Affairs seemed more threatening than ever.  Nothing more excited the indignation of the Prince of Orange than such senseless iconomachy.  In fact, he had at one time procured an enactment by the Ghent authorities, making it a crime punishable with death.  He was of Luther’s opinion, that idol-worship was to be eradicated from the heart, and that then the idols in the churches would fall of themselves.  He felt too with Landgrave William, that “the destruction of such worthless idols was ever avenged by torrents of good human blood.”  Therefore it may be well supposed that this fresh act of senseless violence, in the very teeth of his remonstrances, in the very presence of his envoys, met with his stern disapprobation.  He was on the point of publishing his defence against the calumnies which his toleration had drawn upon him from both Catholic and Calvinist.  He was deeply revolving the question, whether it were not better to turn his back at once upon a country which seemed so incapable of comprehending his high purposes, or seconding his virtuous efforts.  From both projects he was dissuaded; and although bitterly wronged by both friend and foe, although, feeling that even in his own Holland, there were whispers against his purity, since his favorable inclinations towards Anjou had become the general topic, yet he still preserved his majestic tranquillity, and smiled at the arrows which fell harmless at his feet.  “I admire his wisdom, daily more and more,” cried Hubert Languet; “I see those who profess themselves his friends causing him more annoyance than his foes; while, nevertheless, he ever remains true to himself, is driven by no tempests from his equanimity, nor provoked by repeated injuries to immoderate action.”

The Prince had that year been chosen unanimously by the four “members” of Flanders to be governor of that province, but had again declined the office.  The inhabitants, notwithstanding the furious transactions at Ghent, professed attachment to his person, and respect for his authority.  He was implored to go to the city.  His presence, and that alone, would restore the burghers to their reason, but the task was not a grateful one.  It was also not unattended with danger; although this was a consideration which never influenced him, from the commencement of his career to its close.  Imbize and his crew were capable of resorting to any extremity or any ambush; to destroy the man whom they feared and hated.  The presence of John Casimir was an additional complication; for Orange, while he despised the man, was unwilling to offend his friends.  Moreover, Casimir had professed a willingness to assist the cause, and to, defer to the better judgment of the Prince:  He had brought an army into the field, with which, however, he had accomplished nothing except a thorough pillaging of the peasantry, while, at the same time, he was loud in his demands upon the states to pay his soldiers’ wages.  The soldiers of the different armies who