The minutes for those instructions should be laid before the confederates by Count Hoogstraaten and Secretary Berty.

As for the printing of their petition, she was willing to grant their demand, and would give orders to that effect.
The gentlemen having received this answer, retired into the great hall.
After a few minutes' consultation, however, they returned to the council chamber, where the Seigneur d'Esquerdes, one of their number, addressed a few parting words, in the name of his associates, to the Regent; concluding with a request that she would declare, the confederates to have done no act, and made no demonstration, inconsistent with their duty and with a perfect respect for his Majesty.
To this demand the Duchess answered somewhat drily that she could not be judge in such a cause.

Time and their future deeds, she observed, could only bear witness as to their purposes.

As for declarations from her, they must be satisfied with the Apostille which they had already received.
With this response, somewhat more tart than agreeable, the nobles were obliged to content themselves, and they accordingly took their leave.
It must be confessed that they had been disposed to slide rather cavalierly over a good deal of ground towards the great object which they had in view.

Certainly the petitio principii was a main feature of their logic.