excitement in the Netherlands—­New punishment for heretics—­Interview at Bayonne between Catharine de Medici and her daughter, the Queen of Spain—­ Mistaken views upon this subject—­Diplomacy of Alva—­Artful conduct of Catharine—­Stringent letters from Philip to the Duchess with regard to the inquisition—­Consternation of Margaret and of Viglius —­New proclamation of the Edicts, the Inquisition, and the Council of Trent—­Fury of the people—­Resistance of the leading seigniors and of the Brabant Council—­Brabant declared free of the inquisition—­Prince Alexander of Parma betrothed to Donna Maria of Portugal—­Her portrait—­Expensive preparations for the nuptials—­ Assembly of the Golden Fleece—­Oration of Viglius—­Wedding of Prince Alexander.

The remainder of the year, in the spring of which the Cardinal had left the Netherlands, was one of anarchy, confusion, and corruption.  At first there had been a sensation of relief.

Philip had exchanged letters of exceeding amity with Orange, Egmont, and Horn.  These three seigniors had written, immediately upon Granvelle’s retreat, to assure the King of their willingness to obey the royal commands, and to resume their duties at the state council.  They had, however, assured the Duchess that the reappearance of the Cardinal in the country would be the signal for their instantaneous withdrawal.  They appeared at the council daily, working with the utmost assiduity often till late into the night.  Orange had three great objects in view, by attaining which the country, in his opinion, might yet be saved, and the threatened convulsions averted.  These were to convoke the states-general, to moderate or abolish the edicts, and to suppress the council of finance and the privy council, leaving only the council of state.  The two first of these points, if gained, would, of course, subvert the whole absolute policy which Philip and Granvelle had enforced; it was, therefore, hardly probable that any impression would be made upon the secret determination of the government in these respects.  As to the council of state, the limited powers of that body, under the administration of the Cardinal, had formed one of the principal complaints against that minister.  The justice and finance councils were sinks of iniquity.  The most barefaced depravity reigned supreme.  A gangrene had spread through the whole government.  The public functionaries were notoriously and outrageously venal.  The administration of justice had been poisoned at the fountain, and the people were unable to slake their daily thirst at the polluted stream.  There was no law but the law of the longest purse.  The highest dignitaries of Philip’s appointment had become the most mercenary hucksters who ever converted the divine temple of justice into a den of thieves.  Law was an article of merchandise, sold by judges to the highest bidder.  A poor customer could obtain nothing but stripes and imprisonment, or, if tainted with suspicion of heresy, the fagot or the sword,