It was absolutely necessary, therefore, that in his reply, next day, his eloquence should outshine that of his antagonist.  The President thus passed a feverish and uncomfortable night, pronouncing and listening to imaginary harangues.  With the dawn of day he arose and proceeded to dress himself.  The excitement of the previous evening and the subsequent sleeplessness of his night had, however, been too much for his feeble and slightly superannuated frame.  Before he had finished his toilet, a stroke of apoplexy stretched him senseless upon the floor.  His servants, when they soon afterwards entered the apartment, found him rigid, and to all appearance dead.  After a few days, however, he recovered his physical senses in part, but his reason remained for a longer time shattered, and was never perhaps fully restored to its original vigor.

This event made it necessary that his place in the council should be supplied.  Viglius had frequently expressed intentions of retiring, a measure to which he could yet never fully make up his mind.  His place was now temporarily supplied by his friend and countryman, Joachim Hopper, like himself a, Frisian doctor of ancient blood and extensive acquirements, well versed in philosophy and jurisprudence; a professor of Louvain and a member of the Mechlin council.  He was likewise the original founder and projector of Douay University, an institution which at Philip’s desire he had successfully organized in 1556, in order that a French university might be furnished for Walloon youths, as a substitute for the seductive and poisonous Paris.  For the rest, Hopper was a mere man of routine.  He was often employed in private affairs by Philip, without being entrusted with the secret at the bottom of them.  His mind was a confused one, and his style inexpressibly involved and tedious.  “Poor master Hopper,” said Granvelle, “did not write the best French in the world; may the Lord forgive him.  He was learned in letters, but knew very little of great affairs.”  His manners were as cringing as his intellect was narrow.  He never opposed the Duchess, so that his colleagues always called him Councillor “Yes, Madam,” and he did his best to be friends with all the world.

In deference to the arguments of Orange, the instructions for Egmont were accordingly considerably modified from the original draughts of Viglius.  As drawn up by the new President, they contained at least a few hints to his Majesty as to the propriety of mitigating the edicts and extending some mercy to his suffering people.  The document was, however, not very satisfactory to the Prince, nor did he perhaps rely very implicitly upon the character of the envoy.