The Duchess also requested the advice of the meeting--whether it would not be best for her to retire to some other city, like Mons, which she had selected as her stronghold in case of extremity.

The decision was that it would be a high-handed proceeding to refuse the right of petition to a body of gentlemen, many of them related to the greatest nobles in the land; but it was resolved that they should be required to make their appearance without arms.

As to the contemplated flight of the Duchess, it was urged, with much reason, that such a step would cast disgrace upon the government, and that it would be a sufficiently precautionary measure to strengthen the guards at the city gates--not to prevent the entrance of the petitioners, but to see that they were unaccompanied by an armed force.

It had been decided that Count Brederode should present the petition to the Duchess at the head of a deputation of about three hundred gentlemen.

The character of the nobleman thus placed foremost on such an important occasion has been sufficiently made manifest.