No one seems to have suspected his deep-laid scheme for allaying the suspicions of his intended victims until the right moment came for laying his hands upon them and crushing all opposition by overwhelming force.

Orange alone, who had his paid spies at Madrid, had a presage of what was coming and took measures of precaution betimes.

An intercepted letter from the Spanish ambassador at Paris to the Regent Margaret, specifically mentioned Orange, Egmont and Hoorn as deserving of exemplary punishment; and on October 3 the prince arranged a meeting at Dendermonde to consider what should be their course of action.

In addition to Egmont and Hoorn, Hoogstraeten and Lewis of Nassau were present.

William and Lewis urged that steps should be taken for preparing armed resistance should the necessity arise.