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.]
MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 30
By John Lothrop Motley
1855
Towns taken by Don John—Wrath excited against the aristocratic party by the recent defeat—Attempts upon Amsterdam—"Satisfaction" of Amsterdam and its effects—De Selles sent with royal letters from Spain—Terms offered by Philip—Proclamation of Don John— Correspondence between de Selles and the States-General—Between the King and the Governor-General—New forces raised by the States—St. Aldegonde at the Diet—Municipal revolution in Amsterdam—The Prince's letter on the subject of the Anabaptists of Middelburg— The two armies inactive—De la None—Action at Rijnemants—John Casimir—Perverse politics of Queen Elizabeth—Alencon in the Netherlands—Portrait of the Duke—Orange's position in regard to him—Avowed and supposed policy of the French court—Anger of Elizabeth—Terms arranged between Alencon and the Estates—Renewed negotiations with Don John—Severe terms offered him—Interview of the English envoys with the Governor—Despondency of Don John— Orange's attempts to enforce a religious peace—His isolation in sentiment—The malcontent party—Count John Governor of Gelderland —Proposed form of religious peace—Proclamation to that effect by Orange, in Antwerp—A petition in favor of the Roman Church presented by Champagny and other Catholic nobles to the States— General—Consequent commotion in Brussels—Champagny and others imprisoned—Indolence and poverty of the two armies—Illness and melancholy of Don John—His letters to Doria, to Mendoza, and to the King—Death of Don John—Suspicions of poison—Pompous burial— Removal of his body to Spain—Concluding remarks upon his character.
Don John having thus vindicated his own military fame and the amazingsuperiority of the Spanish arms, followed up his victory by the rapidreduction of many towns of second-rate importance Louvain, Judoigne,Tirlemont, Aerschot, Bauvignes, Sichem, Nivelle, Roeux, Soignies, Binch,Beaumont, Walcourt, Tviaubeuge, and Chimay, either submitted to theirconqueror, or were taken after short sieges. The usual atrocities wereinflicted upon the unfortunate inhabitants of towns where resistance wasattempted. The commandant of Sichem was hanged out of his own window,along with several chief burghers and officers, while the garrison wasput to the sword, and the bodies cast into the Denver. The only crimecommitted by these unfortunates was to have ventured a blow or two inbehalf of the firesides which they were employed to protect.
In Brussels, on the other hand, there was less consternation excited bythese events than boundless rage against the aristocratic party, for thedefeat of Gemblours was attributed, with justice, to the intrigues andthe incapacity of the Catholic magnates. It was with difficulty thatOrange, going about by night from house to house, from street to street,succeeded in calming the indignation of the people, and in preventingthem from sweeping in a mass to the residence of the leading nobles, inorder to inflict summary vengeance on the traitors. All looked to thePrince as their only saviour, not a thought nor a word being wasted uponMatthias. Not a voice was raised in the assembly t