The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1582-84 | Page 5

interior, Dr. Alostanus,
to the Duke of Anjou, in order to communicate the suspicions created
in the minds of the city authorities by the recent movements of troops.
Anjou, thus addressed, protested in the most solemn manner that
nothing was farther from his thoughts than any secret enterprise against
Antwerp. He was willing, according to the figure of speech which he
had always ready upon every emergency, "to shed every drop of his
blood in her defence." He swore that he would signally punish all those
who had dared to invent such calumnies against himself and his faithful

Frenchmen, declaring earnestly, at the same time, that the troops had
only been assembled in the regular course of their duty. As the Duke
was so loud and so fervent; as he, moreover, made no objections to the
precautionary measures which had been taken; as the burgomaster
thought, moreover, that the public attention thus aroused would render
all evil designs futile, even if any had been entertained; it was thought
that the city might sleep in security for that night at least.
On the following, morning, as vague suspicions were still entertained
by many influential persons, a deputation of magistrates and militia
officers waited upon the Duke, the Prince of Orange--although himself
still feeling a confidence which seems now almost inexplicable--
consenting to accompany them. The Duke was more vehement than
ever in his protestations of loyalty to his recent oaths, as well as of deep
affection for the Netherlands--for Brabant in particular, and for
Antwerp most of all, and he made use of all his vivacity to persuade the
Prince, the burgomasters, and the colonels, that they had deeply
wronged him by such unjust suspicions. His assertions were accepted
as sincere, and the deputation withdrew, Anjou having first solemnly
promised--at the suggestion of Orange--not to leave the city during the
whole day, in order that unnecessary suspicion might be prevented.
This pledge the Duke proceeded to violate almost as soon as made.
Orange returned with confidence to his own house, which was close to
the citadel, and therefore far removed from the proposed point of attack,
but he had hardly arrived there when he received a visit from the
Duke's private secretary, Quinsay, who invited him to accompany his
Highness on a visit to the camp. Orange declined the request, and sent
an earnest prayer to the Duke not to leave the city that morning. The
Duke dined as usual at noon. While at dinner he received a letter; was
observed to turn pale on reading it, and to conceal it hastily in a muff
which he wore on his left arm. The repast finished, the Duke ordered
his horse. The animal was restive, and so, strenuously resisted being
mounted that, although it was his usual charger; it was exchanged for
another. This second horse started in such a flurry that the Duke lost his
cloak, and almost his seat. He maintained his self-possession, however,
and placing himself at the head of his bodyguard and some troopers,
numbering in all three hundred mounted men, rode out of the
palace-yard towards the Kipdorp gate.

This portal opened on the road towards Borgerhout, where his troops
were stationed, and at the present day bears the name of that village: It
is on the side of the city farthest removed from and exactly opposite the
river. The town was very quiet, the streets almost deserted; for it was
one o'clock, the universal dinner-hour, and all suspicion had been
disarmed by the energetic protestations of the Duke. The guard at the
gate looked listlessly upon the cavalcade as it approached, but as soon
as Anjou had crossed the first drawbridge, he rose in his stirrups and
waved his hand. "There is your city, my lads," said he to the troopers
behind him; "go and take possession of it!"
At the same time he set spurs to his horse, and galloped off towards the
camp at Borgerhout. Instantly afterwards; a gentleman of his suite,
Count Bochepot, affected to have broken his leg through the plunging
of his horse, a circumstance by which he had been violently pressed,
against the wall as he entered the gate. Kaiser, the commanding officer
at the guard-house, stepped kindly forward to render him assistance,
and his reward was a desperate thrust from the Frenchman's rapier. As
he wore a steel cuirass, he fortunately escaped with a slight wound.
The expression, "broken leg," was the watch-word, for at one and the
same instant, the troopers and guardsmen of Anjou set upon the
burgher watch at the gate, and butchered every man. A sufficient force
was left to protect the entrance thus easily mastered, while the rest of
the Frenchmen entered the town at full gallop, shrieking "Ville gaignee,
ville gaignee! vive la messe! vive