A very great error was, moreover, committed in abandoning Herenthals to the enemy.  The city of Antwerp governed Brabant, and it would have been far better for the authorities of the commercial capital to succour this small but important city, and, by so doing, to protract for a long time their own defence.  Mondragon saw and rejoiced over the mistake.  “Now ’tis easy to see that the Prince of Orange is dead,” said the veteran, as he took possession, in the Icing’s name, of the forsaken Herenthals.

Early in the summer, Parma’s operations had been, of necessity, desultory.  He had sprinkled forts up and down the Scheldt, and had gradually been gaining control of the navigation upon that river.  Thus Ghent and Dendermonde, Vilvoorde, Brussels, and Antwerp, had each been isolated, and all prevented from rendering mutual assistance.  Below Antwerp, however, was to be the scene of the great struggle.  Here, within nine miles of the city, were two forts belonging to the States, on opposite sides of the stream, Lille, and Liefkenshoek.  It was important for the Spanish commander to gain possession of both; before commencing his contemplated bridge.

Unfortunately for the States, the fortifications of Liefkenshoek, on the Flemish side of the river, had not been entirely completed.  Eight hundred men lay within it, under Colonel John Pettin of Arras, an old patriotic officer of much experience.  Parma, after reconnoitring the place in person, despatched the famous Viscount of Ghent—­now called Marquis of Roubaix and Richebourg—­to carry it by assault.  The Marquis sent one hundred men from his Walloon legion, under two officers, in whom he had confidence, to attempt a surprise, with orders, if not successful, to return without delay.  They were successful.  The one hundred gained entrance into the fort at a point where the defences had not been put into sufficient repair.

They were immediately followed by Richebourg, at the head of his regiment.  The day was a fatal one.  It was the 10th July, 1584 and William of Orange was falling at Delft by the hand of Balthazar Gerard.  Liefkenshoek was carried at a blow.  Of the eight hundred patriots in the place, scarcely a man escaped.  Four hundred were put to the sword, the others were hunted into the river, when nearly all were drowned.  Of the royalists a single man was killed, and two or three more were wounded.  “Our Lord was pleased,” wrote Parma piously to Philip, that we “should cut the throats of four hundred of them in a single instant, and that a great many more should be killed upon the dykes; so that I believe very few to have escaped with life.  We lost one man, besides two or three wounded.”  A few were taken prisoners, and among them was the commander John Pettin.  He was at once brought before Richebourg, who was standing in the presence of the Prince of Parma.  The Marquis drew his sword, walked calmly up to the captured Colonel, and ran him through the body.  Pettin fell dead upon the spot.  The