was accomplished on the night and morning of the 4th and 5th of October.  It was considered so bold an achievement that its fame spread far and wide.  The Spaniards began to tremble at the prowess of a Prince whom they had affected to despise.  The very fact of the passage was flatly contradicted.  An unfortunate burgher at Amsterdam was scourged at the whipping-post, because he mentioned it as matter of common report.  The Duke of Alva refused to credit the tale when it was announced to him.  “Is the army of the Prince of Orange a flock of wild geese,” he asked, “that it can fly over rivers like the Meuse?” Nevertheless it was true.  The outlawed, exiled Prince stood once more on the borders of Brabant, with an army of disciplined troops at his back.  His banners bore patriotic inscriptions.  “Pro Lege, Rege, Grege,” was emblazoned upon some.  A pelican tearing her breast to nourish her young with her life-blood was the pathetic emblem of others.  It was his determination to force or entice the Duke of Alva into a general engagement.  He was desirous to wipe out the disgrace of Jemmingen.  Could he plant his victorious standard thus in the very heart of the country, he felt that thousands would rally around it.  The country would rise almost to a man, could he achieve a victory over the tyrant, flushed as he was with victory, and sated with blood.

With banners flying, drums beating, trumpets sounding, with all the pomp and defiance which an already victorious general could assume, Orange marched into Brabant, and took up a position within six thousand paces of Alva’s encampment.  His plan was at every hazard to dare or to decoy his adversary into the chances of a stricken field.  The Governor was entrenched at a place called Keiserslager, which Julius Caesar had once occupied.  The city of Maestricht was in his immediate neighbourhood, which was thus completely under his protection, while it furnished him with supplies.  The Prince sent to the Duke a herald, who was to propose that all prisoners who might be taken in the coming campaign should be exchanged instead of being executed.  The herald, booted and spurred, even as he had dismounted from his horse, was instantly hanged.  This was the significant answer to the mission of mercy.  Alva held no parley with rebels before a battle, nor gave quarter afterwards.

In the meantime, the Duke had carefully studied the whole position of affairs, and had arrived at his conclusion.  He was determined not to fight.  It was obvious that the Prince would offer battle eagerly, ostentatiously, frequently, but the Governor was resolved never to accept the combat.  Once taken, his resolution was unalterable.  He recognized the important difference between his own attitude at present, and that in which he had found himself during the past summer in Friesland.  There a battle had been necessary, now it was more expedient to overcome his enemy by delay.  In Friesland, the rebels