Time was pressing, for the Duke of Bouillon and the Count of St. Pol lay with a considerable force in the neighbourhood, obviously menacing Ham.

Fuentes accordingly sent that distinguished soldier and historian, Don Carlos Coloma, with a detachment of soldiers to Brussels, with orders to bring Gomeron into camp.  He was found seated at supper with his two young brothers, aged respectively sixteen and eighteen years, and was just putting a cherry into his mouth as Coloma entered the room.  He remained absorbed in thought, trifling with the cherry without eating it, which Don Carlos set down as a proof of guilt:  The three brothers were at once put in a coach, together with their sister, a nun of the age of twenty, and conveyed to the head-quarters of Fuentes, who lay before Le Catelet, but six leagues from Ham.

Meantime D’Orville had completed his negotiations with Bouillon, and had agreed to surrender the fortress so soon as the Spanish troops should be driven from the town.  The duke knowing that there was no time to lose, came with three thousand men before the place.  His summons to surrender was answered by a volley of cannon-shot from the town defences.  An assault was made and repulsed, D’Humieres, a most gallant officer and a favourite of King Henry, being killed, besides at least two hundred soldiers.  The next attack was successful, the town was carried, and the Spanish garrison put to the sword.

D’Orville then, before giving up the citadel, demanded three hostages for the lives of his three brothers-in-law.

The hostages availed him little.  Fuentes had already sent word to Gomeron’s mother, that if the bargain were not fulfilled he would send her the heads of her three sons on three separate dishes.  The distracted woman made her way, to D’Orville, and fell at his feet with tears and entreaties.  It was too late, and D’Orville, unable to bear her lamentations, suddenly rushed from the castle, and nearly fell into the hands of the Spaniards as he fled from the scene.  Two of the four cuirassiers, who alone of the whole garrison accompanied him, were taken prisoners.  The governor escaped to unknown regions.  Madame de Gomeron then appeared before Fuentes, and tried in vain to soften him.  De Gomeron was at once beheaded in the sight of the whole camp.  The two younger sons were retained in prison, but ultimately set at liberty.  The town and citadel were thus permanently acquired by their lawful king, who was said to be more afflicted at the death of D’Humieres than rejoiced at the capture of Ham.

Meantime Colonel Verdugo, royal governor of Friesland, whose occupation in those provinces, now so nearly recovered by the republic, was gone, had led a force of six thousand foot, and twelve hundred horse across the French border, and was besieging La Ferte on the Cher.  The siege was relieved by Bouillon on the 26th May, and the Spanish veteran was then ordered to take command in Burgundy.  But his days were