ith the most
chilling manner. Behind her stood the Count Egmont and other nobles.
Alva, however, must have known how completely they were all in his
power, and had thus less difficulty in suppressing his anger. It was
said that the Prince of Orange again and again warned Counts Egmont and
Horn, as well as several others, on no account to put themselves in the
power of Alva. He showed his opinion of the character of that person by
resigning all his offices, and retiring to his paternal estate of
Dillenburg.

Alva having superseded the Regent, the country soon felt the effects of
his presence. He forthwith distributed his well-trained troops through
Brussels, Ghent, Antwerp, and other chief cities, and ordered the
municipalities to transfer their keys to his keeping. A deep gloom
settled down over the whole land. The day of vengeance with which they
had long been threatened was now to overtake them. The people
everywhere were oppressed with a feeling of hopeless dismay. They knew
that they had no power to resist the force which had arrived to keep
them down. Those who had a possibility of escaping made their way out
of the ill-fated land across the frontier. Foreign merchants deserted
the great marts, and the cities had the appearance of being stricken by
the plague.

The Duke of Alva established a new court, for the trial of crimes
committed during the recent period of troubles. It was called the
Council of Troubles, but it soon acquired the terrible name of the Blood
Council. It superseded all other institutions. All other courts were
forbidden to give judgment on any case growing out of the late
disturbances.

A reign of terror commenced, which exceeded anything that had before
taken place. The Blood Council made rapid work wherever they went. In
one day eighty-four of the inhabitants of Valenciennes were put to
death; on another, forty-six persons in Malines. Ninety-five people
collected from various towns were burned or strangled together at one
place. But I sicken as I write of the horrible cruelties practised by
Alva. He had come for the express purpose of destroying all the leaders
of the popular movement. In spite of their high rank and the service
they had rendered their King, they were condemned to death. Egmont had
proved himself too faithful in carrying out the wishes of Philip, by the
cruelties he exercised at Valenciennes and elsewhere, to deserve much
pity.

It was at this junctur