ed Anjou as their prince,
but at the same time drew up a very republican constitution. The
representatives of the people were given not only the legislative but
also the executive powers, including the direction of foreign affairs.
The States of the Northern Provinces formally deposed Philip,
[Sidenote: Deposition of Philip, 1581] who could do nothing in reply.
A proclamation had already been issued offering 25,000 dollars and a
patent of nobility to anyone who would assassinate Orange who was
branded as "a traitor and rascal" and as "the enemy of the human race."

[Sidenote: October 1, 1578]

Don John, having died unlamented, was succeeded by Alexander Farnese, a
son of the ex-regent Margaret {273} of Parma. [Sidenote: Farnese,
1545-92] Though an Italian in temperament he united a rare diplomatic
pliability with energy as a soldier. Moreover, whereas his
predecessors had despised the people they were sent to govern and had
hated the task of dealing with them, he set his heart on making a
success. By this time the eyes of all Europe were fixed on the
struggle in the Low Countries and it seemed a worthy achievement to
accomplish what so many famous soldiers and statesmen had failed in.
It is doubtless due to the genius of Farnese that the Spanish yoke was
again fixed on the neck of the southern of the two confederacies into
which the Burgundian state had spontaneously separated. Welcomed by a
large number of the signers of the Treaty of Arras, [Sidenote: 1579] he
promptly raised an army of 31,000 men, mostly Germans, attacked and
took Maastricht. A sickening pillage followed in which no less than
1700 women were slaughtered. Seeing his mistake, on capturing the next
town, Tournai, he restrained his army and allowed even the garrison to
march out with the honors of war. Not one citizen was executed, though
an indemnity of 200,000 guilders was demanded. His clemency helped his
cause more than his success in arms.

[Sidenote: Conquest of the South]

Slowly but surely his campaign of conquest progressed. It was a war of
sieges only, without battles. Bruges was taken after a long
investment, and was mildly treated. [Sidenote: 1584] Ghent
surrendered and was also let off with an indemnity but without bloody
punishment. After a hard siege Antwerp capitulated. [Sidenote: 1585]
Practically the whole of the Southern confederacy had been reduced to
obedience to the king of Spain. The Protestant religion was for