Whoever swung the hammer before the bellows was sacred to him; he had formerly shared gains and booty with many a plundered member of his father's craft.
He now carried a captain's staff, but this was mere mummery, child's play, nothing more.

A merry soldier's-cook wore a captain's plume on the side of his tall hat.

The field-officer, most of the captains and the lieutenants, had retired after the great mutiny on the island of Schouwen was accomplished, and their places were now occupied by ensigns, sergeants and quartermasters.

The higher officers had gone to Brussels, and the mutinous army marched without any chief through Brabant.
They had not received their well-earned pay for twenty-two months, and the starving regiments now sought means of support wherever they could find them.
Two years since, after the battle of Mook-Heath, the army had helped itself, and at that time, as often happened on similar occasions, an Eletto--[The chosen one.

The Italian form is used, instead of the Spanish 'electo'.]--had been chosen from among the rebellious subaltern officers.