Never was there a more monstrous massacre, even in the blood-stained history of the Netherlands.  It was estimated that, in the course of this and the two following days, not less than eight thousand human beings were murdered.  The Spaniards seemed to cast off even the vizard of humanity.  Hell seemed emptied of its fiends.  Night fell upon the scene before the soldiers were masters of the city; but worse horrors began after the contest was ended.  This army of brigands had come thither with a definite, practical purpose, for it was not blood-thirst, nor lust, nor revenge, which had impelled them, but it was avarice, greediness for gold.  For gold they had waded through all this blood and fire.  Never had men more simplicity of purpose, more directness in its execution.  They had conquered their India at last; its golden mines lay all before them, and every sword should open a shaft.  Riot and rape might be deferred; even murder, though congenial to their taste, was only subsidiary to their business.  They had come to take possession of the city’s wealth, and they set themselves faithfully to accomplish their task.  For gold, infants were dashed out of existence in their mothers’ arms; for gold, parents were tortured in their children’s presence; for gold, brides were scourged to death before their husbands’ eyes.  Wherever, treasure was suspected, every expedient which ingenuity; sharpened by greediness, could suggest, was employed to-extort it from its possessors.  The fire, spreading more extensively and more rapidly than had been desired through the wealthiest quarter of the city, had unfortunately devoured a vast amount of property.  Six millions, at least, had thus been swallowed; a destruction by which no one had profited.  There was, however, much left.  The strong boxes of the merchants, the gold, silver, and precious jewelry, the velvets, satins, brocades, laces, and similar well concentrated and portable plunder, were rapidly appropriated.  So far the course was plain and easy, but in private houses it was more difficult.  The cash, plate, and other valuables of individuals were not so easily discovered.  Torture was, therefore; at once employed to discover the hidden treasures.  After all had been, given, if the sum seemed too little, the proprietors were brutally punished for their poverty or their supposed dissimulation.  A gentlewoman, named Fabry, with her aged mother and other females of the family, had taken refuge in the cellar of her mansion.  As the day was drawing to a close, a band of plunderers entered, who, after ransacking the house, descended to the cellarage.  Finding the door barred, they forced it open with gunpowder.  The mother, who was nearest the entrance, fell dead on the threshold.  Stepping across her mangled body, the brigands sprang upon her daughter, loudly demanding the property which they believed to be concealed.  They likewise insisted on being informed where the master of the house had taken refuge.  Protestations