The Revolt of The Netherlands, book 2

The Revolt of The Netherlands,
book 2

The Project Gutenberg EBook Revolt of Netherlands, by Schiller, Book
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Title: The Revolt of The Netherlands, Book II.
Author: Frederich Schiller
Release Date: Oct, 2004 [EBook #6777] [Yes, we are more than one
year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on January 14, 2003]
Edition: 10
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OF NETHERLANDS, BOOK II. ***

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BOOK II.
CARDINAL GRANVELLA.
ANTHONY PERENOT, Bishop of Arras, subsequently Archbishop of
Malines, and Metropolitan of all the Netherlands, who, under the name
of Cardinal Granvella, has been immortalized by the hatred of his
contemporaries, was born in the year 1516, at Besancon in Burgundy.
His father, Nicolaus Perenot, the son of a blacksmith, had risen by his
own merits to be the private secretary of Margaret, Duchess of Savoy,
at that time regent of the Netherlands. In this post he was noticed for
his habits of business by Charles V., who took him into his own service
and employed him in several important negotiations. For twenty years
he was a member of the Emperor's cabinet, and filled the offices of
privy counsellor and keeper of the king's seal, and shared in all the state
secrets of that monarch. He acquired a large fortune. His honors, his
influence, and his political knowledge were inherited by his son,
Anthony Perenot, who in his early years gave proofs of the great
capacity which subsequently opened to him so distinguished a career.
Anthony had cultivated at several colleges the talents with which nature
had so lavishly endowed him, and in some respects had an advantage
over his father. He soon showed that his own abilities were sufficient to
maintain the advantageous position which the merits of another had
procured him. He was twenty-four years old when the Emperor sent
him as his plenipotentiary to the ecclesiastical council of Trent, where
he delivered the first specimen of that eloquence which in the sequel
gave him so complete an ascendancy over two kings. Charles employed
him in several difficult embassies, the duties of which he fulfilled to the
satisfaction of his sovereign, and when finally that Emperor resigned
the sceptre to his son he made that costly present complete by giving
him a minister who could help him to wield it.

Granvella opened his new career at once with the greatest masterpiece
of political genius, in passing so easily from the favor of such a father
into equal consideration with such a son. And he soon proved himself
deserving of it. At the secret negotiations of which the Duchess of
Lorraine had, in 1558, been the medium between the French and
Spanish ministers at Peronne, he planned, conjointly with the Cardinal
of Lorraine, that conspiracy against the Protestants which was
afterwards matured, but also betrayed, at Chateau-Cambray, where
Perenot likewise assisted in effecting the so-called peace.
A deeply penetrating, comprehensive intellect, an unusual facility in
conducting great and intricate affairs, and the most extensive learning,
were wonderfully united in this man with persevering industry and
never- wearying patience, while his enterprising genius was associated
with thoughtful mechanical regularity. Day and night the state found
him vigilant and collected; the most important and the most
insignificant things were alike weighed by him with scrupulous
attention. Not unfrequently he employed five secretaries at one time,
dictating to them in different languages, of which he is said to have
spoken seven. What his penetrating mind had slowly matured acquired
in his lips both force and grace, and truth, set forth by his persuasive
eloquence, irresistibly carried away all hearers. He was tempted by
none of the passions which make slaves of most men. His integrity was
incorruptible. With shrewd penetration he saw through the disposition
of his master, and could read in his features his whole train of thought,
and,