The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1578 part 1 | Page 4

been Saracens, repeated their
most unanswerable argument--that the Ghent Pacification had
established a system directly the reverse of that which existed under
Charles the Fifth--and affirmed their resolution never more to submit to
Spanish armies, executioners, edicts, or inquisitions, and never more to
return to the principles of the Emperor and of Alva. To this diplomatic
correspondence succeeded a war of words and of pamphlets, some of
them very inflammatory and very eloquent. Meantime, the preparations
for active hostilities were proceeding daily. The Prince of Orange,
through his envoys in England, had arranged for subsidies in the
coming campaign, and for troops which were to be led to the
Netherlands, under Duke Casimir of the palatinate. He sent
commissioners through the provinces to raise the respective
contributions agreed upon, besides an extraordinary quota of four
hundred thousand guilders monthly. He also negotiated a loan of a
hundred and twenty thousand guilders from the citizens of Antwerp.
Many new taxes were imposed by his direction, both upon income and
upon consumption. By his advice, however, and with the consent of the
states-general, the provinces of Holland and Zealand held no
community of burthens with the other provinces, but of their own free
will contributed more than the sums for which they would have been
assessed. Mr. Leyton, who was about to return from his unsuccessful
mission from Elizabeth to Don John, was requested by the
states-general to convey to her Majesty a faithful report of the recent
correspondence, and especially of the language held by the
Governor-General. He was also urged to use his influence with the
Queen, to the end that her promises of assistance might be speedily
fulfilled.
Troops were rapidly enrolled, and again, by the same honest but
mistaken policy, the chief offices were conferred upon the great
nobles--Aerschot, Champagny, Bossu, Egmont, Lalain, the Viscount of
Ghent, Baron de Ville, and many others, most of whom were to desert
the cause in the hour of its need. On the other hand, Don John was
proceeding with his military preparations upon an extensive scale. The
King had recently furnished him with one million nine hundred
thousand dollars, and had promised to provide him with two hundred
thousand more, monthly. With these funds his Majesty estimated that

an army of thirty thousand foot, sixteen thousand cavalry, and thirty
pieces of artillery, could be levied and kept on foot. If more remittances
should prove to be necessary, it was promised that they should be
forthcoming.
This was the result of many earnest remonstrances made by the
Governor concerning the dilatory policy of the King. Wearied with
being constantly ordered "to blow hot and cold with the same, breath,"
he had insisted that his Majesty should select the hot or the cold, and
furnish him with the means of enforcing the choice. For himself, Don
John assured his brother that the hottest measures were most to his taste,
and most suitable to the occasion. Fire and sword could alone save the
royal authority, for all the provinces had "abandoned themselves, body
and soul, to the greatest heretic and tyrant that prince ever had for
vassal." Unceasing had been the complaints and entreaties of the
Captain-General, called forth by the apathy or irresolution of Philip. It
was--only by assuring him that the Netherlands actually belonged to
Orange, that the monarch could be aroused. "His they are; and none
other's," said the Governor, dolefully. The King had accordingly sent
back De Billy, Don John's envoy; with decided injunctions to use force
and energy to put down the revolt at once, and with an intimation that
funds might be henceforth more regularly depended upon, as the Indian
fleets were expected in July. Philip also advised his brother to employ a
portion of his money in purchasing the governors and principal persons
who controlled the cities and other strong places belonging to the
states.
Meantime, Don John thundered forth a manifesto which had been
recently prepared in Madrid, by which the estates, both general and
particular, were ordered forthwith to separate, and forbidden to
assemble again, except by especial licence. All commissions, civil or
military, granted by states' authority, were moreover annulled, together
with a general prohibition of any act of obedience to such functionaries,
and of contribution to any imposts which might be levied by their
authority. Such thunders were now comparatively harmless, for the
states had taken their course, and were busily engaged, both at home
and abroad, in arming for the conflict. Saint Aldegonde was deputed to
attend the Imperial diet, then in session at Worms, where he delivered
an oration, which was very celebrated in its day as a composition, but,

which can hardly be said to have produced much practical effect. The
current was setting hard in Germany against the Reformed religion and