Upon the King’s accession to the sovereignty he had arranged a truce of five years, which had been broken through by the faithlessness of France.  He had, therefore, been obliged, notwithstanding his anxiety to return to a country where his presence was so much needed, to remain in the provinces till he had conducted the new war to a triumphant close.  In doing this he had been solely governed by his intense love for the Netherlands, and by his regard for their interests.  All the money which he had raised from their coffers had been spent for their protection.  Upon this account his Majesty expressed his confidence that the estates would pay an earnest attention to the “Request” which had been laid before them, the more so, as its amount, three millions of gold florins, would all be expended for the good of the provinces.  After his return to Spain he hoped to be able to make a remittance.  The Duke of Savoy, he continued, being obliged, in consequence of the fortunate change in his affairs, to resign the government of the Netherlands, and his own son, Don Carlos, not yet being sufficiently advanced in years to succeed to that important post, his Majesty had selected his sister, the Duchess Margaret of Parma, daughter of the Emperor, as the most proper person for Regent.  As she had been born in the Netherlands, and had always entertained a profound affection for the provinces, he felt a firm confidence that she would prove faithful both to their interests and his own.  As at this moment many countries, and particularly the lands in the immediate neighborhood, were greatly infested by various “new, reprobate, and damnable sects;” as these sects, proceeding from the foul fiend, father of discord, had not failed to keep those kingdoms in perpetual dissension and misery, to the manifest displeasure of God Almighty; as his Majesty was desirous to avert such terrible evils from his own realms, according to his duty to the Lord God, who would demand reckoning from him hereafter for the well-being of the provinces; as all experience proved that change of religion ever brought desolation and confusion to the commonweal; as low persons, beggars and vagabonds, under color of religion, were accustomed to traverse the land for the purpose of plunder and disturbance; as his Majesty was most desirous of following in the footsteps of his lord and father; as it would be well remembered what the Emperor had said to him upon the memorable occasion of his abdication; therefore his Majesty had commanded the Regent Margaret of Parma, for the sake of religion and the glory of God, accurately and exactly to cause to be enforced the edicts and decrees made by his imperial Majesty, and renewed by his present Majesty, for the extirpation of all sects and heresies.  All governors, councillors, and others having authority, were also instructed to do their utmost to accomplish this great end.

The great object of the discourse was thus announced in the most impressive manner, and with all that conventional rhetoric of which the Bishop of Arras was considered a consummate master.  Not a word was said on the subject which was nearest the hearts of the Netherlanders—­the withdrawal of the Spanish troops.