Till the new Governor, Don Juan, should arrive, whose appointment the King had already communicated to the government, and who might be expected in the Netherlands before the close of the autumn, the solitary councillor claimed to embody the whole Council.

He caused a new seal to be struck--a proceeding very unreasonably charged as forgery by the provincials--and forthwith began to thunder forth proclamations and counter-proclamations in the King's name and under the royal seal.

It is difficult to see any technical crime or mistake in such a course.

As a Spaniard, and a representative of his Majesty, he could hardly be expected to take any other view of his duty.

At any rate, being called upon to choose between rebellious Netherlanders and mutinous Spaniards, he was not long in making up his mind.
By the beginning of September the mutiny was general.