Rise of the Dutch Republic, the � Volume 29: 1578, part III by Motley, John Lothrop, 1814-1877

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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 31

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, 1578

By John Lothrop Motley

1855

PART VI.

ALEXANDER OF PARMA

1578-1584.

CHAPTER I.

Birth, education, marriage, and youthful character of Alexander
Farnese--His private adventures--Exploits at Lepanto and at
Gemblours--He succeeds to the government--Personal appearance and
characteristics--Aspect of affairs--Internal dissensions--Anjou at
Mons--John Casimir's intrigues at Ghent--Anjou disbands his
soldiers--The Netherlands ravaged by various foreign troops--Anarchy
and confusion in Ghent--Imbize and Ryhove--Fate of Hessels and
Visch--New Pacification drawn up by Orange--Representations of Queen
Elizabeth--Remonstrance of Brussels Riots and image-breaking in
Ghent--Displeasure of Orange--His presence implored at Ghent, where
he establishes a Religious Peace--Painful situation of John Casimir
--Sharp rebukes of Elizabeth--He takes his departure--His troops
apply to Farnese, who allows them to leave the country--Anjou's
departure and manifesto--Elizabeth's letters to the states-general
with regard to him--Complimentary addresses by the Estates to the
Duke--Death of Bossu--Calumnies against Orange--Venality of the
malcontent grandees--La Motte's treason--Intrigues of the Prior of
Renty--Saint Aldegonde at Arras--The Prior of St. Vaast's exertions
--Opposition of the clergy in the Walloon provinces to the taxation
of the general government--Triangular contest--Municipal revolution
in Arras led by Gosson and others--Counter-revolution--Rapid trials
and executions--"Reconciliation" of the malcontent chieftains--
Secret treaty of Mount St. Eloi: Mischief made by the Prior of
Renty--His accusations against the reconciled lords--Vengeance taken
upon him--Counter movement by the liberal party--Union of Utrecht--
The Act analyzed and characterized.

A fifth governor now stood in the place which had been successively vacated by Margaret of Parma, by Alva, by the Grand Commander, and by Don John of Austria. Of all the eminent personages to whom Philip had confided the reins of that most difficult and dangerous administration, the man who was now to rule was by far the ablest and the best fitted for his post. If there were living charioteer skilful enough to guide the wheels of state, whirling now more dizzily than ever through "confusum chaos," Alexander Farnese was the charioteer to guide--his hand the only one which could control.