Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/45

 are going to drink an extra toast to-night, to the good understanding between our honored lady and her subjects. Our gracious lady needs nothing so much as a clearer eye to read some documents called privileges; but we nobles hope soon to supply her with an effective kind of eye-salve, which we hope will cure her malady.”

“You are too hard on the Regent, Count. She is simply Philip's tool. She has really as much to contend with from that Spanish despot as we.”

“It seems to me,” retorted his companion, “that lately the Regent has been cruel enough on her own account. She burned Fabricius at Antwerp, and executed no end of heretics in the prisons of the Inquisition. You are making a great mistake in not joining our federation of nobles, Prince.”

“Perhaps so,” was the quiet reply of William as they separated.

The other members of the official board were assembled in the royal council chamber when the Prince of Orange entered. Foremost among the number was Baron Berlaymont, who was the chief of the finance department. Together with his sons, he was ever in the front rank to defend the crown against the nation. Then there was Viglius, a learned Frisian doctor of the law; also that flower of Flemish chivalry, the gallant but ill-fated Lamoral, Count Egmont, whose victories at St.