the latter country, from many motives of sound policy, it was decided to offer the sovereignty to the duke of Alencon.  The archduke Mathias, who was present at the deliberations, was treated with little ceremony; but he obtained the promise of a pension when the finances were in a situation to afford it.  The definite proposal to be made to the duke of Alencon was not agreed upon for some months afterward; and it was in the month of August following that St. Aldegonde and other deputies waited on the duke at the chateau of Plessis-le-Tours, when he accepted the offered sovereignty on the proposed conditions, which set narrow bounds to his authority, and gave ample security to the United Provinces.  The articles were formally signed on the 29th day of September; and the duke not only promised quickly to lead a numerous army to the Netherlands, but he obtained a letter from his brother, Henry III., dated December 26th, by which the king pledged himself to give further aid, as soon as he might succeed in quieting his own disturbed and unfortunate country.  The states-general, assembled at Delft, ratified the treaty on the 30th of December; and the year which was about to open seemed to promise the consolidation of freedom and internal peace.

CHAPTER XII

TO THE MURDER OF THE PRINCE OF ORANGE

A.D. 1580—­1584

Philip might be well excused the utmost violence of resentment on this occasion, had it been bounded by fair and honorable efforts for the maintenance of his authority.  But every general principle seemed lost in the base inveteracy of private hatred.  The ruin of the Prince of Orange was his main object, and his industry and ingenuity were taxed to the utmost to procure his murder.  Existing documents prove that he first wished to accomplish this in such a way as that the responsibility and odium of the act might rest on the prince of Parma; but the mind of the prince was at that period too magnanimous to allow of a participation in the crime.  The correspondence on the subject is preserved in the archives, and the date of Philip’s first letter (30th of November, 1579) proves that even before the final disavowal of his authority by the United Provinces he had harbored his diabolical design.  The prince remonstrated, but with no effect.  It even appears that Philip’s anxiety would not admit of the delay necessary for the prince’s reply.  The infamous edict of proscription against William bears date the 15th of March; and the most pressing letters commanded the prince of Parma to make it public.  It was not, however, till the 15th of June that he sent forth the fatal ban.