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     All the majesty which decoration could impart
     Amuse them with this peace negotiation
     Conflicting claims of prerogative and conscience
     It is not desirable to disturb much of that learned dust
     Logical and historical argument of unmerciful length
     Mankind were naturally inclined to calumny
     Men were loud in reproof, who had been silent
     More easily, as he had no intention of keeping the promise
     Not to fall asleep in the shade of a peace negotiation
     Nothing was so powerful as religious difference
     On the first day four thousand men and women were slaughtered
     Power grudged rather than given to the deputies
     The disunited provinces
     There is no man who does not desire to enjoy his own
     To hear the last solemn commonplaces
     Word-mongers who, could clothe one shivering thought

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 33

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley
1855

CHAPTER IV.

Captivity of La Noue—­Cruel propositions of Philip—­Siege of Groningen—­Death of Barthold Enter—­His character—­Hohenlo commands in the north—­His incompetence—­He is defeated on Hardenberg Heath—­ Petty operations—­Isolation of Orange—­Dissatisfaction and departure of Count John—­Remonstrance of Archduke Matthias—­Embassy to Anjou—­ Holland and Zealand offer the sovereignty to Orange—­Conquest of Portugal—­Granvelle proposes the Ban against the Prince—­It is published—­The document analyzed—­The Apology of Orange analyzed and characterized—­Siege of Steenwyk by Renneberg—­Forgeries—­Siege relieved—­Death of Renneberg—­Institution of the “land-Council”—­ Duchess of Parma sent to the Netherlands—­Anger of Alexander—­ Prohibition of Catholic worship in Antwerp, Utrecht, and elsewhere—­ Declaration of Independence by the United Provinces—­Negotiations with Anjou—­The sovereignty of Holland and Zealand provisionally accepted by Orange—­Tripartition of the Netherlands—­Power of the Prince described—­Act of Abjuration analyzed—­Philosophy of Netherland politics.—­Views of the government compact—­Acquiescence by the people in the action of the estates—­Departure of Archduke Matthias.

The war continued in a languid and desultory manner in different parts of the country.  At an action near Ingelmunster, the brave and accomplished De la Noue was made prisoner.  This was a severe loss to the states, a cruel blow to Orange, for he was not only one of the most experienced soldiers, but one of the most accomplished writers of his age.  His pen was as celebrated as his sword.  In exchange for the illustrious Frenchman the states in vain offered Count Egmont, who had been made prisoner a few weeks