History of the United Netherlands, 1585 part 3 | Page 4

out of these circumstances, it has been
necessary to defer the meeting."
There was much disappointment felt by the royalist at this
unsatisfactory result. "These bravadoes and impertinent demonstrations
on the part of some of your people," wrote Richardot, ten days later,
"will be the destruction of the whole country, and will convert the
Prince's gentleness into anger. 'Tis these good and zealous patriots,
trusting to a little favourable breeze that blew for a few days past, who
have been the cause of all this disturbance, and who are ruining their

miserable country--miserable, I say, for having produced such
abortions as themselves."
Notwithstanding what had passed, however, Richardot intimated that
Alexander was still ready to negotiate. "And if you, Sir," he concluded,
in his letter to Aldegonde, "concerning whom many of our friends have
at present a sinister opinion, as if your object was to circumvent us, are
willing to proceed roundly and frankly, as I myself firmly believe that
you will do, we may yet hope for a favourable issue."
Thus the burgomaster was already the object of suspicion to both
parties. The Antwerpers denounced him as having been purchased by
Spanish gold; the royalists accused him of intending to overreach the
King. It was not probable therefore that all were correct in their
conjectures.
At last it was arranged that deputies should be appointed by the broad
council to commence a negotiation with Parma. Sainte Aldegonde
informed Richardot, that he would (5th July, 1585) accompany them, if
his affairs should permit. He protested his sincerity and frankness
throughout the whole affair. "They try to calumniate me," he said, "as
much on one side as on the other, but I will overcome by my innocence
all the malice of my slanderers. If his Highness should be pleased to
grant us some liberty for our religion, I dare to promise such faithful
service as will give very great satisfaction."
Four days later, Sainte Aldegonde himself, together with M. de Duffel,
M. de Schoonhoven, and Adrian Hesselt, came to Parma's camp at
Beveren, as deputies on the part of the Antwerp authorities. They were
courteously received by the Prince, and remained three days as his
guests. During the period of this visit, the terms of a capitulation were
thoroughly discussed, between Alexander and his councillors upon one
part, and the four deputies on the other. The envoys endeavoured, with
all the arguments at their command, to obtain the consent of the Prince
to three preliminary points which they laid down as indispensable.
Religious liberty must be granted, the citadel must not be reconstructed,
a foreign garrison must not be admitted; they said. As it was the firm
intention of the King, however, not to make the slightest concession on
any one of these points, the discussion was not a very profitable one.
Besides the public interviews at which all the negotiators were present,
there was a private conference between Parma and Sainte Aldegonde

which lasted more than four hours, in which each did his best to
enforce his opinions upon the other. The burgomaster endeavoured to
persuade the Prince with all the eloquence for which he was so
renowned, that the hearts not of the Antwerpers only, but of the
Hollanders and Zeelanders, were easily to be won at that moment. Give
them religious liberty, and attempt to govern them by gentleness rather
than by Spanish garrisons, and the road was plain to a complete
reconciliation of all the Provinces with his Majesty.
Alexander, who knew his master to be inexorable upon these three
points, was courteous but peremptory in his statements. He
recommended that the rebels should take into consideration their own
declining strength, the inexhaustible resources of the King, the
impossibility of obtaining succour from France, and the perplexing
dilatoriness of England, rather than waste their time in idle expectations
of a change in the Spanish policy. He also intimated, obliquely but very
plainly, to Sainte Aldegonde, that his own fortune would be made, and
that he had everything to hope from his Majesty's bounty, if he were
now willing to make himself useful in carrying into effect the royal
plans.
The Prince urged these views with so much eloquence, that he seemed,
in his own words, to have been directly inspired by the Lord for this
special occasion! Sainte Aldegonde, too, was signally impressed by
Alexander's language, and thoroughly fascinated-magnetized, as it were
--by his character. He subsequently declared, that he had often
conversed familiarly with many eloquent personages, but that he had
never known a man more powerful or persuasive than the Prince of
Parma. He could honestly say of him--as Hasdrubal had said of
Scipio--that Farnese was even more admirable when seen face to face,
than he had seemed when one only heard of his glorious achievements.
"The