History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

intensified the alarm and anger of the
Netherlanders. The number of bishops was
increased by Philip from four to seventeen. The
existing sees were those of Arras, Cambray,
Tournay, and Utrecht; to these thirteen new sees
were added, making the number of bishoprics
equal to that of the Provinces. The bull of Pius IV.,
ratified within a few months by that of Paul IV.,
stated that "the enemy of mankind being abroad,
and the Netherlands, then under the sway of the
beloved son of his Holiness, Philip the Catholic,
being compassed about with heretic and schismatic
nations, it was believed that the eternal welfare of
the land was in great danger;" hence the new
laborers sent forth into the harvest. The object of
the measure was transparent; nor did its authors
affect to conceal that it was meant to strengthen the
Papacy in Flanders, and extend the range of its
right arm, the Inquisition. These thirteen new
bishops were viewed by the citizens but as thirteen
additional inquisitors. These two tyrannical steps
necessitated a third. Philip saw it advisable to
retain a body of Spanish troops in the country to
compel submission to the new arrangements. The
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