Three hundred guests sat down, upon the 8th of April, to this luxurious banquet, which was destined to become historical.
The board glittered with silver and gold.

The wine circulated with more than its usual rapidity among the band of noble Bacchanals, who were never weary of drinking the healths of Brederode, of Orange, and of Egmont.

It was thought that the occasion imperiously demanded an extraordinary carouse, and the political events of the past three days lent an additional excitement to the wine.

There was an earnest discussion as to an appropriate name to be given to their confederacy.
Should they call themselves the "Society of Concord," the restorers of lost liberty, or by what other attractive title should the league be baptized?
Brederode was, however, already prepared to settle the question.

He knew the value of a popular and original name; he possessed the instinct by which adroit partisans in every age have been accustomed to convert the reproachful epithets of their opponents into watchwords of honor, and he had already made his preparations for a startling theatrical effect.