... to the point where they began encouraging iconoclasm among their flocks. So began the Iconoclast Fury, a widespread attack on Catholic churches throughout the Netherlands. By this point, rebellion among the lower classes was virulent. Philip was largely to blame for the outbreak of revolt. In the short term, his response to Margaret's requests for the softening of the heresy laws in 1565 was foolishly slow. A quick and positive reply could perhaps have stemmed the tide of revolt among the Confederates and the ordinary rebels, but his response 4 months later granting only a few minor concessions was rendered useless by the surge in rebel activity during that time. Without the important long-term causes that weakened relations between Philip and the grandees, the first trigger would never have occurred. The grandees would not have felt enough hostility towards Philip to challenge him on the heresy laws had the relationship between the ...

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