d into the golden chalices, out
of which the despoilers quaffed huge draughts to the Beggars' health.
Splendid manuscripts were torn into sheds; and in a short time the
interior of the richest church in the Netherlands was an utter wreck.
But poor as were the despoilers, not a particle of gold or silver did
any of them carry off. The ground was literally strewn with cups and
ornaments of precious metals, and jewels, and embroidered garments,
broken, torn, and defaced, in every possible way, mingled with the
marble fragments of the images and the rich and elaborate carvings which
had been cast to the ground.

Their work being complete, the band of image-breakers, each seizing a
burning torch, rushed forth from the cathedral, and, as they swept
through the streets, shouted with loud and hoarse voices, "Long live the
Beggars!" On they went. Every crucifix, every image of the Virgin or
other idol, every symbol of Romanism, was dashed to pieces. With sturdy
blows they burst open the doors of the next church they reached. In
they rushed with their ladders, and sledge-hammers, and other weapons,
and in a short time all the images, and all the ornaments were hurled to
the ground and broken in pieces. Church after church felt the effects
of their fury; none escaped. With wonderful rapidity the interiors were
completely gutted.

Although by this time the streets were full of people, yet but a small
band--it was generally thought not more than one hundred men--performed
the whole of the work. They probably had many friends and supporters;
but it was strange that no one should have attempted to interfere with
them.

The authorities were completely panic-struck, expecting that their own
Town Hall would be the next attacked. From the churches they went to
the convents, which they treated in the same way. All the altars,
statues, and pictures were utterly destroyed; and, to punish the monks,
they descended into the cellars, where they broached every cask they
found, pouring out the wine in one great flood, though abstaining from
drinking it themselves. The inmates of the nunneries fled, and in all
directions they were seen in the streets, rushing here and there,
shrieking and crying out as if they were pursued. Their terror,
however, was imaginary, for, savage as the image-breakers might have
appeared, they had but one object in view, and not a nun or monk was in
the slightest degree injured. In the prison of the Baref