The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

“Thus the Netherlands were crushed, and but
for the stringency of the tyranny which had now
closed their gates, would have been depopulated.
The grass began to grow in the streets of those
cities which had recently nourished so many
artisans. In all those great manufacturing and
industrial marts, where the tide of human life had
throbbed so vigorously, there now reigned the
silence and darkness of midnight. It was at this
time that the learned Vigilius wrote to his friend
Hopper that all venerated the prudence and
gentleness of the Duke of Alva. Such were among
the first-fruits of that prudence and that gentleness.
“Upon the 16th of February, 1568, a sentence
of the holy office condemned all the inhabitants of
the Netherlands to death as heretics. From this
universal doom only a few persons especially
named, were excepted. A proclamation of the king,
dated ten days later, confirmed this decree of the
Inquisition, and ordered it to be carried into instant
execution, without regard to age, sex, or condition.
This is probably the most concise death-warrant
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