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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07032	A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, otherwise called Flanders Wherein, is sett forthe the originall and full proceedyng of the saied troubles and ciuile warres, with all the stratagemes, sieges, forceble takynges, and manlike defenses, of diuers and sondrie cities, tounes, and fortresses of the same, together, the barbarous crueltie and tyrannie of the Spaniard, and trecherous hispaniolized Wallons, [and] others of the saied lowe Countreis. And there withall, the estate and cause of religion, especially, from the yere 1559. vnto the yere 1581. Besides many letters, commissions, contractes of peace, unions, articles and agrementes, published and proclaimed in the saied prouinces. Translated out of French into Englishe, by T.S. ge[n]t.; Chronyc. historie der Nederlandtscher oorlogen, troublen enn oproeren oorspronck, anvanck enn eynde, item den standt der religien, tot desen jare 1580. English.	Stocker, Thomas, fl. 1569-1592.; Marnix van St. Aldegonde, Philips van, 1538-1598, attributed name.; Rijckewaert, Carolus, called Theophilus, fl. 1577, attributed name.; Henricpetri, Adam, fl. 1576. General historien der aller namhafftigsten unnd fürnembsten Geschichten, Thaten und Handlungen.; Le Petit, Jean François, 1546-ca. 1615, attributed name.	1583 (1583)	STC 17450.3; ESTC S111524	324,446	432

were whether President Counseller Boroughmaister or whatsoeuer officer els were enforced before the Inquisitors to take knowledge of as many as were presēted vnto them punish al those that were fauourers of herefie and heretikes Furthermore the Inquisitors tooke a note of all merchants artificers poore or rich that were any way suspected of the reformed religion The Inquisitors are commonly Franciscanes or preaching Friers which take a note of al suche as come not to confession or that offer not to their boxe giuing a copie of thē to the new bishops whose officers as vshers Sariauntes first of al by cōposition burdened the poore soules who soone after were enforced to flee the countrey if they would not be taken so put to death as by experience often was seene At that time it was noysed all the low countrey throughout A brute rumor of warres in the low countries supposed to be a most certaine truth that Duke Erike of Brūswike had leuyed a mighty army both of horsemen footmen to plant the Inquisition in the low countries by force of armes accordingly as he had before by the deuise purpose of the Cardinal of Granuelle enterprised to accomplishe so by that meane meāt to make a conquest of the prouinces of the lād of Belgique and abolish al priuiledges and franchises and in the end make an absolute kingdome of it for this cause was the charge committed to the rulers and captaines who had receiued money of Duke Erike for the leuying of men of warre These newnes engendered such a great feare in the hearts of the people as that the notablest richest merchāts of the countrey Many merchants got thē away into other countries got packed vp al their goods together went away into other lāds insomuch that the artificer had no work to set himself vpon al rēts reuenues decreased many cities townes were vnpeopled so that it was a lamētable thing to see into what a miserable estate the low coūtrey which before was the Paragon of all trade of merchandise not the like in the vniuersal world to be found was fallen now become thus sodainly desolate ruined Againe there were certaine gouernours officers of great authority wealth who first considering of the horrible effect tenure of the letters manifestly declaring that in case there were any man that would oppose himself against the meaning of those letters not ayde the Inquisitors for the accomplishing of their commssion that he whatsoeuer he was should be deposed from his estate another placed in his roome next of al they seeyng the fury and wrath of the people to be greatly moued through such disorderly charges and tyrannies and become so outragious mad that they would not spare any magistrate or officer whatsoeuer And last of all considering that they coulde not with a good conscience in such a case be both plantifes Iudges they were fully resolued to yeelde vp their offices into the kings hands if he purposed to persist in that his intended opinion On the otherside the ancient enemies of the house of Burgoin woulde in no wise let slip this occasion but carefully and dil●gētly sounded the heartes of the enhabitaunts of this low Countrey to see if they could by any meanes possible make them shake off their sidelitie from their Prince Lord hauing gotten men for that purpose to she we vnto them howe insupporlable a bondage that is by which all other franchifes priuiledges and other ordinaunces are defaced and broken and that there shoulde be other Lawes and Statutes appointed after the manner of Spaine which should haue full power and authoritie ouer their moueable and vnmouable goods their wiues and children yea that all the goodes which they haue so long possessed should now be no longer theirs but shoulde themselues also be brought into flauerie and bondage Howebeit they tolde them that this thing shoulde not take effect before such time as his Maiestie shoulde submit himselfe vnto the Inquisition Neither did they forget to shewe the great dammage and losse whiche the countrey was like to receiue through the want of the recourse and company of the Marchantes seeing that marchandize is the very nurse of these Prouinces and that by reason of the trade thereof in other partes the enhabitantes of the lowe Countreys should be ready to starue And that which is more that the bondage of conscience wherunto they shoulde be alwayes tyed was nowe concluded vppon Moreouer they compared all these thinges to other prouinces and regions with their franchises and liberties saying that these prouinces farre passed all other in trade of marchandise and goodnesse of Ground and further tolde them of the great commoditie which other prouinces receiued from these lowe Countreys and coulde not be without them Neuerthelesse their fidelitie and constant loyaltie to their prince was so great and wrought so in them as that they gaue no eare to such suborners but aduertised the Magistrate to be ware of this fetch and drift and preueut it howbeit they were no whit the more abashed for all this neither knewe they what was best for them to do or what best to be left vndone Now for the better vnderstanding of the cause why The bringing in of the new Bishoppes and in what fort these new bishops were erected we are to know that the Priestes Inquisitors for their better assurance of the bringing in of the inquisition into king Philips dominions considering that certaine ecclesiasticall prelates in some measure fauoured the Protestants and were in great authoritie and very rich they therefore greatly enuied them for it For which cause the Inquisitors imagined to erect a newe estate of prelates and to deuide the Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbaies Pryories c. into many partes And to this ende in the yeere 1558. was appointed at the request of king Philip by the Exclesiasticall estate Francis Sonnius a Doctor in 〈◊〉 and sent to Rome Sonnius sent to Rome who hauing set foorth the noblensse of the lowe Countries and the great riches of the Ecclesiasticall prelates there wrought his matters so wisely as that hee compassed this much That Pope Paule the 4. of that name by the aduise of seuen Cardinalles appointed for that put pose gaue the saide Sonnius audience and graunted him his demaund Whereupon they tooke from the Archbishopricke of Coloigne whose dyocesse was ouerlarge the Bishoprick of Vtrecht made the same an Archbishoprick wherunto they subiected fiue other Bishops to wit the Bishoprick of Deuenter in the countrie of Tranfisselaine the Bishopricke of Harlem in Holland the Bishopricke of Leauwarden in Friseland the Bishopricke of Middlebourgh in Zealande and the Bishoprick Groening in the countrie of Wedde All which plates are farre distant from the Citie of Coloigne neither doe their languages agree with them of Coloigne and therefore the sentences pronounced at Coloigne could not wel bee

wherevnto all good subiectes and louers of their Countrey of very right offer them selues and the rather she we them selues readie because all the worlde knoweth of the peruerse counsaill and deuise of the saied Spanyardes and their Adherentes as tendyng after the long pacience of their insupportable outrage in the ende to the vtter ruine destruction and sclauerie of all the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis and the faithfull enhabitauntes of the same wherevnto it was apparaunt thei would come had it not been that some other conuenient remedie aboue all other thinges in tyme had beene prouided and that cheefly by the common power and agrement of all the lowe Countreis for the departure and driuyng awaie of the Spanyardes and their Adherentes and that after certaine louyng warnynges and admonitions by his excellencie and the saied Estates of Hollande and Scalande giuen to that ende vnto the rest of the Prouinces of the saied lowe Countreis semyng to be thereto enclined and altogether affected so that for the ad●●uncement of the benefite quiet and vnitie of the saied Lowe Countreis his Excellencie and the Estates aforesaid agreed on either side to meete and entre into communication together about the same when his Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande were agreed and withall had ioyned and strengthened them selues together in this matter for the Bommelians and all the reste of their associates For the sendyng to this ende and purpose their Deputies at a certaine daie to Gant And therefore for this cause his Excellencie together the Estates of Hollande and Sealande haue substituted and by these presentes doe substitute The noble honourable and good Lorde Phillip de Marnix Maister sainct Aldegonde Arnold Thorpe Willyam Zuilen of Newfield Adrian Myle Cornelius Kyng Adrian the yonger in the behalfe and name of his Excellencie and the Estates to be all together or the greater parte of them at the said conference in the Citie of Gant and with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis or their lawfull Deputies beyng there present to treate aduise and conclude vpon whatsoeuer maie best serue for the setting fore ward of the peace Ami●ie and Vnitie of the saied lowe Countreis and the enhabitauntes of the same hauyng alwaies a regard to the former speeches and honest offer oftentymes by his Excellencie and the sard Estates of Hollande and Sealande and their associates but especially to the last treatie of peace with the Kynges Deputies at Bred● and to that whiche there vpon the matter of pacification might haue been treated of and made whervpon the said Deputies might proceade further on if thei thought it requisite or necessarie Giuyng and grauntyng vnto the saied Substitutes or to the more parte of them full aucthoritie and also generall and especiall Commission to accorde and agree with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces about whatsoeuer thei shal find to be any w●e profitable and for the 〈◊〉 theraunce and 〈◊〉 of the Common wealth but especially for the resistyng weakening and driuyng out of the saied Spanyardes as common enemies to the Countrey and common quiet thereof and to the same ende also binde them selues with the rest of the Prouinces vnder suche reasonable conditions and articles as ma●e be godlie and honouble for the repose and wealthe of the Countrey His Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande aforesaid promisyng vpon their fidelitie and honour to holde the same as good and effectuall and so farforthe as concerneth them irreuocablie and inuiolably to keepe whatsoeuer their saied Deputies as before is mentioned and in that whiche hath been before saied shall treate of without crossyng or sufferyng the same to be crossed directly or inderectly bindyng them selues their gooddes and generally all the inhabitauntes bothe of Hollande and Sealande and their associates by these presentes bothe for this tyme and the tyme to come without exception of any In witnesse whereof his Excellencie and the saied Estates of Holland and Sealand to these presentes haue Subscribed and for confirmation thereof put to their seales Giuen at Middlebrough the 12. of October and at Delft the 14. of September in the yere 1576. Subscribed by Willyam of Nassou And by the especiall commaundement of the Estates of Hollande subscribed by Peter Bushe And by the expresse commaundement of the Estates of Sealande subscribed by Faymon and sealed with three Seales in redde Waxe at a double Labell of Parchement The Commission of the Secretary The Se●reta● Commission WHere about the seruice of the Lordes the Commissioners chosen by my Lords of the Estates of the Countries here about assembled at Bruxelles for a new entraunce into the conference of the pacification with the Deputies of my Lord the Prince of Orenge and of the Estates of Holland and Zealand and their Associates it was necessarily required that thei should haue a Secretary for the dispatchyng siegniyng and an ende takyng in their name all the Letters Actes Copies and other writinges about their businesse who was left by my saied Lords to bee chosen by the Commissioners aforesaied My saied Lordes of the Estates hauyng chosen and named Ihon de Penantes one of our soueraigne Lorde the Kyng his Counsellours and Maister of his Chamber of the Accomptes of Brabant a man accordyng to their hartes desire haue and doe by these presentes aucthorize the saied Penantes to make dispatche siegne and autentique of knowledge in the name and by the appointment of the saied Lords Commissioners all Acts Letters Copies Writynges that the same might be the better beleued and al other needefull businesse and what soeuer in them contained to be receiued and admitted as thynges very true and credible Prouided alwaies that he shall be duely sworne vnto the said Lords Commissioners therein accordyngly as to them shal seeme most meete Giuen at Bruxelles by vertue of the Estates of Brabant in the name and at the request of all the rest and siegned by their Secretary the 13. of October 1576. and vnderneath was written by the expresse commaundement of the saied Lordes of Estates and subscribed by Cornelius Weelemans and sealed with the priuie Seale of the saied Estates after the maner of a Commission Bee it knowne vnto all men that at the suppication and request of our saied Estates and accordyng to the agreement and confirmation of our said Counsell of Estate in maner and forme as it is set doune the 5. of this present Moneth We will and commaunde our welbeloued and faithfull chiefe Presidentes and those of our priuie Counsell and Counsell at large Our Chauncellour and Counsell of Brabant Our Gouernour President and Counsellors of Flaunders and Artois our greate Bayliefe of Haynault and Counsellors at Mons The Prouoste of Valencia Gouernour of Lys●e Doway and Orchies Our Gonernour President and Counsellors at Namure Our Gouernour Bailiefe and Counsell at Tournay Our Liutenaunt President and Counsailors at Vtright and the Sherife of Malines That thei cause

ancient customes priuiledges franchises of this Citie or against the Citizens and enhabitauntes thereof but ayde defende and keepe them asmuch as is possible for men to do 21 And if they vnderstande any thing tending to the hurte of his Maiesties seruice or the disquieting of the Citie they shall be bounde forthwith to aduertise their Captaynes thereof that they maye make reporte of the same to those to whome it shall appertayne 22 All which they shall do vpon paine and punishment both of bodies goodes limmes and banishment or other arbitrary or pecuniarie correction according to the demerite of the fact and circumstances thereof 23 Vnto all which articles euery one of them when they shall bee enrolled shall bee bounde to sweare and really promise vnto God almightie to keepe and not crosse any maner of way nor yet rebell against them vpon the payne and perill aforesaid Ouer and besides all this the Lieutenant Captaynes Ensignes Corporalles Seriauntes of bandes and diseners shall sweare and promise with all their power to holde and keepe so farreforth as they are able all the Souldiers and Dizaines in good policie obedience and modestie and shall effectually bryng to passe whatsoeuer at any tyme shal be commaunded them to do with their companions and dizaines and likwise to countergard and preuent all discorde sedition and ill will which may aryse betweene the souldiers and the Citizens And if it so fall out that they be not able to appease them then immediatly to aduertise his Excellencie his Lieutenaunt or their Captayne for redresse thereof And so it was subscribed By his Excellencies appoynted De Penants AT the very same tyme there was openly solde a printed picture in which was pictured Commissions and letters from his Maiestie with the Inquisition tyed and hanging at a Bowe that was bent The Protestants or those of the religion going about to pull it downe with ropes The Pope and his shauelings labouring with might and mayne to vpholde and maynteyne them The Protestantes crying out and saying Pour Placcars et Inquisition casser trauaillous tous sanscesser To witte for the ouerthrowing of these Commissions and this vile Inquisition wee neuer cease trauelling till wee haue brought them all downe The Pope on the other side answering and saying Per force et aussi conseil bon Retenous les Placars et le Inquisition to witte And wee for our partes with all the force and counsayle wee can will retayne and keepe them in despite of any man All these thinges aforesayde were done wh●lest my Lorde the Prince of Drange was at Antwerpe but the pulling downe and breaking of the Images was the cause that the Catholikes yeelded more to the Protestantes then they at the first intended For the feare of the rage and furie of the people and the helpe of the Gentlemen Straungers strooke them to the verye heart and besides they knewe well ynoughe● that the kinges Maiestie was a great distance off to helpe them wherefore they were enforced to behaue themselues accordingly as the tyme serued and of necessitie to make a vertue in dispice of them and of their great sorrowe and griefe In the meane while The L. Regent tollerateth the sermons the Ladie Regent by the counsayle of the Lordes of the Goulden Fleese and others graunted and permitted the Protestauntes to haue publique Sermons promising to appoynte them some place without the Citie for the exercise of their religion Ouer and besides that the Inquisition and seuere Commissions shoulde from thence foorth bee abolished so that no man shoulde any more be pursued and bunted after for his conscience But yet vpon this condition that the confedered Gentlemen which tooke no parte shoulde sweare that they woulde procure the people to forsake and lay downe theyr armour and weapon and that the Churches should bee no more spoyled nor any thing that shoulde bee preiudiciall vnto the Cleargie men or Catholikes To be short that they should be ready to yeelde all obedience vnto his Maiestie Hereupon an accord was made in August 1566. Duer and besides this the Regent had procured the most qualified Catholikes to bee sworne to the same and confirmed by his Maiesties commaundement which was proclaymed in diuers places The noble men for the perfourming of their promise and oth wrote and declared to the Consistories all those thynges which had been treated of which was that they should lay down and leaue off their armour and weapon and behaue themselues as good and obedient subiects ought to doe towards their prynces for if they so did not the matter would goe yll with them whereupon the people to shew theyr obedience willingly leaft off and layd downe theyr weapons During these troubles king Philip being aduertised by his suborners and flatterers of the pulling downe and breaking of the images was marueilously angry determined in his owne person to come downe into the lowe countryes with a mayne force for the auengyng of the contempt and misbehauiour committed and doone vnto his matestie But before hee had called together his councel at Madrid to consult about the appeasing of the low countries it was concluded that his maiestie shoulde not goe thyther because that this sire might otherwise bee well enough quenched by force of armes howbeit as for the chosing of a generall that should execute the same they were of sundrie opinions For many were of the opinion that the prince of Spaine Don Charles his maiesties onely sonne and heyre should bee appointed generall not onely for that that by right of nature it apperteined vnto him but also by reason of the good affection which the catholikes of the lowe countries be are hym as beeyng theyr naturall prince and the onelye sonne of the kyng theyr Lorde vnto whom they would sooner yeelde theyr obedience and loue then to any other The duke of Alua 〈…〉 be generall of the arm●e for Flaunders Some of them were loth to lay vpon this young prince so waightie a burden and warlike commission but saide that the Duke of Medina Celi was a meete man for that purpose Some others againe gaue theyr consent to the Duke of Alua whereupon in the end it was so determined The young prince being aduertised of this resolution was greatly greeued and despited therewith and for that cause conceaued a marueilous great harred against the Duke of Alua and other Lordes which beeing once knowen together his good affection that hee had to the lowe countries was the cause of his death as heereafter more at large shal bee declared Whiles they were about to make readie for this warre The kings letters vnto the ladie Regent his matestie wrote to the ladie Regent and to other chiefe Lords of the lowe countries very sharpe letters expresly signifying how angry and greeued he was at the insolencies passed commanding in flat wordes a restauration of the commissions vnto their former strength and accustomed course with many other things hereafter following Hereupon the

March the same yeere The tyrannous Papists troubled the preachinges in the Towne of Andenarde and slue fiue of the company with Harquebuzes The same tynie also the reformed Churches in Flanders were vtterly despersed The 27. of Aprill the same yeere were the last Sermons made in Amstelredame when as the Lord of Brederode with the noble men and ministers departed the same Citie and was the last dispersion of the Churches in the lowe Countreys The ende of the first booke The seconde Booke of the Histories of the troubles in the low Countreys In the beginning whereof shall be described and set forth the Inquisition of Spaine and the execution thereof and next after howe the banished Princes Noble men Gentlemen and others assailed the low Countreys both with horsemen and footemen good store for the recouerie of their enheritances and goods from which they were driuen away by the tyrannie of the Duke of Alua. WE haue discoursed and set down in the first booke the maner of the passing of all the dealings in the lowe Countreys before the D. of Alua his comming and also in what state they stoode at his arriuall And besides howe all they of the reformed religion after the forbidding of the exercise of preaching were persecuted and condemned by the Inquisition But now if thou wilt a while giue eare I wil discouer vnto thee what maner a thing the same inquisitiō is which is more famous then rightly known all Europe ouer The declaration here of woulde be taken of many but for a fable and leasing if the spring head and first original thereof were not manifestly set forth and to say truly the gentle reader should take small pleasure if we should but onely speake of the bare name there of without telling what it is in deede Wherefore for the first point I will declare vnto you what it is who are the indges thereof and the maner of the administration of it And because there is not the least within these Iowe Countreys but knoweth that this Inquisition of Spayne hath been the very true originall of all the troubles I will not forget to lay wide open and set downe in writing the declaration and beginning thereof Spayne at the first was gouerned by meane kings Spaine in olde time gouerned by petie kings and after warde the greatest part thereof was conquered by the Affricanes who at last peaceably possessed it and freed it from the bondage of the Romanes After this the same Prouince was for a while gouerned by the Uandales and Alanes whom the Gothes in the dayes of the Emperours Theodose and Ualentinian the thirde expulsed out of Fraunce who conquered many Lands and Countreys destroying the Romaine Empire At last these wandering people were by the ordinaunce of Boniface gouernours in Affrica who through the dealing of the other Affricane gouernours were sent and called thereto But as they were by the vice Bothes pursued on this side the sea there passed ouer of mē women and children vnder the conduct of Gontram and Gensericke their kings and lordes in the yeere 720. about eyght hundred thousande persons to destroy and conquere Affricke After this retraite of this foresaid Uandales the Gothes by the consent of the Emperours gouerned the realme of Spayne vntill the dayes of K Rodrigue who hauing violated and defloured Cana Count Iulians daughter was ruined slayne with all his kinred For the same count Iulian in reuenge of the wrong and shame that was done him sent the Uandales Mores Affricanes and Sarazins vnder the conduct of Musa their king who haning discomfited and slayne in many battels mo then seuen hundreth thousand men conquered all Spayne and deuided it into diuers kingdomes to witte Granade Ualence Portugall Toledo Cordua and many others But the christians which came of Gothes for the auoyding of the intollerable oppressions and horrible furie of these nations retyred and withdre we them selues into the Mountaynes of Arragon who at that tyme were called the Cantabrians and Asturians and chose one named Pelagius to be their king This Pelagius forsaking the name of a Gothe beganne to make very great warres against the Mores but hee had therein but euill successe Wherefore his successours required ayde and helpe of the French kinges to witte of Pepin Charlemeine Lewis and many others so that in short tyme the Countreys that were lost were conquered agayne which were deuided into Prouinces and after into kingdomes giuing them the names of the fortresses and Townes whereby they were conquered to witte of the Citie or Towne of Leon or Legion the kingdome of Leon of Tarracon Arragon of Barcinone Barcelone of the Castle which Pelagius built so soone as hee had wonne Leon against the assault of the Mores the kingdome of Castile and after all this the kingdomes of Portugall Nauarre Galice Toledo Ualence Cordua and Granade were exected to wit when the Mores were enforced to become subiecte to Christian kings and Countreys at suche tyme as euery one warred against them in his owne Countrey the chiefe of which were the Arragonians and Castilians Nowe amongst all the Princes and Potentates that warred vpon the heathen and Infidelles Ferdinando king of Arragon was the most famous But after that the Countrey was out of the daunger of the Mores by reason of the happie successe of the heathen warres the sayde king Ferdinando suffered the Mores as his predecessors had also done to liue in quiet subiection and obedience paying certayne tribute Neuerthelesse their kinde of life was paynefull especially amongst those that were freemen and yet tollerable inough seeing they were not troubled or molested for the cause of religion But as the thinges of this worlde neuer continue in one selfe and the same estate and that the heartes of kinges and princes doe often chaunge which causeth the subiectes for the present tyme to be ouercharged and burdened There were some that perswaded the sayde king to chose certayne personnes who shoulde haue an eye to their many superstitions and infidelities to the ende the Mahometishe and Ieweshe religion myght not any way derogate from the Catholique Religion Neuerthelesse wee see by experience that oftentimes they whiche make pittes for others fall them selues into them For it is an harde matter to stumble against a stone when as they will labour to reduce others to their opinion and fantasie The king had appoynted for this purpose the moste qualified men following therein the order of his predecessors And as a king careth not what payne hee ordinarily taketh to excell all other kinges and Monarches in honour and fame Euen so this king Ferdinand purposed and concluded to shewe him selfe a no lesse true and politike then a warlike Christian for in leauing all his warlike affayres he bestowed all his care about the aduauncing of christian Religion which is a most good kingly deede and worthy great commendation as also it is the parte and duetie of a king who is the Image of the most excellent and Almightie

Count Lodwike hauing espials euery where to aduertise him out of what quarter of the countrie counte Lodwike meant to goe At last the Duke was aduertised that counte Lodwike stayed at Iemming in the count of Embden his dominions and had there pitched his campe beeing a fit place for intrenching consideryng that on the one side hee had water enough and on the other he had the iolly citie of Embden to furnish his campe with victuals and all other necessary prouision When the Duke of Alua was heereof throughly aduertised hee caused his army to marche towardes counte Nassou his campe and sent before him captaine Sancho de Auila and captaine Mentero to holde them play and apply them with skirmishes thereby to withdrawe the Nassouans from the commodious place wherein they were And after him he sent Iulian Romero master of the campe with fiue hundred harquebuziers three hundred musketiers After him followed Don Sanches de Lodogno with a thousande harquebuziers appointed for the two wings of the foote men and Caesar Gonzage Martinengo with two bands of horse men the rest of the vauntguard were vnder the conduct of Alfonse de Vlloa and Don Consaluo de Bracamont with express commandement that none of those souldiers should otherwise be placed In the reareward were specially appointed sixe ensignes of Almaines and after them fifteene ensignes signes of Wallons who followed the light horse one by one For the passage was very straight and full of water on eyther side When the Nassouans sawe the mightie armie of the Duke of Alua in steed of shewing themselues valiant and couragious they beganne to crie out Money money and woulde not once fight shewing themselues to be neyther of valure nor yet wise and they who shoulde not haue fought for money but for the defence of religion durst not nowe once put in hazard their liues eyther for theyr countrie or yet for religion Whiche thinge when the Duke of Alua sawe and consideryng of theyr pusylanimitie or faint heartednesse set vpon count Nassou his campe about ten of the clocke in the morning and so put them to flight and in killyng of a certaine number he paid them the wages which count Lodwike ought them Howbeit many of them were saued in passing the ryuer of Embden by boate and especially the most valiant count Lodwike and some of the noble men escaped the tyrants handes notwithstanding that hee stood to his defence euen to the last man for when he saw that his souldiers woulde not fight hee saued himself with great peryll of his life by passing the riuer in a very small boat The count of Hoogstrate was but two dayes before gone from the campe and count Iuste of Scouwenbourgh saued himselfe and the greater number of his horsemen at the begynning of the battaile when he perceiued the souldiers would not fight but called still for money When the Duke of Alua had gotten this victorie The Duke of Alua writeth to Bishop of Munster he wrote the particularities of this battaile vnto Iohn bishop of Munster who was the chiefe within the compasse of Westphalia by whiche letter the sayd Duke cōplained of the wrong which counte Lodwike had done that he woulde haue no peace and contemned the Emperours message and excused himselfe of that that hee had burdened and endamaged the count Embden by the entring of souldiers laying all the blame on the count Embden who had holpen count Lodwike with victuals and shewed him selfe in very deede the king of Spaines enemie seeing hee had duryng the tyme of the Battaile discharged vppon the Spaniardes certayne great ordenance out of the shippes After this great victorie the Duke of Alua tooke his way by Amstelredame towardes Vtright where hee cut off the head of one of Duke Lodwikes captaines whom hee had taken prysoner The twentie of Iuly the Prince of Orange by an Apologie and certaine publique writings declared the occasion cause The prince publisheth his defence and necessitie which inforced his excellencie his friendes and the confedered noble men to take armes against the Duke of Alua and his adherentes to wit by reason of his horrible and detestable tyranny and persecution against the poore and blameles professours of the worde of God and of the holy Gospell and also against the generall Estates of the lowe countries to theyr vtter rooting out and desolation but because the saide Apologie hathe oftentimes beene printed and thereby gotten into the handes of all the worlde wee haue not here for breuitie sake put it in Wee haue heeretofore saide howe that the prince of Orange had waged a great many both foote men and horsemen who being arriued about the monasterie of Romerstorf in the countrie of Treues remained there vnto the ende of the moneth to the great burt of the countrie men The captaines of the horsemen were Fredericke de Rolhuisen Marshall of Hessen who was a famous man in the French wars 1562. Thierry of Schonbrough count Iust of Schuwenbourgh count Albert of Nassau counte Burchart of Barby Ottho of Malsbrough Herman Riedesal and Adam Welles The Colonels of the foot men were Nicholas of Harstadt a man of an auncient and noble house an expert man of war and for his valure very famous Feyt Schooner and Balthazar of Woluen The French captaines were Ien●is Moruillier the baron of Renty Mouy Antrycourt Esternay the parson and others of twelue bands of horse and a thousande harquebuziers Captayne Poyet was also a captaine of souldiers With these also ioyned counte Lodwike after his discomfiture at lemmingen In the beginning of September the prince caused the campe to marche on after that they had made a generall muster and passed the Rhine at Saint Vit a towne within his iurisdiction The Princes armie was 44 ensignes of Almaynes The armie of the Prince foure thousande French and Wallons the most of them shot and 7. thousand horse men well armed som of the foot men had in theyr ensignes this posie Pro lege grege rege That is to say for the lawe the people and the king Some beare the Pellican by reason of the loue shee beareth to her young ones nourishyng them with the blood which issueth out of her hurt brest Vpon theyr Morions were roses painted an olde Englishe deuise as if the Queene of England had assisted them Ouer and besides the prince had ten peeces of ordenance sixe faucons and four canons but small prouision of munition and this was in haruest a very moyst and raynie season and therefore very vnfit to marche with so great an armie When the Duke of Alua had heard these newes at Vtright he mustered his people The Colonel of the Alamaines were the Count Lodyon and count Phillip of Ouerstein Ouer and besides hee had fortie ensignes of Spaniardes and fortie ensignes of VVallous sauing those that lay in garnison in the townes castles who for the more part were Spaniards whō he most trusted Hee had also

perforce Moreouer they were well to weigh and consider that if so bee they did not all that was possible for men to doe that they should not only loose theyr Towne of Leyden but also all the whole Countrie besides whiche should bee to them and their successors amost cursed and shamefull reproch for euer And therefore that they were lustily to hold out the enemy and so be the cause of not onely preseruing themselues but of the whole countrie also and get themselues thereby an euerlasting famous name And for the better effecting of this matter sparily to spend their victuals after the example of the Harlemians and Middlebroughians Nowe followeth the answere to these letters written the first of Iune Although their corne would not stretch so farre as the time mentioned in those letters yet they hoped lustily to holde out the force of the enemie during the time aforesaide yea they were fully resolued rather to abyde the extremitie of famine then to become their enemies slaues In the meane whyle they required that the Delftians Roterodamians and Goudians might be forbidden to suffer any victuals passe out of any of them by lande because the enemie should therby be greatly weakened Protesting against them that if they otherwise did that they more sought their owne priuate gain then the endomaging of those who went about none other thing but the turning away of the enemie from their gates c. And nowe let vs againe returne to Frauncis Baldez his enterprises So soone as Baldez had in this maner without anie great ordenance be sieged the towne of Leyden For hee right well knewe the merueilous charge of that which was planted before Harlem and withall the small effect it wrought he therfore knowing that it woulde lesse auaile against this towne whiche was so notably strengthned with mightie strong Rampares bethought him either by sugred speeches cunning letters or seuere threates to subdue it And for so much as hee had many fugitiue Hollanders with him whoe were at his beeke and commandement and at that time called in the Hollanders language Glippers he entended to imploy them about these affaires and it may bee that it was their owne sute and request seeing there were some of them too too carelesse for the losse and libertie of their countrie and therefore thought by theyr sundrie letters written from diuers places to the Leydens to draw them to the call and so deceiue them some of which said letters shal be here set downe at large as they were written and the briefe contents onely of othersome And firste and formost Iohn Adryanson the wylde and Ewout Arent the sonne of Gerard sente the twentie eyght of Maye from Harlem to the Magistrate and whole body of the Towne the Letters hereafter following signed with their hands but not al written by thē which made the matter greatly to be suspected that the Letters were no parte of their inuention My Maysters the great and singular affection and loue which we haue vnto our Countrie accompanyed with an horryble terrour and heart breake A Letter sent to the Leydens by certeine sugitiue Hollanders haue beene the cause to let you vnderstand that wee foreseeing you my maysters to be in great hazarde to fall into extreame calamitie and miserie if you in minde persist to defende the Towne of Leyden against his maiesties will and honour our most gentle Lorde and naturall Prince seeing we are more then informed of the innumerable numbers of men of warre already assembled and doe yet still assemble both on foote and on horsebacke with purpose to come downe into our poore and desolate countrie of Holland some of which are already on the way and are dayly still comming on and chiefly to set vpon you my maisters and to turne you cleane out of your dores ouer and besides a great number of Spanish shipps dayly approching which are prepared and furnished for the same effect Wherefore my maysters we hartely beseech you to haue a very good and discrete regard vnto this matter and looke throughly vnto it that you be not ouer long in deliberating hereon least by your obstinate purpose and intent all good meanes be altogether cut off and taken from you For you my maisters knowe well enough the meaning and purpose of souldiers who onely are enclined to sacke and spoyle for their particular profit beseeching you likwise to haue regarde to your poore wiues and children your miserable olde fathers and kinsfolkes who are no way able to helpe and relieue you and be not the cause of suffering that to be lost and euill dealt withal which ought so much to be had in honour with you and amongst the rest the little wealth and substaunce which yet remayneth through the insupportable exactions by you my maysters as it were for the space of two yeares vpholden which wee daye and night see before our eyes For this cause we in the beholding of you are enbolvened to exhibite a certeine supplicatiō to Monsier de Liques Gouernour of Harlem a very curteous ciuill and discrete noble Gentleman and borne within his Maiesties lowe Countries where al his welth lyeth who is wonderfully enclined to vnitie peace and tranquilitie who hath answered vs that if you your selues would become sory and repentant and so submit you vnto his Maiestie that he knoweth such a way for the sauing both of your bodyes and goodes as you your selues cannot wish a better alwayes prouided that this submission be made before such time as you be more straightly couped vp by his maiesties garrisons And for this cause my maisters hee hath inioyned vs to aduertise you that the Lordes of the Towne might deuise to set downe certaine pointes and Articles with such conditions as you would craue your pardon extending the same no farther then to you should seeme most expedient and to sende the same ouer with all possible speede vnto the sayde Lorde de Liques who will procure you a fauourable answere and giue you good direction to the great Commaundator of Eastile now Gouernour for his Maiestie of all his Low Countries For we know not better howe to counsell you then to be directed by him who likewise made the League at Mons in Haynault which in euery condition was fully and wholly obserued according to the promises and which we also trust that you wil more firmely keepe Beseeching the Lord God that it would please him so to inspire you with his holy spirit as that at last you hauing by it a right iudgement be not caryed away with an obstinate and froward constancie to refuse that good occasion which presently is offered you for your so great aduauntage The 29. of May Gerard of Hooghstrate wrote two Letters from Leyerthorpe Other letters sent from the spaniolated Hallanders to Leyden the one to the Leydens which was vnsealed and without superscription And the other of the same effect to his cosin Gerard Iohnsō It is insinued to the Burroughmaysters that

hereabout sent the Count of Swertsenbergh to the Estates offryng theim if it were possible to agree them with their kyng and to be an intercessour for them yea and promised further all the aide and seruice he was able to make and doe for that purpose The Emperour the Frenche king and the Queene of Englande sende their Imbassadours to the Estates The Frenche kyng also by Monsieur de Ballenre and the Queene of Englande by the Lorde Cobham and Maister Secretarie Walsingham one of her Maiesties priuie Counsell beyng sent all at one tyme to his highnes to Monsieur the Prince and to the Estates made the same declaration and offer whiche was to goe to Don Ihon to heare hym speake of that whiche thei pretended to gett of hym whiche thyng thei did and so tooke their iourney towardes him carriyng with them the Articles of the Estates and thei were all so foreward in their businesse as that the Deputies on either side mette at Louaine And as thei had brought the matter to a ioylly forewardnesse the kyng wrate to Don Ihon to leaue of that matter and put it into the Emperours handes Wherevppon euery manne retourned from whence he came without any forewardnesse or conclusion of the thyng And this matter begā to be treated of in the latter ende of August and ended in the beginnyng of September 1578. Duke Casunere hauyng rested hymself for a tyme Casimere coyneth hym self with the Camp of the Estates in the Countrey of Zurphen about the musteryng of his men to witte vii thousande footemen wherof fower thousande were French shotte and sixe thousande horse arriued in Brabande and ioyned hymself with the Estates the 26. of August Certaine Prelates and Gentlemen of the Countrey of Groenyng who were kept in prison in Groenyng seeyng that thei could not bee released by any of the chief Lordes letters to witte neither by his highuesse excellencie and Estates neither yet by the Commissioners whiche were expresly sent thether founde the meane to make an escape and the 17. Certaine prisoners eskape from Groenpng of September thei by a deuise got awaie sauyng three Prelates and three gentlemen who durst not put it in suche an aduenture because thei feared to bee surprised in their departure For there was greate partialitie betweene the Citie of Groenyng and the Countrey men by reason of certain Rightes and Priuiledges whiche was the cause that thei were taken prisoners Thei called also to remembraunce that the Nobilitie had heretofore armed theim selues against the Citie and had leuied and gotten together menne of warre whom the Citezeins of Groenyng draue out of the Castle of Couerden and tooke Bartholmewe Eyents their Captaine prisoner who was afterward released So soone as the force of Monsire the Duke of Aniowe Bins taken by the Duke of Aniowe was gotten into the Countreis he besieged the Citie of Bins which beyng well battered with tenne Canons and sixe Serpentines rendred the 7. of October at the discretion of the saied Duke who pardonyng the Souldiers put his owne people in Garnison The first of October The death of Don Ihon. Don Ihon dyed of the Pestilence in his Campe whiche laie hard by Namure in whose steade came Alexandra the Prince of Parma vnto whom the whole Campe sware their obedience and fidelitie 1578. The 15. of October the yere aforesaid at Leeward in Friseland in the Church called Niewenhoue and in the Franciscanes Churche were all the Images broken in peeces whiche were afterwarde restored by the Letters of the Liutenaunt the Count Rennenberge The 17. of October 1578. the Magistrate of Arras The Magistrate of Arras clapt in prison was by some of the Citezens and with the helpe of Captaine Ambrose and his people taken and kept in the Toune house whiche came by reason of a certaine Rumour that was there sowen abroade that he had receiued certaine intelligeuce from the Enemy How beit the 21. of the saied Moneth the people deliuered hym and some others were clapt vp in prison parte of whiche were afterwarde executed and parte banished Now The originall of the Malcōtentes when the Gantois had driuen out all their Churche men and broken doune all the Images in their Churches because that Don Ihou and his Adherentes had broken the pacification of Gaunt certaine Wallon Ensignes vnder colour of their paye and the restoryng of Gaunt vnto the Romishe Religion she wed them selues Malcontentes willyng that the Ecclesiasticall persones should bee restored to the possession of their goodes and that the Prisoners which were kept in Gaunt from the 20. Montigni taketh Menin of October 1577. should bee released Wherevpon also thei tooke the Citie of Menin who after thei had therein fortefied them selues and their nomber encreased their Chieftaine the Lorde Montigni and thei together beganne to make open warre vpon Gaunt for the reasons aforesaied But Duke Casimere beyng sent for came with certaine Bandes of Boyters to the ayde of Gaunt without makyng the Estates priuie thereto The Almaines that were besieged in the Citie of Deuenter Deuenter besieged and rendred stoode to the defence thereof so long as was possible yea euen vnto the 20. of Nouember and vntill suche tyme as that Count Rennenberge Baron de Ville had three whole daies together lyen beatyng at it with the force of the Canon by whiche meane thei were constrained to render it vppon Composition as thei of Campen had doen before Maister Sainct Aldegonde and soone after hym certaine others were sent to Gaunt to decide the quarrell betweene them and the Wallons howbeit thei founde those matters growne to suche a poinct and the parties so well flesht as that men iudged it to bee most necessarie for the Prince to goe thether The Prince of Orenge goeth to Gaunt for the appaising of them who to that ende tooke his iorney the 24. of Nouember 1578. The first of December the yere aforesaid the Count Swertsenbergh the Emperour his Ambassador was sent againe to the Estates with the aduise of the Emperour and of the Electors about the last treatie of peace and therevpon demaunded an aunswere from the Estates with the whiche he was forthwith changed and all by reason of the great affection whiche he had about the suppressyng of this warre and the restoryng of this miserable lowe Countreis to vnitie and peace with the Prince of Parma The 21. The death of the Count Bossu of this Moneth the Lord Maximilian Count Bossu Captaine generall of the Campe for the Estates Lorde great Maister of his highnesse housholde and a Counsailour of the Estate dyed in Antwerpe of an hot buruyng Feuer to the greate sorrowe and griefe not onely of all the Souldiers but also of all the Lordes of the Countreis and people in generall The 25. of December Mousire the Duke of Aniowe The Duke of Aniowe returneth in to Fraunce defender of the libertie of the low Countreis sent by Maister

king to vse Iustice and true mercie vnto his subiects In doing whereof he hath been most happie and blessed and is a figne of a true testimonie of that name which the Pope gaue vnto him and to his successors kings of Spaine to wit the title of most Catholike king which Pope Gregory the thirde of that name graunted the yeere 1230. To Alfonse king of Galice who also hath giuen to all Spaniardes the tytles of double Catholike Nowe this thing was the cause that all the Mores Sarazins and the Iewes them selues who as the Histories witnesse fithens the sacking and destruction of Ierusalem hauing by the appoyntment of the Emperour Titus continued in these Countreys haue withdrawne them selues out of Spayn because they were enforced to beleeue confesse Iesus Christ to be the sonne of God and therefore forsooke they the Countrey sought out for themselues some other better place to dwell in Insomuch that many thousandes haue gotten them away vnto the borders of Gibalter and from thence into Affricque into diuers other places But the rest who like well of Spayne continue there still and both themselues and their children are baptised Neuertheles not long after when the spaniards perceiued how greatly the opinion of the Godhead whether it be good or bad taking once impression in mens imaginations preuayled and what force it hath in mens harts when it is once rooted therin especially when in long processe of time it is successiuely learned from one to another for then they will become obstinate and neuer forgoe it Then was the exercise of the Iewish Religion forbidden them and as they coulde not in trueth forgette and forgoe the sayde exercise the Spaniardes fell to persecuting of them and yet by a certayne kinde of Iustice meaning vtterly to roote them out But it was impossible to roote out suche a people so obstinately bent and setteled in their Infidelitie A little before this there was a newe order of Fryers instituted by a Spaniarde The beginning of the order of the Iacopins borne within the Dyocesse of Lexonie to witte in Caliroga named Dominicke whiche was called the order of the lacopins and authorized by Pope Honorius the thirde of that name the yeere 1216. And this was brought in by reason of a vision that appeared to him as hee lay a sleepe by which was shewed him that the Churche being shaken and readie to fall was helde vp by Saint Dominicke onely albeeit Pope Innocente the thyrde his predecessor had no will to yeelde to the Institution and exection of that order of Fryers This Religious order is growen into suche credite and so highly esteemed of as that the king of Spaine hath committed vnto the Iacopins all the affayres concerning conscience and religion and although there was before tyme a certayne forme and manner of Inquisition instituted yet was it by this order of the Iacopins whiche was thought to be the most holy of all the rest confirmed and established For when they sawe that the Iewes coulde neyther by the prayers preachings and admonitions of the Iacopins bee conuerted they then proceeded with them after a rigorous maner and tooke vpon them the swoorde to force them to the religion if so bee they woulde not depart and gette them out of the countrey This rodde or swoorde whereof I heere intende to speake whiche the Iacopins vnto this present haue vsurped agaynste these poore people hath been the cause as it is sayde that the Inquisition beganne in the dayes of King Ferdinand whilest hee raigned Because that this manner and fourme of Inquisition is more rigorous then the first was against those herefies and heretiques which they called Marans The originall of the marans which name is ●sed amongst many Christian nations against such as of a singuler desire wishe to haue a newe religion forsaking and reiecting the olde whereupon the originall of the Marans was but a litle before that knowne For as the Iewes looked for the promised Messias and had alwayes in their mouthes this name Maran to witte Our Lorde Euen so the Iewes which had receyued the Christian fayth sayde Maranathi that is to say The Lorde is come Shortly after there arose a dissention and ennemitie amongst the Christians to witte betweene the true Christians and those which denied that the sayde sauyour was come who were called Marans and condemned for a pernitious and wicked sect This is the cause why the Iewes had alwayes that name in their mouthes and that the Spaniardes on the other side called them Apostates and heretiques which woorde they also vsed againste all suche as helde not the true doctrine of the Romishe Church And therefore the Iacopins were the authours of the Inquisition who deuised a better forme thereof then that that was before The king foorth with ratified this forme and Pope Sextus the Genoway confirmed it Without all doubt the king had great occasion to doe this for the rooting out of the wicked and reprobate doctrine of the Mahometistes and Iewes who went about none other thing but to burden mens consciences with the looking for the promised Messias and besides the Sarazins and Arabians whiche the Mores had sent into Spayne committed great mischiefe Yea and the Iewes themselues were condemned by Pope Sextus the yeere 1475. Because they had crucified a childe of two yeeres of age cutting off his genitories and ryght pappe The Iewes put to death a child of two yeeres 〈◊〉 and afterwarde persed him vnto death and then cast hun into the riuer which thing they did vpon palme Sunday in despite and mockery of Iesus Christ and to the dishonour and shame of all christians which Iewes were punished and executed after they had by torture sharp examination and proofe confessed the fact These Iacopins by reason of the reputation whiche they had gotten by the setting vp of their newe order of Religion called them selues the defenders of the Christian doctrine and Religion not onely in Spayne but also in Italy and in other places of Christendome where they had brought in and planted their order The first commission they had was graunted them against the Iewes and Mahometists but after when their authoritie encreased and extended it selfe further then they called themselues the Inquisitors of Heretikes for the persecuting of all such as woulde not obserue the ordinaunces and institutions of the Catholike religion Nowe that we might knowe what kynde of men these Inquisitors haue beene Experience hath shewed vnto vs to wit such mē as through their wickednes haue peruerted all thinges For these good Gentlemen proceede euen as they are affected against the accused whiche is the cause that all men bate them especially sithence the agreement whiche the Pope made betweene the foure orders of begging Fryers And the cause of this controuersie was by reason that the inquisitors had examined certain diuines of the order of the Carmelites vpō some articles of the faith of which number was Iulian

then the patient is degraded in very deede the selfe same day as followeth First hee is apparrelled in all his Churchrobes as if hee should go to masse All which are taken from him by one that playeth the Bishops part vsing certaine ceremonies and wordes as hee bereaueth him of them one after another vtterly cleane contrary to the ceremonies and wordes that are vsed vnto hym when he is Priested After this they scrape his hands lippes and crowne with a glasse or rasor to take away the holie oyle wherewith he was annoynted All these ceremonies are openly vsed in the sight of the whole world Nowe when all the sentences are pronounced the priestes degraded as aforesaid The seculer magistrate receiueth them that must dye accordyng to the appointment and commaundement of my masters the Inquisitors to execute and dispatch them out of the worlde at the ordinarie place hauing with them suche diuelish and shamelesse Proctours as neuer cease callyng vpon them to renounce the truth which they had confessed and receiued But if the Inquisitors vnderstande that there are some of thē that haue not truly repented but that the woolfe is couered with the sheepes skinne they deliuer them into the tēporall magistrates hands they beseech him to deale fauourably with them and to beware that they breake none of theyr lymmes nor yet drawe any blood of them and in theyr chiefe giuing of iudgement they say seeing that the paine and trauell which wee haue taken about to conuert these persons is all in vaine and to no purpose wee deliuer them into the handes of the temporall magistrate to bee punished according to lawe and iustice yet beeseeching him that if so bee they shall acknowledge their errours and bee conuerted that they wil shew them al the fauour and mercy that they may possibly And all the rest which are not adiudged to dye are sent backe agayne to prison but the next daye in the morning they that are condemned to be whipt are scourged rounde about the streetes some are condemned to the Gallies other some to perpetual imprisonment and some of the rest to weare S. Benets furniture and carry him about But if any of those happen againe to slip and fall into their handes they are then without al redemption Thou hast now gentle Reader heard the causes occasions of the Spaniards warring in the low countries of their warring heretofore against the Mores in Spayne by whō thou maist vnderstād from whence the very right spring head of these dolorous waters come wherwith they had ouerflowed drowned the low coūtries had not God of his meere mercy prouided for the same And besides thou shalt forthwith vnderstād of wonderful things to wit who by whō what time wherfore the Spaniards are dispersed all the lowe countries about And therfore I beseech thee consider whether the matters aforesaid set forth in the 1. booke be not the amiable kynd deeds of a liberal Duchesse against the horrible cruelty of the inquysitiō Truly she hath geuen vs hony mingled with great bitternes for it is wel inough knowen to al the world what cruelty vnmercifulnes shee hath vsed against the poore and miserable subiects The king of Spayne fearing that the Protestantes Religion woulde encrease and grow in the low Countreyes to the great hurt and disaduauntage of the Catholike church and losse of the Inquisition sent very earnestly as hath beene heretofore in the first booke set downe vnto his sister the Lady Margaret Duchesse of Parma willyng her to preuent this Empayre downfall But when he vnderstood that the matter waxed euery daye woorse then other and that the Duchesse dealt not cruelly enough against his subiects he sent out of Spaine Don Ferdinand Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua The departure of the Duke of Alua out of Spayne to be Gouernour and Liuetenant general of the low countries Who embarqued him selfe with his men of warre at Barcelone in Spaine in the moneth of May 1567. sayling towards Genues with the wind in the poupe The king had commanded all the captaines of the realmes of Naples Scicile Lombardie and the rest to march with their bandes vnto the territorie of Millaine which they performed whiles the Duke lay sicke of an ague there was a mightie company of men of warre come together Chiapin Vitelli was his lieuetenant and Gabriel Serbellon master of the ordenance When the Duke of Alua was ryd of his Ague The maner of the Duke of Alua his going on his voyage hee tooke his iourney through Sauoy towardes the count of Burgoine hauing with him eight thousand Spaniards eight thousand Sauoyās a thousand light horse and from thence through the Dukedome of Lorayne towardes Luxenbourgh where he put into pay the counte Albert of Lodron with three thousand Almaines three hundred horse and came downe together into the low countries vnto Bruxelles And there he imparted vnto the dutches the cause of his comming shewing vnto her his commission authoritie and power which when she had seene shee sent to the king her brother desiring leaue that shee might returne to her L. husband the Duke of Parma and hauing resigned her estate and office vnto the Duke of Alua The departure of the dutches out of the lowe countries she departed out of the lowe countries the tenth of Apryll 1568. to the no small griefe and sorrowe of the people who considered that the Duke had taken vpon him all authoritie and power and meant to continue the dewse which hee had conceiued in his brayne fauoured and fortified by the strength of the Spaniardes whiche were with him to the great and myserable ruine and destruction of the lowe countries Nowe when the Duke of Alua had gotten into his possession all the Townes and fortresses well furnished with Spanishe souldiers hee caused the commissions of the institution of the Inquisition to be proclaimed commanding euery man in the name of the king to obserue the catholike religion and obey the church of Rome Afterwarde The erection of the councell of troubles hee ordeined a newe councel called the councel of troubles of twelue councellours who shoulde haue full power to giue sentence iudge and pronounce sentence of death and in many places put in new magistrates as pleased himselfe This done hee by reason of the troubles alreadie passed caused a great number of the people to be taken besides those whome the Dutches of Parma had before imprisoned and executed on them cruell iustice Moreouer he caused a proclamation to bee made for the fugitiues assigning them a day for their comming in and whoseuer missed his goods to be confisked This foresaid Duke at his first entrance greatly dissembled and would in no wise punishe any for the troubles passed with any corporall payne to the ende to feede the people with a vaine hope and saide that the king had giuen a generall pardon for all the hurly burly that had beene committed

Pystols on thē crying together with one voyce you haue libertie libertie graunted you the Prince of Orange is come to ayde you and you shall bee set free from the tenth pennie and all other charges wherewith the Duke of Alua woulde burden you This cry dured certaine houres with such a marueilous noyse as if thousands of souldiers had entred the towne But count Lodwike hauing long time taryed for his people and sawe that none of them came hee himselfe went out to vnderstand the cause of theyr so long tarrying and what were become of the horse men but they were out of the way in the woods from whence the Count Lodwike conducted them vnto the towne of Mons to the number of fiue hundreth and euery man a shot behinde him who beeing entred the towne first tooke the Towne house and set themselues in order of battaile In this sorte then tooke they the Towne whiche was in truth a kingly deede of a noble and famous Count and woorthie euerlasting memorie to winne by sleight and pollicie a towne so strongly fortified The same day also was the citie of Valencia surprised Valencia surprised but not many dayes after the Duke of Alua tooke it againe For as hee had sent thither Don Iohn de Mendoza with a certaine number of horse men to make prouision for the Castle that was but yll furnished with victuals and munition hee who in the name of Counce Lodwike had surprised the citie vnderstandyng of the commyng of the Spaniardes foorthwith contrary to the opinion of all men especially of the Spaniardes forsooke and least the towne who thought not so easilye without besieging to haue wonne it The Duke receyuing newes of the taking of Mons would not beleeue it trusting more to the letters whiche hee had from the Frence king by which he was aduertised that count Lodwik had been a few dayes sithence in Fraunce howbeit by the continuance of the newes hee did assure himselfe that the Towne was taken whereupon hee was cast into such a rage as that he tare his garmentes and troade vppon his cappe stormyng and chafyng as if hee had beene out of his witte and mad But as the Duke of Alua was altogether put by for resistyng of his enemies the Lorde of Lumay gotte hymselfe by little and little to bee master of the Cities and townes of Hollande who freely yeelded themselues vnder the protection of the famous Prince of Orange although hee himselfe was not there for euery man desired to bee deliuered from the slauery of the said Duke and of the Spaniardes The Citie of Enchusen standing in the North partes of Hollande was the first that opposed it selfe agaynst the tenth penie and the tyrannie of the sayde Duke and it was by reason of certayne souldiers which were in the shippes of warre whome they of Enckhuysen and Amstelredame had armed For as vpon the tenth of Iune 1572. Boshuysen Captayne of the sayd Shippes was entered Enckhuysen to furnishe his Shippes with victualles and other warlike furniture there entred by little and little many souldiers thinking to take the Towne which dealing the Citizens perceyuing made them packe out of the Towne and tooke the sayde Captayne Boshuysen prisoner whome after a while they released out of prison But as the Citizens were thus troubled and fearing the receiuing in of souldiers for the enforcing of them to pay the tenth penie they sent for Count Lumay his souldiers and put themselues vnder the obedience of the famous Prince of Orange and within a while after the townes of Alkmer Horne Edam and Memmelicke did the like When the townes of Hollande that lay nearest the Briell hearde of this they in like maner sette open their gates to the Princes people and submitted them selues vnder his obedience sauing they of Schoonehoue and Amstleredam who stoutly resisted But the Lorde of Lumay besieged Schoonehoue who seeing the breach made rendred so that all Holland yeelded to the sayde Lorde except Amstelredam which the saide Count besieged once or twise but it was in vayne and vnprofitable for it was ouer stronge neyther could hee euer wynne the Citizens heartes because they were very obstinate papistes Whiles the Count of March plaied his parte in Holland The Count of Ber● inuadeth the Countrey of zurphen the Count Berge the Prince of Oranges brother in lawe leuied men of warre and tooke the Countie of zurphen the Townes of Dortcum Doebrough and zurphen and in the Dutchie of Gelderlande Hardwyke Ter Elberich and Hattum But in the Countrey of Twent Oldezele Goer and others The Count of Berge seeing the good affection of the Citizens of the Townes passed on like a Conquerer and came downe into the countrey of Oueryssel besieging the Town of S. Lawrance 1572. The towne of Tampen But because the Citizens were vnprouided of victualles and munition they rendred the Towne and so afterwarde did they of Swolle Hasselt and Steenewyke Townes of the Countrey of Oueryssel Whiles the lowe Countreys were assayled on euery side by the Lordes Gentlemen fugitiues and banished men of the said Countreyes the D. of Alua bent only all his forces against Counte Lodwyke his chiefe enemie and had sent into the borders of Fraunce a sufficient number of Spaniardes to fight with and discomfite the French that were sent by the Lordes of the reformed religion in Fraunce to assyste Counte Lodwyke who were betweene seuen and eyght thousand men whome the Spaniardes The ouerthrow of the French at Chieurayns the 17. of Iuly 1572. ouerthrewe at Thieuraine in a great broade fallowe fielde for want of good conduct and tooke their chiefe Captaynes Maister Ienlis and Maister Iumelle the one of which was carried to Antwerpe where without being sicke that any man knewe hee was one morning founde suddenly deade and the other to the Castle of Tournay who was deliuered in exchaunge for another prysonner being a Spaniarde After this discomfiture The Duke of Alua besiegeth Monts the Duke of Alua him selfe went and encamped before Montes and very straytly besieged it And the Count Lodwyke valiantly defended it still looking for ayde from the Prince of Orange his brother Amongst these exploytes The Gueses in uade Friseland there was likewise another inuasion made in west Friselande by the Gentlemen and the reste of the banished with their trayne amongest whome euen from the first beginning was captayne generall the Lorde of Newderworinter and after the Count Iust of Schouwenbourgh who were receiued into the Townes of Sneecke Boelswerd Franique But the Court of Friseland taking part with the aduersarie called from Groening the Lorde of Billi to bee an ayder against these Gueses who came with a iolly companie of well appointed Wallons and was receiued into the Towne and Castle of Leewarde into the Castle of Harlingue and into the Castle of Stauere The first enterprise that the Gueses tooke in hande was against Doccum for they came with good stoare of souldiers and Countreymen and

with the enemie Wherefore our men in the euening sayled thence and so rested themselues for that night There was also in the eauening a skirmish vpon the Sommer way and at night were two alarmes sounded The tenth day of Aprill were sent out of Scaelwyke gate foure Postes to the Princes shippes The same day the euemie had made a long trenche which raught from the wood hard to Fuyke so that none could come out of the towne but must needes fall into their lappes The 11. of the saide moneth the Princes shippes were come to Hemsteede whiche made the townes men thinke that they woulde set som men a shoare so that for the helping of thē there issued out of the wood gate about 150. souldiers out at the water gate about 500. and out at Scaelwike gate 200. But although the vessels approched not yet the souldiers were hoatlie chased backe and two of the Captaines were hurt by their owne souldiers The same day seauen or eight of the enemies had desperately gotten vp vnto the fort or Bullwarke with two ensignes crying victorie victorie the towne is ours But the ward so lustily repulsed them as that one of the ensigne bearers was left behind dead with his ensigne The 14. of this moneth in the night came three messengers thwart the fieldes in at the wood gate and so did also three other messengers the night following The 15. day the townes mē put the fourth Gallie to the Mere being 180. feete by the keele And the seuenteene day were three messengers sent towards the Prince The 18. day of Apryll entred Ierome Serrates and the L. L. Rosoni Bordell Dorhem Maligau and others to the number of fifteene and with them certaine men laden with powder The 19. day the Princes shippes had set on lande at the corner of the fiue houses two thousand souldiers to skirmishe with the enemie But by reason of the long wayting for the Harlemians nothing was done The same day was an aduenturer sent towardes the Princes shippes who although he was hastily pursued by the enemie thwart their campe yet maugre theyr heardes hee returned safe and sounde The same day at night Captaine Baufoure with his scottishmen and certaine citizens salying out at Scaelwike and Sparewouwer gates made a camysado and tooke by force Rustenbourgh house and dispatcht a good many of the enemies The 20. of Apryll there came from Fuyke certaine Spaniards some by Gally and some by lande to recouer Rustenbrough howebeit they were so lustily repulsed by the townes men as that they were faine to retyre The same day were sent from Harlem to the Prince foure Postes or messengers And the 21. of the saide moneth an alarme was giuen to the towne The 22. of this moneth they that were taken in the trenches of Rustenbrough were hauged without Scaelwyke Gate The same day the Ships of the Mere brauely skirmished howbeit to small purpose And the next day there reentred at Scaelwike gate foure postes and others sent a way out at the wood gate The twentie and foure of the saide moneth entred in at the wood gate 24. Citizens of Harlem bringing with them powder and then was an alarme sounded at the towne The same day at night issued a good number of Englishmen Scottes Walons and Pyoners and went towardes Spiquerbord hole but returned without doing of any thing and so leuelled the worke begun The 25. day of Apryll at fiue of the clocke in the after noone the enemie came in on three seueral partes to skirmish vppon Rustenbrough but was faine for all that in the end to retyre The same day the enemie gaue the alarme to the losse of some of theyr owne conpanie The next day there departed from Harlem foure postes in one Barque towardes the Princes ships but the 27. day came into Harlem two small vessels laden with powder thwart the fields ditches And immediatly after was an alarme giuen The 28. of this moneth the townes men about eight of the clocke at night blewe vp a myne whereupon certaine Spaniardes and others were well cooled whiche was the cause that made them discharge eighteene Canon shot wherewith they flue Captaine Henry Lassens and one Christopher Scagen Gentlemā The same day went out foure souldiers to surprise certaine warders to wit the one beeing neere the wood and the other in the way to the wood but because the saide warders coulde nor see the way to bee gone before it coste them theyr liues The next day there went out enbarqued at Scaelwike gate certain messengers and sayled towards the princes ships where they arriued without stay as well appeared by a token of the fier which they gaue The last of this moneth salied out the Princes guarde to skyrmish with the enemie in whiche their captaine Margotin was flaine About this time the townes men had coyned certaine peeces of gold with the armes of Harlem on the one side their owne posey on the other Vincit vim virtus The first day of May entred into the towne two men who being chased by the enemie forsooke both their vessels wherein they had 800. li. of pouder which they thought to haue brought into the towne And the second of this moneth entred a boy of fifteene yeeres of age in at the wood gate as a messenger with eight pound of pouder saying That the Burroughmasters of Leiden had sent him and that he was to haue back with him two messengers of the towne This boy was kept prysoner as one sent by the enemie The third day of this moneth was a through search made in all the citizens houses both rich and poore about the making of an Inuentorie of all the victuals that were not of any greate importance and of Sope and spices Sope was sold for sixe or seuen souls the pound homely butter at foure souls the pound and an egge at halfe a patart The fourth of this moneth the Walons began to mutyne because that Captaine Vemi in executing the lawe had hanged a Walon in the night and therfore the souldiers of the Lord of Dorein came and offered their harquebuzes harde to his brest to the great hazarde of his life For they woulde needes knowe of him who was the Authour of this executing of iustice howbeit the vprore was in the ende appeased by reason of the freeyng of another souldier that was prysoner The sixth of May the enemie of Fuyke fiue with shot sixe or seuen Cowes of the towne because they fed neerer them thē they were wonted but in recompence thereof the Townes men flue three of their souldiers withshot The next day they which lay in the wood salyed out to take the Cowes of the towne howbeit the Souldiers of the towne kept them safe enough from that This night salied out of the little gate of the wood fiue or sixe souldiers who slewe one of the watche The eight of this moneth the enemie shot with the greate ordenance quite through the great Steeple hard adioyning

Priuiledges euen by the iniuste detainyng of the Countie Buren who in the open sight of all men was contrary to lawe reason and the Priuiledges of the Countrey carried cleane awaie Whiche ought so muche the more to bee considered of seyng that the saied Priuiledges in so iollie a beginnyng and treatie which should expresly haue tended to the confirmation and aduauncyng of theim are thereby deminisshed and lessoned in a perticuler persone that neuer offended whiche dealyng offereth small hope of obseruyng the Priuiledges with the people and Cities in generall when as euery light occasion will easely bee made rebellion and treason against theim And besides euery man that will not bee wilfully blinde faieth that the laste pacification made at Gaunt about the causes aforesaied is broken the infringyng whereof is the verie breake necke of all together and therefore it is euident wherevnto the saied Articles tende because the allowyng and ratefiyng of the saied pacification is not so clearely and perfectly made as the weightinesse of suche a thyng requireth but wholly hangeth vpon certaine restraintes and interpretations wheron maie ensue muche deceipte and craftie dealyng consideryug that the Articles are altogether like vnto those whiche in the tyme of the Duchesse of Parma were the causes of suche an horrible effusiō of blood Against whiche the Deputies of the Prince of Drenge and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande made open protestation and caused also a publicque Acte bothe of their acceptation and also of the Counsaile of Estate to bee likewise made And besides sithe the Prince and Estates of Hollande and Sealande findyng therein certaine pointes whiche to them seemeth to be so preiudiciall to the honour of their Countrey as that thei feare to runne into an euerlasting infamie and shame because we our selues doe not onely thinke them whiche haue so villainously handled and sacked vs but doe also ioyne hande in hande with them so that we by a Commission publickly declared by the aucthoritte of his Maiestie and of the Estates of the holy Empire haue accused our selues to be Villaines and Rebelles with all those whiche haue made alliaunce and confederacie with the Spanyardes and that whiche is more wee haue wittyngly and gladly suffered our Iewelles Golde Siluer Money Marchandrise and extorted Exactions to bee caried out of our Countrey without any gainsaiyng And besides thei perswade the Prince and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande that thei haue not fully discharged their honour and thankfulnesse in the saied Articles vnto the Queene of Englandes highnesse and to Monsire the Duke the French Kynges brother who vnto vs in the time of neede had shewed their good affection for the freeyng of vs from the oppression and s●auerie wherein wee were seeyng that bothe reason and occasion sufficiently required to comprehende them therein with more expresse and honorable Articles Lastly it is not to be founde in the saied Articles that any assuraunce is graunted vnto the Enhabitauntes of Holland and Sealand sithe that at the treatie of Breda thei had a more fitt and reasonable offer made them Whiche thyng thei also in the ende greatly required at the pacification of Gant had it not been that their Deputies declared bothe by mouthe and writyng that thei would in no wise treate with any other then with the saied Estates shewyng thereby how roundly on their behalfe thei then proceeded Protestyng that if so thei meant to receiue Don Ihon of Austriche and deale with hym in suche sorte as now thei haue that thei would haue demaunded an other maner of assuraunce as in very deede thei had good occasion And besides that as there was no mention made in these Articles for their safetie and assurance no more also was there any forwardnes of any matter set doune wherby any mā should be restored to his goodes possessions Estate Gouernement as in many other places both in the Countreis there aboutes and also in the Countie of Burgondy it was whiche notwithstandyng accordyng to the pacification the same point in the said treatie which the generall Estates at that tyme could not bee expresly declared ought to haue beene conditioned and couenaunted Moreouer neither could there be any assurance perceiued to bee made for the rest of the Countreis and Prouinces nor yet for the poore Commonaltie of the same For there was no mention at all therein made about the pullyng doune of the Cytadelles or Castles by reason of whiche as all men well enough know proceeded many mischiefes neither yet any plaine declaration of the forgettyng and forgiuyng of that that was alreadie passed no nor yet of that whereof mention is made in the saied Articles whiche dealyng made the people very suspicious because that thei beyng openly threatned in the last Assemble at Huy ought to haue beene well assured for the tyme to come seeyng the Countrey was vnarmed and Don Ihon of Austriche appointed to be Gouernour consideryng also there with that the former examples plainely enough shewed the sequele of some suche like thyng And againe it seemed that for this tyme thei meant to ioyne him onely with the generall Estates but as ioynt Gouernours that thei might thereby depriue the people of all meanes wherewith hereafter to be able to assure them selues against the ill will of hym whom thei entended to appoinct ouer them as Gouernour To bee shorte there were yet many moe poinctes whiche the Princes and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande thought necessarie to be well weighed and considered of and therefore euery of them meant to set doune the same perticulerly by them selues in writyng and sende them to the Lords of the Estates declaryng vnto them that the Prince and Estates of Hollande and Sealande were fully perswaded that it was now high tyme to followe the examples of our Predecessors to the ende that the Priuiledges Lawes and Franchises whiche thei left behind vnto vs might with one consent and by this good oportunitie now at hande offered bee augmented so that thei might neuer hereafter fall againe into the like inconueniences But whiles thei made some staie about the setting doune of these Articles in writyng a copie of Lettees was brought vnto them whiche the Lordes of the Estates had written to Don Ihon of Austriche by whiche thei perceiued that the Lordes of the Estates were fully determined to conclude and make an ende without tariyng for aunswere from the Prince and Estates of Hollande and Zealande with Don Ihon of Austriche requiring hym to signe them and promising that thei would proclaime them and receiue Don Ihon of Austriche into the Countreis as Gouernour Whereupon when the Prince and Estates of Hollande and Sealande sawe this alteration thei greatly marueiled consideryng that the date of the saied Letters which was also brought ●o them in post beare the very same date as it were that the Lorde of Wileruall arriued For thei were out of all doubt fully perswaded and thought thei should so sinde it that in a treatie of

Dampmartin vnto the Estates what the cause was of his retournyng into Fraunce and of the forsakyng of the lowe Countreis and amongest other thynges he wrote vnto them of the louyng request of the Kyng his Brother by reason of an vprore that arose in Fraunce So that hereby some bodie had perswaded the people that his presence was an hinderaunce to the generall peace of the lowe Countreis and besides that he went about none other thyng but to make hym self Lord and Maister of all the Cities hereabout whiche his dealyng he forsooth would aswell as he could needes excuse saiyng that it was vtterly vntrue and his reason was because that at his departure he rendred vp all thinges into the handes of the Estates further offryng that wheresoeuer he became he would alwaies remaine their good frende and so takyng his leaue required that thei would in regarde hereof be myndfull of the greate charges he had beene at for the aidyng of them leauyng with the saied Estates Maister Pruneaux as his Ambassadour lydger The Estates greatly marueilyng The Estates sende thankes to the Duke of Antowe at this his so sudden and vnlooked for departure dispatched Seigmour Froymont and Gyles Martin a Doctor of the Ciuile Lawe and Secretarie of the Citie of Antwerpe towardes the saied Duke to declare vnto hym how greatly thei had weighed and considered of his departure beseechyng hym to take suche a course as that he might still remaine hereabout and acknowledgyng the benefites whiche thei had receiued by hym offered hym all their seruice with promise of suche satisfaction and contentation as was meete for one in so high a callyng Now the Prince of Orenge had so well and wisely handled his matters at the Citie of Gaunt as that the peace of the Religion was there proclaimed the 27. of December 1578. and with all certaine other Articles concernyng the Ceremonies of the Romishe Religion The 29. of Ianuary 1579. The Estates of Hollande and Sealande Vtright Gelderlande Friselande and the reste of the Prouinces wisely consideryng that the Enemie went about to dismember the Prouinces as hereafter you shall heare and that the Malcontentes were very foreward in the suppressyng of those of the reformed Religion fell to a conclusion of a farre better vnion at Vtright the tenure whereof hereafter ensueth Wee hauyng by wofull and lamentable experience founde out The vnion of Vtright that sithence the pacification of Gaunt by whiche all the Prouinces of the Lowe Countreis sufficien●ly bounde theim selues to aide one an other bothe with their bodies and goods for the driuyng out of these Countreis the Spanyardes and other Foreine nations with all their adherentes the Spanyardes with Don Ihon of Austriche and the reste of their Chieftaines and Captaines haue hunted and still by all meanes possible doe daiely hunte after the saied Prouinces aswell whollie as in parte for the bryngyng of them vnder their subiection tyrannic●ll gouernement and sclaucrie And bothe by armes and practizes to dismember thesaied Prouinces and make the vniō whiche was made sithence thesaied Pacification of none effect to the vtter ruine and desolation of thesaied Countreis whiche wee in deede haue founde not long sithence by their perseueraunce in their said purposes through the soliciting of certaine Cities and places by their letters as the Countrey of Geldrelande and the surprisyng of others by Armes And therefore all thei of the Duchy of Geldrelande and of the Countrey of Zurphen and all thei of the Counties of Hollande and Sealande Vtright and the Countreis about Friselande beyng betweene the Riuer of Eems and Lauwers haue thought it bothe good and profitable to binde and vnite themselues together more nerely and particulerly not that thei meane to cutt them selues of from thesaied generall vnion that was made by the Pacificatiō of Gaunt but to be thereby a greate deale the stronger and prouide against all inconueniences wherevnto thei might fall through the Stratagemes enterprises or force of the Enemie and vnderstande how and in what sorte the aforesaid Prouinces might behoue themselues in suche occurraunces and so defende themselues against the power of the Enemie And for the auoidyng of a further separation of the saied Prouinces and the particuler members of the same leauyng still the saied generall vnion and Pacification of Gaunt in full strength and vertue are accordyng thervnto by the Deputies of the said Prouinces fully by theirs respectiuely aucthorised to the same agreed and concluded vpon the poinctes and articles ensuyng not meanyng thereby whatsoeuer shall otherwise fall out to separate theim selues from the holy Romishe Empire 1 And first it is agreed and concluded vpon that thesaid Prouinces shall binde confederate and vnite them sclues together and by these prefentes doe binde cōfederate and vnite themselues for euer to holde together euery maner of waie as if thei were but one onely Prouince without also for euer to separate deuide or cut of theim selues one from an other either by will graunt alteration contracte treatie of peace or of mariage nor yet for any other occasion whatsoeuer that might happen and to vphold and maintaiue the Prluiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes laudable and auncient Customes Vsances and whatsouer either especiall or particuler Rightes of euery Prouince particuler Cities and all the members and enhabitauutes of the same and none of theim to hurte and hinder one an other but rather aide and helpe one an other by all the meanes possible thei can yea if neede bee mainteine confirme strengthen garde and defende one an other bothe with their bodies and gooddes against all and euery persone and persones whether it bee man or woman whiche shall goe about in deede any waie to infringe theim Prouided alwaies that the controsies that are or hereafter maie be betwene some of the saied Prouinces members or Cities of this vnion as touching their perticuler and speciall Priuiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes Laudabse and auncient Customes Vsances and other rightes shal be decided by the ordenarie course of law arbitrement or frendly agrement and none of the other Countreis and Prouinces Cities or members of any of them so lōg as either partie is contented to submit hym self to the law once to haue to doe with them without it shal be their pleasures to go frendly betwene them for the makyng of a louyng and peaceable accorde 2 Item for the conformyng and accomplishyng of the saied vnion and confederacie the saied Prouinces shal be bound to aide one an other bothe with their bodies goodes and blood against all the force and violence that any waie maie be offred them vnder the colour and name of his Maiestie or in his behalfe whether it be by reason of the Pacificatiō made at Gant or because thei tooke armes vpon them against Don Ihon of Austrich receiued Archduke Mathias for their gouernour and whatsoeuer dependeth or hath fallen or shall fall out thereon although it should be vnder colour onely of reestablishing restoring or

aboue rehearsed a Prouiso is made and set done for the relieuyng of some Ecclesiasticall persones who had liued and been brought vp in certaine Monasteries and Colleges and by reason of the Religion forsoke them and maie hereafter also forsake them and because of the same it is to bee feared that some sutes and controuersies maie growe and whiche thei knowe well inough to bee already on foote because suche persones will pretende a right in the succession of the gooddes and possessions of their Parentes Brethren Sisters and the reste of their kinsmen and affinitie whiche are by their deathes lefte vnto theim or yet to bee lefte and also those whom thei had in their life tyme vnder the title of Gifte chaunged or els certaine others might be altered chaunged and alienated or after their deathes be assured For this cause the saied Prouinces confedered for the preuentyng of the saied sutes and controuersies whiche thereon might arise haue thought good to suspende and surcease all the sutes instituted or hereafter to be instituted by reason of the cause aforesaied vntill suche tyme as the saied confedered Prouinces and the reste whiche in this vnion and league maie hereafter ioyne together bee otherwise in this behalfe and that by the aucthoritie of the Magistrate also if neede bee ordeined and declared Giuen also by the faied Deputies the first of February 1579. and subscribed Lantzweerrot The 4. of February 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the saied Deputies at Vtright the Deputies of Gaunt hereafter vnderwritten who saied that after thei had seen and perused the poinctes and Articles of thesaid vnion and that by vertue thereof had long before been needefull and by theim thought to bee good by vertue of their letters of trust their especiall procuration and instructiō dated the 27. of Ianuary 1579. had allowed and ratefied theim promisyng with the reste of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe the said Articles and euery poincte and tittle of theim In witnesse whereof the saied Drputies haue here vnderneath sette to their handes the daie moneth and yere aforesaied And in the behalfe of the Gantois was subscribed Adolf de Grutere Leuyn Tayart Christofer de la Becque and Lucas Mayart The 5. of Marche 1579. appeared in the assemblie of thesaid Deputies at Vtright the Deputies of the ordenarie knighthood in Nymegue quarter and those also of the Citie of Nymegue who declared that thei had seene and perused the poinctes and Articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue thereof is further needefull and thought to be good and necessarie wherevpon by vertue of their instruction thei haue sealed them with the priuie signet of their saied Citie of Nymegue dated the 12. of February 1579. and by these presentes allowed and ratefied the same c Promisyng with the reste of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe all those poinctes and euery parte and parcell of thē in particuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies together with the ordenary knight hood of the Citie and quarter of Nymegue haue hereunto set to their owne handes the daie monethe and yere aforesaied And subscribed Giles Piec Ihon Kelsken Arnold de Seller Thierry Flemmyng Lambert Ihonson Ihon de Hans The 9. of Marche appeared in the assemblie of the said Deputies of the vnited Prouinces the ordenarie knighthood in the quarters of Arnhem who declared that thei had seen and perused the poinctes and Articles of the said Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue thereof was further needefull and thought to bee good and the same by vertue of their letters of trust dated the 18 of February and accordyng to certaine instruction dated the 16 of the same monethe 1579. bothe sealed with the secret signet of the Citie of Arnhem haue by these presentes after lōg and ripe consideration allowed and ratefied and the same doe also allowe c Promisyng vpon the condition as aforesaied to keepe obserue and followe them and euery parte and parcell of theim in perticuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies of the Court of the ordenary knighthood in Arnhem quarter haue vnderneath set to their hande the daie moneth and yere abouesaid And subscribed Alexandre Bentincq The 13. of Marche 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the saied Deputies of the vnited Prouinces assembled at Vtright the Deputies of Leewardē Sneecq Franiquer and of certaine places called Grietmans and Grietenien with certaine perticuler Gentlemen of Friselande whose names are sett doune in their procuration Who saied that thei had seen and perused the poinctes and articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue of theim was further needefull and whiche thei thought to bee right good who by vertue of their procuration dated the 12. of March 1579. had allowed approued ratefied by these presentes did also allowe approue and ratefie them promising with the rest of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe those poinctes and euery parte and parcell of theim in perticuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies of the saied Cities of Leewarden Sneecque Franiquer and of certaine places called Grietmans and Grietenien with certaine particuler Gentlemen of Friselande haue here vnderneath sette to their handes the daie monethe and yere aforesaied and subscribed B. Idzaerde lelle Sibess The 11. of Aprill 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the said Deputies of the Vnited Prouinces at Vtright assembled the Deputies of the Citie of Venlo namely Gerard de Loha Harman de Laet Cornelissen Sheriffes Iames Goris a Counseller and Ihon de Groot as ordenary Deputies for the same place Who there saied that thei had seen and perused the pointes and Articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer by vertue thereof was further needefull thei thought to be good and had allowed approued and ratefied by these presentes did allowe approue and ratefie them to be suche by vertue of their instruction dated the 3. of Aprill 1679 Promisyng with the rest of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue followe them and euery part and parcell of them in perticuler In witnesse whereof the said Deputies of the saied Citie of Venlo haue here vnderneath sett to their handes the daie monethe and yere abouesaied And subscribed Girard de Lohn Herman de Laet Cornelissen Iames Goris Ibon de Groot Where his Excellencie for the conseruation and maintainaunce of the Common weale the Lawes and franchises of the lowe Countries thought it alwaies verie profitable and necessarie that all good amitie vnion and concord betwene the Prouinces of the saied Countries Cities and perticuler members of the same was to be kept whereby the comon Enemie might with greater force common power and mutuall assistaunce bee not onely resisted and repulsed But also to cut of all meanes of sowyng and procuryng any entended unschiefe or dissentiou emongest the same Prouinces Cities or their members aswell by reason of the difference that is in Religion as otherwise and therefore his Excellencie hauyng seene a