[The Life of John of Barneveld<br> 1609-23 by John Lothrop Motley]@TWC D-Link book
The Life of John of Barneveld
1609-23

CHAPTER II
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The festival was estimated by the thrifty chronicler of Antwerp to have cost from 3000 to 4000 crowns.
It was, he says, "an earthly paradise of which soon not a vapour remained." He added that he gave a detailed account of it "not because he took pleasure in such voluptuous pomp and extravagance, but that one might thus learn the vanity of the world." These courtesies and assiduities on the part of the great "shopkeeper," as the Constable called him, had so much effect, if not on the Princess, at least on Conde himself, that he threatened to throw his wife out of window if she refused to caress Spinola.

These and similar accusations were made by the father and aunt when attempting to bring about a divorce of the Princess from her husband.

The Nuncius Bentivoglio, too, fell in love with her, devoting himself to her service, and his facile and eloquent pen to chronicling her story.

Even poor little Philip of Spain in the depths of the Escurial heard of her charms, and tried to imagine himself in love with her by proxy.
Thenceforth there was a succession of brilliant festivals in honour of the Princess.

The Spanish party was radiant with triumph, the French maddened with rage.


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