History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

should aid any subject of the Netherlands to
escape, but it was quite ineffectual in checking the
emigration; the cities were becoming empty, and
the land comparatively depopulated. Nevertheless,
the persecution went on with unrelenting fury.
Even Viglius counselled a little lenity; the Pope, it
is said, alarmed at the issue to which matters were
tending, was not indisposed to moderation. Such
advisers ought to have had weight with the King of
Spain, but Philip refused to listen even to them.
Vargas, whom he consulted, declared, of course,
for a continuance of the persecution, telling his
sovereign that in the Netherlands he had found a
second Indies, where the gold was to be had
without even the trouble of digging for it, so
numerous were the confiscations. Thus avarice
came to the aid of bigotry.
Philip next submitted a "Memorial and
Representation" of the state of the Low Countries
to the Spanish Inquisition, craving the judgment of
the Fathers upon it. After deliberating, the
inquisitors pronounced their decision on the 16th of
February, 1568. It was to the effect that, "with the
257