Polwiller. By this unlucky document, which was of course subscribed also
by Van Ende, it was agreed that the Antwerp burghers should be forthwith
disarmed; that their weapons should be sent into the citadel; that
Oberstein should hold the city at the disposition of Sancho d'Avila; that
he should refuse admittance to all troops which might be sent into the
city, excepting by command of Don Sancho, and that he should decline
compliance with any orders which he might receive from individuals
calling themselves the council of state, the states-general, or the
estates of Brabant. This treaty was signed, moreover; by Don Jeronimo
de Rods, then established in the citadel, and claiming to represent
exclusively his Majesty's government.

Hardly had this arrangement been concluded than the Count saw the trap
into which he had fallen. Without intending to do so, he had laid the
city at the mercy of its foe, but the only remedy which suggested itself
to his mind was an internal resolution not to keep his promises. The
burghers were suffered to retain their arms, while, on the other hand,
Don Sancho lost no time in despatching messages to Alost, to Lier, to
Breda, and even to Maestricht, that as large a force as possible might be
assembled for the purpose of breaking immediately the treaty of peace
which he had just concluded. Never was a solemn document, regarded with
such perfectly bad faith by all its signers as the accord, of the 29th of
October.

Three days afterwards, a large force of Walloons and Germans was
despatched from Brussels to the assistance of Antwerp. The command of
these troops was entrusted to the Marquis of Havre, whose brother, the
Duke of Aerschot; had been recently appointed chief superintendent of
military affairs by the deputies assembled at Ghent. The miscellaneous
duties comprehended under this rather vague denomination did not permit