THE CONFEDERATES; OR, THE DAYS OF MARGARET OF

PARMA.

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE.

CHAPTER I.

A BRIGHT, cheerful, autumnal sun shone over the city of Antwerp, and threw out into strong relief against the sky its many towers, spires, and innumerable tapering pinnacles, here and there striking the crosses that decorated their extremities. The Scheldt, glittering in its rays like a broad sheet of silver, as it rolled proudly by the dark grey walls, was studded with numberless ships of all sizes, whose multitude of spars clustered thick as a forest of fir-trees stripped of their foliage; whilst seaward, their white sails extended like fleecy clouds as far as the eye could reach. The country around, low, flat, and covered with shrubs, exhibited those pearly tints which harmonise so well with the sombre hue characteristic of antique buildings; and the whole might have been deemed a fair sight by a dispassionate gazer who had commanded the view from the opposite side of the noble river. It was also one of deep interest to the philosopher, for he could not but ponder on the many political advantages which induced shoals of foreigners to pour in, like the billows of the sea, from all parts of the known world, eager to bring their goods to that European mart which is said to have accomplished greater and more numerous affairs in one short month than Venice in two years, when in the zenith of her splendour; or on those more local and individual privileges that secured the happiness of the town and its prosperity, and fired the bosom of every inhabitant with a love and devotion for his native place, which made its weal or its woe a part and portion of his own.

But there was no such idle speculator on things past or present at that moment in busy Antwerp. It was the month of September, 1549, and the future engrossed every mind. Never had the streets been more thronged. All was noise and confusion; but the first glance would have satisfied a stranger that it was the preparation for a joyous festivity which had called forth high and low to mix in eager groups.

It was, indeed, a fitting occasion for all within the walls of the city to display their riches, taste, national pride, satisfaction of the present and hopes for the future. Charles V. had announced his intention of bringing his young heir to Antwerp to receive the oath of allegiance, who was now, in obedience to his command, visiting, for the first time, the lands fate destined him to rule. It had been vaguely rumoured, that, bent with age and infirmities, the emperor would not much longer retain his throne, even should he linger out many more years of existence. This event, therefore, acquired a more intense interest, not only in the eyes of the people of Antwerp themselves, but in those of all the foreign merchants whom the unrivalled advantages for trade which the town afforded had attracted towards or fixed among them. They were preparing to hail a rising sun.

The young prince, born and bred in Spain, was as yet a stranger to all hearts; but the son of Charles V., it was hoped, could not long remain so, when once an opportunity of making himself known should be afforded him. Some anticipated that if his name should be less often trumpeted

by fame to admiring and subjugated nations than that of his imperial father, it might be the more blessed by those who loved peace, and that his gentle sway might heal those wounds which his sire's severity had at times inflicted. The Flemings, credulous in the extreme, the natural result of their own honesty of character, were the most sanguine.

But however bent were the citizens on clothing their hopes in lavish expenditure and magnitude of preparation, the emperor was no less so on conciliating the golden opinions of all sorts of men. He knew pomp and state to be great means towards the attainment of the end he had in view, and, according to the policy he had displayed in all the momentous portions of his life, he made the progress of his son through the land triumphant in the extreme. Perhaps, also, he might wish that, in the hurry of pleasure and festivity, the misgivings he could not help entertaining about the young prince's worth might not take root in other breasts besides his own. His two sisters, Eleanor, once the widow of the King of Arragonia, now that of the gallant Francis I. of France, and Mary, Queen of Hungary; his nieces, the Duchesses of Savoy and Lorraine, with their noble consorts; his daughter Margaret, Duchess of Parma; his favourites, Alba and Granvella, and a long train of princes and nobles, headed by himself, formed the cortége of his son, Prince Philip. The other cities of Brabant had already received the imperial party with as much magnificence as they could display; but even Brussels, although selected by the court for its residence, was not equal in importance to Antwerp. In those days pre-eminence of towns was a continual subject of contention, and the latter determined to outdo whatever had hitherto been, or could be attempted.

The good citizens were wholly occupied in bedizening their town, according to the custom of the period, with as many triumphal arches as they could find proper places in which to erect them; and these, though in reality mere wooden structures hastily put together for the occasion, were to be coloured to represent marble or stone, and decorated with paintings or tapestry-work, bearing such appropriate subjects as the ingenuity of the artists could devise.

The progress of the wayfarer was checked at every step by the lading and unlading of carts, the trundling of wheelbarrows along the pavement, and by men hurrying to and fro with pails of paint and mortar; whilst his ears were assailed with deafening sounds of hewing, hammering, sawing, shouting, and the creaking of wheels and pulleys. Yards and yards of painting-canvas, and tapestry most richly wrought, were hauled up in air, and painters, in pursuance of their avocation, might be seen at every corner, recklessly ascending half-finished scaffoldings, and with a rapid hand throwing their colours about them. Groups of eager idlers swarmed the streets and thoroughfares, feasting their eyes on these preparations, each individual present seeming to take a personal interest in what was going forward.

Among the fluctuating crowd might be distinguished the portly bearing and frank look of the Englishman; the cautious, crafty Italian, with his deep-set eye; the haughty Spaniard, strutting conscious of a small, neatly-trimmed moustachio; the turbanned Easterling; the long-sleeved Armenian; the phlegmatic German; and, more frequently than the rest, the rotund, smiling, florid countenance of the placid Fleming. Gliding freely among these were numerous Beguines, whose dark dresses formed

a marked contrast to the gay costumes of those with whom they mingled. Here and there from a casement might be descried a pair of black eyes lighting up some pretty, though sallow face, evidently of Spanish extraction, prying curiously into the scene below; whilst, sharing more liberally the rights and pleasures of their lords and masters, the ladies of the soil wandered up and down the streets with modest, though frank demeanour, the black silken mantilla gracefully adjusted over their heads and shoulders, displaying to advantage their golden tresses and snowy complexions. Occasionally some scion of a mixed race, blending in exquisite harmony the soft and fair loveliness of the North with the more brilliant beauty of the South, might be observed gliding by. The Spaniard or Italian, when such a vision flitted across his path, would gaze in silent admiration, and doubt as to her nationality; but the numerous fatherly greetings of the Flemings soon sufficiently convinced them the foreign sprig was grafted on the native tree.

In the Koeper Street, the street of the Hospital, that of St. Catherine, on the Meer Brugge and the Dryhoeck, every where the same activity prevailed; but in no quarter was the scene more animated than on the grand place opposite the Stadhuis. Here they were building a long, wooden gallery, with a pavilion at either end, for the express use of the emperor and his suite. As no foreigners were interested in this structure, the crowd which thronged the square was entirely composed of Flemings, many of whom were superintending the works. Among the more soberlooking of these, two men, who met suddenly at the corner of the place, demand more particular notice.

They were past the hey-day of youth, and though dissimilar in person, yet bore a family likeness to each other. The one was of moderate height and vigorous make; his head, of a formation peculiarly large and square, and covered with a profusion of refractory hair of a deep brown, was such as is thought indicative of stubborn passions, a notion which the severe expression of his firm lips, deep-set eyes, and bold, irregular features, tended to confirm. In the other individual, evidently by some years his junior, the same grey eye appeared more benevolent in its expression; the same thin lips more habitually clothed in smiles; and the whole man was very much inclined to an embonpoint, which only wanted a few more years for a fuller development.

"Well, brother, always about, sharing the general agitation, eh?" said, in a loud, deep voice, the elder of these personages.

"Why, Paul," answered the younger, somewhat testily; "should not I take my share in all that is going forward as well as others? There are few better to do in the world than I am, and surely none who have more at stake in the present venture. Why should I be behind my fellowtownsmen, either in loyalty or in expense?"

"I'll tell you why, Cornelius," said the other, without in the least lowering the tone in which he had previously spoken; "because neither you nor yours have any reason to be thankful to yonder ambitious emperor, and very little to hope from his Spanish-bred successor."

"I don't know that," hastily responded Cornelius, casting a timid glance around; "and even were there not much ground for hoping, it is still good policy to appear full of trust and confidence; and, perhaps, as wise for one's own personal happiness always to look to the bright side of things."

"If you imagine, brother, that this precious show of loyalty will make an impression on the young sovereign's mind, you are mistaken. I should be much surprised if one born and bred in that land of false knaves were ever to prove a real friend to the Fleming, and still less to the-"

"For God's sake be careful!" interrupted Cornelius, "do not speak so loud or so free. Remember we stand on the public market-place. I know you have suffered wrongs," he continued, lowering his voice to a whisper; but let by-gones be by-gones, and suffer not prejudice to warp your good understanding."

66

Ay! that's the way of the world," said Paul, with a bitter smile; people are always willing that others should forget their sorrows, that they may escape being burdened by them. But to change the subject, how is Mary? I have not seen her to-day."

66

Mary is very well, thank you," replied the other, "but I cannot quit the subject thus; come, Paul, is it really your intention to withdraw yourself from the general contributions, you, who are known to possess such ample means? Is not this signalising yourself in a manner which may be reported in higher quarters?"

"not a

"I care not if it be," said Paul, in a determined manner; stiver will I give towards expressing joys and hopes I never can feel again!"

"Well, well," said Cornelius, soothingly; "you will at least allow me to act in your name-all out of my own pocket, of course."

"As I suppose it is as much for your own sake as for mine, my dear Cornelius, you may do just as you please."

"Hans," said the foremost of two workmen, who at that moment passed at some distance behind, carrying a ladder, "are not those men yonder, in black cloaks and barrets, the rich Van Meerens of the Meerbrug?"

"To be sure they are," replied his companion, "the best tapestry weavers in the whole town."

"By-the-bye," said the other, standing still to view the objects of his curiosity more closely; "hav'n't you heard that they are heretics?"

"How can that be?" answered the other, shrugging his shoulders; "I have seen Master Cornelius and his wife every Sunday at our Lady's Church; I've knelt next her myself, and she is as discreet-looking a person as any in Antwerp."

way

"That may be," observed the first speaker; "but for all that-well! we'll soon see, there are some priests coming up this with the holy sacrament. Don't you hear the tingling of the bell? Let's stay to see how they'll look when they pass."

At the first sound of the approaching bell all movement in the crowd was suspended. A general silence prevailed; and as the holy emblem passed through the square, every knee was bent, every barret was lowered. The heads of the people sunk and rose again, like the tops of the foresttrees when agitated by the wind; even the two workmen remained silent until it had receded from their view, when Hans exclaimed

"You saw how low Master Cornelius bent ?"

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Yes," said the other, laughing; "but did you not observe what a tug he gave his brother to bring him down? I'faith he nearly floored him." "Well, well," said Hans, good-humouredly taking the ladder at one

end, whilst his companion resumed his hold of it at the other, "there's no need fashing one's head about other people's business. I've two brothers who work in the fabric, and they say that the like of such masters isn't to be found. Besides, what does it matter what a rich man is, when he is a friend to the poor? That's all that's wanted of him, I take it. Eh?"

"To be sure," said the other.

"A man's soul is his own concern. Live and let live; that's my maxim." And giving a vigorous push forward, they soon strode out of sight.

When the priests had passed by, the brothers resumed their dialogue, totally unconscious of the notice they had attracted.

"Have you already bespoke Father Eustace ?" inquired the elder.

"Not yet," said Cornelius. "They have been so busy at St. Michael's, that I have really been afraid of intruding, but Mary is so urgent on that point, that I was thinking of proceeding thither this morning."

66 suppose she dreads lest he should not be called in at all. Well, I do not mind accompanying you to the Abbey myself. Father Eustace may have the christening of our expected heir for all that I have to say on the subject; only mind, if it be a girl, she must not bear that fatal

name-"

"Of course, of course," hastily replied his brother; "then come along, we'll see what the fraternity have thought of on this occasion. Doubtless they will have distinguished themselves by some pleasant and appropriate allegory likely to win the approbation of their royal inmates, for they are as wise and deep as their neighbours, the good fathers, if not better." "They may be wiser and deeper, too, than most men, I'll not deny that," said Paul, impatiently; "but as to better-God-a-mercy!" "Good day, my masters, well met-whither are you bound?" said a pursy, florid personage, in a grave suit, doffing his cap as he approached them.

"We are for St. Michael," said Cornelius, answering kindly the stranger's greeting. "Have you seen the arch there, Van Diest ?"

"No," replied the other, as he stalked carelessly by the side of the brothers; "I have not seen it. They say it is to be mighty fine-all about God and the saints of course. But the Florentines, as usual, are to surpass us all in taste and magnificence. The English and Spaniards are not a little jealous of them, I can tell you."

"Ay, ay, Master Nicholas Rondinelli is a person of no ordinary fancy," said Paul, involuntarily, more interested in the matter than he would have chosen to confess.

"Yet Master Sturgeon told me," said Cornelius, "that the costs for the English arch will come to two thousand florins and a few odd hundreds besides. But these Southerns have always the advantage of us, do what we will."

"You do us injustice," retorted his brother, warmly, "for after all, the Florentines are glad enough to avail themselves of the talents of our eminent artists and artificers."

"The best thing, however, is, I understand, the Spanish attempt," said Van Diest; what they lack in elegance, they will amply make up for in pomposity."

"Really these people are bursting with pride," muttered Paul.

""Tis a good old proverb that says 'pride goes before a fall,' and yet