The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1567 part 1 | Page 5

contemptuously refused. He then came to Antwerp,
from which city he forwarded the document to Brussels in a letter.

By this new Request, the exercise of the reformed religion was claimed
as a right, while the Duchess was summoned to disband the forces
which she had been collecting, and to maintain in good faith the
"August" treaty. These claims were somewhat bolder than those of the
previous April, although the liberal party was much weaker and the
confederacy entirely disbanded. Brederode, no doubt, thought it good
generalship to throw the last loaf of bread into the enemy's camp before
the city should surrender. His haughty tone was at once taken down by
Margaret of Parma. "She wondered," she said, "what manner of nobles
these were, who, after requesting, a year before, to be saved only from
the inquisition, now presumed to talk about preaching in the cities."
The concessions of August had always been odious, and were now
canceled. "As for you and your accomplices," she continued to the
Count, "you will do well to go to your homes at once without meddling
with public affairs, for, in case of disobedience, I shall deal with you as
I shall deem expedient."
Brederode not easily abashed, disregarded the advice, and continued in
Antwerp. Here, accepting the answer of the Regent as a formal
declaration of hostilities, he busied himself in levying troops in and
about the city.
Orange had returned to Antwerp early in February. During his absence,
Hoogstraaten had acted as governor at the instance of the Prince and of
the Regent. During the winter that nobleman, who was very young and
very fiery, had carried matters with a high hand, whenever there had
been the least attempt at sedition. Liberal in principles, and the devoted
friend of Orange, he was disposed however to prove that the champions
of religious liberty were not the patrons of sedition. A riot occurring in
the cathedral, where a violent mob were engaged in defacing whatever
was left to deface in that church, and in heaping insults on the papists at
their worship, the little Count, who, says a Catholic contemporary, "had
the courage of a lion," dashed in among them, sword in hand, killed
three upon the spot, and, aided by his followers, succeeded in slaying,
wounding, or capturing all the rest. He had also tracked the ringleader
of the tumult to his lodging, where he had caused him to be arrested at
midnight, and hanged at once in his shirt without any form of trial.
Such rapid proceedings little resembled the calm and judicious
moderation of Orange upon all occasions, but they certainly might have

sufficed to convince Philip that all antagonists of the inquisition were
not heretics and outlaws. Upon the arrival of the Prince in Antwerp, it
was considered advisable that Hoogstraaten should remain associated
with him in the temporary government of the city.
During the month of February, Brederode remained in Antwerp,
secretly enrolling troops. It was probably his intention--if so desultory
and irresponsible an individual could be said to have an intention--to
make an attempt upon the Island of Walcheren. If such important cities
as Flushing and Middelburg could be gained, he thought it possible to
prevent the armed invasion now soon expected from Spain. Orange had
sent an officer to those cities, who was to reconnoitre their condition,
and to advise them against receiving a garrison from government
without his authority. So far he connived at Brederode's proceedings, as
he had a perfect right to do, for Walcheren was within what had been
the Prince's government, and he had no disposition that these cities
should share the fate of Tourney, Valenciennes, Bois le Duc, and other
towns which had already passed or were passing under the spears of
foreign mercenaries.
It is also probable that he did not take any special pains to check the
enrolments of Brederode. The peace of Antwerp was not endangered,
and to the preservation of that city the Prince seemed now to limit
himself. He was hereditary burgrave of Antwerp, but officer of Philip's
never more. Despite the shrill demands of Duchess Margaret, therefore;
the Prince did not take very active measures by which the crown of
Philip might be secured. He, perhaps, looked upon the struggle almost
with indifference. Nevertheless, he issued a formal proclamation by
which the Count's enlistments were forbidden. Van der Aa, a gentleman
who had been active in making these levies, was compelled to leave the
city. Brederode was already gone to the north to busy himself with
further enrolments.
In the mean time there had been much alarm in Brussels. Egmont, who
omitted no opportunity of manifesting his loyalty, offered to throw
himself at once into the Isle of Walcheren, for the purpose of
dislodging any rebels who