FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225  
226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   >>   >|  
A.D. 1584 JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY Throughout the earlier period of the "heroic age of the Netherlands" William of Orange, the natural leader of his people, displayed qualities of foresight, prudence, and courage worthy of the position which he held. Without great generalship, "he knew how to wait and turn his reverses to account." His life was constantly in danger and was repeatedly attempted, but his resolution was never disturbed by fear. While meriting the surname of the "Silent," he expressed himself effectively in the decisive speech of action. The Pacification of Ghent (1576)--the union of the seventeen Netherland provinces, of which William was at the head--was of short duration. The northern provinces were Protestant, the southern mostly Catholic. Diverse trade interests also prevented perfect union. Compromise was attempted without avail. The Southern provinces acknowledged Philip II, while the seven Northern provinces--Holland, Zealand, Utrecht, Gelderland, Overyssel, Friesland, and Groningen--formed themselves (1579) into the Union of Utrecht, a federal republic, with William of Orange as stadtholder. A little later the Spanish government published a ban against the Prince and set a price upon his head. Many attempts against his life were made by assassins eager for the promised reward. How the treacherous end was finally compassed is told by Motley with all the dramatic realism necessary for a faithful description of the scene. In March, 1583, one Pietro Dordogno was executed in Antwerp for endeavoring to assassinate the Prince. Before his death he confessed that he had come from Spain solely for the purpose, and that he had conferred with La Motte, Governor of Gravelines, as to the best means of accomplishing his design. In April, 1584, Hans Hanzoon, a merchant of Flushing, had been executed for attempting to destroy the Prince by means of gunpowder concealed under his house in that city and under his seat in the church. He confessed that he had deliberately formed the intention of performing the deed, and that he had discussed the details of the enterprise with the Spanish ambassador in Paris. At about the same time one Le Goth, a captive French officer, had been applied to by the Marquis de Richebourg, on the part of Alexander of Parma, to attempt the murder of the Prince. Le
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   201   202   203   204   205   206   207   208   209   210   211   212   213   214   215   216   217   218   219   220   221   222   223   224   225  
226   227   228   229   230   231   232   233   234   235   236   237   238   239   240   241   242   243   244   245   246   247   248   249   250   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

provinces

 

Prince

 

William

 
attempted
 

formed

 
confessed
 

executed

 

Utrecht

 

Spanish

 
Orange

Before

 

assassinate

 

assassins

 

Antwerp

 

endeavoring

 

attempts

 

Motley

 
Dordogno
 
Pietro
 
treacherous

description

 

faithful

 
realism
 

compassed

 

finally

 

reward

 

promised

 
dramatic
 

accomplishing

 

ambassador


discussed

 

details

 

enterprise

 

captive

 

French

 

Alexander

 

attempt

 
murder
 

Richebourg

 
officer

applied

 

Marquis

 

performing

 

intention

 

design

 

Gravelines

 

Governor

 

purpose

 

conferred

 

Hanzoon