carry out the intentions of his Majesty and the plans of his Highness.
We shall also know how to circumvent the scandalous heretic with all his
adherents and followers."

Certainly, if this letter were true, it was high time for the friends of
the "scandalous heretic" to look about them. If it were a forgery, which
is highly probable, it was ingeniously imagined, and did the work of
truth. The revolutionary party, being in a small minority in the
assembly, were advised by their leaders to bow before the storm. They
did so, and the bluster of the reactionary party grew louder as they
marked the apparent discomfiture of their foes. They openly asserted
that the men who were clamoring for privileges should obtain nothing but
halters. The buried charters should never be resuscitated; but the
spirit of the dead Emperor, who had once put a rope around the necks of
the insolent Ghenters, still lived in that of his son. There was no lack
of denunciation. Don John and the Duke of Aerschot would soon bring the
turbulent burghers to their senses, and there would then be an end to
this renewed clamor about musty parchments. Much indignation was
secretly excited in the assembly by such menaces. Without doors the
subterranean flames spread rapidly, but no tumult occurred that night.
Before the session was over, Ryhove left the city, pretending a visit to
Tournay. No sooner had he left the gates, however, than he turned his
horse's head in the opposite direction, and rode off post haste to
Antwerp. There he had a conference with William of Orange, and painted
in lively colors the alarming position of affairs. "And what do you mean
to do in the matter?" asked the Prince, rather drily. Ryhove was
somewhat disconcerted. He had expected a violent explosion; well as he
knew the tranquil personage whom he was addressing. "I know no better
counsel," he replied, at length, "than to take the Duke, with his
bishops, councillors, lords, and the whole nest of them, by the throat,