The Netherlanders certainly had small cause to love or trust their new Governor, who very sincerely detested and suspected them, but Philip had little reason to complain of his brother.

"Tell me if my letters are read in Council, and what his Majesty says about them," he wrote; "and, above all, send money.

I am driven to desperation at finding myself sold to this people, utterly unprovided as I am, and knowing the slow manner in which all affairs are conducted in Spain." He informed the King that there was but one man in the Netherlands, and that he was called the Prince of Orange.

To him everything was communicated, with him everything was negotiated, opinions expressed by him were implicitly followed.

The Governor vividly described the misgivings with which he had placed himself in the power of the states by going to Louvain, and the reluctance with which he had consented to send away the troops.