The Prior recovered from this difficulty only to fall into another, by publishing what he called an apologue, in which he charged that the reconciled nobles were equally false to the royal and to the rebel government, and that, although “the fatted calf had been killed for them, after they had so long been feeding with perverse heretical pigs,” they were, in truth, as mutinous as ever, being bent upon establishing an oligarchy in the Netherlands, and dividing the territory among themselves, to the exclusion of the sovereign.  This naturally excited the wrath of the Viscount and others.  The Seigneur d’Auberlieu, in a letter written in what the writer himself called the “gross style of a gendarme,” charged the Prior with maligning honorable lords and—­in the favorite colloquial phrase of the day—­with attempting “to throw the cat against their legs.”  The real crime of the meddling priest, however, was to have let that troublesome animal out of the bag.  He was accordingly waylaid again, and thrown into prison by Count Lalain.  While in durance he published an abject apology for his apologue, explaining that his allusions to “returned prodigals,” “heretic swine,” and to “Sodom and Gomorrah,” had been entirely misconstrued.  He was, however, retained in custody until Parma ordered his release on the ground that the punishment had been already sufficient for the offence.  He then requested to be appointed Bishop of Saint Omer, that see being vacant.  Parma advised the King by no means to grant the request—­the Prior being neither endowed with the proper age nor discretion for such a dignity—­but to bestow some lesser reward, in money or otherwise, upon the discomfited ecclesiastic, who had rendered so many services and incurred so many dangers.

The states-general and the whole national party regarded, with prophetic dismay, the approaching dismemberment of their common country.  They sent deputation on deputation to the Walloon states, to warn them of their danger, and to avert, if possible, the fatal measure.  Meantime, as by the already accomplished movement, the “generality” was fast disappearing, and was indeed but the shadow of its former self, it seemed necessary to make a vigorous effort to restore something like unity to the struggling country.  The Ghent Pacification had been their outer wall, ample enough and strong enough to enclose and to protect all the provinces.  Treachery and religious fanaticism had undermined the bulwark almost as soon as reared.  The whole beleaguered country was in danger of becoming utterly exposed to a foe who grew daily more threatening.  As in besieged cities, a sudden breastwork is thrown up internally, when the outward defences are crumbling—­so the energy of Orange had been silently preparing the Union of Utrecht, as a temporary defence until the foe should be beaten back, and there should be time to decide on their future course of action.