The Revolt of The Netherlands, book 3 | Page 9

or to seek safety in flight? Both suggestions were
rejected as dishonorable; and the peaceable entry of the nobles soon
allayed all fears of violence. The first morning after their arrival they
assembled at Kuilemberg house, where Brederode administered to them
a second oath, binding them before all other duties to stand by one
another, and even with arms if necessary. At this meeting a letter from
Spain was produced, in which it was stated that a certain Protestant,
whom, they all knew and valued, had been burned alive in that country
by a slow fire. After these and similar preliminaries he called on them

one after another by name to take the new oath and renew the old one
in their own names and in those of the absent. The next day, the 5th of
April, 1556, was fixed for the presentation of the petition. Their
numbers now amounted to between three and four hundred. Amongst
them were many retainers of the high nobility, as also several servants
of the king himself and of the duchess.
With the Counts of Nassau and Brederode at their head, and formed in
ranks of four by four, they advanced in procession to the palace; all
Brussels attended the unwonted spectacle in silent astonishment. Here
were to be seen a body of men advancing with too much boldness and
confidence to look like supplicants, and led by two men who were not
wont to be petitioners; and, on the other hand, with so much order and
stillness as do not usually accompany rebellion. The regent received the
procession surrounded by all her counsellors and the Knights of the
Fleece. "These noble Netherlanders," thus Brederode respectfully
addressed her, "who here present themselves before your highness,
wish in their own name, and of many others besides who are shortly to
arrive, to present to you a petition of whose importance as well as of
their own humility this solemn procession must convince you. I, as
speaker of this body, entreat you to receive our petition, which contains
nothing but what is in unison with the laws of our country and the
honor of the king."
"If this petition," replied Margaret, "really contains nothing which is at
variance either with the good of the country, or with the authority of the
king, there is no doubt that it will be favorably considered." "They had
learnt," continued the spokesman, "with indignation and regret that
suspicious objects had been imputed to their association, and that
interested parties had endeavored to prejudice her highness against him;
they therefore craved that she would name the authors of so grave an
accusation, and compel them to bring their charges publicly, and in due
form, in order that he who should be found guilty might suffer the
punishment of his demerits." "Undoubtedly," replied the regent, "she
had received unfavorable rumors of their designs and alliance. She
could not be blamed, if in consequence she had thought it requisite to
call the attention of the governors of the provinces to the matter; but, as
to giving up the names of her informants to betray state secrets," she
added, with an appearance of displeasure, "that could not in justice be

required of her." She then appointed the next day for answering their
petition; and in the meantime she proceeded to consult the members of
her council upon it.
"Never" (so ran the petition which, according to some, was drawn up
by the celebrated Balduin), "never had they failed in their loyalty to
their king, and nothing now could be farther from their hearts; but they
would rather run the risk of incurring the displeasure of their sovereign
than allow him to remain longer in ignorance of the evils with which
their native country was menaced, by the forcible introduction of the
Inquisition and the continued enforcement of the edicts. They had long
remained consoling themselves with the expectation that a general
assembly of the states would be summoned to remedy these grievances;
but now that even this hope was extinguished, they held it to be their
duty to give timely warning to the regent. They, therefore, entreated her
highness to send to Madrid an envoy, well disposed, and fully
acquainted with the state and temper of the times, who should endeavor
to persuade the king to comply with the demands of the whole nation,
and abolish the Inquisition, to revoke the edicts, and in their stead cause
new and more humane ones to be drawn up at a general assembly of the
states. But, in the meanwhile, until they could learn the king's decision,
they prayed that the edicts and the operations of the Inquisition be
suspended." "If," they concluded, "no attention should be paid to their
humble request, they took God, the king, the regent,