The Rise of the Dutch Republic, 1563-64 | Page 9

that the same nobles were holding a conference at Weerdt, that he had
not learned what had been transacted there, but thought the affair very
suspicious. Philip immediately communicated the intelligence to Alva,
together with an expression of Granvelle's fears and of his own, that a
popular outbreak would be the consequence of the continued presence
of the minister in the Netherlands.
The Cardinal omitted nothing in the way of anecdote or inuendo, which
could injure the character of the leading nobles, with the exception,
perhaps, of Count Egmont. With this important personage, whose
character he well understood, he seemed determined, if possible, to
maintain friendly relations. There was a deep policy in this desire, to
which we shall advert hereafter. The other seigniors were described in
general terms as disposed to overthrow the royal authority. They were
bent upon Granvelle's downfall as the first step, because, that being
accomplished, the rest would follow as a matter of course. "They
intend," said he, "to reduce the state into the form of a republic, in
which the King shall have no power except to do their bidding." He
added, that he saw with regret so many German troops gathering on the
borders; for he believed them to be in the control of the disaffected
nobles of the Netherlands. Having made this grave insinuation, he
proceeded in the same breath to express his anger at a statement said to
have been made by Orange and Egmont, to the effect that he had
charged them with intending to excite a civil commotion, an idea, he

added, which had never entered his head. In the same paragraph, he
poured into the most suspicious ear that ever listened to a tale of
treason, his conviction that the nobles were planning a republic by the
aid of foreign troops, and uttered a complaint that these nobles had
accused him of suspecting them. As for the Prince of Orange, he was
described as eternally boasting of his influence in Germany, and the
great things which he could effect by means of his connexions there,
"so that," added the Cardinal, "we hear no other song."
He had much to say concerning the projects of these grandees to
abolish all the councils, but that of state, of which body they intended
to obtain the entire control. Marquis Berghen was represented as being
at the bottom of all these intrigues. The general and evident intention
was to make a thorough change in the form of government. The
Marquis meant to command in every thing, and the Duchess would
soon have nothing to do in the provinces as regent for the King. In fact,
Philip himself would be equally powerless, "for," said the Cardinal,
"they will have succeeded in putting your Majesty completely under
guardianship." He added, moreover, that the seigniors, in order to gain
favor with the people and with the estates, had allowed them to acquire
so much power, that they would respond to any request for subsidies by
a general popular revolt. "This is the simple truth," said Granvelle, "and
moreover, by the same process, in a very few days there will likewise
be no religion left in the land." When the deputies of some of the states,
a few weeks later, had been irregularly convened in Brussels, for
financial purposes, the Cardinal informed the monarch that the nobles
were endeavoring to conciliate their good-will, by offering them a
splendid series of festivities and banquets.
He related various anecdotes which came to his ears from time to time,
all tending to excite suspicions as to the loyalty and orthodoxy of the
principal nobles. A gentleman coming from Burgundy had lately, as he
informed the King, been dining with the Prince of Orange, with whom
Horn and Montigny were then lodging. At table, Montigny called out in
a very loud voice to the strange cavalier, who was seated at a great
distance from him, to ask if there were many Huguenots in Burgundy.
No, replied the gentleman nor would they be permitted to exist there.
"Then there can be very few people of intelligence in that province,"
returned Montigny, "for those who have any wit are mostly all

Huguenots." The Prince of Orange here endeavored to put a stop to the
conversation, saying that the Burgundians were very right to remain as
they were; upon which Montigny affirmed that he had heard masses
enough lately to last him for three months. These things may be jests,
commented Granvelle, but they are very bad ones; and 'tis evident that
such a man is an improper instrument to remedy the state of religious
affairs in Tournay.
At another large party, the King was faithfully informed by the same
chronicler, that Marquis Berghen had been teasing the Duke of
Aerschot very maliciously, because he