The details of his life and career do not belong to our purpose.

The practical tendency of his government was to repress the spirit of liberty, while especial privileges, extensive in nature, but limited in time, were frequently granted to corporations.
Philip, in one day, conferred thirty charters upon as many different bodies of citizens.

These were, however, grants of monopoly not concessions of rights.

He also fixed the number of city councils or Vroedschappen in many Netherland cities, giving them permission to present a double list of candidates for burgomasters and judges, from which he himself made the appointments.

He was certainly neither a good nor great prince, but he possessed much administrative ability.