The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1579-80 | Page 4

bitter draught of humiliation along with the sweet poison of
bribery. They were warned to study well the intercepted letters of

Curiel, in order fully to fathom the deep designs and secret contempt of
the enemy.
Such having been the result of the negotiations between the states-
general and the Walloon provinces, a strong deputation now went forth
from those provinces, towards the end of April, to hold a final colloquy
with Parma, then already busied with the investment of Maestricht.
They were met upon the road with great ceremony, and escorted into
the presence of Farnese with drum, trumpet, and flaunting banners. He
received them with stately affability, in a magnificently decorated
pavilion, carelessly inviting them to a repast, which he called an
afternoon's lunch, but which proved a most sumptuous and splendidly
appointed entertainment. This "trifling foolish banquet" finished, the
deputies were escorted, with great military parade, to the lodgings
which had been provided for them in a neighbouring village. During
the period of their visit, all the chief officers of the army and the
household were directed to entertain the Walloons with showy festivals,
dinners, suppers, dances, and carousals of all kinds. At one of the most
brilliant of these revels--a magnificent ball, to which all the matrons
and maids of the whole country round had been bidden--the Prince of
Parma himself unexpectedly made his appearance. He gently rebuked
the entertainers for indulging in such splendid hospitality without, at
least, permitting him to partake of it. Charmingly affable to the ladies
assembled in the ball-room, courteous, but slightly reserved, towards
the Walloon envoys, he excited the admiration of all by the splendid
decorum of his manners. As he moved through the halls, modulating
his steps in grave cadence to the music, the dignity and grace of his
deportment seemed truly majestic; but when he actually danced a
measure himself the enthusiasm was at its height. They should, indeed,
be rustics, cried the Walloon envoys in a breath, not to give the hand of
fellowship at once to a Prince so condescending and amiable. The
exclamation seemed to embody the general wish, and to foreshadow a
speedy conclusion.
Very soon afterwards a preliminary accord was signed between the
King's government and the Walloon provinces. The provisions on his
Majesty's part were sufficiently liberal. The religious question
furnishing no obstacle, it was comparatively easy for Philip to appear
benignant. It was stipulated that the provincial privileges should be

respected; that a member of the King's own family, legitimately born,
should always be Governor-General, and that the foreign troops should
be immediately withdrawn. The official exchange and ratification of
this treaty were delayed till the 4th of the following September, but the
news that, the reconciliation had been definitely settled soon spread
through the country. The Catholics were elated, the patriots dismayed.
Orange-the "Prince of Darkness," as the Walloons of the day were fond
of calling him--still unwilling to despair, reluctant to accept this
dismemberment, which he foresaw was to be a perpetual one, of his
beloved country, addressed the most passionate and solemn adjurations
to the Walloon provinces, and to their military chieftains. He offered all
his children as hostages for his good faith in keeping sacredly any
covenant which his Catholic countrymen might be willing to close with
him. It was in vain. The step was irretrievably taken; religious bigotry,
patrician jealousy, and wholesale bribery, had severed the Netherlands
in twain for ever. The friends of Romanism, the enemies of civil and
religious liberty, exulted from one end of Christendom to the other, and
it was recognized that Parma had, indeed, achieved a victory which
although bloodless, was as important to the cause of absolutism as any
which even his sword was likely to achieve.
The joy of the Catholic party in Paris manifested itself in a variety of
ways. At the principal theatre an uncouth pantomime was exhibited, in
which his Catholic Majesty was introduced upon the stage, leading by a
halter a sleek cow, typifying the Netherlands. The animal by a sudden
effort, broke the cord, and capered wildly about. Alexander of Parma
hastened to fasten the fragments together, while sundry personages,
representing the states-general, seized her by the horns, some leaping
upon her back, others calling upon the bystanders to assist in holding
the restive beast. The Emperor, the King of France, and the Queen of
England--which last personage was observed now to smile upon one
party, now to affect deep sympathy with the other--remained stationary;
but the Duke of Alencon rushed upon the stage, and caught the cow by
the tail. The Prince of Orange and Hans Casimir then appeared with a
bucket, and set themselves busily to milk her, when Alexander again
seized the halter. The cow gave a plunge, upset the pail, prostrated
Casimir