The sublime spectacle of the multitudinous field-preaching was sullied by the excesses of the image-breaking.

The religious war, before imminent, became inevitable.
Nevertheless, the first effect of the tumults was a temporary advantage to the Reformers.

A great concession was extorted from the fears of the Duchess Regent, who was certainly placed in a terrible position.

Her conduct was not heroic, although she might be forgiven for trepidation.
Her treachery, however, under these trying circumstances was less venial.
At three o'clock in the morning of the 22nd of August, Orange, Egmont, Horn, Hoogatraaten, Mansfeld, and others were summoned to the palace.
They found her already equipped for flight, surrounded by her waiting-women, chamberlains and lackeys, while the mules and hackneys stood harnessed in the court-yard, and her body-guard were prepared to mount at a moment's notice.

She announced her intention of retreating at once to Mons, in which city, owing to Aerschot's care, she hoped to find refuge against the fury of the rebellion then sweeping the country.