others, escaped; although so absolute was the conviction that such an escape was impossible, that it was not believed by the victorious army.  When Nevers sent a trumpet, after the battle, to the Duke of Savoy, for the purpose of negotiating concerning the prisoners, the trumpeter was pronounced an impostor, and the Duke’s letter a forgery; nor was it till after the whole field had been diligently searched for his dead body without success, that Nevers could persuade the conquerors that he was still in existence.

Of Philip’s army but fifty lost their lives.  Lewis of Brederode was smothered in his armor; and the two counts Spiegelberg and Count Waldeck were also killed; besides these, no officer of distinction fell.  All the French standards and all their artillery but two pieces were taken, and placed before the King, who the next day came into the camp before Saint Quentin.  The prisoners of distinction were likewise presented to him in long procession.  Rarely had a monarch of Spain enjoyed a more signal triumph than this which Philip now owed to the gallantry and promptness of Count Egmont.

While the King stood reviewing the spoils of victory, a light horseman of Don Henrico Manrique’s regiment approached, and presented him with a sword.  “I am the man, may it please your Majesty,” said the trooper, “who took the Constable; here is his sword; may your Majesty be pleased to give me something to eat in my house.”  “I promise it,” replied Philip; upon which the soldier kissed his Majesty’s hand and retired.  It was the custom universally recognized in that day, that the king was the king’s captive, and the general the general’s, but that the man, whether soldier or officer, who took the commander-in-chief, was entitled to ten thousand ducats.  Upon this occasion the Constable was the prisoner of Philip, supposed to command his own army in person.  A certain Spanish Captain Valenzuela, however, disputed the soldier’s claim to the Constable’s sword.  The trooper advanced at once to the Constable, who stood there with the rest of the illustrious prisoners.  “Your excellency is a Christian,” said he; “please to declare upon your conscience and the faith of a cavalier, whether ’t was I that took you prisoner.  It need not surprise your excellency that I am but a soldier, since with soldiers his Majesty must wage his wars.”  “Certainly,” replied the Constable, “you took me and took my horse, and I gave you my sword.  My word, however, I pledged to Captain Valenzuela.”  It appearing, however, that the custom of Spain did not recognize a pledge given to any one but the actual captor, it was arranged that the soldier should give two thousand of his ten thousand ducats to the captain.  Thus the dispute ended.