The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1578 part 1 | Page 5

against the Netherland cause, the Augsburg Confessionists showing
hardly more sympathy with Dutch Calvinists than with Spanish Papists.
Envoys from Don John also attended the diet, and requested Saint
Aldegonde to furnish them with a copy of his oration. This he declined
to do. While in Germany, Saint Aldegonde was informed by John
Casimir that Duke Charles of Sweden, had been solicited to furnish
certain ships of war for a contemplated operation against Amsterdam.
The Duke had himself given information of this plot to the Prince
Palatine. It was therefore natural that Saint Aldegonde should forthwith
despatch the intelligence to his friends in the Netherlands, warning
them of the dangers still to be apprehended from the machinations of
the Catholic agents and functionaries in Amsterdam; for although the
Reformation had made rapid progress in that important city since the
conclusion of the Satisfaction, yet the magistracy remained Catholic.
William Bardez, son of a former high-sheriff, a warm partisan of
Orange and of the "religion," had already determined to overthrow that
magistracy and to expel the friars who infested the city. The recent
information despatched by Saint Aldegonde confirmed him in his
purpose. There had been much wrangling between the Popish
functionaries and those of the Reformed religion concerning the
constitution of the burgher guard. The Calvinists could feel no security
for their own lives, or the repose of the commonwealth of Holland,
unless they were themselves allowed a full participation in the
government of those important bands. They were, moreover,
dissatisfied with the assignment which had been made of the
churchyards to the members of their communion. These causes of
discord had maintained a general irritation among the body of the
inhabitants, and were now used as pretexts by Bardez for his design. He
knew the city to be ripe for the overthrow of the magistracy, and he had
arranged with Governor Sonoy to be furnished with a sufficient number
of well-tried soldiers, who were to be concealed in the houses of the
confederates. A large number of citizens were also ready to appear at
his bidding with arms in their hands.
On the 24th of May, he wrote to Sonoy, begging him to hold himself in
readiness, as all was prepared within the city. At the same time, he

requested the governor to send him forthwith a "morion and a buckler
of proof;" for, he intended to see the matter fairly through. Sonoy
answered encouragingly, and sent him the armor, as directed. On the
28th of May, Bardez, with four confederates, went to the council-room,
to remonstrate with the senate concerning the grievances which had
been so often discussed. At about mid-day, one of the confederates,
upon leaving the council-room, stepped out for a moment upon the
balcony, which looked towards the public square. Standing there for a
moment, he gravely removed his hat, and then as gravely replaced it
upon his head. This was a preconcerted signal. At the next instant a
sailor was seen to rush across the square, waving a flag in both hands.
"All ye who love the Prince of Orange, take heart and follow me!" he
shouted. In a moment the square was alive. Soldiers and armed citizens
suddenly sprang forth, as if from the bowels of the earth. Bardez led a
strong force directly into the council-chamber, and arrested every one
of the astonished magistrates. At the same time, his confederates had
scoured the town and taken every friar in the city into custody. Monks
and senators were then marched solemnly down towards the quay,
where a vessel was in readiness to receive them. "To the gallows with
them--to the gallows with them!" shouted the populace, as they passed
along. "To the gibbet, whither they have brought many a good fellow
before his time!" Such were the openly, expressed desires of their
fellow-citizens, as these dignitaries and holy men proceeded to what
they believed their doom. Although treated respectfully by those who
guarded them, they were filled with trepidation, for they believed the
execrations of the populace the harbingers of their fate. As they entered
the vessel, they felt convinced that a watery death had been substituted
for the gibbet. Poor old Heinrich Dirckzoon, ex-burgomaster,
pathetically rejected a couple of clean shirts which his careful wife had
sent him by the hands of the housemaid. "Take them away; take them
home again," said the rueful burgomaster; "I shall never need clean
shirts again in this world." He entertained no doubt that it was the
intention of his captors to scuttle the vessel as soon as they had put a
little out to sea, and so to leave them to their fate. No such tragic end
was contemplated, however, and, in fact, never was a complete
municipal revolution accomplished in so good-natured and jocose a