The leaders of the popular party at Ghent believed him dangerous.

They felt certain that it was the deeply laid design of the Catholic nobles foiled as they had been in the objects with which they had brought Matthias from Vienna, and enraged as they were that the only result of that movement had been to establish the power of Orange upon a firmer basis--to set up an opposing influence in Ghent.

Flanders, in the possession of the Catholics, was to weigh up Brabant, with its recent tendencies to toleration.

Aerschot was to counteract the schemes of Orange.

Matthias was to be withdrawn from the influence of the great heretic, and be yet compelled to play the part set down for him by those who had placed him upon the stage.