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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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that some o<strong>the</strong>r might be <strong>in</strong>vested with <strong>the</strong><br />

functions with which his sovereign had clo<strong>the</strong>d<br />

him, for he would be no party to <strong>the</strong> ru<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> his<br />

country, which he as clearly foresaw as he was<br />

powerless to avert. O<strong>the</strong>r Stadtholders wrote to <strong>the</strong><br />

Duchess <strong>of</strong> Parma, <strong>in</strong> reply to her earnest<br />

exhortations to assist <strong>in</strong> carry<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>the</strong> edicts,<br />

say<strong>in</strong>g that <strong>the</strong>y were not <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>ed to be <strong>the</strong><br />

lifeguards <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Inquisition. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chief<br />

magistrates <strong>of</strong> Amsterdam, a Roman Catholic,<br />

happen<strong>in</strong>g one day to meet a sheriff who was very<br />

zealous <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> persecution, thus addressed<br />

him: "You would do well, when called to appear<br />

before <strong>the</strong> tribunal <strong>of</strong> God, to have <strong>the</strong> emperor's<br />

placards <strong>in</strong> your hand, and observe how far <strong>the</strong>y<br />

will bear you out." Papers were be<strong>in</strong>g daily<br />

scattered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> streets, and posted on <strong>the</strong> gates <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> palace <strong>of</strong> Orange, and <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r nobles, call<strong>in</strong>g<br />

on <strong>the</strong>m to come to <strong>the</strong>ir country's help <strong>in</strong> its hour<br />

<strong>of</strong> need, to <strong>the</strong> end that, <strong>the</strong> axe and <strong>the</strong> halter be<strong>in</strong>g<br />

abolished <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> affairs <strong>of</strong> religion, every one might<br />

be able to live and die accord<strong>in</strong>g to his conscience.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> governor was besieged<br />

140

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