The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1563-64 | Page 8

of Madame de Parma,
things were not going on as he desired, but, on the contrary, very
badly" For the-love of God and the service of the holy religion," he
cried out fervently, "put your royal hand valiantly to the work,
otherwise we have only to exclaim, Help, Lord, for we perish!"
Having uttered this pious exhortation in the ear of a man who needed
no stimulant in the path of persecution, he proceeded to express his
regrets that the judges and other officers were not taking in hand the
chastisement of heresy with becoming vigor.
Yet, at that very moment Peter Titelmann was raging through Flanders,
tearing whole families out of bed and burning them to ashes, with such
utter disregard to all laws or forms as to provoke in the very next year a
solemn protest from the four estates of Flanders; and Titelmann was
but one of a dozen inquisitors.
Granvelle, however, could find little satisfaction in the exertions of
subordinates so long as men in high station were remiss in their duties.
The Marquis Berghen, he informed Philip, showed but little disposition
to put down heresy, in Valenciennes, while Montigny was equally
remiss at Tournay. They were often heard to say, to any who chose to

listen, that it was not right to inflict the punishment of death for matters
of religion. This sentiment, uttered in that age of blood and fire, and
crowning the memory of those unfortunate nobles with eternal honor,
was denounced by the churchman as criminal, and deserving of
castigation. He intimated, moreover, that these pretences of clemency
were mere hypocrisy, and that self-interest was at the bottom of their
compassion. "'Tis very black," said he, "when interest governs; but
these men are a in debt, so deeply that they owe their very souls. They
are seeking every means of escaping from their obligations, and are
most desirous of creating general confusion." As to the Prince of
Orange, the Cardinal asserted that he owed nine hundred thousand
florins, and had hardly twenty-five thousand a-year clear income, while
he spent ninety thousand, having counts; barons, and gentlemen in
great numbers, in his household. At this point, he suggested that it
might be well to find employment for some of these grandees in Spain
and other dominions of his Majesty, adding that perhaps Orange might
accept the vice-royalty of Sicily.
Resuming the religious matter, a few weeks later, he expressed himself
a little more cheerfully, "We have made so much outcry," said he, "that
at last Marquis Berghen has been forced to burn a couple of heretics at
Valenciennes. Thus, it is obvious," moralized the Cardinal, "that if he
were really willing to apply the remedy in that place, much progress
might be made; but that we can do but little so long as he remains in the
government of the provinces and refuses to assist us." In a subsequent
letter, he again uttered com plaints against the Marquis and Montigny,
who were evermore his scapegoats and bugbears. Berghen will give us
no aid, he wrote, despite of all the letters we send him. He absents
himself for private and political reasons. Montigny has eaten meat in
Lent, as the Bishop of Tournay informs me. Both he and the Marquis
say openly that it is not right to shed blood for matters of faith, so that
the King can judge how much can be effected with such coadjutors.
Berghen avoids the persecution of heretics, wrote the Cardinal again, a
month later, to Secretary Perez. He has gone to Spa for his health,
although those who saw him last say he is fat and hearty.
Granvelle added, however, that they had at last "burned one more
preacher alive." The heretic, he stated, had feigned repentance to save
his life, but finding that, at any rate, his head would be cut off as a

dogmatizer, he retracted his recantation. "So," concluded the Cardinal,
complacently, "they burned him."
He chronicled the sayings and doings of the principal personages in the
Netherlands, for the instruction of the King, with great regularity,
insinuating suspicions when unable to furnish evidence, and adding
charitable apologies, which he knew would have but small effect upon
the mind of his correspondent. Thus he sent an account of a "very
secret meeting" held by Orange, Egmont, Horn, Montigny and Berghen,
at the abbey of La Forest, near Brussels, adding, that he did not know
what they had been doing there, and was at loss what to suspect. He
would be most happy, he said, to put the best interpretation upon their
actions, but he could not help remembering with great sorrow the
observation so recently made by Orange to Montigny, that one day they
should be stronger. Later in the year, the Cardinal informed the King