The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1566 part 1 | Page 7

could hardly doubt that the
persecution to which these industrious artisans, whose sufferings he
affected to deplore, had been subjected, must have had something to do
with their expatriation; but he preferred to ascribe it wholly to the
protective system adopted by England. In this he followed the opinion
of his preceptor. "For a long time," said Assonleville, "the Netherlands
have been the Indies to England; and as long as she has them, she needs
no other. The French try to surprise our fortresses and cities: the
English make war upon our wealth and upon the purses of the people."
Whatever the cause, however, the current of trade was already turned.
The cloth-making of England was already gaining preponderance over

that of the provinces. Vessels now went every week from Sandwich to
Antwerp, laden with silk, satin, and cloth, manufactured in England,
while as many but a few years before, had borne the Flemish fabrics of
the same nature from Antwerp to England.
It might be supposed by disinterested judges that persecution was at the
bottom of this change in commerce. The Prince of Orange estimated
that up to this period fifty thousand persons in the provinces had been
put to death in obedience to the edicts. He was a moderate man, and
accustomed to weigh his words. As a new impulse had been given to
the system of butchery--as it was now sufficiently plain that "if the
father had chastised his people with a scourge the son held a whip of
scorpions" as the edicts were to be enforced with renewed vigor--it was
natural that commerce and manufactures should make their escape out
of a doomed land as soon as possible, whatever system of tariffs might
be adopted by neighboring nations.
A new step had been resolved upon early in the month of March by the
confederates. A petition, or "Request," was drawn up, which was to be
presented to the Duchess Regent in a formal manner by a large number
of gentlemen belonging to the league. This movement was so grave,
and likely to be followed by such formidable results, that it seemed
absolutely necessary for Orange and his friends to take some previous
cognizance of it before it was finally arranged. The Prince had no
power, nor was there any reason why he should have the inclination, to
prevent the measure, but he felt it his duty to do what he could to
control the vehemence of the men who were moving so rashly forward,
and to take from their manifesto, as much as possible, the character of a
menace.
For this end, a meeting ostensibly for social purposes and "good cheer"
was held, in the middle of March, at Breda, and afterwards adjourned to
Hoogstraaten. To these conferences Orange invited Egmont, Horn,
Hoogstraaten, Berghen, Meghen, Montigny, and other great nobles.
Brederode, Tholouse, Boxtel, and other members of the league, were
also present. The object of the Prince in thus assembling his own
immediate associates, governors of provinces and knights of the Fleece,
as well as some of the leading members of the league, was twofold. It
had long been his opinion that a temperate and loyal movement was
still possible, by which the impending convulsions might be averted.

The line of policy which he had marked out required the assent of the
magnates of the land, and looked towards the convocation of the
states-general. It was natural that he should indulge in the hope of
being seconded by the men who were in the same political and social
station with himself. All, although Catholics, hated the inquisition. As
Viglius pathetically exclaimed, "Saint Paul himself would have been
unable to persuade these men that good fruit was to be gathered from
the inquisition in the cause of religion." Saint Paul could hardly be
expected to reappear on earth for such a purpose. Meantime the
arguments of the learned President had proved powerless, either to
convince the nobles that the institution was laudable or to obtain from
the Duchess a postponement in the publication of the late decrees. The
Prince of Orange, however, was not able to bring his usual associates to
his way of thinking. The violent purposes of the leaguers excited the
wrath of the more loyal nobles. Their intentions were so dangerous,
even in the estimation of the Prince himself, that he felt it his duty to
lay the whole subject before the Duchess, although he was not opposed
to the presentation of a modest and moderate Request. Meghen was
excessively indignant at the plan of the confederates, which he
pronounced an insult to the government, a treasonable attempt to
overawe the Duchess, by a "few wretched vagabonds." He swore that
"he would break every one of their heads, if the King would furnish
him with a