History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

Chapter 8
The Rising Storm
THE cardinal had taken flight and was gone,
but the Inquisition remained. So long as the edicts
were in force, what could be expected but that the
waves of popular tumult would continue to flow?
Nevertheless, the three lords -- Orange, Egmont,
and Horn -- came to the helm which Granvelle had
been compelled to let go, and, along with the
regent, worked hard, if haply the shipwreck that
appeared to impend over the vessel of the State
might be averted. The clear eye of Orange saw that
there was a deeper evil at work in the country than
the cardinal, and he demanded the removal of that
evil. Two measures he deemed essential for the
restoration of quiet, and he strenuously urged the
instant adoption of these: -- first, the assembling of
the States-General; and secondly, the abolition of
the edicts. The prince's proposition struck at the
evil in both its roots. The States-General, if
permitted to meet, would resume its government of
the nation after the ancient Flemish fashion, and
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