RKS:

Enthusiasm could not supply the place of experience
Envying those whose sufferings had already been terminated
Leave not a single man alive in the city, and to burn every house
Not strong enough to sustain many more such victories
Oldenbarneveld; afterwards so illustrious
Sent them word by carrier pigeons
Three hundred fighting women
Tyranny, ever young and ever old, constantly reproducing herself
Wonder equally at human capacity to inflict and to endure misery

MOTLEY'S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 21.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY
1855
1573 [CHAPTER IX.]

Position of Alva--Hatred entertained for him by elevated personages
--Quarrels between him and Medina Coeli--Departure of the latter--
Complaints to the King by each of the other--Attempts at
conciliation addressed by government to the people of the
Netherlands--Grotesque character of the address--Mutinous
demonstration of the Spanish troops--Secret overtures to Orange--
Obedience, with difficulty, restored by Alva--Commencement of the
siege of Alkmaar--Sanguinary menaces of the Duke--Encouraging and
enthusiastic language of the Prince--Preparations in Alkmaar for
defence--The first assault steadily repulsed--Refusal of the
soldiers to storm a second time--Expedition of the Carpenter-envoy--
Orders of the Prince to flood the country--The Carpenter's
despatches in the enemy's hands--Effect produced upon the Spaniards
--The siege raised--Negotiations of Count Louis with France--
Uneasiness and secret correspondence of the Duke--Convention with
the English government--Objects pursued by Orange--Cruelty of De la
Marck--His dismissal from office and subsequent death--Negotiations
with France--Altered tone of the French court with regard to the St.
Bartholomew--Ill effects of the crime upon the royal projects--
Hypocrisy of the Spanish government--Letter of Louis to Charles IX.
--Complaints of Charles IX.--Secret aspirations of that monarch and
of Philip--Intrigues concerning the Polish election--Renewed
negotiations between Schomberg and Count Louis, with consent of
Orange--Conditions prescribed by the Prince--Articles of secret
alliance--Remarkable letter of Count Louis to Charles IX.--
Responsible and isolated situation of Orange--The "Address" and the
"Epistle"--Religious sentiment