This eBook was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By John Lothrop Motley
1855
Previous career of Requesens—Philip's passion for detail—Apparent and real purposes of government—Universal desire for peace— Correspondence of leading royalists with Orange—Bankruptcy of the exchequer at Alva's departures—Expensive nature of the war— Pretence of mildness on the part of the Commander—His private views—Distress of Mondragon at Middelburg—Crippled condition of Holland—Orange's secret negotiations with France—St. Aldegonde's views in captivity—Expedition to relieve Middelburg—Counter preparations of Orange—Defeat of the expedition—Capitulation of Mondragon—Plans of Orange and his brothers—An army under Count Louis crosses the Rhine—Measures taken by Requesens—Manoeuvres of Avila and of Louis—The two armies in face at Mook—Battle of Mook- heath—Overthrow and death of Count Louis—The phantom battle— Character of Louis of Nassau—Painful uncertainty as to his fate— Periodical mutinies of the Spanish troops characterized—Mutiny after the battle of Mook—Antwerp attacked and occupied,—Insolent and oppressive conduct of the mutineers—Offers of Requesens refused—Mutiny in the citadel—Exploits of Salvatierra—Terms of composition—Soldiers' feast on the mere—Successful expedition of Admiral Boisot
The horrors of Alva's administration had caused men to look back withfondness upon the milder and more vacillating tyranny of the DuchessMargaret. From the same cause the advent of the Grand Commander washailed with pleasure and with a momentary gleam of hope. At any rate,it was a relief that the man in whom an almost impossible perfection ofcruelty seemed embodied was at last to be withdrawn. it was certain thathis successor, however ambitious of following in Alva's footsteps, wouldnever be able to rival the intensity and the unswerving directness ofpurpose which it had been permitted to the Duke's nature to attain. Thenew Governor-General was, doubtless, human, and it had been long sincethe Netherlanders imagined anything in common between themselves and thelate Viceroy.
Apart from this hope, however, there was little encouragement to bederived from anything positively known of the new functionary, or thepolicy which he was to represent. Don Luis de Requesens and Cuniga,Grand Commander of Castile and late Governor of Milan, was a man ofmediocre abilities, who possessed a reputation for moderation andsagacity which he hardly deserved. His military prowess had been chieflydisplayed in the bloody and barren battle of Lepanto, where his conductand counsel were supposed to have contributed, in some measure, to thevictorious result. His administration at Milan had been characterizedas firm and moderate. Nevertheless, his character was regarded withanything but favorable eyes in the Netherlands. Men told each other ofhis broken faith to the Moors in Granada, and of his unpopularity inMilan, where, notwithstanding his boasted moderation, he had, in reality,so oppressed the people as to gain their deadly hatred. They complained,too, that it was an insult t