the burgomaster’s unblushing corruption.  He had obviously, they thought, been purchased by Spanish ducats to do what he had hitherto been so steadily refusing.  A certain Van Werne had gone from Antwerp into Holland a few days before upon his own private affairs, with a safe-conduct from Parma.  Sainte Aldegonde had not communicated to him the project then on foot, but he had permitted him to seek a secret interview with Count Mansfeld.  If that were granted, Van Werne was to hint that in case the Provinces could promise themselves a religious peace it would be possible, in the opinion of Sainte Aldegonde, to induce Holland and Zealand and all the rest of the United Provinces, to return to their obedience.  Van Werne, on his return to Antwerp, divulged these secret negotiations, and so put a stop to Sainte Aldegonde’s scheme of going alone to Parma.  “This has given a bad suspicion to the people,” wrote the burgomaster to Richardot, “so much so that I fear to have trouble.  The broad council has been in session, but I don’t know what has taken place there, and I do not dare to ask.”

Sainte Aldegonde’s motive, as avowed by himself, for seeking a private interview, was because he had received no answer to the main point in his first letter, as to the proposition for a general accord.  In order therefore to make the deliberations more rapid, he had been disposed to discuss that preliminary question in secret.  “But now,” said he to Richardot, “as the affair had been too much divulged, as well by diverse reports and writings sown about, very inopportunely, as by the arrival of M. Van Werne, I have not found it practicable to set out upon my road, without communication with the members of the government.  This has been done, however, not in the way of consultation, but as the announcement of a thing already resolved upon.”

He proceeded to state, that great difficulties had arisen, exactly as he had foreseen.  The magistrates would not hear of a general accord, and it was therefore necessary that a delay should be interposed before it would be possible for him to come.  He begged Richardot to persuade Alexander, that he was not trifling with him.  “It is not,” said he, “from lightness, or any other passion, that I am retarding this affair.  I will do all in my power to obtain leave to make a journey to the camp of his Highness, at whatever price it may cost and I hope before long to arrive at my object.  If I fail, it must be ascribed to the humours of the people; for my anxiety to restore all the Provinces to obedience to his Majesty is extreme.”

Richardot, in reply, the next day, expressed regret, without astonishment, on the part of Alexander and himself, at the intelligence thus received.  People had such difference of humour, he said, and all men were not equally capable of reason.  Nevertheless the citizens were warned not to misconstrue Parma’s gentleness, because he was determined to die, with his whole army, rather than not take Antwerp.