[Strada, d. 2, iii. 155, 156.  Parma is said to have hinted to Philip that De Billy would willingly undertake, the private assassination of La Noue.—­Popeliniere, Hist. des Pays Bas; 1556- 1584.]

His Majesty, of course, never signified his pleasure, and the illustrious soldier remained for five years in a loathsome dungeon more befitting a condemned malefactor than a prisoner of war.  It was in the donjon keep of the castle, lighted only by an aperture in the roof, and was therefore exposed to the rain and all inclemencies of the sky, while rats, toads, and other vermin housed in the miry floor.  Here this distinguished personage, Francis with the Iron Arm, whom all Frenchmen, Catholic or Huguenot, admired far his genius, bravery, and purity of character, passed five years of close confinement.  The government was most anxious to take his life, but the captivity of Egmont and others prevented the accomplishment of their wishes.  During this long period, the wife and numerous friends of La Noue were unwearied in, their efforts to effect his ransom or exchange, but none of the prisoners in the hands of the patriots were considered a fair equivalent.  The hideous proposition was even made by Philip the Second to La Noue, that he should receive his liberty if he would permit his eyes to be put out, as a preliminary condition.  The fact is attested by several letters written by La Noue to his wife.  The prisoner, wearied, shattered in health, and sighing for air and liberty, was disposed and even anxious to accept the infamous offer, and discussed the matter philosophically in his letters.  That lady, however, horror-struck at the suggestion, implored him to reject the condition, which he accordingly consented to do.  At last, in June, 1585, he was exchanged, on extremely rigorous terms, for Egmont.  During his captivity in this vile dungeon, he composed not only his famous political and military discourses, but several other works, among the rest; Annotations upon Plutarch and upon the Histories of Guicciardini.

The siege of Groningen proceeded, and Parma ordered some forces under Martin Schenck to advance to its relief.  On the other hand, the meagre states’ forces under Sonoy, Hohenlo, Entes, and Count John of Nassau’s young son, William Louis, had not yet made much impression upon the city.  There was little military skill to atone for the feebleness of the assailing army, although there was plenty of rude valor.  Barthold Entes, a man of desperate character, was impatient at the dilatoriness of the proceedings.  After having been in disgrace with the states, since the downfall of his friend and patron, the Count De la Marck, he had recently succeeded to a regiment in place of Colonel Ysselstein, “dismissed for a homicide or two.”  On the 17th of May, he had been dining at Rolda, in company with Hohenlo and the young Count of Nassau.  Returning to the trenches in a state of wild intoxication, he