too, poured from sieves and baskets, insinuated itself within the armour of the Spaniards, and occasioned such exquisite suffering, that many threw themselves into the river to allay the pain.  Emerging refreshed, but confused, they attempted in vain to renew the onset.  Several of the little band were slain, the assault was quite unsuccessful, and the trumpet sounded a recal.  So completely discomfited were the Spaniards by this repulse, and so thoroughly at their ease were the besieged, that a soldier let himself down from the ramparts of the town for the sake of plundering the body of Captain Solis, who was richly dressed, and, having accomplished this feat, was quietly helped back again by his comrades from above.

To the surprise of the besiegers, however, on the very next morning came a request from the governor of the city, Baron Hemart, to negotiate for a surrender.  Alexander was, naturally, but too glad to grant easy terms, and upon the 7th of June the garrison left the town with colours displayed and drums beating, and the Prince of Parma marched into it, at the head of his troops.  He found a year’s provision there for six thousand men, while, at the same time, the walls had suffered so little, that he must have been obliged to wait long for a practicable breach.

“There was no good reason even for women to have surrendered the place,” exclaimed Leicester, when he heard the news.  And the Earl had cause to be enraged at such a result.  He had received a letter only the day before, signed by Hemart himself and by all the officers in Grave, asserting their determination and ability to hold the place for a good five months, or for an indefinite period, and until they should be relieved.  And indeed all the officers, with three exceptions, had protested against the base surrender.  But at the bottom of the catastrophe—­of the disastrous loss of the city and the utter ruin of young Hemart—­was a woman.  The governor was governed by his mistress, a lady of good family in the place, but of Spanish inclinations, and she, for some mysterious reasons, had persuaded him thus voluntarily to capitulate.

Parma lost no time, however, in exulting over his success.  Upon the same day the towns of Megen and Batenburg surrendered to him, and immediately afterwards siege was laid to Venlo, a town of importance, lying thirty miles farther up the Meuse.  The wife and family of Martin Schenk were in the city, together with two hundred horses, and from forty to one hundred thousand crowns in money, plate; and furniture belonging to him.

That bold partisan, accompanied by the mad Welshman, Roger Williams, at the head of one hundred and thirty English lances and thirty of Schenk’s men, made a wild nocturnal attempt to cut their way through the besieging force, and penetrate to the city.  They passed through the enemy’s lines, killed all the corps-de-garde, and many Spanish troopers—­the terrible Martin’s own hand being most effective