Title:  The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1569-70

Author:  John Lothrop Motley

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4817] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 19, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

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MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 17.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley

1855

1569-70 [Chapter V.]

Quarrel between Alva and Queen Elizabeth of England—­Spanish funds seized by the English government—­Non-intercourse between England and the Netherlands—­Stringent measures against heresy—­Continued persecution—­Individual cases—­Present of hat and sword to Alva from the Pope—­Determination of the Governor—­general to establish a system of arbitrary taxation in the provinces—­Assembly of estates at Brussels—­Alva’s decrees laid before them—­The hundredth, tenth, and fifth pence—­Opposition of Viglius to the project—­Estates of various provinces give a reluctant consent—­Determined resistance of Utrecht—­The city and province cited before the Blood Council—­ Sentence of confiscation and disfranchisement against both—­Appeal to the King—­Difficulty of collecting the new tax—­Commutation for two years—­Projects for a pardon-general—­Growing disfavour of the Duke—­His desire to resign his post—­Secret hostility between the Governor and Viglius—­Altered sentiments of the President—­Opinions expressed by Granvelle—­The pardon pompously proclaimed by the Duke at Antwerp—­Character of the amnesty—­Dissatisfaction of the people with the act—­Complaints of Alva to the King—­Fortunes and fate of Baron Montigny in Spain—­His confinement at Segovia—­His attempt to escape—­Its failure—­His mock trial—­His wife’s appeal to Philip—­ His condemnation—­His secret assassination determined upon—­Its details, as carefully prescribed and superintended by the King—­ Terrible inundation throughout the Netherlands—­Immense destruction of life and property in Friesland—­Lowestein Castle taken by De Ruyter, by stratagem—­Recapture of the place by the Spaniards—­ Desperate resistance and death of De Ruyter.

It was very soon after the Duke’s return to Brussels that a quarrel between himself and the Queen of England took place.  It happened thus.  Certain vessels, bearing roving commissions from the