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Updated: September 28, 2025
He proceeded to taunt the aged Hessels with his threat against himself, and with his vow "by his grey beard." "Such grey beard shalt thou never live thyself to wear, ruffian," cried Hessels, stoutly-furious rather than terrified at the suddenness of his doom.
Otherwise, he affirmed that all legitimate forms of justice would disappear, and that it would be easy to set the bloodhounds upon any game whatever. Saint Aldegonde wrote to the Prince, that it would be a great point, but a very difficult one, to justify the Ghent transaction; for there was little doubt that the Hessels letter was a forgery.
He had been ordered out from Ghent to oppose a force of Malcontents which was gathering in the neighbourhood of Courtray; but he swore that he would not leave the gates so long as two of the gentlemen whom he had arrested on the twenty-eighth of the previous October, and who yet remained in captivity, were still alive. These two prisoners were ex-procurator Visch and Blood-Councillor Hessels.
Orator Hessels then read aloud the articles of the Joyous Entry, in the Flemish language, and the Duke was asked if he required any explanations of that celebrated constitution. He replied that he had thoroughly studied its provisions, with the assistance of the Prince of Orange, during his voyage from Flushing, and was quite prepared to swear to maintain them.
Champagny wrote to the Prince of Orange that, even if the letter of Hessels were genuine, it proved nothing against Aerschot, and he urged the necessity of suppressing such scene of licence immediately, through the influence of those who could command the passions of the mob.
Otherwise, he affirmed that all legitimate forms of justice would disappear, and that it would be easy to set the bloodhounds upon any game whatever. Saint Aldegonde wrote to the Prince, that it would be a great point, but a very difficult one, to justify the Ghent transaction; for there was little doubt that the Hessels letter was a forgery.
Blood-councillor Hessels, whose letter genuine or counterfeited had been so instrumental in hastening this outbreak, was most carefully guarded, and to him and to Senator Fisch the personal consequences of that night's work were to be very tragic. Thus audaciously, successfully, and hitherto without bloodshed, was the anti-Catholic revolution commenced in Flanders.
Accordingly, Hessels and Visch, as they sat together in their prison, at chess, upon the 4th of October, 1578, were suddenly summoned to leave the house, and to enter a carriage which stood at the door. A force of armed men brought the order, and were sufficiently strong to enforce it.
The third was rejected, but it was agreed that the prisoners, Champagny, Sweveghem, and the rest who, after the horrid fate of Hessels and Visch, might be supposed to be sufficiently anxious as to their own doom should have legal trial, and be defended in the meantime from outrage. On the 3rd of November, 1578, a formal act of acceptance of these terms was signed at Antwerp.
The third was rejected, but it was agreed that the prisoners, Champagny, Sweveghem, and the rest who, after the horrid fate of Hessels and Visch, might be supposed to be sufficiently anxious as to their own doom should have legal trial, and be defended in the meantime from outrage. On the 3rd of November, 1578, a formal act of acceptance of these terms was signed at Antwerp.
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