y, out of Chaos and Night, the coming
Republic was assuming substance and form. The union, if it created
nothing else, at least constructed a league against a foreign foe whose
armed masses were pouring faster and faster into the territory of the
provinces. Farther than this it did not propose to go. It maintained what
it found. It guaranteed religious liberty, and accepted the civil and
political constitutions already in existence. Meantime, the defects of
those constitutions, although visible and sensible, had not grown to the
large proportions which they were destined to attain.

Thus by the Union of Utrecht on the one hand, and the fast approaching
reconciliation of the Walloon provinces on the other, the work of
decomposition and of construction went Land in hand.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Are apt to discharge such obligations--(by) ingratitude
Like a man holding a wolf by the ears
Local self-government which is the life-blood of liberty
No man ever understood the art of bribery more thoroughly
Not so successful as he was picturesque
Plundering the country which they came to protect
Presumption in entitling themselves Christian
Protect the common tranquillity by blood, purse, and life
Republic, which lasted two centuries
Throw the cat against their legs
Worship God according to the dictates of his conscience

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 32

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley
1855

CHAPTER II.

Parma's feint upon Antwerp--He invests Maestricht--Deputation and
letters from the states-general, from Brussels, and from Parma, to
the Walloon provinces--Active negotiations by Orange and by Farnese
--Walloon envoys in Parma's camp before Maestricht--Festivities--The
Treaty of Reconciliation--Rejoicings of the royalist party--Comedy
enacted at the Paris theatres--Religious tumults in Antwerp,
Utrecht, and other cities--Religious Peace enforced by Orange--
Philip Egmont's unsuccessful attempt upon Brussels--Siege of
Maestricht--Failure at the Tongres gate--Mining and countermining--
Partial destruction of the Tongres ravelin--Simultaneous attack upon
the Tongres and Bolls-le-Duo gates--The Spaniards repulsed with
great loss--Gradual encroachments of the besiegers--Bloody contests
--The town taken--Horrible massacre--Triumphal entrance and sol