Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	church_n	company_n	true_a	3,508	5	6.4665	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

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

that hee may bee somewhat informed of the number beseeching his Excellencie to appoynt commissioners for the viewing of the assemblies The sixt 6 You shall obey the Magistrate and giue your attendāce for the conseruation of the cōmon weale accordingly as he shall appoynt The Answeare VVE agree to that alwayes prouided that the priuiledges be kept sound and without preiudice to the Religion that now is permitted vnto vs. The seuenth 7 All such Preachers as shal preach seditiously against the Magistrate or others shalve driuen out and banished the Citie The Answeare VVE agree to that so that the reprehending of false doctrine the abuse of Ceremonies and corruption of manners bee not taken for seditious speeches and that the same which shal bee alleadged shall be duely verified by men worthy to be beleeued and vnsuspected and that al other preachers may bee subiect to the same law The eight 8 You shal not change increase nor diminishe those that are of your Consistorie without the knowledge of the Prince nor yet take in newe ministers The Answeare FOr the more assuraunce and safetie of his Excellencie wee beseeche that it woulde please him to depute one Magistrate or other that professeth our Religion vppon whose fidelitye your Excellencie may rest who may be assistant to the choosing of the mininsters Elders and Deacons and to all the affayres which shall be dealt withall amongest them for the gouernment and rule of their Church The nienth 9 You shall not trouble nor laye handes one of another by reason of the diuersitie of the religion but ayde and defend thē if any man shall seeme to offer them wrong The Answeare Wee agree to that so that they doe promise as much in our behalfe The tenth 10 You shall not hinder the proceeding of the lawe in any cause whatsoeuer but especially in the executing of the spoylers of the Churche The Answeare We agree to that alwayes prouided that we be not barred of anie lawfull meanes or wayes The eleuenth 11 You shall not sing in the streetes in companies but onely at Sermons and the exercises of your Religion The Answeare We agree that no man shall sing in the streets in companies The twelfth 12 A thousand of you shall subscribe to these poyntes aboue sayde Answeare FOrsomuche as the resolute establishement of our Religion is put to the deciding of the generall Estates we think that there are many which wil hardly subscribe neuertheles if the occurranses alwaies prouided that they be no strangers and besides they may haue other officers for their consistorie To the fourth he saith that they may not goe with nor haue at their sermons assemblies and exercises of their religion any harquebushes pistolles holbards nor anye other forbidden weapons alwayes prouided that no man shall forbid them the wearing of sword and dagger To the fifte hee saieth that hee is contented to temporize or serue the turnes of these Suppliauntes and to stay a while for the deliuering vp of this rowle for the reasons by them declared For the sixt his Excellencie accepteth of the accord hereupon agreed willing them to keepe it accordingly For the seueuth his Excellencie also accepteth of the aunsweare to this Article and it is his mind and of the magistrate likewise that all Preachers in general of what religion soeuer they be shall abstayne from all Inuectiues wronges and reproches which thing he would also haue to be giuen in commandement to the preachers of the Suppliants likewise to those of the other religions For the eighth his Excellencie accepting of the offer vppon this Article will depute and name vnto the Suppliauntes some one Officer for the purposes in this supplication conteined For the nienth his Excellencie accepteth also of the accord agreed vppon this Article and will take order with the Magistrate that all the Catholiques shall obserue it in like manner whereof they haue alreadie begun to make a good assay by the Proclamation that was yesterday made for the abstinence of wronges For the tenth his Excellencie also accepteth it agreeth to the answeare of this Article For the eleuenth he likewise accepteth of the accord had vpon this present article For the twelfth his Excellencie supposeth it to be both requisite and conuenient that the ministers Elders Deacons Officers and the rest whiche are of the Consistories with some sufficient good number of the best qualified of the Religion doe subscribe agree and promise to keepe and make effectual these presēt answeres with the articles offers in this writing agreed vpon and his Excellencie also doubteth not but to get the same to be signed by one of the Secretaries of the citie in the name of the Magistrate who as he is to command in generall and keepe in obedience all the Inhabitauntes of this citie so by that meane he shall be much better able to serue for the tuition assuraunce and quiet of these Suppliaunts and their assemblies being certayne and sure that by reason of this singing none of the suppliants shal hereafter be suspected hunted after nor troubled For the thirteenth his Excellencie accepteth the accord vpon this Article and doubteth not but that the Suppliantes will be glad of the case to come for the liberty whiche they themselues required For the fourteenth hee woulde assure these Suppliauntes as well by reason of the sayde singing as also of the proclamatiōs that al the Inhabitāts lyuing in obedience politike tranquility should be protected without regarde of Religion either of papacy or protestancy For the fifteenth his Excellencie accepteth of the answere to this present Article And as for the other pointes of the suppliants answeares his Excellency replieth as followeth For the first hee aunsweareth that the leuiyng was not for to trouble any in the exercise of his Religion But contrarywise for the safetye and quietnesse as well of the Supplyauntes as of all others insomuche as they were all Cityzens and sworne to doe nothing agaynst the Priuiledges nor agaynst anye that were of the Religions but indifferently to stande in defence agaynst all violences as they might at large see by their Articulations of whiche his Excellencie woulde not sticke to bestowe on them a Copye who also should not be burdenous to the Inhabitants nor yet hinder their trafficke but preserue the Citie from all troubles and inconueniences and assure the merchaunt againe to sette vppe and place the accustomed trade of merchandise For the seconde hee aunsweareth that it is prouyded for by the Proclamation already set foorth Agreeyng to all the rest as it were by waye of colleration vntill suche tyme as his Maiestie by the aduise of the generall Estates shall otherwise ordeyne which determination euerie man shall be bounde to follow And his Excellency willeth them foorthwith to giue knowledge to those of the religion of al these poynts cōmanding thē to hold them within the compasse before saide Giuen at Antwerpe the 30. of August 1566. From these propositions and aunsweares

the Deputies culled out certaine Articles whiche shoulde serue for a full resolution which his Excellencie hauing receiued digested them in order as followeth Articles agreed vpon and signed Articles digested into forme and order TO the ende that all troubles and discordes which haue fallen out within this Citie of Antwerpe by reasō of religion might cease be for euer stayed and that all the Citizens Inhabitauntes thereof might from hencefoorth liue soberlye and peaceablye in all loue and amitte together and the negotiation or traffique bee brought againe vnto the olde trade and this Citie be defended from all further inconueniences So it is that after diuers communications and deliberations heereuppon had and holden and diuers poyntes and Articles propounded both on the one side and on the other my Lorde the Prince of Orange Vicount of this Citie and the appoynted Gouernour thereof in his Maiesties name and the right woorshipfull the Scowte or Marshall Boroughmaisters and Sheriffes of the same haue as it were by way of tolleration vntill suche time as his Maiestie with the aduise of the Generall Estates of these lowe Countries shal bee able otherwise to dispose and ordeyne agreed with those of the new Religion and permitted and tollerated these poyntes and Articles hereafter written which they of the Religion haue also promised and are bounde to keepe and follow 1 First of all they maye no way hinder nor trouble the Seruice Sermons nor other Church matters nor yet any of the Catholique religiō nor cause them to be hindred troubled nor indamaged by any manner of meanes soeuer 2 Also they maye not occupie nor yet keepe their Sermons or other exercises of their religion in anye Churches Monasteries or other hallowed places but onelye in some of the three places vndernamed to witte in the voyde or waste grounde of Paule van Gamer in the horse market In the voyde or waste grounde of Maister Lyekercke in Wapper or in the whiting garden in the Hospitall medowes harde by the Garden of the Archers and Arbalisters Prouided alwayes that if they canne gette none of these places aforesaide that then by the consent of his Excellencye they maye in steede of them vse some other places of the like bignesse and scituation and for so many vse those places in the newe Towne whiche heretofore they ware woonted to haue their Sermons in 3 At which places they may all at one time preach on the Sunday and vppon festiuall or holie dayes but vppon none other daies except it be on the Wednesday when there falleth not an holy daye in that weeke And they may haue for euerie preaching place a Minister and another to be ioyned with him who by reason of sicknes absence or other let may supply the others place as an assistaunt 4 Also that all these Preachers and Ministers muste bee borne in the Countries Subiecte to his Maiestie or els bee Citizens of some good Citie or Towne of those lowe Countries And thereuppon shall sweare vnto his Excellencye or in his absence to the Magistrate to bee obedient and faithfull in all matters of pollicie so longe as they shal remayne there 5 They may not haue nor beare to nor fro vnto the Sermons and of assemblie any Harquebusses Pistolles Holbardes or other forbidden weapons Alwayes prouided that no manne shall trouble anye of them for wearing either sworde or dagger 6 Item they shall in all matters of pollicie bee obetient vnto the Superiors and Magistrates and bee contributories to all the common charges of the Citie euen as all the reste of the Inhabitauntes and imploye them selues for the conseruation tranquilitie and common weale therof as wel as they 7 Item that all Preachers of what Religion soeuer they bee shall take heede howe they vtter anye despitefull rayling and iniurious wordes and generally all seditious speeches whether it be against anthority or the magistrate or against those of another religion Alwaies prouided that any thing cōcerning doctrine or the exercise of religion the reprehending of manners and disordered kind of life shall not be taken for seditious wordes 8 Item that his Excellencie may depute any Magistrate to be present at the choosing of any ministers Elders or deacons of their Churches or at their meetings together for the handling of any other cause concerning their Religion to that end he might alwaies make a true and faithful reporte both to his Excellency and to the Magistrate 9 Item that one of them maye not mocke another ueyther yet hinder hurte nor doe violence one to another anye manner of way by reason of the diuersitie of Religion but shal be bound to helpe one another if so be any violence or wrong be done vnto them 10 Item that no person whatsoeuer he be of the one religion or the other may stop the law either in apprchēding punishing or executing of Churchrobbers or offenders either yet in any other cause whatsoeuer but that the malefactors may bee dealte withall according to iustice 11 Item that none may sing in the streets where any people shall assemble or may be assembled 12 Item that his excellency the Magistrate of this citie shal not onely protect those of the religion but also generally all the inhabitants of this citie liuing in obedience peace and politike vnitie without regard whether they be of the Catholike or of this religion 13 All which poynts articles the ministers preachers of their Religion shal in al their sermons declare againe vnto the people admonish them with al speed to order and behaue them selues accordingly 14 Item that all the poyntes heeretofore mentioned shal as it were by way of tolleration bee inuiolably obserued and kepte vntill suche time as his Maiesty with the aduise of the generall estates of this countrey haue otherwise ordeined vnto the whiche ordinaunce those of the religion from thencefoorth shal be subiect and from this present promise to folow and keepe Alwaies prouided that if herein any thing shal bee established contrary to their conscience and religion that in this case there shal be a fit time agreed vpō that they may without impeachmēt freely get them away out of the countrey with their goods whethersoeuer they please 15 Item that the Preachers ministers elders deacons and other seruitours in their Churches with a good number of the best qualified in their Religion shal agree to these articles promise to keepe cause thē to be kept to thevttermost of their power subscribe also for the greater assuraunce of this present act Prouided alwayes that they shall not by reason of this subscribing in time to come be suspected troubled nor hunted after And his Excellencie with a secretary in the name of the Magistrate of this citie shall subscribe also for their safetie vnto this present Acte of whiche two shall bee expedient the one for his Excellency and the Magistrate and the other for those of the religion In witnes wherof this present act is

of bloud burnyng and destructions of Prouinces as now presently we see for many Prouinces are now brought to naught many Cities sacked the Enhabitauntes murdered and vtterly spoyled and the onely cause and originall of altogether is this that the three estates aforesaied are not duely and truely ordered and gouerned and therefore of very right and reason wee iustly feele the heauie indignation and wrath of God fallen vppon vs. Now for conclusion my Lordes I haue been very desierous to dedicate this my Booke vnto your Lordshippes conteinyng the ciuill warres in the lowe Countreis wherein you maie beholde the originall and first beginnyng of these troubles and bloudie warres together the stratagemes and practizes of the Popish and Spanishe Inquisition vtterly to roote vp the Churche of God Beseechyng you my good Lordes to take all in good parte Your most humble and obedient Seruaunt Theophile D. L. The first booke of the histories of the troubles in the Lowe Countreys conteyning the very originall and chiefe beginning of all those troubles and cruell warres which sithens haue ensued THe Scriptures of the Prophetes and Apostles wheron the Church of God is built haue of long time bin vnknowne vnto christendome and ouershadowed with horrible darknes and so were hid by the religious●rable and Balamiticall priestes because they might thereby so much the more confirme and establish their vayne opinions and foolishe deuises as the very foundation of all their wealth and onely piller of their honor and dignitie For Luther the author of the light of the Gospell when Martin Luther began to bring to light the holy Scriptures and had nowe manifested by the preaching of the Gospell many faultes and abuses this doctrine of Luthers was extreamely hated not onely because it seemed to set forth a newe way and path vnto saluation and so condemned our ancestours and predecessours but also because it taught what mens inuentions were and besides laide open all the deceiptes and abuses wherewith the Church of God was infected Insomuch that by that meanes was no more called the Church of Christ but the Romish Church Howebett this doctrine was principally contemned The feet of the anabaptists ariseth in diuers places reiected and iudged to be most wicked at such time as the sect of the braynsicke Anabaptistes beganne to start vp in the Townes of Munster Amstelredam and in the olde Monastarie of Fryse to wit in the yeere 1535. As by this short latine versicle engrauen ouer the Gates of Munster in these capitall letters bearing bate the selfe same yeers manifestly may appeare Ecce peccata tua venerunt super caput tuum that is to say Beholde thy sinnes are fallen vpon thine owne head The which Anabaptistes went about vnder the colour of religion and of the Gospell vtterly to depriue the Magistrate of all authoritie and had deuised to make all things in common saying that they were stirred vp by the spirite of GOD to reforme the worlde and to ordayne and set vp another kinde of ciuill gouernement Whereupon the enemie of the true doctrine which was preached in the beginning had then that which hee looked for Insomuche that the most mightie and inuincible Monarche of famous memorie the Emperour Charles the fifth was aduertised that all such as spake agaynst the faultes and abuses of the Church of Rome and refuted them were infected with that heresie and had determined to take away from Princes and Magistrates their authoritie and power to abolishe all pollitike gouernement to confounde all ciuill ordinaunces and would set vp and put in practise an horrible chaunge in all thinges by whiche information his Imperiall Maiestie was easily perswaded to ordayne and set downe very seuere ordinances edictes tou● ching the cause of religion And to proue this to be true his Maisties edict published at Wormes is a sufficient testimonie by which was declared that his Maiestie was throughly informed that their doctrine tended to the same effect therefore his will pleasure was that the same edict shoulde with out dissimulation or tolleration with out respect of any person or persons of what estate or conditiō soeuer be put in execution Insomuch that all officers followed the same presently some for the hatred that they had to the same doctrine othersome againe for the spoyle which they looked for sought to charge innocent men with the doctrine of Luther being readier to obey the Emperours commaundement then Gods who saith vnto tyrants when his people suffer persecution why persecute you mee And although the Anabaptistes doctrine was nothing like vnto the doctrine of Luther and Zwinglius which tendeth to no kinde of sedition at all yet for all that the officers went so neere the consciences of men as that they spared not to torment pore miserable soules with all kinde of crueltie to the ende his Maiesties wil might bee throughly folowed and furthered whiche tended to the vtter rooting vp of them at once Insomuch that within fiftie yeeres next ensuing there were without all doubte moe then an hundreth thousande people put to violent death by vertue of these ordinaunces and edicts either els were forced through feare of the horrible tormentes to flye the countrey Nowe then as easily may be perceiued although the Lutherans were greatly persecuted in all quarters of Alma●e and on the otherside the Zwinglians or they of the religion in the low Countreys who for the greater number fully iumped with the Lutherans yet for all that the great fidelity and obedience whiche they beare to their Kinge and naturall liege Lorde very manifestly and notoriously appeared as they of Flanders oftentymes declared in hazarding their liues and goodes for their Lorde and Soueraygne when as they chased the French out of their borders And besides it is well knowen howe patiently they aboade the tyranny in keeping still a good and pure conscience to God alone alwayes obeying God rather then men in the cause of religion insomuch that one force of them was burnt another sort hanged the thirde drowned The great patienc● of those of the Religion and the fourth forte had no more hurt but their heades cut offiyea they endured all the tormentes that might bee and yet vsed they not once any worde tending to sedition following therein their Maister Christ Iesus who being reuyled and euill dealt withall neuer gaue foule language but alwayes in their greatest tormentes praysed God wishing to the Magistrate which tormented and executed them all good and amendement of life still praying to God for them Surely these were no seditious dealinges neyther yet tendyng to sedition yea the very enemies them selues of the Lutherans and Gospellers were enforced maugre their heardes to confesse as much but they saide in deede the reason was because they were not strong mough to withstande them Surely they woulde haue shewed some token of their insolencie if there had been any spice of sedition in their heartes For notwithstanding the long absence of their king

Armes were broken But when the Magistrate hearde of that The kings arms broken the Borroughmaster Stralen entered into the Church with a certayne number of Mariners all shot who discharging their peeces draue away all the Beggers and so shutte vp the Churche doores The Tewesday in the euening the chiefe officers being troubled with these beginninges desired one of the ministers of the Flemmish Church to goe to the Temple and exhorte those that had broken downe the Images to leaue off Whereunto hee obeyed and going vp into the pulpit to that ende spake vnto them But when he sawe that they woulde giue no eare vnto him hee for the auoyding of a greater mischiefe departed Neuerthelesse they of the religion were charged with this violence Whereupon also they were blamed for robberies and other insolences which thereon had ensued Inregarde whereof the sayde minister Herman Strycker of Swelle went vp agayne into the pulpit of the sayde Lady Church on Thursday in the morning being the 22. of August and there made a shorte collation vnto the people protesting in the first place that this violence of pulling downe of the Images was done without the knowledge of the ministers and the rest who had the charge of the Churche committed vnto them and in the seconde place disalowyng and detesting the spoyles pilferies and other insolences that had ensued and exhorted all such as had any of the pillage and spoyle to carrie it to the Magistrate And to knit vp the matter withall he admonished the people of the obedience that was due to the Magistrate and of the concorde and peace requisite amongst the people With this exhortation were many moued deliuered vp into the hands of the Magistrate not only siluer crosses but also many gilt chalices other iewels telling their names surnames and dwelling places offring them selues to become prys●ners if it were so the Magistrates pleasure Howrbeit the Magistrate receiued their Iewelles and thanke● them for their fidelitie and loyaltie The same day in the after noone the people notwithstanding that there were men set of purpose at the Church doores to tell them that there shoulde be no Sermon for they were in deed made to beleeue that there shoulde bee one yet for all that they came together in great numbers vnto the sayde Church instantly desiring that they might haue a sermon Insomuch that for feare of an vprore the minister which had exhorted them in the morning was fayne to get him vp agayne into the pulpit where hee made a reasonable long exhortation tending to the same end and purpose as in the morning This Tewesday being the 20. of August a great number of the Citizens of Antwerp both Fleminges and Walons had made thēselues ready to goe in the morning to Bruxels towards the Dutches of Parma Ladie Regent of the lowe Countrey to the ende to beseeche her that they might ●btayne to haue a publike Church in the citie of Antwerpe for the exercise of their religion The Fryday following The ministers and consistorie purge thē selues before the Magistrate being the 23. of August the ministers the rest who had the charge of the Church of Fleminges and Walones committed vnto them for the effectuall purging of them selues of certayne slanders and to assure the chiefe officers of their affection 〈◊〉 good will exhibited vnto the Boroghmaster M. Verheyen the Pencioner Wesonbeck being assistant there with him the propositions and articles ensuing To the ryght worshipfull the Boroghmasters Sheriffes and Counsell of the Citie of Antwerpe RIght worshipfull wee in trueth protest as before the Lord that this pulling downe and abolishing of Images hath been done without our knowledge and consent And as for the pilferies pillages robberies and the other dissolute arrogant partes which haue followed wee mislike and abhorre And therefore our meaning is that the Ministers shall exborte as they haue already done their Auditorie in their Sermons that they wholly abstayne from such kinde of dealing bring agayne into your possession that which hath beene fellonously taken away They of our Church are ready to yeelde themselues altogether obedient vnto your worshippes for the opposing of them selues by your commandement against all sackinges violences theftes and such other like insolences For we acknowledge our selues to be established by the Lord through the office of the Magistrate and therefore are bound to obey you not onely for feare of punishment but also for conscience sake And so consequently we ought and will faithfully paye all taxes tollages customes impostes subsidies tenthes and whatsoeuer charges els that shall bee layde vppon vs whether they be ordinary or extraordinarie Confessing that they which shall refuse to doe it or deceiptfully deale in this behalfe shall offende GOD and are punisheable at your W. handes And for the greater assuraunce of that that hath beene before sayde the Ministers of the woorde and the reste whiche haue the charge of the gouernment of the Churche committed vnto them are readie if neede bee to sweare vnto you to bee faithfull and obedient in all thinges according to the will of God and his woorde for the conseruation of the benefite and commoditie of the Citizens and Inhabitantes and also of the Citie Beseeching you that vnder your authority and protection wee maye assemble our selues in some Churches meete and able to receiue vs for the exercise of our Religion and not take it in ill parte if we serue our turnes with any one of them according to the present necessitie attending vnti●● suche time as you haue purueyed for the same In the meane while our meaning is not to inforce any mans conscience or constrayne them to receiue our Religion contenting vs and praysing God that he hath giuen vs the meane to serue him after our manner of religion trusting that your W. will so prouide as that both one and other shall haue that that shall content them And that it would please you to set downe an order that the one iniurie not nor offer violence to another about the cause of religion This was exhibited in the name of the Ministers of the woorde and of the rest of the Gouernoures of the Churches both of the Fleminges and French the twentie fiue of August 1566. The Pencioner in the name of the said worshipful Borough-maister answered that they woulde communicate these propositions with the Colledge And that in the meane while they shoulde aduertise those of the Religion on the behalfe of the chiefe Officers not to come at two of the Churches to wit the greate Churche called our Ladies Churche and Saint Georges That same euening the Pencioner did let them vnderstande that the intente of the chiefe Officers was that they shoulde abstayne from two other Churches to witte from Saint Michaels and Saynte Iames as appeareth by a Billet signed with his hande the tenure whereof ensueth My maisters after I had made report of your good will which appeared by that you had proposed

together with the writing the same euening exhibited as I was foorthwith enforced to departe for the cause you wote of The chiefe Officers for certayne respectes and notable aduertisementes whiche sithence come haue commanded me that ouer and besides our Ladie Churche and S. Georges that were this day named that you should like wise for the present abstaine from S. Iames and S. Michaels Which your obedience shall greatly please the Magistrate and you therin shall shew your good willes And so with my commendations I end In post haste the 23. of August 1566. All yours Iames of Wesen becke Pensioner of Antwerpe WHen they of the Religion heard that they were forbidden the occuping of these foure Churches aboue specified they had conceiued this opinion that the Magistrate woulde bee contented at the least to winke at the seruing of their turnes with the rest of the Churches Wherefore they that spake Flemish would needes preach on sunday morning being the 24. of August at the Borough Churche and the Walonnes meant to preach at the Iacopins But the very same morning there came two Gentlemen from the Prince shewing them that they must at no hande haue recourse to anie of the Churches howebeit that the chiefe Officers coulde bee contented that they shoulde meete together in the newe Towne And for this purpose they deputed one of the Sberiffes to goe and appoynt the wardes to suffer the people peaceably to passe as they went to the Sermon in that place But forsomuchas the Fleminges were already assembled in great multitudes in the saide Churches it was thought beste to let them alone for that morning vppon condition that they shoulde in the Afternoone goe to the Sermon in the newe Towne as the Walonnes did Who beeing not as yet gotten into the Iacopins for they kepte the doores shut vppon them when as they heard that there was a discharge brought that they shoulde not come in any Church assembled themselues in the new Towne by the authoritie and permission of the Magistrate Nowe at that tyme was greete trouble in Antwerpe as well by reason of the pulling downe of the Images as also in regarde of the publique Sermons whiche then serued in steede of Masses Insomuche that the whole Citie kepte almoste continuall watche and warde and the Gates and shoppes thereof were close shutte vppe Whiche was the cause that the Prince of Orange who as before is saide was gone to Bruxelles made speedye returne to Antwerpe the sixe and twentye of Auguste with the charge as Gouernour appoynted by his Maiestye for the pacifiyng of the troubles For the bringing of which to passe he caused two gentlemen to require at the handes of the two Churches to witte the Fleminges and Walonnes to depute ech of them foure wise skilfull personages who should communicate with his excellency what meanes were best to appease assure the people both of the one religion and of the other To this charge were chosen and deputed for the Fleminges Marke Peris Charles of Bombergue Herman vander Meere and Cornelius of Bombergue And for the Walonnes Frauncis Godyn Iohn Carlier Nicholas du vinier and Nicholas Sellyn Whiche eight deputies were allowed and authorized to this charge by the Prince the 28. of August and by the chiefe Officers the laste of the sayde moneth by their deedes graunted to these endes Nowe for the first conference his Excellencie propounded to the sayde Deputies these fifteene Articles ensuing with the aunsweares to euerye of them exhibited by the sayde Deputies in the name of both the Churches and his Excellencies aunsweares againe to euery of their answeares To my Lorde Monsieur the Prince MY Lord forsomuchas in your Excellēcies absence we may haue some other his Ma. Liuetenant not endued with such wisedome iustice and affection vnto the common weale quiet of this Citie as your selfe we are therfore inforced for our greater assurance in time to come to haue certayne poynts to vs propounded more particulerly to be cleared manifested which we woulde not thinke needful if wee were assured alwayes to haue to deale with your Excellencie by reason of the great trust whiche we repose in the same The first and second Articles FIrst you shal be no let to the Papists for their going to their Churches neither yet trouble them for the hauing of such exercise of their religion as they shall thinke meete conuenient 2 You shall not preache in any Churche but onely in the newe Towne and that in suche places as shall bee assigned to you The Answeare ALthough the Churches are common and free for all the Burgesses and not particuler to the Papistes yet doe wee promise neither to take nor occupie eyther by force or violence anye of them neyther yet trouble the Papistes in the exercise of their Religion Yet notwithstanding wee humblye beseeche your Excellencie to appoynt vs some Churche of theirs for the exercise of ours hauing regarde to the multitude and to the right that wee haue as Citizens whiche wee can by no meanes loose by reason of the embracing of the doctrine of the Gospell The third Artile 3 You shal haue but two Preachers and those to be of the same countrey borne The Answeare WE pray that the number of the ministers may be according to the multitude of the people and that you will graunte vnto vs for the present necessitie at the least eight for the Flemishe Churche and three for the Walonnes For the rest wee agree that the ministers of the word shal be of the same countrey borne the kings subiectes or receiued Citizens in some good citie hereabout The fourth Article 4 You shall not carrie any forbidden weapons vnto the Sermons but shal lay downe at the Princes feete al forbidden weapons The Answeare AS for the first poynt wee verily beleeue that his excellencies meaning is not but that it shal be lawfull and free for euery of vs to weare a sworde and a dagger and that hee will not graunt a larger libertie vnto the rest then the said sword and dagger And as for the seconde poynt which is to laye downe all forbidden weapons at the Princes feete vnder correction it should seeme that such a proposition concerning the priuiledges of the citie ought to be made generall to all Citizens and inhabitants of the same The fift 5 You shall make a Catalogue or rowle of all their names that bee of your Churche and the Prince shall call them before him to knowe of them if they had the same Catalogue The Answeare FOrsomuchas the libertie which we presently enioy is not confirmed by the king and the generall Estates therefore there are manie that will hardly graunt to haue their names in writing and withall it will be very harde to make such a Catalogue as his Excellencie desireth by reason of the great multitude of the people and therefore we beseech him not to take it in euill part if herein we satisfie not his desire but

concluded vpon and subscribed as aforesaid the 12. of September 1566. And signed by William of Nassau Mandato commissorum Polities AND although there were two or three poyntes heerein whiche the Deputies woulde gladlye haue altered or at the leaste haue hadde them more playnely sette downe yet neuerthelesse beeyng satisfied with the woordes of his Excellencies owne mouth this accorde was signed by the Ministers and Gouernors of the Church with a good number of the beste qualified and other members thereof The first day of the said conference and communication with his Excellencie the saide deputies hauing vnderstood of the slaunders that they of the religion were still more and more charged with and that the chiefe Officers made shew to beleeue them First that the people had beene excited and stirred vppe by the Sermons to pull downe Idolles as hauing beene taught to thrust out all Idolles not onelie from their heartes but from their eyes also and not onelye to breake them in peeres but also to burne them to ashes that the memorye of them might cleane bee quenched out Moreouer that the say●e Suppliantes had hyred certaine people to pull downe the Images Item that the ministers had also taught that they were no more bounde to paye the Assyses or custome or at the least not so greate as heeretofore they had done Item that they had concluded to take the Towne house chaunge the Magistrate and expulse all such out of the citie as were not of their religion Item that they should bragge that they would not once suffer any exercise of the Romish religion in this Citie and many such other like leasings whereupon they were inforced for the purging and iustifiyng of them selues to exhibite a supplication as well to his Excellencie as also to the Magistrate and Counsell of the Citie of Antwerpe conteyning ouer and beside the saide Iustification a graunt of certayne Churches built within the sayde Citie so greate and so manye as shoulde bee thought necessarie for the greatnesse and multitude of the people Moreouer the saide Suppliants of the religion prayed to haue a good answere vnto their supplication of euery act with a copie therof foorthwith a graunt that they might cause the same to bee imprinted for the benefite vnity and quiet of the citie of Antwerpe Now there was no answere vnto their supplication because the chiefe Officers presupposed that the Articles whiche were ready to be concluded vppon shoulde bee a sufficient prouiso for the whole And as for that poynt of the burying of the dead it was sayde vnto them that they might bury them in the publique churchyardes of the Citie There was also at that time published the abolition of the Spanishe Inquisition and commissions in manner and forme as followeth A Proclamation proclaymed and set foorth by Syr Iohn of Imersele knight Lorde of Bowdrie the Scoute or Marshall the Boroughmaisters Sheriffes and Counsell of the Citie of Antwerpe the last of August 1566. BE it knowen vnto all men on the behalfe of my Lorde the Prince of Orange The abolishing of the inquisition and commissions as geuernor and chiefe of thie Citie of Antwerpe appointed thereto by his maiestie and also on the behalfe of the Lordes of the saide citie First that our soueraigne Lorde the kings most excellent maiestie according to his greate clemencie and natur all goodnes tender affection hauing had regard and consideration to and of the quiet benefit and prosperitie of the lowe countries his true and lawfull inheritance hath expresly agreed declared and consented that the inhabitants and citizens of this citie and of all the lowe countries shall bee deliuered and for euer continue acquited discharged and vtterly disburdened of the Inquisition which not manie monethes sithence hath beene so muche spoken of and muttered at through out al the sayde lowe Countreys And hencefoorth shall bee and so still continue franke and free vtterly discharged of all the ordinaunces and Commissions sette downe and graunted about the cause of heresies and controuersies in religion which haue any way heretofore been had and published And that for and vntill such time as by newe and generall Commissions which by his Maiestie with the aduise of the generall Estates of the said countreys about the state of religion shall bee ordeyned and established it bee generally otherwise purueyed for and ordeyned according to which from that tyme forwarde euery man oughte to behaue and gouerne himselfe and whereon they must relie and be assured A Grapheus AND to the ende that they of either the religion might bee more assured and rest the quietlier there was another edict published by which the chiefe Magistrates tooke vppon them to procect both the one and the other forbidding eyther of them not to seeke to wronge and deale cruelly one with another as by the tenure hereof ensuing may appeare A Proclamation made and sette foorth before the Towne howse by the Lorde Diericke Vander Meeren vnder the Scowte or Marshall the Boroughmaisters and the Sheriffes and councell of the citie of Antwerpe the 3. of September 1566. TO the end that all troubles and diuisions within this Citie might be preuented withstood therewithall in like sor● that the negotiation and trafficke might be restored to his olde trade and that euery man might vnderstand knowe that hence foorth hee may assuredly without any doubt or feare of empeachment or disturbance most peaceably exercise his negociation and so eftsones the exercise of his religion Bee it knowne and by my Lorde the Prince of Orange c. The appointed gouernour in the name of his maiestie and likewise of the chiefe officers of the citie it is commaunded First That no man whatsoeuer hee bee doe take in hande or vppon him to empeache or trouble the seruice of the Churches Monasteries and of the olde Catholike Religion neyther yet missay or wronge any eyther in woorde or deede in whatsoeuer matter vpon payne of the losse both of bodie and goodes or otherwise to bee punished by arbytrement according to the merite of the facte for an example to all others Item That no man of what Estate and condition soeuer hee bee shall empeach nor trouble the exercise of the other religion at this present permitted by waye of tolleration neyther ill or wronge anye man anye kinde of way eyther in worde or deede for the same vpon the like payne and punishment Ouer and besides declaring that his Excellencie and the Citie doe take in hande to protect and saue harmelesse all the enhabitannts and dwellers of the same in general without respect whether they bee of the Catholike or of the other religion whiche as before is suffered by way of tolleration and hath alredie been treated of and agreed vppon with condition notwithstanding that euery man shall liue peaceabile and quietly and obediently to the Magistrate in all matters of policie without charging huntyng after and molesting anye man eyther of the one religion or the other

inconueniences as that they did not onelie let them alone but which is more commanded the companies of Liueries or Brotherhoods in many places to take away the Images and ornaments of theyr aulters whiche coulde not be done so hastily and confusedly but that they must needes breake some of them Which kinde of dealing when some of the people sawe they in like sort put thereto theyr helping hand thinking it to be a thing both lawfull allowed and also commaunded by the magistrate to ryd the Churches of them all Wherefore it is so farre of that they were neither at the first nor yet afterwardes stirred vp thereto by the Sermons as that contrariwise the Preachers and such as haue the gouernment of the Churche as muche as in them lay trauelled to stay them neuer hauing commaunded any such act to bee doone nor yet knowing thereof before eyther els allowyng of it after as by many reasons may wel bee verified and also namely appeare by the testimonie of a very great number of prysoners who for the same cause haue beene miserably tormented Which thing neuerthelesse wee haue to our greate griefe vnderstood that these two points to wit The preachings breaking of the Images which notwithstanding haue no waye beene any furtherance but altogether quite and cleane againste thē hauing there with no communitie at all haue been so reported of vnto your maiestie as that you being thereat greatly offended were fully determined to come hyther with force of armes for the indifferent rooting out both of the one and the other Which thing considered wee haue thought it our duetie most humbly to beseech your maiestie that it would please you moste certainely thinke that the religion beeing imprinted in the heartes and mindes of men into the which no threatninges nor outwarde forces can any way enter or pearse considering that sith the point standeth vppon the saluation or condemnation of theyr soules it is not so easie a matter to pluck away by force of armes as by that means to cause some weak soules to dissemble the same and thereby in time make them become people without religion and very Libertines and Atheists at whose hands is neyther fidelitie nor yet loyaltie of conscience to bee looked for And withall that the saying of Gamaliel may well bee weighed That if it bee of God it cannot bee ouerthrowne and therefore an hard and dangerous matter to make warre against him And that which is more when your maiestie shall see into the chiefe pointes of the enterprises that haue beene put into your head by suche as eyther through ignorance by theyr particuler affections or for feare haue giuen you that councell that none other thing will followe nor come thereon but an irrecouerable ruine and destruction of your so florishing lowe Countries and so necessary for the conseruation of your mightinesse and the increasing of the Princes your neighbours who beeynge inriched with the spoyles of these Countries may thereby bee strengthened to make warre against you And therefore wee your most humble vassals and faithfull seruauntes desiryng alwayes to liue and dye vnder your Maiesties obedience and to aduaunce the mightinesse thereof as muche as in vs lyeth both with our bodies and goods throughly consideryng and waying all these circumstances and beeyng persuaded that our humble and resonable requestes and supplycations wyll take some place with your excellencie by reason of your naturall and wonted clemencie and benignitie Beeseeche you in the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe to graunte vs that such as cannot by any meanes lyke of the Romyshe doctrine and ceremonies and yet for all that in a● other things are your very faithfull and obedient subiects may fully and wholy haue such an assured libertie openly to meete in such pla●es as your maiestie and the Magistrates vnder you shal please to assigne them for the exercise of theyr religion wherein they truely protest as before God that theyr full pretence and meanyng is to beleeue lyue and dye in the doctrine of the Prophetes and Apostles contayned within the olde and newe Testament summarily comprysed in the Creede of the said Apostles and of all Councels agreeyng with the worde of GOD submittyng themselues besides vnto whatsoeuer shall hereafter bee determined and ordeyned by a free and generall Councell Where attending and looking for the same councell which shal by the common consent of the Euāgelike Churches both of hygh and lowe Germanie Fraunce Englande and other quarters of Europe bee agreed vpon they purpose to follow keepe all such orders as shall generally bee set down by the said churches And to the end that this libertie and exercise being established and assured the traffick whereupon hangeth the whole wealth of this countrie myght haue a more ample course which as yet is and still remaineth a thing very vncertaine by way of tolleration that it woulde please your maiestie according to your wonted clemencie and benignitie to confirme this benefite by an especial graunt and grace ratified by the general estates of this Countrie for the same purpose assembled And as for your supplyants it is so farre off that by the meanes of this lybertie they entend to alter the politike gouernment as to chāge the prince to refuse the paying of taxes tollages customes tributes c. As their aduersaries openly slaunder them that contrariwise in witnes of theyr affection and loue towards you in the bestowing of that they haue in your seruice in acknowledging of your grace and fauour and as a newe homage in ratifiyng of theyr othe and fidelitie and to graunt and acknowledge that this priuilege of libertie exercise of theyr religiō whiche they requyre loke for at your maiesties hāds encreaseth their harts to dedicate and consecrate both theyr bodies and goods in your seruice and offer to giue the day of the graunt of the said fauour and grace which you your selfe shall finde to be a sufficient caucion or pledge ouer and besides the imposts customes and other extraordinary contributions the summe of three millions of Florins wherewith they will furnishe you by a reasonable daye assigned towards the defraying of your maiesties ordinarie char ges heere in these countries promising further not to come into any of the Romish Churches neither yet to trouble or let eyther by force or otherwise the seruice of theyr religion Humblie beseeching your S. to take well in woorth this offer and small present at your humble subiects handes proceeding from such heartes as desire nothing els but the establishment of Gods seruice and your maiesties with the benefite quiet and prosperitie of these countries And we trust that your maiestie will not thinke it any strange thing for subiects hauing receyued some notable fauour and rewarde from their naturall Prince to acknowledge themselues thankfull for the same according to theyr small abilitie by such a like meane As also it is no new thyng for such grace and benefite to haue beene graunted vnto subiects

as by the example of that mightie Emperour Alexander surnamed Seuere well appeareth who beeing an Heathen Prince an Idolater gaue leaue to the Christians whom hee tooke to bee heretikes to haue Churches in Rome beyng the chiefe citie within his dominion and also of the Emperour Constantine surnamed Constantine the great because that contrarie to the order of his Predecessors hee licensed the Christians to haue certain places for theyr meetings euen as the Heathen had theyr Temples In doing whereof he surpressed an infinite number of quarrels staied the apparant effusion of blood ruled his Empyre peaceably and by mean of this accord his authoritie prospered and hee dayly encreased And if any man shall put into your maiesties head that it is another thing to suffer christians to haue the exercise of theyr religion then heretikes as it pleaseth some to esteeme of vs first of all our preachings prayers and exercise of religion doe right well shewe vs to bee Christians and neither Heretikes nor yet Idolaters which we are readie more at large to verifie if it shall please your maiestie to giue gentle and safe audience Moreouer if so bee that we were as notable heretikes as the Iewes Arrians and Nouatians yet the present example of the Pope who callyng hymselfe the head of the Churche and sayth he cannot erre doeth not only mayntaine the lewes the very professed and sworne enemies vnto our Lorde Iesus Christe but also suffereth them to haue theyr Synagogues and the exercise of theyr religion within his own citie of Rome and in diuers other places vnder his subiection And besides all this the examples of the Catholique and wel instructed Emperours which haue graunted Churches to the Arrians and Nouatians may bee a great quieting to your conscience And chiefly your late father of most hygh and inumcible memory the Emperour Charles the fifth wh● by the aduise of the Estates of the Empire graunted the like to the Protestants in Germa nie notwithstanding that hee tooke them to bee heretikes as also the Frenche king not long sithence hath doone vnto his subiects All which doynges ought to quiet and content your maiestie to graunt vnto vs this grace vntill suche tyme as by the consent of all christendome wee might all agree in one and the selfe same religion and manner of diuine seruice By meane whereof both your maiestie and also these countries shall without all doubt receiue great blessing and prosperitie for so much as God vndoubtedly shall bee serued through the auoyding of a very great most apparant and pitifull effusion of blood and that your Countries shal be peaceably maintained wtout beyng thrust out as a pray vnto your neere neighors the merchaunts and in habitants of the Countrie remaine in suche safetie as that all suche and many others as are gone out of the Countrie for the selfe same cause shall haue occasion to reforte thyther agayne with theyr goods tytles and trades Lastly all these matters by this meane beeing brought to a quietnesse and contentation both to one and other the countries shall floryshe more then euer they did with an increase of your crowne and dignities and all men shall bee so muche the more bound continually to pray vnto the Lorde for the prosperitie and high estate of your maiestie Subscribed by your maiesties humble subiectes the Citizens and inhabitants of your Citie of Antwerpe professing the Gospel so farre foorth as they are therein permitted for somuch as it toucheth and apperteineth vnto them as members of the supplyants in this behalfe THis Supplication was exhibited by the handes of Marke Peres with the assistance of Giles de Graue Charles de Bombergue Giles Vander Banderies Francis Godin Henrie Vander Broecke Cornill de Bombergue Thomas van Geer Iohn Carlier Nicholas de Vmier Nicholas Sellyn as deputies and in the name of the supplyants of the member of Antwerpe vnto my Lorde the Count of Hoogstrate gouernour for his maiestie and to the right worshipfull the Burroughmasters and Shierifs of the saide Citie of Antwerp assembled in the colledge of the same Citie in the presences of the right worshipful the Margraue Allemman the 27 of October 1566 betwixt 12. and 1. in the afternoone When the Counte Hoogstrate had seene this supplication The suppil● on sent to the Lady regent hee sent it to the Ladie Regent and to the councell that were with her that it might bee sent to the king with conuement and meete commendation to the ende the fame myght take good effect A thyng so necessary ●ouing Reader as thou in thy wisdome and discretion maiest iudge and vnderstand But so soone as the Regent and Gouernours of the lowe Countries had seen ●he contents thereof they thought it to bee but a proude and arrogant bragge of theyr riches and great treasure euen to engen der in the hearts of man●e honorable personages some sinister and lewde suspition as if the Protestants had made this supplication to drawe vnto them thereby strange princes and great potentates to the end they might haue aide and succour of souldiers Howbeit notwithstanding all this the people gaue not ouer to deuise bethink thēselues of all the meanes possible they could not only with the Dutches who was not to be intreated but also with the no●ilitie who had promised although they were in the selfe same predicament and danger that the people was as may appeare by the ende of this tragedie to accomplish new promises and to forsake theyr fayth for the libertie of consctence protestyng notwithstanding that for the exercise of the religion they woulde doe all possible duetie that might bee for the obtayning thereof But sith that shee had not giuen her promise the subiects should bee founde giltie of all the mischiefes that shoulde come in the lowe countries about that cause Wherefore the Lorde Heury Brederode The L. of Brederode exhibiteth the supplication by the nobilitie appointed for that purpose required the 15. of Februarie 1567. the Lady Dutches that hee might haue audience albeit shee had forbidden him to come within the citie of Bruxelles notwithstanding he so behaued hym in his businesse as that the supplication was deliuered vp into her own hands wherin was shewed to her highnes that the people could no longer abide and suffer the great contempt and horrible persecutiō which the catholiks vsed towards them and therfore had implored and lamentably besought the assistāce of the nobilitie that by them they might obtaine the performance of that which was agreed vpon And therefore seeing they sawe that no contract could take effect but by the consent of both parties and that the one party making default the other had great reason to complaine Duer and besides this sith they were appointed vnto her highnes as pledges and answerable for the Protestāts who at that present by reason of the catholikes breaches of promise they found themselues greatly greeued they could do no lesse then speake vnto

perturbers of the common weale The Lorde of Brederode gaue the Secretary none other answere but this Thou art a man not worthie any answere c. The Antwerpians after long resistaunce agreed with the Dutchesse in manner and fourme following That the Sermons shoulde cease but none to be syfted or troubled for the cause of Religion And therefore for the very same purpose it was ordeined and proclaymed in Antwerpe the 7. of April 1567. That all ministers shoulde depart thence and the preachinges cease That all Catholikes shoulde bee restored to their offices and the first Commissions be obserued and kept Alwayes prouided that no man shoulde bee sifted or troubled for the religion vntill such time as his Maiestie by the aduise of the generall Estates had otherwise appointed it This matter was accomplished after that the ministers were gone out of the Citie of Antwerpe and their Churches were fast shutte and sealed vp In this sort passed the matters of Flanders Hollande zeland and the rest of the Prouinces and the persecution dayly encreased against such as had taken armes vpon them broken downe the Images and opposed themselues against the Edictes and Commissions The 18. of April The Lady Regent entred into Antwerp Count Manfields garnysoneth Antwerpe and with her the Count Mansfielde with 16. Ensignes of footmen and fiue hundreth horse After that the Prince of Orange was departed thence which was the 11. of the sayde Moneth with a great number of Citizens and enhabitauntes of the same Citie in very great miserie and with much weeping and wailing When the Lorde of Brederode had receyued the sharpe message aforesayde hee soone after in the deade of the night The L. of Brederode flyeth from Amsterdame departed the Countrey with many noble men and other souldiers whome the Count Megue pursued but it was to small purpose The 5. of May the same yeere there fell in Friselande into the Count Arenberge his handes certayne of the nobilitie that were betrayed by a Mariner who in steede to carry them ouer the seas set them on the playne grounde where they were taken by Captayne Mulert as a captayne of one of the companies of the Count Arenberge The Lords of Battenbrough and two Lordes of Friselande to witte Herman Galama and Sir Beyma besides many other Gentlemen and Captaynes The tenth of May there entred into Amstelredame certayne bandes of Souldiers and a little before into Bostleduke and Vyane of whiche the Duke Ericke of Brunswike was chief and the Countrey of Vtryght was deliuered to the Catholikes The 21. of May The Marques of Bergues died in Spayne The Marques of Bergues as it is said was poisoned in Spayne of whom wee haue before spoken And the Marquesse his wife at another time caused many Infantes to bee baptized and many to be married agayne by the priestes whome the ministers had before baptized and married and suche as refused it muste forsake the Countreye so that many menne and women were fayne to departe and goe into other Countreys The 24 of this Moneth by her highnesse appoyntment was a Proclamation proclaymed in Antwerpe muche more for the behoofe of the Catholiques then for the Protestauntes wherein was declared That as manye as woulde remayne in the Countrey shoulde from thence foorth lyue peaceably and in quiet and that all mynisters and suche as frequented Sermons and had defaced the Images shoulde lose both bodies and ●oodes and that the Father Master or Lorde shoulde answere fortheir children and seruantes And besides that all Infantes which were baptized by the ministers shoulde bee rebaptized by the Priestes after the maner of the Catholique Churche Also that no Schoolemasters might teache before such tyme as they were examined and their bookes allowed Moreouer against Printers and Statyoners which solde bookes not allowed of and agaynst all such officers as did permitte and suffer them Against all such as without his Maiesties knowledge be collectors of money vpon any of his subiectes Against euery assembly which is made agaynst the ordinaunce or consent of his Maiestie Against all Straungers which depart not the Countrey within 24 houres or bring not a testimoniall from the place from whence they come and the cause of their remayning there Lastly that no man shoulde withstande any Ecclesiasticall person The persecution dayly encreased whiche caused the people to forsake the Countrey by thousands There were in one day at Tournay an hundred and sixe riche Merchauntes and many others spoyled of their goodes and a great number put and deteyned in pryson and there ill entreated The 18. of Iuly The Dutchesse departed from Antwerpe to Bruxelles and the Count Manssielde remayned there with his Garnison An addition of certayne thinges woorthie remembrance which happened in diuers places and prouinces THe 26. and 27. of Iune 1566. The publique preaching of the syncere woorde of God beganne throughout all the low Countreys with the administration of the Sacraments in many Cities and Townes About the 16. and 17. of August the same yeere The images in diuers cities and townes of the lowe Countreys were broken in peeces and the alters and ornamentes of the Churches pulled downe and destroyed The date of this yeere when this geare was done is to bee founde by the Capitall letters of this verse following Con Cio saCra ●●Vit tVMidi CeCidere deastri The 6. of September the same yeere were in three parishe Churches of Leawarde all the Alters pulled downe and the Images broken by the appointment of the Magistrate The 8. of the sayde moneth and the same yeere were the first Sermons made in the chiefe parish Churche of the Citie of Oldenbone by the ministers of the woorde of God and that by the consent of the Magistrate And the 15. of the sayd moneth was the supper of the Lorde there administred The 10. of September that yeere were the Aulters of the franciscane Fryers in Gr●ening pulled down by the leaue of the Magistrate and the Images broken The 25. of September the same yeere was the first stone of the foundation of the reformed Church in Antwerpe laide The same day were they of the reformed Religion of the citie of Nymmegue in Gelderlande driuen out of the same The 3. of October the same yeere the Ministers of the woorde of GOD were forbidden at Bruxelles vppon payne of hanging to preache within the said Citie or in any other places there about This was the first dispersing sithens the publique preachings The 17. of October aforesaide there were certayne insolent partes playd by certayne young persons in our Ladye Church of Antwerpe Whereupon the Lorde of Hooghstrate Gouernour at that time beset the Churche rounde about with souldiers and entring into it tooke certayne prisoners and the next day in the morning about the dawning were sixe or seuen of them hanged in the market place The 10. of Ianuarie 1567. The ministers of the reformed religion were expulsed the Citie of Leunwarde in Fryselande The 9. of

at one choppe almost to the ground by meane whereof one ioynt falleth from another When this is done the hangman giueth him the second and third charge and then getteth hym vp and thus this vnnaturall torture and horrible torment lasteth from niene of the clocke vntill it bee eleuen or twelue When the prysoner continueth constant and will confesse nothyng hee is carried to the Churche where the Barbour Surgeons put him to three tymes somuch paine The patient beeing in this miserable estate they will him to bee confessed or shriuen whereupon they finde of what religion hee is and if so bee that hee will confesse himselfe to the Priest they haue a notarie hid behinde some clothes to write and note all the prysoners confession because hee maketh him to speake distinctly and a loude Then the Priest telleth him That hee hath power aucthoritie to deliuer him out of the handes of the fathers Inquisitors By these and such like words they sometimes deceiue and beguile the poore prysoners for if they confesse any thing they bring their owne testimonie against them to render them punishable Then the Inquisitors giue it opēly out both abroad and in the prison that the prysoner hath confessed enough and besides hath accused and named all his companious and fellow brethren although it bee nothyng so Which thyng causeth the neighbours that haue hearde of the great crosses of the patient accuse thēselues before any body els hath accused them because they woulde be reconciled to the fathers and Inquisitors of the faith thinking they shoulde bee out of all danger when as they had once confessed their faults The hurte and sicke prysoners are carried to an Hospitall where the Surgeons and seruitours of the Hospital deale reasonably with them vntill suche time as they are carryed backe againe to pryson The Notarie and Gailor or keeper of the pryson twise a moneth visit the prysoners to see them haue such necessaries as they want and to finde fault with those which eyther take away theyr victuals from them or doe them any hurt When the day of giuing sentence and of execution draweth neere to wit two dayes before they sende for the prysoners whome the Inquisitors commaund to tell and she we them of all theyr moueable and vnmoueable goods willyng them to conceale nothing to the end that they which are in their houses bee not accused of theft or that they themselues by the iudgementes of God fall not dead to the grounde as Ananias and Saphyra his wife did at the Apostles feete because they lyed and kept backe some of their goods The night before the day appointed they are shryuen that day in the morning the officers of the Inquisition bryng vnto them Saint Bennets furniture of apparrel which is a gally cassocke without fleeues much like vnto the Romanes clokes couered with blacke linnen cloth And vpon their heads they haue a Bishops myter made of paper vpon which is painted a man sitting by the fire The sentence of heretikes and the man aforesaide hath his hands bound to his necke who first is led about the flame and afterwarde to the fire When he is brought to the place of execution the schollers goe singing before him and as many as are condemned in any pecuniarie or bodily punishment on eyther side of them follow the Seriant of the Inquisition and besides two Fryars or Iesuites to exhort and admonish the citizens ouer besides there followe the sworne officers Iudges Presidents Gouernours and Lieuetenants of the king for that Countrie with many Noble men Gentlemen being al assembled together in theyr pallaces Moreouer there are the Priests and Chapiter of the cathedral Church Abbots and Pryors and a great many moe to shed innocent blood But the aduocate Fiskal and the Atturney generall ryde also vnto the place of execution hauing a banner of red damask carried before them on the one side wherof is armes richly imbrodered with the name of the Pope who hath confirmed and established the Inquisitors on the other side armes and the name of king Ferdinando and on the toppe of the pole of the banner head is a siluer crosse gylt There are also on horsebacke the fathers Inquisitors of the faith and their officers After this so honorable a troupe followe a great multitude of people who come twentie mile of to this goodly feast they goe all together vnto a great plaine where two scaffoldes are set vp the one for the accused and the other for the fathers Inquisitors amongest whome one of them maketh an oration in the prayse and honour of the Inquisition and in the discommending and abolishyng of all heresies This oration beeing ended one beginneth openly to pronounce the iudgements vpon the poore pacients orderly one after another beginning first with these that haue the most gracious easiest kinde of punishment After the publication of these sentences the chiefe and head Inquisitor singeth certaine collects to wit Oremus and Quaesumus for the conuertes praying also vnto God that it would please hym of his meere fauour and grace to graunt them perfeuerance in the Romish catholike faith vnto their liues ende When hee hath thus saide al the Cleargie sing the Psalme Miserere mei deus which being ended the Inquisitor singeth certaine versicles whom the singing men answere in theyr musical notes crying yelling and bleating out like calues as they are Last of all the saide Inquisitor singeth the absolution whereby the penitents are absolued of the errour of heresie but not of the punishment or paine which is incontinently to be executed with out fauour or mercy yea contrary to all right and reason After that this absolution is giuen the Inquisitors cause an oth to hee ministred to the people to wit that they shall liue and die in the faith obedience and religion of the Romish Church and shall defend the same and the Inquisitors in all points and against al men hazarding theyr bodies against all such as would do them any hurt or set vpon them Ouer and besides that they shall renounce and abture whatsoeuer is contrary to the dectrine and institutions or ceremonies of the Romish church Moreouer that they shall withall their power and might defend the holy office and all their officers ministers or seruants therof taking both one and other to witnes for the safetie assurance of the matter And if therebe amongest these penitents or conuertes any Cleargie man The degrading of priestes bee hee religious man or Priest that is founde to haue deserued lesse punishment then death that man is degraded onely by wordes This degradation is done by the Bishoppe clad in all his pontificalibus and by none other by which hee is interdited from the administration of his office benifice and Priestly dignitie vntill such time as the Pope shall haue absolued enhabiled againe or restored hym to his dignitie But yf the fathers Inquisitors haue condemned and iudged him to death

assembly at Deuremond But these noble men doe trust and sticke to their innocency concluding none otherwise but to propounde to the Dutchesse the contente of this letter and to keepe them selues safe from it And that which might be herein more talked of hee trusted that the Lordes which were then in prison had more at large declared the same And as concerning the rest of the articles of the inditement to wit that the Prince had counselled the L. of Brederode to fortifie and fense his castle of Viane against his M. that is a very lie and against all truth But this is true in deede that about certain yeeres past the prince himselfe being at Vyane the L. of Brederode said vnto him That the L. his father had appoynted him as it were by will to make vp the ditches and rampares of Vyane already begun whereupon he answered that for the accomplishing of his fathers will he would doe it But there was not a word spoken of the king neither had he once the heart to attempt any thing against him And as touching the aduice of fortification the nobilitie were in all times at their free choise and livertie to fortifie their Mannors when it pleased thē Moreouer Viane with all the iurisdiction thereunto belonging properly apperte●neth to the L. of Brederode and although his ancesters haue bin in sute for it yet hath the L. of Brederode continued stil in peaceable possession Wherfore there can be no matter of treason concluded vpon in this behalfe for that talke which they had together was nothing els but about the fortifiyng of the sayd Town but no mention was made of his Maiesties affayres and this conference was long before the time of these troubles As touching the other point that the Prince suffered the Lorde of Brederode to leuie men of warre at his pleasure in the Citie of Antwerpe and sent secretly to Vyane certayne munition against the Dutchesses Countermaund The P. answereth that hee came to Antwerpe to deliuer the Citie from those suddayne troubles and when hee vnderstoode the case he aduertised the Margraue thereof who neuer founde out any thinge of the matter but onely suche as were sytting at a table hauing Commission to leuie men howbeit they secretly got themselues away True it is that the Prince offered vnto the Lorde of Brederode certayne peeces of Artillery that were made at Vtright howebeit this was long before these troubles and at that time it was about his Maiesties seruice so that hee coulde not refuse them seeing that Vyane was not farre from Vtryght and beesides hee had also required and demaunded them And as concerning those pointes that the Prince should forbid the receiuing of his Maiesties garnisonnes into certayne places and Townes especially in Zelande where hee him selfe had sent men of warre to take vp the place and stoppe his Maiesties enteraunce by sea As for the garnysonnes the Prince saith that he neuer had it once in his thought to forbidde them and if in case it be true they ought to tell when and at what time and in what place this geare was wrought Notwithstanding when he was in Zealand he was aduertised that there was a practise to take Zealande if it were possible which was a matter of great importaunce and therefore hee commaunded the Lorde of Boxtell that no Garnison shoulde be receiued without his leaue for that is the maner of all Lieutenaunts But when hee was afterwarde aduertised by the Captayne of the Rammekins which was vnder his charge that two hundred of the Dutchesses souldiers were there arriued requiring to haue the Castle opened vnto them which the Captayne denied howebeit hee was afearde of some muteny and sedition by reason his people were vnpaide and the Castle but hardly bestead with victualles hee commaunded him that no man shoulde entre into the Castle without the Dutchesses commaundement and his leaue whereof the Dutchesse being aduertised was well pleased and sent them their pay although the Dutchesse had been before otherwise informed whiles shee lay at Bruxelles and he in Antwerpe and if the saide souldiers had entred the Castle he must haue answeared it Moreouer the Antwerpians desired that they might haue no garnisons thrust into their Citie promising to be alwayes obedient vnto his Ma. and neither spare body nor goods to doe him seruice no not once to hinder him in these affayres It is very true that certeine small vessels were laden with souldiers to come to Antwerpe who for the common quiet of the City could not bee suffered to enter wherefore they sayled towardes Zeland where they were forbidden stayed for comming on land Insomuch that they inforced through famine to returne to Antwerpe and as it is sayde that as they were in the L. of Brederode his seruice being about a mile from Antwerpe to wit at Easterwell and comming on lande were there discomfited When the reformed Churches of Antwerpe heard of this they armed themselues to help the said souldiers which caused a great alarme within the citie so that the Prince in the ende appeased the same without the effusion of any citizens blood By which bee gaue them to vnderstand that he neuer pretended to attēpt any thing in Zealand which might any way tend to the hinderance of any of his maiesties deuises practises But in that he would not receiue garnisons into the country and townes he did that for the auoiding of all dissention and to keepe the subiects in peace vnttie Wherfore the prince greatly marueileth that such great learned men as would be so well thought of would set downe and propound such matters as neuer can nor shal be any way verified There is besides in the Articles of this inditement declared that the prince was sent to Antwerpe to appease the troubles but that he suffered the exercise of all hereticall Sectes indifferently Whereunto he answereth That hee expressely tolde the Counsell that it was impossible for him to stay those of the religion notwithstanding that he woulde be as carefull to do what so euer lay in him to be done as a man mought be Insomuch that all the Townsmen gaue him great thankes for the appeasing of the troubles through his aduise and counsell The Magistrate of the Citie and not he suffered the building of the Churches and the exercise of the religion for the aueyding of a greater offence and mischiefe The Consistories were ordeyned before he came thither yea euen before the publique preachings and to meete from thenceforth with al troubles he permitted them a way or meane whereby all the circumstaunces of the affayres that might suddenly happen might be talked vpon and dealt withall and did not belieue that his Maiestie by this occasion coulde any way be endemnified seeing it serued more for the keeping of his subiects in peace and tranquilitie For the last Article where it is sayde that hee shoulde ordeyne impositions and exactions or leuie money for the paying of souldiers hee fayeth

beseeche your Maiestie that if it so bee that I haue any way offended you to pardon and forgiue me and haue pittie on my deare wife my innocent children and my poore seruauntes commending my selfe for the present to the mercie of God Giuen at Bruxelles the 5. of Iune 1568. subsigned Prepared to die Amurathes de Egmond WHen the Count of Egmond had written and sealed vp this letter hee deliuered it to the Byshoppe of Ypre beseeching him that hee woulde sende it to his Maiestie which the Byshop promised vpon his fayth to doe and so performed it The Count of Hornes woulde not from the beginning be shriuen by the Bishop saying I haue made my confession vnto God Neuerthelesse at the great entreatie of the Byshop hee in the ende was shriuen of him Upon Whitson eue in the morning the Count Egmond boldely called vpon them that he might finishe his dayes seeing it was neyther good nor profitable for a condemned man to remayne long tyme in suspense in the tormente and anguishe of death And about Noone the Count Egmond was brought vnto the great market place accompanied with the Byshop of Ypre and other Church men after them followed the Maister of the Campe to the Spaniardes and Captayne Salines with nyenteene ensignes of Spaniardes who marched on in order of battayle very well appointed for the staying of all disorders and troubles or for defence if any of the Citizens shoulde haply make any stirre by reason of the sayde Count. The Count was not bounde nor manacled neyther yet guarded nor helde by any of the Seriauntes For he had promised in the fayth of a knight that he woulde goe quietly to the place of execetion In the market place was a Scaffoulde set vp couered all ouer with black cloth and aboue vpon it two blacke Cushins and two long yron poles Below the Scaffolde was the knight Marshall carrying a red wande in his hande and the Hangman vpon the Scaffolde The Count aforesayde went vp with the Byshoppe and kneeling vpon a Cushin after he had a while talked with the Byshoppe the hangman according to the maner besought him of Pardon and the Bishoppe withdrawing him beehinde the Count the Count after he had cast off his nyght gown of redde Damaske and his veluet cloake layde on with parchement lace of Golde and his blacke cappe garnished with white feathers couered his owne face with a Coyffe which he ware vnder his Cappe Then hee ioyning his handes together and kissing the Crosse recommended him selfe to the mercie of God looking for death The bodie was forth with put into a Coffen and the place stayned with his blood was couered with a blacke cloth When this was done the Count horne was brought foorth who besought GOD to forgiue him his sinnes and wished all blessed felicitie to al the standers by taking his leaue of them and pulling a wimple ouer his eyes after hee had layde downe his veluet Cloake was executed as the other Count was When this execution was accomplished the Spaniardes retyred from the market place sauing two ensignes that kept the heades which were set vpon the two iron poles which were taken away about three of the clocke in the after noone and laide with their bodies Nowe Egmonds bodie was caried to Saint Clares Abbay and Hornes to the Cathedrall Church and buried amongst their predecessors tombes The Count Egmonde his seruauntes had according to the custome nayled vp his armes at his Court gate but the Duke of Alua caused them to bee taken downe immediatly All the worlde greatly complayned the death of the sayde Count and merueiloufly mourned for him These two Countes from the beginning tooke exceptions to Iohn du Boyes attourney generall as an vnlawfull Iudge and therein continued For they being Knightes of the order coulde not be condemned nor iudged but by the Knyghtes of the same order Neuerthelesse the Duke of Alua hauing thereto no regarde proceeded on caused the sayde sentence to be pronounced Many great men in auethoritie and learned and infinite number of others were marueylously abashed at this cruell sentence and execution pronounced and executed against the lawes and priuileges not onely of knightes of the order but also agaynst all the whole lowe Countreys yea against all ciuile and common lawe seeing that the Count Egmond his araignement had not the full and ryght course of the lawe in such a case prouided Neuerthelesse they whiche nowe had the copye of the resolution of the Inquisition of Spayne giuen by information which was taken by the Inquisitours here aboutes and sent ouer into Spaine which resolution was graunted in the citie of Madrid the sixt of Februarie 1568. and besides the sentence that his Maiestie pronounced in the sayde Citie the 26. of the said moneth ensuyng may cleerely perceiue from whence this tyrannie and iniustice had theyr first beginning and no whit maruell at all the tyrannie which the said Duke of Alua committed But a great deale the rather maruell that there should or coulde bee yet euen at this present suche a number of men in the lowe countries so fauouring the Spaniards as that they will put in aduenture theyr bodies and goods for defence of theyr quarrell bryng them in yet once again to haue the gouernement of the lowe countries seeing that not one of them more then any of the rest shall be exempted from their tyranny as may manifestly appeare by the said resolution and sentence the tenure wherof ensueth A resolution of the office against the people of the lowe Countries THe office of the most holy and sacred Inquisition requireth in the presence of his royall maiestie to speak and resolutely set downe somewhat of the abhominable offence of Apostasie and heresie committed by his maiesties subiects in the low countries after it had seene and diligently considered as well of his maiesties information on those thinges as also vppon the viewe of the letters mynutes autentique documēts or instructions worthie the credit annexed to the said information by the officers of the sacred holy inquisition faithfully sent ouer from the low countries saith and fully resolueth vpō that which toucheth the diuine and holy profession and conscience That all and euery subiect of the said lowe countries and the whole corporation and body of them except onely such as are seuerally noted in the information as wel in regard of such as are publique and manifest Apostates heretikes and backeslyders from God our mother holy Churche and commandement of the catholike king and his obedience as also in respect of the rest of the counterfet catholikes haue not done theyr duetie wherein both towards God and his maiestie in respect of the catholike religion and the oth which they haue made they are and ought to bee bounde to haue withstood with all their power myghte all open and manifest Apostates heretikes and rebels and haue suppresse their wicked and cursed faction which at the first beginning of the troubles

they might easily haue done But contrariwise they forbore so godly and holy a resistance therefore are worthie to be iudged to bee partakers and fauourers of open and manifest Apostates heretikes and rebels Certaine also of the Nobilitie and in the name of sub●ects exhibyting bylles of complainte and supplications against the most holy Inquisition haue crafcily enflamed and encouraged the Heretikes Apostates and Rebels and therefore haue all offended in the highest degree of treason And thus it is saide and fully determined vpon in the Citie of Madrid the sixteenth of Februarie 1568. When his royall maiestie had seene the Information drawē and by his commaundement receiued vpon the cursed offence of Apostasies Heresies and rebellions committed by his subiects of the lowe Countries and had likewyse seene the mynutes and autentique instructions worthie credite annexed vnto the saide Information and faithfully sent ouer by the officers of the sacred and holy Inquisition of the lowe Countries and had besides seene the holy aduise of the office of the sacred holy Inquisition with the wise reasons which were there thrust in concerning the administration of lawe and iustice thereby for that purpose to vse his kingly and absolute power and might Sayeth and decreeth That all and euery subiect of the sayde lowe Countries and all bodies corporate and polytike of the same those onely excepted whiche in the sayde Information are noted whose names wee will in tyme and place commaunde to bee put into our Treasurie Courte of our lowe Conntries as well for theyr publique and manifest Apostasie heresie and fallyng away from God our mother holye Churche and hys Catholike commandement and obedience as also in respect of the vnduetyfull dealing of those counterfaite Catholikes whiche were amongest them wherein notwithstanding both towardes God and his maiestie in regarde of the catholike religion and their othe they are and were bound to haue resisted all publique and manifest Apostates heretikes and rebels with all theyr mayne power and force and suppressed theyr wickednesse which at the first beginning of the troubles and commotions they myght with ease lawfully haue done But they heerein contrariwise did vtterly forbeare this so holy a resistance and suppression and greatly reioyced therein and therefore are of right to bee iudged the fauourers and procurers of the saide publike and manifest Apostates heretikes and rebels They also who vnder the name of the nobilitie and subiects hauing exhibited supplications and billes of complaint against the most holy Inquisition and hauing therby vnder the pretence of godlines inflamed and incouraged the heartes and mindes of Apostates heretikes and rebels haue committed the deteftable offence of treason and therefore to bee all condemned without respect eyther of sexe or age in such paynes and punishment as the lawe hath ordeined against backslyders Wherefore his maiestie willeth and commaundeth who by so seuere sentence pretendeth to shewe some feareful example for the terrifying of all posteritie hereafter to come That the paines and punishmēts of this seuere sentence shall without any hope of fauour grace farbearing or winkyng at take full force and effect But yet in suche order and maner as shall in time and place bee reuealed and manifested in thee of our lowe countries And thus is it determined and iudged in the Citie of Madrid the 26. of February 1568. Let vs now come againe to our first matter The siege of Groening after that the Count Lodwike of Nassau had gotten the victorie against the Spaniardes hee diuided his souldiers into two companies and besieged the towne of Groening on both sides not without the great wōder of the whole world in that he durst without munition take vpon him to set vpon such a towne so strongly fortified with walles and rampares and so well victualed The Counte Megue was in the saide towne with eyghte ensignes of Almaynes and a thousande Spaniardes and Curtins Martinengo with three hundred horse The Townes men oftentimes sallied out and skirmished but chiefly the 22. of Iune when as the bestegeants were gotten into certaine of the ditches to trench The horsemen were very forwarde when as the Nassouans were busie to hynder the buildyng of the fort or trench and made liuely skirmishes so that of the Nassouans were slaine about two hundreth and so were in lyke sort a good many of Spaniardes Captaine Martinengo also was in great perill of loosing his life by reason that his horse was gotten into a quackmyre There was likewise one of the Gueses taken who as himselfe confessed meant to set on fire diuers places of the town to the end that when the Citizens haue beene busied about the quenching of the fire the Nassouans might the better haue scaled and wonne the towne Whiche Guese was hanged by the appointmente of Captaine Albanezo During these exploites Chiapin Vitelli had assembled as many men as he possibly could and whiles the Duke of Alua was preparing of his things he erected also his campe before the said towne of Groening for the defence thereof and the dryuyng away of the Nassouans but it was all in vaine There were then many skirmishes many stratagemes and warrelike pollicies Counte Lodwike at one tyme offered captaine Vitelli the battaile but he would none of it saying That he had not as yet any opportunitie because he still attended the Duke of Alua his cōming with his armie The Emperour at the Duke of Alua his request sent to Count Lodwike and commanded him vpon paine of banishing the Empyre to rayse his campe from before the towne and to get him out of the Countrie with as litle hurt doing as was possible Count Lodwike sent him worde againe Duke Lodwike his answere to the Emperour That hee could not doe it before such time as he had aduertised the prince of Orange and the rest of the Princes and Potentates his confederates thereof and that then hee woulde make hym a short answere Notwithstanding many of the Noble men of the Empyre were afraide of this message and thereupon returned home into theyr owne countries Howbeit this siege of Groening continued vntyll the commyng of the Duke of Alua who whiles hee was making of prepartion executed at Bruxelles many prisoners as hath beene before saide and in the moneth of Iuly marched towardes Boisleduke with seuenteene ensignes of footemen and certain great ordenance which came from Malynes so that hee encamped himselfe before Groening the fourteenth of the sayde moneth When Count Lodwike hearde of this hee raysed his campe and retyred towardes Embden making hauocke of all thinges in his passage breaking downe of bridges Count Lodwik● raiseth his campe and marryng the high wayes for the staying and backe keeping of the enenue but not without continuall skirmishing The Duke of Alua had sent Duke Erycke with his horsemen to Groening because the territory about the towne was moyst and soft so that the horse men coulde not passe it and hee himselfe with his foote men pursued

fielde besieged Campen and because he would lose no tyme he sommoned the Toune and hauyng refused his offer made a fearfull batterie vntill suche tyme as he had made a Breache howbeeit when the Almaines sawe them readie to giue the assaulte thei fell to a par●e and in the ende departed the Toune the 20. of Iuly in the yere aforesaied The Castle of Hawreche taken The Castle of Haurech beyng besieged and battered by the Frenche on the behalf of the Duke of Aniowe was yeelded vp the 26. of Iuly Howbeeit the Spanyardes who were come the ther before for the raisyng of the siege were repulsed with greate losse of their people And the same tyme had the Duke thruste in a Frenche Garrison into the Tounes of Soignie Mawbuge and Reusse whiche the enemie had forsaken When the Archeduke Mathias and the Estates had arered a greate and mightie Armie The Campe of the Estates pitched nere Rimenant vnder the conducte and gouernement of the Count of Bossu a valiaunt and stoute manne and verie warlike he pitched his Campe abount Rimenant in Brabande whether Don Ihon meanyng to plaie double or quite came purposyng to set vpon the Campe. Howbeit this seconde enterprise had not so good successe as the first because it coste agreate number of his Spanyardes liues so that he was enforced through the notable endeuour and diligence of all these whō the Count had sent to fight to retier where Maister Norris Colonell of the Englishmen and Maister Stiward Colon● of the Scottes hauyng resisted and pursued the greatest fo●ce of the enemie shewed theimselues so valiaunt in Armes and warlike feates and so couragious and stoute as that thei carried awaie the whole praise and commendation of this victorie whiche was wone the first of August 1578. Mensire de la Noue one of the valiauntest Captaines that euer was in our daies accompted and in France moste famous for his notable deedes of Armes was sent by the Estates to be Marshall of the fielde who acceptyng of this charge came to Antwerpe to the greate contentation of all the men of warre In August the yere aforesaied Signiour Archies beyng by his highnesse and the Counsell of Estate A Tumult pacified at Matenc●a sent to Valencia to make inquisition about certain particuler matters concerning the common benefite of the saied Citie there arose a greate vprore and controuersie emongest the common people the one side takyng parte with the saied Archies and the other with the Magistrate for remedyng and appaisyng whereof his highnesse sent thether Seigniour Richardot one of the priuie Counsell a verie learned man accompanied with an other Commissioner where through his mediation after many conferences had there was a commen and generall assemblie of the people held so that the 17. of August those troubles were appaised and the Citezens therevpon went forthwith euery man vnder his Ensigne puttyng of their Armour and weapon after thei had kept watche and ward eight daies and nightes together one against an other not without the greate daunger and hazard of a miserable and lamentatable effusion of blood The Generall Estates meanyng to dooe all thynges for the best thei An accorde with the Duke of Aniowe to the ende thei might repulse the enemie with the greatest force treated with the Duke of Aniowe about that matter The Duke bounde hym self to leauie tenne thousande footemen and twoo thousande horse at his owne coste and charge for the space of three monethes and that tyme beeyng expired and the warres not ended that he would continue to aide them with thre thousande Souldiers and fiue hundred Horse and manifest hym self an enemie to Don Ihon and his adherentes wherevpon the Estates named hym the defendour of the Countrey promisyng further to preferre hym to all the reste if so bee thei were enforced to chaunge their Lorde and Prince giuyng him besides the Duchie of Luxembrough and the Countie of Bourgundie and for the sauftie of his people and hymself the Tounes of Landersey Quesnoy and Bauais besides many other Articles conteined in the accord for that behalfe made and published at Antwerpe in the presence of the Prince the Estates and A●●assadors of the saied Duke the 29. of August 1578. As the Campe of the Estates laie aboute twoo Myles from Louuaine Count Bossu departed thence A Skirmu hard by Louaine with twoo thousande Harquebouziers and two thousande Horse and commyng nere to Louuaine where the Enemie was either parte shooke of their shotte and coupled them selues together in a braue Skirmishe The Vicount of Gaunt and Lanowa charged the Enemie with the men at Armes and chased them harde vnto the Rampars sides of the Towne so that some of their Tippettes were there turned vp and so were diuers of the Frenche likewise The saied Count had a greate desire to besiege this Towne but because he wanted three or fower thousande Pyoners and thirtie or fortie Can●ns for the winnyng of so greate and large a Towne well funished with fiue thousande Souldiers he left of his enterprise as a thyng deuoide of all reason The saied Army drawyng towardes Champaine tooke the Castles of Mote and Sart the first by assault after it had beene once sommoned by the Canon and the other by Composition For Genap and Niuelies yeelded them selues without the sommons of the Canon The● of the reformed Religion A supplication exhibited for the hauyng of the exercise of the Religion exhibited a supplication for the hauyng of publique exercise but especially the Antwerpians first desired of Archduke Mathias his excellencie and Counsaile of Estate certaine Churches whiche request greatly amazed the Lordes Howbeit the Suppliauntes were so many in nomber and so importunately vrged the matter as that when his highnesse had asked counsell of the generall Estates it was thought to be necessarie for the common quiet and preuentyng of all inconuenience to graunt them the Castle Chappell named the Moabites because the Spanyards built it the Iesuites Church half of the Friers Franciscanes Churche of the Iacobines and Sainct Andrewes so that by licence the publique Sermons began the last of August 1578. And afterwarde through the continuall exhibityng of Supplications of all the lowe Countreis the peace of Religion or free libertie of the Religion was permitted and proclaimed the Copie whereof ensueth It is knowne to all menne The peace of Religion that the tyrannous Commissiones long sithence Proclaimed aboute the cause of Religion by the perswasion counsell and aduise of Straungers especially of the Spanishe nation without hearyng of the Estates of the Coūtrey in that behalfe and besides beeyng with moste intollerable crueltie entertained and obserued haue been and presently are the verie originall of all the controuersies emongest vs consideryng that by those occasions the Priuileges Lawes and laudable Customes are sondrie waies broken and troad vnder foote and lastly by the enemies of our Countreis haue caused moste lamentable warre to bee beganne to our vtter

for them of the Romishe Religion bothe in Holland and Sealand suche Churches and Chappelles as shall be thought meete for them there to be had and for want of suche thei shall bee appointed certaine places where thei had been before tyme and there the Catholiques shall haue full power to build vp again their ruined Churchee and Chappelles And in the rest of the Prouinces thei shall haue suche places as the Magistrate shall assigne them howbeit thei shall bee a good distaunce of from the Churches of the Catholiques if it maie possibly bee brought so to passe to the ende there might no quarrelles arise amongst them by reason of their ouer nere standyng together as commonly hath been seene come to passe 6 That euery of them shall respectiuely accordyng to the custome obserue heare and celebrate their diuine Seruice Sermons Praiers Syng Baptize administer the Supper Burie Marrie keepe Schooles and whatsoeuer thynges els respectiuely appertainyng to their Religion 7 If any of them shall priuately exercise their Religion the same persone shall not be ferited nor troubled any maner of way although it be doen at home in his owne house 8. Wee expressely forbidd all those bothe of the one and other Religion vpon the paines aforesaied of what estate condition or qualitie soeuer thei are not to trouble nor molest one the other either in word or deede in respect of their Religion or in any thing dependyng thereon nor yet giue offence one to an other about the same 9 We will that euery man abstaine from going to the place where any other Religion then his owne is exercised were it not for none other cause but to keepe hymself from giuyng of offence and liue accordyng to the statutes and ordenances of those Churches whereof he is a member vpon the paine aforesaied 10 It shall be lawfull for all Friers Religious men and all other Ecclesiasticall persons freely and without molestation enioye all his goodes tenthes and other rightes 11 This shall not bee hurtfull to the Prouinces of Hollande and Sealande as concernyng the goodes of any Ecclesiasticall persone there but shall liue accordyng to the 21. Article of the pacification of Gant vntill suche tyme as the generall Estates shall haue set some other order therein 12 For the auoidyng of all quarrelles we forbidd all slanderous Songes Ballades or other Libelles and infamous writynges to bee openly sung and caried abroade neither yet to haue them to bee printed or solde either by the one side or by the other 13 Wee forbidde all Ministers Readers or others whiche speake or preache publiquely of what Religion soeuer thei be to vse any speaches or reasons tendyng to dissention or breedyng of troubles but honestly and modestly behaue them selues speaking nothyng but that whiche shall be to the edisiyng of the Auditory vpon the paines aforesaied 14 We moreouer forbidde vpon the like paines all Souldiers of what Religion so euer thei be to beare aboute theim any deuises or toyes whereby thei maie prouoke one an other to dissention and quarrelyng 15 That thei whiche are of thesaied Religion aswell in Holland and Sealande as els where shall be bounde to obserue all the lawes and obseruaunces of the Catholique Churche about the makyng and contractyng of Mariages in respect of the degrees of Consanguinitie and Affinitie Prouided alwaies that as concernyng Mariages already contracted in the third or fowerth degree thei of the saied Religion shall not bee molested nor the force of the said Mariage brought in question ne yet the children borne in the saied mariage to bee depriued of their succession and enheritaunce 16 Prouided alwaies that no Spirituall affinitie shall any waie hurtfull to the mariages 17 Neither shall there bee any more difference or distinction made in the respect of Religion for the entertainyng of Schollers sicke and poore persones into any Vniuersitie College Schoole Hospital Spittle then into common Almes houses or otherwise 18 That thei of the Religion without Hollande and Sealande shall bee bounde to obserue all the holy daies whiche the Catholique Romishe Churche hath appointed to bee kept holy To witte all Sondaies Christmas daie the Feastes of the Apostles the Annunciation Assumption and Purification of our Ladie and Corpus Christie daie Neither shall thei worke sell nor open their shoppes on those daies 19 That vpon those daies wherein the saied Churche hath forbidden eatyng of fleshe no Butcher shall sell any of his wares but euery man duetifully liue according to the ordenaunce of eche place 20 And for the better vnityng and agreeyng together of the subiectes hereabout we pronounce that suche bothe of the one Religion and the other as are meete to beare office shall holde enioye and exercise all offices and Estates aswell of Iustice as otherwise without exactyng of those of the reformed Religion any other othe then thei are alreadie sworne vnto nor yet to bee boūde to any other dueties but well and faithfully exercise their Estates and Offices and obserue the Ordenaunces in this behalfe made and agreed vpon 21 And because the administration of Law and Iustice is the moste principall meane to keepe Subiectes in peace and concord And yet the same neuerthelesse what through the diuersitie of Religions and otherwise is in many suppressed to the greate oppressyng and wrongyng of Innocentes and others whiche require the Lawe For the better helpyng whereof as also for the suppressyng of al sclaunders whiche at this daie beare too too greate a swaie all Magistrates and Iudges are forbidden from henceforthe to laie holde vpon any priuate persone or to take any man without the obseruation of these three accustomed meanes To wit the one that the partie be presently taken with the committyng of the fault or at the appoinctment of the Iudge or els where on the contrary partie the same is caused to be set doune in writyng 22 And the persones whiche are by any of these thre meanes taken to bee forthwith sent and deliuered vp into the power of their lawfull Iudge for to be examined vpon the facte or factes and therevpon the Lawe to be pronounced accordingly 23 But to the ende that all the euill humours of Common-weales might be the better purged and expulsed it shal be lawfull for euery man although it touche not his owne particuler harme to accuse an other whatsoeuer he bee so that it bee doen vpon Iustice and due information and before a lawfull Iudge and the said partie complainant to be bounde that he shall within viii daies or rather according to the custome of the place shal aforde fende for the partie accused before the Iustice and afterward with all diligēce procead either to condemning or acqui●yng as shal be thought by good Lawe and Iustice bee doen. 24 Neuerthelesse it shall not bee lawfull for any manne to sclaunder one an other or lightly and without good ground accuse one an other neither yet empaire the good name and same of one an other vpon the paine aboue

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

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

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