Perrenot De Granvelle, Antoine De

Perrenot De Granvelle, Antoine De, a noted French cardinal, was born at Besan- on, Aug. 20, 1517; studied at the universities of Paris, Padua, and Lonvain, and at twenty-three became bishop of Arras. Having exhibited great executive talent at the Council of Trent, he was made counselor of state, and upon the death of his father, Nicolas Perrenot, the prime-minister of Charles V, was himself elevated to that position. He soon acquired much distinction, and became known all over the Continent. After the accession of Philip II, Perrenot continued in the premiership, but at the same time received recognition for his valuable services to the Church by being made in 1560 archbishop of Malines, and in 1561 a cardinal. In 1565 he was called to Rome to assist the conclave in the election of pope Pius V. In 1570 he was instrumental in effecting a treaty against the Turks, which so benefited Naples that he was named viceroy of that territory. In 1584 he was elected archbishop of Besadion, and he thereupon resigned the see of Malines. He died at Madrid Sept. 21, 1586. Cardinal Perrenot was one of the most eminent men of his time. He was marvelously successful in all that he undertook. In the State and in the Church he exhibited the same aptitude and power, and developed his plans to perfection. Besides, he was a good man, and sought not to gratify a selfish ambition, but to labor for his fellows and the religious faith he himself honestly avowed. He was a general favorite among his contemporaries, as is evinced by the many works that were dedicated to him by his many friends and progress. Cardinal Perrenot was too busy to write many books; but his letters, which have been collected in 33 vols., with memoir, are much valued for the light they throw of the history of Charles V and on the beautiful character of the cardinal himself. See Courchetet, Hist. du Card. Perrenot de Granvelle (Par. 1761); Robertson, Hist. of Charles V; Prescott, Hist. of Philippians II; Schiller, Gesch. d. Niederlande, vol. i, pt. ii, ch. i.