of Beusnage, at a league’s distance from Valenciennes.  Here they received commissioners from the city, half of whom were Catholics appointed by the magistrates, half Calvinists deputed by the consistories.  These envoys were informed that the Duchess would pardon the city for its past offences, provided the gates should now be opened, the garrison received, and a complete suppression of all religion except that of Rome acquiesced in without a murmur.  As nearly the whole population was of the Calvinist faith, these terms could hardly be thought favorable.  It was, however, added, that fourteen days should be allowed to the Reformers for the purpose of converting their property, and retiring from the country.

The deputies, after conferring with their constituents in the, city, returned on the following day with counter-propositions, which were not more likely to find favor with the government.  They offered to accept the garrison, provided the soldiers should live at their own expense, without any tax to the citizens for their board, lodging, or pay.  They claimed that all property which had been seized should be restored, all persons accused of treason liberated.  They demanded the unconditional revocation of the edict by which the city had been declared rebellious, together with a guarantee from the Knights of the Fleece and the state council that the terms of the propose& treaty should be strictly observed.

As soon as these terms had been read to the two seigniors, the Duke of Aerschot burst into an immoderate fit of laughter.  He protested that nothing could be more ludicrous than such propositions, worthy of a conqueror dictating a peace, thus offered by a city closely beleaguered, and entirely at the mercy of the enemy.  The Duke’s hilarity was not shared by Egmont, who, on the contrary, fell into a furious passion.  He swore that the city should be burned about their ears, and that every one of the inhabitants should be put to the sword for the insolent language which they had thus dared to address to a most clement sovereign.  He ordered the trembling deputies instantly to return with this peremptory rejection of their terms, and with his command that the proposals of government should be accepted within three days’ delay.

The commissioners fell upon their knees at Egmont’s feet, and begged for mercy.  They implored him at least to send this imperious message by some other hand than theirs, and to permit them to absent themselves from the city.  They should be torn limb from limb, they said, by the enraged inhabitants, if they dared to present themselves with such instructions before them.  Egmont, however, assured them that they should be sent into the city, bound hand and foot, if they did not instantly obey his orders.  The deputies, therefore, with heavy hearts, were fain to return home with this bitter result to their negotiations.  The, terms were rejected, as a matter of course, but the gloomy forebodings of the commissioners, as to their own fate at the hands of their fellow-citizens, were not fulfilled.