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 would not join the league.  The Duke had responded as he had formerly done to Egmont, that his Majesty was not to receive laws from his vassals; adding that, for himself, he meant to follow in the loyal track of his ancestors, fearing God and honoring the king.  In short, said Granvelle, he answered them with so much wisdom, that although they had never a high opinion