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.

Instant measures were now taken to cannonade the city.  Egmont, at the hazard of his life, descended into the foss, to reconnoitre the works, and to form an opinion as to the most eligible quarter at which to direct the batteries.  Having communicated the result of his investigations to Noircarmes, he returned to report all these proceedings to the Regent at Brussels.  Certainly the Count had now separated himself far enough from William of Orange, and was manifesting an energy in the cause of tyranny which was sufficiently unscrupulous.  Many people who had been deceived by his more generous demonstrations in former times, tried to persuade themselves that he was acting a part.  Noircarmes, however—­and no man was more competent to decide the question distinctly—­expressed his entire confidence in Egmont’s loyalty.  Margaret had responded warmly to his eulogies, had read with approbation secret letters from Egmont to Noircarmes, and had expressed the utmost respect and affection for “the Count.”  Egmont had also lost no time in writing to Philip, informing him that he had selected the most eligible spot for battering down the obstinate city of Valenciennes, regretting that he could not have had the eight or ten military companies, now at his disposal, at an earlier day, in which case he should have been able to suppress many tumults, but congratulating his sovereign that the preachers were all fugitive, the reformed religion suppressed, and the people disarmed.  He assured the King that he would neglect no effort to prevent any renewal of the tumults, and expressed the hope that his Majesty would be satisfied with his conduct, notwithstanding the calumnies of which the times were full.