History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

more dreadful appellative of the "Council of
Blood." Its erection meant the overthrow of every
other institution. It proscribed all the ancient
charters of the Netherlands, with the rights and
liberties in which they vested the citizens.
The Council of Tumults assumed absolute and
sole jurisdiction in all matters growing out of the
late troubles, in opposition to all other law,
jurisdiction, and authority whatsoever. Its work
was to search after and punish all heretics and
traitors. It set about its work by first defining what
that treason was which it was to punish. This
tribunal declared that "it was treason against the
Divine and human Majesties to subscribe and
present any petition against the new bishops, the
Inquisition, or the placards; as also to suffer or
allow the exercise of the new religion, let the
occasion or necessity be what it would."[10]
Further, it was treason not to have opposed the
image-breaking; it was treason not to have opposed
the field-preachings; it was treason not to have
opposed the presenting of the petition of the
Confederate nobles; in fine, it was treason to have
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