The organization of Balthazar Gerard would furnish a subject of profound study, both for the physiologist and the metaphysician.  Neither wholly a fanatic, nor entirely a ruffian, he combined the most dangerous elements of both characters.  In his puny body and mean exterior were enclosed considerable mental powers and accomplishments, a daring ambition, and a courage almost superhuman.  Yet those qualities led him only to form upon the threshold of life a deliberate determination to achieve greatness by the assassin’s trade.  The rewards held out by the Ban, combining with his religious bigotry and his passion for distinction, fixed all his energies with patient concentration upon the one great purpose for which he seemed to have been born, and after seven years’ preparation, he had at last fulfilled his design.

Upon being interrogated by the magistrates, he manifested neither despair nor contrition, but rather a quiet exultation.  “Like David,” he said, “he had slain Goliath of Gath.”

When falsely informed that his victim was not dead, he showed no credulity or disappointment.  He had discharged three poisoned balls into the Prince’s stomach, and he knew that death must have already ensued.  He expressed regret, however, that the resistance of the halberdiers had prevented him from using his second pistol, and avowed that if he were a thousand leagues away he would return in order to do the deed again, if possible.  He deliberately wrote a detailed confession of his crime, and of the motives and manner of its commission, taking care, however, not to implicate Parma in the transaction.  After sustaining day after day the most horrible tortures, he subsequently related his interviews with Assonleville and with the president of the Jesuit college at Treves adding that he had been influenced in his work by the assurance of obtaining the rewards promised by the Ban.  During the intervals of repose from the rack he conversed with ease, and even eloquence, answering all questions addressed to him with apparent sincerity.  His constancy in suffering so astounded his judges that they believed him supported by witchcraft.  “Ecce homo!” he exclaimed, from time to time, with insane blasphemy, as he raised his blood-streaming head from the bench.  In order to destroy the charm which seemed to render him insensible to pain, they sent for the shirt of a hospital patient, supposed to be a sorcerer.  When clothed in this garment, however, Balthazar was none the less superior to the arts of the tormentors, enduring all their inflictions, according to an eye-witness, “without once exclaiming, Ah me!” and avowing that he would repeat his enterprise, if possible, were he to die a thousand deaths in consequence.  Some of those present refused to believe that he was a man at all.  Others asked him how long since he had sold himself to the Devil? to which he replied, mildly, that he had no acquaintance whatever with the Devil.  He thanked the judges politely for the food which he received in prison, and promised to recompense them for the favor.  Upon being asked how that was possible, he replied; that he would serve as their advocate in Paradise.