The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-01-30

| But a Iva stcrnly rebuked the prelate
saving that be had been summoned not
to thwnrt tho execution Of the law. but
! to console the prisoners ana enable them
to die like Christians The bishop. find.
/ ing his ontrcatics useless, rose and ad.
dressed himself to bis melancholy mis-.
/ sion
II was near midnight when bo1eptored
/ Fgmonts apartment where he found the
poor nobleman. whose strength had been
already reduced ly confinement. and who
was wcaricd by the fatigue Of the jour.
ney. buried in slumber. 1t is said that
! the two lords. when summoned TO Brus-
sells had INDUCED the vain hope that it
was to inform them of the conclusion Of
their trial and their acquitial Ilowev.
cr this may be, Egmout seems to have
been but prepared for the dreadful til.
ings he received lie turned deadly
pale as he listened to the bishop and cx-
/ claimed. with dcer emotion. Itis ter
rible sentence. Little did | imagine
that any offence had committed against
God or the king should merit such
! punishment. 1t is not death I fear
/ Death is the common lot of all! But |
shrink from dishonor Yet may hope
that my sufforings will so far cxpiate my
offences that my innocent family will not
be Involved in my ruin BY the con6sca-
ton of my property This much at
least. | think | may claim in consdcra.
ton Of my past services Then, after a
pause. he aided. Since my death is the
will of God and his Maiestv | will try
to meet it With patience lie asked the
bishop if there were no hope On being
answered, None whatever he resolved
TO devote himself at once to preparing
for tie solemn change.
He rose from his couch and hastily
dressed himself lie then made his con
fession to the prclate, and desired that
mass might 90 said, and the sacrament
administered to him. This was done
with great solemuity, and Egmont re-
ceived the communion in the most de-
wont manner, manifesting the greatest
coutrition for his sins He then inqur
cd Of the bishop to what prayer he could
best have recourse to srstain him in this
trying hour. The prelate recommended
to him that prayer which our Savior had
recommended to his disciples The ad-
vice pleased the count. who earnestly en-
gagged in his devotions But host of
tender recollections crowded on his mind,
and the images of his wife and children
drew his thoughts in another direction,
till the kind expostulations of the pre-
late restored him to himself
Egmont asked whether it would be
well to say anything on the scaffold for
the edifcation of tho people. But tho
bishop discouraged him, saying that he
would be imperfoctlv heard, and that the
people. in their present excitement, would
be apt to misinterpret what he said to
their own prejudice.
Having attended to his spiritual con-
Germs Egmont called for writing materi-
ais and wrote letter to his wife, whom
he had not seen during his long coniine-
mcut and to her he now hado a tender
farewell. he then addressed another
letter. written in French, in few brief
and touchng sentences, to the King
which fortunately has been preserved -
us This morning he SAYS, | have
been made acquainted with the sentence
which it has pleased your majesty to
pass upon me And although it has nov
er been my intent to do aught against
tho person or the service Of your majNS-
ty, or against our true, ancient and Cath
Ole faith, ye; I receive in patience what
it has pleased God to send me. Ii during
these troubles | have counS.lled or per-
mitted aught which might seem other
wise | have done 81 from sincere re-
gard for tie service of God and your
M l"'ty and from what believed the ne
ces>iiies of the times. Wherefore, |
pray yonr majesty to pardon it, and for
the sake Of my past services to take pity
on my poor wife. my children and my
servants. In this trust, [ commend my.
self to the mercy II Cod The letter is
dated Brussels on the point of death,
June ). l56S'
Having time still left. the count made
fair copy of the two letters, and gave
them to the bishop entreatng him to de-
liver them according 10 their destiua-
tion. lie accompanied that to Philip
with ring. to be given at the same time
to the monarch. 1t was of great value,
and as it had been tho gift of Philip him
self during the counts late visit to Mad.
rid,it might soften the heart of the king
by reminding him of happier davs. when
he had looked with an eye of favor on
his unhappy vassal.
Having completed all his arrange
ments, Egmont became impatient for tho
hour Of his departure, and he expressed
the hope there would be no unnecessary
delay. At ten in the morning the soldi-
ers appeared who were to conduct him TO
the scaffold They brought with them
cords, as usual to biud the prisoners
hands. But EgmOnt demonstrated. and
showed that he had himself cut off the
collar Of his doublet and shirt, in order
to facilitate the stroke of the execution
er. This he did to convince them that
he meditated no resistance, and on his
promising that he would attempt none
they consented to his remaining with
his hands unbound.
Egmont was dressed in a crimson dam
ask robe, over which was Spanish man
tie fringed with gold. His breeches were
of black silk aud his hat, of tho same
. I 4 ~ I