The Prince urged these views with so much eloquence, that he seemed, in his own words, to have been directly inspired by the Lord for this special occasion!  Sainte Aldegonde, too, was signally impressed by Alexander’s language, and thoroughly fascinated-magnetized, as it were—­by his character.  He subsequently declared, that he had often conversed familiarly with many eloquent personages, but that he had never known a man more powerful or persuasive than the Prince of Parma.  He could honestly say of him—­as Hasdrubal had said of Scipio—­that Farnese was even more admirable when seen face to face, than he had seemed when one only heard of his glorious achievements.

“The burgomaster and three deputies,” wrote Parma to Philip, “were here until the 12th July.  We discussed (30th July, 1585) the points and form of a capitulation, and they have gone back thoroughly satisfied.  Sainte Aldegonde especially was much pleased with the long interview which he had with me, alone, and which lasted more than three hours.  I told him, as well as my weakness and suffering from the tertian fever permitted, all that God inspired me to say on our behalf.”

Nevertheless, if Sainte Aldegonde and his colleagues went away thoroughly satisfied, they had reason, soon after their return, to become thoroughly dejected.  The magistrates and burghers would not listen to a proposition to abandon the three points, however strongly urged to do so by arguments drawn from the necessity of the situation, and by representations of Parma’s benignity.  As for the burgomaster, he became the target for calumny, so soon as his three hours’ private interview became known; and the citizens loudly declared that his head ought to be cut off, and sent in a bag, as a present, to Philip, in order that the traitor might meet the sovereign with whom he sought a reconciliation, face to face, as soon as possible.

The deputies, immediately after their return, made their report to the magistrates, as likewise to the colonels and captains, and to the deans of guilds.  Next day, although it was Sunday, there was a session of the broad council, and Sainte Aldegonde made a long address, in which—­as he stated in a letter to Richardot—­he related everything that had passed in his private conversation with Alexander.  An answer was promised to Parma on the following Tuesday, but the burgomaster spoke very discouragingly as to the probability of an accord.

“The joy with which our return was greeted,” he said, “was followed by a general disappointment and sadness, so soon as the result was known.  The want of a religious toleration, as well as the refusal to concede on the other two points, has not a little altered the hearts of all, even of the Catholics.  A citadel and a garrison are considered ruin and desolation to a great commercial city.  I have done what I can to urge the acceptance of such conditions as the Prince is willing to give, and have spoken in general terms of his benign intentions.  The citizens still desire peace.  Had his Highness been willing to take both religions under his protection, he might have won all hearts, and very soon all the other Provinces would have returned to their obedience, while the clemency and magnanimity of his Majesty would thus have been rendered admirable throughout the world.”