Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-08
lived; It has been truly said Of him that "he was


capable Of every crime, and unredeemed by single
virtue" Almost as soon as he found himself fixed
IN his possessions he commenced the most detesta.
BILE course of tyranny, and violated all the sacred
oaths which he had voluntarily taken. .-
The Reformation in the mean time had made con-
siderable progress in the Netherlands. The prov
ince of Holland and Zealand especially had become
almost wholly Protestant. Phillip now denied
-'hem the benefit Of the peace of Passau, and com.
menced the most wicked and terrible prosecutions
of the Netherland Protestants without single excep
ton that ever disgraced the world. The persecu-
tons of the Eoglish Protestants by his wife, tho
"blood Queen Mary" does not bear the slightest
comparison with it She only burned those who
openly practced the reformed religion, but Phillip,
spite Of the remonstrances Of the estates and Of
the nobility introduced into the country the Span
ish Inquisiti0n in order to make men reveal their
secret thoughts and opinions 1t IS impossible to
describe the horrors that ensued. The heart would
sicken at the eeblest recital of them, and shall
not attempt it.
The introduction of the Inquisition into the pro-
vinces without consent of the estates was fragrant
violation of the Constitutions granted by Mary OF
Burgundy, to which Phillip had so solemnly sworn
allegiance and of course naturally produced oppo-
son. Many of the most distinguished of ancient
nobility, all of them Catholics, demonstrated with
Philip, but in vain. Among those who thus remon-
strated we're the Counts Egnont, Horn and Montig-
ny, and the Prince of Orange Egmont was de-.
scended from an ancient and honorable family, and
was with single exception the most distinguished
soldier in Europe. He had been in the service OF
Phillip, and had won for him the brilliant victories
of St Quentin and Grave!nes Horn and Montig
ny, brothers, were scions of the noble house of
Montmorency, and were near kinsmen to the Con-
stable of.France and the ustrious admiral Coligny.
The family of the Prince Of Orange was still more
distinguished. His ancestors had worn the Imperial
crown, and had exercised sovereign poweres in the
Netherlands before the great house of Hapsbnrg
had even been named The "Reminiscences of these
great men, whose loyalty was above suspicion, only
made the tyrant more obstinate in the wrong
Many thousands of men, women and children were
shockingly mutilated, burned or buriedalive for
other crime than their religious sentiments. At
length many of the most illustrious mobiles present
ed an humble request to Margaret of Parma, the
King SISTER who then governing the Netherlands
for him as regent, and her Councils, which deermin
ed Philip to send Spanish arnyto sustain the
lnquisltion under the command of Ferdinand of
Toledo Duke of Alva the greatest warrior as we'll
as the most cruel and remorseless bgot of that age
Phillip himself alone excepted. The request was
that the lnquisition might be abolished, and the
fundamental laws respected. In consequence of
glbe cast at tAe petitioners by some member of
the Council they assumed the appellation of "beg.
gars, and by that name the patriots were often
known throughout the long war which followed.
The terrible Alva came with his army of still
more terrible Spaniards He succeeded Margaret
OF Parma as Governor of the Netherlands, and es-
tablished the celebrated unconstitutional and IRE
sponsible-at least to body bat himself-tribu.
nal known as the "Council of Blood" which will
perhaps maintain to the end of time pre- eminence
in ayamy over every other institution of the kind
he also had secret orders from Phillip to arrest and
execute, or rather murder, the Counts of Egmont
Horn, Berghen. Montigny, the Prince of Orange
and others. These noblemen were all Catholics
whose loyalty was above suspicion, their only crime
being that they had demonstrated against the estab
llshment of the Inqusition violation of the fun
damental laws of the land. Horn ari Egmont
with their secretaries were entraped by means of
an artful plot, condemned by the "Uouncil of
Blood" and were publicly executed Under the guard
OF body of Spanish soldiers. Montigny and Ber-
CHEN had been sent embassy from the provinces
to Spain and had left for Madrid before the arrival
OF Alva. Soon after their arrival at Madrid, they
were thrown into prison by Phillip, where after
anguishlng for some time, Berghen died, and Mon.
tigny was most foully murdered all, even the mi.
Dutest details of the murder having been arranged
by Phillip himself All of the noblemen died steadfast
in the Catholic faith. The Prince of Orange who
subsequently became convert to the reformed faith
eluded the vigilance of Alva to become the saviour
OF his country, and the founder of ore of the most
celebrated commonwealth that ever existed. His
military talents were considerable lie had been
entrusted by the Empesor Charles the Y, with the
most important commands when very young. and
had acquitted himself to his entire satisfaction But
as statesman he certainly had no rival. As a
pure, DISTINGUISHED and unsel6sh patriot he has
never been surpassed, and only equalled by Wash.
ingtOn and Hampton Charles the V had poyerned
the provinces by Stockholders, and the Prince of
Orange had been appointed by him his Stakeholder
Tor Holland In this office he had been confirmed
by Phillip upon his accession
The Prince now plainly saw that no hope of lib.
erty remained for his country but through armed
resistance to the tyrannics of Alva He therefore
Claiming to be most true and loyal subject of his
majesty planted himself firmly upon the ancient
constitutions of bis country, which Phillip himself
naa solemnly sworn to observe, and in the name of
Phillip himself, as his maiestys Stadtbolder for
Holland, he inaugurated i1 the year 1857 AGAINST
the Duke OF Alva, thaoreuowned war which fioalv
eventuated IN the formation of the Dutch Repubiic
thought Of separation or independence had at that
ume or Tor many years AFTER entered into his mind
IL the expression is allowable, the revolution
which he thus began was not Desiructios but Cow.
SENTATIVE. VI will maintain" was the motto
which ne inscribed upon his banner and no other
uevlce would so well have expressed his Intentions
~ WAS ml rnihP VINO would destroy, but the Prince
tons n, and liberties of his country.
me ne Prince with his '.beggars" was at the out
SCI . .! tne war successful. His troops, who were
nioeuy mefcenaIies, enlisted in the Protestant nr;n.
clpal'tles Of Germany frequently mutined for T,
Sans o. pay on the eve of battle They could not
s &c controlled BY their commanders, the Prince him
81 os anu MS brother, Count Louis Of Nassau, one
Oh tne most accomplished soldiers that ever welded
sword If at this time. Phillip bad been able I to i
pllng an his forces against the Prince the Dutch
Rep th;c would probably never had an existence
nas TINS was not to be. Almost simultaneously !!
with the breaking out of the war in the Nehersuds
Se,m Emperor of the Turks, declared war aeans,
opan SEEING this critical moment as the most on'
p poTsr ot one ph to humble the pride and
which gave Phillip employment for ali his S n ~s
fought in the Leysnt Not only did ssm declares Irs
M Mas agan sn, Phillip himself but he nsgated the
tore this rebellion in Grenada and And.l,s. .'e oe