"The Spaniards will not hang many more Netherlanders," one remarked; and they supported Rénèe against the balustrade of the steps so that she could see over the heads of the closely packed people.
Suddenly the humming changed into a clapping of hands and a deep shouting that made Rénèe's blood tingle with excitement and deep emotion; she pushed back the hood from her flushed face and gazed at the procession which now appeared marching up the street and turning in at the splendid gates of the palace.
All were on foot and unarmed, all were nobles, many of the highest rank, and all were young and gorgeously attired, so that it was a magnificent procession, such as all the great festivals of Brussels had not seen before, which now wound under the portals of the Brabant palace.
"He who goes first," said the man next to Rénèe, "is Philip de Billeuel."
"And some think it an ill augury that he should be lame," remarked the other doubtfully.
Rénèe had indeed remarked that the young nobleman who led the petitioners halted unmistakably.
"And he in the black and blue," added her informant, straining his voice to make it heard above the clapping and the shouting—"with the look of fire, who is answering the cries of the people—is Nicolas de Hammes whom they call Golden Fleece, and he behind in the sable cloak is Ste Aldegonde——"
Rénèe had already recognized these two as well as several others whom she had seen at the Nassau palace, and as the rich and brilliant company of gentlemen passed before her, there were several of the eager, proud, young faces she knew as related to some of the noblest families of the land.
The enthusiasm of the crowd became almost piteous in its eager gratitude to these nobles who were making themselves the champions of the people and protesting so openly and in such an imposing fashion against the loathed Spaniards and the loathed Inquisition.
Encouraging shouts, adjurations, blessings, and thanks were showered on the petitioners, and some of the more reckless, as Golden Fleece and Ste Aldegonde, replied by shouting curses on the Inquisition and the Cardinalists. Rénèe recognized Count Culemburg and Count van der Berg, the Prince of Orange's brother-in-law, glittering in French brocades and Genoese velvet and great chains about their necks and round their hats.