It was suspected of insidiously provoking the excesses which it seemed to denounce.

It was supposed to be secretly intriguing with those whom its own edicts had outlawed.

Its sympathies were considered, Spanish.

It was openly boasted by the Spanish army that, before long, they would descend from their fastnesses upon Brussels, and give the city to the sword.

A shuddering sense of coming evil pervaded the population, but no man could say where the blow would first be struck.