On the following day, September 9th, the grand prior, Don Ferdinando, gave a magnificent dinner, to which Egmont and Horn, together with Noircarmes, the Viscount of Ghent, and many other noblemen were invited.  The banquet was enlivened by the music of Alva’s own military band, which the Duke sent to entertain the company.  At three o’clock he sent a message begging the gentlemen, after their dinner should be concluded, to favor him with their company at his house (the maison de Jassey), as he wished to consult them concerning the plan of the citadel, which he proposed erecting at Antwerp.

At this moment, the grand prior who was seated next to Egmont, whispered in his ear; “Leave this place, Signor Count, instantly; take the fleetest horse in your stable and make your escape without a moment’s delay.”  Egmont, much troubled, and remembering the manifold prophecies and admonitions which he had passed by unheeded, rose from the table and went into the next room.  He was followed by Noircarmes and two other gentlemen, who had observed his agitation, and were curious as to its cause.  The Count repeated to them the mysterious words just whispered to him by the grand prior, adding that he was determined to take the advice without a moment’s delay.  “Ha!  Count,” exclaimed Noircarmes, “do not put lightly such implicit confidence in this stranger who is counselling you to your destruction.  What will the Duke of Alva and all the Spaniards say of such a precipitate flight?  Will they not say that your Excellency has fled from the consciousness of guilt?  Will not your escape be construed into a confession of high treason.”

If these words were really spoken by Noircarmes; and that they were so, we have the testimony of a Walloon gentleman in constant communication with Egmont’s friends and with the whole Catholic party, they furnish another proof of the malignant and cruel character of the man.  The advice fixed forever the fate of the vacillating Egmont.  He had risen from table determined to take the advice of a noble-minded Spaniard, who had adventured his life to save his friend.  He now returned in obedience to the counsel of a fellow-countryman, a Flemish noble, to treat the well-meant warning with indifference, and to seat himself again at the last banquet which he was ever to grace with his presence.

At four o’clock, the dinner being finished, Horn and Egmont, accompanied by the other gentlemen, proceeded to the “Jassy” house, then occupied by Alva, to take part in the deliberations proposed.  They were received by the Duke with great courtesy.  The engineer, Pietro Urbino, soon appeared and laid upon the table a large parchment containing the plan and elevation of the citadel to be erected at Antwerp.  A warm discussion upon the subject soon arose, Egmont, Horn, Noircarmes and others, together with the engineers Urbino and Pacheco, all taking part in the debate.  After a short time, the Duke of Alva left the apartment,