Nevertheless the diligence and courage of the Prince kept pace with the insurrection.  He had caused the eight companies of guards enrolled in September, to be mustered upon the square in front of the city hall, for the protection of that building and of the magistracy.  He had summoned the senate of the city, the board of ancients, the deans of guilds, the ward masters, to consult with him at the council-room.  At the peril of his life he had again gone before the angry mob in the Mere, advancing against their cannon and their outcries, and compelling them to appoint eight deputies to treat with him and the magistrates at the town-hall.  This done, quickly but deliberately he had drawn up six articles, to which those deputies gave their assent, and in which the city government cordially united.  These articles provided that the keys of the city should remain in the possession of the Prince and of Hoogstraaten, that the watch should be held by burghers and soldiers together, that the magistrates should permit the entrance of no garrison, and that the citizens should be entrusted with the care of, the charters, especially with that of the joyful entrance.

These arrangements, when laid before the assembly at the Mere by their deputies, were not received with favor.  The Calvinists demanded the keys of the city.  They did not choose to be locked up at the mercy of any man.  They had already threatened to blow the city hall into the air if the keys were not delivered to them.  They claimed that burghers, without distinction of religion, instead of mercenary troops, should be allowed to guard the market-place in front of the town-hall.

It was now nightfall, and no definite arrangement had been concluded.  Nevertheless, a temporary truce was made, by means of a concession as to the guard.  It was agreed that the burghers, Calvinists and Lutherans, as well as Catholics, should be employed to protect the city.  By subtlety, however, the Calvinists detailed for that service, were posted not in the town-house square, but on the ramparts and at the gates.

A night of dreadful expectation was passed.  The army of fifteen thousand mutineers remained encamped and barricaded on the Mere, with guns loaded and artillery pointed.  Fierce cries of “Long live the beggars,”—­“Down with the papists,” and other significant watchwords, were heard all night long, but no more serious outbreak occurred.

During the whole of the following day, the Calvinists remained in their encampment, the Catholics and the city guardsmen at their posts near the city hall.  The Prince was occupied in the council-chamber from morning till night with the municipal authorities, the deputies of “the religion,” and the guild officers, in framing a new treaty of peace.  Towards evening fifteen articles were agreed upon, which were to be proposed forthwith to the insurgents, and in case of nonacceptance to be enforced.  The arrangement provided that there should be no garrison;