These stirring appeals to an order of which Philip was chief, Viglius chancellor, Egmont, Mansfeld, Aerschot, Berlaymont, and others, chevaliers, were not likely to produce much effect.  The city could rely upon no assistance in those high quarters.

Meantime, however, the bold Brederode was attempting a very extensive diversion, which, if successful, would have saved Valenciennes and the whole country beside.  That eccentric personage, during the autumn and winter had been creating disturbances in various parts of the country.  Wherever he happened to be established, there came from the windows of his apartments a sound of revelry and uproar.  Suspicious characters in various costumes thronged his door and dogged his footsteps.  At the same time the authorities felt themselves obliged to treat him with respect.  At Horn he had entertained many of the leading citizens at a great banquet.—­The-health-of-the-beggars had been drunk in mighty potations, and their shibboleth had resounded through the house.  In the midst of the festivities, Brederode had suspended a beggar’s-medal around the neck of the burgomaster, who had consented to be his guest upon that occasion, but who had no intention of enrolling himself in the fraternities of actual or political mendicants.  The excellent magistrate, however, was near becoming a member of both.  The emblem by which he had been conspicuously adorned proved very embarrassing to him upon his recovery from the effects of his orgies with the “great beggar,” and he was subsequently punished for his imprudence by the confiscation of half his property.

Early in January, Brederode had stationed himself in his city of Viane.  There, in virtue of his seignorial rights, he had removed all statues and other popish emblems from the churches, performing the operation, however, with much quietness and decorum.  He had also collected many disorderly men at arms in this city, and had strengthened its fortifications, to resist, as he said, the threatened attacks of Duke Eric of Brunswick and his German mercenaries.  A printing-press was established in the place, whence satirical pamphlets, hymn-books, and other pestiferous productions, were constantly issuing to the annoyance of government.  Many lawless and uproarious individuals enjoyed the Count’s hospitality.  All the dregs and filth of the provinces, according to Doctor Viglius, were accumulated at Viane as in a cesspool.  Along the placid banks of the Lech, on which river the city stands, the “hydra of rebellion” lay ever coiled and threatening.

Brederode was supposed to be revolving vast schemes, both political and military, and Margaret of Parma was kept in continual apprehension by the bravado of this very noisy conspirator.  She called upon William of Orange, as usual, for assistance.  The Prince, however, was very ill-disposed to come to her relief.  An extreme disgust for the policy of the government already began to, characterize his