"At least he enforces them and enjoys the finest," persisted Hoorne, unconvinced.
Margaret lifted her bold eyes; they were angry eyes now.
"He enforces them," she said, "because it is His Majesty's wish, and the Cardinal is loyal—I would all were as he! And why are these bishoprics so odious? Methinks they should be comforting to good Catholics"—she darted a sharp glance at the Prince of Orange—"since they are designed to strengthen the ancient faith and rout out heresy."
"They are designed to support and spread the Inquisition," replied Hoorne bluntly, "and that is a thing odious to these States."
"The Spanish Inquisition shall not be introduced," answered Margaret. "That has been promised."
"There is no need to introduce it," said the Admiral dryly. "The Inquisition of the Netherlands is more severe."
"The people will not take it, indeed they will not," said the Stadtholder of Brabant earnestly. "As witness the disturbances, riots, and revolts at Titelmann's executions."
"We are not talking of the people," replied the Regent, with bitter vexation, "nor of their grievances, but of the great lords who foster all this sedition, and seem to have a marvellous sympathy for heretics."
"We have a marvellous respect for the charters and privileges of the States which are in our keeping," said the Prince of Orange, "and which the Inquisition utterly defies and overrules."
Tears of vexation sprang into Margaret's eyes; more than either of the other two was this Prince vexatious to her.