ssful that they hoisted the rebel flag over the
little fort and took an oath with the inhabitants to acknowledge the
Prince of Orange as their Stadtholder. Brill was an unexpected triumph
which the brilliant, impetuous Louis of Nassau followed up by the
seizure of Flushing, the key of Zealand, which was the approach to
Antwerp. The Sea-Beggars then swarmed over the whole of Walcheren,
receiving many recruits in their ranks and pillaging churches
recklessly. Middelburg alone remained to the Spanish troops, while the
provinces of the North began to look to the Prince of Orange as their
legitimate ruler.

William looked askance at the disorderly feats of the Beggars, but the
capture of important towns inspired him to fresh efforts. He
corresponded with many foreign countries and had his agents everywhere.
Sainte Aldgonde was one of the prime movers in these negotiations. He
was a poet as well as a soldier, and wrote the stirring national anthem
of _Wilhelmus van Nassouwen_, which is still sung in the Netherlands.
Burghers now opened their purses to give money, for they felt that
victories must surely follow the capture of Brill and Flushing.
William took the field with hired soldiers, and was met by the news of
the terrible massacre of Protestants in France in 1572 on the Eve of St
Bartholomew. All his hopes of help from France {93} were dashed to the
ground at once, and for the moment he was daunted. Louis of Nassau was
besieged at Mons by Alva. He tried to relieve his brother, but was
ignominiously prevented by the _Camisaders_ who made their way to his
camp at night, wearing white shirts over their armour, and killed eight
hundred of his soldiers.

William threw in his lot, once for all, with the Northern provinces,
receiving a hearty welcome from Holland and Zealand, states both
maintaining a gallant struggle. He was recognized as Stadtholder by a
meeting of the States in 1572, and liberty of worship was established
for Protestants and Catholics. His authority was absolute in this
region of the Low Countries.

Alva revenged himself for the resistance of Mons by the brutal sack of
Malines and of Zutphen. The outrages of his soldiers were almost
inhuman, and immense booty was captured, to the satisfaction of the
leader.

Amsterdam was loyal to Philip, but Haarlem was in the hands of
Calvinists. The Spanish army advanced on this town expecting to take
it at the first assault, but they met with a stubborn