The German potentates were bitterly reviled for yielding precedence to an upstart.

Indeed the most illustrious among them paid to him such marks of deference as they would scarcely have deigned to pay to the Imperial Majesty, mingled with the crowd in his antechamber, and at his table behaved as respectfully as any English lord in waiting.
In one caricature the allied princes were represented as muzzled bears, some with crowns, some with caps of state.

William had them all in a chain, and was teaching them to dance.

In another caricature, he appeared taking his ease in an arm chair, with his feet on a cushion, and his hat on his head, while the Electors of Brandenburg and Bavaria, uncovered, occupied small stools on the right and left; the crowd of Landgraves and Sovereign dukes stood at humble distance; and Gastanaga, the unworthy successor of Alva, awaited the orders of the heretic tyrant on bended knee.

[6] It was soon announced by authority that, before the beginning of summer, two hundred and twenty thousand men would be in the field against France.