Montigny excused himself on account of private affairs; Marquis Berghen "because of his indisposition and corpulence." There was a stormy debate in council after Egmont had accepted the mission and immediately before his departure.
Viglius had been ordered to prepare the Count's instructions.

Having finished the rough draught, he laid it before the board.

The paper was conceived in general terms and might mean any thing or nothing.

No criticism upon its language was, however, offered until it came to the turn of Orange to vote upon the document.

Then, however, William the Silent opened his lips, and poured forth a long and vehement discourse, such as he rarely pronounced, but such as few except himself could utter.
There was no shuffling, no disguise, no timidity in his language.