66 chelle, addressed letters of love and fidel-brother's death, took flight secretly, lest ity to the queen of England, whom he had the violent affection of his subjects should not yet beheld, sent her his picture, and re-detain him in Poland. This infatuation of a quested her permission to visit her. The people for a despicable unit of their species queen-mother added her solicitations in is not without example; but the most pitifavor of her son, and Elizabeth was wearied able would have been (if it existed) that out of her consent.* With, however, the of the Poles for Henry III. Lord North usual fluctuations of policy or caprice was sent to France by Elizabeth to conwhich distinguished all her courtships, she gratulate him on his succession, renew the "lovingly advised" him not to come until treaty which had been concluded with his he had first atoned for dyeing his sword in brother, obtain from him the liberty of the the blood of the Rochellers, and secured a duke of Alençon and king of Navarre, and good reception in England, by some notable recommend to him a liberal treatment of testimony of his affection to the Protestants the Protestants of France. If," says a of France.t private memorial, containing lord North's His voyage, without this admonition, instructions, T "it be thought that there would have been stayed by another cause. can be no quiet where diversity of religion A new party, called "The Politicians," is permitted, you may put him in minde to composed of both Catholics and Protest-resorte to his own experience, and to beants, and chiefly guided by the Montmo- hold in the state of the empire, in the rencies, had grown up in France. It was kingdom of Poland, and the hereditary directed against the queen-mother. The dominions of the emperor, through which health of Charles IX. was giving way, and he hath of late himself passed, the example his brother next in succession was in of the quiet and peaceable government of Poland. Catherine suspected the politicians the said countries, which we trust will of a design to oust her of all influence, by serve to persuade him that the permission taking advantage of the absence of Anjou, of diversity of religion breedeth not the her favorite son, and placing the crown on unquietness that is pretended. And if he the head or the duke of Alençon. The king object the manner of government and poliof Navarre and the duke of Alençon were cy within this our realm, where we perprisoners at court; and a premature at- mit but one exercise of religion, although tempt of their friends to favor their escape there be of our subjects which be as well failed. Catherine elicited from the incapaci- addicted to the one as to the other, you ty and cowardice of Alençon, and the weak- may say then, that the same is established ness of Henry of Navarre,t—both of whom, by the common consent of the three estates as is usual, says Davila, shifted the guilt of the whole realm in parliament; and that from themselves to their defenceless subal- in case the said parliament had thought the terns, enough to ground a conspiracy, and permission of both religions necessary, and execute Mole and Conconas, two servants that the same had been established with our of Alençon. regal consent, we should never for any reBoth princes continued prisoners, until spect of ourselves have violated the same." the death of Charles IX. and return of The retort had been anticipated, and the Henry III. from Poland led to their re- same answer supplied in the instructions lease. Charles IX. died of a strange disease, of Walsingham, when he went over as which was pronounced a visitation of God ambassador to the French court. Upon his upon his love of bloodshed. His body wasted, urging the queen-mother to grant liberty and his life waned, from a general effusion of conscience to the Huguenots, she anof his blood at every pore; he died, drench-swered, that his own mistress denied it to ed in his bed with his own gore, in the ago- the Catholics; and he rejoined, that his nies of disease and the tortures of remorse. mistress "did never promise them any His death took place on the 30th of May, thing by edict." There is a tone of arro1574; and his obsequies were celebrated gant inconsistency in Elizabeth's instrucwith great magnificence on the 8th of Au- tions to her ambassadors respecting religust, at St. Paul's, London, where lord Bur-gious toleration in other countries. Releigh attended the ceremonial as repre- fusing the exercise of their worship to the sentative of the queen.|| Roman Catholics, she was in a false posi Henry III., upon being informed of his tion when she demanded freedom for the *Camd. Ann. † Ibid. Dav. Ist. del Guer. Civ. Protestants of France. She was sensible of this, and made anticipated battle by a cavil rather than by a reason. A wrong is voyait tout baigné de son sang dans son lict, il tes- not justified by the absence of a promise to moigna nul plus grand regret que d'avoir répandu do right; and an ordinance of the estates celui des innocents le 24th Aug. 1572.”—Sully, Econ. Roy. Carte, Gen. Hist. Eng. TMS. State Paper Office. of the realm, had they been as independent content, escaped from the court under as they were enslaved or powerless, would cover of an affair of gallantry, joined the not consecrate persecution. Her only jus- insurgent malcontents, published a manitification was one which she would not festo against his brother, and was flattered avow, viz. that the Protestants of France with the title of captain-general. did not question the king's title; whereas Henry, one of the most indolent and inthe Catholics of England repudiated her as capable of men in every situation but the a heretic, bastard, and usurper. It would camp and the field, had military activity have been impolitic and humiliating to ad- and personal courage, and might subdue mit this only ground upon which she could the Huguenots if they received no aid from vindicate herself. abroad. Elizabeth advanced money to de Lord North appears to have been re- fray the charge of a body of Germans ceived by Henry III. with impertinence marched by Casimir, son of the elector and presumption. Dale, who succeeded palatine, into France, and thus decided the Walsingham as ambassador, says, he over- contest against Henry. He was reduced heard the king talk to Mongeron and the not only to the necessity of granting huadmiral of France, "with a flouting coun- miliating terms to the Huguenots, but to tenance," of "the queen of England as a the ignominy of paying the very Germans creature not so dangerous as she was deem- who had reduced him to this extremity.§ ed;""and what confirmeth," he adds, "this Thus dexterously did Elizabeth hold the kind of contempt is, that he made no men- balance between the king of France and tion at all of the renewing of the league in his Protestant subjects. She performed the any of their audiences."* He, however, same part, with the same adroitness and did confirm the league, but made little ac- success, between the king of Spain and count of the advice to give peace to his his revolted subjects in the Low Countries. kingdom by allowing freedom of conscience It has been observed, that if the illustrito the Huguenots; and he soon found that ous and long flourishing republic of the Elizabeth was a creature not less danger- united provinces erected statues to the ous than she was deemed. authors of its liberty, the first would be Henry III., on his return, found France due to cardinal Granvelle, whose tyrannical exhausted by the exactions and prodigality principles provoked the spirit of resistance, of the court, and torn by civil war. He and the second to the duke of Alva, who stood between two factions, the Hugue- attempted to carry Granville's principles nots, who were in arms, and the Guises, into effect. The third place might be who ruled the court, both equally abhor- fairly claimed for the queen of England; red by him. The advice of Elizabeth and it would be the place of honor. The might have saved him. He desired to be system of management and moderation informed by her whether she considered pursued by Elizabeth with the Netherthat the article of "mutual defence against lands, where the game was more difficult, all men" included "the case of religion," and the temptation to ambition greater, -was answered in the affirmative, and manifested still more skill and prudence made war upon the Huguenots. The than she had displayed with France. She prince of Condé had fled some time before saved and sustained the spirit of resistfrom the court to Germany, where he re-ance when it was sinking; she checked sumed the profession of the Protestant its violence when it would tempt the hazfaith, and solicited aid against the court of ards of desperation; she relaxed at critical France. Henry of Navarre, taking advan- moments the pressure of the Spanish powtage of a hunting party, escaped from his er, by appearing to favor the pretensions of captivity, avowed himself a Huguenot as the king of Spain, and a return to obedisoon as he found himself safe and free, and ence; she declined the sovereignty of the joined his arms with those of his religion revolted provinces when offered for herself, who were already in the field. If the two and prevented the prince of Orange from princes conformed, it should be remember- throwing his country into the arms of ed that princes rarely construe religion so France. When the proper time at last strictly as to become martyrs to it; and if came, she took the decisive counsel to they relapsed, it was hardly to be expected which she had long looked, committed herthat religious convictions produced by self with the cause of liberty, turned the Charles IX. and the St. Bartholomew scale, and severed for ever the bond beshould endure. The duke of Alençon, tween Spain and the Low Countries. disappointed of the succession to the throne The prince of Orange, with all his of Poland, and actuated by vindictive dis phlegm and fortitude, was struck with mo-er of rebellion, asserter of justice, and pacimentary consternation by the Parisian mas- ficator of the provinces. It was removed sacre. His brother, count Louis of Nas- by order of Requesens. He dissolved the sau, felt it still more deeply, because he councils, and dismissed the instruments had a share in persuading Coligny to trust which constituted Alva's machinery of pilthe faith of Charles IX. Unable to relieve lage and bloodshed, and published a genhis brother, who was besieged in Mons, or eral amnesty. The new governor, at the bring Alva to an engagement, which it same time, dispatched an envoy to Elizawas the purpose of the latter to avoid, the beth, to assure her of his disposition to prince returned into Holland, and count continue and improve the good understandLouis surrendered upon honorable terms of ing between the two courts. Letters capitulation. The fates of nations are too couched in the same style were addressed frequently supposed to depend upon one in- to her by Philip. Commercial interdividual life. It may be said, however, course, after a suspension of four years, that the liberty of Holland depended at this had been re-opened shortly before the demoment upon the life of the prince of parture of the duke of Alva. Elizabeth Orange. He had a remarkable escape in practised, without scruple, diplomatic evahis retreat from before Mons: a party of sion and sophistry; but no one knew betSpaniards pursued him in the night, enter- ter the value of fidelity to her express ened his camp, and had nearly reached his gagements. Commissioners had been aptent, when a spaniel lying on his bedt gave pointed, on the part of the British governthe alarm by barking violently, and scratch- ment and the duke of Alva; to settle the ing his face to awake him. amount of mutual reparation for seized The duke of Alva pursued his career property. She faithfully reimbursed the of devastation in Flanders and Brabant, English owners out of the sum placed in whilst, at the same time, the prince of her hands; whilst the Flemings received Orange rallied the spirits of the people, not a farthing from Alva or Philip of the and appeared in a position of resistance in sum which she had paid over to them. Holland. Philip II., commanding carnage The relations betwixt Elizabeth and and extermination from the distance and Philip, amicable, apparently, were governsecurity of his cabinet, was jealous of the ed by secret hatred and distrust. She gave disastrous celebrity acquired by the instru- Requesens an assurance of her friendly ments of his inhuman decrees. It was sug- disposition; but at the same time fitted out gested to him that the name of Alva in a fleet of twenty-five sail, under the appreEurope eclipsed his own, and the jealous hension that a Spanish fleet, which had tyrant recalled the destroyer and his son. left St. Andero to invest Brille, might be His reception by Philip was looked for destined for the invasion of some part of through Europe with curiosity. Whether her dominions. This proving a false from congenial cruelty, or the ascendant alarm, Dr. Wilson, a lawyer, was sent to of Alva over even Philip, he was received negotiate with Requesens the complete without censure or praise. He and his son re-establishment of English commerce with were subsequently consigned to imprison- Antwerp, as yet the only great emporium ment and chains; but it was the punish- of the provinces. He returned, after having ment of a private offence, committed by fully succeeded in his object. the son in debauching, and at the instiga- The amnesty of the king of Spain was tion of his father deserting, a young lady rejected by the states; and Requesens, afof high rank,-not of the cruelties which ter three months' negotiation, turned his had been committed by them during six mind to the employment of force. Alva, years in the Low Countries. The choice inexperienced in maritime war, was afraid of a successor would imply that even of compromising his reputation, and had Philip despaired of success by extermina- applied himself wholly to operations on tion. Zuniga de Requesens, commander of land.** His successor saw the impossibilCastile, assumed the government of the Low ity of reducing Holland, Zealand, and the Countries on the 2d of December, 1573. prince of Orange, without a naval force The new governor began by acts of con- superior to that of the states. He began ciliation and deceit. His first object was to by equipping a fleet at Antwerp. It was manifest the opposition between Alva's soon disabled by the infant navy of the government and his own. Alva had erect-provinces. The fleet which had been sent ed at Antwerp a statue of himself, with an to him from Spain was wrecked in the inscription describing him as the vanquish-winter storms off Dunkirk. Requesens, in his distress, applied to Elizabeth for † Ibid. * Strad. Dec. 1. lib. 7. Belg. § Ibid. leave to obtain ships and men in England. misconduct of his troops, who, on the eve The application could not have been seri- of battle, demanded their pay; and this ously intended, and covered some secret spirit of avarice and mutiny passed from design. It may have been meant for a test the vanquished to the victors. The Spanof the professions made by her of amity to ish troops clamored for "the price of their the king of Spain. Elizabeth answered blood," threw aside all discipline, directed the commander's request by issuing a their fury upon Antwerp, and extorted public order, strictly forbidding her sub- 40,000 florins from the citizens. Requejects to arm ships without her license, or sens, glad to obtain money by any means, enter the naval service of any foreign overlooked the mutiny, and sanctioned the prince. Requesens next solicited that the pillage of his troops. Low Country rebels, who had taken refuge The king of Spain, after a desolating in England, should be banished the king- contest of eight years, without any appeardom. This request, 'too, was refused, and ance of his being able to terminate it by in a tone approaching to sarcasm. She force, seemed intent as ever upon proseobserved to him that her acceding to a cuting the war. The deluge of human similar request had lost Brille to the king blood which had been shed could hardly be of Spain two years before; and reminded calculated, and, doubtless, little affected him that the earl of Westmoreland and the calculations of Philip: but he found other fugitives were received in the Low that he had expended 42,000,000 Spanish Countries.* The Spanish governor upon ducats,|| besides his exactions from the this sent away the earl of Westmoreland, provinces which obeyed him; and he lisand dissolved a college of seminary priests tened to suggestions of peace under the at Douay. Westmoreland had ceased to auspices of the emperor. A conference be an object of fear; and the terror en- took place at Breda. On the part of the tertained by Elizabeth and her counsellors prince of Orange and the states, it was deof seminary priests, even beyond the sea, manded that the foreign troops-that is, would excite a smile, if the severities ex- Philip's army-should be removed, and ercised upon them in England were not that assurance should be given for the pomelancholy proofs of the manner in which litical privileges and religious conscience reason can be blinded and humanity extin- of the people. The representatives of guished by fear, rancor, and intolerance. Philip would hear of nothing short of unElizabeth, on her side, met these conces- conditional submission, and the proscription sions by others equally futile in effect. She of Calvinism. "Was so great a king," issued a proclamation against the continued said they, "to be denied that authority over residence in England of such as had borne the religion of his subjects which was arroarms in the Low Countries against the gated by every petty German prince ?"¶ king of Spain, yet overlooked those who The conference broke up, and the confedchose to remain; and closed her ports erate provinces returned to that last apagainst the prince of Orange and other peal (to the sword) between nations and chiefs expressly named, yet received, soon their rulers, which publicists call the apafter, with honor, one of the most con-peal to Heaven. spicuous of those named, the count de St. The siege of Leyden is among the most Aldegonde. memorable examples of what human resoThe naval successes of the Dutch, which lution, with the love of those abstractions had liberated and secured Holland and -liberty and country-on the one side, the Zealand, were counterbalanced by a disas- patient energy and devotion of the camp trous battle on land, in the province of on the other, can endure and achieve. Guelders. Count Louis of Nassau, on his Why are manifestations so sublime of the way to join his brother the prince of capacity of man, combined with all that is Orange, was attacked by Davila, one of most revolting in savageness and fury? the lieutenants of Requesens, near Nime- The heart of a Spanish prisoner was torn guen. The defeat of the Netherlanders and devoured by a Dutch sailor.** Cut off was complete. Three princes,-Louis and from all communication by human enterHenry, brothers of the prince of Orange, prise, the prince of Orange and the beand Christopher, son of the elector pala- sieged communicated by means of pigeons, tine, were slain. The prince of Orange which it was recollected were so employed now stood alone of his father's house, to in Asia.tt Relief and safety came at last. avenge his family and liberate his country. The sluices were raised, the dikes were His situation was melancholy, but inspiring cut in the surrounding country, and not and glorious, and he was worthy of it. The fate of count Louis is ascribed to the *Camd. Ann. † Grot. Ann. lib. ii. Carte, Gen. Hist. b. 18. **Grot. Ann. lib. ii, + Ibid. § Ibid. ¶ Grot. Ann. lib. ii, tt Ibid. only the rivers but the sea itself flowed in whilst they had the air of respecting it. upon the Spaniards. With a courage more Never were the courts of Elizabeth and than human, and as if endowed with more Philip without fugitive malcontents plotthan giant force, the besiegers attempted ting mischief against their respective soveto withstand and divert the overwhelming reigns. Yet did it, by a curious destiny in inundation.* A favorable wind and spring the history of treaties, last longer than tide conspired with the agency of man, and many leagues much more honestly entered thousands of vessels bore food and life to into, and more faithfully observed. the Leydeners over the camp works of the The deputies of the states were less Spaniards, and the drowned bodies of 1000 easily satisfied than the envoy of Requeof them.t sens. They demanded an immediate and A detachment of Spaniards, wading at explicit answer, in order that, if she relow water across an arm of the sea two fused, they should apply to the king of leagues broad, under a constant fire from France. This touched the right chord. the Zealand gun-boats, reached the little Elizabeth had anticipated, and was preisland of Schawen, and besieged and ulti-pared for it. She had already sent Sir H. mately took the town of Zuriczee. Thus Cobham to Spain to press upon Philip the balanced and dreadful was the struggle. expediency of making peace, in order to Not only the states, but the prince of prevent the states from throwing themOrange, began at last to despair of their selves into the arms of France; and she cause without the protection of a foreign dispatched a special envoy to divert the power. There were but three states capa- prince of Orange from seeking the protecble of affording it,-Germany, France, and tion of Henry III., to which he had a maniEngland. Community of religion, the em-fest inclination. Thus prepared, she depire of the sea, and the descent of Eliza-clined the proffered sovereignty; but gave beth from Philippa, queen of Edward III., the deputies hopes of her mediating peace and daughter of a count of Hainault, de- with Philip, intimated that they might excided in her favor. St. Aldegonde, who pect succor from her if peace could not be possessed the entire confidence of the obtained, deprecated especially their placing prince of Orange, with other deputies, themselves under the protection of France, came over and offered her the sovereignty. and privately supplied them with a sum of Requesens at the same time sent over Per-money. renot, brother of cardinal Granvelle, to Requesens, without cruelty or oppres counteract the mission of the states. The sion, was operating with great activity position of Elizabeth was critical in the against the states: his chief aim was to extreme. She was not yet prepared for dislodge the prince of Orange from Zeawar with Spain; whilst the temptation to land. Philip showed no disposition to make her ambition, and the certainty that on her peace, though he received the suggestion refusal the offer would be made to the without offence. Elizabeth was threatened king of France, operated on the other side. with the necessity either of declaring herThe envoy of Requesens, finding the dep- self openly, or of seeing the states crushed utation of the states headed by St. Alde- by Spain or annexed to France. A forgonde, one of the very persons proscribed tunate event rescued the Netherlands from by name from her ports by Elizabeth, peril, and allowed her to readjust herself could have little doubt how her inclination in her position as a balancing power. A lay. Upon his complaining of the recep- pestilential fever, or, according to some tion of a man whom she had expressly ex- writers, the plague itself, made some cluded, she answered, "that he came over atonement for its ravages in the states, by as a deputy to give her an account of the carrying off the Spanish governor, on the conference of Breda, and she was obliged, 5th of March, 1576. His death was so sudtherefore, to receive him with courtesy." den that he appointed no successor, as he She reiterated once more her assurance was warranted to do: the officers who that she should still faithfully adhere to served immediately under him knew Philip the league of Burgundy, which bound too well to presume beyond their express England and Spain to abstain mutually from commissions, even for his service; and the aiding or protecting those whom they re- Low Countries were rescued from almost spectively considered rebels to their author- certain subjugation. The council of state ity. This league seemed made only to be assumed the powers of government. Disevaded or infringed. It was the constant orders the most dreadful immediately folstudy of the lives of both parties to violate, lowed. The troops which Requesens employed to make the conquest of Zealand *Strad. de Bell. Belg. dec. 1. lib. viii. Voltaire, mutinied for their pay, made an irruption Hist. Gen. † Strad. de Bell. Belg. lib. viii. Grot. Ann. lib. ii. § Grot. Ann. lib. ii. 1 |