William felt that Parma was constantly gaining ground.

Defection after defection took place, the most serious being that of George Lalaing, Count of Renneberg, the Stadholder of Groningen.

Negotiations were indeed secretly opened with William himself, and the most advantageous and flattering terms offered to him, if he would desert the patriot cause.

But with him opposition to Spain and to Spanish methods of government was a matter of principle and strong conviction.

He was proof alike against bribery and cajolery, even when he perceived, as the year 1580 succeeded 1579, that he had no staunch friends on whom he could absolutely rely, save in the devoted provinces of Holland and Zeeland.
For things had been going from bad to worse.