History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 3 | Page 2

of His poor people, without
regard to my own private interests."
For it is not alone the fate of Antwerp that is here to be recorded. The
fame of Sainte Aldegonde was now seriously compromised. The

character of a great man must always be closely scanned and
scrutinised; protected, if needful, against calumny, but always
unflinchingly held up to the light. Names illustrious by genius and
virtue are History's most precious treasures, faithfully to be guarded by
her, jealously to be watched; but it is always a misfortune when her
eyes are deceived by a glitter which is not genuine.
Sainte Aldegonde was a man of unquestionable genius. His character
had ever been beyond the reproach of self-seeking or ignoble ambition.
He had multiplied himself into a thousand forms to serve the cause of
the United Netherland States, and the services so rendered had been
brilliant and frequent. A great change in his conduct and policy was
now approaching, and it is therefore the more necessary to examine
closely at this epoch his attitude and his character.
Early in June, Richardot, president of the council of Artois, addressed a
letter to Sainte Aldegonde, by command of Alexander of Parma,
suggesting a secret interview between the burgomaster and the Prince.
On the 8th of June, Sainte Aldegonde replied, in favourable terms, as to
the interview; but observed, that, as he was an official personage, it was
necessary for him to communicate the project to the magistracy of the
city. He expressed likewise the hope that Parma would embrace the
present opportunity for making a general treaty with all the Provinces.
A special accord with Antwerp, leaving out Holland and Zeeland,
would, he said, lead to the utter desolation of that city, and to the
destruction of its commerce and manufactures, while the occasion now
presented itself to the Prince of "winning praise and immortal glory by
bringing back all the country to a voluntary and prompt obedience to
his Majesty." He proposed, that, instead of his coming alone, there
should be a number of deputies sent from Antwerp to confer with
Alexander.
On the 11th June, Richardot replied by expressing, his own regrets and
those of the Prince, that the interview could not have been with the
burgomaster alone, but acknowledging the weight of his reasons, and
acquiescing in the proposition to send a larger deputation. Three days
afterwards, Sainte Aldegonde, on private consultation with some
confidential personages, changed his ground; announced his preference
for a private interview, under four eyes, with Parma; and requested that
a passport might be sent. The passport was accordingly forwarded the

same day, with an expression of Alexander's gratification, and with the
offer, on the part of Richardot, to come himself to Antwerp as hostage
during the absence of the burgomaster in Parma's camp at Beveren.
Sainte Aldegonde was accordingly about to start on the following day
(16th of June), but meantime the affair had got wind. A secret interview,
thus projected, was regarded by the citizens as extremely suspicious.
There was much bitter insinuation against the burgomaster-- many
violent demonstrations. "Aldegonde, they say, is going to see Parma,"
said one of the burghers, "which gives much dissatisfaction, because,
'tis feared that he will make a treaty according to the appetite and
pleasure of his Highness, having been gained over to the royal cause by
money. He says that it would be a misfortune to send a large number of
burghers. Last Sunday (16th June) there was a meeting of the broad
council. The preachers came into the assembly and so animated the
citizens by demonstrations of their religion, that all rushed from the
council-house, crying with loud voices that they did not desire peace
but war."
This desire was a healthy and a reasonable one; but, unfortunately, the
Antwerpers had not always been so vigorous or so united in their
resistance to Parma. At present, however, they were very furious, so
soon as the secret purpose of Sainte Aldegonde became generally
known. The proposed capitulation, which great mobs had been for
weeks long savagely demanding at the hands of the burgomaster, was
now ascribed to the burgomaster's unblushing corruption. He had
obviously, they thought, been purchased by Spanish ducats to do what
he had hitherto been so steadily refusing. A certain Van Werne had
gone from Antwerp into Holland a few days before upon his own
private affairs, with a safe- conduct from Parma. Sainte Aldegonde had
not communicated to him the project then on foot, but he had permitted
him to seek a secret interview with Count Mansfeld. If that were
granted, Van Werne was to hint that in case the Provinces could
promise themselves a religious peace it would be possible, in the
opinion of Sainte Aldegonde, to induce Holland and Zealand and all