At first sight the latter appeared far from being an intractable force.
In contrast with the fiery zeal of the Calvinists on the one hand and of the Spaniards on the other, the faith of the Catholic Flemings and Walloons seemed lukewarm, an old custom rather than a living conviction.

Most were shocked by the fanaticism of the Spaniards, who thus proved the worst enemies of their faith, and yet, within the Netherlands, they were very unwilling to see the old religion perish.
When the lower classes at Ghent assumed the leadership they rather forced than converted that city to the Calvinist confession.

Their acts were taken as a breach of the Pacification of Ghent and threatened the whole policy of Orange by creating fresh discord.

To obviate this, William proposed to the States General a religious peace on the basis of the _status quo_ with refusal to allow further proselyting.
[Sidenote: July, 1578] But this measure, acceptable to the Catholics, was deeply resented by the Calvinists.

It was said that one who changed his religion as often as his coat must prefer human to divine things and that he who would tolerate Romanists must himself be an atheist.
[Sidenote: Division of the Netherlands] It was therefore, a primarily religious issue, and no difference of race, language or material interest, {271} that divided the Netherlands into two halves.