HISTORY OF THE UNITED NETHERLANDS: FROM THE DEATH OF WILLIAM THE SILENT TO THE TWELVE YEARS' TRUCE-1609. BY JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, D.C.L., CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE; HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, by JOHN LOTHROP MOTLEY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE TWO CONCLUDING VOLUMES. It will be seen that a change has been made in the epoch at which it was originally meant to close this work. Instead of going on with the exclusive history of the Netherlands until the synod of Dort, the author has thought it more strictly in accordance with his general plan, as well as more convenient for the reader, to pause with the narrative at the point of time when the Republic was formally admitted into the family of nations by the treaty of twelve years Truce, and when its independence was virtually admitted by Spain. The history of the Thirty Years' War, with which the renewed conflict between the Dutch Commonwealth and the Spanish Monarchy was blended, until the termination of the great European struggle by the peace of Westphalia, involves all the most important episodes in the progress of the Netherlands until the year 1648. Upon this history, which is the natural complement to his two works-"The Rise of the Dutch Republic" and "The History of the United Netherlands," the author is now engaged, and he hopes at a future day to ask for it the indulgence which has been generously accorded to its predecessors. LONDON, August, 1867. CONTENTS OF VOL. III. Effect of the Assassination of Henry III. -Concentration of forces for the in- vasion of France - The Netherlands determine on striking a blow for freedom-Organization of a Dutch army - Stratagem to surprise the castle Struggle of the United Provinces against Philip of Spain-Progress of the Republic - Influence of Geographical position on the fate of the Nether- lands - Contrast offered by America-Miserable state of the so-called "obedient" provinces-Prosperity of the Commonwealth - Its internal government-Tendency to provincialism - Quibbles of the English Mem- bers of the Council, Wilkes and Bodley-Exclusion of Olden-Barneveld from the State-Council - Proposals of Philip for mediation with the United Provinces-The Provinces resolutely decline all proffers of inter- Philip's scheme of aggrandizement - Projected invasion of France - Internal condition of France-Character of Henry of Navarre-Preparation for action- Battle of Ivry-Victory of the French king over the League — Reluctance of the king to attack the French capital-Siege of Paris -The Pope indisposed towards the League — Extraordinary demonstration of ecclesiastics - Influence of the priests-Extremities of the siege - At- tempted negotiation-State of Philip's army - Difficult position of Farnese -March of the allies to the relief of Paris-Lagny taken and the city relieved - Desertion of the king's army-Siege of Corbeil-Death of Pope Sixtus V.-Re-capture of Lagny and Corbeil-Return of Parma to the |