The Regent had been forbidden, by her brother, to convoke the states-general; a body which the Prince of Orange, sustained by Berghen, Montigny, and other nobles, was desirous of having assembled.  It may be easily understood that Granvelle would take the best care that the royal prohibition should be enforced.  The Duchess, however, who, as already hinted, was beginning to feel somewhat uncomfortable under the Cardinal’s dominion, was desirous of consulting some larger council than that with which she held her daily deliberations.  A meeting of the Knights of the Fleece was accordingly summoned.  They assembled in Brussels, in the month of May, 1562.  The learned Viglius addressed them in a long and eloquent speech, in which he discussed the troubled and dangerous condition of the provinces, alluded to some of its causes, and suggested various remedies.  It may be easily conceived, however, that the inquisition was not stated among the causes, nor its suppression included among the remedies.  A discourse, in which the fundamental topic was thus conscientiously omitted, was not likely, with all its concinnities, to make much impression upon the disaffected knights, or to exert a soothing influence upon the people.  The orator was, however, delighted with his own performance.  He informs us, moreover, that the Duchess was equally charmed, and that she protested she had never in her whole life heard any thing more “delicate, more suitable, or more eloquent.”  The Prince of Orange, however, did not sympathize with her admiration.  The President’s elegant periods produced but little effect upon his mind.  The meeting adjourned, after a few additional words from the Duchess, in which she begged the knights to ponder well the causes of the increasing discontent, and to meet her again, prepared to announce what, in their opinion, would be the course best adapted to maintain the honor of the King, the safety of the provinces, and the glory of God.

Soon after the separation of the assembly, the Prince of Orange issued invitations to most of the knights, to meet at his house for the purpose of private deliberation.  The President and Cardinal were not included in these invitations.  The meeting was, in fact, what we should call a caucus, rather than a general gathering.  Nevertheless, there were many of the government party present—­men who differed from the Prince, and were inclined to support Granvelle.  The meeting was a stormy one.  Two subjects were discussed.  The first was the proposition of the Duchess, to investigate the general causes of the popular dissatisfaction; the second was an inquiry how it could be rendered practicable to discuss political matters in future—­a proceeding now impossible, in consequence of the perverseness and arrogance of certain functionaries, and one which, whenever attempted, always led to the same inevitable result.  This direct assault upon the Cardinal produced a furious debate.  His enemies were delighted