Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/253



lay in a dungeon in the prison at Brussels, condemned to suffer death on the morrow.

Paul Buys, pensionary of Leyden, was in the secret service of the Prince, and employed agents in all parts of the Netherlands to help carry on the work begun by William of Orange. An extensive secret correspondence was conducted between all the large cities and towns of the kingdom. Conrad Chenoweth, as a valued friend of the Prince, was entrusted with important letters for several rich cloth merchants in Brussels, and the object of these letters was to secure money or pledges for the raising of more troops for the Prince.

The real names of the principal personages designated in these letters never appeared; but other names were substituted, which soon became familiar terms, not only in the Netherlands, but also in France, Germany and England. The Prince of Orange was always known as Martin Willemzoon; 241