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MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 29
By John Lothrop Motley
1855
Orange invited to visit Brussels—His correspondence upon the subject with the estates—general—Triumphant journey of the Prince to the capital——Stop put by him to the negotiations with Don John —New and stringent demands made upon the Governor—His indignation —Open rupture—Intrigue of Netherland grandees with Archduke Matthias—Policy of Orange—Attitude of Queen Elizabeth—Flight of Matthias from Vienna—Anxiety of Elizabeth—Adroitness of the Prince—The office of Reward—Election of Orange to that dignity— His complaints against the great nobles—Aerschot Governor of Flanders—A storm brewing in Ghent—Ryhove and Imbize—Blood- Councillor Hessels—Arrogance of the aristocratic party in Flanders —Ryhove's secret interview with Orange—Outbreak at Ghent—Arrest of Aerschot, Hessels, and others of the reactionary party—The Duke liberated at demand of Orange—The Prince's visit to Ghent— Rhetorical demonstrations—The new Brussels Union characterized— Treaty with England—Articles by which Matthias is nominally constituted Governor-General—His inauguration at Brussels— Brilliant and fantastic ceremonies—Letter of Don John to the Emperor—His anger with England—An army collecting—Arrival of Alexander Farnese—Injudicious distribution of offices in the States' army—The States' army fall back upon Gemblours, followed by Don John—Tremendous overthrow of the patriots—Wonderful disparity in the respective losses of the two armies.
While these matters were in progress, an important movement was made bythe estates-general. The Prince of Orange was formally and urgentlyinvited to come to Brussels to aid them with his counsel and presence.The condemned traitor had not set foot in the capital for eleven years.We have narrated the circumstance of his departure, while the advancingtrumpets of Alva's army were almost heard in the distance. His memorableand warning interview with Egmont has been described. Since that period,although his spirit had always been manifesting itself in the capitallike an actual presence; although he had been the magnet towards whichthe states throughout all their, oscillations had involuntarily vibrated,yet he had been ever invisible. He had been summoned by the BloodCouncil to stand his trial, and had been condemned to death by default.He answered the summons by a defiance, and the condemnation by twocampaigns, unsuccessful in appearance, but which had in realityprostrated the authority of the sovereign.
Since that period, the representative of royalty had sued the condemnedtraitor for forgiveness. The haughty brother of Philip had almost goneupon his knees, that the Prince might name his terms, and accept theproffered hand of majesty.
The Prince had refused, not from contumely, but from distrust. He hadspurned the supplications, as he had defied the proscription of the King.There could be no friendship between the destroyer and the protector of apeople. Had the Prince desired only the reversal of his death-sentence,and the infinite aggrandizement of his family, we have seen howcompletely he had held these issues in his power.