mind and gained over it an unbounded ascendency.  They were Francis de Kethulle, lord of Ryhove, and John Hembyse, who each seemed formed to realize the beau-ideal of a factious demagogue.  They had acquired supreme power over the people of Ghent, and had at their command a body of twenty thousand resolute and well-armed supporters.  The duke of Arschot vainly attempted to oppose his authority to that of these men; and he on one occasion imprudently exclaimed that “he would have them hanged, even though they were protected by the Prince of Orange himself.”  The same night Ryhove summoned the leaders of his bands; and quickly assembling a considerable force, they repaired to the duke’s hotel, made him prisoner, and, without allowing him time to dress, carried him away in triumph.  At the same time the bishops of Bruges and Ypres, the high bailiffs of Ghent and Courtrai, the governor of Oudenarde, and other important magistrates, were arrested—­accused of complicity with the duke, but of what particular offence the lawless demagogues did not deign to specify.  The two tribunes immediately divided the whole honors and authority of administration; Ryhove as military, and Hembyse as civil, chief.

The latter of these legislators completely changed the forms of the government; he revived the ancient privileges destroyed by Charles V., and took all preliminary measures for forcing the various provinces to join with the city of Ghent in forming a federative republic.  The states-general and the Prince of Orange were alarmed, lest these troubles might lead to a renewal of the anarchy from the effects of which the country had but just obtained breathing-time.  Ryhove consented, at the remonstrance of the Prince of Orange, to release the duke of Arschot; but William was obliged to repair to Ghent in person, in the hope of establishing order.  He arrived on the 29th of December, and entered on a strict inquiry with his usual calmness and decision.  He could not succeed in obtaining the liberty of the other prisoners, though he pleaded for them strongly.  Having severely reprimanded the factious leaders, and pointed out the dangers of their illegal course, he returned to Brussels, leaving the factious city in a temporary tranquillity which his firmness and discretion could alone have obtained.

The archduke Mathias, having visited Antwerp, and acceded to all the conditions required of him, made his public entry into Brussels on the 18th of January, 1578, and was installed in his dignity of governor-general amid the usual fetes and rejoicings.  Don John of Austria was at the same time declared an enemy to the country, with a public order to quit it without delay; and a prohibition was issued against any inhabitant acknowledging his forfeited authority.