BOOKS.

MOTLEY'S RISE OF THE DUTCH EEPUBLIC.* Tun revolt of the Low Countries against the authority of Philip the Second was not only memorable for its leading principle, of being the first systematic resistance to authority on the abstract ground of inherent right, apart from particular grievances or violation of established customs. The political lessons it read were equally remarkable. It first made distinctly visible the principle that it is not mere victories which finally succeed in war, but the power of national endurance. As regards military suc- cess, the balance altogether rested with Alva, especially in the field; but his sieges exhausted his troops ; the expenses of the war exhausted the Spanish finances despite the practice of making the war maintain itself ; the loss of troops in the Netherlands, coupled with the destruction of the Spanish Armada, broke the martial power of Spain. Nor was the contest without its moral example. The cruelties of Alva and his Spaniards—for the men were worse than their leader—not only inspired that dogged re- sistance of burghers behind their walls which eventually tri- umphed; the account of their atrocities spread over Europe, penetrated deeply into the minds of men, and rendered the mo- narchy of Spain and the name of Spaniard odious till it became contemptible. The hostility of the Commonwealth and the tri- umphs of Blake were among the results of the brutalities of the Low Countries.

The story of the revolt of the Netherlands as it is called has been told in various forms, sometimes in regular history, some- times in lives of Philip the Second. Mr. Prescott, so far as his work has proceeded, gives a sufficiently full narrative of the story, not only set off by the charm of his composition, but embracing the newly-discovered documents relating to the government of Philip and the inmost character of himself and his officers. There is still room left, perhaps, for a more detailed history than the nature of Mr. Prescott's work allows him to exhibit, coupled with a profounder political philosophy than he possesses. Mr. Motley, however, is not the man to undertake it. Not only is his mind devoid of the requisite elevation and breadth ; its tone often ap- proaches the vulgar, and that an American vulgarity—a mixture of narrowness, self-intrusion and swagger. So narrow, indeed, is his view, diat he continually brings everything to the test of his own time, judging the sixteenth century by the ideas of the nineteenth.

Style is a reflex of mind, and Mr. Motley's is a bad style of rhetoric—Carlyle engrafted on American oratory ; which not only leads him into turgid composition, but sometimes induces him to overlook accuracy of facts for the sake of turning a period. Like many other modern writers, not perhaps excepting Macaulay, he fails to discern the true limitations of history ; introducing de- tails which belong rather to the chronicle, or even the newspaper report; and dwelling too much upon the life and character of inferior persons, so much so indeed as to write a series of bio- graphies. The most striking merit of Mr. Motley is indefatigable industry. The published collections and histories of early and later date have been "faithfully studied.” Besides printed works, he has had recourse to manuscript documentspreserved in many Continental depositories, and to collections of fugitive con- temporary publications almost as rare as manuscripts. " The manuscript relations of those Argus-eyed Venetian envoys who sur- prised so many courts and cabinets in their most unguarded moments, and daguerreotyped their character and policy for the instruction of the crafty Republic, and whose reports remain such an inestimable source for the secret history of the sixteenth century, have been carefully examined ,—especially the narratives of the caustic and accomplished Badovaro, of Suriano and Michele. * • • * The large and most interesting series of pamphlets known as The Duncan Collection,' in the Royal Library at the Hague, has also afforded a great variety of details by which I have endeavoured to give colour and interest to the narrative. Besides these, and many other printed works, I have also had the advantage of perusing many manuscript histories, among sthich may be particularly mentioned the works of Pontus Payen, of Renom de France, and of Pasquier de la Barre; while the vast collection of unpub- lished documents in the Royal Archives of the Hague, of Brussels, and of Dresden, has furnished me with much new matter of great importance." The main subject of the work is the history of the Low Countries from the resignation of the Emperor Charles the Fifth till the establishment of the culminating point of Holland's great- ness. This narrative he contemplates embracing in six large octavo volumes ; of which three are before us, bringing down the story to the assassination of William the Silent. This is preceded by a rapid summary of Belgic story from the time of Cfesaz to that of Charles the Fifth ; in which summary the deficiencies of Mr. Motley for the higher aims of history are more con- spicuous than in his detailed narrative. In the broad generali- zation and philosophical acumen necessary to the writer who • The Rise of the Dutch Republic: a History. By John Lothrop Motley, In three volumes. Published by Chapman.

would exhibit the characteristics of fifteen hundred years in a brief compass, Mr. Motley is altogether wanting. He substitutes in their stead a stilted summary, supported by nothing but his own ipso dixit. In the regular history . he is lavish in his references ; which renders their total omission in the introduction more remarkable.

Some modern historians consider that certain principles per- vade every period of history, colouring its conduct and determin- ing its end. Mr. Motley considers that the growth and formation of the Dutch Republic contain two such principles. One of these is blood. The old Batavians, originally a Germanic tribe, formed the groundwork of the Hollanders; the Flemish derived their origin from the Gallic race. Some crossing took place during the many changes of fifteen hundred years, but the two bloods of Teutons and Gauls respectively predominate in the two countries. Hence the final result. The Dutchmen, struggling through every obstacle and overcoming every difficulty, established a free republic : the Flemish subsided into subjects ; or, as Mr. Motley expresses it, " the Belgio provinces remained Roman, Spanish, Austrian property." This view, however, is not consistently maintained ; the author attributing the separation of Holland and Belgium (except the Walloons) to the death of William " the Silent' of Orange. The characteristics of the two peoples are very distinctly shown in the course of the history. The Belgians are impulsive, prompt, and headlong, whether in religious outrages, civil corn- motions, or actual war ; but they lose resolution as the fierce fire burns itself out, and then become depressed in proportion to their previous elation. The Dutchmen, on the contrary, with more phlegm at the outset, exhibited a more dogged determination to do all and brave all even to the extent of destruction.

The other pervading principle of the Dutch Republic, accord- ing to Mr. Motley's ideas, is not readily apprehended, on account of his high-flown style. He talks of " practical instruction in the great science of political equilibrium' ; which, if he means the balance of power, is not correct, because that originated in the time of the Emperor Charles the Fifth, while Holland had no more to do with its final establishment than any other belli- gerent state in Europe. Mr. Motley also talks about Holland "girdling the world with its innumerable dependencies, in Asia, America, Africa, and Australia " ; of its "having first laid to- gether as it were the grandest of the cyclopean blocks out of which the magnificent British realm at a later period had been constructed." He also alludes to Washington, and to American as well as Dutch liberty ; neither of which " was born of the cloud embraces of a false Divinity with a Humanity of impossible beauty," and so on. The political liberty of Holland was, like that of Switzerland, oligarchical, not democratic, though the oligarchy was widely spread, becoming narrow from its municipal character. The greatest contribution of Holland to human free- dom was that of religious toleration.

The nature of the subject dictates the plan, or rather the divi- sion. There were five Governors of the Netherlands during the period embraced in Mr. Motley's narrative ; the object of Philip throughout the whole being to destroy heresy and political liberty —to bring the Low Countries to the same spiritual condition as Spain, Naples, and the Spanish parts of Italy. The adminis- tration of the Duchess Margaret, Philip's sister, sought to effect the end of the King by quiet encroachment and by degrees. The unpopularity of Philip, the suspicions of the people, the spirit of the nobility, the penetration of Orange, and a want of thorough- ness, together with some hesitation or feminine fickleness on the part of Margaret, caused her government to fail. She produced a widespread dissatisfaction, partial insurrection, and laid the foundations of civil war ; having besides conceded so much to heretics as to displease the King, though she never intended to keep faith. The blood-stained government of Alva (1567-1573) is proverbially known for its atrocities and for the commander's military skill. Alva was foiled by the obstinate resistance of burghers behind their walls and by the nature of the country ; his own system of plunder aiding the patriotic cause, for he exhausted the country as well as the means of his master, who at last superseded him, with outward respect but inward dis- satisfaction. The last three Governors (1573-1584), Requescens, Don John of Austria, and Alexander of Parma, were reduced to a more cautious policy than that of Alva, partly from lack of means, and partly from a less brutal disposition. Their principle of rule was to do as they could—to fight when they had the power, to temporize and promise on other occasions.

As we have already remarked, the public features of the his- tory of Holland are well known from various narratives. This is the more particularly the case with the cruelties and campaigns of Alva and the heroic defence of several cities, owing to the curdling or exciting incidents they furnish. The advantage of Mr. Motley consists in the discovery of various manuscripts, especially the most secret papers of Philip in our own day, and the easier ac-

the author's story ; for William of Orange is the first. to Orange and the authorities, that he was believed.

he happened to possess them. Those who were most disposed to think fa- gaignee, vile auignee ! vive la messe, vive is messe ! tae, tue !' vourably of him remembered that there was a time when even Charles the "The burghers coming to door and window to look for the cause of all Fifth was thought weak and indolent, and were willing to ascribe Philip's this disturbance, were saluted with volleys of musketry. They were for a -pacific disposition to his habitual cholic and side-ache, and to his father's moment astonished, but not appalled, for at first they believed it to be merely inordinate care for him in youth. They even looked forward to the time an accidental tumult. Observing, however, that the soldiers, meeting with when he should blaze forth to the world as a conqueror and a hero. These, but little effective resistance, were dispersing into dwellings and ware- however, were views entertained by but few; the general and the correct houses, particularly into the shops of the goldsmiths and lapidaries, the opinion, as it proved, being, that Philip hated war, would never certainly citizens remembered the dark suspicions which had been so rife, and many acquire any personal distinction in the field, and when engaged in hostile- recalled to mind that distinguished French officers had during the last few ties would be apt to gather his laurels at the hands of his generals rather days been carefully examining the treasures of the jewellers, under pretext than with his own sword. He was believed to be the reverse of the Empe- of purchasing, but, as it now appeared, with intent to rob intelligently.

ror. Charles sought great enterpiises ,• Philip would avoid them. The The burghers, taking this rapid view of their position, flew instantly to Emperor never recoiled before threats ; the son was reserved, cautious, sus- arms. Chains and barricades were stretched across the streets ; the trum- picious of all men, and capable of sacrificing a realm from hesitation and pets sounded through the city ; the municipal guards swarmed to the rescue. timidity. The father had a genius for action, the son a predilection for re- An effective rally was made, as usual, at the Bourse, whither a large de- pose. Charles took all men's opinions, but reserved his judgment,' and tachment of the invaders had forced their way. Inhabitants of all classes and acted on it when matured with irresistible energy ; Philip was led by others, conditions, noble and simple, Catholic and Protestant, gave each other the was vacillating in forming decisions, and irresolute in executing them when hand, and swore to die at each other's side in defence of the city against the formed. treacherous strangers. The gathering was rapid and enthusiastic. Gentle- " Philip, then, was not considered in that warlike age as likely to shine men came with lance and cuirass, burghers with musket and bandoleer, er- as a warrior. His mental capacity in general was likewise not very highly tisane with axe, mallet, and other implements of their trade. A bold baker, esteemed. His talents were, in truth, very much below mediocrity. His standing by his oven—stark naked, according to the custom of bakers at mind was incredibly small. A petty passion for contemptible details cha- that day—rushed to the street as the sound of the tumult reached his ear. racterized him from his youth - and as long as he lived he could neither With his heavy bread-shovel, which he still held in his hand, he dealt a learn to generalize nor understand that one man, however diligent, could French cavalry officer, just riding and screaming by, such a hearty blow not be minutely acquainted with all the public and private affairs of fifty that he fell dead from his horse. The baker seized the officer's sword, millions of other men. He was a glutton of work. He was born to write sprang, all unattired as he was, upon his steed, and careered furiously despatches, and to scrawl comments upon those which he received. He through the streets, encouraging his countrymen everywhere to the attack, often remained at the council board four or five hours at a time, and he and dealing dismay through the ranks of the enemy. His services in that lived in his cabinet. He gave audiences to ambassadors and deputies very eventful hour were so signal that he was publicly thanked afterwards by the willingly, listening attentively to all that was said to him, and answering m magistrates for his services, and rewarded with a pension of three hundred monosyllables. He spoke no tongue but Spanish, and was sufficiently florins for life.

sparins.' of that; but he was indefatigable with his pen. He hated to con- "The invaders had been forced from the Bourse, while another portion of verse; but he could write a letter eighteen paces long, when his correspond- them had penetrated as far as the market-place. The resistance which ent was in the next room, and when the subject was perhaps one which a they encountered became every instant more formidable; and Fervacques, man of talent could have settled with six words of his tongue. The world, a leading French officer who was captured on the occasion, acknowledged in his opinion, was to move upon protocols and apostilles. Events had no that no regular troops could have fought more bravely than did these stal- right to be born throughout his dominions without a preparatory course of wart burghers. Women and children mounted to roof and window, whence his obstetrical pedantry. He could never learn that the earth would not they hurled not only tiles and chimney-pots, but tables, ponderous chairs, rest on its axis while he wrote a programme of the way it was to turn. He and other bulky articles, upon the heads of the assailants, while such was slow in deciding, slower in communicating his decisions. He was pro- citizens as had used all their bullets, loaded their pieces with the silver lix with his pen, not from affluence but from paucity of ideas. He took buttons from their doublets, or twisted gold and silver coins with their teeth refuge in a cloud of words, sometimes to conceal his meaning, oftener to into ammunition. With a population so resolute, the four thousand invaders, conceal the absence of any meaning ; thus mystifying not only others but however audacious, soon found themselves swallowed up. The city had himself. To one great purpose, formed early, he adhered inflexibly. This, closed over them like water, and within an hour nearly a third of their however, was rather an instinct than an opinion ,• born with him, not cre- whole number had been slain. Very few of the burghers had perished, and ated by him. The idea seemed to express itself through him and to master fresh numbers were constantly advancing to the attack. The Frenchmen, him, rather than to form one of a stock of sentiments which a free agent blinded, staggering, beaten, attempted to retreat. Many threw themselves might be expected to possess. Although at certain times even this master from the fortifications into the moat. The rest of the survivors struggled feeling could yield to the pressure of a predominant self-interest,—thus through the streets—falling in large numbers at every step—toward the showing that even in Philip bigotry. was not absolute,—yet he appeared on point at which they had so lately entered the city. Here at the Kipdorp the whole the embodiment of Spanish chivalrir and Spanish religious en- gate was a ghastly spectacle, the slain being piled up in the narrow passage

thusiasm in its late and corrupted form. full ten feet high, while some of the heap, not quite dead,. were striving to " The King's personal habits were regular. His delicate health made it extricate a hand or foot, and others feebly thrust forth their heads to gain a necessary for him to attend to his diet, although he was apt to exceed in mouthful of air.

sweetmeats and pastry. He slept much and took little exercise habitually, " From the outside, some of Anjou's officers were attempting to climb over but he had recently been urged by his physicians to try the effect of the this mass of bodies in order to enter the city ; from the interior, the baffled chase as a corrective to his sedentary habits. He was most strict in reli- and fugitive remnant of their comrades were attempting to force their pas- glom; observances—as regular at mass, sermons, and vespers, as a monk ; sage through the same horrible barrier; while many dropped at every in- much more, it was thought by many good Catholics, than was becoming to stant upon the heap of slain, under the blows of the unrelenting burghers. his rank and age. Besides several friars who preached regularly for his in- On the other hand, Count Rochepot himself, to whom the principal com- structice,he had daily discussions with others on abstruse theological mend of the enterprise had been intrusted by Anjou, stood directly in the points. He consulted his confessor most minutely as to all the actions of path of his fugitive soldiers, not only bitterly upbraiding. them with their life„ inqruring anxiously whether this proceeding or that were likely to cowardice, but actually slaying ten or twelve of them with his own hands, burden his conscience. He was grossly licentious. It was his chief amuse- as the most effectual mode of preventing their retreat, Hardly an hour had

cess to public collections that prevails at present. The main dis- went to issue forth at night, disguised, that he might indulge in vulgar and tinction between his history and that of other writers con- miscellaneous incontinence in the common haunts of vice. This was his slats in its greater fulness. This often leads to picturesque solace at Brussels in the midst of the gravest affairs of state. He was not detail, and to exhibition of manners, or individual traits. More illiberal, but, on the contrary, it was thought that he would have been even

generous had he not been straitened for money at the outset of his career.

frequently it gives rise to weariness, especially in the political During a cold winter he distributed alms to the poor of Brussels with an parts of the history ; for Mr. Motley well describes an incident or open hand. He was fond of jests in private, and would laugh immoderately an exploit. His tendency to overlay narrative by detail and in- when with a few intimate associates at buffooneries which he checked in terrupt it by disquisition, as well as his frequent comments in a public by the icy gravity of his deportment. He dressed usually in the Spanish fashion, with close doublet, trunk hose, and short cloak, although

tone below the character of his subject, will prevent the book from at times he indulged in the more airy fashions of France and Burgundy, becoming a popular standard work. It does not seem to us likely wearing buttons on his coats and feathers in his hat."

to supersede for the student the necessity of consulting the docu- In a literary sense the incidents are perhaps better than the ments on which it is founded, though it may serve as an aid. characters, because more briefly told ; but they do not exhibit so The best parts are the " characters." In an artistica' point of much of minute and original inquiry. The treacherous attempt view they are too many, and the secondary actors are exhibited at of the Duke of Anjou to surprise Antwerp, though he had been too great length. Mr. Motley, however, has collected from con- summoned to the country to become its prince, is a favourable ex- temporary authorities many personal peculiarities of celebrated ample of Mr. Motley's style. Some suspicions had been excited in men, and he presents them very well. This is the second man of the city ; but the Frenchman professed his innocence so solemnly "Philip the Second was a small, meagre man, much below the middle "The town was very quiet, the streets almost deserted; for it was one height, with thin legs, narrow chest, and the shrinking, timid air of an o'clock, the universal dinner-hour, and all suspicion had been disarmed by

habitual invalid. He seemed so little, upon his first visit to his aunts, the the energetic protestations of the Duke. The guard at the gate looked list- Queens Eleanor and Mary, accustomed to look upon proper men in Flanders lessly upon the cavalcade as it approached, but as soon as Anjou had crossed and Germany, that he was fain to win their favour by making certain at- the first drawbridge, he rose in his stirrups and waved his hand. There is tempts in the tournament, in which his success was sufficiently problemati- your city, my lads,' said he to the troopers behind him, go and take pos- cal. 'His body,' says his professed panegyrist, was but a human cage, in session of it.' which, however brief and narrow, dwelt a soul to whose flight the immea- " At the same time he set spurs to his horse, and galloped off towards the Bumble expanse of heaven was too contracted.' The same wholesale ad- camp at Borgerhout. Instantly afterwards, a gentleman of his suite, Count wirer adds, that his aspect was so reverend, that rustics who met him alone Rochepot, affected to have broken his leg through the plunging of his horse, in a wood, without knowing him, bowed down with instinctive veneration.' a circumstance by which he had been violently pressed against the wall as In face, he was the living image of his father, having the same broad fore- he entered the gate. Kaiser, the commanding officer at the guard-house, head, and blue eye, with the same aquiline but better-proportioned nose. stepped kindly forward to render him assistance, and his reward was a des- In the lower part of the countenance, the remarkable Burgundian deformity perate thrust from the Frenchman's rapier. As he wore a steel cuirass, he was likewise reproduced ; he had the same heavy, hanging lip, with a vast fortunately escaped with a slight wound.

mouth, and monstrously protruding lower .jaw. His complexion was fair, "The expression broken leg' was the watchword ; for at one and the his hair light and thin, his beard yellow, short, and pointed. He had the same time instant the troopers and guardsmen of Anjou set upon the aspect of a Fleming, but the loftiness of a Spaniard. His demeanour in burgher watch at the gate, and butchered every man. A sufficient force public was still, silent, almost sepulchral. He looked habitually on the was left to protect the entrance thus easily mastered, while the rest of the

ground when he conversed ; was chary of speech, embarrassed, and even Frenchmen entered the town at full gallop, shrieking, Ville gak,' vile suffering in manner. This was ascribed partly to a natural haughtiness, gaignee ! vive la messe ! vive lo Due d'Anjou ! "They were followed by their which he had occasionally endeavoured to overcome, and partly to habitual comrades from the camp outside who now poured into the town at the pre- paiir s in the stomach, occasioned by his inordinate fondness for pastry.* * * concerted signal, at least six hundred cavalry and three thousand musketeers,

It was the universal opinion of unprejudiced contemporaries that he all perfectly appointed, entering Antwerp at once. From the Kipdorp gate was without a spark of enterprise. He was even censured for a culpable two main arteries—the streets called the Kipdorp and the Meer—led quite want of ambition, and for being inferior to his father in this respect ; as if through the heart of the city, towards the Town-house and the river be- the love of encroaching on his neighbour's dominions and a disposition to yond. Along these great thoroughfares the French soldiers advanced at a foreign commotions and war would have constituted additional virtues, had rapid pace ; the cavalry cluttering furiously in the van, shouting Ville elapsed from the time when the Duke of Anjou first rode out of the Kipdorp gate, before nearly the whole of the force which he had sent to accomplish his base design was either dead or captive. Two hundred and fifty nobles of high rank and illustrious name were killed ; recognized at once as they lay in the streets by their magnificent costume. A larger number of the gallant chivalry of France had been sacrificed—as Anjou confessed—in this treacherous and most shameful enterprise, than had often fallen upon noble and honourable fields. Nearly two thousand of the rank and file had perished, and the rest were prisoners. It was at first asserted that exactly tifteen hundred and eighty-three Frenchmen had fallen ; but this was only because that number happened to be the date of the year, to which the lovers of marvellous coincidences struggled very hard to make the returns of the dead correspond. Less than one hundred burghers lost their lives."