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 break forth throughout the Netherlands; was the inquisition.  It is almost puerile to look further or deeper, when such a source of convulsion lies at the very outset of any investigation.  During the war there had been, for reasons already indicated, an occasional pause in the religious persecution.  Philip had now returned to Spain, having arranged, with great precision, a comprehensive scheme for exterminating that religious belief which was already accepted by a very large portion of his Netherland Subjects.  From afar there rose upon the provinces the prophetic vision of a coming evil still more terrible than any which had yet oppressed them.  As across the bright plains of Sicily, when the sun is rising, the vast pyramidal shadow of Mount Etna is definitely and visibly projected—­the phantom of that ever-present enemy, which holds fire and devastation in its bosom—­so, in the morning hour of Philip’s reign, the shadow of the inquisition was cast from afar across those warm and smiling provinces—­a spectre menacing fiercer flames and wider desolation than those which mere physical agencies could ever compass.

There has been a good deal of somewhat superfluous discussion concerning the different kinds of inquisition.  The distinction drawn between the papal, the episcopal, and the Spanish inquisitions, did not, in the sixteenth century, convince many unsophisticated minds of the merits of the establishment in any of its shapes.  However classified or entitled, it was a machine for inquiring into a man’s thoughts, and for burning him if the result was not satisfactory.