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Updated: June 2, 2025
It could not be otherwise than galling to the pride and offensive to the patriotism of the Prince, to find great public transactions entrusted to such hands. Thomas de Armenteros was a mere private secretary a simple clerk. He had no right to have cognizance of important affairs, which could only come before his Majesty's sworn advisers. He was moreover an infamous peculator.
Joint letter to Philip, from Orange, Egmont, and Horn Egmont's quarrel with Aerschot and with Aremberg Philip's answer to the three nobles His instructions to the Duchess Egmont declines the King's invitation to visit Spain Second letter of the three seigniors Mission of Armenteros Letter of Alva Secret letters of Granvelle to Philip The Cardinal's insinuations and instructions His complaints as to the lukewarmness of Berghen and Montigny in the cause of the inquisition Anecdotes to their discredit privately chronicled by Granvelle Supposed necessity for the King's presence in the provinces Correspondence of Lazarus Schwendi Approaching crisis Anxiety of Granvelle to retire Banquet of Caspar Schetz Invention of the foolscap livery Correspondence of the Duchess and of the Cardinal with Philip upon the subject Entire withdrawal of the three seigniors from the state council the King advises with Alva concerning the recall of Granvelle Elaborate duplicity of Philip's arrangements His secret note to the Cardinal His dissembling letters to others Departure of Granvelle from the Netherlands Various opinions as to its cause Ludicrous conduct of Brederode and Hoogstraaten Fabulous statements in Granvelle's correspondence concerning his recall Universal mystification The Cardinal deceived by the King Granvelle in retirement His epicureanism Fears in the provinces as to his return Universal joy at his departure Representations to his discredit made by the Duchess to Philip Her hypocritical letters to the Cardinal Masquerade at Count Mansfeld's Chantonnay's advice to his brother Review of Granvelle's administration and estimate of his character.
Altogether, the gifts which the ambassador received from the royal bounty amounted to one hundred thousand crowns. Thus feasted, flattered, and laden with presents, it must be admitted that the Count more than justified the opinions expressed in the letter of Armenteros, that he was a man easily governed by those who had credit with him.
Having already wormed himself into the confidence of the Regent, he made a point of showing to the principal seigniors various letters, in which she had been warned by the Cardinal to put no trust in them. "That devil," said Armenteros, "thought he had got into Paradise here; but he is gone, and we shall take care that he never returns."
These motives had compelled her, the messenger was to add, to place both views of the subject before the eyes of the King. Armenteros was, furthermore, to narrate the circumstances of the interviews which had recently taken place between herself and the leaders of the opposition party.
Armenteros had persuaded the king that the minister's residence in Madrid would only revive, with increased violence, all the complaints of the Belgian nation, to which his ministry had been sacrificed; for then, he said, he would be suspected of poisoning the very source of that power, whose outlets only he had hitherto been charged with corrupting.
This letter was dated February 19 , nearly a month later therefore than the secret letter to Granvelle, brought by Armenteros, although all the despatches had been drawn up at the same time and formed parts of the same plan. In this brief note to Granvelle, however, lay the heart of the whole mystery.
Armenteros, a man of low, mercenary, and deceitful character, but a favorite of the Regent, and already beginning to acquire that influence over her mind which was soon to become so predominant, was no friend of the Cardinal.
Granvelle's counsels as to the method by which the "friend of smoke" was so easily to be gained, had not fallen unheeded in his royal pupil's ears. The Count was lodged in the house of Ruy Gomez, who soon felt himself able, according to previous assurances to that effect, contained in a private letter of Armenteros, to persuade the envoy to any course which Philip might command.
The Prince felt more unwilling to compromise his personal dignity by countenancing the flagitious proceedings and the contemptible supremacy of Armenteros, and it was soon very obvious, therefore, that Egmont was a greater favorite at court than Orange.
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