any Spaniarde founde that durst contend against him By those letters we haue knowne that all the difference betweene Don Iohn the Duke of Alua and Lewis of Requesens was this that he was more young and more foolishe than the others and that he could not so long time hide his venime dissemble his attemptes withhold his greedie handes from the desire that he had to wett and washe them in our blood I will not my Lordes make in this place any recitall of these matters vnto you for they are knowne vnto litle children and all the land is as it were watered therewith Albeit then that these things were set out before the whole worlde and albeit that the pacifiers knewe and vnderstood the same Notwithstanding the inueterate hatred towardes this poore people was so great so much were they accustomed to aide them that oppressed your priuiledges and to subiect them selues to tyrannie was euen become altogether naturall vnto them that euen like horse-leaches foming with rage they themselues came to launce thē selues vpon the thorne of the bloodie hart of Don Iohn and agreed with him against mine aduise and the aduise of them of Hollande and Zealand and against their owne othe taken against the pacification of Gaunt and yet these men dare obiect vnto me the pacification and mine othe as though those bandes had bin prepared onely to shakel me and my Lordes of Hollande and Zealande whilest that those good and loyall peacemakers hauing broken all bond of lawes of loyaultie and of fidelitie might haue libertie to perpetrate commit and doo whatsoeuer their disloyall harte shoulde put them in minde of They will saye that they caused Don Iohn to promise that the Spaniardes should departe as though that all our agreement and league consisted in that onely point But before they had cōcluded with Don Iohn should not they haue placed me in my gouernementes and put me in possession of my goodes and restored me my Sonne who was one of the number of the prisoners Haue they so much as onely thought vpon it though that sundrie amongest them were kinne vnto him No whitt at all in deede For they had a farre other marke which thing they them selues did sufficiently declare by so many consultations as they made that they might at the length finde out a way to oppresse me and to bring Hollande and Zealande vnder subiection knowing that at the same time I yet onely and the Estates of the saide Countreis were they which did openly hinder their pernitious purposes which was to enter in the place of the Spaniardes to exercise the like tyrannie that the Spaniards had done but yet as they thought with more power and authoritie and also that they might remaine in their own Coūtreyes with greater impunitie Concerning this matter I referre my selfe to the instructions giuen to those which came to treate with me at Saint Geertrudenberghe whiche I will bring to light if need be thereof At the same time they sent to the Queene of Englande that they might fill hir with al false matters against me and also moue hir to arme hir selfe against me and my Lordes the Estates of Hollande and Zealande But the knowledge that she had of the trueth and the singular wisedome wherewith she is indued made hir to take a cleane contrarie resolution then that which they hoped of To be short they deuised as much ae they could to execute and perfourme against vs the same practises that the Spaniardes had done and this my Lordes was the obseruation of the Pacification of Gaunt that these men vsed euen from the beginning And as concerning the Spaniardes The Spaniardes licensed by Don Iohn to returne which Don Iohn told them he had sent away they sawe at the least if they had anie vnderstanding though neuer so little for they wanted not aduertisement and intelligence that some stayed in Luxembourgh other some in Bur gundie and other some in Fraunce vnder the shadowe of the ciuile warre which was at that time raised vp in Fraunce looking onely for their watchwoorde that they might returne againe in an instant whiche thing also they did Beside this they knew that Don Iohn reteined with him foureteene thousande Germanes of the old souldiours which he kept in garrison Foureteene thousande Lāceknightes left by Don Iohn in garrison in the principal towns in the principall Townes of the Countrey that at Malines he treated with the saide Germanes that he spake one thing to them and another thing to you my Lordes and did in the meane while take the Castle of Antwerp from the power of the Duke of Aerschot and of the Prince of Chimai his sonne and left it in the handes of Treslon They sawe I saye these thinges and did notwithstanding ayde and fauour him therein and yet they will say that they kept the Pacification of Gaunt For as concerning that whiche mine enemies saye that Don Iohn sware vnto it I confesse further that the King him selfe promised it should be obserued which maketh him so much the more vanquished for euen at the same time he commaunded Don Iohn to breake it as appeareth by his own letters And as concerning Don Iohn true it is that he promised and sware to see the same perfourmed but that was with a condition which he spake of before hande Don Iohn svvare to the pacificatiō of Gaūt in the presence euen of some of your Deputies whiche should be added to witt that it should be kept vntill such time as he repented him thereof which condition fell out verie quicklie afterwarde For this young man supposing that he was at the topp of his businesse and that he had in his handes by reason of the garrisons of Germains and sundrie traytours taking parte with them the best Townes tooke but yet not without doing an vuworthie iniurie to the Queene of Nauarre the Castle of Namure a place which he thought was verie fitt and necessarie for the Spaniardes to go and come But so soone as the Castle of Antwerpe was by cōposition yeelded vp vnto you he founde him selfe farre from his reckoning which caused him at one time to lose manie friendes who began euen than to chaunge their copie and countenaunce and Don Iohn was thereby made so perplex and doubtfull that he had no other succour but this that hauing corrupted some of your owne Deputies he might protract the time and busie you with a painted hope of peace And I would to God that at that time yee my Lordes had not bin hindered by these good obseruers of the Pacification of Gaunt from beleeuing my counsel for then by a verie small armie we might haue bin quitt and ridde of Don Iohn of his Spaniardes and adherentes and of so many miseries as since haue insued I would then yet further knowe in this place my Lordes whether Don Iohn did then keepe this Pacification his Vnion so solemnely sworne as they saie which he had made with
of all these coūtreis then in that proude ambitious profane heathnishe and withall foolishe setting vp of his owne Image in the middest of the Cittadell at Antwerpe going impudently vpon the bellies of the Noble men of the Estates and of all the people of this countrey Was not this thinke you a notable monument of his tyrannie and a testimonie of his pride What shall I neede to speake of his seruauntes and of all that vermin that came out of Spaine who spake of vs not as it were of Villacos as they vse to say or villaines but euen as it were of brute beastes You my Lordes haue euen as yet your eares altogether beaten with such matters and you are able to set out their gestures their proceedinges their wordes full of boldnesse of pride and of contempt also their vnsupportable actes and howe when they were within your townes with what pride and insolencie they did commaunde you Wherefore if that be true which wise men report that for the vnderstanding of the naturall disposition of a Lorde or Noble man men must examine him by his friendes and familiars and for the knowledge of a maister men must sift his seruauntes you may my Lordes by the vertues of the Duke of Alua his masters principall officer and the executor of all his counsels easely iudge what good affection and wil the King beareth you who sent him to you to torment you and also ye may knowe what yee ought to looke for vnlesse yee prouide for it in time as in deede yee ought which thing also all the good people of this lande looke for at your handes I will speake nothing of the rauishings raunsomes and exactions committed by the Spaniardes I wil onely staie my self vpon the principall point Yee could neuer yet tell howe to obtaine a free assemblie The assemblie of the Estates general euer refused of the Estates generall your enemie verie wel knowing that to hinder the calling together meeting of them was in deede to cut of by the foote the tree of your priuiledges and vtterly to drie vp the spring of your libertie For to what ende serueth it the people to haue priuiledges in faire parchement kept vp in a cofer if by the meane of the Estates those priuiledges be not mainteined and so men feele the effectes thereof And in deede long time before the King him selfe had receaued a dispensation from the Pope The King taketh a dispensation from the Pope for his othe made at his gladsome entraunce for the othe which he had made vnto you to keepe your priuiledges Wherein he did not onely violate and break his faith but also did ouer easely yea verie hurtfully beleeue foolishe counsellours whereby he to to manifestly declared howe great his owne wisedome was For might he not verie well vnderstand that counting him self free from the othe which he had made to you you also were freed and quitt from your othe towards him In so much that he minding to be vnburdened of his othe towardes you you ought not vnto him any obedience and subiection That I may at this time say nothing but leaue it vnto others more exercised in such matters than I to handle this question whether the Pope may iustlie vaunt that he hath anie such power and authoritie yea or no and whether anie thing in the world shall remaine certaine and sure if othes so solemnely made may vnder such a pretext and cloake be violated and broken At the same time mariages made out of the countrey were wholy forbidden and that whiche was neuer practised was prohibited to wit that youth might not go out of the countrey to studie in any other schoole of the worlde but in that at Rome and condemning by that meanes all other schooles whiche is an ouer great arrogancie they did condemne so vnwarie they were euen those of the Iesuites The scholes of all the vvorld forbiddē saue that of Rome only without thinking anie whit of them and so whiche is in deede the worst they opened a waye to verie barbarousnes For as the meetinges together of all maneer of learned men hath brought forth vnto vs in this Countrey sundrie persons well qualified who haue greatly innobled these Prouinces so this interdiction and forbidding could not but in processe of time cause a more than Turkishe ignoraunce that I maye saye nothing of this that by that meanes they would make this Countrey subiect The publishing of the councell of Trent to such cōditions as neuer were heard of About the same time the Councell of Trente was published which Councell hath seemed euen to the Frenchmen them selues so vniust that euen vnto this daye it could not as yet be published in the kingdome of Fraunce A little while before this time there was egerlie pursued and at the last obteyned the installing of the newe Bishoppes whiche had bin so long tyme before debated Bishoppes nevvly made by reason of the inconueniences which all wise people and louers of the Countrey and haters of the tourmenting of mens consciences did foresee would insue therevppon which thing also I my selfe write euen vnto the King that I may saye nothing of the warninges that I gaue to the Dutchesse sometime in open counsell and oftentimes els where all these their purposes tending to no other ende but to set vpp the cruell Inquisition of Spaine and to establishe the sayde Bishoppes that they might serue in steede of Inquisitours burners of mens bodies and tyrauntes ouer their consciences It is true that at this daye they denie that euer they ment to bring in this cursed Inquisition but if I bring forth vnto them a man worthie of creditt who was at that tyme a Pensioner of Franck and who had the racke twise shewed him to be tormented vppon it that he might confesse who they were of the Lordes of the saide Franck which were purposed to refuse the Inquisition will they saie that he is a forged witnesse who yet notwithstanding is such a one as they are not able to obiect any thing against him And beside if need were I could finde inough other plaine most manifest proofes There followed the most rigorous placardes licences Placards licences renevved with expresse cōmaundement to abate nothing of the old rigor and verily the bul graūted by the Pope for the erection of the saide Bishoppes doeth plainlie carie with it this much that euery Bishopp might giue in his owne Cathedral church two prebends that euery one of the Canons should be boud to assist him in the matter of the Inquisition and that particularlie two amongest them should actually and in deede be Inquisitours And as Princes or tyrauntes which possesse new Kingdomes or Lordshippes do laye vppon them a tribute in signe of their victorie so the Duke of Alua in testimonie of his conquest for this was his common speache to witte that these countreis apperteyned to the King not in title or by right or
his Lord the Countie or Earldome of Charollois and yet for all that he ceasseth not to make warr against the crowne of Fraunce yea he neuer leaueth of continuallie to practise and deuise somewhat against the same He taketh this as a sure foundation or rule that being a soueraigne gouernor in some other place it is lawfull for him to reuenge him selfe of the wrong which he pretended was done vnto him by the late French King Henrie of most noble memorie When he made warre against the Pope Caraffa because as a vassall he helde of him the kingdomes of Sicilia and Naples he published his defence by which he mainteined that he was absolued from his othe because that the Pope kept not him selfe within the termes or pointes that the Lord oweth to his vassall according to the feodall lawes which are mutuall and respect as well the one as the other Now Sir there is nothing so naturall or kindlie as that euerie one should in his owne cause receaue the verie selfesame rule and order that he would haue an other man to receaue or allow of Wherefore he should not thinke it straunge that I being so maine wayes reuiled iniuried by him and not being his subiect that I I say do ayde my selfe with the meanes that God hath giuen me and with which he hath bin willing to helpe him selfe against his Lordes who haue not offended him in anie thing whatsâ—euer that draweth nigh to the wrong which I haue suffered at his hande yea he should not thinke it straunge that I vse against him that reprochefull note hy which he assayeth to marke as it were in the forehead both me and my race And because my Lords the Estates who haue more nighly knowen the trueth of all that is contained in this my defence and haue approued the same haue yeelded vnto me sufficient testimonie inough touching my life past I do most humblie also beseeche your Maiestie Sir in approuing this same myne aunswere to beleeue that I am not either a traytour or wicked person but that I am thankes be to God for it a noble man of a verie good and most auncient house yea a good man and true in euerie thing that I promise not vnthankeful nor vnfaithfull nor hauing committed anie thing whereby a Lord or Knight of my state couÌ„tenaunce may receaue anie reproche or shame most humblie beseeching you to holde and account me in the number of your most humble seruauntes And thus hauing most humblie submitted my selfe vnto your Maiestie I will pray God Sir to giue it together with perfect health a most blessed and most long life At Delft in Holland the iiij day of Februarie 1581. Your Maiesties most humble and obedient seruaunt WILLIAM of NASSAV ¶ A declaration made by my Lord the Prince of Orange to my Lords the Estates General of the lowe Countries MY Lordes ye haue heretofore seene a certaine sentence in the forme of a Proscription which was sent by the King of Spaine and afterwards published by the appointment and order of the Prince of Parma and howe by the meanes thereof myne enemies haue against all right and reason attempted grieuously to touche and to taint myne honor and to cause my former actions to be thought euil and wicked wherin I haue bin very willing and desirous to take the aduice and counsell of sundrie notable personages and men of great name and calling yea of the principall counselers and wyse men of this countrey But by reason of the qualitie and forme of the said Proscription and the haynous and greeuous crimes wherewith I am charged although in deede wrongfully I haue hitherto stayed notwithstaÌ„ding I haue bin aduised and counselled by sundrie my frendes that I cannot otherwise defende myne honour but to shewe by publike writing howe vniustly I haue bin accused and charged with many faultes and also howe I haue bin openly iniuried and maliciously slaundered According to which aduice and counsell my Lords seeing that in this worlde I acknowledge you only for my superiors I offer vnto you this my defence written against the reprehensions of myne aduersaries by which I hope that I haue not only discouered all their deceits slaunders but also lawfully iustified all my actions past And because that their principall marke and purpose is to seeke out all the meanes they can to take away my life or els to caâ—se me to be banished out of these countries or at the least to diminishe the authoritie which it hath pleased you to giue mee as if obtayning that thing once all should fall out as they would wishe it on the other side because they slaunder me that by vnlawful meanes I keepe and holde my authoritie I beseech you my Lords to beleeue that albeit I be content to liue amongst you so long as it shall please God and to continue towardes you my faithful seruice yet notwithstaÌ„ding that myne owne life which I haue dedicated to your seruice and my presence in the middest of you are not so deare vnto me but that I can most willingly abandon and forgo my lyfe or els withdrawe my selfe out of the countrey when you shall thinke or know that either the one or the other may any maÌ„ner of way serue your turne to purchase vnto you a more assured libertie And as coÌ„cerning the authoritie which it hath pleased you to giue me you knowe my Lords howe many times I haue besought you to content your selues with my seruice and to vnburden me thereof if you should thinke that it would stande well with the good estate of your affaires which thing euen as yet I do demaunde of you offering notwithstanding as I haue alwayes done in all that wherein it hath pleased you to commaunde me stil to continue to employe my selfe in the seruice of the couÌ„trey in regard of which I esteme nothing of all that is in the worlde as I doo more largely declare the same vnto you in this my defence Which if you shal iudge it conuenient I beseeche you to thinke it good and to take care that it may be brought to light and published to the ende that not only you my Lords but also the whole worlde may iudge of the equitie of my cause and of the vniust dealing of myne aduersaries Presented by my Lord the Prince of Orange to my Lords the Deputies of the Estates generall and of the Prouinces vnited togither being assembled in the towne of DELFT the xiij of December 1580. Vnderneath was written II. HOFFLIN being present The aunswere of my Lordes the Estates generall made to the former declaration THE Estates generall hauing not many dayes since seene and read a certaine Proscription published by the enemies against your Excellencies person by which they charge the same with hainous crimes indeuouring to make it odious as though by vnlawfull meanes and indirect wayes it had vsurped the place and degree wherein it is sett and established and to deliuer your saide
these fauourers of the Spaniardes And why shall he come to vpbraide me with the Pacification of Gaunt which yet hath caused this to be declared vnto vs by the Lorde of Selles that he would not keepe it Shall he to my hurt enioye a priuiledge which he him self renounceth and forsaketh And when we haue saide all it is not with him that I and the Estates of Hollande and Zealande haue contracted and accorded but it is with you my Lordes Now if after so many breaches of the Pacification and that in such sundrie sortes if after that contrarie to the saide Pacificatiō they haue destroyed the Townes where they could exercise their tyrānous gouernement and the best Burgesses and Citezens therein alleadging against them false and wicked thinges If then I saye after these thinges you my Lordes haue iudged that for your owne suretie you ought to inlarge some of the articles yea and if neede were that you were minded altogether to breake cut in sunder and reuoke them who is he that could accuse you therefore If yee haue vsed that which was your owne as you your selues thought it conuenient for your owne profit vnlesse it be he which would vse his owne othe as a nett and snare to catche you in For as concerning that whiche they say that the chaunge hath bin on my behalfe though that were true yet so it is that I am no more bounde in respect of the contractours with me seeing that they haue so manie wayes violated and broken the contracte it selfe and seeing that on your part it was thought conueuient that the chaunge should be made you haue as much authoritie and power to dispose thereof as a Lord hath right in his own inheritaunce for the Pacification was yours which also you might vse at your own pleasure and discretion But I haue so often times both by worde and writing declared nothing to be broken on our partes that I shall not neede to bestowe anie more time to sett out the same vnto you Onely I will confesse this that they of Hollande and Zealande were in deede forbidden to innouate or chaunge anie thing in that countrey but that the other Estates might not in their Prouinces by some lawefull condition Nothing vvas attēpted by the L. Prince the Estates general and those of the Religion against the pacification of Gaunt prouide for their safetie it will neuer be founde that there was as yet anie such obligation or bonde whiche thing may be manifestlie seene and knowne by the reading of the eleuenth and the twelueth Article And in deede vpon the making of the saide Pacification as one of those which were Deputies on our side did declare vnto some one of the principall persons of the other side that some such matter might fall out and that therfore it was better to accorde some libertie for the poore subiectes of the Prouinces whose causes they handeled and for whom they were to make agreement so some other aunswered him againe that he needed not take care for such matters and that those of Brabant Flaunders and the other Countreis would not at any time demaunde a chaunge in the matter of Religion Nowe if they haue bin deceaued what cause is there for them so furiouslie to direct thē selues against me I giue them also the same aunswere in respecte of the chaunge which fell out in certaine Townes of my gouernemēt for I can in deed assure mē before God that I haue not giuen any aduise or consent thereto and that many things fel out ther as also in Flaūders which pleased me no whit at all and I do defende it against thē that if there haue bin some souldiarlike insolencie violēce that that was nothing but sweete smelling roses in respect of the intollerable excesses which thei haue cōmitted and also at the least that we haue not had on our parte any infidelitie or treason or intelligence with the Spaniardes as our enimies on their parte haue had For haue not they against their faith promise with an armed power begunne a warre and assaulted their confederates when we were within twoo dayes readie to giue battaile to our enemies The beginning of the vvarr of the Malcōtents euen then vvhen they vvere readie vvithin 2. dayes to driue avvay Don Iohn Haue not they pursued the execution of their cōplott and conspiracie against their confederates and declared their defection and falling away at that time when the good towne of Maestricht was besieged Was there euer anie detestable and vile act in the worlde and is it not this Euen then when you your selues looked for the forces and powers of your confederates to succour a good Towne besieged with which they were entred into a sworne league and of which they could not in any sorte eyther wrongfully or rightly complaine Euen then I say they did not onely destitute and forsake you but also made warre vpon you and that as whotly and as fiercely as they coulde The stories report that Suffetius was drawen in peeces with foure horses because he stirred not but only looked on when Tullus Hostilius his confederate fought the fielde then what Gibbettes and what punishmentes can a man deuise whiche might be sufficient to correct this vnfaithfulnesse and treason And whose treason Those my Lordes who before had laide their handes The continuance during the siedge of Maestricht vpon the Countie of Mansfelt Viglius Fonc Assonuille Berti and others of the Councell of Estate then whē I was not so straitely bounde vnto them as since I haue bin was not yet come into Brabant Those I say that by such laying handes vpon them had giuen all the world to vnderstand what iudgementes they had concerning the King his counsaile Leauing it to you my Lordes to iudge what great consideration there is in such people that whilest we make warre they can not foresee that they sharpen the swordes of those whom they had takē prisoners to take away their own heads They will say that I haue not shewed my selfe to be an enemie against them of our side who haue passed the boundes set thē Verely I haue not approued the excesse of any but doo they thinke that I am so vnwarie as that for to shewe them a pleasure I will open a gapp to the destruction of the Countrey and so make Escouedo a prophet Haue they euer heard that a wise father for the contentement of his enemie would seeke the ruyne of his children Nay rather this is his dutie to correct the faultes and in amending of them to labor the preseruation of his familie and housholde But Bours Montigni and others doo not they knowe the duties that I haue performed to establish euery thing in good order Haue they forgotten the Articles agreed vppon euen such as they them selues demaunded which since that time they haue brokē against their othe It is then rage follie ambition hatred against the religion desire to gouerne which
we doe but that wherevnto we are holden and bound and whereof we haue in auncient Histories so many goodly examples as well of straungers as of our braue and valiaunt Predecessors and Auncestors But so farre off is it that we should leaue off that on the other side seeing we see that which pricketh and prouoketh thē that that is it which we should take vnto our selues thereby to endeauour and to encourage our selues to go forwarde For to aunswere that which he saith that I haue committed to prison and caused to be slaine some of them that gainsayed these contributions I suppose it is not needeful to anuswere them to this before you my Lordes who know that these are manifest slaunders and who knowe also that I haue bin more blamed for my ouer great gentlenesse and patience in tollerating sundrie wicked persons who by their subtelties and secrete practises hinder our affaires then I haue bin accused of mine enemie for my rigor and hardnesse But if that which they obiect against me were true there are sundrie which speake at this day very hie and for whose sake the threedes and snares haue bin cut and I doe notwithstanding as yet not repent me that I haue so vsed them but will alwayes reioyce that I haue had a mind readie rarher to receaue iniurie then to doe it not doubting but that God who is a iust Iudge will bring vpon the heades of these traiterous and disloyall people who did eate bread with vs and were partakers of our Counsels and notwithstanding at this present are in their counsell against vs the reward and recompence of their wickednesse as alreadie vengeance pursueth them with a perpetuall disquietnesse vexation and tossing of spirite As concerning the businesse or matter which the Lorde of Seeles tooke vppon him to deale for The negotiation of the Lord of Seeles and which also was knowne to be full of dissimulations and deceites to answere this it appertaineth to you my Lordes who haue so wiselye discouered his fraudes and who haue caused him to vnderstande that those that haue not seene Spaine are not for all that beastes as he and such as he are doe suppose to you I say it belongeth to aunswere this because that this accusation is directed against you I confesse that I was of the same mind that you are that he was no more to be trusted than a beguiler and a deceiuer and that he was to be taken as an instrument chosen to bring all to diuision and disorder vpon which point to resolue my self no man holpe me so much as he himselfe For in that that he tolde me that I was so muche in the Kinges fauour as that there was no Lorde in these quarters of whome he had better opinion than of me and whome hee would imploy so much as me this made me more and more to thinke that they would gladly haue taken away my heade and life if I would haue let it gone so good cheape as this fellow so greatly affected to the Spaniardes would haue perswaded me I confesse I say that I was of the selfe same opinion that you were and that you haue most wisely resolued vppon this point to wit that according to the example of that wise Capitaine you haue stopped your eares against the Sirenes or Myrmaides of Spaine But what say I that I haue bin of this aduise Those miserable men that haue consented to this cursed proscription haue not they also resisted his attemptes as well as I The very selfe same Magistrates which haue caused this Proscription to be published haue not they also reiected the Lord of Seeles and all his tristing tales which is sufficient ynough to aunswere that which they say The changing of the Officers concerning the changing of the Catholique Officers And would to GOD that I had had power or that by the headlongnesse or hastinesse of some I had not bin lette and hindered from procuring and perfourming such a chaunge in euery place for then there had not followed so great a floude of euils as since wee haue seene by reason of the disiunction and discord of the Prouinces which it is to be feared least it will dayly more and more growe to the generall destruction of the Countrey at the least I hope that if the Prouinces who haue so wickedly forsaken vs do not repent them of so great a faulte they shall perceaue that there was neuer any man better corrected for wicked counsell then they that haue first giuen the same And cōcerning this point I will not sticke at it to aunswere this slaunder that I haue and that by myne owne priuate authoritie put into charge and office the saide officers seeing that in euery place where I haue bin assistaunt in the chaunging of the lawe I haue therein executed onely that charge and office whiche it hath pleased you to giue me and that as your Commissioner and Deputie doing nothing therein against the lawes and priuiledges In deed I will confesse that I sought as much as possiblie I could to bring in and to place in these offices vertuous people honourable personages men of good conscience and aboue all louers of the countrey But I knowe what wringeth and pricketh them that is that I did not willingly fauour those which they had in their owne corde people without faith without godlines and honestie towardes their Countrey yea bloodie people and slaues to execute their tyrannie And this is that my Lordes which these men call confusion to wit the good rule and gouernement of our common wealth according to our lawes which also are as contrary to their barbarous intentes and purposes as the day is to the night And in deede my Lordes there is no great neede to aunswere such obiections seeing that our owne enemie doth sufficiently aunswere them for vs. For who were these officers of whom they saye we haue discharged and vnburdened our selues They were say they well affected to the King Which is as much as if they should saie they were good enemies to the Countrey and by this my Lordes you vnderstand that it was verie well done to chaunge them in sundrie places and quarters They vpbraide me with the great credit that I haue amongest the people So farre of is it that I am ashamed of this that I am verie sorie that I haue not as yet atteined more that is to saye that I haue not well knowne Touching the auctority of the L. Prince amōgest the people howe to perswade them to doo that which I haue so oftētimes set before them both by worde and writing For it is long time since that I would thorowe the aide of God haue clensed the countrey from these filthes of Spaine But if they be such as they saye they are and that I am such a one as they describe me to be for to shewe them some pleasure I will easely graunt them this point they must of necessitie confesse that their tyrannies
you Verely of all crimes how greeuous soeuer they can be But I doubt not but that God thorow his most iust iudgement will cause to come downe the iust vengeaunce of his wrath vpon the Captaine and head of such ministers and officers and that on the other side he will of his great goodnesse maintaine mine innocencie and mine honor so long as I liue and amongst my posteritie after me And as concerning my goods and my life it is long time since that I dedicated them to his seruice and I knowe that he will doe therewith whatsoeuer he shall see to be good for his own glorie and for my saluation And because my Lords he proceedeth also to bring the droppes of this infamous Proscription vpon your heads so far of is it that you shall be moued therewith that ye shoulde rather thinke that herein the Spaniarde and his adherentes follow the naturall disposition of women who after that they haue wept scratched and bitten doe for their last remedie and refuge come to iniuries and reuilinges and euen so doth your enimie now yeelde out his last barkinges and if we giue them proofe of our constancie resolution and courage beholde they are at the last of their miserable and wretched enterprises For Sylla Carbo Marius Antonius and such other tyraunts the first fathers of these abhominable Proscriptions neuer gaue example to the Spaniardes to commit such follie and beastlinesse albeit that they haue traced out before them that example of crueltie and barbarousnesse which these miserable wretches haue accomplished and perfourmed But they proscribed such only as were fugitiues driuen away hidden in secret and that within the countreys ouer which they had power and authoritie And these men are like vnto them in this that is to say in crueltie because they proscribe good vertuous and honourable personages but yet in this point they shew themselues sottish and foolish that they proscribe him whome they should fight against with an armed power For to sende a poisoner as the Duches of Parme sent one or to send a murtherer as hir sonne the generall heire of the vertues of his auncestors did this is not the effect of a Proscription but of briberie and the euerie rather Beholde my Lordes not what I am able to say against this tyrannous Proscription but what I haue thoughte meete for this time speaking vnto you which haue the knowledge of sundrie thinges that I omit because they are known vnto you and because also that if I would attempt to speake of the particular enterprises of the King and of his cheefe Officers I should assaie to doe that which no Orator is sufficiently able worthely to describe yea that which no good man was euer able to conceaue so great is their crueltie tyrannie and all maner of vniust dealing Notwithstanding I hope that as well by the matter contained in this Proscription which is a sufficient testimonie of their ouer base and abiect courage as by my aunswere you shall sufficiently know what are their pernitious purposes and miserable attemptes and by this knowledge you shall also learne what it is necessary for you to cast your eye vpon and diligently to vnderstande that is that they dispaire that euer they shall be able to vanquish you by force and therefore they assay to sow diuision amongst vs magnifying cheefly those who haue not only forsaken vs against their othe but euen haue left vs in perillous times and namely whilest that one of our Townes was besieged whereof they are not able to make any iust complaint nor alleadge their accustomed pretext and cloake yea which also is the heape of all disloialtie and vnfaithfulnesse at the very same time they come to assault vs in other places and quarters As for the threats annexed in this Proscription tende to no other ende but to astonish you to the end you might seperate your selues from me and plainely to declare that they make war against me and not against you euen as the woolfe woulde perswade the sheepe that he had not war with any but with the dogges which being once discomfited he would easilie agree with the slocke of sheepe for the dogges were alwayes the authours of their debate and combatting But my Lordes though I were absent though I were departed into Germanie would they burne no more would they spill no more blood would they drown no more Was the libertie of the Countrey maintained by that gentle and milde man the Duke of Alua Did they not then wickedly put to death in Spaine your owne Ambassadors my Lords of Bergues and of Montigni Did they not at the same time set before your eyes vppon speares and launces the heads of your principall Captaines and gouernors The other point which they most set before them is the extirpation of Religion I minde not here my Lords to enter into this question which is the true Religion wherein God is truely serued and called vpon and that according to his worde but leaue it rather to bee declared by others more excercised in that matter than I and yet so that euery one may know by my profession what I beleeue concerning the same But this I cannot chuse but tell you that such is the estate of your countrey that without the exercise and free vse of the sayd Religion it cannot stande three dayes You see the number of them that professe it maruailouslie increased you see that hatred agaynste the Pope is inrooted deepelie in the hartes of all the inhabitauntes of the Countrey because that his damnable practises agaynste this whole estate are manifestly discouered Who is he then that can boast that he loueth the Countrey and woulde giue counsell to driue away such a great number of people which once departing shall leaue the Countrey waste poore and miserable and shall people and inriche the straunge nations about vs But suppose that they will not departe or voyde the Countrey who is hee that can inforce them so to doe let vs looke vppon our neighbours Lette vs consider our owne examples and if wee bee not vtterlye voyde of witte and vnderstanding wee will neuer chuse such pernitious and hurtfull counsels as shall vtterlie euen from toppe to toe bring to ruine and destruction this estate I will yet say somewhat more vnto you my Lordes that albeit that amongst them which follow the Romane church there are sundrie good people and louers of their Countrey and that amongest them there are some also whiche haue most honourablie acquited and behaued themselues yet notwithstanding those of the Religion are very well assured of this that there shall neuer be found any amongest them who hath had intelligence or made any practise with the enimie but all of them generally haue bin contrarie vnto him And albeit that some haue bin founde amongest them who being like vnto wanton and proude children haue brought thorow their vnheedinesse some trouble into the house yet for all that they haue not had
ende that hee may raigne and rule there most absolutelie amongest the furies and tumultes of the people the good being chased away And because that all this confusion and curse that our countries suffer is confessed to proceede from the counsell exhortation prouocation and doing of this wicked hipocrite by meanes of his vnquiet spirite which also placeth the whole felicitie thereof in the trouble of our subiectes and withall seeing that it is manifest that so long as he is in our Countreis there cannot be peace rest nor any quietnesse establishing all vpon a perpetuall distrust which he hath euer in his mouth a very ordinary and common thing to wicked men who haue their consciences vexed and troubled as had Caine Iudas and suche like moreouer seing that notwithstanding the intreaties and offers that hath bin made him euen by the Emperors Commissioners offering him most great profits to the end that he would returne to his natiue countrey where euery one naturally ought to desire to liue most he would not accept thereof and being a straunger delighteth rather to destroy our countreis then to yeelde to that which is reasonable and good for the benefite of our naturall subiectes the inhabitauntes thereof For these causes which are so iust reasonable and lawfull vsing in this behalfe the authoritie that we haue ouer him as well by vertue of the othes of fidelitie and obedience whiche he hath sundrie times taken vnto vs as also being the absolute and soueraigne Prince of the sayd low countreis for al his peruerse and wicked deedes and because he alone hath bin the head authour and promoter of these troubles and the principall disturber of our whole estate to be short because he hath bin the publick plague of christendome we publish him for a traitour and a wicked man the enemie of vs and of our countreis and as such a one haue proscribed him and doe perpetually and for euer proscribe him out of the sayd countreis al other our Estates Kingdomes and Seignuries interdicting and forbidding all our subiectes of what estate condition or qualitie soeuer they be not to haunt liue bee conuersaunt speake or communicate with him openly or secretely nor to receaue him or lodge him in their houses nor to minister vnto him meate drinke fire nor any other necessaries in any sorte whatsoeuer vpon paine to incurre our indignation and displeasure as hereafter shall be sayd And so we permit all whether they be our subiectes or others for the execution of our said declaration and edict to staie him let him and safely to keepe his person and to hurt him both in his goods and also in his person and life giuing the sayd William of Nassau ouer vnto all men as the enemie of mankinde graunting vnto euery one al his goods moueable and vnmoueable that can take occupie or conquer the same wheresoeuer they be excepte those goods which are at this present in our power and possession And to the ende in deede that this matter may be the more effectuallie and readilie perfourmed so by that means our sayde people the sooner deliuered from this tirannie and oppression we willing to reward vertue and to punish vice do promise in the word of a king and as the minister of God that if there by any found either among our owne subiectes or amongst straungers so noble of courage and desirous of our seruice and the publick good that knoweth any meane howe to execute our saide Decree and to set vs and himselfe free from the aforesaid plague deliuering him vnto vs quicke or dead or at the least taking his life from him we will cause to be giuen and prouided for him and his heires in good land or readie money chuse him whether immediately after the thing shal be accomplished the summe of xxv thousande crownes of golde and if he haue committed any offence or fault how great and greeuous soeuer it bee wee promise to pardon him the same and from henceforth do pardon it yea and if he were not before noble we do make him noble for his courage and valiaunt act and if the principall doer take with him for his ayde in the accomplishment of this enterprise or execution of this his fact other persons beside himselfe we wil bestow vpon them benefites and a rewarde and will giue to euerye one of them according to their degree and according to that seruice which they shall yeelde vnto vs in this behalfe pardoning thē also whatsoeuer they haue ill done and making them likewise noble And because that the receauers fauorers and adherents of such tirantes are they which cause them to continue and do nourish vphold them in their naughtinesse without the which the wicked could not rule any long time we declare all them likewise for rebels against vs and enemies of the commō quiet and as such do depriue them of al their goods nobility honours fauours present or to come who within a moneth after the publication of this present edict shall not withdrawe themselues from taking parte with him but shall continue to shew him fauour and to giue him ayd or otherwise shal haunt frequent follow assist counsell or fauour him directly or indirectly or from this time forwarde shall deliuer him any money giuing all the goods and bodies of such men wheresoeuer they may be found either in our kingdomes or countreis or out of them to those that shall occupie the same whether they be marchaundizes money debtes actions landes Lordships and other thinges whatsoeuer except that the said goods be alreadie seased in our power as hath bin before sayde And that they may the more speedily come to haue sentēce against their said person or goods it shall be proofe sufficient ynough to declare that they haue seene them after the time expressed in this proscription communicate speake treate haunt openly or secretely with the saide Orange or haue shewed him particular fauor assistaunce or ayde directly or indirectlie howsoeuer pardoning notwithstanding all men whatsoeuer euen vnto the said time they shall haue done to the contrarie if returning backe and submitting themselues agayne vnder the due and lawfull obedience which they owe vnto vs they haue accepted or shall accept the said treatie of Arras concluded at Monts or the articles of the deputies of the Emperor determined at Colen Thus wee giue in charge and commaunde our most deare and faithfull the heads presidentes and persons of our priuie and great councels the Chauncellor and persons of our counsell in Brabant the Gouernour President and persons of our counsell at Luxembourg the Gouernor Chauncelor and persons of our counsell in Gelderlande the Gouernor of Lembourg Faulquemont Daelhem and of others our Countreis of Oultremeuze the Gouernor Presidentes and persons of our counsels in Flaunders and Artois the great Bailie of Haynault and persons of our counsel at Monts the Gouernor President and persons of our counsell in Holland the Gouernor President and persons of our
counsell at Namure the Gouernor Presidentes and persons of our counsell in Frieseland the Gouernor Chauncelor and persons of our counsell in Oueryssell the Lieuetenaunt of Groningen the Gonernor President and persons of our counsell at Vtrecht the Gouernor of Lile Douay and Orchies the Prouost and Countie of Vallanchiennes the Baylie of Tournay and of Tournesses the Rent-masters of Bewest and Beoisterschelt in Zeland the Iudge of Malines and all other our Iustices and officers and those of our vassals and Subiects whome it shall concerne their Lieuetenantes and euery one of them in respect of himselfe and as though it did appertaine vnto him that they cause this our present declaration edict and decree to bee published euery one in his gouernment and in the places and boundes of his or their iurisdiction where they are accustomed to make cries and proclamations to the end that none may pretende any cause of the ignoraunce thereof and moreouer that they keepe obserue and maintain and cause inuiolablie to be kept obserued and maintayned all the poyntes and articles therein contained according to their forme and tenor proceeding causing to be proceeded therin respectiuely to the recompēce reward pain and punishment of the persons aboue mētioned without any fauour loue or dissimulatiō and for this purpose and all thinges appertaining thereto we giue them and euery one of them full power authoritie speciall commaūdemēt and we charge commaund all that they obey thē commaūding the same and that they vnderstand it diligently And neuerthelesse seeing that at this present the saide publications cannot be made in the townes countreis and territories occupied by the rebellion of the sayd Orange wee will that the publications which shal be made in the towns nerest thervnto being vnder our obeisance shall be wholy and all together of such force and effect as if they had bin vtterly done in the circuites and places accustomed and for such we haue authorised and by these presentes doe authorise them yea we wil and commaunde that immediately they be printed in two sundrie languages by the sworn printers of our Vniuersities of Louain or Douay to the end that it may more easilie come to al mens knowledge and this is our pleasure appointment and good will In witnesse whereof we haue caused our great seale to bee put to these presentes which were made in our towne of Maestricht the xv day of the moneth of March and in the yere of grace 1580. and of our kingdoms to wit of Spaine Sicilia c. the xxv and of Naples the xxvii By the expresse appointment of his Maiestie Verreiken And the sayd Letters are sealed with the great seale of his Maiestie in redde waxe and a double lase hanging thereat ¶ The Letters of the Prince of Parma to the Gouernors and Counsellers of the Prouinces commaunding the publishing of this proclamation ALEXANDER Prince of PARMA and of PLAISANCE c. Gouernor and Captaine generall MY COSEN MOST DEARE AND welbeloued frends seeing the K. my Lord hath by 2. seueral letters of his very plainly cōmaunded vs to cause incontinently to be published in these his countreyes the proscription and proclamatiō annexed hereto against W. of Nassau Prince of Orange for the causes contained in the sayd Proclamation we could not cease to obay his Maiesties commaundement and to send the same vnto you requiring you and neuertheles in the name and on the behalfe of his Maiesty appoynting you that immediatly after yee haue seene the same you publish it and cause it to bee published thorow out all the Townes and places of your gouernmēt and iurisdiction after the accustomed manner to the end that none may pretend any cause of the ignorance thereof and faile yee not herein and thus my Cosen most deare and welbeloued friēdes our Lord haue you in his keeping From MONTS the 15. day of Iune 1580 Vnderneath was written ALEXANDER And signed ouer against it VERREYKEN This was the Superscription of it To the Gouernours and Counsellours of the Prouinces THE PRINCE OF Orange his letters to the ESTATES To my Lordes the Estates Generall YOV HAVE KNOWEN MY LORDES BY my life past and by my behauiours that I neuer mynded to answeare to any libels of defamation which certayne sclaunderers had published agaynst me in so much as if the quality greatnes of the wrong which hath bene done agaynst mee by the proscription that the Kinge of Spaine hath caused to be published I had not as yet proceeded so farre especially had it not bene that the maintenance of myne honoure had requested the same of mee as I haue more largely layed out the same in my defence which I haue presented vnto you Since which time there is come into my handes a letter very false and counterfayt by myne ennemy which they say they intercepted and I sent to my lorde the Duke of Aniou or as they say to the Duke of Alançon whereof some personages amongest them and that of greate qualitie also haue sent copies as well to certaine townes of our syde and amōgest vs as to sundry strange forrain princes This letter my Lordes is so fondly written whether a man regarde the stile thereof or wil respect the matter therein cōtayned which by the bare reading therof sufficiently bewrayeth that there is not in it any shew of truth that such an impudent deuise deserueth no answeare as also God bee praised there is not found a man amongest vs which is any whit at al mooued therwith On the other side euery man hath knowen that they had no other meaning hereby but by such mistes smokes to darken the brightnes by which their miserable pernitious intēr against this coūtrey hath bin discouered by the letters of Cardinal Granduell and others which you haue commaunded to be printed after that you knew their handes their signes and their seales and withall therby to take vnto them selues an occasion and matter to cast vp and spew out acording to the manner of shameles women slaunderous and wicked speeches ful of lying But so far of is it that by this meanes they haue inrespect of me obteined that which they pretēded that on the other side they haue done me greate pleasure in publishing such follies because that thereby they do more and more iustify and verify my defence sufficiently prouing them selues to be shameles lyers most impudent slaunderers and most fond falsifiers which serueth more more to iustify as I haue saide myne innocencie and to geue approbation to all my actions For seeing that all men know that this should be the best newes that they could receaue or heare of that I would forsake the countrey and leaue it to them I offered them my Lordes and you vnder my honour do promise them to accomplish it if they bee able to proue in your presences that I haue at any time written or commaūded to be written or sent such a letter that presently I will depart the coūtrey and withdraw my selfe from it without euer setting my selfe against them and I promise them euen vpon a simple or bare request to send thē such passeportes and safeconducts and they also penned in such order as either they can or will demaūd But yet this shal be with this condition that if they will not accept this so reasonable an offer all they which haue bin the authors of such a writing or which haue published it or which haue sent it into the townes amōgst vs or to forraine Princes and straunge countreyes shal be held for lyers slaunderers and wicked speakers as indeede such they are Giuen at Delft the 25. of Ianuary 1581. ⸫ FINIS