The Cardinal replied with equal suavity, protesting that such a letter from the Duchess left him nothing more to desire, as it furnished him with an “entire and perfect justification” of his conduct.  He was aware of her real sentiments, no doubt, but he was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage as Philip’s sister.

An incident which occurred a few months after the minister’s departure served, to show the general estimation in which he was held by all ranks of Netherlanders.  Count Mansfeld celebrated the baptism of his son, Philip Octavian, by a splendid series of festivities at Luxemburg, the capital of his government.  Besides the tournaments and similar sports, with which the upper classes of European society were accustomed at that day to divert themselves, there was a grand masquerade, to which the public were admitted as spectators.  In this “mummery” the most successful spectacle was that presented by a group arranged in obvious ridicule of Granvelle.  A figure dressed in Cardinal’s costume, with the red hat upon his head, came pacing through the arena upon horseback.  Before him marched a man attired like a hermit, with long white beard, telling his beads upon a rosary, which he held ostentatiously in his hands.  Behind the mounted Cardinal came the Devil, attired in the usual guise considered appropriate to the Prince of Darkness, who scourged both horse and rider with a whip of fog-tails, causing them to scamper about the lists in great trepidation, to the immense delight of the spectators.  The practical pun upon Simon Renard’s name embodied in the fox-tail, with the allusion to the effect of the manifold squibs perpetrated by that most bitter and lively enemy upon Granvelle, were understood and relished by the multitude.  Nothing could be more hearty than the blows bestowed upon the minister’s representative, except the applause with which this satire, composed of actual fustigation, was received.  The humorous spectacle absorbed all the interest of the masquerade, and was frequently repeated.  It seemed difficult to satisfy the general desire to witness a thorough chastisement of the culprit.

The incident made a great noise in the country.  The cardinalists felt naturally very much enraged, but they were in a minority.  No censure came from the government at Brussels, and Mansfeld was then and for a long time afterwards the main pillar of royal authority in the Netherlands.  It was sufficiently obvious that Granvelle, for the time at least, was supported by no party of any influence.

Meantime he remained in his seclusion.  His unpopularity did not, however, decrease in his absence.  More than a year after his departure, Berlaymont said the nobles detested the Cardinal more than ever, and would eat him alive if they caught him.  The chance of his returning was dying gradually out.  At about the same period Chantonnay advised his brother to show his teeth.  He assured Granvelle that