This order was obeyed within nearly the prescribed period and here, it may be said, their own participation in their trial ceased; while the rest of the proceedings were buried in the deep bosom of the Blood-Council.  After their answers had been delivered, and not till then, the prisoners were, by an additional mockery, permitted to employ advocates.  These advocates, however, were allowed only occasional interviews with their clients, and always in the presence of certain persons, especially deputed for that purpose by the Duke.  They were also allowed commissioners to collect evidence and take depositions, but before the witnesses were ready, a purposely premature day, 8th of May, was fixed upon for declaring the case closed, and not a single tittle of their evidence, personal or documentary, was admitted.—­Their advocates petitioned for an exhibition of the evidence prepared by government, and were refused.  Thus, they were forbidden to use the testimony in their favor, while that which was to be employed against them was kept secret.  Finally, the proceedings were formally concluded on the 1st of June, and the papers laid before the Duke.  The mass of matter relating to these two monster processes was declared, three days afterwards to have been examined—­a physical impossibility in itself—­and judgment was pronounced upon the 4th of June.  This issue was precipitated by the campaign of Louis Nassau in Friesland, forming a aeries of important events which it will be soon our duty to describe.  It is previously necessary, however, to add a few words in elucidation of the two mock trials which have been thus briefly sketched.

The proceeding had been carried on, from first to last, under protest by the prisoners, under a threat of contumacy on the part of the government.  Apart from the totally irresponsible and illegal character of the tribunal before which they were summoned—­the Blood-Council being a private institution of Alva’s without pretext or commission—­these nobles acknowledged the jurisdiction of but three courts.  As Knights of the Golden Fleece, both claimed the privilege of that Order to be tried by its statutes.  As a citizen and noble of Brabant, Egmont claimed the protection of the “Joyeuse Entree,” a constitution which had been sworn to by Philip and his ancestors, and by Philip more amply, than by all his ancestors.  As a member and Count of the Holy Roman Empire, the Admiral claimed to be tried by his peers, the electors and princes of the realm.

The Countess Egmont, since her husband’s arrest, and the confiscation of his estates before judgment, had been reduced to a life of poverty as well as agony.  With her eleven children, all of tender age, she had taken refuge in a convent.  Frantic with despair, more utterly desolate, and more deeply wronged than high-born lady had often been before, she left no stone unturned to save her husband from his fate, or at least to obtain for him an impartial and competent