The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1566 part 2 | Page 8

however, notwithstanding his
unwearied exertions, had slender hopes of a peaceful result. He felt that
the last step taken by the Reformation had been off a precipice. He
liked not such rapid progress. He knew that the King would never
forgive the image-breaking. He felt that he would never recognize the
Accord of the 24th August. Sir Thomas Gresham, who, as the
representative of the Protestant Queen of England in the great
commercial metropolis of Europe, was fully conversant with the turn
things were taking, was already advising some other place for the sale
of English commodities. He gave notice to his government that
commerce would have no security at Antwerp "in those brabbling
times." He was on confidential terms with the Prince, who invited him
to dine upon the 4th September, and caused pensionary Wesenbeck,

who was also present, to read aloud the agreement which was that day
to be proclaimed at the town-house. Orange expressed himself,
however, very doubtfully as to the future prospects of the provinces,
and as to the probable temper of the King. "In all his talke," says
Gresham, "the Prince aside unto me, 'I know this will nothing contente
the King!'"
While Egmont had been, thus busied in Flanders, and Orange at
Antwerp, Count Horn had been doing his best in the important city of
Tournay. The Admiral was not especially gifted with intellect, nor with
the power of managing men, but he went there with an honest purpose
of seeing the Accord executed, intending, if it should prove practicable,
rather to favor the Government than the Reformers. At the same time,
for the purpose of giving satisfaction to the members of "the religion,"
and of manifesting his sincere desire for a pacification, he accepted
lodgings which had been prepared for him at the house of a Calvinist
merchant in the city, rather, than, take up his quarters with fierce old
governor Moulbais, in the citadel. This gave much offence to the
Catholics; and inspired the Reformers, with the hope of having their
preaching inside the town. To this privilege they were entitled, for the
practice had already been established there, previously to the 24th
October. Nevertheless, at first he was disposed to limit them, in
accordance with the wishes of the Duchess, to extra-mural exercises.
Upon his arrival, by a somewhat ominous conjuncture, he had supped
with some of the leading citizens in the hall of the "gehenna" or torture
room, certainly not a locality calculated to inspire a healthy appetite.
On the following Sunday he had been entertained with a great banquet,
at which all the principal burghers were present, held in a house on the
market-place. The festivities had been interrupted by a quarrel, which
had been taking place in the cathedral. Beneath the vaults of that edifice,
tradition said that a vast treasure was hidden, and the canons had been
known to boast that this buried wealth would be sufficient to rebuild
their temple more magnificently than ever, in case of its total
destruction. The Admiral had accordingly placed a strong guard in the
church as soon as he arrived, and commenced very extensive
excavations in search of this imaginary mine. The Regent informed her
brother that the Count was prosecuting this work with the view of
appropriating whatever might be found to his own benefit. As she knew

that he was a ruined man, there seemed no more satisfactory mode of
accounting for these proceedings. Horn had, however, expressly stated
to her that every penny which should come into his possession from
that or any other source would carefully be restored to the rightful
owners. Nothing of consequence was ever found to justify the golden
legends of the monks, but in the mean time the money-diggers gave
great offence. The canons, naturally alarmed for the safety of their
fabulous treasure, had forced the guard, by surreptitiously obtaining the
countersign from a certain official of the town. A quarrel ensued which
ended in the appearance of this personage, together with the
commander of the military force on guard in the cathedral, before the
banqueting company. The Count, in the rough way habitual with him,
gave the culprit a sound rebuke for his intermeddling, and threatened,
in case the offence were repeated, to have him instantly bound, gagged,
and forwarded to Brussels for further punishment. The matter thus
satisfactorily adjusted, the banquet proceeded, the merchants present
being all delighted at seeing the said official, who was exceedingly,
unpopular, "so well huffed by the Count." The excavations were
continued for along time, until there seemed danger of destroying the
foundation of the church, but only a few bits of money were discovered,
with some other articles of small value.
Horn had taken his apartments in the city in order to be at hand to