so long as the present
Governor, whose duplicity and insolence they represented in a very strong
light, should remain in office. Should his Majesty, however, prefer to
continue Don John in the government, they signified their willingness, in
consideration of his natural good qualities, to make the best of the
matter. Should, however, the estrangement between themselves and the
Governor seem irremediable, they begged that another and a legitimate
prince of the blood might be appointed in his place.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Country would bear his loss with fortitude
Its humility, seemed sufficiently ironical
Not upon words but upon actions
Perfection of insolence
Was it astonishing that murder was more common than fidelity?

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg Edition, Vol. 29

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley

1855

CHAPTER IV.

Orange invited to visit Brussels--His correspondence upon the
subject with the estates--general--Triumphant journey of the Prince
to the capital----Stop put by him to the negotiations with Don John
--New and stringent demands made upon the Governor--His indignation
--Open rupture--Intrigue of Netherland grandees with Archduke
Matthias--Policy of Orange--Attitude of Queen Elizabeth--Flight of
Matthias from Vienna--Anxiety of Elizabeth--Adroitness of the
Prince--The office of Reward--Election of Orange to that dignity--
His complaints against the great nobles--Aerschot Governor of
Flanders--A storm brewing in Ghent--Ryhove and Imbize--Blood-
Councillor Hessels--Arrogance of the aristocratic party in Flanders
--Ryhove's secret interview with Orange--Outbreak at Ghent--Arrest
of Aerschot, Hessels, and others of the reactionary party--The Duke
liberated at demand of Orange--The Prince's visit to Ghent--
Rhetorical demonstrations--The new Brussels Union characterized--
Treaty with England--Articles by which Matthias is nominally
constituted Governor-General--His inauguration at Brussels--
Brilliant and fantastic ceremonies--Letter of Don John to the
Emperor--His anger with England--An army collecting--Arrival of
Alexander Farnese--Injudicious distribution of offices in the
States' army--The States' army fall back upon Gemblours, followed by
Don John--Tremendous overthrow of the patriots--Wonderful disparity
in the respective losses of the two