Though self-controlled and courtly in manner, his passionate patriotism and bigotry made him a fit instrument to execute Philip's orders to make the Netherlands Spanish and Catholic.

He began with no uncertain hand, building forts at Antwerp and quartering his troops at Brussels where their foreign manners and Roman piety gave offence to the citizens.

On September 9 he arrested the counts of Egmont and Horn, next to Orange the chief leaders of the patriotic party.

Setting up a tribunal, called the Council of {258} Troubles, to deal with cases of rebellion and heresy, he inaugurated a reign of terror.

He himself spent seven hours a day in this court trying cases and signing death-warrants.