galloped to and fro outside the entrenchments, expecting every moment a deputation to come forth, bearing the keys of the town.  The Infanta too, magnificent in ruff and farthingale and brocaded petticoat, and attended by a cavalcade of ladies of honour in gorgeous attire, pranced impatiently about, awaiting the dramatic termination of a leaguer which was becoming wearisome to besieger and besieged.  Not even on the famous second of July of the previous year, when that princess was pleasing herself with imaginations as to the deportment of Maurice of Nassau as a captive, had her soul been so full of anticipated triumph as on this Christmas morning.

Such a festive scene as was now presented in the neighbourhood of Ostend had not been exhibited for many a long year in Flanders.  From the whole country side came the peasants and burghers, men, women, and children, in holiday attire.  It was like a kermiss or provincial fair.  Three thousand people at least were roaming about in all direction, gaping with wonder at the fortifications of the besieging army, so soon to be superfluous, sliding, skating, waltzing on the ice, admiring jugglers, dancing bears, puppet shows and merry-go-rounds, singing, and carousing upon herrings, sausages, waffles, with mighty draughts of Flemish ale, manifesting their exuberant joy that the thorn was nearly extracted from the lion’s paw, and awaiting with delight a blessed relief from that operation.  Never was a merrier Christmas morning in Flanders.  There should be an end now to the forays through the country of those red-coated English pikemen, those hard-riding, hard-drinking troopers of Germany and, Holland, with the French and Scotch arquebus men, and terrible Zeeland sailors who had for years swept out of Ostend, at any convenient opportunity, to harry the whole province.  And great was the joy in Flanders.

Meantime within the city a different scene was enacting.  Those dignified Spaniards—­governor Serrano and Don Matteo Antonio—­having slept off their carouse, were prepared after breakfast next morning to resume the interrupted negotiations.  But affairs were now to take an unexpected turn.  In the night the wind had changed, and in the course of the forenoon three Dutch vessels of war were descried in the offing, and soon calmly sailed into the mouth of the Gullet.  The news was at once brought to Vere’s headquarters.  That general’s plans had been crowned with success even sooner than he expected.  There was no further object in continuing the comedy of negotiation, for the ships now arriving seemed crowded with troops.  Sir Francis accordingly threw off the mask, and assuring his guests with extreme politeness that it had given him great pleasure to make the acquaintance of such distinguished personages, he thanked them cordially for their visit, but regretted that it would be no longer in his power to entertain any propositions of a pacific nature.  The necessary reinforcements, which he had been so long expecting, had at last reached him, and it would not yet be necessary for him to retire into his ruined nest.  Military honour therefore would not allow him to detain them any longer.  Should he ever be so hard pressed again he felt sure that so magnanimous a prince as his Highness would extend to him all due clemency and consideration.