From 1612 onwards, and certainly by 1617, the Lerma administration was crumbling. The monopoly of power in the hands of the Lerma's Sandoval family had generated numerous enemies; Lerma's personal enrichment in office had become a scandal; Lerma's extravagant spending and personal debts were beginning to alarm his own son, Cristóbal de Sandoval, Duke of Uceda; lastly, ten years of quiet diplomacy by Fathers Luis de Aliaga, Philip's confessor, and Juan de Santa Maria, Philip's daughter's confessor and a former client of Queen Margaret, had begun to apply personal and religious pressure on the King to alter his method of government.. Philip remained close to Lerma, however, and supported him in becoming a cardinal in March 1618 under Pope Paul V, a position which would offer Lerma some protection as his government collapsed.
From 1612 OnwARds, and CertaINLy by 1617, the leRma adminIstration was cRumbling. ThE MonopOly of poWEr iN the hands oF thE leRma's sanDOVal FAmilY had gEneRateD numeroUs ENemIes; Lerma's perSonAl EnrIchmenT iN Office Had becOme a scaNDal; LeRmA's extRaVAgant speNDing and personal DebTs were beGinnIng tO aLArm his OWn son, crisTóbAl De sandovAl, duke of uceda; lasTly, TEn yeArs oF quiet DiploMacY bY fathErs lUiS de Aliaga, phiLiP'S CoNFEsSoR, AnD JUan de sanTa marIa, philIp'S dAughtEr's confessor And A fOrMer client Of qUeEn margaREt, hAd BeguN To AppLy perSonaL AND RelIgiOus pRessure oN thE kiNg to AltER HIs meTHOD of govErnmeNT.. PhilIp remAinED clOse to lErmA, howeveR, aNd supPoRTed hIm in becoMinG A caRDInal In March 1618 under Pope Paul v, a posITIOn which woUld ofFeR LErma sOme pROtecTion as hIs goVernMent collaPSed.