Seventeen women in chains, one for every province, kneel before Alva on his throne. Surrounded by advisers and the devil he rips up agreements and treaties. At the right are the representatives of the provinces: the States General. All of them silenced. Nobles are beheaded or flagellated, and the pond fished out. There can be no doubt: Alva has brought nothing but misery and crushed the freedom of the Netherlands.