Orange had a right to form this opinion.  At the same time, it is well known that the chief councillors of Elizabeth—­while they were all in favor of assisting the provinces—­looked with anything but satisfaction upon the Anjou marriage.  “The Duke,” wrote Davidson to Walsingham in July, 1579, “seeks, forsooth, under a pretext of marriage with her Highness, the rather to espouse the Low Countries—­the chief ground and object of his pretended love, howsoever it be disguised.”  The envoy believed both Elizabeth and the provinces in danger of taking unto themselves a very bad master.  “Is there any means,” he added, “so apt to sound the very bottom of our estate, and to hinder and breake the neck of all such good purpose as the necessity of the tyme shall set abroch?”

The provinces of Holland and Zealand, notwithstanding the love they bore to William of Orange, could never be persuaded by his arguments into favoring Anjou.  Indeed, it was rather on account of the love they bore the Prince—­whom they were determined to have for their sovereign—­that they refused to listen to any persuasion in favor of his rival, although coming from his own lips.  The states-general, in a report to the states of Holland, drawn up under the superintendence of the Prince, brought forward all the usual arguments for accepting the French duke, in case the abjuration should take place.  They urged the contract with Anjou (of August 13th, 1578), the great expenses he had already incurred in their behalf; the danger of offending him; the possibility that in such case he would ally himself with Spain; the prospect that, in consequence of such a result, there would be three enemies in the field against them—­the Walloons, the Spaniards, and the French, all whose forces would eventually be turned upon Holland and Zealand alone.  It was represented that the selection of Anjou would, on the other hand, secure the friendship of France—­an alliance which would inspire both the Emperor and the Spanish monarch with fear; for they could not contemplate without jealousy a possible incorporation of the provinces with that kingdom.  Moreover, the geographical situation of France made its friendship inexpressibly desirable.  The states of Holland and Zealand were, therefore, earnestly invited to send deputies to an assembly of the states-general, in order to conclude measures touching the declaration of independence to be made against the King, and concerning the election of the Duke of Anjou.

The official communications by speech or writing of Orange to the different corporations and assemblies, were at this period of enormous extent.  He was moved to frequent anger by the parsimony, the inter-provincial jealousy, the dull perception of the different estates, and he often expressed his wrath in unequivocal language.  He dealt roundly with all public bodies.  His eloquence was distinguished by a bold, uncompromising, truth-telling spirit, whether the words might prove palatable or bitter to his audience.  His language rebuked his hearers more frequently than it caressed them, for he felt it impossible, at all times, to consult both the humors and the high interests of the people, and he had no hesitation, as guardian of popular liberty, in denouncing the popular vices by which it was endangered.