The Seignior de Beauvoir wrote to the Duchess, claiming all the estates of Tholouse, and of his brother St. Aldegonde, as his reward for the Ostrawell victory, while Noircarmes was at this very moment to commence at Valenciennes that career of murder and spoliation which, continued at Mons a few years afterwards, was to load his name with infamy.

From such a Regent, surrounded by such councillors, was the work of William de Nassau’s hands to gain applause?  What was it to them that carnage and plunder had been spared in one of the richest and most populous cities in Christendom?  Were not carnage and plunder the very elements in which they disported themselves?  And what more dreadful offence against God and Philip could be committed than to permit, as the Prince had just permitted, the right of worship in a Christian land to Calvinists and Lutherans?  As a matter of course, therefore, Margaret of Parma denounced the terms by which Antwerp had been saved as a “novel and exorbitant capitulation,” and had no intention of signifying her approbation either to prince or magistrate.

1567 [Chapter X.]

Egmont and Aerschot before Valenciennes—­Severity of Egmont—­ Capitulation of the city—­Escape and capture of the ministers—­ Execution of La Grange and De Bray—­Horrible cruelty at Valenciennes—­Effects of the reduction of Valenciennes—­The Duchess at Antwerp—­Armed invasion of the provinces decided upon in Spain—­ Appointment of Alva—­Indignation of Margaret—­Mission of De Billy—­ Pretended visit of Philip—­Attempts of the Duchess to gain over Orange—­Mission of Berty—­Interview between Orange and Egmont at Willebroek—­Orange’s letters to Philip, to Egmont, and to Horn—­ Orange departs from the Netherlands—­Philip’s letter to Egmont—­ Secret intelligence received by Orange—­La Torre’s mission to Brederode—­Brederode’s departure and death—­Death of Bergen—­Despair in the provinces—­Great emigration—­Cruelties practised upon those of the new religion—­Edict of 24th May—­Wrath of the King.

Valenciennes, whose fate depended so closely upon the issue of these various events, was now trembling to her fall.  Noircarmes had been drawing the lines more and more closely about the city, and by a refinement of cruelty had compelled many Calvinists from Tournay to act as pioneers in the trenches against their own brethren in Valenciennes.  After the defeat of Tholouse, and the consequent frustration of all Brederode’s arrangements to relieve the siege, the Duchess had sent a fresh summons to Valenciennes, together with letters acquainting the citizens with the results of the Ostrawell battle.  The intelligence was not believed.  Egmont and Aerschot, however, to whom Margaret had entrusted this last mission to the beleaguered town, roundly rebuked the deputies who came to treat with them, for their insolence in daring to doubt the word of the Regent.  The two seigniors had established themselves in the Chateau