fusion of the finance and privy councils with that of state, a measure
which was clearly treasonable. He had, moreover, held interviews with
the Prince of Orange, with Egmont, and other nobles, at Breda and at
Hoogstraaten, at which meetings the confederacy and the petition had been
engendered. That petition had been the cause of all the evils which had
swept the land. "It had scandalously injured the King, by affirming that
the inquisition was a tyranny to humanity, which was an infamous and
unworthy proposition." The confederacy, with his knowledge and
countenance, had enrolled 30,000 men. He had done nothing, any more than
Orange or Egmont, to prevent the presentation of the petition. In the
consultation at the state-council which ensued, both he and the Prince
were for leaving Brussels at once, while Count Egmont expressed an
intention of going to Aix to drink the waters. Yet Count Egmont's
appearance (proceeded this indictment against another individual)
exhibited not a single sign of sickness. The Admiral had, moreover,
drank the toast of "Vivent leg gueux" on various occasions, at the
Culemberg House banquet, at the private table of the Prince of Orange,
at a supper at the monastery of Saint Bernard's, at a dinner given by
Burgomaster Straalen. He had sanctioned the treaties with the rebels at
Duffel, by which he had clearly rendered himself guilty of high treason.
He had held an interview with Orange, Egmont, and Hoogstraaten, at
Denremonde, for the treasonable purpose of arranging a levy of troops to
prevent his Majesty's entrance into the Netherlands. He had refused to
come to Brussels at the request of the Duchess of Parma, when the rebels
were about to present the petition. He had written to his secretary that
he was thenceforth resolved to serve neither King nor Kaiser. He had
received from one Taffin, with marks of approbation, a paper, stating
that the assembling of the states-general was the only remedy for the
troubles in the land. He had, repeatedly affirmed that the inquisition
and edicts ought to be repealed.