Maestricht had fallen.

Disunion and dismay had taken possession of the country.
During the course of the year other severe misfortunes had happened to the states.

Treachery, even among the men who had done good service to the cause of freedom, was daily showing her hateful visage.

Not only the great chieftains who had led the Malcontent Walloon party, with the fickle Aerschot and the wavering Havre besides, had made their separate reconciliation with Parma, but the epidemic treason had mastered such bold partisans as the Seigneur de Bours, the man whose services in rescuing the citadel of Antwerp had been so courageous and valuable.

He was governor of Mechlin; Count Renneberg was governor of Friesland.