The siege of Malta, he stated, would prevent the royal visit to the Netherlands for the moment, but it was deferred only for a brief period.

To remedy the deficiency in the provincial exchequer, large remittances would be made immediately from Spain.

To provide for the increasing difficulties of the religious question, a convocation of nine learned and saintly personages was recommended, who should devise some new scheme by which the objections to the present system of chastising heretics might be obviated.
It is hardly necessary to state that so meagre a result to the mission of Egmont was not likely to inspire the hearts of Orange and his adherents with much confidence.

No immediate explosion of resentment, however, occurred.

The general aspect for a few days was peaceful.