The vessel which he first hailed was that commanded by William de Blois, Seigneur of Treslong.  This adventurous noble, whose brother had been executed by the Duke of Alva in 1568, had himself fought by the side of Count Louis at Jemmingen, and although covered with wounds, had been one of the few who escaped alive from that horrible carnage.  During the intervening period he had become one of the most famous rebels on the ocean, and he had always been well known in Brill, where his father had been governor for the King.  He at once recognized Koppelstok, and hastened with him on board the Admiral’s ship, assuring De la Marck that the ferryman was exactly the man for their purpose.  It was absolutely necessary that a landing should be effected, for the people were without the necessaries of life.  Captain Martin Brand had visited the ship of Adam Van Haren, as soon as they had dropped anchor in the Meuse, begging for food.  “I gave him a cheese,” said Adam, afterwards relating the occurrence,” and assured him that it was the last article of food to be found in the ship.”  The other vessels were equally destitute.  Under the circumstances, it was necessary to attempt a landing.  Treslong, therefore, who was really the hero of this memorable adventure, persuaded De la Marck to send a message to the city of Brill, demanding its surrender.  This was a bold summons to be made by a handful of men, three or four hundred at most, who were both metaphorically and literally beggars.  The city of Brill was not populous, but it was well walled and fortified.  It was moreover a most commodious port.  Treslong gave his signet ring to the fisherman, Koppelstok, and ordered him, thus accredited as an envoy, to carry their summons to the magistracy.  Koppelstok, nothing loath, instantly rowed ashore, pushed through the crowd of inhabitants, who overwhelmed him with questions, and made his appearance in the town-house before the assembled magistrates.  He informed them that he had been sent by the Admiral of the fleet and by Treslong, who was well known to them, to demand that two commissioners should be sent out on the part of the city to confer with the patriots.  He was bidden, he said, to give assurance that the deputies would be courteously treated.  The only object of those who had sent him was to free the land from the tenth penny, and to overthrow the tyranny of Alva and his Spaniards.  Hereupon he was asked by the magistrates, how large a force De la Marck had under his command, To this question the ferryman carelessly replied, that there might be some five thousand in all.  This enormous falsehood produced its effect upon the magistrates.  There was now no longer any inclination to resist the invader; the only question discussed being whether to treat with them or to fly.  On the whole, it was decided to do both.  With some difficulty, two deputies were found sufficiently valiant to go forth to negotiate with the beggars, while in their absence most of the