The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1563-64 | Page 5

other purpose, they all held
themselves ready to go to Spain at once. The Duchess expressed her
regret at this resolution. The Prince replied by affirming that, in all their
proceedings, they had been governed, not by hatred of Granvelle but by
a sense of duty to his Majesty. It was now, he added, for the King to
pursue what course it pleased him.
Four days after this interview with the Regent, Orange, Egmont, and
Horn addressed a second letter to the King. In this communication they
stated that they had consulted with all the gentlemen with whose
approbation their first letter had been written. As to the journey of one
of them to Spain,--as suggested, they pronounced it very dangerous for

any seignior to absent himself, in the condition of affairs which then
existed. It was not a sufficient cause to go thither on account of
Granvelle. They disclaimed any intention of making themselves parties
to a process against the Cardinal. They had thought that their simple,
brief announcement would have sufficed to induce his Majesty to
employ that personage in other places, where his talents would be more
fruitful. As to "aggrieving the Cardinal without cause," there was no
question of aggrieving him at all, but of relieving him of an office
which could not remain in his hands without disaster. As to "no
particular cause having been mentioned," they said the omission was
from no lack of many such. They had charged none, however, because,
from their past services and their fidelity to his Majesty, they expected
to be believed on their honor, without further witnesses or evidence.
They had no intention of making themselves accusers. They had
purposely abstained from specifications. If his Majesty should proceed
to ampler information, causes enough would be found. It was better,
however, that they should be furnished by others than by themselves.
His Majesty would then find that the public and general complaint was
not without adequate motives. They renewed their prayer to be excused
from serving in the council of state, in order that they might not be
afterwards inculpated for the faults of others. Feeling that the
controversy between themselves and the Cardinal de Granvelle in the
state council produced no fruit for his Majesty's affairs, they preferred
to yield to him. In conclusion, they begged the King to excuse the
simplicity of their letters, the rather that they were not by nature great
orators, but more accustomed to do well than to speak well, which was
also more becoming to persons of their quality.
On the 4th of August, Count Horn also addressed a private letter to the
King, written in the same spirit as that which characterized the joint
letter just cited. He assured his Majesty that the Cardinal could render
no valuable service to the crown on account of the hatred which the
whole nation bore him, but that, as far as regarded the maintenance of
the ancient religion, all the nobles were willing to do their duty.
The Regent now despatched, according to promise, her private
secretary, Thomas de Armenteros, to Spain. His instructions, which
were very elaborate, showed that Granvelle was not mistaken when he
charged her with being entirely changed in regard to him, and when he

addressed her a reproachful letter, protesting his astonishment that his
conduct had become auspicious, and his inability to divine the cause of
the weariness and dissatisfaction which she manifested in regard to
him.
Armenteros, a man of low, mercenary, and deceitful character, but a
favorite of the Regent, and already beginning to acquire that influence
over her mind which was soon to become so predominant, was no
friend of the Cardinal. It was not probable that he would diminish the
effect of that vague censure mingled with faint commendation, which
characterized Margaret's instructions by any laudatory suggestions of
his own. He was directed to speak in general terms of the advance of
heresy, and the increasing penury of the exchequer. He was to request
two hundred thousand crowns toward the lottery, which the Regent
proposed to set up as a financial scheme. He was to represent that the
Duchess had tried, unsuccessfully, every conceivable means of
accommodating the quarrel between the Cardinal and the seigniors. She
recognized Granvelle's great capacity, experience, zeal, and
devotion--for all which qualities she made much of him--while on the
other hand she felt that it would be a great inconvenience, and might
cause a revolt of the country, were she to retain him in the Netherlands
against the will of the seigniors. These motives had compelled her, the
messenger was to add, to place both views of the subject before the
eyes of the King. Armenteros was, furthermore, to narrate the
circumstances of the interviews which had recently taken place
between herself