Title:  History of the United Netherlands, 1588

Author:  John Lothrop Motley

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4856] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 5, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK history united Netherlands, 1588 ***

This eBook was produced by David Widger widger@cecomet.net

[Note:  There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of the file for those who may wish to sample the author’s ideas before making an entire meal of them.  D.W.]

HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 56

History of the United Netherlands, 1588

CHAPTER XVIII.  Part 2.

Dangerous Discord in North Holland—­Leicester’s Resignation arrives —­Enmity of Willoughby and Maurice—­Willoughby’s dark Picture of Affairs—­Hatred between States and Leicestrians—­Maurice’s Answer to the Queen’s Charges—­End of Sonoy’s Rebellion—­Philip foments the Civil War in France—­League’s Threats and Plots against Henry—­Mucio arrives in Paris—­He is received with Enthusiasm—­The King flies, and Spain triumphs in Paris—­States expostulate with the Queen—­ English Statesmen still deceived—­Deputies from Netherland Churches —­Hold Conference with the Queen—­And present long Memorials—­More Conversations with the Queen—­National Spirit of England and Holland—­Dissatisfaction with Queen’s Course—­Bitter Complaints of Lord Howard—­Want of Preparation in Army and Navy—­Sanguine Statements of Leicester—­Activity of Parma—­The painful Suspense continues.

But it is necessary-in order to obtain a complete picture of that famous year 1588, and to understand the cause from which such great events were springing—­to cast a glance at the internal politics of the States most involved in Philip’s meshes.

Certainly, if there had ever been a time when the new commonwealth of the Netherlands should be both united in itself and on thoroughly friendly terms with England, it was exactly that epoch of which we are treating.  There could be no reasonable doubt that the designs of Spain against England were hostile, and against Holland revengeful.  It was at least possible that Philip meant to undertake the conquest of England, and to undertake it as a stepping-stone to the conquest of Holland.  Both the kingdom and the republic should have been alert, armed, full