13.03.2019 Views

History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Chapter 14<br />

William Unfurls his Standard<br />

Execution <strong>of</strong> Egmont and<br />

Horn<br />

THE Pr<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>of</strong> Orange had fled from <strong>the</strong><br />

Ne<strong>the</strong>rlands, as we have already seen, and retired<br />

to his patrimonial estates <strong>of</strong> Nassau. Early <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

year 1568 <strong>the</strong> Duke <strong>of</strong> Alva cited him to appear<br />

before <strong>the</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> Blood. It was promised that<br />

<strong>the</strong> greatest lenity would be shown him, should be<br />

obey <strong>the</strong> summons, but William was far too<br />

sagacious to walk <strong>in</strong>to this trap. His bro<strong>the</strong>r Louis<br />

<strong>of</strong> Nassau, his bro<strong>the</strong>r-<strong>in</strong>-law Count van den Berg,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> Counts Hoogstraaten and Culemberg were<br />

summoned at tke same time; thrice fourteen days<br />

were allowed <strong>the</strong>m for putt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an appearance;<br />

should <strong>the</strong>y fail to obey, <strong>the</strong>y were, at <strong>the</strong><br />

expiration <strong>of</strong> that period, to <strong>in</strong>cur forfeiture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

estates and perpetual banishment. It is needless to<br />

say that <strong>the</strong>se noblemen did not respond to Alva's<br />

citation, and, as a matter <strong>of</strong> course, <strong>the</strong>ir estates<br />

260

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!