations for "a rude and terrible
war," which was not to be avoided, save by a miracle, and which ought
not--to find him in this unprepared state. He protested that it was
impossible to exaggerate the boldness which the people felt at seeing
him thus defenseless. "They say publicly," he continued, "that your
Majesty is not to be feared, not being capable of carrying on a war, and
having consumed and exhausted every resource. One of the greatest
injuries ever inflicted upon us was by Marquis Havre, who, after his
return from Spain, went about publishing everywhere the poverty of the
royal exchequer. This has emboldened them to rise, for they believe
that, whatever the disposition, there is no strength to chastise them.
They see a proof of the correctness of their reasoning in the absence of
new levies, and in the heavy arrearages due to the old troops."
He protested that he desired, at least, to be equal to the enemy, without
asking, as others had usually done, for double the amount of the hostile
force. He gave a glance at the foreign complications of the Netherlands,
telling Philip that the estates were intriguing both with France and
England. The English envoy had expressed much uneasiness at the
possible departure of the Spanish troops from the Netherlands by sea,
coupling it with a probable attempt to liberate the Queen of Scots. Don
John, who had come to the provinces for no other purpose, and whose
soul had been full of that romantic scheme, of course stoutly denied
and ridiculed the idea. "Such notions," he had said to the envoy, "were
subjects for laughter. If the troops were removed from the country, it
was to strengthen his Majesty's force in the Levant." Mr. Rogers, much
comforted, had expressed the warm friendship which Elizabeth
entertained both for his Majesty and his Majesty's representative;
protestations which could hardly seem very sincere, after the series of
attempts at the Queen's life, undertaken so recently by his Majesty and
his Majesty's former representative. Nevertheless, Don John had
responded with great cordiality, had begged for Elizabeth's portrait, and
had expressed the intention, if affairs went as he hoped, to go privately
to England for the purpose of kissing her royal hand. Don John further
informed the King, upon the envoy's authority, that Elizabeth had
refused assistance to the estates, saying, if she stirred it would be to

render aid to Philip, especially if France should meddle in the matter.
As to France, the Governor advised Philip to hold out hopes to Alencon
of espousing the Infanta, but by no means ever to fulfil such a promise,
as the Duke, "besides being the shield of heretics, was unscrupulously
addicted to infamous vices."
A month later, Escovedo described the downfall of Don John's hopes
and his own in dismal language.--"You are aware," he wrote to Perez,
"that a throne--a chair with a canopy--is our intention and our appetite,
and all the rest is good for nothing. Having failed in our scheme, we are
desperate and like madmen. All is now weariness and death." Having
expressed himself in such desponding accents, he continued, a few days
afterwards, in the same lugubrious vein, "I am ready to hang myself,"
said he, "and I would have done it already, if it were not for keeping
myself as executioner for those who have done us so much harm. Ah,
Senor Antonio Perez!" he added, "what terrible pertinacity have those
devils shown in making us give up our plot. It seems as though Hell
were opened and had sent forth heaps of demons to oppose our
schemes." After these vigorous ejaculations he proceeded to inform his
friend that the English envoy and the estates, governed by the Prince of
Orange, in whose power were the much-coveted ships, had prevented
the departure of the troops by sea. "These devils complain of the
expense," said he; "but we would willingly swallow the cost if we
could only get the ships." He then described Don John as so cast down
by his disappointment as to be fit for nothing, and most desirous of
quitting the Netherlands as soon as possible. He had no disposition to
govern these