History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

Popish countries, were wont to pass this night in
rejoicings. Alva resolved that its songs should be
turned into howlings. While the citizens should be
making merry, he would throw his net over all who
were known to have ever been at a field-preaching,
and prepare a holocaust of some thousand heads
fittingly to celebrate the close of "Holy Week." At
midnight his myrmidons were sent forth; they burst
open the doors of all suspected persons, and
dragging them from their beds, hauled them to
prison. The number of arrests, however, did not
answer Alva's expectations; some had got timely
warning and had made their escape; those who
remained, having but little heart to rejoice, were
not so much off their guard, nor so easy a prey, as
the officers expected to find them. Alva had
enclosed only 500 disciples or favourers of the
Gospel in his net -- too many, alas! for such a fate,
but too few for the vast desires of the persecuter.
They were, of course, ordered to the scaffold.[14]
Terror was chasing away the inhabitants in
thousands. An edict was issued threatening severe
penalties against all carriers and ship-masters who
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