Alexander took pleasure in showing him all his fortifications, and explaining to him the whole system of the siege, and La Noue was filled with honest amazement.

He declared afterwards that the works were superb and impregnable; and that if he had been on the outside at the head of twelve thousand troops, he should have felt obliged to renounce the idea of relieving the city.
"Antwerp cannot escape you," confessed the veteran Huguenot, "but must soon fall into your hands.

And when you enter, I would counsel you to hang up your sword at its gate, and let its capture be the crowning trophy in your list of victories." "You are right," answered Parma, "and many of my friends have given me the same advice; but how am I to retire, engaged as I am for life in the service of my King ?" Such was the opinion of La None, a man whose love for the reformed religion and for civil liberty can be as little doubted as his competency to form an opinion upon great military subjects.

As little could he be suspected just coming as he did from an infamous prison, whence he had been at one time invited by Philip II.

to emerge, on condition of allowing his eyes to be put out--of any partiality for that monarch or his representative.
Moreover, although the States of Holland and the English government were earnestly desirous of relieving the city, and were encouraging the patriots with well-founded promises, the Zeeland authorities were lukewarm.