by day, to steal into the town, in small parties of ten and fifteen.  No objection was made to this proceeding on the part of the city government.  Then Stanley himself arrived in the morning, and the Marshal in the evening, of the 20th of October.  Pelham ordered the magistrates to present themselves forthwith at his lodgings, and told them, with grim courtesy, that the Earl of Leicester excused himself from making them a visit, not being able, for grief at the death of Sir Philip Sidney, to come so soon near the scene of his disaster.  His Excellency had therefore sent him to require the town to receive an English garrison.  “So make up your minds, and delay not,” said Pelham; “for I have many important affairs on my hands, and must send word to his Excellency at once.  To-morrow morning, at eight o’clock, I shall expect your answer.”

Next day, the magistrates were all assembled in the townhouse before six.  Stanley had filled the great square with his troops, but he found that the burghers-five thousand of whom constituted the municipal militia—­had chained the streets and locked the gates.  At seven o’clock Pelham proceeded, to the town-house, and, followed by his train, made his appearance before the magisterial board.  Then there was a knocking at the door, and Sir William Stanley entered, having left a strong guard of soldiers at the entrance to the hall.

“I am come for an answer,” said the Lord Marshal; “tell me straight.”  The magistrates hesitated, whispered, and presently one of them slipped away.

“There’s one of you gone,” cried the Marshal.  “Fetch him straight back; or, by the living God, before whom I stand, there is not one of you shall leave this place with life.”

So the burgomasters sent for the culprit, who returned.

“Now, tell me,” said Pelham, “why you have, this night, chained your streets and kept such strong watch while your friends and defenders were in the town?  Do you think we came over here to spend our lives and our goods, and to leave all we have, to be thus used and thus betrayed by you?  Nay, you shall find us trusty to our friends, but as politic as yourselves.  Now, then; set your hands to this document,” he proceeded, as he gave them a new list of magistrates, all selected from stanch Protestants.

“Give over your government to the men here nominated, Straight; dally not!” The burgomasters signed the paper.

“Now,” said Pelham, “let one of you go to the watch, discharge the guard, bid them unarm, and go home to their lodgings.”

A magistrate departed on the errand.

“Now fetch me the keys of the gate,” said Pelham, “and that straightway, or, before God, you shall die.”

The keys were brought, and handed to the peremptory old Marshal.  The old board of magistrates were then clapped into prison, the new ones installed, and Deventer was gained for the English and Protestant party.