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.

In the mean time there had been much alarm in Brussels.  Egmont, who omitted no opportunity of manifesting his loyalty, offered to throw himself at once into the Isle of Walcheren, for the purpose of dislodging any rebels who might have effected an entrance.  He collected accordingly seven or eight hundred Walloon veterans, at his disposal in Flanders, in the little port of Sas de Ghent, prepared at once to execute his intention, “worthy,” says a Catholic writer, “of his well-known courage and magnanimity.”  The Duchess expressed gratitude for the Count’s devotion and loyalty, but his services in the sequel proved unnecessary.  The rebels, several boat-loads of whom had been cruising about in the neighborhood of Flushing during the early part of March, had been refused admittance into any of the ports on the island.  They therefore sailed up the Scheld, and landed at a little village called Ostrawell, at the distance of somewhat more than a mile from Antwerp.