History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 3

History of the United
Netherlands, 1585 part 3

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Title: History of the United Netherlands, 1585
Author: John Lothrop Motley
Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4841] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on April 2,
2002]

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Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY
UNITED NETHERLANDS, 1585 ***

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HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS From the Death of
William the Silent to the Twelve Year's Truce--1609
By John Lothrop Motley

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, Project Gutenberg
Edition, Volume 41
History United Netherlands, v41, 1584
CHAPTER V
., Part 3.
Sainte Aldegonde discouraged--His Critical Position--His Negotiations
with the Enemy--Correspondence with Richardot-- Commotion in the
City--Interview of Marnix with Parma--Suspicious Conduct of
Marnix--Deputation to the Prince--Oration of Marnix-- Private Views
of Parma--Capitulation of Antwerp--Mistakes of Marnix --Philip on the
Religious Question--Triumphal Entrance of Alexander-- Rebuilding of
the Citadel--Gratification of Philip--Note on Sainte Aldegonde
Sainte Aldegonde's position had become a painful one. The net had
been drawn closely about the city. The bridge seemed impregnable, the
great Kowenstyn was irrecoverably in the hands of the enemy, and now
all the lesser forts in the immediate vicinity of Antwerp-Borght,

Hoboken, Cantecroix, Stralen, Berghen, and the rest--had likewise
fallen into his grasp. An account of grain, taken on the 1st of June, gave
an average of a pound a-head for a month long, or half a pound for two
months. This was not the famine-point, according to the standard which
had once been established in Leyden; but the courage of the burghers
had been rapidly oozing away, under the pressure of their recent
disappointments. It seemed obvious to the burgomaster, that the time
for yielding had arrived.
"I had maintained the city," he said, "for a long period, without any
excessive tumult or great effusion of blood--a city where there was
such a multitude of inhabitants, mostly merchants or artisans deprived
of all their traffic, stripped of their manufactures, destitute of all
commodities and means of living. I had done this in the midst of a great
diversity of humours and opinions, a vast popular license, a confused
anarchy, among a great number of commanders, most of them
inexperienced in war; with very little authority of my own, with slender
forces of ships, soldiers, and sailors; with alight appearance of support
from king or prince without, or of military garrison within; and under
all these circumstances I exerted myself to do my uttermost duty in
preserving the city, both in regard to its internal government, and by
force of arms by land and sea, without sparing myself in any labour or
peril.
"I know very well that there are many persons, who, finding themselves
quite at their ease, and far away from the hard blows that are passing,
are pleased to exhibit their wisdom by sitting in judgment upon others,
founding their decision only upon the results. But I demand to be
judged by equity and reason, when passion has been set aside. I claim
that my honour shall be protected against my calumniators; for all
should remember that I am not the first man, nor shall I be the last, that
has been blamed unjustly. All persons employed in public affairs are
subject to such hazards, but I submit myself to Him who knows all
hearts, and who governs all. I take Him to witness that in the affair of
Antwerp, as in all my other actions since my earliest youth, I have most
sincerely sought His glory and the, welfare