Bruffels, in order that the charge against him might be tried by the proper tribunal, the effect which this fatisfaction to the violated laws of the country might otherwife have produced was much leffened, by fome expreffions which feemed to juftify the violence, and to hold out his being returned as a matter of grace and favour rather than of right. He likewife expreffed in the fame difpatch his hopes, that the fovereign would be willing to concur with the ftates, in making fuch amendments in their conftitution as were now become neceflary. This expreffion gave fuch umbrage to the ftates, and caufed fo univerfal an alarm and ferment, that the governors general found it neceffary to ifiue a declaration in which they gave it as their opinion that no innovation was intended, and that an unlimited ratification would be granted by the fovereign

It is an obfervation which will be found right with respect to the conduct of mankind in general, that the people, partly from the love of quiet, partly from the means of influence and corruption, which the fovereign under the moft limited forms of government poffeffes, partly through inattention and flacknefs of perception, and partly from a difpofition to hold a more favourable opinion of the defigns of their rulers than they really deferve, are infenfible with respect to filent and gradual invafions of their rights and privileges. But when by any fudden and violent infraction of ancient rights or customs, difcontent is once fpread, and the spirit of fufpicion rouzed; men, by continually agitating the fubject of grievance, mutually act and are acted upon in inflaming each other, and can with VOL. XXIX.

difficulty be refrained within any bounds of moderation or reason.

Such was pretty much the cafe at this time in the Low Countries. The governors general, fo far as lay in themfelves, had yielded every thing to the withes of the people. Inftead of purfuing the temperate line of conduct which prudence and reafon had fo obviously marked, they proceeded haftily to open new grounds of altercation, to probe and wound the fovereign in thofe parts which were moft fenfible, according to the high ideas which he and all fovereigns entertained of fovereignty; and feemed to be feized with the fame reftlefs fpirit of innovation, and the fame inability of knowing where to ftop, which they had fo ftrongly condemned in the emperor.

It is, however, neceffary to fhew from what caufe a deviation fo contrary to the temperate character and plain good fenfe of the people may be attributed. It is then to be obferved, that the influence and power of the clergy over the people had increased in a prodigious degree during the progrefs of the troubles; and they were as eagerly defirous to render their authority permanent as to increafe it. They had already fucceeded in two objects, which they deemed of the greatest importance. The general feminary at Louvain, and another fimilar to it, which had been eftablished at Luxemburgh, were fuppreffed, and the foreign profeffors difmiffed from their charges, without the knowledge or confent of the emperor.

Not fatisfied with this fource of

triumph, they loudly called upon the governors general to exercife the peculiar rights of the fovereign in his abfence, by proceeding with

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'out

out delay to the appointment of abbots to the vacant abbeys. Feeling at the same time, that their influence was become fupreme with the ftates of Brabant, they led that body to demand, that all the fuppreffed convents fhould be re-eftablifhed, without exception to thofe whofe fuppreffion had received the fanction either of the states themfelves, or of the council of Brabant. And, as if it had been a ftruggle to fhew how far the fpirit might be carried, the ftates of Namur prefented an address, for revoking the edict for univerfal toleration, which was undoubtedly the most illuftrious act of the emperor's reign.

The emperor returned to Vienna in the beginning of July; but his return produced no ratification; and inftead of affording any omens encouraging to the late requifitions, they were of a nature which ferved to damp the most moderate and best founded expectations. He loft no time in difpatching an angry mandate to the states of the Low Countries, in which, difplaying all the terrors of offended majefty, he expreffed in ftrong terms his aftonifhment, indignation, and difpleasure at those intemperate and violent measures which the ftates had adopted, and that bold defiance which they had given to his authority. He however declared, that he had never intended to fubvert their conftitution, and that in his edicts he had fought only to corre&t ancient abuses, and to make falutary reforms. He required, as a proof of obedience, that the ftates of each province fhould fend deputies to Vienna, to lay their fubje&s of complaint at the foot of the throne; profeffing, that he retained the fentiments of a fa

ther, and knew how to pardon the errors and temerity of his fubjects; but threatening them with fevere chaftisement, if they should refuse to pay the mark of respect which he demanded. He likewife informed them, that he had called the princes, the governors general, to Vienna, that they might act as mediators between him and the states; and that he had alfo ordered the count Belgiojofo to repair to that capital.

Thus were the lofty hopes and fond expectations of the Flemings laid at once in the duft, and their fhort-lived gleam of liberty feemed expired, never more to revive. The provinces did not, however, fink under the haughty and fevere language with which they were fo little acquainted. The ftates complained grievously of the false representations which had been made of their conduct, by which the fovereign was not only withheld from that ratification which they had so just a right to expect, but through which he had likewife been induced to conftrue into difaffection and revolt their honeft zeal in maintaining their rights and liberties. lamented the recall of the princes, in a feafon when their prefence was more neceffary than ever for the prefervation of tranquillity; and by no means concealed the difcontent with which the order of fending deputies to Vienna infpired them. This order was indeed fo odious, that the fyndics compared it to the only fimilar order that had ever been issued under the cruel and arbitrary reign of Philip the fecond; and recalling the events of that difaftrous time, did not, fail to apply them to the prefent, and feemed to augur as dismal a catastrophe to the Austrian as to the Spanish peregrination.

They

Towards the end of July the princes, as well as the count Belgiojofo, fet out for Vienna, the former attended with the general regret, and the latter with the execrations of the people. The count de Murray, a gentleman of Scottish defcent, who had for fome years commanded the Auftrian forces in the Netherlands, was now appointed to the government of the country during the abfence of the princes. The deputies of the states likewife commenced their pilgrimage to Vienna about the fame time; and the provinces now began to flatter themselves that this mark of fubmiffion would remove all fufpicions of difloyalty, and prove the means of procuring that ratification which was now become the ultimate ob ject of their hopes.

But the deputies were not far advanced on their journey, when intelligence was received, that the imperial forces in Germany were all in motion; that a mighty army was destined to march into the Low Countries; the battalions to be employed on this fervice were enumerated; the generals who were to command named; the route the army was to take described; and it

Although the minds of all men were exceedingly agitated, yet the fpirit of the people did not fink fo much as might have been expected, confidering how long they had bat tened in the lap of plenty and ease, and what entire ftrangers they were to the tumults of war. While they hardened their minds, by recalling images of those scenes of devastation and horror which took place under the tyranny of the duke of Alva, they comforted themselves with the reflection of the success which then attended the determined efforts of a handful of brave men, in defending their liberties against the arbitrary violence of the greatest power then in the world. They estimated their population at three millions, which they counted to be far fuperior to that of Holland at the period alluded to; and they could not acknowledge any inferiority of their own courage to that of their countrymen; or if the enthusiasm of religion was abfolutely neceffary to. incite men to great actions, that was no less interested in the present than in the former inftance. They confoled themselves much upontheir great distance from the fources of the emperor's action and power, and thought he was too accurate a politician

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politician not to perceive, that although he might fucceed in overwhelming them with a mighty force for the prefent, yet that nothing lefs than the continuance of a powerful army in the country, which it was not in the course of things that his fituation would long admit, could retain in fubjection a people who were so zealously attached to their ancient liberties. But above all things, their hope and confidence was placed in France; nor did they think it poflible that the could now fo far depart from that attention to herown intereft and greatnefs, which had ever marked her conduct, as to fuffer the defolation and ruin of thofe rich and beautiful provinces, which would afford fo noble an addition to both, and which, in fuch circumftances, would moft willingly throw themselves into her arms.

Count Murray fent a meffage to the itates of Brabant, in which he acquainted them, that the troops which were ftationed in different parts of the Low Countries were ordered to concenter in fuch a manner, as to enclofe the province of Brabant; that the fovereign, in giving this order, meant to put the obedience of the states to a trial; that if they did not oppose this meafure of concentering his troops, he might be inclined to fufpend the march of that army which was now advancing towards the Low Countries, and might permit the regiment of Bender only to enter the provinces.—This fecond teft of obedience was a very extraordinary, and feems indeed a very abfurd measure. As its object was evidently to curb the itates in their proceedings, and to over-awe the province; inftead of producing good temper or fubmillion, nothing could tend more

A

to irritate the minds of men, and to excite the people to commotion. Neither were the means at all commenfurate to the end propofed, the troops being in no degree equal to the task of bridling that powerful and populous province, if it did not choofe itfelf voluntarily to admit the rein. The ftates of Brabant, however, fubmitted freely to this new test.

Auguft

15th.

In the mean time the eyes and thoughts of all men were directed to Vienna, and their minds kept in fufpence, until the reception which the Flemish deputies met at the imperial court could be known. The deputies were admitted to an audience of ftate on the third day after their arrival in that city; but their reception was fufficiently ungracious. Along with that haughty and auftere affumption of dignity, which has through to many ages pe culiarly characterized the house of Auftria, a ftrong mixture of anger now appeared in the countenance of the fovereign. After hearing their profeflions of duty and loyalty, which, notwithstanding the forbidding rigour of the imperial countenance, were accompanied with a recital of their grievances, he replied fternly, that he was not to be moved by a vain difplay of words, and that his ftates in the Netherlands were highly culpable in his fight; but that he had given a proof of the affection he bore them, in not immediately employ ing againft them that military force which he held at his command. He. added farther, that before he explained himself with regard to the fubjects of their complaints, the dignity of the throne required, that certain preliminary articles should

be

be executed, which he now communicated to them, and had already commanded count Murray to communicate to his ftates in the Low Countries.

The fubftance of these articles was chiefly, that all things in the provinces should remain on the fame footing on which they ftood at the first of April; that the current fubfidies, and the arrears on former, fhould be paid forthwith into the royal treasury; that the feminary of Louvain, and that of Luxemburgh, fhould be re-established; that all perfons who had been difplaced should be restored to their employ ments, excepting the intendants and members of the new tribunals, about whom he wished to take council with the ftates that the volunteer companies thould difcontinue their martial exercises, and lay afide the uniform and other marks they had affumed of military diftinction.And they were given to underftand, that if thefe articles were not executed, the nation would draw upon itself the heavy marks of a monarch's refentment.

Count Murray having communicated these articles to the ftates of the Low Countries, before they could hear from their deputies, the information renewed all the jealoufies and difcontents of the provinces. The ftates of Brabant prepared fresh remonftrances, in which they complained, that all the demonftrations of respect and fubmiffion which they were capable of giving, had not been able to conciliate the mind of the prince. That he required the ftrongeft proofs of duty and good will, even the granting of fabfidies, whilft he delayed to give fatisfaction for the infringements made on the constitution. They

declared, that though they were menaced with arms, yet they were fo bound by the engagements of the joyous entry, that they could not comply with the preliminary articles, until fecurity was obtained for the redress of grievances. And they added, that although they fought only to oppose representations to the will of the prince, yet if any tumult should take place in confequence of thofe articles which were now to be enforced, the ftates could not hold themfelves refponfible for any fuch commotion that might enfue.-Every body expected that this remonftrance would have been the immediate means of putting the grand army in motion; and rumours were even circulated of its advance, which feemed only to increase the determined obftinacy or resolution of the people.

The difpatches from Vienna'ar¬ rived opportunely, in a great meafure to difpel the apprehenfions and allay the difcontents of the people. By these they received information from their deputies, that the fovereign, having teftified the dif pleafure which he thought fuited to the dignity of his throne, had relaxed entirely from that harsh aufterity which had been exhibited at their public audience. That he had permitted communications to be fecretly made to them, that he entertained fentiments favourable to their requests, though the dignity of his crown did not allow him to exprefs them fully until the preli❤ minary articles were executed; that he had weighed in his mind the complaints of the provinces, and was difpofed to grant redress in the principal points, though he would not in all things acquiefce in their demands; particularly in the reeftablishment.