Duke of Alba
Spanish general and governor of the Netherlands. Suddenly arrived with his army in 1572 to rescue Van der Burch's father from heretics at Mechlin.
Preliminaries
-
TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— Suddenly arrived with his army in 1572 to rescue Van der Burch's father from heretics at Mechlin; had he not arrived, the father was destined for death
"had the Duke of Alba not suddenly arrived with his army, he was already destined for death."