In the council, however, the Cardinal continued to carry it with a high hand; turning his back on Orange and Egmont, and retiring with the Duchess and President to consult, after every session.  Proud and important personages, like the Prince and Count, could ill brook such insolence; moreover, they suspected the Cardinal of prejudicing the mind of their sovereign against them.  A report was very current, and obtained almost universal belief, that Granvelle had expressly advised his Majesty to take off the heads of at least half a dozen of the principal nobles in the land.  This was an error; “These two seigniors,” wrote the Cardinal to Philip, “have been informed that I have written to your Majesty, that you will never be master of these provinces without taking off at least half a dozen heads, and that because it would be difficult, on account of the probable tumults which such a course would occasion, to do it here, your Majesty means to call them to Spain and do it there.  Your Majesty can judge whether such a thing has ever entered my thoughts.  I have laughed at it as a ridiculous invention.  This gross forgery is one of Renard’s.”  The Cardinal further stated to his Majesty that he had been informed by these same nobles that the Duke of Alva, when a hostage for the treaty of Cateau Cambresis, had negotiated an alliance between the crowns of France and Spain for the extirpation of heresy by the sword.  He added, that he intended to deal with the nobles with all gentleness, and that he should do his best to please them.  The only thing which he could not yield was the authority of his Majesty; to sustain that, he would sacrifice his life, if necessary.  At the same time Granvelle carefully impressed upon the King the necessity of contradicting the report alluded to, a request which he took care should also be made through the Regent in person.  He had already, both in his own person and in that of the Duchess, begged for a formal denial, on the King’s part, that there was any intention of introducing the Spanish inquisition into the Netherlands, and that the Cardinal had counselled, originally, the bishoprics.  Thus instructed, the King accordingly wrote to Margaret of Parma to furnish the required contradictions.  In so doing, he made a pithy remark.  “The Cardinal had not counselled the cutting off the half a dozen heads,” said the monarch, “but perhaps it would not be so bad to do it!” Time was to show whether Philip was likely to profit by the hint conveyed in the Cardinal’s disclaimer, and whether the factor “half dozen” were to be used or not as a simple multiplier in the terrible account preparing.