ere in the power of the
first man who desired to obtain his estate, and chose to denounce him to
an Inquisitor. He requested, therefore, that her Highness would
despatch an envoy to the King, and that in the meantime the Inquisitors
should be directed no longer to exercise their functions. Among those
who stood near the Duchess was the Baron Berlaymont, who, in a voice
stifled with passion, though still loud enough for the petitioners to
hear, exclaimed:

"Is it possible that your Highness can entertain fears of these beggars
(gueux)? See! there is not one of them who has not outgrown his
estate!"

The same remark was repeated in the hearing of some of the confederates.
On their meeting afterwards at a banquet prepared in the Culembourg
mansion, after the wine had freely circulated, Brederode rose. He well
knew the feelings which the remark I have mentioned had excited in the
breasts of the confederates.

"They call us _beggars_!" he shouted, in a scornful tone. "The joke is
a good one. Let us accept the name; we will contend with the abominable
Inquisition till compelled to wear the beggar's sack in reality!"

He then called one of his pages, who brought him a leathern wallet, such
as are worn by mendicants, and a large wooden bowl.

Hanging the wallet round his neck, he filled the bowl with wine, and
lifting it with both hands, he drained it at a draught.

"Long live the beggars!" he cried, as he wiped his beard and put the
bowl down.

"Long live the beggars!" resounded through the hall. The bowl went
round, and each noble, pushing his golden goblet aside, and filling the
bowl to the brim, drank the same toast: "_Vivent les Gueux_!"

The wine continued to flow fast. While the conviviality was at its
height, the Prince of Orange, with Counts Horn and Egmont, made their
appearance. Immediately they were surrounded by the now
half-intoxicated beggars, who compelled each of them to drink from the
bowl, amid shouts of "_Vivent le Roi et les Gueux_!"

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

IMAGE-BREAKING IN ANTWERP.

From this time forward Antwerp was in a state of constant excitement and
commotion. Count Brederode took up his quarters in the city, and daily
entertained a crowd of nobles at his hotel, stirring them up to oppose
the Government. Count Meghem, the great enemy of the Reformers, also
came into the city; and it was supposed that he was laying a plan for
the introduction of a garrison, and for collecting