his report to the State Council, "has long been pondering over all things
necessary to the peace of the land. His Majesty, like a very gracious
and bountiful Prince, has ever been disposed, in times past, to treat
these, his subjects, by the best and sweetest means." There being,
however, room for an opinion that so bountiful a prince might have
discovered sweeter means, by all this pondering, than to burn and gibbet
his subjects by thousands, it was thought proper to insinuate that his
orders had been hitherto misunderstood. Alva and Requesens had been
unfaithful agents, who did not know their business, but it was to be set
right in future. "As the good-will and meaning of his Majesty has, by no
means been followed," continued the envoy, "his Majesty has determined
to send Councillor Hopper, keeper of the privy seal, and myself,
hitherwards, to execute the resolutions of his Majesty." Two such
personages as poor, plodding, confused; time-serving Hopper, and flighty,
talkative Havre, whom even Requesens despised, and whom Don John, while
shortly afterwards recommending him for a state councillor,
characterized, to Philip as "a very great scoundrel;" would hardly be
able, even if royally empowered, to undo the work of two preceding
administrations. Moreover, Councillor Hopper, on further thoughts, was
not despatched at all to the Netherlands.

The provinces were, however, assured by the King's letters to the Brabant
estates, to the State Council, and other, public bodies, as well as by
the report of the Marquis, that efficacious remedies were preparing in
Madrid. The people were only too wait patiently till they should arrive.
The public had heard before of these nostrums, made up by the royal
prescriptions in Spain; and were not likely to accept them as a panacea
for their present complicated disorders. Never, in truth, had
conventional commonplace been applied more unseasonably. Here was a
general military mutiny flaming in the very centre of the land. Here had