These coveted provinces, most valuable in themselves and from their important position, would probably not be suffered peacefully to remain very long under the protection of the heretic States-General and in the 'Condominium' of two Protestant princes.

There was fear among the Imperialists, Catholics, and Spaniards, lest the baleful constellation of the Seven Provinces might be increased by an eighth star.

And this was a project not to be tolerated.

It was much already that the upstart confederacy had defied Pope, Emperor, and King, as it were, on their own domains, had dictated arrangements in Germany directly in the teeth of its emperor, using France as her subordinate, and compelling the British king to acquiesce in what he most hated.
But it was not merely to surprise Julich, and to get a foothold in the duchies, that Leopold had gone forth on his adventure.

His campaign, as already intimated, was part of a wide scheme in which he had persuaded his emperor-cousin to acquiesce.