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.

He was now in his thirty-third year--his uncle Don John, his cousin Don Carlos, and himself, having all been born within a few months of each other. His father was Ottavio Farnese, the faithful lieutenant of Charles the Fifth, and grandson of Pope Paul the Third; his mother was Margaret of Parma, first Regent of the Netherlands after the departure of Philip from the provinces. He was one of the twins by which the reunion of Margaret and her youthful husband had been blessed, and the only one that survived. His great-grandfather, Paul, whose secular name of Alexander he had received, had placed his hand upon the new-born infant's head, and prophesied that he would grow up to become a mighty warrior. The boy, from his earliest years, seemed destined to verify the prediction. Though apt enough at his studies, he turned with impatience from his literary tutors to military exercises and the hardiest sports. The din of arms surrounded his cradle. The trophies of Ottavio, returning victorious from beyond the Alps, had dazzled the eyes of his infancy, and when but six years of age he had witnessed the siege of his native Parma, and its vigorous defence by his martial father. When Philip was in the Netherlands--in the years immediately succeeding the abdication of the Emperor--he had received the boy from his parents as a hostage for their friendship. Although but eleven years of age,