Finally, the envoy was to intimate that if he chose to write to Don John, he might be sure to receive a satisfactory answer.

In these pacific instructions and friendly expressions, Don John was sincere.

"The name of your Majesty," said he, plainly, in giving an account of this mission to the King, "is as much abhorred and despised in the Netherlands as that of the Prince of Orange is loved and feared.

I am negotiating with him, and giving him every security, for I see that the establishment of peace, as well as the maintenance of the Catholic religion, and the obedience to your Majesty, depend now upon him.

Things have reached that pass that 'tis necessary to make a virtue of necessity.
If he lend an ear to my proposals, it will be only upon very advantageous conditions, but to these it will be necessary to submit, rather than to lose everything." Don John was in earnest; unfortunately he was not aware that the Prince was in earnest also.