r rank, declaring that the
so-called sovereign was only Duke of Brabant and Count of Flanders.

In despair, the Regent called on Orange, Hoorn, and Egmont to help her
in restoring order. Refugees had come back from foreign countries and
were holding religious services openly, troops of Protestants marched
about the streets singing Psalms and shouting "Long live the Beggars!"
It seemed to Margaret of Parma, a devout Catholic, that for the people
there was "neither faith nor King."

William, as Burgrave of Antwerp, was able to restore order in that
city, promising the citizens that they should have the right to
assemble for worship outside the walls. A change had come over this
once worldly noble--henceforth he cared nothing for the pomps and {87}
vanities of life. He had decided to devote himself to the cause of the
persecuted, however dear it cost him.

The Prince of Orange hoped that Egmont would join him in resistance to
the Spanish tyranny. Egmont was beloved by the people of the
Netherlands as a soldier who had proved his valour; his high rank and
proud nature might have been expected to make him resentful of
authority that would place him in subjection. But William parted from
his friend, recognizing sadly that they were inspired by different
motives. "Alas! Egmont," he said, embracing the noble who would not
desert the cause of Philip, "the King's clemency, of which you boast,
will destroy you. Would that I might be deceived, but I foresee too
clearly that you are to be the bridge which the Spaniards will destroy
so soon as they have passed over it to invade our country."

William found himself soon in a state of isolation. He refused to take
a new oath of fidelity to the King, which bound him to "act for or
against whomsoever his Majesty might order without restriction or
limitation." His own wife was a Lutheran, and by such a promise it
might become his duty to destroy her! An alliance with foreign princes
was the only safeguard against the force which Spain was preparing.
The Elector of Saxony was willing to enter into a League to defend the
reformed faith of the Netherlands. Meantime, after resigning all his
offices, the Prince of Orange went into exile with his entire household.

In 1567 Philip ceased his vacillation. He sent the Duke of Alva to
stamp out heresy at any cost in the Low Countries.

Alva was the foremost general of his time, a soldier whose life had
been one long campaign in E