to the substance of the letter, save the Duke of Aerschot, Count
Aremberg, and Baron Berlaymont. The Duke and Count had refused to join
the league; violent scenes having occurred upon the subject between them
and the leaders of the opposition party. Egmont, being with a large
shooting party at Aerschot's country place, Beaumont, had taken occasion
to urge the Duke to join in the general demonstration against the
Cardinal, arguing the matter in the rough, off-hand, reckless manner
which was habitual with him. His arguments offended the nobleman thus
addressed, who was vain and irascible. He replied by affirming that he
was a friend to Egmont, but would not have him for his master. He would
have nothing to do, he said, with their league against the Cardinal, who
had never given him cause of enmity. He had no disposition to dictate to
the King as to his choice of ministers, and his Majesty was quite right
to select his servants at his own pleasure. The Duke added that if the
seigniors did not wish him for a friend, it was a matter of indifference
to him. Not one of them was his superior; he had as large a band of
noble followers and friends as the best of them, and he had no
disposition to accept the supremacy of any nobleman in the land.
The conversation carried on in this key soon became a quarrel, and from
words the two gentlemen would soon have come to blows, but for the
interposition of Aremberg and Robles, who were present at the scene. The
Duchess of Parma, narrating the occurrence to the King, added that a duel
had been the expected result of the affair, but that the two nobles had
eventually been reconciled. It was characteristic of Aerschot that he
continued afterward to associate with the nobles upon friendly terms,
while maintaining an increased intimacy with the Cardinal.

The gentlemen who sent the letter were annoyed at the premature publicity
which it seemed to have attained. Orange had in vain solicited Count
Aremberg to join the league, and had quarrelled with him in consequence.