The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1579-80 | Page 5

with one kick and Orange with another, and then followed
Parma with docility as be led her back to Philip. This seems not very

"admirable fooling," but it was highly relished by the polite Parisians of
the sixteenth century, and has been thought worthy of record by
classical historians.
The Walloon accord was an auspicious prelude, in the eyes of the
friends of absolutism, to the negotiations which were opened in the
month of May, at Cologne. Before sketching, as rapidly as possible,
those celebrated but barren conferences, it is necessary, for the sake of
unity in the narrative, to cast a glance at certain synchronical events in
different parts of the Netherlands.
The success attained by the Catholic party in the Walloon negotiations
had caused a corresponding bitterness in the hearts of the Reformers
throughout the country. As usual, bitterness had begot bitterness;
intolerance engendered intolerance. On the 28th of May, 1579, as the
Catholics of Antwerp were celebrating the Ommegang--the same
festival which had been the exciting cause of the memorable tumults of
the year sixty-five--the irritation of the populace could not be repressed.
The mob rose in its wrath to put down these demonstrations--which,
taken in connection with recent events, seemed ill-timed and
insolent--of a religion whose votaries then formed but a small minority
of the Antwerp citizens. There was a great tumult. Two persons were
killed. The Archduke Matthias, who was himself in the Cathedral of
Notre Dame assisting at the ceremony, was in danger of his life. The
well known cry of "paapen uit" (out with the papists) resounded
through the streets, and the priests and monks were all hustled out of
town amid a tempest of execrations. Orange did his utmost to quell the
mutiny, nor were his efforts fruitless--for the uproar, although seditious
and disgraceful, was hardly sanguinary. Next day the Prince summoned
the magistracy, the Monday council, the guild officers, with all the
chief municipal functionaries, and expressed his indignation in decided
terms. He protested that if such tumults, originating in that very spirit
of intolerance which he most deplored, could not be repressed for the
future, he was determined to resign his offices, and no longer to affect
authority in a city where his counsels were derided. The magistrates,
alarmed at his threats, and sympathizing with his anger, implored him
not to desert them, protesting that if he should resign his offices, they
would instantly lay down their, own. An ordinance was then drawn up
and immediately, proclaimed at the Town House, permitting the

Catholics to re-enter the city, and to enjoy the privileges of religious
worship. At the same time, it was announced that a new draft of a
religious peace would be forthwith issued for the adoption of every
city.
A similar tumult, arising from the same cause, at Utrecht, was attended
with the like result. On the other hand, the city of Brussels was
astonished by a feeble and unsuccessful attempts at treason, made by a
youth who bore an illustrious name. Philip, Count of Egmont, eldest
son of the unfortunate Lamoral, had command of a regiment in the
service of the states. He had, besides, a small body of cavalry in
immediate attendance upon his person. He had for some time felt
inclined--like the Lalains, Meluns, La Mottes, and others to reconcile
himself with the Crown, and he wisely thought that the terms accorded
to him would be more liberal if he could bring the capital of Brabant
with him as a peace offering to his Majesty. His residence was in
Brussels. His regiment was stationed outside the gates, but in the
immediate neighbourhood of the city. On the morning of the 4th of
June he despatched his troopers-- as had been frequently his
custom--on various errands into the country. On their return, after
having summoned the regiment, they easily mastered and butchered the
guard at the gate through which they had re-entered, supplying their
place with men from their own ranks. The Egmont regiment then came
marching through the gate in good order--Count Philip at their
head--and proceeded to station themselves upon the Grande Place in
the centre of the city. All this was at dawn of day. The burghers, who
looked forth from their houses, were astounded and perplexed by this
movement at so unwonted an hour, and hastened to seize their weapons.
Egmont sent a detachment to take possession of the palace. He was too
late. Colonel Van der Tympel, commandant of the city, had been
beforehand with him, had got his troops under arms, and now secured
the rebellious detachment. Meantime, the alarm had spread. Armed
burghers came from every house, and barricades were hastily thrown
up across every one of the narrow streets leading to the square. Every
issue was closed. Not a man