1566, the last year of peace Dissenters were as bigoted as the orthodox If he had little, he could live upon little Incur the risk of being charged with forwardness than neglect Not to let the grass grow under their feet

MOTLEY’S HISTORY OF THE NETHERLANDS, PG EDITION, VOLUME 13.

THE RISE OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC

By John Lothrop Motley
1855

1567 [Chapter ix., Part 2.]

Calvinists defeated at Lannoy and at Waterlots—­Elation of the government—­The siege pressed more closely—­Cruelties practised upon the country people—­Courage of the inhabitants—­Remonstrance to the Knights of the Fleece—­Conduct of Brederode—­Orange at Amsterdam—­ New Oath demanded by Government—­Orange refuses—­He offers his resignation of all offices—­Meeting at Breda—­New “Request” of Brederode—­He creates disturbances and levies troops in Antwerp—­ Conduct of Hoogstraaten—­Plans of Brederode—­Supposed connivance of Orange—­Alarm at Brussels—­Tholouse at Ostrawell—­Brederode in Holland—­De Beauvoir defeats Tholouse—­Excitement at Antwerp—­ Determined conduct of Orange—­Three days’ tumult at Antwerp suppressed by the wisdom and courage of Orange.

It was then that Noircarmes and his “seven sleepers” showed that they were awake.  Early in January, 1567, that fierce soldier, among whose vices slothfulness was certainly never reckoned before or afterwards, fell upon the locksmith’s army at Zannoy, while the Seigneur de Rassinghem attacked the force at Waterlots on the same day.  Noircarmes destroyed half his enemies at the very first charge.  The ill-assorted rabble fell asunder at once.  The preacher fought well, but his undisciplined force fled at the first sight of the enemy.  Those who carried arquebusses threw them down without a single discharge, that they might run the faster.  At least a thousand were soon stretched dead upon the field; others were hunted into the river.  Twenty-six hundred, according to the Catholic accounts, were exterminated in an hour.

Rassinghem, on his part, with five or six hundred regulars, attacked Teriel’s force, numbering at least twice as many.  Half of these were soon cut to pieces and put to flight.  Six hundred, however, who had seen some service, took refuge in the cemetery of Waterlots.  Here, from behind the stone wall of the inclosure, they sustained the attack of the Catholics with some spirit.  The repose of the dead in the quiet country church-yard was disturbed by the uproar of a most sanguinary conflict.  The temporary fort was soon carried, and the Huguenots retreated into the church.  A rattling arquebusade was poured in upon them as they struggled in the narrow doorway.  At least four hundred corpses were soon strewn among the ancient graves.  The rest were hunted, into the church, and from the church into the belfry.  A fire was then made in the steeple and kept up till all were roasted or suffocated.  Not a man escaped.