Furnished with this very warm and stringent letter, the Archduke arrived in Madrid on the 10th December, 1568.  A few days later he presented the King with a copy of the instructions; those brave words upon which the Prince of Orange was expected to rely instead of his own brave heart and the stout arms of his followers.  Philip having examined the letter, expressed his astonishment that such propositions should be made to him, and by the agency, too, of such a personage as the Archduke.  He had already addressed a letter to the Emperor, expressing his dissatisfaction at the step now taken.  He had been disturbed at the honor thus done to the Prince of Orange, and at this interference with his own rights.  It was, in his opinion, an unheard-of proceeding thus to address a monarch of his quality upon matters in which he could accept the law from no man.  He promised, however, that a written answer should be given to the letter of instructions.

On the 20th of January, 1569, that answer was placed in the hands of the Archduke.  It was intimated that the paper was a public one, fit to be laid by the Emperor, before the electors; but that the King had also caused a confidential one to be prepared, in which his motives and private griefs were indicated to Maximilian.

In the more public document, Philip observed that he had never considered himself obliged to justify his conduct, in his own affairs, to others.  He thought, however, that his example of severity would have been received with approbation by princes whose subjects he had thus taught obedience.  He could not admit that, on account of the treaties which constituted the Netherlands a circle of the Empire, he was obliged to observe within their limits the ordinances of the imperial diet.  As to the matter of religion, his principal solicitude, since his accession to the crown, had been to maintain the Catholic faith throughout all his states.  In things sacred he could admit no compromise.  The Church alone had the right to prescribe rules to the faithful.  As to the chastisement inflicted by him upon the Netherland rebels, it would be found that he had not used rigor, as had been charged against him, but, on the, contrary, great clemency and gentleness.  He had made no change in the government of the provinces, certainly none in the edicts, the only statutes binding upon princes.  He had appointed the Duke of Alva to the regency, because it was his royal will and pleasure so to appoint him.  The Spanish soldiery were necessary for the thorough chastisement of the rebels, and could not be at present removed.  As to the Prince of Orange, whose case seemed the principal motive for this embassy, and in whose interest so much had been urged, his crimes were so notorious that it was impossible even to attempt to justify them.  He had been, in effect, the author of all the conspiracies, tumults, and seditious which had taken place in the Netherlands.  All the thefts, sacrileges, violations of temples,