On the third day, Don Francis went to take his leave.  The Duke begged him to inform his Majesty of the impatience with which he was expecting the arrival of his successor.  He then informed his guest that they had already begun to collect the tenth penny in Brabant, the most obstinate of all the provinces.  “What do you say to that, Don Francis?” he cried, with exultation.  Alava replied that he thought, none the less, that the tax would encounter many obstacles, and begged him earnestly to reflect.  He assured him, moreover, that he should, without reserve, express his opinions fully to the King.  The Duke used the same language which Don Frederic had held, concerning the motives of those who opposed the tax.  “It may be so,” said Don Francis, “but at any rate, all have agreed to sing to the same tune.”  A little startled, the Duke rejoined, “Do you doubt that the cities will keep their promises?  Depend upon it, I shall find the means to compel them.”  “God grant it may be so,” said Alava, “but in my poor judgment you will have need of all your prudence and of all your authority.”

The ambassador did not wait till he could communicate with his sovereign by word of mouth.  He forwarded to Spain an ample account of his observations and deductions.  He painted to Philip in lively colors the hatred entertained by all men for the Duke.  The whole nation, he assured his Majesty, united in one cry, “Let him begone, let him begone, let him begone!” As for the imposition of the tenth penny, that, in the opinion of Don Francis, was utterly impossible.  He moreover warned his Majesty that Alva was busy in forming secret alliances with the Catholic princes of Europe, which would necessarily lead to defensive leagues among the Protestants.

While thus, during the earlier part of the year 1572, the Prince of Orange, discouraged by no defeats, was indefatigable in his exertions to maintain the cause of liberty, and while at the same time the most stanch supporters of arbitrary power were unanimous in denouncing to Philip the insane conduct of his Viceroy, the letters of Alva himself were naturally full of complaints and expostulations.  It was in vain, he said, for him to look for a confidential councillor, now that matters which he had wished to be kept so profoundly secret that the very earth should not hear of them, had been proclaimed aloud above the tiles of every housetop.  Nevertheless, he would be cut into little pieces but his Majesty should be obeyed, while he remained alive to enforce the royal commands.  There were none who had been ever faithful but Berlaymont, he said, and even he had been neutral in the affair of the tax.  He had rendered therein neither good nor bad offices, but, as his Majesty was aware, Berlaymont was entirely ignorant of business, and “knew nothing more than to be a good fellow.”  That being the case, he recommended Hierges, son of the “good fellow,” as a proper person to be governor of Friesland.