Seeing this success, members of the low nobility, who had been impoverished in the previous decades (like the common people in the southern parts of the Low Countries) united themselves in 1565 in the 'Compromis'. Their political program sought relief from the harsh measures against the Reformation. In early April 1566 400 members of the 'Compromis' united in Brussels. On April 5, led by Henry, Count of Brederode, and Ludwig of Nassau, they presented a petition to Margaret, who was alarmed at the appearance of so many men. Berlaymont is reputed to have whispered to her, "Ce ne sont que de gueux", ("They're just beggars").