HOVV great our Devotions have al­ways been to your Majesties Service in these Parts, we believe may be sufficiently known, both by our so Faithful Service to your Majesty, and by those Favours which in lieu thereof, you have upon all Occasions so Graciously conferred upon us; the same Zeal makes us now perhaps transgress the Rules of Reverence, that we may not prove faulty in those of Loyalty. (Your Ma­jesty) at your Departure, left the Government of these Provinces to the Dutchess of Parma, so vertuous a Princess, as she hath fully the ap­plause of so worthy a Choice. It was believed that the Bishop of Auras, now Cardinal, was left with her, to Counsel and Advise her, and not to be Arbiter in the Government, but he arro­gating unto himself the absolute Disposal of all things, and leaving nothing of Regent to the Dutchess, but the bare Name, disposes of these Provinces, as he would do of his own private House; He orders all things as he pleases, he handles and resolves the weighty Affairs, with­out the Knowledg of the Councel of State, and doth this so Imperiously, and with such con­tempt of all the Nobility, as the manner is more Odious, than the thing it self. If the Evils which ensue from hence, did terminate in our own private Offences, we might at last resolve to bare with them; but experience doth shew dayly more and more, that this Malady is already become Publick, and that not stop­ping in the Court, it certainiy passes, and breaks out into all the Provinces, with sure and great danger, that the effects will still prove worse, as long as the Cardinal Granville shall tar­ry in Flanders, so long will these Inconveniencies and Disorders Increase; and because they per­chance in time arise to such a height, that it will be too late to remove him from hence; We therefore have thought it suited with the Obli­gation, which the candour of our fidelity, and the Condition of our several Imployments, im­poseth upon us to acquaint Your Majesty with what hath been said, to the end, that you may apply such Remedy as is necessary, which cer­tainly consists in taking the Cardinal from Flan­ders as soon as may be; those who are here of the best sort, and generally all the rest of the Provinces are of our Opinion: in which let not the Cardinal boast himself that he desires the integrity of these Countries more then we: for we may rather justly glory, that had it not been for us the Liberties thereof would have been much more damnified and diminished in them.

I Am glad that I can Attribute all that which you have written touching Cardinal Granvill, to the particular respect of My Service. I commend your Zeal and am well pleased with the Courage; but on the other side I do not use for any Complaint▪ to be made by others, to bereave any Officers of Mine and his Employments, without hear­ing him speak for himself. Moreover it is fitting in Business of this Nature, to come from generalities to particular Offences, to the end that if the Accused cannot justifie himself, his Punishment may be the greater; but because these are things which peradven­ture may better be discust by word of mouth then by Letters, I think it best that you to that purpose come over to me in Person, with assurance of being here by me, both willingly heard and Honotrably receiv'd. See C. Bentev [...]g Hist. part 1.