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, on pretext of a sudden indisposition, leaving the company still warmly engaged in their argument.  The council lasted till near seven in the evening.  As it broke up, Don Sancho d’Avila, captain of the Duke’s guard, requested Egmont to remain for a moment after the rest, as he had a communication to make to him.  After an insignificant remark or two, the Spanish officer, as soon as the two were alone, requested Egmont to surrender his sword.  The Count, agitated, and notwithstanding every thing which had gone before, still taken by surprise, scarcely knew what reply to make.  Don Sancho repeated that he had been commissioned to arrest him, and again demanded his sword.  At the same moment the doors of the adjacent apartment were opened, and Egmont saw himself surrounded by a company of Spanish musqueteers and halberdmen.  Finding himself thus entrapped, he gave up his sword, saying bitterly, as he did so, that it had at least rendered some service to the King in times which were past.  He was then conducted to a chamber, in the upper story of the house, where his temporary prison had been arranged.  The windows were barricaded, the daylight excluded, the whole apartment hung with black.  Here he remained fourteen days (from the 9th to 23d September).  During this period, he was allowed no communication with his friends.  His room was lighted day and night with candles, and he was served in strict silence by Spanish attendants, and guarded by Spanish soldiers.  The captain of the watch drew his curtain every midnight, and aroused him from sleep that he might be identified by the relieving officer.

Count Horn was arrested upon the same occasion by Captain Salinas, as he was proceeding through the court-yard of the house, after the breaking up of the council.  He was confined in another chamber of the mansion, and met with a precisely similar treatment to that experienced by Egmont.  Upon the 23d September, both were removed under a strong guard to the castle of Ghent.