William Temple

“ The Greatness of the Spanish Monarchy, so formidable under Charles the Fifth, and Philip the Second, began now to decline by the vast Designs, and unfortunate Events, of so many ambitious Counsels: And, on the other side, the Affairs of Henry the Fourth of France were now at the greatest Height and Felicity, after having atchieved so many Adventures, with incredible Constancy and Valour, and ended all his Wars in a Peace with Spain. The Dutch imagin'd, that the hot spirits of the French could not continue long without some exercise ”

“ The Spanish and Italian Writers content themselves to attribute the causes of these Revolutions to the change of Religion, to the native stubbornness of the People, and to the Ambition of the Princes of Orange: But Religion, without mixtures of Ambition and Interest, works no such violent effects; and produces rather the Examples of constant sufferings, than of desperate Actions. The nature of the People cannot change of a sudden, no more than the Climate which infuses it ”

“ At this time began to be formed the Male-content Party in the Low-Countries; which, though agreeing with the rest in their hatred to the Spaniards, and defence of their Liberties and Laws, yet were not inclin'd to shake off their Allegiance to their Prince, nor change their old and establisht Religion: And these were headed by the Duke of Areschot, and several Great Men, the more averse from a general defection, by emulation or envy of the Prince of Orange his Greatness, who was now grown to have all the influence and credit in the Counsels of the League. ”

“ By Troops drawn either from thence, or from Italy or Germany, with much casualty, and more expence: Their Territory of the Ten Provinces was small, and awed by the Neighborhood and jealousies both of England and France. But if France were once Master of Flanders, the Body of that Empire would be so great, and so entire; so abounding in People, and in Riches, that whenever they found, or made, an occasion of invading the United Provinces, they had no hopes of preserving themselves by any opposition or diversion: And the end of their mighty resistances against Spain was, to have no Master ”

“ In persuit of this determination, like a wise King, while he intended nothing but Peace, He made Preparations, as if he design'd nothing but War; knowing, that his own desires of Peace would signifie nothing, unless he could force his Enemies to desire it too. ”

“ The hatred of the People against the Spaniards, and the Insolencies of those Troops, with the charge of their support, made theme look't upon by the Inhabitants in general, as the Instruments of their Oppression and Slavery, and not of their Defence, when a general Peace had left them no Enemies: And therefore the States began here their Complaints, with a general Consent and Passion of all the Nobles, as well as Towns and Country. And upon the delays that were contrived, or fell in, the States first refused to raise any more Monies either for the Spaniards Pay, or their own standing Troops ”

“ But in this Interim, the strength of the Disease appears; for, upon the mutiny of some Spanish Troops, for want of their Pay, and their seizing Alost, a Town near Brussels, the People grow into a rage, the Tradesmen give over their Shops, and the Country-men their Labour, and all run to Arms; In Brussels they force the Senate, pull out those Men they knew to be most addicted to the Spaniards, kill such of that Nation as they meet in the streets, and all in general cry out for the expulsion of Foreigners out of the Low-Countries, and the Assembling of the States ”

“ After Leicester's departure, Prince Maurice was, by the consent of the Union, chosen their Governour, but with a reservation to Queen Elizabeth; and enter'd that Command with the hopes, which he made good in the execution of it for many years; proving the greatest Captain of his Age, famous, particularly, in the Discipline and Ordonance of his Armies, and the ways of Fortification by him first invented or perfected, and since his time imitated by all. ”

“ The King grows sensible of Danger, and apprehensive of the total defection of the Provinces; Alva weary of his Government, finding his violent Councils and Proceedings had raised a Spirit, which was quiet before he came, and was never to be laid any more. The Duke is recalled, and the War goes on under Requisenes; who dying suddenly, and without provisions made by the King for a Successor; the Government, by customs of the Country, devolved by way of Interim upon the Great Council, which lasted some time, by the delay of Don John of Austria's coming, who was declared the new Governour. ”

“ Neighbouring-Princes, Lords, Lands, and Cities, to be admitted into the Union, by consent of the Provinces.
For Religion, those of Holland and Zealand to act in it as seems good unto themselves. The other Provinces may regulate themselves according to the tenor establisht by Matthias, or else as they shall judge to be most for the peace and welfare of their particular Provinces; provided, every one remain free in his Religion, and no Man be examined or entrapped for that cause, according to the Pacification of Ghent. ”

“ Till the Duke, impatient of further delay, causes the Edict, without consent of the States, to be published at Brussels. The People refuse to pay, the Soldiers begin to levy by force; the Townsmen all shut up their Shops; the People in the Country forbear the Market, so as not so much as Bread or Meat is to be bought in the Town. The Duke is enraged, and calls the Soldiers to arms, and commands several of the Inhabitants, who refused the payments, to be hanged that very night upon their Sign-posts; which nothing moves the Obstinacy of the People. ”

“ Till the old Discipline of their Armies began to revive, and their Fortune a little to respire under the new Government of Cardinal Albert, who came into Flanders both Governour and Prince of the Low-Countries, in the head of a mighty Army drawn out of Germany and Italy, to try the last effort of the Spanish Power, either in a prosperous War, or, at least, in making way for a necessary Peace. ”

“ The Cessation of all Acts of Hostility on both sides, during the Truce; The enjoyment for that space, of all that each party possest at the time of the Treaty; That no new Fortification should be raised on either side: And that free Commerce should be restored on all parts in the same manner, as it was before the Wars.
And thus the State of the United Provinces came to be acknowledged, as a Free Common-wealth by their ancient Master, having before been Treated so by most of the Kings and Princes of Europe, in frequent Ambassies and Negotiations. ”

“ And though they retain'd the Name of a Free People, yet they soon lost the ease of the Liberties they contended for, by the absoluteness of their Magistrates in the several Cities and Provinces, and by the extream pressure of their Taxes, which so long a War, with so mighty an Enemy, made necessary for the support of their State. ”

“ Whereupon the Provinces for the third time throw off their Obedience, call the Prince of Orange to Brussels, where he is made Protector of Brabant, by the States of that Province, and preparations are made on both sides for the War: While Spain is busie to form new Armies, and draw them together in Namur and Luxemburg, the only Provinces obedient to that Crown: And all the rest agree to elect a Governour of their own, and send to Matthias the Emperor's Brother, to offer him the Charge. ”

“ The Tract of Land, which we usually call the Low-Countries, was so wasted by the Invasions or Marches of this raging People, (who past by them to greater Conquests,) that the Inhabitants grew thin; and being secure of nothing they possest, fell to seek the support of their Lives, rather by hunting, or by violence, than by Labour and Industry ”

“ So those of the Prince's Party, accused the others, as leaning still to, and looking kindly upon, their old servitude, and relishing the Spaniard, both in their Politicks, by so eagerly affecting a Peace with that Crown; and in their Religion, by being generally Arminians, (which was esteemed the middle part between the Calvinists and the Roman Religion.) And besides these mutual Reproaches, the two Parties have ever valued themselves upon the asserting, one of the true and purer Reformed Religion; and the other, of the truer and freer Liberties of the State. ”

“ Upon which, all resolutions of Force or Rigor grew unsafe for the Government, now too weak for such a revolution of the People; and on the other side, Brederode, in confidence of the general Favour, came in the head of Two hundred Gentlemen, thorow the Provinces, to Brussels, and in bold terms petitioned the Governess for abolishing the Inquisition, and Edicts about Religion; and that new ones should be fram'd by a Convention of the States. ”

“ But 'tis hard to be imagin'd, how far the Spirit of one Great Man goes in the Fortunes of any Army or State. The Duke of Parma coming to the Government without any footing in more than two of the smallest Provinces, collecting an Army from Spain, Italy, Germany, and the broken Troops of the Country left him by Don John, having all the other Provinces confederated against him, and both England and France beginning to take open part in their defence ”

“ The Fortunes of this Commonwealth, that have happened in their Wars or Negotiations, since the Truce with Spain, and what Circumstances or Accidents, both abroad and at home, serv'd to cultivate their mighty growth, and conspired to the Greatness wherein they appear'd to the World in the beginning of the year 1665. ”

“ The Foreign Forces, refusing to depart, are declared Rebels; whereupon the Spanish Troops force and plunder several Towns, and Antwerp among the rest, (by advantage of the Cittadel,) with equal Courage and Avarice; and defend themselves in several Holds from the Forces of the States, till Don John's arrival at Luxemburg, the only Town of the Provinces, where he thought himself safe, as not involved in the defection of the rest. ”

“ But those having had no part in the Constitution of their State, nor the Frame of their Government; I will content my self to mention only the chief of them, which most contributed to preserve the Infancy of this Commonwealth, and make way for its growth. The Causes of its succeeding Greatness and Riches being not to be sought for in the Events of their Wars, but in the Institutions and Orders of their Government, their Customs and Trade, which will make the Arguments of the ensuing Chapters. ”

“ Who, amazed at this sudden and bold attempt of Spinola, which made him Master of a Pass that lay fair for any further Invasion upon their Provinces, (especially those on t'other side the Rhine,) engage the Offices of both the English and French Crowns, to mediate an Agreement, which at length they conclude, so as neither party should, upon any pretence, draw their Forces into any part of these Dutchies. ”

“ All Frontier-Towns belonging to the Union, if Old, to be fortified at the charge of the Province where they lye; if New, to be erected at the charge of the Generality.
All Imposts and Customs from three Months to three Months, to be offered to them that bid most; and, with the Incomes of the Royal Majesty, to be employed for the common defence.
All Inhabitants to be Listed and Trained within a Month, from 18 to 60 years old. Peace and War not to be made without consent of all the Provinces ”

“ Upon the delay whereof and the continance of the Inquisition, the People appeared, upon daily occasions and accidents, heated to that degree, as threatned a general Combustion in the whole Body, when ever the least Flame should break out in any part. ”

“ But the Nobility of the Country, and the richest of the People in the Cities, though unsatisfied with the Government, yet feeling the Effects, and abhorring the Rage, of popular Tumults, as the worst mischief that can befall any State ”

“ The higher, and so the drier, parts, moistned by the Rain, and warm'd by the Sun, shoot forth some sorts of Plants, as naturally as Bodies do some sort of Hair; which, being preserved by the desolateness of a place untrodden, as well as untill'd, grow to such Trees or Shrubs as are natural to the Soil, and those in time producing both Food and Shelter for several kind of Beasts, make the sort of Country we call a Forest. ”

“ Men began to leave their wilder lives, spent without other Cares or Pleasures, than of Food, or of Lust; and betook themselves to the ease and entertainment of Societies: With Order and Labour, Riches began, and Trade followed; and these made way for Luxury, and that for many Diseases or ill habits of Body, which, unknown to the former and simpler Ages, began to shorten and weaken both Life and Procreation. Besides, the divisions and circles of Dominion occasioned Wars between the several Nations, though of one Faith ”

“ The rest, besides those antient Priviledges already mentioned of their Towns, were Concessions and Graces of several Princes, in particular Exemptions or Immunities, jurisdiction both in choice and exercise of Magistracy and Civil Judicature within themselves; or else in the customs of using none but Natives in Charges and Offices, and passing all weighty Affairs by the great Council composed of the great Lords of the Country, who were in a manner all Temporal, there being but three Bishops in all the Seventeen Provinces, till the time of Philip the Second of Spain. ”

“ How the only time of making an advantageous Peace, is, when your Enemy desires it, and when you are in the best condition of pursuing a War: And how vain a Counsel it is, to avoid a War, by yielding any point of Interest or Honour ”