With the nobles he was on no better terms than with the people.  The great seigniors, Orange, Egmont, Horn, and others, openly avowed their hostility to him, and had already given their reasons to the King.  Mansfeld and his son at that time were both with the opposition.  Aerschot and Aremberg kept aloof from the league which was forming against the prelate, but had small sympathy for his person.  Even Berlaymont began to listen to overtures from the leading nobles, who, among other inducements, promised to supply his children with bishoprics.  There were none truly faithful and submissive to the Cardinal but such men as the Prevot Morillon, who had received much advancement from him.

This distinguished pluralist was popularly called “double A, B, C,” to indicate that he had twice as many benefices as there were letters in the alphabet.  He had, however, no objection to more, and was faithful to the dispensing power.  The same course was pursued by Secretary Bave, Esquire Bordey, and other expectants and dependents.  Viglius, always remarkable for his pusillanimity, was at this period already anxious to retire.  The erudite and opulent Frisian preferred a less tempestuous career.  He was in favor of the edicts, but he trembled at the uproar which their literal execution was daily exciting, for he knew the temper of his countrymen.  On the other hand, he was too sagacious not to know the inevitable consequence of opposition to the will of Philip.  He was therefore most eager to escape the dilemma.  He was a scholar, and could find more agreeable employment among his books.  He had accumulated vast wealth, and was desirous to retain it as long as possible.  He had a learned head and was anxious to keep it upon his shoulders.  These simple objects could be better attained in a life of privacy.  The post of president of the privy council and member of the “Consulta” was a dangerous one.  He knew that the King was sincere in his purposes.  He foresaw that the people would one day be terribly in earnest.  Of ancient Frisian blood himself, he knew that the, spirit of the ancient Batavians and Frisians had not wholly deserted their descendants.  He knew that they were not easily roused, that they were patient, but that they would strike at last and would endure.  He urgently solicited the King to release him, and pleaded his infirmities of body in excuse.  Philip, however, would not listen to his retirement, and made use of the most convincing arguments to induce him to remain.  Four hundred and fifty annual florins, secured by good reclaimed swamps in Friesland, two thousand more in hand, with a promise of still larger emoluments when the King should come to the Netherlands, were reasons which the learned doctor honestly confessed himself unable to resist.  Fortified by these arguments, he remained at his post, continued the avowed friend and adherent of Granvelle, and sustained with magnanimity the invectives of nobles and people.  To do him justice, he did what he could to conciliate antagonists and to compromise principles.  If it had ever been possible to find the exact path between right and wrong, the President would have found it, and walked in it with respectability and complacency.