Meantime the Queen crossed the frontier, and was courteously received at Cambray.  The bishop-of the loyal house of Berlaymont—­was a stanch supporter of the King, and although a Fleming, was Spanish to the core.  On him the cajolery of the beautiful Queen was first essayed, but was found powerless.  The prelate gave her a magnificent ball, but resisted her blandishments.  He retired with the appearance of the confections, but the governor of the citadel, the Seigneur d’Inchy remained, with whom Margaret was more successful.  She found him a cordial hater of Spain, a favorer of France, and very impatient under the authority of the bishop.  He obtained permission to accompany the royal visitor a few stages of her journey, and returned to Cambray, her willing slave; holding the castle in future, neither for king nor bishop, but for Margaret’s brother, Alencon, alone.  At Mons she was received with great state by the Count Lalain, who was governor of Hainault, while his Countess governed him.  A week of festivities graced the advent of the Queen, during which period the hearts of both Lalain and his wife were completely subjugated.  They agreed that Flanders had been too long separated from the parental France to which it of right belonged.  The Count was a stanch Catholic, but he hated Spain.  He was a relative of Egmont, and anxious to avenge his death, but he was no lover of the people, and was jealous of Orange.  Moreover, his wife had become entirely fascinated by the designing.  Queen.  So warm a friendship had sprung up between the two fair ladies as to make it indispensable that Flanders and Hainault should be annexed to France.  The Count promised to hold his whole government at the service of Alencon, and recommended that an attempt should be made to gain over the incorruptible Governor of Cambray.  Margaret did not inform him that she had already turned that functionary round her finger, but she urged Lalain and his wife to seduce him from his allegiance, if possible.

The Count, with a retinue of mounted men, then accompanied her on her way towards Namur, but turned as the distant tramp of Don John’s cavalcade was heard approaching, for it was not desirable for Lalain, at that moment, to find himself face to face with the Governor.  Don John stood a moment awaiting the arrival of the Queen.  He did not dream of her political intrigues, nor see in the fair form approaching him one mortal enemy the more.  Margaret travelled in a splendid litter with gilt pillars, lined with scarlet velvet, and entirely enclosed in glass, which was followed by those of the Princess de la Roche sur Yon, and of Madame de Tournon.  After these came ten ladies of honor on horseback, and six chariots filled with female domestics.  These, with the guards and other attendants, made up the retinue.  On meeting the Queen’s litter, Don John sprang from his horse and presented his greetings.  The Queen returned his salutation, in the French fashion, by offering