In the country, the Malcontents, under pretence of protecting the Catholic clergy, were daily abusing and plundering the people, while in Ghent the clergy were maltreated, the cloisters pillaged, under the pretence of maintaining liberty.

In this emergency the eyes of all honest men turned naturally to Orange.
Deputies went to and fro between Antwerp and Ghent, Three points were laid down by the Prince as indispensable to any arrangement--firstly, that the Catholic clergy should be allowed the free use of their property; secondly, that they should not be disturbed in the exercise of their religion; thirdly, that the gentlemen kept in prison since the memorable twenty-eighth of October should be released.

If these points should be granted, the Archduke Matthias, the states-general, and the Prince of Orange would agree to drive off the Walloon soldiery, and to defend Ghent against all injury.

The two first points were granted, upon condition that sufficient guarantees should be established for the safety of the Reformed religion.

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.