In support of these combinations, the Belgian troops were completely broken up and scattered in small bodies over the country.  The whole of this force, so redoubtable to the fears of despotism, consisted of only three thousand cavalry.  It was now divided into fourteen companies (or squadrons in the modern phraseology), under the command of as many independent chiefs, so as to leave little chance of any principle of union reigning among them.  But the German and Spanish troops in Philip’s pay were cantoned on the frontiers, ready to stifle any incipient effort in opposition to his plans.  In addition to these imposing means for their execution, he had secured a still more secret and more powerful support:  a secret article in the treaty of Cateau-Cambresis obliged the king of France to assist him with the whole armies of France against his Belgian subjects, should they prove refractory.  Thus the late war, of which the Netherlands had borne all the weight, and earned all the glory, only brought about the junction of the defeated enemy with their own king for the extinction of their national independence.

To complete the execution of this system of perfidy, Philip convened an assembly of all the states at Ghent, in the month of July, 1559.  This meeting of the representatives of the three orders of the state offered no apparent obstacle to Philip’s views.  The clergy, alarmed at the progress of the new doctrines, gathered more closely round the government of which they required the support.  The nobles had lost much of their ancient attachment to liberty; and had become, in various ways, dependent on the royal favor.  Many of the first families were then represented by men possessed rather of courage and candor than of foresight and sagacity.  That of Nassau, the most distinguished of all, seemed the least interested in the national cause.  A great part of its possessions were in Germany and France, where it had recently acquired the sovereign principality of Orange.  It was only from the third order—­that of the commons—­that Philip had to expect any opposition.  Already, during the war, it had shown some discontent, and had insisted on the nomination of commissioners to control the accounts and the disbursements of the subsidies.  But it seemed improbable that among this class of men any would be found capable of penetrating the manifold combinations of the king, and disconcerting his designs.

Anthony Perrenotte de Granvelle, bishop of Arras, who was considered as Philip’s favorite counsellor, but who was in reality no more than his docile agent, was commissioned to address the assembly in the name of his master, who spoke only Spanish.  His oration was one of cautious deception, and contained the most flattering assurances of Philip’s attachment to the people of the Netherlands.  It excused the king for not having nominated his only son, Don Carlos, to reign over them in his name; alleging, as a proof of his royal affection, that he preferred giving them as stadtholderess a Belgian princess, Madame Marguerite, duchess of Parma, the natural daughter of Charles V. by a young lady, a native of Audenarde.  Fair promises and fine words were thus lavished in profusion to gain the confidence of the deputies.