"What is the man talking about ?" she would ask with languid superciliousness, if he attempted to express his opinion in the state-council.

Viglius, whom Berlaymont accused of doing his best, without success, to make his peace with the seigniors, was in even still greater disgrace than his fellow-cardinalists.

He longed, he said, to be in Burgundy, drinking Granvelle's good wine.

His patience under the daily insults which he received from the government made him despicable in the eyes of his own party.

He was described by his friends as pusillanimous to an incredible extent, timid from excess of riches, afraid of his own shadow.