CHAPTER V., Part 3.
Sainte Aldegonde discouraged--His Critical Position--His Negotiations with the Enemy--Correspondence with Richardot-- Commotion in the City--Interview of Marnix with Parma--Suspicious Conduct of Marnix--Deputation to the Prince--Oration of Marnix-- Private Views of Parma--Capitulation of Antwerp--Mistakes of Marnix -- Philip on the Religious Question--Triumphal Entrance of Alexander-- Rebuilding of the Citadel--Gratification of Philip--Note on Sainte Aldegonde Sainte Aldegonde's position had become a painful one.

The net had been drawn closely about the city.

The bridge seemed impregnable, the great Kowenstyn was irrecoverably in the hands of the enemy, and now all the lesser forts in the immediate vicinity of Antwerp-Borght, Hoboken, Cantecroix, Stralen, Berghen, and the rest--had likewise fallen into his grasp.

An account of grain, taken on the 1st of June, gave an average of a pound a-head for a month long, or half a pound for two months.

This was not the famine-point, according to the standard which had once been established in Leyden; but the courage of the burghers had been rapidly oozing away, under the pressure of their recent disappointments.