The episcopal organisation in the Netherlands was admittedly inadequate.

It had long been the intention of Charles V to create a number of new sees, but in his crowded life he had never found the opportunity of carrying out the proposed scheme, and it was one of the legacies that at his abdication he handed on to his son.

One of the first steps taken by Philip was to obtain a Bull from Pope Paul IV for the creation of the new bishoprics, and this Bull was renewed and confirmed by Pius IV, January, 1560.

Up to this time the entire area of the seventeen provinces had been divided into three unwieldy dioceses--Utrecht, Arras and Tournay.

The See of Utrecht comprised nearly the whole of the modern kingdom of the Netherlands.