Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/499

 1584.] THE BOND OF ASSOCIATION. 483 unarmed he could then do nothing, but he had gained a more confidential footing. Not to be unprovided a second time, he bought a pair of pistols, which he carried always concealed about him ; and a few days after, 1 as the Prince was passing from his din- ing-room, he stepped from behind a pillar on the stair- qase, and fired three poisoned balls into his body. The aim was sure, and the poison was unneeded. The Prince fell, was lifted back into the room which he had just quitted, and died in a few minutes. Balthazar bounded out of the house, and had reached the town wall. His Spanish countship, broad lands, and the order of St Jago were almost within reach ; but he was not quick enough. He was caught and dragged to the prison. The people expended their despair upon his miserable carcase. They flogged him with knotted cords. They cut his flesh with split quills. They dipped him in salt water, and wrapped him in a shirt soaked with vinegar and brandy. He defied their ingenuit-. He told them that he had killed a villain who had caused the deaths of half a million of men ; that he would soon be a saint in heaven, and would have the first place there next to God. They left him for a night in his pain. In the morning they wrenched him on the rack, they plucked his flesh from him with red-hot pincers, they tortured him to death by inches of infinite agony. The fainting wretch, pointing at his body in his frenzy, shrieked only Ecce Homo. 2 1 j une 29 July 9. I murdered the Prince of Orange, 2 Punishment of the traitor that | July 414* '5 8 4 : ^SS. HoUand.