But already every one of his friends was urging him to grant the truce:
"For the sake of our women and children," said van Deynse who voiced the majority, "let there be no fighting to-morrow. The tyrant has pledged his immortal soul that he will not play us false. No man would dare to do that unless he meant to be true."
"Rebel!" now shouted Alva impatiently, "I await thine answer."
"Accept, van Rycke, accept," cried the Orangists unanimously now, "it is God's will that we accept."
"I await thine answer, rebel," reiterated Alva.
"What answer can I give?" retorted van Rycke. "You say your men will go to our churches unarmed. We are not butchers as ye would have been."
"You will let them pray in peace?"
"As thou desirest. You who were prepared to destroy our city and to murder our women and our children will have nothing to fear from us while ye are unarmed and at prayer."
"Until the evening Angelus ceases to ring?"
"Until then."