The Prince, without any attempt to influence them, remained silent at the head of the table.
The people did not give them long.
Urged forward by the pastor, two of them seized the burgomaster and presented a pistol to his forehead.
“You have played the fool long enough,” they declared angrily, “it is time to come to a decision.”
Finding himself in this pass, Van Hallingh called out lustily to Orent Muys, “Let him draw up a paper declaring the Prince elected as Stadtholder.”
“What of the Perpetual Edict?” asked William. “You have, I think, sworn to it.”
“We will absolve them of that oath!” shouted the citizens.
They commanded the landlord to bring pens, paper, and a standish, which he hastened to set down on the table among the plates and tankards.
With fingers a little trembling, Orent Muys wrote out an article by which the Council of Dordt elected His Highness as Stadtholder and commander of the land and sea forces for life.
He was continually urged on by the crowd, who considered that he dallied in his task.