The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1560-61 | Page 9

In the mean time, he assured them that he did not doubt their
zeal in his service.
As to Count Horn, Granvelle had already prejudiced the King against
him. Horn and the Cardinal had never been friends. A brother of the
prelate had been an aspirant for the hand of the Admiral's sister, and
had been somewhat contemptuously rejected. Horn, a bold, vehement,
and not very good-tempered personage, had long kept no terms with
Granvelle, and did not pretend a friendship which he had never felt.
Granvelle had just written to instruct the King that Horn was opposed
bitterly to that measure which was nearest the King's heart--the new
bishoprics. He had been using strong language, according to the
Cardinal, in opposition to the scheme, while still in Spain. He therefore
advised that his Majesty, concealing, of course, the source of the
information, and speaking as it were out of the royal mind itself, should
expostulate with the Admiral upon the subject. Thus prompted, Philip
was in no gracious humor when he received Count Horn, then about to
leave Madrid for the Netherlands, and to take with him the King's

promised answer to the communication of Orange and Egmont. His
Majesty had rarely been known to exhibit so much anger towards any
person as he manifested upon that occasion. After a few words from the
Admiral, in which he expressed his sympathy with the other Netherland
nobles, and his aversion to Granvelle, in general terms, and in reply to
Philip's interrogatories, the King fiercely interrupted him: "What!
miserable man!" he vociferated, "you all complain of this Cardinal, and
always in vague language. Not one of you, in spite of all my questions,
can give me a single reason for your dissatisfaction." With this the
royal wrath boiled over in such unequivocal terms that the Admiral
changed color, and was so confused with indignation and astonishment,
that he was scarcely able to find his way out of the room.
This was the commencement of Granvelle's long mortal combat with
Egmont, Horn, and Orange. This was the first answer which the
seignors were to receive to their remonstrances against the churchman's
arrogance. Philip was enraged that any opposition should be made to
his coercive measures, particularly to the new bishoprics, the "holy
work" which the Cardinal was ready, to "consecrate his fortune and his
blood" to advance. Granvelle fed his master's anger by constant
communications as to the efforts made by distinguished individuals to
delay the execution of the scheme. Assonville had informed him, he
wrote, that much complaint had been made on the subject by several
gentlemen, at a supper of Count Egmont's. It was said that the King
ought to have consulted them all, and the state councillors especially.
The present nominees to the new episcopates were good enough, but it
would be found, they said, that very improper personages would be
afterwards appointed. The estates ought not to permit the execution of
the scheme. In short, continued Granvelle, "there is the same kind of
talk which brought about the recall of the Spanish troops." A few
months later, he wrote to inform Philip that a petition against the new
bishoprics was about to be drawn up by "the two lords.". They had two
motives; according to the Cardinal, for this step --first, to let the King
know that he could do nothing without their permission; secondly,
because in the states' assembly they were then the cocks of the walk.
They did not choose, therefore, that in the clerical branch of the estates
any body should be above the abbots, whom they could frighten into
doing whatever they chose. At the end, of the year, Granvelle again

wrote to instruct his sovereign how to reply to the letter which was
about to be addressed to him by the Prince of Orange and the Marquis
Berghen on the subject of the bishoprics. They would tell him, he said,
that the incorporation of the Brabant abbeys into the new bishoprics
was contrary to the constitution of the "joyful entrance." Philip was,
however, to make answer that he had consulted the universities, and
those learned in the laws, and had satisfied himself that it was entirely
constitutional. He was therefore advised to send his command that the
Prince and Marquis should use all their influence to promote the
success of the measure. Thus fortified, the King was enabled not only
to deal with the petition of the nobles, but also with the deputies from
the estates of Brabant, who arrived about this time at Madrid. To these
envoys, who asked for the appointment of royal commissioners, with
whom they might treat on the subject of the bishoprics, the abbeys, and
the "joyful entrance," the King answered proudly, "that in matters
which concerned the service of