The negotiations with Queen Elizabeth—­most important for the Netherlands, for England, and for the destinies of Europe—­which succeeded the futile diplomatic transactions with France, will be laid before the reader in a subsequent chapter.  It is proper that they should be massed by themselves, so that the eye can comprehend at a single glance their whole progress and aspect, as revealed both by public and official, and by secret and hitherto unpublished records.  Meantime, so far as regards Antwerp, those negotiations had been too deliberately conducted for the hasty and impatient temper of the citizens.

The spirit of the commercial metropolis, long flagging, seemed at last broken.  Despair was taking possession of all hearts.  The common people did nothing but complain, the magistrates did nothing but wrangle.  In the broad council the debates and dissensions were discouraging and endless.  Six of the eight militia-colonels were for holding out at all hazards, while a majority of the eighty captains were for capitulation.  The populace was tumultuous and threatening, demanding peace and bread at any price.  Holland sent promises in abundance, and Holland was sincere; but there had been much disappointment, and there was now infinite bitterness.  It seemed obvious that a crisis was fast approaching, and—­unless immediate aid should come from Holland or from England—­that a surrender was inevitable.  La None, after five years’ imprisonment, had at last been exchanged against Count Philip Egmont.  That noble, chief of an ancient house, cousin of the Queen of France, was mortified at being ransomed against a simple Huguenot gentleman—­even though that gentleman was the illustrious “iron-armed” La Noue—­but he preferred to sacrifice his dignity for the sake of his liberty.  He was still more annoyed that one hundred thousand crowns as security were exacted from La Noue—­for which the King of Navarre became bondsman—­that he would never again bear arms in the Netherlands except in obedience to the French monarch, while no such pledges were required of himself.  La None visited the Prince of Parma at Antwerp, to take leave, and was received with the courtesy due to his high character and great distinction.  Alexander took pleasure in showing him all his fortifications, and explaining to him the whole system of the siege, and La Noue was filled with honest amazement.  He declared afterwards that the works were superb and impregnable; and that if he had been on the outside at the head of twelve thousand troops, he should have felt obliged to renounce the idea of relieving the city.  “Antwerp cannot escape you,” confessed the veteran Huguenot, “but must soon fall into your hands.  And when you enter, I would counsel you to hang up your sword at its gate, and let its capture be the crowning trophy in your list of victories.”

“You are right,” answered Parma, “and many of my friends have given me the same advice; but how am I to retire, engaged as I am for life in the service of my King?”