History of the United Netherlands, 1590(a)


CHAPTER XXI.

Effect of the Assassination of Henry III.--Concentration of forces
for the invasion of France--The Netherlands determine on striking a
blow for freedom--Organization of a Dutch army--Stratagem to
surprise the castle of Breda--Intrepidity and success of the
enterprise.

The dagger of Jacques Clement had done much, and was likely to do
more, to change the face of Europe. Another proof was afforded that
assassination had become a regular and recognised factor in the political
problems of the sixteenth century. Another illustration was exhibited of
the importance of the individual--even although that individual was in
himself utterly despicable--to the working out of great historical
results. It seemed that the murder of Henry III.--that forlorn
caricature of kingship and of manhood--was likely to prove eminently
beneficial to the cause of the Netherland commonwealth. Five years
earlier, the murder of William the Silent had seemed to threaten its
very existence.

For Philip the Prudent, now that France was deprived of a head, conceived
that the time had arrived when he might himself assume the sovereignty of
that kingdom. While a thing of straw, under the name of Charles X. and
shape of a Cardinal Bourbon, was set up to do battle with that living
sovereign and soldier, the heretic Bearnese, the Duke of Parma was
privately ordered to bend all his energies towards the conquest of the
realm in dispute, under pretence of assisting the Holy League.