As to the grandees, they were mostly of those who “sought to swim between two waters,” according to the Prince’s expression.  There were but few unswerving supporters of the Spanish rule, like the Berlaymont and the Tassis families.  The rest veered daily with the veering wind.  Aerschot, the great chief of the Catholic party, was but a cringing courtier, false and fawning both to Don John and the Prince.  He sought to play a leading part in a great epoch; he only distinguished himself by courting and betraying all parties, and being thrown away by all.  His son and brother were hardly more respectable.  The Prince knew how little dependence could be placed on such allies, even although they had signed and sworn the Ghent Pacification.  He was also aware how little it was the intention of the Governor to be bound by that famous Treaty.  The Spanish troops had been, indeed, disbanded, but there were still, between ten and fifteen thousand German mercenaries in the service of the King; these were stationed in different important places, and held firm possession of the citadels.  The great keys of the country were still in the hands of the Spaniards.  Aerschot, indeed, governed the castle of Antwerp, in room of Sancho d’Avila, but how much more friendly would Aerschot be than Avila, when interest prompted him to sustain Don John against the Prince?

Meanwhile; the estates, according to their contract, were straining every nerve to raise the requisite sum for the payment of the German troops.  Equitable offers were made, by which the soldiers were to receive a certain proportion of the arrears due to them in merchandize, and the remainder in cash.  The arrangement was rejected, at the secret instance of Don John.  While the Governor affected an ingenuous desire to aid the estates in their efforts to free themselves from the remaining portion of this incumbrance, he was secretly tampering with the leading German officers, in order to prevent their acceptance of any offered terms.  He persuaded these military chiefs that a conspiracy existed, by which they were not only to be deprived of their wages but of their lives.  He warned them to heed no promises, to accept no terms.  Convincing them that he, and he only, was their friend, he arranged secret plans by which they should assist him in taking the fortresses of the country into still more secure possession, for he was not more inclined to trust to the Aerschots and the Havres than was the Prince himself.

The Governor lived in considerable danger, and in still greater dread of capture, if not of assassination.  His imagination, excited by endless tales of ambush and half-discovered conspiracies, saw armed soldiers behind every bush; a pitfall in every street.  Had not the redoubtable Alva been nearly made a captive?  Did not Louis of Nassau nearly entrap the Grand Commander?  No doubt the Prince of Orange was desirous of accomplishing a feat by which he would be placed in regard to Philip