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to yield precedence to the Dutch。 They； at least in the case
of Aristides； contented themselves with banishing him。
John de Witt； at the first intimation of the charge brought
against his brother； had resigned his office of Grand
Pensionary。 He too received a noble recompense for his
devotedness to the best interests of his country； taking
with him into the retirement of private life the hatred of a
host of enemies； and the fresh scars of wounds inflicted by
assassins； only too often the sole guerdon obtained by
honest people； who are guilty of having worked for their
country； and of having forgotten their own private
interests。
In the meanwhile William of Orange urged on the course of
events by every means in his power； eagerly waiting for the
time when the people； by whom he was idolised； should have
made of the bodies of the brothers the two steps over which
he might ascend to the chair of Stadtholder。
Thus； then； on the 20th of August； 1672； as we have already
stated in the beginning of this chapter； the whole town was
crowding towards the Buytenhof； to witness the departure of
Cornelius de Witt from prison； as he was going to exile； and
to see what traces the torture of the rack had left on the
noble frame of the man who knew his Horace so well。
Yet all this multitude was not crowding to the Buytenhof
with the innocent view of merely feasting their eyes with
the spectacle； there were many who went there to play an
active part in it； and to take upon themselves an office
which they conceived had been badly filled； that of the
executioner。
There were； indeed； others with less hostile intentions。 All
that they cared for was the spectacle； always so attractive
to the mob； whose instinctive pride is flattered by it；
the sight of greatness hurled down into the dust。
〃Has not；〃 they would say； 〃this Cornelius de Witt been
locked up and broken by the rack？ Shall we not see him pale；
streaming with blood； covered with shame？〃 And was not this
a sweet triumph for the burghers of the Hague； whose envy
even beat that of the common rabble； a triumph in which
every honest citizen and townsman might be expected to
share？
〃Moreover；〃 hinted the Orange agitators interspersed through
the crowd； whom they hoped to manage like a sharp…edged and
at the same time crushing instrument； 〃moreover； will
there not； from the Buytenhof to the gate of the town； a
nice little opportunity present itself to throw some
handfuls of dirt； or a few stones； at this Cornelius de
Witt； who not only conferred the dignity of Stadtholder on
the Prince of Orange merely vi coactus； but who also
intended to have him assassinated？〃
〃Besides which；〃 the fierce enemies of France chimed in； 〃if
the work were done well and bravely at the Hague； Cornelius
would certainly not be allowed to go into exile； where he
will renew his intrigues with France； and live with his big
scoundrel of a brother； John； on the gold of the Marquis de
Louvois。〃
Being in such a temper； people generally will run rather
than walk； which was the reason why the inhabitants of the
Hague were hurrying so fast towards the Buytenhof。
Honest Tyckelaer； with a heart full of spite and malice； and
with no particular plan settled in his mind； was one of the
foremost； being paraded about by the Orange party like a
hero of probity； national honour； and Christian charity。
This daring miscreant detailed； with all the embellishments
and flourishes suggested by his base mind and his ruffianly
imagination； the attempts which he pretended Cornelius de
Witt had made to corrupt him； the sums of money which were
promised； and all the diabolical stratagems planned
beforehand to smooth for him； Tyckelaer； all the
difficulties in the path of murder。
And every phase of his speech； eagerly listened to by the
populace； called forth enthusiastic cheers for the Prince of
Orange； and groans and imprecations of blind fury against
the brothers De Witt。
The mob even began to vent its rage by inveighing against
the iniquitous judges； who had allowed such a detestable
criminal as the villain Cornelius to get off so cheaply。
Some of the agitators whispered； 〃He will be off； he will
escape from us！〃
Others replied； 〃A vessel is waiting for him at Schevening；
a French craft。 Tyckelaer has seen her。〃
〃Honest Tyckelaer！ Hurrah for Tyckelaer！〃 the mob cried in
chorus。
〃And let us not forget；〃 a voice exclaimed from the crowd；
〃that at the same time with Cornelius his brother John； who
is as rascally a traitor as himself； will likewise make his
escape。〃
〃And the two rogues will in France make merry with our
money； with the money for our vessels； our arsenals； and our
dockyards； which they have sold to Louis XIV。〃
〃Well； then； don't let us allow them to depart！〃 advised one
of the patriots who had gained the start of the others。
〃Forward to the prison； to the prison！〃 echoed the crowd。
Amid these cries； the citizens ran along faster and faster；
cocking their muskets； brandishing their hatchets； and
looking death and defiance in all directions。
No violence； however； had as yet been committed； and the
file of horsemen who were guarding the approaches of the
Buytenhof remained cool； unmoved； silent； much more
threatening in their impassibility than all this crowd of
burghers； with their cries； their agitation； and their
threats。 The men on their horses； indeed； stood like so many
statues； under the eye of their chief； Count Tilly； the
captain of the mounted troops of the Hague； who had his
sword drawn； but held it with its point downwards； in a line
with the straps of his stirrup。
This troop； the only defence of the prison； overawed by its
firm attitude not only the disorderly riotous mass of the
populace； but also the detachment of the burgher guard；
which； being placed opposite the Buytenhof to support the
soldiers in keeping order； gave to the rioters the example
of seditious cries； shouting；
〃Hurrah for Orange！ Down with the traitors！〃
The presence of Tilly and his horsemen； indeed； exercised a
salutary check on these civic warriors； but by degrees they
waxed more and more angry by their own shouts； and as they
were not able to understand how any one could have courage
without showing it by cries； they attributed the silence of
the dragoons to pusillanimity； and advanced one step towards
the prison； with all the turbulent mob following in their
wake。
In this moment； Count Tilly rode forth towards them
single…handed； merely lifting his sword and contracting his
brow whilst he addressed them：
〃Well； gentlemen of the burgher guard； what are you
advancing for； and what do you wish？〃
The burghers shook their muskets； repeating their cry；
〃Hurrah for Orange！ Death to the traitors！〃
〃'Hurrah for Orange！' all well and good！〃 replied Tilly；
〃although I certainly am more partial to happy faces than to
gloomy ones。 'Death to the traitors！' as much of it as you
like； as long as you show your wishes only by cries。 But； as
to putting them to death in good earnest； I am here to
prevent that； and I shall prevent it。〃
Then； turning round to his men； he gave the word of command；
〃Soldiers； ready！〃
The troopers obeyed orders with a precision which
immediately caused the burgher guard and the people to fall
back； in a degree of confusion which excited the smile of
the cavalry officer。
〃Holloa！〃 he exclaimed； with that bantering tone which is
peculiar to men of his profession； 〃be easy； gentlemen； my
soldiers will not fire a shot； but； on the other hand； you
will not advance by one step towards the prison。〃
〃And do you know； sir； that we have muskets？〃 roared the
commandant of the burghers。
〃I must know it； by Jove； you have made them glitter enough
before my eyes； but I beg you to observe also that we on our
side have pistols； that the pistol carries admirably to a
distance of fifty yards； and that you are only twenty…five
from us。〃
〃Death to the traitors！〃 cried the exasperated burghers。
〃Go along with you；〃 growled the officer； 〃you always cry
the same thing over again。 It is very tiresome。〃
With this； he took his post at the head of his troops；
whilst the tumult grew fiercer and fiercer about the
Buytenhof。
And yet the fuming crowd did not know that； at that very
moment when they were tracking the scent of one of their
victims； the other； as if hurrying to meet his fate； passed；
at a distance of not more than a hundred yards； behind the
groups of people and the dragoons； to betake himself to the
Buytenhof。
John de Witt； indeed； had alighted from his coach wit