History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

ead one way in Brussels, it was made to read
another way in Madrid. No sooner had Philip
indited it than, summoning two attorneys to his
closet, he made them draw out a formal protest in
the presence of witnesses to the effect that the
promise of pardon, being not voluntary but
compulsory, was not binding, and that he was not
obliged thereby to spare any one whom he chose to
consider guilty. As regarded the Inquisition, Philip
wrote to the Pope, telling him that he had indeed
said to the Netherlanders that he would abolish it,
but that need not scandalise his Holiness, inasmuch
as he neither could nor would abolish the
Inquisition unless the Pope gave his consent. As
regarded the meeting of the Assembly of the States
for which the Confederates had also petitioned,
Philip replied with his characteristic prudence, that
he forbade its meeting for the moment; but in a
secret letter to Margaret he told her that that
moment meant for ever. The two noblemen who
brought the petition were not permitted to carry
back the answer: that would have been dangerous.
They might have initiated their countrymen into the
Spanish reading of the letter. They were still, upon
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