God Save the King!  It was the last time
     Having conjugated his paradigm conscientiously
     Indignant that heretics had been suffered to hang
     Insane cruelty, both in the cause of the Wrong and the Right
     Sick and wounded wretches were burned over slow fires
     Slender stock of platitudes
     The time for reasoning had passed
     Who loved their possessions better than their creed

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 14.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley
1855

1567 [Part III., Alva, chapter 1.]

Continued dissensions in the Spanish cabinet—­Ruy Gomez and Alva—­ Conquest of the Netherlands entrusted to the Duke—­Birth, previous career and character of Alva—­Organization of the invading army—­ Its march to the provinces—­Complaints of Duchess Margaret—­Alva receives deputations on the frontier—­Interview between the Duke and Egmont—­Reception of Alva by the Duchess of Parma—­Circular letters to the cities requiring their acceptance of garrisons—­Margaret’s secret correspondence—­Universal apprehension—­Keys of the great cities demanded by Alva—­Secret plans of the government, arranged before the Duke’s departure—­Arrest of Orange, Egmont, Horn, and others, determined upon—­Stealthy course of the government towards them—­Infatuation of Egmont—­Warnings addressed to him by De Billy and others—­Measures to entrap Count Horn—­Banquet of the Grand Prior—­The Grand Prior’s warning to Egmont—­Evil counsels of Noircarmes—­Arrests of Egmont, Horn, Bakkerzeel and Straalen—­ Popular consternation—­Petulant conduct of Duchess Margaret—­ Characteristic comments of Granvelle—­His secret machinations and disclaimers—­Berghen and Montigny—­Last moments of Marquis Berghen—­ Perfidy of Ruy Gomez—­Establishment of the “Blood-Council”—­Its leading features—­Insidious behavior of Viglius—­Secret correspondence, concerning the President, between Philip and Alva—­ Members of the “Blood-Council”—­Portraits of Vargas and Hessels—­ Mode of proceeding adopted by the council—­Wholesale executions—­ Despair in the provinces—­The resignation of Duchess Margaret accepted—­Her departure from the Netherlands—­Renewed civil war in France—­Death of Montmorency—­Auxiliary troops sent by Alva to France—­Erection of Antwerp citadel—­Description of the citadel.

The armed invasion of the Netherlands was the necessary consequence of all which had gone before.  That the inevitable result had been so long deferred lay rather in the incomprehensible tardiness of Philip’s character than in the circumstances of the case.  Never did a monarch hold so steadfastly to a deadly purpose, or proceed so languidly and with so much circumvolution to his goal.  The mask of benignity, of possible clemency, was now thrown off, but the delusion of his intended visit to the provinces was still maintained.  He assured the Regent that he should be governed by her advice, and as she had made all needful preparations to receive him in Zeland, that it would be in Zeland he should arrive.