CHAP. VII.]

GROWING DISCONTENT.

227

Tournai, Arras, St. Omer, and Namur. The bull authorising the establishment of these sees had arrived just when Philip was on the point of quitting the Netherlands; but it had not been thought expedient to prosecute the scheme till the period just mentioned.

So wholesale a revolution in the Flemish hierarchy excited the suspicion and discontent of Catholics as well as Protestants. The latter were naturally hostile to a scheme which threw so much fresh ecclesiastical power into the hands of the Pope and the King; for the new bishops were to be named by Philip, but subject to the approbation of the Roman See: and as the King's persecutions in Spain were well known, the whole scheme was regarded only as a prelude to the introduction of the Spanish inquisition. The Catholics were also alarmed at the thoughts of that formidable tribunal, and the nobles of that confession had additional reasons for discontent with the scheme. The nomination of so many bishops by the crown would diminish the power of their order; while, as the ancient abbeys were either to be suppressed, or to be deprived of great part of their revenues in order to furnish out the incomes of the new prelates, the nobility would thus lose a source of provision for their younger sons. The whole odium of the measure fell on Granvella, who was to be Archbishop of Mechlin and primate of the Netherlands, and who had early in this year, through the intercession of the Regent Margaret, received from Paul IV. a cardinal's hat.

The clouds were gradually gathering, yet it was some time before the storm burst. The measures of the King and his minister were firmly but quietly opposed. Philip having called upon the Flemings to assist the Catholic party in France with troops, the Prince of Orange invited the Knights of the Golden Fleece to assemble at his palace (May 1562), when the majority agreed that the minister must be resisted. Only a pecuniary aid was sent to France. Soon afterwards we find Orange and Egmont complaining to the King that they had no share in the government, although they were held responsible for its measures by the people. The great nobles began to absent themselves entirely from the council, and indeed from all public business, and to treat the minister and his measures with sarcasm and ridicule. Granvella grew alarmed, and talked of resigning. In March 1563 the nobles formed themselves into a league, in which they were supported by the people. Great part even of the Walloon population, inflamed by the French Hugonot preachers, sympathised with their brethren in France; for churches on the model of that of Geneva had been established in the Netherlands

228

FAMILY OF NASSAU.

[BOOK III.

in 1561, and a formal confession of the Calvinistic tenets subscribed. The union of the Protestants with the local authorities had given them a political standing." Large assemblies met and chanted the psalms of Marot, and at Valenciennes two Calvinist ministers condemned to be burnt were rescued from the stake by the people. Philip, who did not understand the genius of the Flemings, and wished to render them as submissive as his subjects in Spain and Italy, urged his ministers to use the most vigorous measures; without reflecting that the Netherlanders were protected by laws which the Regent and her cabinet naturally demurred to violate.

In the opposition organised against the government, three men stood out pre-eminent, William, Prince of Orange, Count Egmont, and Count Horn; and as they played a leading part in the troubles which ensued, it will here be proper to give some account of them.

The family of Nassau, from which William, Prince of Orange, was descended, emerged into distinction in the middle of the eleventh century, and it subsequently became divided into two branches, the elder of which, in the thirteenth century, gave an emperor, Adolph of Nassau, to Germany, besides several electors and princes. The younger, but more distinguished branch, besides the petty sovereignty of Nassau Dillenburg, also acquired large possessions in the Netherlands; and the ancestors of William, as Dukes of Gelderland, had enjoyed sovereign rights in the provinces long before the accession of the House of Burgundy. Engelbert II., who had distinguished himself in the time of the Emperor Maximilian I. and Charles the Bold of Burgundy, having died without issue, the family possessions were ultimately divided between his two great nephews, Henry and William. The German possessions fell to the share of the latter, who turned Protestant; while Henry, the elder brother, inherited the domains and titles in Luxemburg, Brabant, Flanders, and Holland, and became the confidential friend of the Emperor Charles V. In 1515 Henry married Claude de Chalons, sister of Prince Philibert of Orange; to which title his son, René de Nassau Chalons, succeeded. René died of wounds received at the siege of St. Dizier in 1544, and, having no legitimate children, left his titles and estates to his cousin, William of Nassau, son of his father's brother William.

The prince who thus acquired the title of Orange 12, besides large possessions in the Netherlands, was born at Dillenburg

Ranke, Popes, vol. ii. p. 18 (Mrs.

Austin's transl.).

12 The principality of Orange was re

stored to him by the peace of CâteauCambrésis.

CHAP. VII.]

66

WILLIAM

THE SILENT."

229

in Nassau, April 25th 1533. Both his parents were Lutherans, but he himself was bred up at Brussels in the Catholic faith, in the family of the Regent Queen Mary of Hungary, and under the tuition of a brother of Granvella. Charles V., in whose household he became a page at the age of fifteen, soon discerned his abilities, and at the siege of Marienburg gave him the command of the Imperial army over the heads of veteran generals. Charles afterwards employed the prince with great success in several diplomatic missions, and manifested the confidence which he reposed in him by making William, as already related, the agent of his abdication of the Imperial crown.

While the light hair and complexion of Philip II. gave him the appearance of a Fleming, the Prince of Orange, on the contrary, looked like a Spaniard. His complexion, hair, and beard were dark; his brown eyes were full and expressive; his head was small, the forehead capacious, and as he advanced in life furrowed with the lines of care and thought; the other features were well chiselled. In figure he was above the middle height, and well-proportioned though somewhat spare. In temper he was cheerful and convivial. The surname which he acquired of "the Silent," was not derived from any morose taciturnity, but from his knowing how to conceal what it was not prudent to tell. He was said to be an assiduous reader of Machiavelli.

William married in early life a daughter of Count Buren, who soon died, leaving him a son Philip, and a daughter Mary, afterwards married to Count Hohenlohe. He next addressed himself to Anne, daughter of the Elector Maurice of Saxony, a match highly disagreeable to the Court of Brussels, by which it was warmly opposed. Long negociations ensued, in which the Prince is said not always to have observed a perfect candour; but at length all obstacles were overcome, and the marriage was celebrated at Leipsic in August 1561. Anne, however, was not remarkable for chastity, and after thirteen years' cohabitation, the prince was obliged to dismiss her.

Lamoral, Count Egmont, was descended from the Dukes of Gelderland. In right of his mother he also inherited the principality of Gaveren, or Waveren, near Ghent, but he always preferred the title of Egmont. Of a handsome person and attractive manners, of generous impulses but no great ability, Egmont was the beau idéal of a dashing cavalry officer; and his victories at Gravelines and St. Quentin were the result rather of a brilliant valour than of military genius. Philip de Montmorenci, Count Horn, belonged to a branch of the French family of that name

230

GRANVELLA DISMISSED.

[Book III. which had established itself in the Low Countries. He had been Governor of Gelderland and Zutphen, and Admiral of the Netherlands, but, like Egmont, he was not distinguished by ability. These two nobles are but the "fortis Gyas fortisque Cloanthus of the Prince of Orange.

In March 1563 Orange, Egmont, and Horn addressed a letter to Philip, in the name of the Coalition, in which they represented to him that, in consequence of the odium incurred by Granvella, his affairs in the Netherlands could never be successfully conducted by that minister; and they prayed for his dismissal. After considerable delay, the Spanish King answered this application on the 6th of June. He observed that the nobles had not alleged any specific grievance against Granvella, and that he was not accustomed to dismiss his ministers on mere vague and general charges; he hoped soon to visit the Netherlands in person; meanwhile he should like to see one of the nobles in Spain, and discuss the matter with him. To this communication Orange and his confederates replied (July 29th) in a firm and dignified tone, to which the ears of Philip were but little accustomed. They observed that it was not their intention to turn accusers; the state of the country, the discontent and disorders which prevailed, were sufficient evidence of the minister's incapacity; that they did not solicit his condemnation, but simply his removal; nor did they esteem him so highly as to undertake a journey to Spain on his account. And they begged the King, since he reposed so little confidence in their opinions, that he would be pleased to dispense with their further attendance in the council, where under these circumstances they could not be present without a loss of dignity. The Regent Margaret, who was much alarmed at the state of affairs, seconded the application for the cardinal's dismissal. Philip, whose favourite maxim was "that he and time were a match for any two others," 13 resorted to his usual artifice of procrastination. The Duke of Alva, whom he consulted, advised him on no account to dismiss Granvella, but to divide the nobles, by gaining over some of them, till he could punish the others. The cardinal, meanwhile, displayed surprising fortitude, and clung to office amid a perfect storm of disapprobation. At length, after the lapse of more than half a year, the Coalition received an answer, in February 1564, intimating that the King would deliberate further on the matter. Moved, however, by another and still more

13 "Que lui et le temps en valaient deux autres."-Van der Vynckt, Troubles des Pays Bas, t. ii. p. 199.

CHAP. VII.]

THE GOVERNMENT DIVIDED.

231

pressing application on the part of Margaret, Philip had already written a short letter of dismissal to the cardinal, to be used in case of need; and such was the dissatisfaction manifested by the nobles at the King's answer, that Granvella found it prudent to make a virtual resignation under the pretext of paying a visit to his aged mother in Franche Comté. In March 1564 he retired to his estate near Besançon, where he amused himself with art and literature, of which he was a liberal patron; but he still kept up an active correspondence with the King, and it was not long before he re-entered Philip's service.

The news of the cardinal's departure was received with joy and exultation, which found a vent in lampoons and caricatures. The aristocracy discarded their splendid liveries, and adopted universally a plain, dark grey, while the aiguillette on the shoulder was replaced by a head and fool's cap; the head bore a striking resemblance to the cardinal's, and the cap was red. When Margaret at length persuaded them to lay aside this badge, they substituted for it a sheaf of arrows, the origin of the device afterwards assumed by the Seven United Provinces. In times of public disturbance trifles like these are not to be despised. They serve as the rallying ensigns of faction, display its strength, and promote its organisation.

After the removal of Granvella, the Belgian government was divided. The Regent Margaret inclined towards the nobles, and her correspondence at this period testifies great disgust at the cardinal. On the other hand, the policy of the ex-minister was still pursued by Barlaimont and Viglius, the two remaining members of the Consulta. Hence the measures of the government became feeble. Calvinism spread; Hugonot ministers and refugees came in great numbers from France and made many proselytes; the proceedings of the inquisition occasioned serious riots. at Bruges, Antwerp, and Brussels; while the disordered state of the finances and the increase of the public debt aggravated the popular discontent.

It was in such a state of things that Philip wrote to Margaret instructing her immediately to proclaim and enforce the decrees of the Council of Trent (August 1564). He was constantly urging the Regent to measures of severity; and so well was he served by his spies, that he would sometimes denounce particular individuals by describing their personal habits and appearance with an accuracy that would have done credit to a minister of police. As the pressure was becoming unendurable, it was determined to adopt a former suggestion of the King's, and to despatch Count Egmont to Madrid to state the grievances of the nation and to urge Philip