ing herself
We are beginning to be vexed
Wealth was an unpardonable sin
Weep oftener for her children than is the usual lot of mothers
Who loved their possessions better than their creed
Wonder equally at human capacity to inflict and to endure misery

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, VOLUME III.

By John Lothrop Motley

1855

1574-1576 [CHAPTER III.]

Latter days of the Blood Council--Informal and insincere
negotiations for peace--Characteristics of the negotiators and of
their diplomatic correspondence--Dr. Junius--Secret conferences
between Dr. Leoninus and Orange--Steadfastness of the Prince--
Changes in the internal government of the northern provinces--
Generosity and increasing power of the municipalities--Incipient
jealousy in regard to Orange rebuked--His offer of resignation
refused by the Estates--His elevation to almost unlimited power--
Renewed mediation of Maximilian--Views and positions of the parties
--Advice of Orange--Opening of negotiations at Breda--Propositions
and counter-propositions--Adroitness of the plenipotentiaries on
both sides--Insincere diplomacy and unsatisfactory results--Union of
Holland and Zealand under the Prince of Orange--Act defining his
powers--Charlotte de Bourbon--Character, fortunes, and fate of Anna
of Saxony--Marriage of Orange with Mademoiselle de Bourbon--
Indignation thereby excited--Horrible tortures inflicted upon
Papists by Sonoy in North Holland--Oudewater and Schoonoven taken by
Hierges--The isles of Zealand--A submarine expedition projected--
Details of the adventure--Its entire success--Death of Chiappin
Vitelli--Deliberations in Holland and Zealand concerning the
renunciation of Philip's authority--Declaration at Delft--Doubts as
to which of the Great Powers the sovereignty should be offered--
Secret international relations--Mission to England--Unsatisfactory
negotiations with Elizabeth--Position of the Grand Commander--Siege
of Zieriekzee--Generosity of Count John--Desperate project of the
Prince--Death and character of Requesens.

The Council of Troubles, or, as it will be for ever denominated in
history, the Council of Blood, still existed, although the Grand
Commander, upon his arrival in the Netherlands, had advised his sovereign
to consent to the immediate abolition of so odious an institution. Philip