[140] Catherine de Medici’s claim was through her mother, a lady of the House of Auvergne and Boulogne; in order to establish it she had to go back more than 300 years to the first marriage of Alphonso III. to the widow of a Count of Boulogne. Catherine alleged there were children of this marriage from one of whom she was descended. Some have thought that her only object was to show that she came of royal and ancient descent; this may have been the motive in part, but there can be no doubt that she hoped to exchange her visionary claim for some substantial advantage; thus, as has been already stated, she was willing to sell her pretensions to Don Antonio for Brazil. (See note p. 146). She was eager also to get an offer from Philip in satisfaction of her claims. ‘Je ne diray jamais ce que je demande, au contraire, attendrai ses offres qu’il fault qui soient raisonnables, puis qu’il est saisy et occupateur de ce que je pretendz m’appartenir.’—_Lettre de la Reine Mère à Longlée_, January 16, 1585, quoted by Motley, _United Netherlands_, i. 104. Henry threatened to retaliate by accepting the sovereignty of the Netherlands, if Philip did not compromise the matter. Catherine de Medici’s pretensions to the Crown of Portugal were an important factor in the politics of the time. See _Histoire de Portugal_, 1610, and Motley, _United Netherlands_, i. 101-105. [141] ‘The largest unbroken plain in Belgium is called _Campine_, and comprises the north-east portion of Antwerp, and north-west of Limburg.’ Mac Culloch, _Geographical Dictionary_. [142] One of the steps in Alençon’s scheme for the seizure of Antwerp not noticed by Motley. [143] These troubles were occasioned by Gebhard Truchsess von Waldburg, Archbishop of Cologne, having fallen in love with Agnes Mansfeld. He married her and became a Protestant, but tried notwithstanding to keep his see and electorate. See Motley, _Rise of the Dutch Republic_, Part VI. ch. vi., and _United Netherlands_, i. 31, 32, and elsewhere. For a full account, see _Thuanus_, iii. 582-8. [144] See Motley, _Rise of the Dutch Republic_, Part VI. ch. vi. [145] Busbecq hesitates to accept what is now known to have been Alençon’s version of the affair. [146] It seems probable that Busbecq’s diplomacy was directed towards securing the governorship of the Netherlands to a member of the Austrian house. Hence his dislike of French interference. (Letters I. and X.) Ernest did ultimately become Governor of the Netherlands in 1594. [147] Jean Bodin was Alençon’s chancellor, and acted as his adviser during the Prince’s stay in England and the Netherlands. After Alençon’s death he settled down at Laon where he used his influence in favour of the League; after a time he changed his views, and induced the citizens to declare in favour of Henry IV. He was the author of a treatise _On the Republic_ in six books, and other works.