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ANTHONY PERENOT, Bishop of Arras, subsequently Archbishop of Malines,and Metropolitan of all the Netherlands, who, under the name of CardinalGranvella, has been immortalized by the hatred of his contemporaries,was born in the year 1516, at Besancon in Burgundy. His father,Nicolaus Perenot, the son of a blacksmith, had risen by his own meritsto be the private secretary of Margaret, Duchess of Savoy, at that timeregent of the Netherlands. In this post he was noticed for his habitsof business by Charles V., who took him into his own service andemployed him in several important negotiations. For twenty years he wasa member of the Emperor's cabinet, and filled the offices of privycounsellor and keeper of the king's seal, and shared in all the statesecrets of that monarch. He acquired a large fortune. His honors,his influence, and his political knowledge were inherited by his son,Anthony Perenot, who in his early years gave proofs of the greatcapacity which subsequently opened to him so distinguished a career.Anthony had cultivated at several colleges the talents with which naturehad so lavishly endowed him, and in some respects had an advantage overhis father. He soon showed that his own abilities were sufficient tomaintain the advantageous position which the merits of another hadprocured him. He was twenty-four years old when the Emperor sent him ashis plenipotentiary to the ecclesiastical council of Trent, where hedelivered the first specimen of that eloquence which in the sequel gavehim so complete an ascendancy over two kings. Charles employed him inseveral difficult embassies, the duties of which he fulfilled to thesatisfaction of his sovereign, and when finally that Emperor resignedthe sceptre to his son he made that costly present complete by givinghim a minister who could help him to wield it.
Granvella opened his new career at once with the greatest masterpiece ofpolitical genius, in passing so easily from the favor of such a fatherinto equal consideration with such a son. And he soon proved himselfdeserving of it. At the secret negotiations of which the Duchess ofLorraine had, in 1558, been the medium between the French and Spanishministers at Peronne, he planned, conjointly with the Cardinal ofLorraine, that conspiracy against the Protestants which was afterwardsmatured, but also betrayed, at Chateau-Cambray, where Perenot likewiseassisted in effecting the so-called peace.
A deeply penetrating, comprehensive intellect, an unusual facility inconducting great and intricate affairs, and the most extensive learning,were wonderfully united in this man with persevering industry and never-wearying patience, while his enterprising genius was associated withthoughtful mechanical regularity. Day and night the state found himvigilant and collected; the most important and the most insignificantthings were alike weighed by him with scrupulous attention. Notunfrequently he employed five secretaries at one time, dictating to themin different languages, of which he is said to have spoken seven. Whathis penetrating mind had slowly matured acquired in his lips both forceand grace, and truth, set forth by his persuasive eloquence,irresistibly carried away all hearers. He was tempted by noneof the passions which make slaves of most men. His integrity wasincorruptible. With shrewd penetration he saw through the dispositionof his master, and could read in his features his whole train ofthought, and, as it were, the approaching form in the shadow whichoutran it. With an artifice rich in resources he came to the a