The whole scene was dramatized and represented in masquerade at a wedding festival given by Councillor d’Assonleville, on the marriage of Councillor Hopper’s daughter, one of the principal parts being enacted by a son of the President-judge of Artois.  It may be supposed that if such eminent personages, in close connexion with the government, took part in such proceedings, the riot must have been considered of a very pardonable nature.  The truth was, that the Bishop was a cardinalist, and therefore entirely out of favor with the administration.  He was also a man of treacherous, sanguinary character, and consequently detested by the people.  He had done his best to destroy heresy in Valenciennes by fire and sword.  “I will say one thing,” said he in a letter to Granvelle, which had been intercepted, “since the pot is uncovered, and the whole cookery known, we had best push forward and make an end of all the principal heretics, whether rich or poor, without regarding whether the city will be entirely ruined by such a course.  Such an opinion I should declare openly were it not that we of the ecclesiastical profession are accused of always crying out for blood.”  Such was the prelate’s theory.  His practice may be inferred from a specimen of his proceedings which occurred at a little later day.  A citizen of Cambray, having been converted to the Lutheran Confession, went to the Archbishop, and requested permission to move out of the country, taking his property with him.  The petitioner having made his appearance in the forenoon, was requested to call again after dinner, to receive his answer.  The burgher did so, and was received, not by the prelate, but by the executioner, who immediately carried the Lutheran to the market-place, and cut off his head.  It is sufficiently evident that a minister of Christ, with such propensities, could not excite any great sympathy, however deeply affronted he might have been at a drinking party, so long as any Christians remained in the land.

Egmont departed from Cambray upon the 30th January, his friends taking a most affectionate farewell of him; and Brederode assuring him, with a thousand oaths, that he would forsake God for his service.  His reception at Madrid was most brilliant.  When he made his first appearance at the palace, Philip rushed from his cabinet into the grand hall of reception, and fell upon his neck, embracing him heartily before the Count had time to drop upon his knee and kiss the royal hand.  During the whole period of his visit he dined frequently at the King’s private table, an honor rarely accorded by Philip, and was feasted and flattered by all the great dignitaries of the court as never a subject of the Spanish crown had been before.  All vied with each other in heaping honors upon the man whom the King was determined to honor.