death for matters of religion.  This sentiment, uttered in that age of blood and fire, and crowning the memory of those unfortunate nobles with eternal honor, was denounced by the churchman as criminal, and deserving of castigation.  He intimated, moreover, that these pretences of clemency were mere hypocrisy, and that self-interest was at the bottom of their compassion.  “’Tis very black,” said he, “when interest governs; but these men are a in debt, so deeply that they owe their very souls.  They are seeking every means of escaping from their obligations, and are most desirous of creating general confusion.”  As to the Prince of Orange, the Cardinal asserted that he owed nine hundred thousand florins, and had hardly twenty-five thousand a-year clear income, while he spent ninety thousand, having counts; barons, and gentlemen in great numbers, in his household.  At this point, he suggested that it might be well to find employment for some of these grandees in Spain and other dominions of his Majesty, adding that perhaps Orange might accept the vice-royalty of Sicily.

Resuming the religious matter, a few weeks later, he expressed himself a little more cheerfully, “We have made so much outcry,” said he, “that at last Marquis Berghen has been forced to burn a couple of heretics at Valenciennes.  Thus, it is obvious,” moralized the Cardinal, “that if he were really willing to apply the remedy in that place, much progress might be made; but that we can do but little so long as he remains in the government of the provinces and refuses to assist us.”  In a subsequent letter, he again uttered com plaints against the Marquis and Montigny, who were evermore his scapegoats and bugbears.  Berghen will give us no aid, he wrote, despite of all the letters we send him.  He absents himself for private and political reasons.  Montigny has eaten meat in Lent, as the Bishop of Tournay informs me.  Both he and the Marquis say openly that it is not right to shed blood for matters of faith, so that the King can judge how much can be effected with such coadjutors.  Berghen avoids the persecution of heretics, wrote the Cardinal again, a month later, to Secretary Perez.  He has gone to Spa for his health, although those who saw him last say he is fat and hearty.

Granvelle added, however, that they had at last “burned one more preacher alive.”  The heretic, he stated, had feigned repentance to save his life, but finding that, at any rate, his head would be cut off as a dogmatizer, he retracted his recantation.  “So,” concluded the Cardinal, complacently, “they burned him.”

He chronicled the sayings and doings of the principal personages in the Netherlands, for the instruction of the King, with great regularity, insinuating suspicions when unable to furnish evidence, and adding charitable apologies, which he knew would have but small effect upon the mind of his correspondent.  Thus he sent an account of a “very secret meeting” held by Orange, Egmont, Horn, Montigny and Berghen,