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

the
rest of the United Provinces, to return to their obedience. Van Werne,
on his return to Antwerp, divulged these secret negotiations, and so put
a stop to Sainte Aldegonde's scheme of going alone to Parma. "This has
given a bad suspicion to the people," wrote the burgomaster to

Richardot, "so much so that I fear to have trouble. The broad council
has been in session, but I don't know what has taken place there, and I
do not dare to ask."
Sainte Aldegonde's motive, as avowed by himself, for seeking a private
interview, was because he had received no answer to the main point in
his first letter, as to the proposition for a general accord. In order
therefore to make the deliberations more rapid, he had been disposed to
discuss that preliminary question in secret. "But now," said he to
Richardot, "as the affair had been too much divulged, as well by
diverse reports and writings sown about, very inopportunely, as by the
arrival of M. Van Werne, I have not found it practicable to set out upon
my road, without communication with the members of the government.
This has been done, however, not in the way of consultation, but as the
announcement of a thing already resolved upon."
He proceeded to state, that great difficulties had arisen, exactly as he
had foreseen. The magistrates would not hear of a general accord, and
it was therefore necessary that a delay should be interposed before it
would be possible for him to come. He begged Richardot to persuade
Alexander, that he was not trifling with him. "It is not," said he, "from
lightness, or any other passion, that I am retarding this affair. I will do
all in my power to obtain leave to make a journey to the camp of his
Highness, at whatever price it may cost and I hope before long to arrive
at my object. If I fail, it must be ascribed to the humours of the people;
for my anxiety to restore all the Provinces to obedience to his Majesty
is extreme."
Richardot, in reply, the next day, expressed regret, without
astonishment, on the part of Alexander and himself, at the intelligence
thus received. People had such difference of humour, he said, and all
men were not equally capable of reason. Nevertheless the citizens were
warned not to misconstrue Parma's gentleness, because he was
determined to die, with his whole army, rather than not take Antwerp.
"As for the King," said Richardot, "he will lay down all his crowns
sooner than abandon this enterprise." Van Werne was represented as
free from blame, and sincerely desirous of peace. Richardot had only
stated to him, in general terms, that letters had been received from
Sainte Aldegonde, expressing an opinion in favour of peace. As for the
royalists, they were quite innocent of the reports and writings that had

so inopportunely been circulated in the city. It was desirable, however,
that the negotiation should not too long be deferred, for otherwise
Antwerp might perish, before a general accord with Holland and
Zeeland could be made. He begged Sainte Aldegonde to banish all
anxiety as to Parma's sentiments towards himself or the community.
"Put yourself, Sir, quite at your ease," said he. "His Highness is in no
respects dissatisfied with you, nor prone to conceive any indignation
against this poor people." He assured the burgomaster that he was not
suspected of lightness, nor of a wish to delay matters, but he expressed
solicitude with regard to the threatening demonstrations which had
been made against him in Antwerp. "For," said he, "popular
governments are full of a thousand hazards, and it would be infinitely
painful to me, if you should come to harm."
Thus it would appear that it was Sainte Aldegonde who was chiefly
anxious to effect the reconciliation of Holland and Zeeland with the
King. The initiative of this project to include all the United Provinces
in one scheme with the reduction of Antwerp came originally from him,
and was opposed, at the outset, by the magistrates of that city, by the
Prince of Parma and his councillors, and, by the States of Holland and
Zeeland. The demonstrations on the part of the preachers, the municipal
authorities, and the burghers, against Sainte Aldegonde and his plan for
a secret interview, so soon as it was divulged, made it impossible to
carry that project into effect.
"Aldegonde, who governs Antwerp," wrote Parma to Philip, "was
endeavouring, eight days ago, to bring about some kind of negotiation
for an accord. He manifested a desire to come hither for the sake of a
personal interview with me, which I permitted. It was to have taken
place last Sunday, 16th of this month, but by reason of a certain
popular tumult, which arose