History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

have devoted himself wholly to one object, the
extirpation of heresy, was incapable of feeling the
weight of the representations of Montigny. He said
that he had never intended, and did not even now
intend, establishing the Inquisition in the Low
Countries in its Spanish form; and while he bade
Montigny carry back this assurance -- a poor one
even had it been true -- to those from whom he had
come, he sent at the same time secret orders to
Granvelle to carry out yet more rigorously the
decrees against the heretics.
Orange, Egmont, and Horn, now utterly
disgusted and enraged, retired from the Counciltable.
They wrote a joint letter to the king, stating
the fact of their withdrawal, with the reasons which
had led to it, and demanding the dismissal of the
cardinal as the only condition on which they could
resume their place at the Board. They also plainly
avowed their belief that should Granvelle be
continued in the administration, the Netherlands
would be lost to Philip. The answer returned to this
letter was meant simply to gain time. While Philip
was musing on the steps to be taken, the fire was
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