condemned by default.

This order was obeyed within nearly the prescribed period and here, it
may be said, their own participation in their trial ceased; while the
rest of the proceedings were buried in the deep bosom of the Blood-
Council. After their answers had been delivered, and not till then, the
prisoners were, by an additional mockery, permitted to employ advocates.
These advocates, however, were allowed only occasional interviews with
their clients, and always in the presence of certain persons, especially
deputed for that purpose by the Duke. They were also allowed
commissioners to collect evidence and take depositions, but before the
witnesses were ready, a purposely premature day, 8th of May, was fixed
upon for declaring the case closed, and not a single tittle of their
evidence, personal or documentary, was admitted.--Their advocates
petitioned for an exhibition of the evidence prepared by government, and
were refused. Thus, they were forbidden to use the testimony in their
favor, while that which was to be employed against them was kept secret.
Finally, the proceedings were formally concluded on the 1st of June, and
the papers laid before the Duke. The mass of matter relating to these
two monster processes was declared, three days afterwards to have been
examined--a physical impossibility in itself--and judgment was pronounced
upon the 4th of June. This issue was precipitated by the campaign of
Louis Nassau in Friesland, forming a aeries of important events which it
will be soon our duty to describe. It is previously necessary, however,
to add a few words in elucidation of the two mock trials which have been
thus briefly sketched.

The proceeding had been carried on, from first to last, under protest by
the prisoners, under a threat of contumacy on the part of the government.
Apart from the totally irresponsible and illegal character of the