NETHERLANDS. 4C 5 



appearing at the head of it ; and Luther's reformation gaining ground 

 about the same time in the Netherlands, his disciples were forced by 

 persecution to join the malcontents. Philip II, in consequence intro- 

 duced a kind of inquisition, which, from the inhumanity of its proceeds 

 ings, was called the " Council of Blood," in order to suppress theua ; 

 and many thousands were put to death by that court, besides those 

 that perished by the sword. Count Hoorn and count Egmont were 

 taken and beheaded ; but the prince of Orange, whom they elected 

 to be their stadtholder, retiring into Holland, that and the adjacent 

 provinces entered into a treaty for their mutual defence, at Utrecht, 

 in the year 1579. And though these revoke rs at first were thought 

 so despicable as to be termed beggars by their tyrants, their perseve- 

 rance and courage were such, under the prince of Orange, and with 

 the assistance afforded them by queen Elizabeth, both in troops and 

 money, that they forced the crown of Spain to declare them a free 

 people, in the year 1609 ; and afterwards they were acknowledged by 

 all Europe to be an independent state, under the title of The United 

 Provinces. 



After the independency of the Seven United Provinces was acknow- 

 ledged, the Spaniards remained possessed of the other ten provinces, 

 or, as they are termed, the Low Countries, until the duke of Marl- 

 borough, as general of the allies, gained the memorable victory of 

 Ramillies, in the year 1706; after which, Brussels, the capital, and 

 great part of these provinces, acknowledged Charles VI, afterwards 

 emperor of Germany, for their sovereign; and his daughter, Maria 

 Theresa, remained possessed of them until the war of 1741, when 

 the French reduced them, except part of the province of Luxemburg ; 

 and would have retained them from that time, but for the exertions of 

 the Dutch, and chiefly of the English, in favour of the House of 

 Austria, which continued in undisturbed possession of the part of the 

 Netherlands secured to it by the peace of 1748, till the disputes which 

 took place between these provinces and the emperor Joseph, in the 

 years 1788 and 1789. 



The quarrel originated, like those in other countries, concerning 

 the prerogatives assumed by the emperor, which were more exten- 

 sive than his subjects wished to allow ; and the emperor making use 

 of force to assert his claims, the territories of the United States be- 

 came a refuge for the discontented Brabanters. 



On the part of his imperial majesty, the insurgents were not treat- 

 ed with lenity. A proclamation was issued by count Trautmands- 

 dorff, governor of Brussels, intimating, that no quarter should be 

 given them, and that the villages in which they concealed them- 

 selves should be set on fire. General Dalton marched with 7000 

 men to retake the forts, proclaiming that he meant to become master 

 of them by assault, and would put every soui he found in them to 

 the sword. 



In opposition to this sanguinary proclamation, the patriots issued a 

 manifesto, in which they declared the emperor to have forfeited his 

 authority, by his various oppressions and cruelties, his annulling his 

 oath, and infringing the constitution. Banishment was threatened to 

 such as took part with him ; and all were exhorted to take up arms 

 in defence of their country, though strict orders were given that no 

 crowds or mobs should be allowed to pillage ; and whoever was found 

 doing so, should be treated as an enemy to his country. 



