The Emperor, on behalf of Count Horn, wrote personally to Philip, to
claim for him a trial before the members of the realm.

It was all in vain. The conduct of Philip and his Viceroy coincided in
spirit with the honest brutality of Vargas. "Non curamus vestros
privilegios," summed up the whole of the proceedings. Non curamus
vestros privilegios had been the unanswerable reply to every
constitutional argument which had been made against tyranny since Philip
mounted his father's throne. It was now the only response deemed
necessary to the crowd of petitions in favor of the Counts, whether they
proceeded from sources humble or august. Personally, the King remained
silent as the grave. In writing to the Duke of Alva, he observed that
"the Emperor, the Dukes of Bavaria and Lorraine, the Duchess and the
Duchess-dowager, had written to him many times, and in the most pressing
manner, in favor of the Counts Horn and Egmont." He added, that he had
made no reply to them, nor to other Knights of the Fleece who had
implored him to respect the statutes of the order, and he begged Alva
"to hasten the process as fast as possible." To an earnest autograph
letter, in which the Emperor, on the 2nd of March, 1568, made a last
effort to save the illustrious prisoners, he replied, that "the whole
world would at last approve his conduct, but that, at any rate, he would
not act differently, even if he should risk the loss of the provinces,
and if the sky should fall on his head."

But little heed was paid to the remonstrances in behalf of the imperial
Courts, or the privileges of Brabant. These were but cobweb impediments
which, indeed, had long been brushed away. President Viglius was even
pathetic on the subject of Madame Egmont's petition to the council of
Brabant. It was so bitter, he said, that the Duke was slightly annoyed,
and took it ill that the royal servants in that council should have his