The Prince concluded by declaring that he made these advances not from any doubt as to the successful issue of the military operations in which he was engaged, but simply out of paternal anxiety for the happiness of the Provinces.

Did they remain obstinate, their ultimate conditions would be rendered still more severe, and themselves, not he, would be responsible for the misery and the bloodshed to ensue.
Ten days afterwards, the magistrates, thus addressed--after communication with the broad-council--answered Parma's.

23rd Nov., letter manfully, copiously, and with the customary but superfluous historical sketch.

They begged leave to entertain a doubt as to the paternal sweetness of a king who had dealt so long in racks and gibbets.

With Parma's own mother, as they told the Prince, the Netherlanders had once made a treaty, by which the right to worship God according to their consciences had been secured; yet for maintaining that treaty they had been devoted to indiscriminate destruction, and their land made desolate with fire and sword.