The great keys of the country were still in the hands of the Spaniards.

Aerschot, indeed, governed the castle of Antwerp, in room of Sancho d'Avila, but how much more friendly would Aerschot be than Avila, when interest prompted him to sustain Don John against the Prince?
Meanwhile; the estates, according to their contract, were straining every nerve to raise the requisite sum for the payment of the German troops.
Equitable offers were made, by which the soldiers were to receive a certain proportion of the arrears due to them in merchandize, and the remainder in cash.

The arrangement was rejected, at the secret instance of Don John.

While the Governor affected an ingenuous desire to aid the estates in their efforts to free themselves from the remaining portion of this incumbrance, he was secretly tampering with the leading German officers, in order to prevent their acceptance of any offered terms.

He persuaded these military chiefs that a conspiracy existed, by which they were not only to be deprived of their wages but of their lives.