religion or the authority of the King.  The Prince readily acceded to the request, and agreed to comply with the conditions under which only it could be accepted.  He promised to send twenty-eight companies.  In his letter announcing this arrangement, he gave notice that his troops would receive strict orders to do no injury to person or property, Catholic or Protestant, ecclesiastic or lay, and to offer no obstruction to the Roman religion or the royal dignity.  He added, however, that it was not to be taken amiss, if his soldiers were permitted to exercise their own religious rites, and to sing their Protestant hymns within their own quarters.  He moreover, as security for the expense and trouble, demanded the city of Sluys.  The first detachment of troops, under command of Colonel Vander Tympel, was, however, hardly on its way, before an alarm was felt among the Catholic party at this practical alliance with the rebel Prince.  An envoy, named Ottingen, was despatched to Zealand, bearing a letter from the estates of Hainault, Brabant, and Flanders, countermanding the request for troops, and remonstrating categorically upon the subject of religion and loyalty.  Orange deemed such tergiversation paltry, but controlled his anger.  He answered the letter in liberal terms, for he was determined that by no fault of his should the great cause be endangered.  He reassured the estates as to the probable behaviour of his troops.  Moreover, they had been already admitted into the city, while the correspondence was proceeding.  The matter of the psalm-singing was finally arranged to the satisfaction of both parties, and it was agreed that Niewport, instead of Sluys, should be given to the Prince as security.

The siege of the citadel was now pressed vigorously, and the deliberations of the congress were opened under the incessant roar of cannon.  While the attack was thus earnestly maintained upon the important castle of Ghent, a courageous effort was made by the citizens of Maestricht to wrest their city from the hands of the Spaniards.  The German garrison having been gained by the burghers, the combined force rose upon the Spanish troops, and drove them from the city, Montesdocca, the commander, was arrested and imprisoned, but the triumph was only temporary.  Don Francis d’Ayala, Montesdocca’s lieutenant, made a stand, with a few companies, in Wieck, a village on the opposite side of the Meuse, and connected with the city by a massive bridge of stone.  From this point he sent information to other commanders in the neighbourhood.  Don Ferdinand de Toledo soon arrived with several hundred troops from Dalem.  The Spaniards, eager to wipe out the disgrace to their arms, loudly demanded to be led back to the city.  The head of the bridge, however, over which they must pass, was defended by a strong battery, and the citizens were seen clustering in great numbers to defend their firesides against a foe whom they had once expelled.  To advance across the bridge seemed certain destruction