surrendering their colonel and laying down their arms. The remainder
retreated to Breda, where they held out for two months, and were at
length overcome by a neat stratagem of Orange. A captain, being known
to be in the employment of Don John, was arrested on his way to Breda.
Carefully sewed up in his waistband was found a letter, of a finger's
breadth, written in cipher, and sealed with the Governor-General's seal.
Colonel Frondsberger, commanding in Breda, was in this missive earnestly
solicited to hold out two months longer, within which time a certain
relief was promised. In place of this letter, deciphered with much
difficulty, a new one was substituted, which the celebrated printer,
William Sylvius, of Antwerp, prepared with great adroitness, adding the
signature and seal of Don John. In this counterfeit epistle; the Colonel
was directed to do the best he could for himself, by reason that Don John
was himself besieged, and unable to render him assistance. The same
captain who had brought the real letter was bribed to deliver the
counterfeit. This task he faithfully performed, spreading the fictitious
intelligence besides, with such ardor through the town, that the troops
rose upon their leader, and surrendered him with the city and their own
arms, into the custody of the estates. Such was the result of the
attempt by Don John to secure the citadel--of Antwerp. Not only was the
fortress carried for the estates, but the city itself, for the first time
in twelve years, was relieved from a foreign soldiery.

The rage and disappointment of the Governor-General were excessive. He
had boasted to Marolles a day too soon. The prize which he thought
already in his grasp had slipped through his fingers, while an
interminable list of demands which he dreamed not of, and which were
likely to make him bankrupt, were brought to his door. To the states,
not himself, the triumph seemed for the moment decreed. The "dice" had
taken a run against him, notwithstanding his pains in loading and