Early in February, 1580, his sister and evil genius, Cornelia Lalain, wife of Baron Monceau, made him a visit at Groningen.

She implored him not to give over his soul to perdition by oppressing the Holy Church.

She also appealed to his family pride, which should keep him, she said, from the contamination of companionship with "base-born weavers and furriers." She was of opinion that to contaminate his high-born fingers with base bribes were a lower degradation.

The pension, the crowns in hand, the marquisate, the collar of the Golden Fleece, were all held before his eyes again.

He was persuaded, moreover, that the fair hand of the wealthy widow would be the crowning prize of his treason, but in this he was destined to disappointment.