Noircarmes meanwhile, had unmasked his batteries, and opened his fire exactly according to Egmont’s suggestions.

The artillery played first upon what was called the “White Tower,” which happened to bear this ancient, rhyming inscription: 

       “When every man receives his own,
        And justice reigns for strong and weak,
        Perfect shall be this tower of stone,
        And all the dumb will learn to speak.”

       “Quand chacun sera satisfaict,
        Et la justice regnera,
        Ce boulevard sera parfaict,
        Et—­la muette parlera.”—­Valenciennes Ms.

For some unknown reason, the rather insipid quatrain was tortured into a baleful prophecy.  It was considered very ominous that the battery should be first opened against this Sibylline tower.  The chimes, too, which had been playing, all through the siege, the music of Marot’s sacred songs, happened that morning to be sounding forth from every belfry the twenty-second psalm:  “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

It was Palm Sunday, 23d of March.  The women and children were going mournfully about the streets, bearing green branches in their hands, and praying upon their knees, in every part of the city.  Despair and superstition had taken possession of citizens, who up to that period had justified La Noue’s assertion, that none could endure a siege like Huguenots.  As soon as the cannonading began, the spirit of the inhabitants seemed to depart.  The ministers exhorted their flocks in vain as the tiles and chimneys began to topple into the streets, and the concussions of the artillery were responded to by the universal wailing of affrighted women.

Upon the very first day after the unmasking of the batteries, the city sent to Noircarmes, offering almost an unconditional surrender.  Not the slightest breach had been effected—­not the least danger of an assault existed—­yet the citizens, who had earned the respect of their antagonists by the courageous manner in which they had sallied and skirmished during the siege, now in despair at any hope of eventual succor, and completely demoralized by the course of recent events outside their walls, surrendered ignominiously, and at discretion.  The only stipulation agreed to by Noircarmes was, that the city should not be sacked, and that the lives of the inhabitants should be spared.

This pledge was, however, only made to be broken.  Noircarmes entered the city and closed the gates.  All the richest citizens, who of course were deemed the most criminal, were instantly arrested.  The soldiers, although not permitted formally to sack the city, were quartered upon the inhabitants, whom they robbed and murdered, according to the testimony of a Catholic citizen, almost at their pleasure.