The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-11
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Friday Mernins, January II, 1856

IHE JAIL i DlSI Al I'll.
Friday Morning, January IL, 1885.
Prescotf,s History Of Philip the SECOND Of
Spain.
This work of the American Historian, which mas
lust been published, has commanded the highest
commentator in this country and Europe. IL mas
become popular from the style and extensive re
search put forth in its compilation Of facts. Inc
reader viii be interested with the following very
fine specimen of the descriptive powers OF the
great author:
Having completed all his arrangements Egmont
became impatient for the hour OF his departure;
and he expressed the hope that there would be no
unnecessary delay. At 10 in the morning the sol
d;ers appeared who were to conduct him to the
ecatfod They brought with them cords, as usual, 10
hind the prisoner hands. But Egmont remonstra-
ted and showed that he had himself cut of the
collar of his doublet and shirt in order TO facilitate
the stroke Of the executioner. This he did to con,
vince them that he medtated no resistance; ana
on his promising that he would attempt none, they
consented to his remaining with his hands unbound
Egmont was dressed in crimson dainask rooe,
over which was Spanish mantle irinsed WIZ
gold His breeches were of black SIX, and his
hat of the same material, was garnished with
white and sable plumes In his hand, winch, as
we have seem remained free, he held white hand
kerchief On his way TO the place OF execution he
"
eamp bv the captain, Salinas, who had charge of
the fortress of Client, and by the Bishop of Ypres
AS the procession moved slowly forward, the
Count repeated some portion of the fifty first
nsalm-TIiave mercy on me, o God l"-in which
The good prelate joined with him In the centre of
the square, on the spot where SO much of the best
blood of the Netherlands has been shed, stood the
scaffold covered with black cloth. On it were
two velvet cushions with a small table, shrouded
likewise in black, and supporting silver crucifx
At the corners of the platform were two poles,
pointed at the end with steel, intimatng the pur-
pose for which they were intended
In front of the scaffold was the provost of the
court mounted on horseback, and bearing the red
wand of Office in his hand The executoner re.
manned as usual, below the platform, screened from
view that he might not, by his presence before it
was necessary, outrage the feelings of the prison
ers The troops who had been under arms all
night. were drawn up around in order of battle;
and strong bodies of arquebusiers were posted in
the great avenues which led to the square. The
space left opensby the soldery was speedily occu.
MED by a crowd of eager spectators. Others
thronQed the roofs and windows of the buildings
that surrounded the market place, some of which,
still standing at the present day, show, by their
quaint and venerable architecture, that they must
have looked down on the tragic scene we are now
epieting.
was indeed a gloomy day for Brussels, SO
long the residence of the two mobiles, where their
forms were as familiar, and where they were held
in as much love and honor as in any of their own
provinces. All business was suspended. The
shops were closed The bells tolled in all the
churches. An air of gloom, as of some impending
calamity, settled on the city. ut seemed" says
one residing there at the time, ''as if the day of
u1gment was at hand"
As the procession slowly passed through the
ranks of the soldiers, Egmont saluted the officers
some of them his ancient companions-w;th such
a sweet and dignifed composure in his manner as
was long remembered by those who it. And
few even of the Spanards could refrain from tears
as they took their last look at the gallant noble who
was to perish by SO miserable an end.
With a steady step he mounted the scaffold, and
as he crossed it, gave utterance to the vain wish
that instead of meeting such fate, he had been
allowed to die in the service of his king and coun-
try He quickly, however, turned to other thoughts,
and kneeling one of the cushions, with the bsh-
op beside him on the other, he was soon engaged
earnestly in prayer. With his eyes raised toward
heaven, with look of unutterable badness he
prayed SO fervently and loud as to be distinctly
heard by the spectators. The prelate, much af-
fected put into his hands the silver crucfx which
Egmont repeatedly kissed; after which, having re
ceived absolution for the last time, he rose and
made sign to the bishop to retire. He then strip
ped off his mantle and robe, and again kneeling
he drew silk cap, which he had brought for the
purpose, over his eyes, and repeating the words
Into thy hands, o Lord, / commend my spirit !"
he calmly awaited the stroke of the executioner
The low sounds of lamentation, which from time
to time had been heard among the populace were
now hushed into silence, as the minister of justice
appearing the platfrom approached his victim
and with single blow of the sword severed the
head from the body. A cry of horror rose from the
multitude and frantic with grief broke
through the ranks of the soldiers and wildly dipped
their handkerchiefs in the blood that streamed from
the scaffod, treasuring them up, says the chroni-
cler precious memorials of love and indictments
to vengeance. The head was then set on one of
the poles at the end of the platform, while man
tie thrown the mutilated trunk hid it from the
public gaze.
1t was near noon when orders were sent to lead
forth the remaining prisoner to execution. 1t had
been assigned to the curate of La Chapelle to &C
quaint Count HORNE with his fate. That noble
man received the awful tdings with less patience
than shown by his friend. He gave way to q
burst of indignation at the cruelty and injustice of
the sentence. 1t was poor requital, he said, for
eight and twenty years of faithful services to his
sovereign Yet, he added, he was not sorry to be
released from life of such incessant fatigue. For
some time he refused to confess, saying he had
done enough in the way of confession When
urged not to throw away the few precious moments
that were left to him, he at length consented.
The Count was dressed in plain suit of black,
and wore Milanese cap upon his head He was,
at this time, about fifty years of age He was tall
with handsome features, and altogether of COM
manding presence. His form was erect and as he
passed with steady step through the files of sol
diers,, on his way to the place of execution, he
frankly saluted those of his acquaintance whom he
saw among the spectators. His look had in it less
OF sorrow than of Indignation, like that of one
conscious of enduring wrong He was spared
ohe pang, IL MS last nour, which had filled Eg- |
monts cup with bitterness; though like him. he
had wife, he was to leave no orphan family to |
mourn him "
AS he trod the scaffold, the apparatus of death |
seemed TO have no power to move him. He still |
repeated the declaration that, often as he had of
Iended his Maker he had never to his knowledge |
SoinMitted any ofense against the King" Whes |
Iis eyes !eh on the bloody shroud that enyeloped
tne remains OF Egmont, he inquired if it were the
oouy OF his friend Being answered in the AFFIRM
atYe, ne made some remark in Castillian mot nm
aerstood He then prayed for a few moments
out IN SO low tone that the words were not
caught by the bystanders, and, rising he asked
pardon of those around if he had ever Offended am
OF them, and earnestly besought their PRAYERS =
Ihen, without further delay, he knels down and
repeating the words In nlanus tsas Domino y ha
submitted himsefto his fate Ao
HIS bloody head was set up opposite In that &c
mis- fellow sufferer For three hours these obs s,I,
trophies remained exposed to the gaze of tba
multitude. They were then taken down. and with
the bodies, placed in leaden collins which yyara
strsghtway removed-that containing the remains
OF Egmont to the convent of Santa Clara and that
OF HORNE to the ancient church of st Gudule-
To these places, especially to Santa Clara, the
people now locked, as to the shrine of a martyr.
Ihey threw themselves on the coffin kissing II and
pedewng 1t with their tears if it had contained
the relics OF some murdered saint; while many of
them taking little heed of the presence of inform.
ers, oreathed vows of vengeance; some even