His bigotry was equal to that of Alva, but it was impossible to rival the Duke in cruelty.

Moreover, the condition of the country, after seven years of torture under his predecessor, made it difficult for him, at the time of his arrival, to imitate the severity which had made the name of Alva infamous.

The Blood Council had been retained throughout his administration, but its occupation was gone, for want of food for its ferocity.

The obedient provinces had been purged of Protestants; while crippled, too, by confiscation, they offered no field for further extortion.

From Holland and Zealand, whence Catholicism had been nearly excluded, the King of Spain was nearly excluded also.