thousands of beings reduced to extreme misery, their Highnesses, although
they were such exalted princes, cared nothing for what would be said by
the kings of Europe and all the potentates of the universe about their
excessive indulgence."

"What indulgence do you speak of?" asked the stadholder.

"Does that seem a trifling indulgence," replied John Neyen, "that they
are willing to abandon the right which they inherited from their
ancestors over these provinces, to allow it so easily to slip from their
fingers, to declare these people to be free, over whom, as their subjects
refusing the yoke, they have carried on war so long?"

"It is our right hands that have gained this liberty," said Maurice, "not
the archdukes that have granted it. It has been acquired by our
treasure, poured forth how freely! by the price of our blood, by so many
thousands of souls sent to their account. Alas, how dear a price have
we paid for it! All the potentates of Christendom, save the King of
Spain alone, with his relatives the archdukes, have assented to our
independence. In treating for peace we ask no gift of freedom from the
archdukes. We claim to be regarded by them as what we are--free men.
If they are unwilling to consider us as such, let them subject us to
their dominion if they can. And as we have hitherto done, we shall
contend more fiercely for liberty than for life."

With this, the tired monk was dismissed to sleep off the effects of his
journey and of the protracted discussion, being warmly recommended to the
captain of the citadel, by whom he was treated with every possible
consideration.