The Rise of the Dutch Republic — Volume 08: 1563-64 — Text and Context

The Three Nobles' Ultimatum

The volume's central document is the letter of March 11, 1563, in which Orange, Egmont, and Horn jointly inform Philip that as long as Granvelle remains, their cooperation is impossible. Motley emphasizes the word 'taciturnity' to highlight their deliberate silence before this protest. The nobles claim their communication is 'pure, frank, and free from all passion,' yet the letter is a direct challenge to royal authority. The King's response is evasive; he instructs the Duchess Margaret to manage the situation without recalling Granvelle. The three seigniors then follow through on their threat, withdrawing entirely from the state council, leaving the government paralyzed. This coordinated action, Motley suggests, forces Philip to reconsider his reliance on the Cardinal.

Granvelle's Secret Correspondence

Motley draws extensively on Granvelle's private letters to Philip, which reveal the Cardinal's insinuations against the nobles. Granvelle chronicles anecdotes to discredit Berghen and Montigny, accusing them of lukewarmness toward the Inquisition. He also complains of the nobles' growing influence and urges the King to visit the provinces in person. The correspondence with Lazarus Schwendi further underscores the approaching crisis. Granvelle's letters are filled with complaints about his own position; he repeatedly expresses anxiety to retire, yet his actions suggest a desire to maintain power. Motley presents these letters as evidence of the Cardinal's manipulative nature and his role in poisoning the King's mind against the Dutch nobility.

The Foolscap Livery and Public Mockery

A striking episode involves a banquet given by Caspar Schetz, where the invention of a 'foolscap livery' becomes a symbol of resistance. The Duchess and the Cardinal correspond with Philip about this incident, which they view as a deliberate insult. Motley uses this to illustrate the growing public contempt for Granvelle. After his departure, a wag posts a placard on the Cardinal's Brussels palace reading 'For sale, immediately.' Brederode and Hoogstraaten, in a famous scene, mount one horse and gallop after Granvelle's carriage, pulling their cloaks over their faces as they watch him pass. The Cardinal dismisses them as 'young folk,' but the mockery underscores the collapse of his authority.

The King's Elaborate Duplicity

Philip II orchestrates a complex deception to recall Granvelle while maintaining the pretense that the Cardinal left voluntarily. The King sends a secret note to Granvelle, dissembling letters to others, and instructs the Duchess to provide an escort for the Cardinal's safety. Granvelle himself writes letters from Namur and Besançon begging the Regent to implore the King to excuse his absence—letters that are part of the staged performance. Motley notes that William of Orange was not deceived: 'Although the Cardinal talks of coming back again soon,' the Prince wrote, 'we nevertheless hope that, as he lied about his departure, so he will also spare the truth.' The volume concludes with a review of Granvelle's administration, assessing his character and the lasting impact of his removal.

Readers should attend to Motley's use of private correspondence as a narrative device: the letters between Granvelle, Philip, and the Duchess reveal the gap between public statements and private intentions. The volume's structure moves from the nobles' collective action to the Cardinal's isolated plotting, then to the farcical aftermath of his departure. This interplay of high politics and low comedy gives the 1563-64 crisis a distinctive texture, one that rewards close attention to Motley's selection of detail.

The rain kept me indoors with Motley’s account of Granvelle’s whispered departure, that quiet triumph of patience over power. Hours slipped by as I watched diplomacy unravel. Later, restless, I drifted to another shelf and found myself inside a different kind of maneuvering, a war fought openly. The transition felt natural, like turning a page. There, in the mud and maps, lay On the Trail of Grant and Lee — A Closer Reading, a companion to all private struggles made public.