This etext was produced by David Widger
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
1855
The inquisition the great cause of the revolt—The three varieties of the institution—The Spanish inquisition described—The Episcopal inquisition in the Netherlands—The Papal inquisition established in the provinces by Charles V.—His instructions to the inquisitors— They are renewed by Philip—Inquisitor Titelmann—Instances of his manner of proceeding—Spanish and Netherland inquisitions compared— Conduct of Granvelle—Faveau and Mallart condemned at Valenciennes— "Journee des maubrulea"—Severe measures at Valenciennes—Attack of the Rhetoric Clubs Upon Granvelle—Granvelle's insinuations against Egmont and Simon Renard—Timidity of Viglius—Universal hatred toward the Cardinal—Buffoonery of Brederode and Lumey—Courage of Granvelle—Philip taxes the Netherlands for the suppression of the Huguenots in France—Meeting of the Knights of the Fleece—Assembly at the house of Orange—Demand upon the estates for supplies— Montigny appointed envoy to Spain—Open and determined opposition to Granvelle—Secret representations by the Cardinal to Philip, concerning Egmont and other Seigniors—Line of conduct traced out for the King—Montigny's representations in Spain—Unsatisfactory result of his mission.
The great cause of the revolt which, within a few years, was to breakforth throughout the Netherlands; was the inquisition. It is almostpuerile to look further or deeper, when such a source of convulsion liesat the very outset of any investigation. During the war there had been,for reasons already indicated, an occasional pause in the religiouspersecution. Philip had now returned to Spain, having arranged, withgreat precision, a comprehensive scheme for exterminating that religiousbelief which was already accepted by a very large portion of hisNetherland Subjects. From afar there rose upon the provinces theprophetic vision of a coming evil still more terrible than any which hadyet oppressed them. As across the bright plains of Sicily, when the sunis rising, the vast pyramidal shadow of Mount Etna is definitely andvisibly projected—the phantom of that ever-present enemy, which holdsfire and devastation in its bosom—so, in the morning hour of Philip'sreign, the shadow of the inquisition was cast from afar across those warmand smiling provinces—a spectre menacing fiercer flames and widerdesolation than those which mere physical agencies could ever compass.
There has been a good deal of somewhat superfluous discussion concerningthe different kinds of inquisition. The distinction drawn between thepapal, the episcopal, and the Spanish inquisitions, did not, in thesixteenth century, convince many unsophisticated minds of the merits ofthe establishment in any of its shapes. However classified or entitled,it was a machine for inquiring into a man's thoughts, and for burning himif the result was not satisfactory.
The Spanish inquisition, strictly so called, that is to say, the modernor later institution established by Pope Alexander the Sixth andFerdinand the Catholic, was doubtless invested with a more completeapparatus for inflicting human misery, and for appalling