Antwerp garrison, under Avila, join the revolt--Letter of Verdugo--
A crisis approaching--Jerome de Roda in the citadel--The mutiny
universal.

The death of Requesens, notwithstanding his four days' illness, occurred
so suddenly, that he had not had time to appoint his successor. Had he
exercised this privilege, which his patent conferred upon him, it was
supposed that he would have nominated Count Mansfeld to exercise the
functions of Governor-General, until the King should otherwise ordain.

In the absence of any definite arrangement, the Council of State,
according to a right which that body claimed from custom, assumed the
reins of government. Of the old board, there were none left but the Duke
of Aerschot, Count Berlaymont, and Viglins. To these were soon added,
however, by royal diploma, the Spaniard, Jerome de Roda, and the
Netherlanders, Assonleville, Baron Rassenghiem and Arnold Sasbout.
Thus, all the members, save one, of what had now become the executive
body, were natives of the country. Roda was accordingly looked askance
upon by his colleagues. He was regarded by Viglius as a man who desired
to repeat the part which had been played by Juan Vargas in the Blood
Council, while the other members, although stanch Catholics, were all of
them well-disposed to vindicate the claim of Netherland nobles to a share
in the government of the Netherlands.

For a time, therefore, the transfer of authority seemed to have been
smoothly accomplished. The Council of State conducted the administration
of the country. Peter Ernest Mansfeld was entrusted with the supreme
military command, including the government of Brussels; and the Spanish
commanders; although dissatisfied that any but a Spaniard should be thus
honored, were for a time quiescent. When the news reached Madrid, Philip