of eye-witnesses, and contemporary historians of every country and creed, but for the courage and wisdom of one man.  William of Orange knew what would be the consequence of a battle, pent up within the walls of Antwerp.  He foresaw the horrible havoc which was to be expected, the desolation which would be brought to every hearth in the city.  “Never were men so desperate and so willing to fight,” said Sir Thomas Gresham, who had been expecting every hour his summons to share in the conflict.  If the Prince were unable that morning to avert the impending calamity, no other power, under heaven, could save Antwerp from destruction.

The articles prepared on the 14th had been already approved by those who represented the Catholic and Lutheran interests.  They were read early in the morning to the troops assembled on the square and at St. Michael’s, and received with hearty cheers.  It was now necessary that the Calvinists should accept them, or that the quarrel should be fought out at once.  At ten o’clock, William of Orange, attended by his colleague, Hoogstraaten, together with a committee of the municipal authorities, and followed by a hundred troopers, rode to the Mere.  They wore red scarfs over their armor, as symbols by which all those who had united to put down the insurrection were distinguished.  The fifteen thousand Calvinists, fierce and disorderly as ever, maintained a threatening aspect.  Nevertheless, the Prince was allowed to ride into the midst of the square.  The articles were then read aloud by his command, after which, with great composure, he made a few observations.  He pointed out that the arrangement offered them was founded upon the September concessions, that the right of worship was conceded, that the foreign garrison was forbidden, and that nothing further could be justly demanded or honorably admitted.  He told them that a struggle upon their part would be hopeless, for the Catholics and Lutherans, who were all agreed as to the justice of the treaty, outnumbered them by nearly two to one.  He, therefore, most earnestly and affectionately adjured them to testify their acceptance to the peace offered by repeating the words with which he should conclude.  Then, with a firm voice; the Prince exclaimed, “God Save the King!” It was the last time that those words were ever heard from the lips of the man already proscribed by Philip.  The crowd of Calvinists hesitated an instant, and then, unable to resist the tranquil influence, convinced by his reasonable language, they raised one tremendous shout of “Vive le Roi!”

The deed was done, the peace accepted, the dreadful battle averted, Antwerp saved.  The deputies of the Calvinists now formally accepted and signed the articles.  Kind words were exchanged among the various classes of fellow-citizens, who but an hour before had been thirsting for each other’s blood, the artillery and other weapons of war were restored to the arsenals, Calvinists, Lutherans, and Catholics, all laid down their arms, and the city, by three o’clock, was entirely quiet.  Fifty thousand armed men had been up, according to some estimates, yet, after three days of dreadful expectation, not a single person had been injured, and the tumult was now appeased.