Very brutally, foolishly, and characteristically, he had promised his followers the sacking of the city so soon as it should be taken.  They accordingly set about the sacking, before it was taken.  Hardly had the five or six hundred effected their entrance, than throwing off all control, they dispersed through the principal streets, and began bursting open the doors of the most opulent households.  The cries of “victory!” “gained city!” “down with the Spaniards!” resounded on all sides.  Many of the citizens, panic-struck, fled from their homes, which they thus abandoned to pillage, while, meantime, the loud shouts of the assailants reached the ears of the sergeant and his two companies who had been left in charge of the gate.  Fearing that they should be cheated of their rightful share in the plunder, they at once abandoned their post, and set forth after their comrades, as fast as their legs could carry them.

Now it so chanced—­although there was no garrison in the town—­that forty Burgundian and Italian lancers, with about thirty foot-soldiers, had come in the day before to escort a train of merchandise.  The Seigneur de Haultepenne, governor of Breda, a famous royalist commander—­son of old Count Berlaymont, who first gave the name of “beggars” to the patriots-had accompanied them in the expedition.  The little troop were already about to mount their horses to depart, when they became aware of the sudden tumult.  Elmont, governor of the city, had also flown to the rescue, and had endeavoured to rally the burghers.  Not unmindful of their ancient warlike fame, they had obeyed his entreaties.  Elmont, with a strong party of armed citizens, joined himself to Haultepenne’s little band of lancers.  They fired a few shots at straggling parties of plunderers, and pursued others up some narrow streets.  They were but an handful in comparison with the number of the patriots, who had gained entrance to the city.  They were, however, compact, united, and resolute.  The assailants were scattered, disorderly, and bent only upon plunder.  When attacked by an armed and regular band, they were amazed.  They had been told that there was no garrison; and behold a choice phalanx of Spanish lancers, led on by one of the most famous of Philip’s Netherland chieftains.  They thought themselves betrayed by Kleerhagen, entrapped into a deliberately arranged ambush.  There was a panic.  The soldiers, dispersed and doubtful, could not be rallied.  Hohenlo, seeing that nothing was to be done with his five hundred, galloped furiously out of the gate, to bring in the rest of his troops who had remained outside the walls.  The prize of the wealthy city of Bois-le-Duc was too tempting to be lightly abandoned; but he had much better have thought of making himself master of it himself before he should present it as a prey to his followers.