l the Emperor's Burgundian property, including the
seventeen Netherlands.

Cries of admiration burst from the assembly as the address was
concluded. The Emperor then rose, and beckoning the Prince of Orange,
he leant as before on his shoulder, resting his other hand on his
crutch. The Prince had but recently returned from the camp on the
frontier, where, notwithstanding his youth, he had been appointed by the
Emperor to command his army against Admiral Coligny and the Duc de
Nevers. The Emperor spoke of his numerous expeditions and campaigns, as
also of eleven voyages by sea, his plans for the security of the Roman
Catholic religion, and his desire that his magnificent empire should be
governed by his son in a worthy manner, entreating the nation to render
obedience to their new sovereign, and above all things to preserve the
Catholic faith. Humbly he begged them also to pardon him for all errors
and offences he might have committed during his reign. The great
Emperor, sinking into his chair, wept like a child, while sobs were
heard throughout every portion of the hall.

Even Philip appeared touched. Dropping on his knee, he kissed his
father's hand. Charles, placing his hands on his son's head, then
blessed him, and raising him, embraced him affectionately, while Philip
uttered a few words expressive of his duty to his father, and his
affection for his people. He expressed his regret that he could not
address them in either French or Flemish, deputing the Bishop of Arras
to act as his interpreter. This duty was performed by the prelate in
smooth, fluent, and well-turned common-places, being replied to by Jacob
Mass, member of the Council of Brabant, much in the same style. Queen
Mary of Hungary, who had long been acting as Regent of the Netherlands,
imitating her brother in language, also rose and resigned her office.

After a few more orations the ceremony terminated, and the Emperor
slowly left the hall as he had entered. A stranger might have supposed
from what he had heard that the country had ever been happily and well
governed, and that there was every prospect of peace and prosperity for
the subjects of the new monarch. Alas! how different was the truth.
Ernst Verner, in spite of all that was said, could not forget the number
of innocent persons who had already been sacrificed on the altar of
bigotry and tyranny. Young as he then was, he knew full well the
meaning of those exhortations of the Empe