those opulent provinces,
which were lost from that refinement of treacherous and barbarous
politics on which Philip so highly valued himself. The Flemings found,
that the name alone of regent remained with the duchess; that Cardinal
Granville entirely possessed the king's confidence; that attempts were
every day made on their liberties; that a resolution was taken never
more to assemble the states; that new bishoprics were arbitrarily
erected, in order to enforce the execution of the persecuting edicts;
and that, on the whole, they must expect to be reduced to the condition
of a province under the Spanish monarchy. The discontents of the
nobility gave countenance to the complaints of the gentry, which
encouraged the mutiny of the populace; and all orders of men showed
a strong disposition to revolt. Associations were formed, tumultuary
petitions presented, names of distinction assumed, badges of party
displayed; and the current of the people, impelled by religious zeal,
and irritated by feeble resistance, rose to such a height, that in
several towns, particularly in Antwerp, they made an open invasion on
the established worship, pillaged the churches and monasteries, broke
the images, and committed the most unwarrantable disorders.

The wiser part of the nobility, particularly the prince of Orange, and
the counts Egmont and Horn, were alarmed at these excesses, to which
their own discontents had at first given countenance; and seconding the
wisdom of the governess, they suppressed the dangerous insurrections,
punished the ringleaders, and reduced all the provinces to a state
of order and submission. But Philip was not contented with the
reestablishment of his ancient authority: he considered that provinces
so remote from the seat of government could not be ruled by a limited
prerogative; and that a prince who must entreat rather than command,
would necessarily, when he resided not among the people, feel every day
a diminution of his power and influence. He determined, therefore,
to lay hold of the late popular disorders as a pretence for entirely
abolishing the privileges of the Low Country provinces, and for ruling
them thenceforth with a military and arbitrary authority.

In the execution of this violent design, he employed a man who was a
proper instrument in the hands of such a tyrant. Ferdinand of Toledo,
duke of Alva, had been educated amidst arms; and having attained a
consummate knowledge in the military art, h