[65] Only eight titled houses of the Grandees could claim a seat. Of the hidalgos, or lesser nobility, only those came whom the king chose to summon. [66] After the return of Alva from the Netherlands, a quarrel broke out between him and the King about the marriage affairs of his son, and he was ordered to live in retirement at Uzada, 1579. There he remained till his services were required for the conquest of Portugal, 1580. He died in December 1582. CHAPTER VIII THE REVOLT OF THE NETHERLANDS Policy of Charles V.--Regency of Margaret of Parma--The States-General of 1559 and their grievances--Granvella retires--Edict of Segovia--The Confederates at St. Trond--Alva--Execution of Egmont, Hoorne and Montigny--Jemmingen--The ‘Beggars’ seize Brille--Alliance with France--St. Bartholomew--Fall of Mons--Siege of Haarlem--Don Requesens--Military events--Conference at Breda--Exploits of Mondragon--Sack of Antwerp--Pacification of Ghent--Don John--The Perpetual Edict--The Archduke Mathias--Gemblours--Alexander of Parma--Union of Arras and Utrecht--Sovereignty offered to Duke of Anjou--The French Fury--Assassination of Orange--Successes of Parma--Henry III. and Elizabeth decline the Sovereignty--Leicester in the Netherlands--The Armada--Successes of Maurice--Death of Parma--The Archdukes Ernest and Albert--Truce of 1609--Condition of Netherlands. The revolt of the Netherlands has been generally looked upon as a notable instance of the resistance of a democracy to religious persecution. The statement, however, requires some modification. The religious element, no doubt, furnished a principle of enthusiasm to many, more especially in the northern provinces. Yet persecution was not the primary, nor indeed the chief cause of discontent, and many Catholics, at first, in any case, joined the party of resistance;[67] while the oligarchical character of the government of many of the towns, and the influential position held by the nobles, more especially in the southern and western provinces, remind us that the movement was far more oligarchical in character than has often been allowed. | Previous history of the Netherlands.