Groothuse’s answer to the man was mild.  Evidently he did not think it was a safe moment to exasperate the mob:  “’My friend, there was no necessity of your intruding up here, a place reserved for the prince and his nobles.  From below, you could have been heard and Monseigneur could have answered you as well there as here.  He requires no advocate to make him content his people.  You are a strange master.  Get down.  Go down below and keep to your mates.  Monseigneur will do right by every one.’

“Off went the rascal and I do not know what became of him.  The duke and his nobles were simply struck dumb by the scamp’s outrage and his impudent daring.”

The sober report[7] is less detailed and elaborate, but the thread is the same.  Monseigneur, having returned to his hotel, sent Monseigneur de la Groothuse, Jean Petitpas, and Richard Utenhove back to the market to invite the people to put their grievances in writing.  A draft was made and carried to the duke.  After he had examined it and discussed it with his council, he sent Monseigneur de la Groothuse back to the market-place to tell the people that he wanted to sleep on the proposition and would give his answer at an early hour on the morrow.  All through the night the people remained in arms on the market-place.  At about eight o’clock on June 30th Groothuse returned, thanked the people in the count’s name for having kept such good watch, and was answered by cries of “A bas la cueillotte.”

Then he assured them that all was pardoned and that they should obtain what they had asked in the draft.  Only he requested them to appoint a committee of six to present their demands to Monseigneur and then to go home.  This they did.  St. Lievin was restored to the church and his followers betook themselves to the gates specified in the treaty of Gaveren.  These they broke down, and also destroyed another house where was a tax collector’s office.

“The report of these events carried to Monseigneur did not have a good effect upon his spirit.  On the morrow Monseigneur quitted the city.”  The members of the corporation with the two deans and the popular committee of six having obtained audience before his departure, Groothuse acted as spokesman:  “We implore you in all humility to pardon us for the insult you have suffered, and to sign the paper presented.  The bad have had more authority than the good, which could not be prevented, but we know truly that if the draft is not signed they will kill us.”

It is evident in all this story that the municipal authorities were frightened to death and that Charles allowed himself to be restrained to an extraordinary extent considering the undoubted provocation.  His reasons for conciliatory measures were two, and literally were his ducats and his daughter.  He had with him all the portable treasure and ready money that his father had had at Bruges, a large treasure and one on which he counted for his immediate military operations—­operations very important to the position as a European power which he ardently desired to attain.