Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/498

 482 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. the misfortunes of the faith, and that to take him away would be an act of mercy to mankind. He was out- Jawed a price was set upon his head, and every insane fanatic, and every broken scoundrel in Europe, was looking wistfully at the short road which was open to him to honour and glory and wealth. One after another they came to Parma with proposals to undertake the adventure one after another they had been rejected as incapable, or- had run their fortune and perished. At length, in the same spring of 1584, there came a mean, shabby-looking lad named Balthazar Gerard, from Ville- fans, in Burgundy, who, after dwelling for years upon the idea, till it had become a destiny to him, had collected his nerves for the venture. Parma expected little from his appearance. He told him merely that if he suc- ceeded he might count on his reward, and let him go. Balthazar, meaning if possible to live to enjoy his promised wealth and dignity, presented himself at Delft, where the Prince was residing, and pretending to be a Calviuist whose father had been executed for religion, applied for employment. The Prince took him into his household, and he remained watching for a chance of striking when he could hope to escape. It was slow in coming, for the Prince had grown careful, and his friends were careful for him. Balthazar however grew in favour. "When the Duke of Alengon died, he was in France, in the suite of a gentleman who had been sent on a mission to the Court, and he was chosen to carry the news to Delft. Orange, eager to hear particulars, sent for him to his bedroom. He told his story. Being