History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

which it cost the bigotry of Margaret a grudge to
make. But Orange, in reply to her remonstrances,
told her that, in the first place, this was expedient,
seeing assemblies of 20,000 or 25,000 persons
were greater menaces to the public peace outside
the walls, where they were removed from the eye
of the magistrate, than they could possibly be
within the city, where not only were their
congregations smaller, their numbers seldom
exceeding 10,000, but their language and bearing
were more modest; and, in the second place, this
concession, he reminded the duchess, was
necessary. The Reformed were now 200,000
strong, they were determined to enjoy their rights,
and he had no soldiers to gainsay their demands,
nor could he prevail on a single burgher to bear
arms against them.[2] In a few days the Walloon
congregation, availing themselves of their new
liberties, laid the first stone of their future church
on a spot which had been allotted them; and their
example was speedily followed by the Dutch
Reformed congregation. Through the efforts of
Orange the troubles were quieted all over Holland
and Brabant. His success was mainly owing to the
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