This was the basis upon which the very brief religious peace, broken almost as soon as established, was concluded by William of Orange, not only at Antwerp, but at Utrecht, Amsterdam, and other principal cities within his government.  The Prince, however, notwithstanding his unwearied exertions, had slender hopes of a peaceful result.  He felt that the last step taken by the Reformation had been off a precipice.  He liked not such rapid progress.  He knew that the King would never forgive the image-breaking.  He felt that he would never recognize the Accord of the 24th August.  Sir Thomas Gresham, who, as the representative of the Protestant Queen of England in the great commercial metropolis of Europe, was fully conversant with the turn things were taking, was already advising some other place for the sale of English commodities.  He gave notice to his government that commerce would have no security at Antwerp “in those brabbling times.”  He was on confidential terms with the Prince, who invited him to dine upon the 4th September, and caused pensionary Wesenbeck, who was also present, to read aloud the agreement which was that day to be proclaimed at the town-house.  Orange expressed himself, however, very doubtfully as to the future prospects of the provinces, and as to the probable temper of the King.  “In all his talke,” says Gresham, “the Prince aside unto me, ‘I know this will nothing contente the King!’”

While Egmont had been, thus busied in Flanders, and Orange at Antwerp, Count Horn had been doing his best in the important city of Tournay.  The Admiral was not especially gifted with intellect, nor with the power of managing men, but he went there with an honest purpose of seeing the Accord executed, intending, if it should prove practicable, rather to favor the Government than the Reformers.  At the same time, for the purpose of giving satisfaction to the members of “the religion,” and of manifesting his sincere desire for a pacification, he accepted lodgings which had been prepared for him at the house of a Calvinist merchant in the city, rather, than, take up his quarters with fierce old governor Moulbais, in the citadel.  This gave much offence to the Catholics; and inspired the Reformers, with the hope of having their preaching inside the town.  To this privilege they were entitled, for the practice had already been established there, previously to the 24th October.  Nevertheless, at first he was disposed to limit them, in accordance with the wishes of the Duchess, to extra-mural exercises.

Upon his arrival, by a somewhat ominous conjuncture, he had supped with some of the leading citizens in the hall of the “gehenna” or torture room, certainly not a locality calculated to inspire a healthy appetite.  On the following Sunday he had been entertained with a great banquet, at which all the principal burghers were present, held in a house on the market-place.  The festivities had been interrupted by a quarrel, which had been taking place in the cathedral.