patentes to all princes and magistrates of euery Citie by the whiche the rigouresnes of the former Edictes was not onelie openlie confirmed but also by the graunt of many thyngs contrary to the right and priuileges of their auncient liberties verie much encreased With these letters the Inquisitors beyng armed after the kynges departure spoyled the poore people beyng cleane beggered before of the remnaunt of their riches they depriued cities and townes of their priuileges they most cruelly murdered the chefe of the Citizens hauyng first spoyled them of theyr goodes destroying some with the burden of rheynes long emprisonment some by most cruell tormentes some by the gallowes some by sword some by fire burying some quicke and drownyng other yee that before their cause was pleaded and many tymes at midnight contrary to the accustomed maner of executing iustice And that nothyng should be wantyng vnto them wherby they might bring in this their holy Inquisition too the vtter abandonyng and subuertyng the liberties and priuileges of the whole prouinces commit the chefe auctoritie to straungers yea to those onelie whiche were Priestes and church men contrary to all the orders and decrées of the former princes and contrary to the kings couenaunt confirmed by othe whereby they might chalenge vnto them selues not onelie full power iurisdiction of all matters but also the soueraigne auctoritie ouer all mens goods riches wiues children yea ouer their lyues also might captiuate and make subiect vnto them selues the full power of all magistrates and set the same foorth to open sale at their pleasure they begyn with a new pollicie the old web of their Inquisition which they had compassed in their mindes but not as yet throughlie finished For when all the kynges nobles and counsellours were departed from him they perswaded him that it was necessarie for the maintenaunce of the catholike religion to appoinct new byshops which should be the Inquisitors of fayth The charge hereof was committed to Somnus a deuine of Louine he goyng to Rome with great diligence brought his matter to passe in short space as he desired he deuided the prouinces as he was commaunded by Granduellanus in the which he left not the power iurisdictiō of the princes of the empire vntouched so farre was he from lettyng the other byshops nobles to escape he made certein men byshops whiche had spent their whole studie and trauayle all their lyfe tyme in the administration of ciuill affaires whereof some of them for their wit and learnyng were accompted as fooles and others for their vnchast lyfe and odious crimes were famous with most notable infamie He assigned vnto Granduellanus the Archbyshopricke of Meclenia with the Abbacie of Afflegamensia the richest most wealthyest of all Belgie that is to say he gaue him the soueraigne auctoritie of all thyngs he appoincted to Viglius the Byshopricke of Gandauia but to hym selfe he reserued the byshopricke of Buscoducia and adioyned therunto many of the most wealthyest Abbayes the which were euident signes and tokens of the emynent calamities publike bondage he imparted to the rest as their office and chardge required but to euery one he obteined licence to appoint new prebendes in his cathedral Church they which should be bounde alwayes to serue and helpe the bishop in hys Inquisition throughout his Diocese wherof two of them were alwayes Inquisitors by office the rest should seaze vppon the goodes confiscate and serue for proctures to accuse the giltie and euery magistrate was bounde to aide euery one of these with his full power and force It was lawfull for straungers to attayne to these byshoprickes vnder whiche pretence the whole prouince might easelie and in short tyme be made subiect to the Spanyardes inuenters and maisters of this Inquisition And thus this straunger and vp starte Granduellanus borne of a base degrée and most obscure parentage with that slauishe secte of the Spanishe Inquisitors doth contrary to the whole libertie of the people contrary to the lawes of the Citie contrary to the priuileges of the prouince graunted confirmed by the kynges othe contrary to all former promises contrary to all rightes and customes of our progenitors contrarie to the makyng of lawes the foundations of olde Abbayes the iurisdiction of byshoprickes the priuileges and immunities of townes by force thrust vpon the prouinces of Belgie this newe creation of byshops He goeth about partlie with flatteryng promises partlie with fearefull threatnynges to induce many cities magistrates to applie them selues to his censure and iudgement and to some Cities he causeth byshops to be giuen them will they nill they The rest of the Cities a greate many in number do openly resist and thinke that the innouation of all these thynges so manifest contrary to the lawes of all antiquities to their old accustomed priuileges is not to be suffered Likewise many Abbayes but especiallie in Brabant because their Abbates beyng dead none was appointed to succede do resiste and greuously complaine to the rest of the byshops and estates of Brabant of so great and so manifest iniury But when they saw their doynges to be in vayne because Granduellanus did with great force withstand them they takyng vnto them the rest of the estates put vp a Supplication vnto theyr gouernesse for the abrogatyng of thys disordered order of byshops She denyeth her auctoritie to reach so far and referreth the matter to the kyng Therfore by by they send their Embassadours to the kyng into Spayne which with humble petition shuld require that his maiestie would not suffer their state and condition to be altered contrary to their old accustomed priuileges and to the lawes of their progenitors But with open denyall they haue the repulse Not long after doe the estates of Brabant vrge the gouernesse agayne and craue that their cause might be heard and iudgement giuen with equitie but there suite was all in vayne for she aunswered that it dyd nothyng belong vnto her The Magistrate of Antwarpe with many bils diuerse peticions dyd go about to stay this innouation of things He openly refuseth the byshops and besides that sendeth Embassadours into Spayne to the kyng They after much ado and long sollicityng of the matter obteined at the length licence to be exempted from the bondage of the new Byshops In the meane tyme Granduellanus neuer ceased by most subtill and craftye meanes and that openlye to atchieue and wynne vnto hym selfe the full power of gouernyng the common wealth couertly to remoue from all authoritie the gouernesse of Parmenia as one not expert inough in the Belgians affaires to ordeine and appointe Magistrates in euery Citie at his pleasure to breake of and disturbe the great Senate not long before appointed by the kyng and was called the noble counsell beyng the solemne assembly of the princes gouernors of the whole prouince whiche he
desireth to deale with you as with his open enemyes Let therfore all méetynges of marchants chaunge of marchaundises be taken away let all your Vniuersities be destroyed abrogate all their priuileges suffer no hosopitalitie to be kept let euery mā sit idle at home in his owne house take hede lest any thyng be brought in from farre coūtreys lest likewise ye bryng in somewhat which may at length hynder the barbarous trade of the Duke of Alba. But we hope most worthy princes that you playnly sée what mē are chiefly to be accused of this our iniury the Spanyard will not suffer our yoūg men to come vnto your Vniuersities your solemne martes or fayres or to any of your prouinces least peraduenture they should returne infected of some spot of heresie By the which hys iudgement he openly condemneth you and all your people of heresie and impietie Although in this his doyng he hath besides this an other fetch and purpose for this is a new inuention for to spoile the poore people of their substaūce for when he séeth thē to haue escaped the gréedy iawes of his Inquisition and it is not easie for hym to accuse them beyng absent although many of them in his iudgement woorthely be accused of such haynous crymes and had deserued to haue their goodes confiscate bycause they were very rich wealthy he thought best to deuise some way whereby he mgyht lykewise draw them into his net And ther fore he stretcheth out the vale of his Religion the which he abuseth to the full satisfieng of all his appetites as Gigas dyd hys ryng By this he driueth some out of theyr countrey and maketh some returne home agaynst their wils By this he taketh from some all their liberties riches and life to others he geueth full lycence to praye vpon other mens goodes and with all wickednes to shed the innocent bloud to be brefe vnder this pretence of Religion he doth what soeuer pleaseth him though it be contrary to the lawes of God and man By this also with most extreme and vnaccustomed tyrāny he goeth about to establish to geue all soueraigne power in low Germany vnto the Bishops of the Spanish Inquisitiō that from thence if it be possible they might stretch the same by their deceytes priuy practises throughout all Europe Do not you thinke most noble Princes that these thynges nothyng perteine vnto you for they do most especially bende theyr force agaynst you and your Germany For their remayneth as yet yea there is norished I say in the Spanyardes harts and bowels the great grief which they of late conceyued when they saw the gouernment of Germany wherof they thought them selues in full possession to be pluckt out from betweene theyr iawes They do as yet trye their old counselles whereby they may make subiect all the world to theyr holy Inquisition and reteine vnto thē selues the full superioritie of all things they haue not as yet buryed their old artes and craftie pollicies they haue not as yet abolished their leages societyes and conspiracies wherby they bounde them selues vtterly to subuerte all those whom they thought would withstand the encrease of theyr tyranny Who doth not know the conditions of peace betwene the kynges of Fraunce and Spayne Who knoweth not the confederacie made with the Bayoniandes who knoweth not what firebrandes hath from thence bene brought into Fraunce low Germany Italye England Scotland and into the furthest countrey of all the lande Thule Truely that longe and deadly ciuill warre in Fraunce was first moued and made by these authors contrary to the Edictes made by the estates of the whole Realme and contrary to the will of the Kyng and Quéene and by these also the peace beyng broken the leages violated and the fidelitie of their othes and agréementes beyng troden vnder féete It was begon agayne the second and the thyrd time by these men it hath bene continued almost ten yeares to the great calamitie of that noble prouince the great slaughter of worthy men and noble princes Neither do they now at this tyme ceasse with theyr pestiferous coūsels most wicked practises by all their power to breake make voyde the peace appointed and cōcluded with the full good will of the kyng all good men It is more manifest then that it néedes rehearsall what persecutions they haue done in Italy what conspiracies they made in England what seditious tumultes murthers they haue caused in Scotland what rebellions they haue raised in Irelād for what haue they doubted euen in Englād settyng vp their Popes buls conuiciously to call the most noble gratious and vertuous Quéene of England the seruaunt of all wickednes the mainteyner of most wicked persons an hereticke fauourer of all heretickes do pronounce her cursed by the Popes curse to depriue her of the right of her kingdome and iurisdiction to absolue her subiectes people from the bonde of their loyaltie and othe towardes her and generally to forbid that any man should obey her authoritie by the which their iudgement they haue openly and playnly declared what other kynges and princes professyng the Gospell should looke for at their hands But what hath this seditious flame conteined it selfe within the boundes and limites of Europe Hath it not burst out ouer retched the pillers of Hercules hath it not filled the shores of Aphricke with the dead mens bodyes hath it not styrred vp the Mores to armour and the Turke to battaile hath it not shaken the scaffold of the whole world with a most terrible tempest and doth it not also now most noble Princes prepare it selfe to burst out amongest you to arme your selues agaynst your owne bowelles if ye take not hede notwithstāding we do not doubt but that the Lord for his mercy sake wil indue your honors with such wisedome and courage that you shall stand and withstand their mischieuous practises But we most mighty Cesar and ye renowmed princes of Germany besech your your honors not to neglect vs the most miserable of all men banished our countrey spoyled of our riches sclaūdered with ignomy oppressed with pouerty through theyr great and vnspeakable tyrāny Remember that Belgy is a part of Germany wherof a great part is conteyned within the riuer of Rhene a great part also by most auncient right obeyng to the Emperors lawes statutes Remember that Brabant hath bene alwayes in most auncient inheritaunces of the Empire and the Dukes therof hath in all ages heretofore bounde them selues to the Emperours to be in theyr retinue and protection And that Antwerpe is accompted the chief Marquesdome of the Empyre and that Gueldria Phrisia and the countrey Gormingen Transiselan and Cameracensis are all vnder the iurisdiction of the Empire and that Hollande Zelande Hannony and other Townes of Belgy haue apperteyned to the dukes of Barrey as theyr auncetors goodes inheritaunce Do not you despise the frendshyppe that is
Ladie long in honor and prosperitie to serue our most gracious Queene whō God long defend to hys honor and the succour of hys Church and comfort of her owne conscience in not omittyng any thyng to the helpe of Gods flocke and sure remouyng of Gods enemyes dangerous practisers that as her present gouernement ministreth aboundance of good frutes so the tymes imminent and posteritie may find no lacke but for her good prouisions yeld her eternall thankefull memorie when God shall haue receiued her as hys faythfull seruaunt to eternall blessed kyngdome Your L. most humble Elias Newcomen THe same tempest most victorious Emperor and most noble Princes which now almost a whole hundred yeares hath troubled sundry partes of Europe hath now also at this time by most cruell tyrannie enforced vs being spoyled of our goods chased out of our natiue contreyes oppressed with sclanders of our aduersaries and tossed with all kinde of calamities to flée as most humble suters to your clemencie for succor For we suppose there is no man ignorant that long agoe Spaine and since also by litle and litle a great part of all Europe not onely hath flamed with inward contentions and tumultes but also hath in maner ben ouerwhelmed with most greuous storme of persecutions and tyrannie Wherby certaine idle men which in onely name and outward gesture professed a solitarie life seuered frō all gouernance of common weales and onely addicted to the preaching of the worde of God or quiet studie of holy scriptures haue begonne to créep into courtes of Kinges and Princes and couering their greedy affections with cloke of religion to minister such counsells wherby they might by their new deuised meane of Inquisition against heresie drawe to themselues from the ciuile magistrate the hearing and iudgement of the controuersies of greatest weight and importance And so by litle and litle they haue atteined not onely by searching and inquiring to become Lordes of euery priuate persons goods possessions houses and most secrete places yea and their wiues and children but also to bring the magistrates and Princes themselues in subiection to their authoritie In what places they perceaued their desires to be hindred either by the auncient libertie of the people or by the discretion of the Rulers and Princes straightway they charged such with forged sclander of heresie and rebellion and so greuously enflamed the hartes of Kinges and Emperors against their subiectes And by thys craftie meane they haue stirred vp ciuile dissentions tumultes of commonalties and oftentimes gréeuous warres whereby they haue brought most florishing contreyes into great displeasure and hatred of all kinges princes and nations and so drawen them to extreme calamitie This if any prouince in Europe hath euer felte surely our contrey namely that part of base Germanie that is subiecte to the most mighty king of Spaine hath and specially at thys time to their great destruction most miserably suffred For since that by the most false sclanders and other corrupt craftye meanes of the Spanishe Inquisitors thys countrey hath vnder pretense of heresie and impietie bene brought in greuous displeasure with the Emperor Charles the fifth of happye memorie and his sonne Philippe King of Spaine and Lorde of base Germanie and oppressed with most hainous Edictes about religion procured by guile and sclanderous report and so hath of their great truth and obedience to their soueraigne Lordes now more than fiftie yeares with incredible pacience borne the Inquisitors most cruell yoke and now at length after matters in other countreyes adioyning well settled to peace and quietnesse and the truth of the cause commonly disclosed hoped to finde some release of so great calamitie it is now come to passe that the aduersaries being greued to see them aspire to such libertie of religion as by thys time florished not onely in Germanie but also in Fraunce and many other places haue in strange maner and with most earnest endeuour trauailed not onely to frustrate the hope of the inhabitantes but also by bringing in a farre more greuous tyrannie to pull from them all the residue of their right and libertie that they had remayning and so to spoile such wealthy ones of their goods and such noble and mighty ones of their liues as they saw to be of habilitie to withstand their attemptes Therefore adioyning to them the Bishop of Rome and hauing obtained hys Bull they did by sondry sclanders and with extreme importunacie wreste from the King an Edicte agaynst all the Priuileges of the contrey agaynst their lawes ordinaunces and auncient liberties namely for the precise obseruing of the decrées of the Counsell of Trent and for bringing in of new Bishops that shoulde put in execution throughout the whole land a new forme of Inquisition farre more cruell than the very Spanishe Inquisition which was first inuented against Iewes and Mahometane Apostataes and so in short time should openly bring a most florishing and frée Prouince into the most dishonourable seruage of straungers and those most villanous and abhominable persons to torment at their pleasure the honestest and best men vpon suborning of any infamous informer or most corrupt witnesse with bondes with racke with gallowes and with fire to thrust the wealthy out of their possessions to subdue the magistrates them selues to their iurisdiction and to make themselues Lordes of all specially to destroy vtterly and with most exquisite tormētes to murder and roote vp all those that refused to obey the Bishop of Romes power and would haue their consciences subiecte to the onely worde of God contayned in the bookes of the olde and new Testament This matter geuing iust occasion to the Nobilitie that they exhibited supplication for staye thereof to the Duchesse of Parma Regent there for the King and in the same declared what calamitie would thereof vndoubtedly ensue and likewise whē the commonaltie hauing heretofore vsed their religion within their priuate houses and seing the same thereby subiecte to sclanders and enuie did now by laying it open in publike preachinges and assemblies to the indifferent iudgement and examination of all good men deliuer it from false and cauillous reportes it came to passe that the aduersaries hereupon tooke occasion by raising of sondry tumultes most hatefully to incense the King against the whole people as giltie of the most haynous crimes of heresie rebellion sedition and treason against God and the king And where his maiestie was fully determined to come into the lowe conteyr and him selfe in person to heare the cause and to end the whole matter according to right and equitie they partly by suttle crafty meanes and very traitorous practises purposely deuised for the destruction of the people of that contrey and partly by the importunate labour and impudent gredy endeuour of certaine persons and partly also by aduises and threatninges procured from forene partes euen in maner against his will brought hym to thys that being greuously incensed agaynst his subiectes sodeinly altering hys former
much more the whych they so cunningly perswaded the Gouernesse that she leauing Bruxill the most auncient demeane and mansion of the Duke of Brabant neuer determined to flye to any defected city the which truely she would haue done if being perswaded by the noble men which they well knew the state of the countrey she had not comforted her selfe pluckt vp her courage But when they sée theyr manifold and shamefull slaunders disproued by the déed it selfe and by the modest behauiour of the noble men to take no place they merueylously dyd cry out and inuey before the Gouernesse agaynst the solemne and great assembly of the nobles against theyr league and society which they had made and when they did sée that al this could litle preuayle agaynst them they beat most vpon thys one poynt and they made thys the chiefe cause of theyr accusation that they dyd manifestly shew them selues seditious rebels when they required a frée lawfull assembly of noble men or graund parlament to be sommoned affirming that nothing doth more diminish the power and authoritie of a prince then the solemne metyng of the estates wherewith most mighty kinges and princes haue bene compelled to yelde to theyr order And truely all men do know that Granuellanus and Viglius were wont oftentimes to say that the king aboue all thynges had néede to take héed least the estates of the prouince be lycensed to make assemblies and general metinges according to the accustomed maner of their Auncytors the which kinde of gouernment Charles the fifte dyd dyligently obserue contrary to the custome of the former princes and dukes whereby he determined all thinges according to hys will and pleasure and therfore he cleane put down the generall méetinges and lawfull assemblies of all the estates holden at their graūd counsels and appoynted all thynges to be done and determined after hys and theyr arbitriment whome he would vouchsafe to take vnto hym They sayd the king should take the same order if he would haue hys dignity maytayned safely wythout appayring and that he shoulde hate nothing so much as the very mention of those frée assemblyes But when they perceyued them selues to profite nothing by thys meanes because all of them wyth one voyce did desire to haue a parliament and euery man vnlesse he were wythout sence or reason did easely perceaue the royall dignity could be mayntayned by nothyng so well as by these general and frée assemblies and they all knew that their care was for themselues and for theyr riches and not for the defence of the kinges honor for at the time of the parliament they should render vp theyr accomptes of the common treasurye what they had receyued and spent since the time they haue bene in theyr office and then were the actions of extortions and of the robberies of the common treasurye to be pleaded they thought it therefore best couertly by guile and crafty meanes to worke some sleight whereby they might vndermine the godly endeuour of the nobles and chief citizens whatsoeuer and cleare kéepe backe the appoyntment of these solemne counsels therfore subtelly they perswaded the Gouernesse that she shoulde call the estates of euery prouince seuerally and that she should suffer none to be of the counsell but such as she should chuse and call therunto And therfore as they gaue her counsell she caused most hasty and troublesome assemblies to be made of euery prouince seuerally by thēselues vnto the whych were sommoned to appeare onely they whych were chosen but they whom to haue bene there it had bene most requisite and they which by auncient right and of a long continuance were wont to be present were now cleane omitted Many were cōmaunded openly to depart and many to kéepe silence the time of deliberating the matter and taking counsell with theyr frends and wyth the rest of the estates of the prouince and gouernors of the people as the most auncient and certayne custome of such assemblyes hath euer before graūted is now from all of them indifferently taken away Moreouer the chiefest prouinces of all Belgie whose cause especially was then in handlyng as Brabantia Hollandia Phrisia Geldria Zelandia and the countreys of Lymburgye beyng made vnlawfull for any of them to come thether and thus the maner of mitigatyng these Edictes was referred to a very small company Wherof it is manifest that the most part were suborned and hyred for that purpose whose determination in outward shew semed to be much gētler but in the right meanyng and true vnderstandyng of it was crueller a great deale then the former Edictes In this one pointe it séemed to be more mercyfull bicause in stede of burnyng of them it appointed them to be trust vp vpon a gibbet or gallowes tormented with a racke chaynes And for the Inquisition substituted a visitatiō it did not confiscat the goodes of these whiche were fled but it so fetcht thē so circumuented them that a very foole might easely perceiue they sought nothing els but a more priuy entraunce to their old prescriptions and accustomed crueltie especially seyng the gouernesse did manifestly write vnto the gouernours and chief Iustices of euery prouince that as concernyng the kynges Edictes for religion they should well vnderstand that they ought nothyng to remitte or mitigate the seueritie of them no not although she her selfe should commaunde to the contrary And seyng the fury and madnes of the Inquisitors did no lesse outragiouslye robbe and spoyle then they were wont to doe and that without punishment or prohibition seyng as that the Monkes and preachyng Friers dyd not onely with most bytyng tauntes and spitefull reproches defame the chief and noble estates anymatyng harnising the rude people agaynst those Princes which put vp the bill of supplication also out of their pulpites did by name openly accuse them of disobedience disloyaltie and seditious treason and threaten them that the kyng would vtterly destroy them and put them to death And to conclude seing euery man dyd by most euident tokens perceiue and seyng they had it proued by many mens letters and talke that they sought nothyng els but by some meanes to delude and deceiue the people that from them gettyng ayde they might execute their tyranny not onely vppon the comminaltie but euen also vppon the chiefest of the Princes whosoeuer as if they were their deadly enemies At the lēgth notwithstandyng when they had determined what should be done they offer vp to the estates of Brabant the maner of their gouernement but in all the hast not lookyng for any aunswere they caused it to be published But whilest those thynges were a doyng the professors of the Gospell which had hetherto kept them selues in their priuate houses vpō hope that at length their muse beyng heard and the slaunderous cauilles wherewith they were defamed fully aunswered they should haue libertie for their religion which they were ready to defend with the worde of God in as
for rebellious traytors to the kinges maiestie and on the other side for periured persons which with their vaine promises had brought the people into a fooles paradise and made them subiect to the slaughter and butcherly fury of theyr aduersaries theyr confirmed couenauntes the kinges name seale and letters patentes to be of no force their former agréement by the which as by a bayte they were drawne into the net to be most manifestly deluded and that they were so far from hauing licence to cleare and purge them selues that they might not be suffred once to entreat or to make supplication for mercy and that they were openly taken for enemies enuironed about with souldiers so that there was no place for them lefte whereby they might escape by flying They being thus at their wittes ende not knowing which way to take were compelled at the length in all hast to muster theyr souldiers not that they ment to attempt any thing as enemies but that they might so long defend thēselues from the violence iniuries of theyr aduersaries vntill that they might either get equity for their cause or oportunitie to flie For if they would otherwise haue inuaded the kinges Cities there is no man so great a straunger or ignoraunt of the matters done in Belgie which doth not know that many cities sending theyr Embassadors did require theyr ayde and desired that it might be lawfull onely by the graunt and authority of Brederodius which was the captayne of the confederate princes to defend themselues by force of armes against the insolency and violence of theyr aduersaries The Valencenentians required to haue one of the nobilitie for theyr captayne Many other cities also being the chiefe amongest all the rest both for theyr power and authoritie and also for the number of theyr Citizens made the same request and many other also if they had so desired would haue submitted themselues to theyr auctority And yet notwithstanding they graunted not to any of them so much as by theyr woorde to yéeld to that they required except vnto the Buscoducentians there was one graunted the which should defende the Citie in the kinges name and of the confederate princes agaynst the insolency of the forreyne souldiers and should make the nobilitie a way if it fortuned to be shut vp all the rest wer refused not because it was a hard matter for them to kéepe those cities beyng already furnished with munition of warre especially if the prince of Aurice whome now the aduersaries do most shamefully be lye calling him the auctor of the whole sedition would but once but haue imagined so great an enterprise contrary to the wyll of the King and Gouernesse séeing that at hys féete almost the whole prouince did cast themselues downe with teares beséeching him to ayd thē against these violent théeues and murderers most periured tyraunts and that they might commit themselues all theyres into his power and iurisdiction He also might with a becke easely haue retayned in hys power not onely Hollande Zelande and the countrey of Truceland all which places he had in hys gouernment beyng of themselues as all men knoweth of hability to conquer the whole prouince but also Antwarpe Machlym Bustoduse and many other of the chéefest cities But that most godly Prince would not desire any thyng that shoulde séeme to impeache the Kinges authoritie but he gaue such godly counsels to the Gouernesse and to the other Cities the which if they might haue taken place would haue somewhat brideled the furious rage and couetous tyranny of the Spanish substitutes would haue retayned the whole prouince quietly and peaceably in theyr loyaltie towarde the king but he could neuer be perswaded to take armour himselfe or to geue license to the citizens to do the same The other confederate princes as neare as they could did obey hys auctority and folow his modesty but that they were compelled many times by violence and necessitie to take armes not to inuade or set vpon any cities or to do any violence but onely to withstand the violence and to defend themselues from the insolency of theyr aduersaries and to make themselues a way to escape by force if néede should require And these thynges truly which we haue reported were onely done before the duke of Aluaye hys commyng the whiche truly we haue thought it necessary more largely to expresse that all men may know how vniustly our aduersaries do deale with vs Although at their lust and pleasure they haue gouerned all thynges and oppressed vs full xl yeares with most extreme tyranny and the which at length by their crafty and subtill deuises haue styrred vp such greuous tempestes that therby they not onely mancypated and made bonde our selues our wiues and children but haue brought also the most florishyng prouince of Belgie into most doulfull calamities and beastly seruitude They do not yet for all this ceasse to accuse vs euery where vnto all Princes and people of Europe of most horrible crimes and to lay the faulte and occasions of all their couetous and mischieuous doynges vppon our neckes complainyng belyke because we would not with open bodyes and stretched out throates submitte our selues to their glaues and swoordes They are gréeued that we are safely escaped their handes and that we haue lost onely our riches possessions to be deuoured of their gréedy auarice that we haue not committed our lyues our wiues and children our soules and consciences to theyr lust tyranny and impietie Otherwise what is there that they can most especially lay agaynst vs can they obiect vnto vs the confederate societie of the princes let therfore the writynges of the conspiracie be read they truly though we should holde our peace would declare that they attempted nothing did nothyng nor once thought vpon any other thyng but onely whereby they might shew forth their loyaltie fidelitie and due obedience to their kyng onely that they might by the power and authoritie of the kyng withstād and suppresse the crueltie auarice and outragious couetousnes of many of the wicked But if their letters sealed and confirmed with their owne handes seales be of no credite yet let the effect of their doings be beleued for whilest all thyngs were as yet in safetie what was it which they went about dyd they not by supplication desire the kyng to disanull the vnbridled power of the Inquisition to mitigate the cruelty of the Edictes and other Edictes for the orderyng of Religion to be established by the kynges authoritie and decrée of the estates But verely here is the chief poynte of our aduersaries accusatiōs bycause forsooth they beyng frée men nobles louers of their countrey and desirous of peace faythfully addicted to the kynges maiestie durst be so bold by humbled supplication to require that the Edictes whiche were contrary to all equitie much impeachyng the kynges dignitie and disturbyng the common wealth brought in by errour and by false perswasion should
the remnantes of the wicked Mahumetane and Iewish sectes The charge hereof was committed to the Freres of Dominikes sect whoe had wholly possessed the Kynges and Quenes hart eares with a great estimation of holinesse and wisedome and therewith was also geuen them full authoritie in all thynges that might seme requisite to so great a mater They supposing them selues to haue so obteined a most commodious occasion to aduance their owne power and dignitie persuaded the Kyng and Quene that for atcheuyng therof a most extreme and vnmouable seneritie was necessarie And as though the dealing with religion perteined not to the ciuile magistrate but properly belonged to Friers whoe as it were by a peculiar name called them selues religious men and to prestes they sayd it was necessarie that a new court of Inquisitors should be erected to whom not only the hearyng and determinyng of such maters but also the whole iugement of all religion whatsoeuer it were shold with full power be committed The well meanyng Princes which onely directed their intention by any way howsoeuer it were to auance the Christian fayth lightly gaue credit to those whom they thought to excell other men in purenesse of life and holynesse and therewith committed to those them selues that were the inuenters therof the whole power of the Inquisitors office to vse accordyng to their owne discretion Thereto was added the confirmacion of pope Sixtus the fowerth then byshop of Rome For he labored with all his endeuour and earnest affection not onely to stablish but also to aduance and magnifie the fower orders of Freres then lately sprong vp To which his purpose he saw the zele of the Kyng and Quene of Spayne to be a very fitt meane Wherfore by his authoritie which then was at the greatest that euer it was sins the world began and by his Bull he confirmed and ratified this new iudiciall throne and new kyngdome of Inquisitors So this power vpholden both by the Royall and papall authoritie in short tyme maruellously encreased And sithe there is no man whom the right order of religion concerneth not by this pretense they easily got to them selues the iurisdiction and iugement ouer all men of all estates and degrées And by this meane within short while after they began to be Lordes ouer all mens goodes possessions lyues and consciences till of vnmeasurable power arose in them pride and couetousnesse and consequently therof grew the hatred of all men agaynst them so as now woman thought them any longer tolerable Therefore by the counsell and meanes of certaine bishops and other of the clergie that were in great estimation and credit in Spayne which repined to be subiect to the dominion of the Freres it was procured that by the kynges authoritie the power of Inquisition was taken from the Dominicanes and geuen to the clergie and it was ordered that out of the byshops and other prestes shold be chosen the maisters of the Inquisition which shold in dede vse the trauaile and aduise of the Dominicanes but yet shold still reserue to them selues the soueraigne power of the Inquisitors office These either for that they had some feruent zele of religion or for that they cunnyngly cloked their ambitious pride partly with wonderfull opinion of holinesse partly by the fauor and power of Princes and men of great authoritie to whom they were ioyned in frendshyp kinne or alliance partly also by corrupt and secret deuises in short tyme auaunced this their new raised empire to so great a heigth that now they not onely vsed dominion at their pleasure ouer the commonaltie but also brought into subiection to the holy Inquisition all the liberty of all the people estates of the realme they brake priuileges and immunities they abated the dignitie of the Nobilitie whom they call The grand counsell with out whoe 's authoritie in time past nothing was decréed in Spayne finally vnder pretense of religion and seruice of God they vsurped to them selues soueraigne power ouer the kyng hym selfe and ouer the maiestie of the royall scepter all noble men and persones of any credit whom they thought in any wise able to hynder their enterprises they caused to be accused of heresie and cruelly killed them or defaced them with most reprochefull note of open shame such as shold remaine vpon al their posteritie and so made them infamous and of odious memorie for euer These deuises though to many men they semed strange and intolerable yet both bicause they were principally prouided agaynst the most hatefull enemies of Spayne and of Christian religion namely the Mores Mahumetanes and Iewes and also for that they bleared most mens eyes with the pretense of Gods seruice and opinion of holinesse and finally for that they not a litle auailed to the enrichyng of the kynges treasurie now greatly wasted with many warres to whoe 's vse the one moitie of the goodes of all persones condemned was employed they were daily more and more stablished by the earnest fauors authoritie and power of the most part of the mightiest persones and specially of the Kyng and Quéene them selues vntill the Arragonoyes whoe are the principall prouince of Spayne both in right of auncient libertie in nobilitie and largenesse of dominion openly resisted They when they nothyng preuailed with kyng Ferdinand by humble and lowly petition attempted by force and armes to kepe out this pestilence from their contrey for that they plainely saw that their libertie which they had receiued most large and incredible from their auncesters and hetherto kept inuiolate shold by this meane be destroyed and that themselues and all theirs shold be made subiect to the most dishonorable tyrannie of the clergie But they preuailed not For after many trobles much destruction and bloodshed they were compelled mawgre their willes and perforce as the residue of Spayne dyd to yeld their neckes to stoope vnder this yoke of Inquisition so that the same prouince than which in tyme past there was none of more fréedome is now in such case as at this day there is none to be found in more seruitude subiection By terror of which example and by great opinion of holinesse which the Inquisitors had gotten by the good successe in this case it came to passe that they subdued all Spayne vnto them without any further resistance But as the gredy desires of men are naturally vnmeasurable and vnsatiable this lust of dominion could not long be conteined within the boundes of Spayne though they be full large but still forsoth with the same plausible pretense of stablishyng religion they bent their mynde to enlarge their empire and promised them selues the rule of the whole world For there is scarcely any contrey which in short space folowyng they attempted not to make subiect to them euen by the same suttle meanes wherby they had daunted Spaine For they compelled both the chefe part of Italie and many islandes both of the Middland and Oceane seas and England it selfe though
not for long tyme to yeld their neckes to this halter of Inquisition Yea they not onely ranged ouer to the vttermost Indians and to the farre distantes landes seuered from vs by the huge streame of the Ocean but also vnder pretense of orderyng religion they spoyled the poore and simple inhabitantes of those contreyes of all their goods and possessions and of their wiues children and liues yea and cruelly lyke butchers tearyng them with all kinde of tormentes they slew them by heapes and brought them to such miserie and wretched plight that a great number of them chose rather to slay them selues than to come vnder such cruell subiection of vnnaturall men Yea not long agoe they employed all their counselles all their practises and left no way vnassayed to bryng whole Germanie in slauerie vnder the same yoke And so farre with the authoritie and threateninges of the bishops of Rome dyd they driue on the Emperour Charles the fift of famous memorie euen in a maner agaynst his will and long witholding himselfe that the best and most noble princes he proclaimed traitors and made most deadly warre vpon them as vpon sworne enemies and vnder the pretended cloke of rebellion armed the protestant princes the one agaynst the other he brought the frée cities into most dishonorable slauerie of the Spanish soldiar and made the maiestie of the most noble and sacred empire subiect to the lust and vntolerable desires of most villanous persones Which most cruell yoke if partly the valeancie of the Germaine princes and partly the equitie and gentle fauor of the Emperour him selfe at length perceiuing the mater as truth was had not shaken of or taken away whole Germanie might long ago haue ben in such case as now is that parcell thereof from whense are now most vniustly banished and forced to sue for and pleade the cause of our afflicted contrey oppressed not onely with most greuous tyranny but also with most vnworthy sclanders and to protest before almightie God and all mankynde that there is no other cause of our calamitie but euen the same which had nere ouerwhelmed whole Germanie namely the gredy ambition of these men that vnder pretense of stablishyng religion labour to enlarge their dominion throughout the whole by right or wrong And so much the more earnestly they endeuour to bryng it into the low contrey of Germanie bicause it is by allyance of the princes by the communitie of one kyng and by auncient entercourse of merchandise and conuersation somewhat nerely conioyned vnto them therfore of long tyme they thinke that they may lawfully enforce vpon vs the Spanish lawes and ordinances Spanish maners and the Spanish yoke of Inquisition abrogatyng all our contrey lawes abolishing all memorie of the Germane name destroyeng our priuileges and oppressing our libertie When they long sins espied that the contrey though it be not great yet florisheth in wealth and power and is so fensed agaynst foreine force not onely with strong townes and castelles but also with good lawes and ordinances with large priuileges prerogatiues immunities and other liberties that so long as it hath her owne princes fauor it is easily able to defend her auncient fréedome they haue these many yeres euidently purposed and practised diuerse wayes to bryng the inhabitantes into suspicion and displeasure both with the Emperour Charles the fift and with kyng Philip his sonne to accuse them for heretikes and rebelles and so to persuade to haue them estemed as enemies and traitors that by this meane the contrey which for many respectes they accompted most commodious for their purpose might be spoyled of all right of libertie subdued and added to their dominion Sometyme they pretended this color that the seignories were to many and too seuerall sometime that in respect of the number of seignories the lawes customes and ordinances were too diuerse sometyme they alleged that the people were to wilde and proude by reason of their priuileges immunities and liberties sometime they brought the kyng in ialousie of the too great wealth and power of his subiectes sometyme they informed that the entercourse trafiques of foreine nations were suspicious Finally they left nothyng vntryed that might any way seme to serue to agreue his minde toward them Principally they vrged this one thyng that the auncient libertie of assemblie of the estates in parlamentes that hath continued in all ages greatly abateth the power of the prince for that their both by most auncient vsage of their forefathers it was so prouided and by the promises and couenantes of the princes them selues cōfirmed with their othes it was so ordeined that the princes should not decrée or do any thyng to the preiudice of the peoples libertie or of the authoritie of their lawes without the will and assent of the estates of the whole contrey and that therefore they more regarded the actes of the Estates than the kings proclamations that they estemed the kyng not as a kyng but as some cōmon Duke or Earle or rather gardian of their right lawes to gouerne the common weale not by his owne authoritie but after a prescribed forme of lawes and the ordinances of the estates moreouer that as it is in most frée commō weales so they yerely create of them selues magistrates burrowmasters with soueraine power of negatiue voyce that strangers are deharred from bearyng office in the common weale ecclesiasticall men by the lawes and statutes of the land are excluded from power of iurisdiction so the way stopped vp for the princes nerest faithfullest seruantes to atteine any gouernement These and such like things say they in tymes past haue often euen occasion to the commonaltie proudely to disobey the commaundement of theyr princes yea to burden their Lordes and princes to lawes and conditions yea and if their Princes attempted any thyng agaynst the vsage and will of the estates they haue presumed to chasten them some tyme with penalties sometyme with emprisonment and sometyme with deposing them These thyngs sayd they are not to be suffred of Princes Therfore they long most earnestly trauailed with Charles the Emperour and with Philip his sonne that the whole contrey might be reduced into one bodie and made subiect to one forme of lawes and iurisdiction brought to the name and title of a kyngdome and that abrogating the power of popular magistrates and lawes it might be gouerned with new lawes by discretion as the kyngdomes of Sicile and Naples be that haue bene atcheued by conquest Wherin when they saw that they labored in vayne both bicause the states of all the townes most strifly withstode it and perhappes also for that the Emperour hym selfe beganne to smell their sinister purposes and vntrue meanyng they differed that mater to a more commodious season and this yet by the way with their importunate sclanderous cauillynges they obteined that afterward he wold neuer in any wise suffer the solemne parlamentes
common wealth executed in so much that she gaue by publike auctoritie vnto many of the nobles and of the confederate princes charge ouer cities in the whiche they should set all thynges in order accordyng to the due prescript of the former decrée that they should assigne places out for the buildyng of Churches and for the peoples assembly to heare Sermōs and that they should with open protestation will all men to be secure and voyde from all feare and daunger and certeinly to persuade them selues that the garisons of souldiours should nothyng endammage them With the whiche thyng all the people began excedyngly to reioyce and to lay a part all feare as though out of a most boysterous tempeste they were already arriued in a most quiet hauen stayeng them selues vpon the publike promise thus made taken and confirmed by writyng They began to builde their Churches and fréely quietly to set forth their religion But yet notwithstandyng the furious madnes of their aduersaries was not pacified although they had already punished the ouerthrowers of their Images with greuous punishementes and did sée the innocencie of these Churches most manifestly witnessed by their open confessions But rather most proudly auauntyng them selues as though they had gotten a iust occasiō to punish the rebelles and that they should nothyng feare hereafter the nobilitie the whiche did manifestly shew them selues to be heauely displeased with the insolency of of the Imagebreakers they began by litle and litle but openly to encrease the nomber of their garrisons and to set them in their Cities with this pretence onely to withstand the insolencie of the Imagebreakers and thus they armed them selues with all thynges necessary vntill such tyme that they had brought their matters to as good effect as they desired perceiuyng the people quietly to rest them selues vppon the faythful promise of the nobilitie and gouernesse set forth in the kinges name vnder hys seale and letters patentes and that the noble men also were quiet not once mysdoubting that they should haue bene so wickedly and vnfaythfully deceaued they began openly to shew foorth what theyr meaning was for in such places where as they might be most bolde and in the which the magistrate was appliable vnto their desire first with new commaundementes obscure and doubtfull edictes and with scoffing interpretation they began to disanull the auctority of the published commaundement as concerning the late contract and in many places to delay from day to day the sealing of the writings of the publike promise and with sundry cauils to deceaue the miserable citizens and in many places to put those magistrats whose dealing they knew wold be alwayes with iustice out of their offices and contrary to the orders of the cities in their roomes to substitute most wicked men prompt and redy to all kinde of impietie and then at the length as though all hindraunces had bene taken away they began with great insolency by force of armes to disturbe the companies assembled at sermons tauntingly to reuile the ministers and citizens to worne them with wepons and lastly with open tyranny to oppresse them imprisoning many hanging many banyshing many and appointing new kind of othes wherby men should binde them to the popish religion contrary to the former decrée couenaunted and established before and to accompt those which denied to obey for enemies and traytors to the kinges maiestie Morouer they did rebaptize infantes which were baptized before they spoyled all the professors of the Gospell of theyr weapons and armour they armed and stirred vp the rest of the comminaltie agaynst them as agaynst the enemies of the common wealth Neyther onely did the sacrificing priestes or preachers out of their pulpits as it were with an open outcry stir vp the people to take armour agaynst them but also in many places the Magistrates themselues which were appoynted by the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors sounding allarum gaue open licence vnto the sedition and tumultes of the people against the miserable Gospellers the which were then lately called Gwesians that is to say Beggers and rascals And hereupon began the most dolefull and late calamitie of the noble prouince For euen then first of all was that famous citie of the Valentians beséeged in enemies wise of hys owne familiar frendes and citizens because forsooth they refused vppon the sodaine to receaue within theyr walles the cruell souldiers in that number that was commaunded them that is to say foure bandes of horsemen and fiue ensignes of footmen but tooke vnto them a day to deliberate in alleaging many causes that it would not be commodious vnto them to receaue them séeing they had as yet before theyr eyes amongs theyr neighbours a most cruell and doleful president of the souldiers rashnes for not long before in the countrey and towne of Sancto Amandus nexte adioyning vnto them the very same which were thrust in contrary to theyr lawes and priuiledges contrary to the fidelitie of the promise before geuen violently robbed and spoyled the poore miserable people that professed the Gospell of all they had in so much that from the very yong infantes they pulled theyr hose from theyr legges they defloured by course one after an other after the most horrible example of the Beniauntes the chaste matrones and virgines and at length in most cruell wise set them to open sale at the sounde of the drome they put to death many burnyng them by litle and litle with small flames and with theyr swordes opened the wombes of matrones great with childe The remembraunce of which horrible thynges iustly terrifieng the Valentenentians they humbly desired that they should not be cōpelled to receaue within their walles and houses such kynde of souldiers vnto whose auarice lust and crueltie they perceiued them selues their lyues wiues children and consciences should be at lēgth in most seruile bondage seyng that for foure yeares space before they had payed of their own proper costes and charges vnto the garrisons of souldiers their wages vpon this condition that they should neuer hereafter bee vexed or burdened any more with souldiours Neither yet dyd they so manifestly refuse it but that they dyd openly in most humble wise signifie vnto the gouernesse and to the rest of the primates rulers of the prouince that they were ready to receaue the souldiours of what nomber soeuer if they had a capitaine appointed thē for that they shuld not hinder the libertie of Religion whiche they had graunted confirmed vnto them not long before by the Edict of the gouernesse by the authoritie of the kynges letters patentes by the nobilities constant confirmation and with assent of all the Magistrates But they nothyng at all preuayled by this their modestie and equitie of their cause but forthwith they were openly proclaimed as traytors and rebelles the Citie was besieged vntill that at the lēgth when they beyng persuaded therto by the letters of the gouernesse promising all kind of clemency had
yelded them selues vnto the fidelitie of the Norcarmyans whiche dyd besiege them many were stroken with the sword many were hanged many were burned and an infinite number of them by the insolencie of the souldiers shot through with dagges neither was there any thyng pretermitted agaynst them the whiche the furious rage of the souldiours vse to execute in the sackyng and subuertyng of Cities Many beyng terrified with these horrible examples of crueltie and perceiuyng them selues so deceiued to be defended frō the furie and rashnes of the souldiours neither by the publike promise agréements couenauntes or othes nor by the kynges maiestie Edictes or patentes and perceauyng their aduersaries to attempt and put in practise all kynde of hostilitie agaynst them with great power and warlyke force and that all the hope of remedy or helpe was cleane taken away for their aduersaries dyd now accompt them not onely as heretikes but also as seditious rebelles as perturbers of the common of the quiet ouerthrowers of churches and traytours to the kinges maiestie and although they by most manifest proues and by the open confessions of those which were giltie had proued their innocencie had of their own accord offered them selues to be tryed by the censures of equall iudges they did vnderstand neuerthelesse that they were accused vnto the king of these most horrible crimes they thought it best therfore to betake them selues to prayer to vowes to teares and supplications hopyng by their humble suyte iust purgation to pacifie the anger of the kyng vehemently builded agaynst them by the false cauils of their aduersaries They therfore put vp a bill of supplication wherby they might request the kynges clemencie testifieng their owne innocencie and the sclaunderous accusations of their aduersaries and especially cleare them selues of the destroying of the Churches prouyng them selues to be in no faulte and that no suspition of rebellion cā iustly be gathered vpon them most humbly protestyng also their fidelitie obedience due reuerence to be alwayes ready vnto the kynges maiestie in what things soeuer thus much onely crauyng at the kynges handes that they may haue frée libertie graūted them to professe their religion which they make subiect onely to the triall of the word of God that they may not haue their consciences greued or burdened with any kynde of authoritie for the whiche benefite in token of their thankefulnes and for due profe of their faithful obedience to his maiestie besides their ordinary giftes their accustomed tributes and all their other burdens they promise to pay vnto the kings Exchecker iij. hūdreth thousād Florences within a certeine time that they wil disturbe or destroy no churches but they will put in good sureties for the same that they will diligētly and carefully shew forth their obedience fidelitie and due reuerence in all poyntes All the Cities well neare doe geue vp to their Magistrates a bill of supplicatiō most humbly desiryng to shew foorth their diligence and fidelitie towardes their poore miserable Citizens in the furtheryng therof They do moreouer earnestly request the same thyng of the gouernesse nobles and bicause they would trye all maner of meanes whereby they might make manifest to all the world their true fidelitie towardes their kyng they sent also their letters and Embassadors to many of the princes of Germanie whom they iudged altogether not to abhorre from their religion most earnestly desiryng them that they would vouchsafe to entreate the kyng to be mercyfull to their innocencie if there were any place frée from the false accusations of their aduersaries and left vnto the kynges maiestie for equitie and mercy that they would with their humble suyte deliuer them from their heauy calamitie hangyng ouer their heades But when they perceiued that all these thynges dyd litle preuaile and that their aduersaries were more kyndled and cruell agaynst them interpretyng all thynges into the worst part as though by the great somme of money offred they had bostyngly auaunted their riches and power and that they went about to threaten the kynges maiestie myndyng to abuse the princes of Germany for to disturbe and withstand his will and pleasure and seyng also no place to be left for their purgation or humble supplication before their Magistrates that their eares their eyes thoughtes and cogitatiōs were made subiect to the accusations of theyr aduersaries they did at the length wyth most dolefull lamentation complayne vnto Brederodius other of the nobles the which by the commaundement of the Gouernesse had promised theyr fayth and fidelity to the perfourmance of the former contract that they were so iniustly and vnfaithfully dealt withal contrary to theyr publicke promise to theyr couenaunts graunted and performed by oth and they entreat them to performe that which they so faythfully promised by the commaundement of the Gouernesse and also the nobles Brederodius in the name of the other princes sending hys letters to the gouernesse desireth licence to speake with her but hauing the repulse he sent vnto her the complaintes of the people adding therewyth a byll of supplication of the nobles whereby they dyd complayne of so great and open iniurye and requested therewyth that they might performe theyr promise of defending the late agréement which they had so solemnly vowed vnto the people that no man be endamaged or hurt for hys religion or for the administration therof that the promised liberty of religion be graunted that the souldiours oures gathered contrary to theyr former promise and oth should be discharged and dismissed lastly that the common wealth should be gouerned according to equity and right and to the couenauntes whereunto they were sworne She in her aunswer maketh many doubtes and séeketh the fallacie of wordes saying that there was nothing graunted as concerning the administration of religion but only licence geuen for theyr preachinges and sermons but as for baptizing of children and the Lordes supper there was no mention made adding therfore that the people had first brokē theyr couenauntes Briefly she manifestly declareth that shee would no longer be bound vnto these couenaunts but for she perceaued her selfe to be of greater force that she would gouerne all things after her owne arbitriment and therwithall signified that Brederodius and the rest of the nobles which put vp that bill of supplication were the auctors of the sedition and therfore that she dyd accompt them as rebels and traytors to the kinges maiestie as enemies of the countrey and that the king would execute iust and condigne punishment vpon them as giltie of those haynous crimes and in the meane time she would vse her aucthoritie according as it should best please her These letters sent to Brederodius and the other confederate princes it can not be tolde how greatly they were astonished for they saw themselues most openly mocked and deceaued theyr fidelitie promised by oth to the people nothing estéemed themselues on the one part to be taken
of sense and reason whose vnderstandyng is so blynded that he beleueth that these good and well disposed persons doth séeke nothyng els but to kéepe the prouince of Belgie vnder the kynges authoritie to defend religion and mainteyne lawes seyng all their actions and doinges do openly pretend shew that they haue no other kyng no law or religion but their onely auarice and most beastly couetousnes they make a glorious pretence as though all the Belgians were Lutherans rebelles and traytors to the kyngs maiesty bycause forsooth they would not submit their neckes to the yocke of the Inquisition that is to say they would not willyngly and of their owne accord yeld vp them selues to the beastly lust and vniust tyranny of most pernicious persons But truly if they had their kyng for theyr enemy they would neuer haue so faythfully obserued their loyalty towardes him neyther would they so carefully haue retained all their cities townes and castels in hys fidelitie tuitiō neyther would they so faithfully haue geuē credite to the kyngs edictes the kynges name the kinges brode seale to the Gouernesse and in so doyng should neuer haue runne into so many so great calamities by their so light credulity neither should the Duke of Alba once haue set foote into these countryes for they had infinite occasions and oportunities offered them of dissanulling the kinges authoritie of alienating hys cities of striking league with other nations adioyning vnto them and of kéeping backe the Alban duke from the borders of theyr prouince And yet for all thys dare not the aduersaries affirme vnlesse they be most impudent that thys was once mentioned amongst them or spoken of But let it be so that they were rebels is it lawfull therfore for the King to violate hys faithfull promise to peruert the lawes both of God and man and to pollute all thinges both holy and prophane wyth thys vnaccustomed tyranny We read that in the time of our auncitors many of the cities of Flaunders dyd rebell agaynst Maximilian the most mighty king of the Romanes and the citizens dyd not onely openly refuse hys gouernement and deteyned wyth them for the space of eight yeares his sonne Philippe against his will but also did most cōtumeliously throw Maximilian himselfe into prison but afterwardes beyng ouercome by the helpe of Frederike the Emperour and other the princes of Germany they yelded thēselues agayne to hys authoritie then thys good prince Maximilian in thys so odious rebellion and hauing bene so iniuriously handled was so farre from doing any thing lyke vnto the Albane Duke that he not onely with great gentlenes receaued hys subiects agayne into his graces fauor but also with great clemency worthy of so great a prince restored vnto them agayne all theyr priuiledges and auncient immunities By the which hys vncredible lenitye he made the hole prouince most obedient in all pointes to hym and hys posteritie for euer But these men neuer remitted any tribute any subsedy or burden layd vppon the kinges most faythfull subiectes whose loyaltie towardes the King coulde neuer wyth any crime be attayned beyng alwayes obedient to the kinges commaundement who had offered vp by humble supplication all theyr riches and substaunce vnto the kings good will and pleasure desiring to haue nothing frée from the Kinges commaundement but onely a cleare conscience in religion the which they ought to kéepe vnpolluted vnto God alone And they humbly desired to redéeme the libertie of religion with an extraordinary and farre more gréeuous tribute then the Christians redéeme theyr religion of the Turke or the Iewes obtayne theyrs of the pope Yet notwithstanding these men I say spoyling those faythfull subiectes of all theyr riches forbid them the vse of fyre and water ayre land as if they were the most deadly enemies of all mankinde yet haue they God knoweth committed no offence but only geuen to light credite to the kings edicts which in manner were established as firme lawes neuer to be reuoked and so they simply beleuing the kinges letters and name kept diligently their sermons in the which there was nothing preached but the pure woorde of God and they dayly admonished to shew theyr obedience to the prince and his magistrates Yet these tyrantes doth with most horrible cruelty oppresse the hole prouince without respect either of the innocent or offenders and wyth most insatiable auarice spoyling them torment them wyth most barbarous tyranny Can any man now doubt what it is that these men haue hertofore laboured to bring to passe or whereunto they haue bended theyr mindes set theyr eyes and applyed theyr most reuening handes Or is there any man so blind that can not sée what hath bene the cause originall of these foresayd tumultes in Belgye or so blockish that he can not perceiue that these honest men I meane the good maisters and byshops of the spanish inquisition haue from the beginning onely gone about to alienate the kinges minde from hys subiectes and by euery small or none occasion to accuse them of rebellion that as they haue most furiously executed theyr tyranny in the kingdome of Naples Cycell and the countrey of Millen in new India and in the chiefest partes of Spayne so they might by some maner of meanes furiouslye rage in the lowe Germany and by litle and litle when occasion shall bee offered in highe Germany and that vnder the colour of defending the Popes religion they might oppresse the hole libertie of the citizens in Belgie take away theyr magistrates authoritie and violate the hole power of theyr lawes bring the kinges maiestie subiect to theyr authoritye and that they themselues might without law or order at their pleasure cōmaund what they wyll take what they lyste kyll whatsoeuer should offend them empty the rich mens coffers and make themselues lordes and gouernors of all thinges But if any man shall thinke that these thynges because they be present not yet throughly finished can not easily be iudged vpon let hym coniecture and take iudgement of thynges alredy past In the which we appeale vnto your maiesties most mighty Emperour and ye renowmed princes of Germany call to remembraunce what they haue heretofore done in Germany what with what fetches and counselles they haue wrought you shall perceaue truly theyr old artes you shall know these old Spaniardes you shall know these old Inquisitors for euē these be they which with their greuous cauils and sclaunders with the terror of the Popes name haue oppressed the most famous princes of Germany before Charles the v. which kyndled a most dolefull firebrand of ciuill dissention in the very bowels of hygh Germany and vnder the cloake of rebellion dyd set the Protestant Princes together by the eares beyng altogether ignoraunt of their trechery the which haue defiled all things in Germany with their wicked flagitious actes the whiche haue gone about to ouerthrow the liberties of Germany and lawes of the Empire and
euen these be they at this day whiche do vexe and trouble the inhabiters of low Germany with the very same cauils before the foresayd Charles his sonne kyng of Spayne they haue deceiued them with the same artes and subtilties and oppressed with the same enterprises these be the authors inuentors of so great vnfaythfulnes these also be giltie of their crueltie auarice these were the ministers and workers of all their mischieuous boldnes For to whō is Granduellanus the Cardinall of the Germaynes vnknowen or who knoweth not the Duke of Alba both the which haue emprisoned the most noble princes of Germany ouercommyng them partly by violence and partly by their fraude and deceyte and haue slaundered them with most reprochful contumelyes These be the firebrandes of the whole world with the which the greatest part of Europe will most dolefully be set a fire vnlesse your authoritie wisedome and power do with spéede foresée so great a mischief these men therfore are onely to be accompted as the authors of all the tempestuous broyles seditions tumultes miserable calamities which haue happened in Belgye But if there be any man that doth not as yet vnderstand let hym remember the saying of Cassianus to whom these thynges shall profite let hym diligently consider not onely to whom this publicke calamitie of Belgy is now profitable but also if there be any hope that these thyngs will be profitable to hym hereafter Seyng we could not but perceiue that this daunger was iminent either by losse of our religion or by woundyng of our consciēce or by the greuous anger of our kyng or by the dolefull destruction of our countrey whiche way soeuer it would haue happened For they haue long ago hunted after their triumphes theyr ruledome and Empyre by any these occasions So that they neuer haue ceased by theyr subtill deuises to cause the subiectes to hate theyr kyng the kyng likewise to hate his subiectes and with gréedy mouthes stretched out eares they haue takē the lest suspition of tumults and rebellion and haue filled the kynges eares and mynde wyth theyr false tales odiously amplifying their receiued newes the which though it be so manifestly to all men that it néede no longer proufe yet it is most manifestly confirmed by the kynges Embassadors which was sent into Fraūce for he in his letters sent to the gouernours writeth on this wise their will aryse vnto the king great frute and commoditie by the incommodious tumultes of Belgy because by this occasion the kyng will bryng them to full obedience and subiection and reduce the state into that forme and order of gouerment vnto the which hys auncetors could neuer atteyne the which to bryng to passe the kyng hath vehemently desired of longe tyme and therein hath alwayes hetherto spent hys whole study and endeuour and that there was no man fauouryng the kynges maiesty would counsell him to let passe so noble occasion of the performaūce of this his woorthy enterprise c. By the which wordes it is manifestly declared that the Spanishe Inquisitors whiche in the name of the kyng doe cloake and couer all their desires haue sought and gone about heretofore to get any occasion whereby they might inuade Belgy spoyle it of all his riches and goodes and rule all thynges as should best be thought to their lust and pleasure So that no man can longer doubt frō whence these haue had theyr begynnyng seyng it is manifest who they are that haue long ago desired to reape the frutes of these our troubles it is also manifest that the Cardinall hym selfe in a great assembly of many men when it was obiected vnto hym that it was to be feared lest if the people should be any more oppressed they would make some sedition was not ashamed to aunswere that the kyng had no cause to feare But rather to wish for the seditious tumultes of his subiectes for by them the kynges power and maiestie was much encreased and the priuileges of the Cities liberties of the people very much restrayned and diminished Otherwise what is it that they should seeke for by so many examples of such vnaccustomed auarice rare crueltie would they make the people subiect to the kynges authoritie euery wise man séeth that then they take not the iust and right way to obteyne they purpose For the subiectes hartes are wonne and reconciled to their prince by gentilnes humanitie and Iustice not by terror feare or tyranny and euery man knoweth that the prince of Egmonde and an infinite number of others which haue bene alwayes euer were most earnest fauourers of the kynges name and authoritie they which neuer spared the sweate of their browes or bloud of their bodyes for to kéepe the whole prouince safe in the kynges subiection and whom the king for this cause hath alwayes very much regarded were notwithstandyng destroyed of them for an old hatred conceyued thorough an old enuie of theyr noble actes so worthely atchiued in theyr warres But peraduenture they séeke by this meanes vtterly to roote out the religiō of the gospell which they though the most part of them be of no religion fayne them selues so vtterly to deteste abhorre Truly they meane nothyng lesse for then what cause had they with such infamy reproch cruelly to put to death the foresayd Prince of Egmonde the Earle Hornam and many others which were both ignoraunt of this Religion and haue bene alwayes aduersaryes of the same why do they still execute such tyranny vpon those which be altogether of the Popes religion but most noble Princes they desire nothyng lesse their onely fetch is to establishe their kyngdome in Belgy that they may rule therein all thynges accordyng to their lewde lust pleasure and contrary to all equitie and right as they haue done heretofore in Cicell and in the kyngdome of Naples that they beyng loden with the riche spoyles of so wealthy a prouince may returne home and send others in their steade they which should draw them dry of all their iuyce and bloud there is one onely way to attayne to this purpose and that is their holy Inquisition the which by good right is termed after the name of Inquisitiō for by this they doe dayly inquyre and make search in the chéestes bagges coffers of the riche men in the bewty and bosomes of the virgynes and matrones in the throtes bowels and bloud and lastly in the soules consciences of all men by this they make them selues Lordes and Monarches of all thynges they make all the princes and the kyng him selfe subiect and obedient vnot them they haue vsed this meanes first in Spayne in the which by this arte of Inquisition they haue disanulled all priuileges and libertyes the which where before very great in Spayne they haue made subiect vnto them selues all the authoritie of lawes and the maiestie of the regall scepter they haue left onely a bare name and
out we accompt them not onely as our brethren but euen for the most deuine and excellent prophets of god And they likewise do embrace vs with great and incredible charity and with all brotherly loue and piety It is therfore ye Princes a more cauell fayned of our aduersaries which say that we professe a religion diuerse from the Germanes for they study nothing els but that when they haue sette vs together by the eares they might teare the members of Christ in péeces and so oppresse vs seperated and disseuered whome they were not able to ouerthrow fast ioyned in amitie But ye men and Princes whiche haue knowen long agoe their craftes and subtelties be ye not therewith moued neither suffer ye the false cauels of our aduersaryes to haue more power to teare and dismember the members of the body of Christ then the word and commaundement of the same Iesus Christ then the sincere iudgement of your Princes and Diuines hath power and force to vnite and knitte vp the same Neither let the diuerse interpretation of one word preuayle more with you then the most sure and vndoubted consent of the whole Scripture and fayth By the whiche fayth and by the most holy body of the sonne Iesus Christ into the whiche he hath ioyned vs to hym selfe with a knot indissoluble We ones agayne in most humble wise besech and intreate you that your charitable mercy which hath bene alwayes prest and ready to helpe all poore and oppressed innocentes benyngly to receaue vs also with some tuition and safegard which for the name Iesus Christ do not onely suffer all cruell tormentes but also are ouerwhelmed with most false and vniust reproches and that you would onely as long as it shall please God to chasten vs thus with exile beyng spoyled of all our goodes and commodities of our countrey with your gentlenesse somewhat to ease vs whom Gods correction doth kéepe low and in pouertie so shall you do an acceptable worke vnto God hym selfe the iust iudge of all thinges and styrre vs vp diligently to call vpon his mercy and gracious fauour for you and your people Amen The begynnyng of the Spanish Inquisition and of the Inquisitors power in Spaine The enlargyng of the Inquisitors dominion The suttle meanes and deuises of the Inquisitors Burrow-maisters This appeareth by the Spaniardes owne historie writteÌ„ by AlfoÌ„s Vloa and printed in Dutch at Dilling For there they confesse that this was their purpose to reduce the whole contrey to a kyngdome like Sicile Naples The occasion maner of the InquisitioÌ„ and the edictes in the low coÌ„trey The very wordes of the Edict dated at wormes the 8. of May. 1521 1 That the assent of the estates was not taken it is manifest by the verie words of the Edictes by the which the estates gouerners and magistrates of the prouinces were coÌ„maunded with most greuous punishmentes to establish those Edictes and to see them executed and it is declared that in the behalf of the byshop of Rome they were made onely by the artrement of the kyng 2 That exposicion was made and sealed in the yeare 1550. the moneth of SepteÌ„ber 1 In the yere 1555. 1. of December 2 In the yere 1556. 17. Ianua 1 This may be proued by the letters patentes sent to the Cities in the yeare 1559 in August A new creation of bysshops 1 Not long before the kynges departure only Granduellanus Viglius three or iiij more onelie knowyng therof 2 As the byshops of Leodia Monasteria Cameracensia and Traiectia 1 As Granuellanus Viglius Cancellarius Niger 2 These may be proued by the publike testimonie of the prouince by the bishops sermons by all theyr doynges 3 This is proued by the Cardinals decree made at Rome by the Popes coÌ„maundement 1 For by all the lawes and priuiledges of Brabant and theyr other prouinces all ecclesiasticall persoÌ„s were excluded from all function of iudgemeÌ„ts and iurisdiction and all straungers are remoued from takyng of offices and auctoritie the diuisions of byshoprickes and Abbayes are before appoynted the accustomed maner of geuyng iudgement for euer ratified and all power is denyed to the princes to chaunge any thyng therein without the assent of the estates 1 1562. 27. Februa 2 1562. 5. Maij. 3 One bill was put vp and subscribed vnto in the yeare 1562. 23. Ianua an other 1562. 18. of Marche And an other 1562. 23. Marche 4 1562. In Iune they put vp many Supplications 5 1562. 20. of December and 3. August 1563. 6 This is knowen by the testimonie of the gouernesse geuen in the assembly of the nobles 7 The dede it selfe proueth it 1 This is proued by the nobles complaints geuen to the kyng 2 That was GraÌ„duellanus his studie All Belgie can testifie this 1 This hys saying was heard of many and signified to the nobles and confirmed by the kinges legates letters 1 The resistance of the noble men 1 1562. the moneth of August The departure of Granduellanus 1564. 1 1565. 1 The kings decree by the which the tumultes of Belgye began 1565. December 1566. A coÌ„ming together of the nobles A supplication Slaunders of the aduersaries In the yere 1566. in the moneth of May. This was opeÌ„ly heard in the churches at Antwerpe and in many other places The aduersaries practises to oppresse the Gospellers This composition or determination began first at Bruxels the 24. 25. and 26. of August an 1566. 1 The proue hereof appeareth both by the copie of the letters pateÌ„tes by the Edicte of the Magistrates first proclaimed after published in Print The Edictes for ceasing from raylyng was proclaymed at Antwerpe the last of August an 1566. at Bruxelles 24. of Aug. the Earle of MaÌ„sfeld beyng preseÌ„t Free libertie of preachyng came from the gouernesse 25. of Aug. 2 An other publicke Edict concernyng raylyng reuilyng on both partes to cease was proclaimed at Antwerpe 3. Septemb. at Bruxels 6. SepteÌ„b And so afterward in other Cities 3 The 11. 12. 13. of August 1566. 4 At Antwerpe 20. August At Brede at Buscodice 22. 23. In Holland and Zeland 25. 26. c. 1 As in Antwerpe is Brede in Brabant in many places of Holland 2 At Gaunt in Flaunders At Hago in HollaÌ„d At Lire in Brabant Also at Meklyne this was done most certeinely by the commaundemeÌ„t of the magistrates 5. 25. 28. of Aug. and other dayes folowyng 1 As appeareth by the forme of the latter Edictes made set forth touchyng the stay of reuilyng words of Churches graunted vpoÌ„ the former promise conuention betwene the gouernes the people Nouember 1566. December Februar 8. 1567. Febru 16. The thinges done afore the Duke of Alua hys coÌ„ming declare who were the authors of these tumults in Belgye Of the confederacy of the nobles of the supplication Of the nobles request Of taking of armour Of the ouerthrowyng of Images Of new religion Of thinges done after the Duke of Albas commyng The Duke of Albas doynges since his coÌ„myng to Belgye Of thinges done in Germany and in other places heretofore A copye of this Epistle worde for word is to be seene in the end of the duke of Auâ—â—ces Apologye confirmed with all their haÌ„des These thinges pertain as well to the Germans as to the BelgiaÌ„s An earnest petition to the Emperor and to the princes of germany 1548.