Never was such a run upon the haberdashers, mercers, and tailors, since Brussels had been a city.

All the frieze-cloth in Brabant was exhausted.

All the serge in Flanders was clipped into monastic cowls.

The Duchess at first laughed with the rest, but the Cardinal took care that the king should be at once informed upon the subject.

The Regent was, perhaps, not extremely sorry to see the man ridiculed whom she so cordially disliked, and, she accepted the careless excuses made on the subject by Egmont and by Orange without severe criticism.