The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1579-80

The Rise of the Dutch Republic,
1579-80

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1579-80
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Title: The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1579-80
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4832] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 26,
2002]

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DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1579-80 ***

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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Vol. 32
THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1579-1580
By John Lothrop Motley
1855

CHAPTER II
.
Parma's feint upon Antwerp--He invests Maestricht--Deputation and
letters from the states-general, from Brussels, and from Parma, to the
Walloon provinces--Active negotiations by Orange and by Farnese
--Walloon envoys in Parma's camp before Maestricht--Festivities--The
Treaty of Reconciliation--Rejoicings of the royalist party--Comedy
enacted at the Paris theatres--Religious tumults in Antwerp, Utrecht,
and other cities--Religious Peace enforced by Orange-- Philip Egmont's
unsuccessful attempt upon Brussels--Siege of Maestricht--Failure at the
Tongres gate--Mining and countermining-- Partial destruction of the
Tongres ravelin--Simultaneous attack upon the Tongres and
Bolls-le-Duo gates--The Spaniards repulsed with great loss--Gradual
encroachments of the besiegers--Bloody contests --The town

taken--Horrible massacre--Triumphal entrance and solemn
thanksgiving--Calumnious attacks upon Orange--Renewed troubles in
Ghent--Imbue and Dathenus--The presence of the Prince solicited--
Coup d'etat of Imbue--Order restored, and Imbue expelled by Orange
The political movements in both directions were to be hastened by the
military operations of the opening season. On the night of the 2nd of
March, 1579, the Prince of Parma made a demonstration against
Antwerp. A body of three thousand Scotch and English, lying at
Borgerhout, was rapidly driven in, and a warm skirmish ensued,
directly under the walls of the city. The Prince of Orange, with the
Archduke Matthias, being in Antwerp at the time, remained on the
fortifications; superintending the action, and Parma was obliged to
retire after an hour or two of sharp fighting, with a loss of four hundred
men. This demonstration was, however, only a feint. His real design
was upon Maestricht; before which important city he appeared in great
force, ten days afterwards, when he was least expected.
Well fortified, surrounded by a broad and deep moat; built upon both
sides of the Meuse, upon the right bank of which river, however, the
portion of the town was so inconsiderable that it was merely called the
village of Wyk, this key to the German gate of the Netherlands was,
unfortunately, in brave but feeble hands. The garrison was hardly one
thousand strong; the trained bands of burghers amounted to twelve
hundred more; while between three and four thousand peasants; who
had taken refuge within the city walls, did excellent service as sappers
and miners. Parma, on the other hand, had appeared before the walls
with twenty thousand men; to which number he received constant
reinforcements. The Bishop of Liege, too, had sent him four thousand
pioneers--a most important service; for mining and countermining was
to decide the fate of Maestricht.
Early in January the royalists had surprised the strong chateau of
Carpen, in the neighbourhood of the city, upon which occasion the
garrison were all hanged by moonlight on the trees in the orchard. The
commandant shared their fate; and it is a curious fact that he had,
precisely a year previously, hanged the royalist captain, Blomaert, on
the same spot, who, with the rope around his neck, had foretold a like
doom to his destroyer.
The Prince of Orange, feeling the danger of Maestricht, lost no time in

warning the states to the necessary measures, imploring them "not to
fall asleep in