There had been few more adroit politicians, considered from his point of view.

His punning device was "Vita mortalium vigilia," and he acted accordingly, but with a narrow interpretation.

His life had indeed been a vigil, but it must be confessed that the vigils had been for Viglius.
[Bor, x.812.Meteren, vi.

120 .-- Another motto of his was, "En groot Jurist een booser Christ;" that is to say, A good lawyer is a bad Christian .-- Unfortunately his own character did not give the lie satisfactorily to the device.] The weatherbeaten Palinurus, as he loved to call himself, had conducted his own argosy so warily that he had saved his whole cargo; and perished in port at last, while others, not sailing by his compass, were still tossed by the tempest.
The agents of Don John were the Duke of Aerschot, the Seigneur de Hierges, Seigneur de Willerval, and Doctor Meetkercke, accompanied by Doctor Andrew Gaill, one of the imperial commissioners.

The two envoys from the states-general, Leoninus and Schetz, being present at Gertruydenberg were added to the deputation.