Brederode not easily abashed, disregarded the advice, and continued in Antwerp.  Here, accepting the answer of the Regent as a formal declaration of hostilities, he busied himself in levying troops in and about the city.

Orange had returned to Antwerp early in February.  During his absence, Hoogstraaten had acted as governor at the instance of the Prince and of the Regent.  During the winter that nobleman, who was very young and very fiery, had carried matters with a high hand, whenever there had been the least attempt at sedition.  Liberal in principles, and the devoted friend of Orange, he was disposed however to prove that the champions of religious liberty were not the patrons of sedition.  A riot occurring in the cathedral, where a violent mob were engaged in defacing whatever was left to deface in that church, and in heaping insults on the papists at their worship, the little Count, who, says a Catholic contemporary, “had the courage of a lion,” dashed in among them, sword in hand, killed three upon the spot, and, aided by his followers, succeeded in slaying, wounding, or capturing all the rest.  He had also tracked the ringleader of the tumult to his lodging, where he had caused him to be arrested at midnight, and hanged at once in his shirt without any form of trial.  Such rapid proceedings little resembled the calm and judicious moderation of Orange upon all occasions, but they certainly might have sufficed to convince Philip that all antagonists of the inquisition were not heretics and outlaws.  Upon the arrival of the Prince in Antwerp, it was considered advisable that Hoogstraaten should remain associated with him in the temporary government of the city.

During the month of February, Brederode remained in Antwerp, secretly enrolling troops.  It was probably his intention—­if so desultory and irresponsible an individual could be said to have an intention—­to make an attempt upon the Island of Walcheren.  If such important cities as Flushing and Middelburg could be gained, he thought it possible to prevent the armed invasion now soon expected from Spain.  Orange had sent an officer to those cities, who was to reconnoitre their condition, and to advise them against receiving a garrison from government without his authority.  So far he connived at Brederode’s proceedings, as he had a perfect right to do, for Walcheren was within what had been the Prince’s government, and he had no disposition that these cities should share the fate of Tourney, Valenciennes, Bois le Duc, and other towns which had already passed or were passing under the spears of foreign mercenaries.

It is also probable that he did not take any special pains to check the enrolments of Brederode.  The peace of Antwerp was not endangered, and to the preservation of that city the Prince seemed now to limit himself.  He was hereditary burgrave of Antwerp, but officer of Philip’s never more.  Despite the shrill demands of Duchess Margaret, therefore; the Prince did not take very active measures by which the crown of Philip might be secured.  He, perhaps, looked upon the struggle almost with indifference.  Nevertheless, he issued a formal proclamation by which the Count’s enlistments were forbidden.  Van der Aa, a gentleman who had been active in making these levies, was compelled to leave the city.  Brederode was already gone to the north to busy himself with further enrolments.