History of the United Netherlands, 1584-1609, Complete

of Catharine de' Medici upon Portugal-Letters of Henry and Catharine-Secret Proposal by France to invade England-States' Mission to Henry of Navarre-Subsidies

n against England -Secret Interview of Mendoza and Villeroy-Complaints of E

instructions, his envoy, Des Pruneaux, had been busily employed in the States, arranging the terms of a treaty which should be entirely satisfactory. It had been laid down as an indispensable condition that Holland and Zeeland should unite in the offer of sovereignty, and, after the expenditure of

amed, as the time passed by, to hear nothing of the deputies, nor of any excuse on the subject. It woul

hat I blush at hearing nothing from you. I shall have the shame and you the damage. I regret much the

overeignty of the Provinces, now rebuke the governments which had ever since been strenuously engaged in removing all obstacles to the entire f

serve for the present legation; although the object of both embassies was to offer a crown. The deputies were, however, not kept in prison, upon this occasion, nor treated like thieves or spies. They were admirably lodg

l cabinet. The apartments through which they passed swarmed with the foremost nobles, court-functionaries, and ladies of France, in blazing gala costume, who all greeted the envoys with demonstrations of extreme respect: The halls and cor

is cabinet, where he was

oremost and bravest "

lette, and the Coun

side of his head, his long locks duly perfumed and curled, his sword at his side, and a little basket, full of puppies, suspended from his neck by a broad ribbon. He

s and apostilles by the hundred weight, and at last articles of annexation were presented by the envoys, and Pruneaux looked at and pronounced them "too raw and imperative," and the envoys took them home again, and dressed them and cooked them till there was no substance left in them; for whereas the envoys originally offered the crown of their country to France, on condition that no religion but the reformed religion should be tolerated there, no appointments made but by the States, and no security offered for advances to be made by the Christian King, save the hearts and oaths of his new subjects-so they now en

d presented, on the part of the King, to each of the envo

g boundless assistance, if they would unanimously offer their sovereignty; who had vanquished by his importunity the resistance of the stern Hollanders, the last of all the Nether

great variety of times and terms. Many a man is refused by a woman twice, who succeeds the third time," and so o

ys took shipping at Dieppe, and a

the negotiation of t

end the ineffable meanness of the hands which then could hold the destiny of mighty empires. Here had been offered a magnificent prize to France; a great extent of frontier in the quarter where expansion was most desirable, a protective network of towns and fortresses on the side most vulnerable, flourishing, cities on the se

accoutred," during that dreadful winter when the inhabitants of Brussels, Antwerp, Mechlin-to save which splendid cities and to annex them to France, was a main object of the solemn embassy from the Netherlands-were eating rats, and cats, and dogs, and the weeds from the pavements, and the grass from the churchyards; and were finding themselves more closely pressed than ever by the rel

with mask and cothurn and tinsel crown, playing their well-conned parts upon t

That magniloquent Spaniard instantly claimed an interview with the King, before whom, according to the statement of his colleagues, doing their

ptuous and malapert manner of proceeding, the King did in choler and with some sharp speeches, let him plainly understand that he was an absolute king, bound to yield account of his doings to no

ever been spoken, or if there had been a

ed by French troops, it was not the intention of Catharine de' Medici to restore to Philip, and a truce on the subject had been arranged provisionally for a year. Philip, taking Parma's advice to prevent the French court, if possible, from "fomenting the Netherland rebellion," had authorized the Prince to con

ad been put forward, but had been little heeded. The claim went back more than three hundred years, and to establish its validity would have been to convert the peaceable possession of a long line of sovereigns into usurpation. To ascend to Alphonso III.

d had been disappointed. "He told me," said Henry, "that he would make proposals so soon as Tassis should be gone, but he has done nothing yet. He said to Gondi that all he meant was to get the truce of Cambray accomplished. I hope, however, that my brother, the King of Spain, will do what is right in regard to madam my mother's pretensions. 'Tis likely that he will be now incited thereto, seeing that the deputies of all the Netherland prov

er to penetrate the schemes of Philip, and to this end ordered him an increase o

that my kingdom was free, and that I should hear from them all that they had to say, because I could not abandon madam my mother in her pretensions, not only for the filial obedience which I owe her, but because I am her only heir. Mendoza repl

The ambassador is not represented as extremely insolent, but only pressing; and certainly there is little left of the fine periods on Henry's part about

lum in exchange for offered sovereignty, not a syllable upon liberty of conscience, of religious or civil rights; nothing but a petty and exclusive care for the interests of his mother's pocket, and of his own as his mother's heir. This farthing-candle was alone to guide the

ore explicit and unblushing

s upon Portugal, which I am determined to pursue by every means within my power. Nevertheless I have told Don Bernardino that I should always be ready to embrace any course likely to bring about a peaceful conclusion. He then entered into a discussion of my rights, which, he said, were not thought in S

placed, she had advanced her claims, which had been so fully recognized in Portugal, that she had been received as Infanta of the kingdom. All pretensions to the throne being now through women only, hers

frankly and promptly upon the recompense which he is willing to make me for

hand. She was also determined to bring Philip up to the point, without showing her own game. "I will never say," said Catharine-ingenuous no longer-"I will never say how much I as

t, unseen current was running counter to all the movement which appeared upon the surface. The tergiversations of the Span

madam my mother for her claims upon Portugal. But they had better remember (and I think they will), that out of the offers which these sixteen deputies of the Netherlands are bringing

, for the good of Christendom, that 'twill be too late. The deputies are come, bringing carte blanche. Nevertheless, if the King of Spain is

French government and the envoys, the demands upon Philip for

o any farther, for the King of Spain to come to reason about the pretensions of madam mother. This will be a means of establishing the repose of Christendom. I shall be very willing to concur in such an arrangement, if I saw any approximation to it on the part of t

rse maintained between Henry III. and the Prince of Parma. The Spanish Governor-General was assured that nothing but the warmest regard was entertained for him and his master on the part of the French court. Parma had replied, however, that so many Frenc

rises in this regard, and preferred to have his own subjects cut into pieces rather than that they should carry out their designs. Had his Majesty bee

he efforts which Elizabeth's government had been making to counteract the policy which offered the sovereignty of the provinces to the French monarch. At the same time there was at least a loyal disposition upon the Queen's part to assist the Netherlands, in concurrence with Henry. The de

ttempting to barter the sovereignty offered him by the Netherlanders against a handsome recompense for the Portugal claim, but he was actually proposing to the King of Spain to join with him in an invasion

d kingdom, and thus of being made fools of when they think of coming back again. Let them first exterminate the heretics of France, and then we will look after those of England; because 'tis more important to finish those who are near than tho

the States, but allowed Burghley and those who acted with him to flatter themselves with the chimera that Henry could be induced to protect the Netherlands without assuming the sovereignty of that commonwealth. The Provinces were fighting for their existence, unconscious of their latent strength, and willing to trus

t all these intrigues were about to take. He could hardly doubt that Spain was playing a dark and desperate game with the unfortunate Henry III.; for, as we have seen, he had himself not long before received a secret and liberal of

the King, they sent Calvart, who had been secretary to their embassy

her attempt to overcome the Guise faction by gentle means, or at once make war upon them. The Bishop of Acqs had strongly recommended the French monarch to send the King of Navarre, with a strong force, to the assistance of the Netherlands, urging the point

me would be carried into effect; but he assured Calvart, that nothing

th Spanish dollars, I shall send a special envoy to the most Christian King, and, although 'tis somewhat late, implore him to throw his weight into the scal

ep him informed of their plans and movements; expressing the opinion that these very intrigues

vart urged the King of Navarre to assist the States at that moment with some slight subsidy. Antwerp was in such imminent danger

d his own position so dangerous, as to make it difficult for him to ma

such dark and stormy weather, that those who have clearest sight ar

is own charges, to the Provinces without delay; and authorised that envoy to consult with his agent at th

Christian monarch of France had refused, after months of negotiation, and with sovereignty as the purchase-money. The envoy, well pleased,

Should the King either openly or secretly assist the Netherlands or allow them to be assisted, 'twould be a reason for all the Catholics now sustaining his Majesty's party to go over to the Guise faction. The Provinces must remain firm,

King meant to assist the Provinces. "I know well who is the author of these troubles," said the unhappy monarch, who never once mentioned

d as ever, more merry and hopeful as the tempest grew blacker; manifesting the most frank and friendly sentiments towards the Provinces, and writing to Queen Elizabet

gues, and lighting these flames of civil war which were so long to make France a scene of desolation, was that of the industrious letter-writer in the Escorial. That which Henry of Navarre shrewdly suspected, when he talked of the Spanish dollars in the Bal

ce. That France should remain internally at peace was contrary to all his plans. He had therefore long kept Guise and his brother, the Cardin

nature of him it was bound to obey. Farnese was at that moment engaged in a most arduous military undertaking, that famous siege of Antwerp, the details of which will be related in future chapters, yet he was never furnished with men or money enough to ensure success to a much more ordinary operation. His complaints, subdued but intense, fell almost unheeded on his master's ear. He had not "ten dollars

pulpit in his own kingdom, while the sister of Mucio, the Duchess of Montpensier, carried the scissors at her girdle, with which she threatened to provide Henry with a third crown, in addition to those of France and Poland, which he had disgraced-the coronal tonsure of a monk. The convent should be, it

on the one part, and John Baptist Tassis and Commander Moreo, on the other, as representatives of Philip. This transaction, sufficiently well known now to the most superficial student of history, was a profound mystery then, so far as regarded the

superfluous money and learning was expended in ordering some elaborate legal arguments to be prepared by venal jurisconsults, proving not only that the uncle ought to succeed before the nephew, but that neither the one nor the oth

old, and feeble beyond his years, who, his life long, had never achieved one manly action, and had now one foot in the grave; this was t

d into effect. Philip pledged himself to furnish at least fifty thousand crowns monthly, for the advancement of this Holy League, as it was denominated, and as much more as should prove necessary. The sums advanced were to be repaid by the Cardinal on his succeeding to the throne. All the great officers of the crown, lords and gentlemen, cities, chapters, and universities, all Catholics, in short, in the kingdom, were deemed to

ibility, he was perpetually provoked by the noise, the bombast, and the bustle, which his less prudent confederates permitted themselves. While Philip for a long time hesitated to confide the secret of the League to Parma, whom it most imported to understand these schemes of his master, the confeder

to know it. Therefore you must speak clearly to the Prince of Parma, informing him of the whole scheme, and enjoining the utmost secrecy. You must concert with him as to the b

erhuman labour in the Antwerp siege, to be distracted, impoverished, and weakened,

, while each was tampering with the rebellious subjects of the other-to Malpierre Parma flatly contradicted all complicity

other reply than that which the President has done-that there is nothing at all in it-until they are fairly arrived in France. The Pres

end succour to the League, according to the boast of these gentlemen, he had never thought of such a thing, nor had received any order on the subject from his

r of dissimulation, however enraged he might be at seeing men and money diverted f

ontempt for Henry III, made him blind to the dangers to be apprehe

fifty thousand dollars for the use of the brothers Guise. "Tell Iniquez to warn them not to be sluggish. Let them not begin in a lukewarm manner, but promise them plenty

oposed by the Spanish monarch were ludicrously inadequate to his plans, and it was idle to suppose that t

inguish the last spark of rebellion in the Netherlands, was his secret thought, and yet it was very difficult to get fifty thousand do

t him lay the axe to the root of the tree, for to be wast

and tampering, there began to be recrimination among t

an ear to suggestions about peace, without being sure of its conclusion, he has turned his followers into cowards, discredited his cause, and given the King of France opportunity to strengthen his force and i

royalists. Cardinal Bourbon, discarding his ecclesiastical robes and scarlet stockings, paraded himself daily in public, clothed in military costume, with all the airs of roy

a youth of such insolence, that without uncovering he would talk with men of royal descent,

home, to bleed, and to die, were merely ignorant, gaping spectators. That there was something very grave in prospect was obvious, but exactly what was impending they knew no more than the generation yet unborn. Very noiselessly had the patient manager who sat in the Escorial been making preparations for that European tragedy in which most of the actors had such fatal parts assigned them, and of which few of the spectators of its ope

even under the protection of that mighty swordsman; Mucio, careering, truncheon in hand, in full panoply, upon his war-horse, waving forward a mingled mass of German lanzknechts, Swiss musketeers, and Lorraine pikemen; the redoubtable Don Bernardino de Mendoza, in front, frowning and ferocious, with his drawn sword in his hand; Elizabeth of England, in the back ground, with the

he secret negotiations and intrigues, however, by which those external facts were preceded or accompanied rest mai

e was signed on the la

ture of the interview of

her, which took place

conference, Don Bernard

no time in stimulating h

cret a

tment was the signal for the general exhibition and explosion. The great civil war began, and the

ed with the highest honours, and laden with enormous emoluments, had excluded the ancient and honoured functionaries of the state, who had been obliged to sell out their offices to these upstart successors. These new favourites had seized the finances of the kingdom, all of which were now collected into the private coffers of the King, and shared by him with his courtiers. The people were groaning under new taxes invented every day, yet they knew nothing of the distribution of the public treasure, while the King himself was so impoverished as to be unable to discharge his daily debts. Meantime these new advisers of the crown had renewed to the Protestants of t

uld not take these warlike demonstrations amiss; and

ians in their employ, had taken very bold grounds upon the relations between king and subjects, and had made the public very familiar with their doctrines. It was a duty, they said, "to depose a prince who did not discharge his

who were parading their contempt for his authority, by humble excuses, and supplications for pardon. He threw his crown in the dust before their feet, as if such humility would induce them to place it again upon his head. He abandoned the minions who had been his pride, his joy, and his defence, and deprecated, with an abject whi

insolently nor carelessly, but with the cold courtesy of a Christian knight and valiant gentleman. He denied the charge of heresy. He av

e kingdom had been secured. He could not himself be denounced as a heretic, for he had always held himself ready to receive instruction, and to be set right where he had erred. To call him "relapsed" was an outrage. Were it true, he were indeed unworthy of the crown, but the world knew that his change at the Massacre of St. Bartholomew had been made under duresse, and that he had returned to the reformed faith when he had recovered his liberty.

ced him were alien to France, factitious portions of her body, feeling no suffering, even should she be consuming with living fire. The Leagu

buried in the edict of peace. Let us speak only of Frenchmen and of Spaniards. It is the count

gle combat with the Duke of Guise, one to one, two to two, or in as large a number as might be desired, and upon any spot within or without the kingdom that should be assigned. "The D

nay, who was to have been the second of the King of N

s urged and his own reason approved. His choice had lain between open hostility with his Spanish enemy and a more terrible combat with that implacable foe wearing the mask of friendship. He had refused to annex to his crown the rich and powerful Ne

notwithstanding the festivities and exuberant demonstrations of friendship with which the Earl of Derby's splendid embassy had been greeted, it became necessary to bind Henry

Bishop of Acqs uttered his eloquent warnings. Despite such timely counsels, which he was capable at once of appreciating and of neglecting, Henry followed slavish

sh for a very secret interview with Mendoza

ed in uniting those crowns (of France and Spain) in strict friendship, for the purpose of extirpating heresy throughout Europe, and of chastising the Queen of England-whose abominations I am never likely to forget, having had them so long before my eyes-and of satisfying my just resentment f

ejoicings with Lord Derby and his companions, which had so much enlivened the French capital-and assured him that his most Catholic Majesty w

lleroy commenced his harangue by an allusion to the current opinion, that Mendoza had arrived in France wi

rant people of the kingdom, they do not appal me, although they evidently imagine that I have imbibed, during my residence in England, some

nd his mother, who, after the propositions which they had made him, when on his way to Spain, had, si

th the leaguers and the rebels of France; and Mendoza rejoined by an intimation that harping up

minister"-that Philip would league himself with Henry for the purpose of invading England, in order to reduce the three kingdoms to the Catholic faith, and to place their crowns on the head of the Queen of Scotland, to whom they of right belonged; then that the King, his master, was most ready to join in so holy an enterprise. He begged Mendoza to say with what number of troops the invasion could be made; whether Philip could send any from Flanders or from Spain; how many it would be well to send from France, and under what chieftain; in what manner it w

ingdoms, in case of unfavourable weather and head-winds, and that they could arrange from what ports to sail, in what direction, and under what commanders. He disapproved, however, of sending a special messenger to Spain, on the ground of wishing to keep the matter entirely secret, but in reality-as he informed Philip-because he chose to keep the management in his own hands; because he could always let slip Mucio upon them, in case they should play him false

although the ambassador was of opinion that the most Christian King was sincere in his proposition to invade En

England, so cruelly afflicted, wished to force the French King and his minister to feel, in the necessity which surrounds them, that the offending Him, by impeding the gr

m to their rightful owner, is a purpose so holy, just, and worthy of your Majesty, and one which you have had so constantly in view, that it is superfluous for me to enlarge upon the subject. Your Majesty knows that its effects will be the tranquillity and preservation of all your realms. The reasons for making the attempt, even without the aid of France, become demonstrations now that she is unanimously in favour of the scheme. The most Christian King is resolutely bent-so far as I can comprehend the intrigues of Villeroy-to carry out this project on the foundation of a treaty with the Guise party. It will not take much time, therefore, to put down the heretics here; nor will it consume much more to conquer England wi

of which he had just been so indignantly and rhetorically denying-but it was desirable that the French should believe that this civil war was not Philip's sole object. He concluded by drawing his master's attention to the sufferings of the English Catholics. "I cannot refrain," he said, "from placing before your eyes the terrible persecutions which the Catholics are suffering in England; the blood of the mar

t Elizabeth, is even more painful; for it had unfortunately too much, of truth, although as wilfully darkened and exaggerated as could be done by religious hatred and Spanish bombast. The Queen was surrounded by leg

mark at which all the tyrants and assassins of Europe were aiming-although not possessing perhaps the evidences of her peril so completely as they have been revealed to us-should come to consider every English Pap

, the great English Queen, stood ready to support the cause of French nationality, and of all nationalities, against a threatening world-empire, of religious liberty against sacerdotal absolutism, and the crown of a King, whose only merit had hitherto been to acquies

in the very palace of France, and full in the monarch's f

to the Nonconformists to put their affairs in order, after which they were to make public profession of the Catholic religion, with regular attendance upon its ceremonies, or else go into perpetual exile. To remain in France without abjuring heresy was thenceforth a mortal crime, to be expiated upon the gallows. As a matt

rliament of Paris, to be present at the registration of the edict. The counsellors and presidents were all assembled, and as they sat there in their crimson robes, they seemed, to the excited imagination of those who loved their country, like embodiments of the impending and most sang

id a contemporary; the King was on foot, and dressed in a shirt of penitence. The alliance was not an

ned for a time, with amazement and sorrow, leaning heavily upon a table, with his face in his right ha

it was a house without a roof-this monk of humble origin was of inordinate ambition. Feigning a humility which was but the cloak to his pride, he was in reality as grasping, self-seeking, and revengefu

ed princes from their thrones into the abyss, like children of Beelzebub, the Pope proceeded to fulminate his sentence of excommunication against those children of wrath, Henry of Navarre and Henry of Conde. They were denounced as heretics, relapsed, and enemies o

t, that Mr. Sixtus, calling himself Pope, had foully and maliciously lied in calling the King of Navarre a heretic. This Henry offered to prove before any free council legitimately chosen. If the Pope refused to submit to such decision, he was himself no better than excommunicate and Antichrist, and the King of Navarre thereby declared mortal and per

maintained by Navarre, as he tossed back the thunderbolts. He often spoke afterwards of Henry with genuine admiration, and declared that in all the

throughout Christendom, and the monarch of France

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