The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1568 part 1 | Page 9

to visit Mansfeld, who was confined with an inflamed
eye. There they had met Egmont, and the three had proceeded together
to Culemburg House in order to bring away Hoogstraaten, whom the
confederates had compelled to dine with them; and also to warn the
nobles not to commit themselves by extravagant and suspicious
excesses. They had remained in the house but a few minutes, during
which time the company had insisted upon their drinking a single cup
to the toast of "Vivent le roy et les gueux." They had then retired,
taking with them Hoogstraaten, and all thinking that they had rendered
a service to the government by their visit, instead of having made
themselves liable to a charge of treason. As to the cries of "Vivent les
gueux" at the tables of Orange, of the Abbot of Saint Bernard, and at

other places, those words had been uttered by simple, harmless fellows;
and as he considered, the table a place of freedom, he had not felt
himself justified in rebuking the manners of his associates, particularly,
in houses where he was himself but a guest. As for committing treason
at the Duffel meeting, he had not been there at all.
He thanked God that, at that epoch, he had been absent from Brussels,
for had he, as well as Orange and Egmont, been commissioned by the
Duchess to arrange those difficult matters, he should have considered it
his duty to do as they did. He had never thought of levying troops
against his Majesty. The Denremonde meeting had been held, to
consult upon four subjects: the affairs of Tournay; the intercepted
letters of the French ambassador, Alava; the letter of Montigny, in
which he warned his brother of the evil impression which the
Netherland matters were making in Spain; and the affairs of Antwerp,
from which city the Prince of Orange found it necessary at that moment
to withdraw.--With regard to his absence from Brussels, he stated that
he had kept away from the Court because he was ruined. He was deeply
in debt, and so complete was his embarrassment, that he had been
unable in Antwerp to raise 1000 crowns upon his property, even at an
interest of one hundred per cent. So far from being able to levy troops,
he was hardly able to pay for his daily bread. With regard to his
transactions at Tournay, he had, throughout them all, conformed
himself to the instructions of Madame de Parma. As to the cry of
"Vivent les gueux," he should not have cared at that moment if the
populace had cried 'Vive Comte Horn', for his thoughts were then
occupied with more substantial matters. He had gone thither under a
special commission from the Duchess, and had acted under instructions
daily received by her own hand. He had, by her orders, effected a
temporary compromise between the two religious parties, on the basis
of the Duffel treaty. He had permitted the public preaching to continue,
but had not introduced it for the first time. He had allowed temples to
be built outside the gates, but it was by express command of Madame,
as he could prove by her letters. She had even reproved him before the
council, because the work had not been accomplished with sufficient
despatch. With regard to his alleged threat, that he would oppose the
King's entrance with 15,000 men, he answered, with astonishing
simplicity, that he did not remember making any such observation, but

it was impossible for a man to retain in his mind all the nonsense which
he might occasionally utter. The honest Admiral thought that his
poverty, already pleaded, was so notorious that the charge was not
worthy of a serious answer. He also treated the observation which he
was charged with having made, relative to his marching to Spain with
50,000 men to rescue Montigny as "frivolous and ridiculous." He had
no power to raise a hundred men. Moreover he had rejoiced at
Montigny's detention, for he had thought that to be out of the
Netherlands was to be out of harm's way. On the whole, he claimed that
in all those transactions of his which might be considered anti-Catholic,
he had been governed entirely by the instructions of the Regent, and by
her Accord with the nobles. That Accord, as she had repeatedly stated
to him, was to be kept sacred until his Majesty, by advice of the
states-general, should otherwise ordain.
Finally, he observed, that law was not his vocation. He was no
pettifogger, but he had endeavored loyally to conform himself to the
broad and general principles of honor, justice, and truth. In a very few
and simple words, he begged his judges to have regard to his deeds,
and to a life of loyal service. If he