People had such difference of humour, he said, and all men were not equally capable of reason.

Nevertheless the citizens were warned not to misconstrue Parma's gentleness, because he was determined to die, with his whole army, rather than not take Antwerp.

"As for the King," said Richardot, "he will lay down all his crowns sooner than abandon this enterprise." Van Werne was represented as free from blame, and sincerely desirous of peace.

Richardot had only stated to him, in general terms, that letters had been received from Sainte Aldegonde, expressing an opinion in favour of peace.

As for the royalists, they were quite innocent of the reports and writings that had so inopportunely been circulated in the city.