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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS

From the Death of William the Silent to the Twelve Year’s Truce—­1609

By John Lothrop Motley

History United Netherlands, Volume 65, 1592-1594

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Influence of the rule and character of Philip ii.—­Heroism of the sixteenth century—­Contest for the French throne—­Character and policy of the Duke of Mayenne—­Escape of the Duke of Guise from Castle Tours—­Propositions for the marriage of the Infanta—­Plotting of the Catholic party—­Grounds of Philip’s pretensions to the crown of France—­Motives of the Duke of Parma maligned by Commander Moreo —­He justifies himself to the king—­View of the private relations between Philip and the Duke of Mayenne and their sentiments towards each other—­Disposition of the French politicians and soldiers towards Philip—­Peculiar commercial pursuits of Philip—­Confused state of affairs in France—­Treachery of Philip towards the Duke of Parma—­Recall of the duke to Spain—­His sufferings and death.

The People—­which has been generally regarded as something naturally below its rulers, and as born to be protected and governed, paternally or otherwise, by an accidental selection from its own species, which by some mysterious process has shot up much nearer to heaven than itself—­is often described as brutal, depraved, self-seeking, ignorant, passionate, licentious, and greedy.

It is fitting, therefore, that its protectors should be distinguished, at great epochs of the world’s history, by an absence of such objectionable qualities.

It must be confessed, however, that if the world had waited for heroes—­during the dreary period which followed the expulsion of something that was called Henry iii. of France from the gates of his capital, and especially during the time that followed hard upon the decease of that embodiment of royalty—­its axis must have ceased to turn for a long succession of years.  The Bearnese was at least alive, and a man.  He played his part with consummate audacity and skill; but alas for an epoch or a country in which such a shape—­notwithstanding all its engaging and even commanding qualities—­looked upon as an incarnation of human greatness!