Meantime, the estates of the other Netherlands assemble at Ghent; anxious, unfortunately, not for the national liberty, but for that of the Roman king.

Already Holland, torn again by civil feuds, and blinded by the artifices of Maximilian, has deserted, for a season, the great cause to which Flanders has remained so true.

At last, a treaty is made between the archduke and the Flemings.

Maximilian is to be regent of the other provinces; Philip, under guardianship of a council, is to govern Flanders.

Moreover, a congress of all the provinces is to be summoned annually, to provide for the general welfare.