Title:  History of the United Netherlands, 1594

Author:  John Lothrop Motley

Release Date:  January, 2004 [EBook #4866] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 9, 2002]

Edition:  10

Language:  English

Character set encoding:  ASCII

*** Start of the project gutenberg EBOOK history united Netherlands, 1594 ***

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. 66

History of the United Netherlands, 1594

CHAPTER XXX.

Prince Maurice lays siege to Gertruydenberg—­Advantages of the new system of warfare—­Progress of the besieging operations—­Superiority of Maurice’s manoeuvres—­Adventure of Count Philip of Nassau—­ Capitulation of Gertruydenberg—­Mutiny among the Spanish troops—­ Attempt of Verdugo to retake Coeworden—­Suspicions of treason in the English garrison at Ostend—­Letter of Queen Elizabeth to Sir Edward Norris on the subject—­Second attempt on Coeworden—­Assault on Groningen by Maurice—­Second adventure of Philip of Nassau—­Narrow escape of Prince Maurice—­Surrender of Groningen—­Particulars of the siege—­Question of religious toleration—­Progress of the United Netherlands—­Condition of the “obedient” Netherlands—­Incompetency of Peter Mansfeld as Governor—­Archduke Ernest, the successor of Farnese—­Difficulties of his position—­His unpopularity—­Great achievements of the republicans—­Triumphal entry of Ernest into Brussels and Antwerp—­Magnificence of the spectacle—­Disaffection of the Spanish troops—­Great military rebellion—­Philip’s proposal to destroy the English fleet—­His assassination plans—­Plot to poison Queen Elizabeth—­Conspiracies against Prince Maurice—­Futile attempts at negotiation—­Proposal of a marriage between Henry and the Infanta—­Secret mission from Henry to the King of Spain—­Special dispatch to England and the Staten—­Henry obtains further aid from Queen Elizabeth and the States—­Council—­Anxiety of the Protestant countries to bring about a war with Spain—­Aspect of affairs at the close of the year 1594.

While Philip’s world-empire seemed in one direction to be so rapidly fading into cloudland there were substantial possessions of the Spanish crown which had been neglected in Brabant and Friesland.