extended, had been contracted, and that the Governor had claimed the right to convoke the states-general at his pleasure, in violation of the ancient right to assemble at their own.  The document further complained that the adherents of the Reformed religion were not allowed to frequent the different provinces in freedom, according to the stipulations of Ghent; that Don John, notwithstanding all these short-comings, had been acknowledged as Governor-General, without the consent of the Prince; that he was surrounded with a train of Spaniards Italians, and other foreigners—­Gonzaga, Escovedo, and the like—­as well as by renegade Netherlanders like Tassis, by whom he was unduly influenced against the country and the people, and by whom a “back door was held constantly open” to the admission of evils innumerable.  Finally, it was asserted that, by means of this last act of union, a new form of inquisition had been introduced, and one which was much more cruel than the old system; inasmuch as the Spanish Inquisition did not take information against men:  except upon suspicion, whereas, by the new process, all the world would be examined as to their conscience and religion, under pretence of maintaining the union.

Such was the result of this second mission to the Prince of Orange on the part of the Governor-General.  Don John never sent another.  The swords were now fairly measured between the antagonists, and the scabbard was soon to be thrown away.  A few weeks afterwards, the Governor wrote to Philip that there was nothing in the world which William of Orange so much abhorred as his Majesty; adding, with Castillian exaggeration, that if the Prince could drink the King’s blood he would do so with great pleasure.

Don John, being thus seated in the saddle, had a moment’s leisure to look around him.  It was but a moment, for he had small confidence in the aspect of affairs, but one of his first acts after assuming the government afforded a proof of the interpretation which he had adopted of the Ghent Pacification.  An edict was issued, addressed to all bishops, “heretic-masters,” and provincial councils, commanding the strict enforcement of the Canons of Trent, and other ecclesiastical decrees.  These authorities were summoned instantly to take increased heed, of the flocks under their charge, “and to protect them from the ravening wolves which were seeking to devour them.”

The measure bore instant fruit.  A wretched tailor of Mechlin, Peter Penis by name, an honest man, but a heretic, was arrested upon the charge of having preached or exhorted at a meeting in that city.  He confessed that he had been present at the meeting, but denied that he had preached.  He was then required to denounce the others who had been present, and the men who had actually officiated.  He refused, and was condemned to death.  The Prince of Orange, while the process was pending, wrote an earnest letter to the Council of Mechlin, imploring them not now to