The Count of Egmont asked why they were brought together a second time, while at Hellegat they had had leisure to determine on what they meant to do.
"The hours go by swiftly, the king grows angry; let us take care not to waste time."
"The countries are in danger; we must defend them against the attack of an army of foreigners."
Egmont replied, growing angry, that he found it astonishing that the king his master should think it necessary to send an army there, at a time when all was pacified by the care of the lords and especially by himself.
"Philip hath in the Low Countries fourteen bands of regulars, of whom all the soldiers are devoted to him who commanded at Gravelines and at Saint Quentin."
"I do not wish to say more, but there will be read to you and the assembled lords certain letters, those from the poor prisoner Montigny to begin with.
"In these letters, Messire de Montigny wrote:
"'The king is exceeding wroth at what has come to pass in the Low Countries, and he will punish the abettors of trouble at a given hour.'"
Herewith the Count of Egmont said that he was cold and that it would be well to light a great fire of wood. That was done while the two lords discussed the letters.
The fire did not catch because of the over-great stopper that was in the chimney, and the chamber was filled with smoke.
The Count of Hoogstraeten then read, coughing, the intercepted letters of Alava, the Spanish Ambassador, addressed to the Lady Governor.
"The Ambassador," said he, "writes that all the ill that has befallen the Low Countries has come from the doings of three men: to wit, Orange, Egmont, and Hoorn. We must, says the Ambassador, show a fair face to these three lords and tell them that the king recognizes that he holds these countries in his obedience through their services. As for the two single ones, Montigny and De Berghes, they are in the place where they ought to be."
"Ah," said Ulenspiegel, "I like better a smoky chimney in Flanders than a cool, airy prison in Spain: for garrottes spring up out of the damp walls."
"The said Ambassador adds that the king said in the city of Madrid:
"'By all that hath come to pass in the Low Countries our royal reputation is diminished, the service of God is disparaged, and we shall rather expose all our other lands than leave such a rebellion unpunished. We are determined to go in person to the Low Countries and to request the help of the Pope and of the Emperor. Under the present evil lies the future good. We will reduce the Low Countries under our absolute sway, and will change and modify to our mind state, religion, and government.'"