on the traitors.  All looked to the Prince as their only saviour, not a thought nor a word being wasted upon Matthias.  Not a voice was raised in the assembly to vindicate the secret proceedings of the Catholic party, nor to oppose the measures which the Prince might suggest.  The terrible disaster had taught the necessity of union.  All parties heartily joined in the necessary steps to place the capital in a state of complete defence, and to assemble forthwith new troops to take the place of the army just annihilated.  The victor gained nothing by his victory, in comparison with the profit acquired by the states through their common misfortune.  Nor were all the towns which had recently fallen into the hands of Don John at all comparable in importance to the city of Amsterdam, which now, by a most timely arrangement, furnished a rich compensation to the national party for the disaster of Gemblours.

Since the conclusion of the Ghent Pacification, it had been the most earnest wish of the Prince, and of Holland and Zealand, to recover possession of this most important city.  The wish was naturally shared by every true patriot in the states-general.  It had, however, been extremely difficult to arrange the terms of the “Satisfaction.”  Every fresh attempt at an amicable compromise was wrecked upon the obstinate bigotry of the leading civic authorities.  They would make no agreement to accept the authority of Orange, except, as Saint Aldegonde expressed himself; upon terms which would enable them “to govern their governor.”  The influence of the monks, who were resident in large numbers within the city, and of the magistrates, who were all stanch Catholics, had been hitherto sufficient to outweigh the efforts made by the large masses of the Reformed religionists composing the bulk of the population.  It was, however, impossible to allow Amsterdam to remain in this isolated and hostile attitude to the rest of Holland.  The Prince, having promised to use no coercion, and loyally adhering to his pledge, had only with extreme difficulty restrained the violence of the Hollanders and Zealanders, who were determined, by fair means or foul, to restore the capital city to its natural place within his stadholderate.  He had been obliged, on various occasions, particularly on the 21st of October of the preceding year, to address a most decided and peremptory letter to the estates of Holland and Zealand, forbidding the employment of hostile measures against Amsterdam.  His commands had been reluctantly, partially, and only temporarily obeyed.  The states desisted from their scheme of reducing the city by famine, but they did not the less encourage the secret and unofficial expeditions which were daily set on foot to accomplish the annexation by a sudden enterprise.