The King, notwithstanding the violent scenes in the assembly, took leave of the estates at another meeting with apparent cordiality.  His dissatisfaction was sufficiently manifest, but it expressed itself principally against individuals.  His displeasure at the course pursued by the leading nobles, particularly by the Prince of Orange, was already no secret.

Philip, soon after the adjournment of the assembly, had completed the preparations for his departure.  At Middelburg he was met by the agreeable intelligence that the Pope had consented to issue a bull for the creation of the new bishoprics which he desired for the Netherlands.—­This important subject will be resumed in another chapter; for the present we accompany the King to Flushing, whence the fleet was to set sail for Spain.  He was escorted thither by the Duchess Regent, the Duke of Savoy, and by many of the most eminent personages of the provinces.  Among others William of Orange was in attendance to witness the final departure of the King, and to pay him his farewell respects.  As Philip was proceeding on board the ship which was to bear him forever from the Netherlands, his eyes lighted upon the Prince.  His displeasure could no longer be restrained.  With angry face he turned upon him, and bitterly reproached him for having thwarted all his plans by means of his secret intrigues.  William replied with humility that every thing which had taken place had been done through the regular and natural movements of the states.  Upon this the King, boiling with rage, seized the Prince by the wrist, and shaking it violently, exclaimed in Spanish, “No los estados, ma vos, vos, vos!—­Not the estates, but you, you, you!” repeating thrice the word vos, which is as disrespectful and uncourteous in Spanish as “toi” in French.

After this severe and public insult, the Prince of Orange did not go on board his Majesty’s vessel, but contented himself with wishing Philip, from the shore, a fortunate journey.  It may be doubted, moreover, whether he would not have made a sudden and compulsory voyage to Spain had he ventured his person in the ship, and whether, under the circumstances, he would have been likely to effect as speedy a return.  His caution served him then as it was destined to do on many future occasions, and Philip left the Netherlands with this parting explosion of hatred against the man who, as he perhaps instinctively felt, was destined to circumvent his measures and resist his tyranny to the last.

The fleet, which consisted of ninety vessels, so well provisioned that, among other matters, fifteen thousand capons were put on board, according to the Antwerp chronicler, set sail upon the 26th August (1559), from Flushing.  The voyage proved tempestuous, so that much of the rich tapestry and other merchandise which had been accumulated by Charles and Philip was lost.  Some of the vessels foundered; to save others it was necessary to lighten the cargo, and “to enrobe