upon the serenity of her married life, and so long as she lived she was the trusted companion and consoler of her husband.  “His Highness,” wrote Count John in 1580, “is in excellent health, and, in spite of adversity, incredible labor, perplexity, and dangers, is in such good spirits that, it makes me happy to witness it.  No doubt a chief reason is the consolation he derives from the pious and highly-intelligent wife whom, the Lord has given him—­a woman who ever conforms to his wishes, and is inexpressibly dear to him.”

The Princess left six daughters—­Louisa Juliana, Elizabeth, Catharina Belgica, Flandrina, Charlotta Brabantica, and Emilia Secunda.

Parma received the first intelligence of the attempt from the mouth of Anastro himself, who assured him that the deed had been entirely successful, and claimed the promised reward.

Alexander, in consequence, addressed circular letters to the authorities of Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, and other cities, calling upon them, now that they had been relieved of their tyrant and their betrayer, to return again to the path of their duty and to the ever open arms of their lawful monarch.  These letters were premature.  On the other hand, the states of Holland and Zealand remained in permanent session, awaiting with extreme anxiety the result of the Prince’s wound.  “With the death of his Excellency, if God should please to take him to himself,” said the magistracy of Leyden, “in the death of the Prince we all foresee our own death.”  It was, in truth, an anxious moment, and the revulsion of feeling consequent on his recovery was proportionately intense.

In consequence of the excitement produced by this event, it was no longer possible for the Prince to decline accepting the countship of Holland and Zealand, which he had refused absolutely two years before, and which he had again rejected, except for a limited period, in the year 1581.  It was well understood, as appears by the treaty with Anjou, and afterwards formally arranged, “that the Duke was never, to claim sovereignty over Holland and Zealand,” and the offer of the sovereign countship of Holland was again made to the Prince of Orange in most urgent terms.  It will be recollected that he had accepted the sovereignty on the 5th of July, 1581, only for the term of the war.  In a letter, dated Bruges, 14th of August, 1582, he accepted the dignity without limitation.  This offer and acceptance, however, constituted but the preliminaries, for it was further necessary that the letters of “Renversal” should be drawn up, that they should be formally delivered, and that a new constitution should be laid down, and confirmed by mutual oaths.  After these steps had been taken, the ceremonious inauguration or rendering of homage was to be celebrated.

All these measures were duly arranged, except the last.  The installation of the new Count of Holland was prevented by his death, and the northern provinces remained a Republic, not only in fact but in name.