Such were the opinions of Orange.  He could not, however, safely entrust the sacred interests of a commonwealth to such hands as those of Brederode—­however deeply that enthusiastic personage might drink the health of “Younker William,” as he affectionately denominated the Prince—­or to “Golden Fleece,” or to Charles Mansfeld, or to that younger wild boar of Ardennes, Robert de la Marck.  In his brother and in Sainte Aldegonde he had confidence, but he did not exercise over them that control which he afterwards acquired.  His conduct towards the confederacy was imitated in the main by the other great nobles.  The covenanters never expected to obtain the signatures of such men as Orange, Egmont, Horn, Meghen, Berghen, or Montigny, nor were those eminent personages ever accused of having signed the Compromise, although some of them were afterwards charged with having protected those who did affix their names to the document.  The confederates were originally found among the lesser nobles.  Of these some were sincere Catholics, who loved the ancient Church but hated the inquisition; some were fierce Calvinists or determined Lutherans; some were troublous and adventurous spirits, men of broken fortunes, extravagant habits, and boundless desires, who no doubt thought that the broad lands of the Church, with their stately abbeys; would furnish much more fitting homes and revenues for gallant gentlemen than for lazy monks.  All were young, few had any prudence or conduct, and the history of the league more than justified the disapprobation of Orange.  The nobles thus banded together, achieved little by their confederacy.  They disgraced a great cause by their orgies, almost ruined it by their inefficiency, and when the rope of sand which they had twisted fell asunder, the people had gained nothing and the gentry had almost lost the confidence of the nation.  These remarks apply to the mass of the confederates and to some of the leaders.  Louis of Nassau and Sainte Aldegonde were ever honored and trusted as they deserved.

Although the language of the Compromise spoke of the leaguers as nobles, yet the document was circulated among burghers and merchants also, many of whom, according to the satirical remark of a Netherland Catholic, may, have been influenced by the desire of writing their names in such aristocratic company, and some of whom were destined to expiate such vainglory upon the scaffold.

With such associates, therefore, the profound and anxious mind of Orange could have little in common.  Confidence expanding as the numbers increased, their audacity and turbulence grew with the growth of the league.  The language at their wild banquets was as hot as the wine which confused their heads; yet the Prince knew that there was rarely a festival in which there did not sit some calm, temperate Spaniard, watching with quiet eye and cool brain the extravagant demeanor, and listening with composure to the dangerous avowals or bravados of these revellers, with the purpose