and haue redy dispatch of their matters and yit neuerthelesse bearyng the Lordes of the Counsell in hand that they should answer all alike for the inconueniences if any happened Which thing seemed very strauÌ„ge and vnreasonable to some of the Counsell who also aduertized the kyng thereof by their letters accordyng as he had left order that they should do in such caces And they certified his maiâ—…stie therwithall howe that of a Bishop he was become a Cardinall and one Viglius a Priesâ—… one of the chiefe about hym was made President and the report went that there should be new Bishoprikes and incorporations of Abbies and Prelacies and an executyng of the determinations of the Councell of Trent thinges agreed vpon by his Maiâ—…stie before his departure by the connsayle of the two aforesayd and of three or foure others that went about to satisfie their owne ambition and 〈◊〉 therby wherethrough the people was sore vexed and disquâ—…ted insomuch as there was no meÌ„ber nor degree of theÌ„ which fealt not it selfe greatly touched with it For the Lords and Noble men were of opinion that this authority of the Cardinall and his new bringyng in of Bishoppes which should relye altogether vpon hym tended to their depressing to the puttyng of the gouernment and rule of the Countrey into the handes of the Churchmen and to the depriuyng not only of al othâ—…r men but also of the kinges maiestie to whom the said Church-men could fynde in their harts nother to yeeld nor to owe any obedieâ—…ce at al And that the Abbyes Prelacies Couents and Colledges should serue but to inrich the sayde Bishops with their spoyles specially by incorporatyng the Abbeyes and Prelacies whereby they shoulde bereue them of all election and hope of attaynment to their accustomed dignities And the pâ—…ple were of opinion that that was the high way to infrindge all their libertis fraunchises priuiledges to bring in the Inquisition to renue the rigour of the IniuÌ„ctions finally to bring them in bondage to the clergy Which thyngs were the very causes and welsprings of all the distrustes troubles mischiefes that insued afterward in as much as some would haue put the things in execution which those good Counsaylers had perswaded his maiestie to doo who ought of right to be blamed and rebuked for their so dooyng wherof they go about to cleare the Cardinall and to charge vs therewith without any colour or likelyhood at al. And although it appeare in histories that alterations troubles and rebellioâ—…s haue happened vpon lesse occasions yet notwithstandyâ—…g that Countrey was so intirely affectioned towardes their soueraigne Lord prince as those causes had not yet taken their ordinary and accustomed effectes because it was hoped that the States of the Countrey beyng commended to his Maiestie by their 〈◊〉 and seruice done in the former warres myght turne his mynd so as he would rather apply his determinations to the tyme and stop all new deuices yea and the proceedynges of the Bishops and the Inquisition and the rigorous Iniunctions at the request of so loyall and faythfull a people accordyng to their treaties and priuiledges than to further so vnmeasurable alterations at the pleasure of a straunger and of certayne vnknownen persons agaynst the oportunitie of the time the priuiledges of the Countreys his owne promises and in effect euen nature it selfe specially consideryng that the troubles in France were styrred vp at the same tyme by occasion of Ordinaunces and Edictes tendyng to like effect howebeit that the Realme of Fraunce is not so frequented and on al partes so inclosed and inuironed with Countreys that folowe the Religion contrary to the Romishe Religion as the sayd low Countreys are And their hope was that he would doo it so muche the rather because the sayd innouations began also to be misliked of strangers namely of the Archbishops and Bishops of the Empire whose iurisdiction within their own dioces was impeached by the foresayd erection of the newe Bishoprikes and that his Maiestie would reape none other profit by them than to bestowe his authority vpon such as made open profession that they woulde neuer thinke them selues beholden to hym for it In respect of which reasons and other like which euery man dyd set before hym accordyng to the capacitie of his wyt and specially vpoÌ„ hope which the said Countreys as well generally as particularly conceyued of his maiesties goodnesse for as muche as he no lesse than his predecessors had alwayes dealt reasonably with them by Iustice and accordyng to the customes of their countreys and that wherin soeuer they fouÌ„d them selues greeued they had bin woont to open it vnto his maiestie by waye of request and complaynt their desire was to take the same way nowe also and thereby to aduertise his maiestie of the sayd innouations and inconuenicnces that wer like to ensue if they were not remedied out of hand in consideration wherof as well on the behalf of the Regent as of the Lordes assembled in counsell whom the Cardinall bare in hand as is said afore that they should be burthened with all incoÌ„ueniences that might insue as wel as he the Baron of Mountignie a knyght of the Order was sente to his Maiestie in post with all speede that might be with charge instructioÌ„s to shew the state necessitie of the CouÌ„treys their generall mislikyng of the sayd innouations which made the Noble men and states of the Countrey to surcease all further and particular pursuite of the matter in hope that his Maiestie would vpon such declaration take order for some amends or at leastwise for some mitigation of those poyntes wherewith they found them selues distressed and greeued the rather in as muche as for the staying of the incorporation of the Prelacies and Abbeys then vacant in Brabant the Prelates other Noble men of the Countrey like as they of Andwerp also had done had sent their deputies afore to stop the Inquisition and the bringyng in of the newe Bishop whiche thing helde the Countrey for a tyme in suspence without any commotion or trouble vpon hope that by those deputies of theirs they should obteyne some such good redresse and coÌ„position as the state of the case required But yet notwithstandyng the state of Religion went foreward styll on all sydes in so muche that in some places men began to preach not only secretly which thyng could neuer yet be letted by any rigour but also openly namely at Ualenciennes Tournay and diuers other places the occasions wherof wer geuen or at leastwise increased by the libertie of the Religion agreed vpon in Fraunce for to their seemyng they had deserued no lesse at the handes of their kyng and prince than the Frenchmen had at theirs and in as muche as they had in many respectes bin dealt withall after the same maner that the FreÌ„chmeÌ„ had bin they thought also that they deserued to obteine liberty of coÌ„scieÌ„ce
as wel as they And it was euident to be seene that in as much as those low countreis were inuironed with others that folowed euerycho◅e the contrary religion and that their mayntenaunce stood vpon the intercourse of marchaundise and vpon the recourse and traffique of their neighbours thyther it was vnpossible for them to obserue che auncient ordinaunces and lawes of Religion any more by whiche lawes although men had gone about to roote vp al Religion quite and cleane yet notwithstandyng it was foūd by experience that it grew and increased euen in the greatest rigor of all and therfore that it is vtterly vnpossible to inforce or constrayne Religion or conscience at leastwise any furtherforth than to a kynde of dissimulation Notwithstandyng all this the Cardinall continued his bringyng in of the sayd Bishops his inuestyng of them incrochyng to hym selfe the Archbishoprike of Mechline by vertue wherof he intended to syt as Metropolitane and Primate of those Countreys and to deuoure the Abbey of afflighem which is the richest in all Braband nexte to the Abbey of Saint Amand which he had seised into his possession already and partyng the residue among so vnfit and vnmeete persons that men mocked at them openly And although those inuestitures were made in some Cities without any open withstandyng yet was it easie to be perceyued that many folke misliked of it and some also did set thēselues euen openly against it namely they of Andwerpe of Grooning of Leedward of Deuenter and of Ruermond And it was easie to see wherto these doyngs tended in as much as the Cardinal who ouerruled all the Counsaylers yea and the Regent her selfe and had so absolute power and authoritie was become the head of all those Bishops who by reason of their vnfitnes and lacke of experience should hang all vpon hym by meanes wherof he tooke more vpō him thā euer any prince of the Countrey had done And to mainteine stablishe increase and augmente his authoritie by forcible meanes he had set forewarde the Inquisition and the Iniunctions aforesayde And to pleasure me withal he had at his commaūdement the geuyng distributyng bestowing of all the kyngs offices Benefices and Fees and likewise of the Regentes also ouer and besides the helpes that he had of his owne and of his sayd Byshops So that in conclusion he had opened himselfe the right way to get mainteine superioritie ouer the kyng his Coūtreys And moreouer to be aduertized trewly of thynges that were done euery where and to hold in with the Kyngs and Princes that were next neighbours hee had as it were in his hand at his becke all the kynges Ambassadours Agentes and deputies and among others his owne brother also who did set the affaires of Fraunce in such a broyle that for the benefite and quietnes of the same realme the queene there did make very earnest request to the kyngs Maiestie to take him thence Therfore whosoeuer looketh well to theis things shall eazly be able to iudge who it was that tooke vppon him authoritie aboue the kynges Maiestie namely whither it was we whiche vsed not any of the foresaid meanes but vtterly misliked all innouations and had once afore refuzed to be of the Counsell and giuen ouer the office of thief treazurer desiryng nothyng so much as to haue bin spared afterward ageyne from Counsell in matters of estate and from office of gouernmēt and specially from that Counsell or the Cardinall whiche bare all the sway by his innouatiōs extraordinary dealynges shewed him selfe to haue the said authoritie with intent to stablishe and mainteine himselfe in the same by their meanes yea and in farre greater thā euer any Prince of the Countrey had Surely I am of opiniō that such as consider well the thyngs aforesayd and iudge of thein without affection shall finde as litle reason why mē should go about to accuze vs in this behalfe as why they should excuze the sayde Cardinall But whē as the deputies of the Prelates had by meanes of rewardes and pensions obteined that the Incorporation of the Abbyes should not go foreward and when as the men of Andwerp had obteined that no man should molest them with the Inquisition that they should bee winked at concernyng the bryngyng in of the new Byshop for a◅uch as the sayd Lord of Moūtignie was returned without sufficiēt resolution for the remedying of other inconueniences so as there was smalf hope that matters should bee redressed in as much as by meanes of the sayd Pensiōs the doynges of the Bishops whose only labour was to bryng in the Inquisition was furthered and it was practized to disappoint the mē of Andwerp of the benefite of winkyng at them to bring them in subiectiō to the Cardinal vnder the Archbyshopricke of Mechlyne y Regent thought it good by the aduice of hir Coūsell to informe the king once ageine of the state of the Countrey and specially of Ualēcien Turnay where it seemed vtterly impossible to keepe y people from the exercize of the Religiō without a continuall garrison Wherupon hir hyghnesse sent a Counseller of hirs named Armenteros to his Maiestie so that in conclusion it was fully resolued by him that the Cardinall the apparant authour of all the alterations and discontentementes should get him out of the Countrey whiche thyng did giue the people some contentation and hope of amendement of their state But forasmuch as the Cardinals creatures continewed still their innouations managed all affaires in his absence after the same maner that he him selfe had obserued the former disorders returned by and by ageyne And it was vnpossible to remedy them bycause of the disagreemēt that was betweene the three cheef Counsels that is to wit the Coūsell of the States the priuate Coūsell and the Counsell of the Erchequer which were all three ouerruled in effect by the Cardinall and his creatures but yit in such wise as they coulde neuer come to agreement among themselues Wherein a man may note the notable leawdnesse and wylinesse of the Cardinall who to keepe the rest of the sayd Coūsell of the estates from doyng such seruis to the kyng as they woold haue doone had vtterly excluded them from all entrance intermedlyng with checkermatters and matters of Law and from all such orders as were taken in gouernement or otherwise knowyng well that without the intelligēce of thē it was impossible for them to consult determine well of most matters of importance all whiche drift tended to the reteyning and stablishyng of his owne authoritie And yit for all that he laboreth to accuze vs others of high treazon bycause that for the better seruis of the king we desired to haue the secretes of the sayd Courtes communicated to the Counsell of the estates as a needfull thyng for the discharge of our dewtyes whereas in the meane season hee himselfe after him the President Uiglius ouerruled all the sayd three Coūselles
together with the Lieutenantship of our Ordinaunce besides a number of other notable rewardes wherby he might see the great trust and estimation that I alwayes had of hym in respect wherof he should do the more amisse in behauing hym selfe otherwise than becomes a good subiect Yet notwithstandyng hauyng sinall regard of his owne honour and to the othes of faithfulnesse and loyaltie which he had geuen to vs as to his soueraigne Lord and in respect of the sayd Order and of the sayde Roomes and Offices hath made hym selfe the head author furtherer fauorer and harbrower of Rebels Conspirators Coniurators mutiners priuie practizers and disturbers of the common welfare and quietnesse For as it were immediatly after our departure out of that Countrey towardes our Realme of Spayne he and certayne others practised to take vpoÌ„ them to vsurpe the whole orderyng and gouernyng of our Countreys thereawayes And for the accomplishment thereof he wrought and conueied many secret and pernicious practises wherein he ouershot hym selfe â—…o farre as to determyne to enter into armes agaynst vs and to exclude vs out of those Countreys which thing he hath not fayled to do so farre as he was able by vsyng all kinde of curtiâ—…ie â—…yly towardes our good subiectes to withdrawe them from the louyngnesse and loyaltie which they haue alwayes shewed to vs and our predecessors Yea and which is so much the more detestable and horrible vnder the cloke and pretence of Religion and through false perswasion that our intent sâ—…ould be which was neuer so to bring the Spanish Inquisition into those our Countreys in so much that by his like inductions and impressions many of our subiects haue rizen vp and rebelled agaynst vs and specially the sayde prince hath seduced corrupted and stirred vp a great part of the noble men geÌ„tlemeÌ„ so as they haue made leagues conspiracies coniurations sworne to defend strengthen themselues therby against vs and against our ordinances which haue bin alwayes kept and obserued in those Countreys And for the same purpose he hath made assemblyes in his owne houses as well at Breda as in this our city of Brusselles yea and afterward receyued the Rebels into his protection and safegard with promise of his assistence Whereupon they haue put them selues in Armes against vs in diuers places of the countrey Also the sayd Prince hath couÌ„seled and ayded the Lord of Brederode cheef Capteine of the Rebelles to fortifie his towne of Uiane agaynst vs and suffered him to leuye men of warre in our Citie of And werp in the open sight and knowledge of all men contrary to the orders then newly taken and proclaymed and to shyp them to the sayd town of Uiane with all manner of warrelike munitions moreouer furnishyng the sayd Lorde of Brederode with certeine peeces of artillerie besides that he forbade certeine towns places to receiue any garrisons froÌ„ vs among others our couÌ„trey of Zeland vnto the which he sent men of purpoze to surprize it by that meanes to shet vs out to stop our passage by sea Furthermore where as the sayd Prince was sent to our Citie of Andwerp to pacifie the trubbles and commotioÌ„s of the people he of his owne priuate authoritie and besides his commission hath permitted and graunted the exercize of all sectes indifferently in the Citie and giueÌ„ the sectaries leaue to erect many Temples and Consistories according whereunto they were erected in deede whereof haue insewed the incoÌ„uenieÌ„ces dangers which euery man knowes of Also he hath suffred leuyinges taxations and collections of money to bee made whiche afterward were imployed about the payment and wagyng of men of warre Many other thyngs hath he done duryng his abode there whiche our Attourney shall declare more at large make apparaÌ„t in dew tyme place if neede be Al which thynges tend to his foresayd drift that by that meanes hee might vsurpe vpon our subiectes take vpon him the authoritie that belongeth allonly vnto vs which is apparaÌ„tly high trazoÌ„ not to be borne with nor to be winked at but worthy of punishment and correction to the example of others if it be as our said Attourney sayth who requireth that it may pleaze vs to graunt him coÌ„uenient prouision accordyng to the crime with clauze of authoritie agaynst the sayde prince of OreÌ„dge Therfore be it knowne to you that we hauyng considered the thynges aforesayd doe commaunde and authorize you by theis presentes that at the request of our sayd Counseler Attourney generall you put foorth your selfe and with such ayde and assistaunce as you shall thinke meete attache and apprehende by the body the sayd Prince of OreÌ„dge wheresoeuer ye shall fynde him in our sayde Countreys heere and him leade and conuey vnder good sure gard to the prisons of our Court in our sayd Citie of Brussels there to appeere before our right deere and trusty Cousin Knight of our order Gouernour Capteyne generall for vs of our sayde CouÌ„treys the Duke of Alua Marquis of Coria c. appointed purpozely by vs for the same matter to receiue punishment and correction for his sayd crimes and coÌ„spiracies accordyng to the desert of them as shal be founde meete by reason and equitie in that cace And that if you cannot take or apprehend him ye suÌ„mon him and cite him by publicke proclamation and crye vnder peine of perpetuall banishmeÌ„t and forfeyture of his goodes to appeere personally within 〈◊〉 fifteenes then next insewyng whereof you shal assigne him the first fifteene for the first day the secoÌ„d fifteene for the secoÌ„d day and the third for the last peremptory day of lawe without lookyng for any moe before our sayd Cousin the Duke of Alua in our sayd Towne of Brusselles or in such other place as he shall then bee within our low Countreys to answere to such points and articles as our sayde Attourney generall shall take and chooze agaynst him concernyng the foresayd matters and others that by keepyng of the day hee may set them downe and debate them more at large accordyng to his CommissioÌ„ and proceede further therin and see what is to be done accordyng to reasoÌ„ And you shall signifie to the sayd Prince that if hee come not at the first second or third and last fifteene dayes Iustice shall proceede agaynst him in his absence as is conuenient in such caces And whatsoeuer you shall haue done in that behalfe we will haue you to certifie our sayd Cousin the Duke of Alua thereof sufficiently at the sayd day to whom we giue commission and speciall charge for the causes afore sayd that vpon the heeryng of the parties hee doe and minister good short rightfull and reasonable Iustice as becommeth in such caces And if the Prince of Orendge bee stubborne and make default we will that he proceede to the pronouncyng of the sayd banishment to the proclayming of the sayd forfeyture and to the executyng of all such
be framed and made conformable by the Decrees of the sayd Councel of Trent And finally he affirmed that the thinges which his maiestie had written to her highnesse as hath bin sayd heretofore concerned the prosperitie of Religion and of the countreys there which would be nothyng worth without that Order for that was the onely way to kepe them in iustice peace and tranquilitie And seeyng that her highnesse knewe what commoditie it brought he desired her eftsoones to folow that way whereby the foresayde thynges might take effect for it was the thyng wherby his maiestie should receyne moste contentment as well at the handes of her highnesse as of the Lordes that were about her to whom he would haue her to geue the same charge to the end they should imploy them selues therunto as his maiestie hopeth that they wil without faile because they be sure that he wil like well of it besides that they shall therein doo the duetie of such personages as they be and accordingly as they be bound to doo in respect of their seruis towards God and his maiestie in respect both of the benefit of the whole Countrey there and of their owne peculiar welfare ¶ Margaret by the grace of God Duchesse of Parma and Pleasance c. Regent and Gouernesse c. RIght deare and welbeloued althoughe that euen from the first begynnyng of the reigne of my Lord the kyng ouer these Countreys as wel by the reuiuyng and publishyng of the Iniunctions and Decrees concernyng Religion made by my late Lord of noble memory the Emperour Charles whom God hath receiued into his glory and now ratified and confirmed by the kinges maiestie as by the thynges that he hath written vnto you since specially from his last departure out of these countreys into his realmes of Spayne you might alwayes well perceiue his good zeale and most holy affection in mainteinyng our 〈◊〉 true fayth and Catholike Religion and for the rootyng out of all sâ—…ctes and herefies in these Countreys here yet notwithstanding for as muche as it hath pleazed his maiestie for certeyne occasions to reuiue his most holy intent by his late letters we by expresse commaundement from hym haue thought it good to imparte vnto you what he hath written vnto vs the effect wherof is this that his maiestie coueting nothing more than the maintenance of the said Religion and of his good subiectes hereawayes in good quietnesse peace vnitie and concord and to preserue theÌ„ from the inconueniences that haue bin seene to happen in many parts of Christendome through the chaunge of the sayd Religion purpozeth and intendeth that the Iniunctions and ordinances made as well by the late Emperors Maiestie as also by hym selfe shal be throughly kept and obserued and likewise that men shall most straytly keepe the Decrees of the holy Councell of Trent and the prouinciall Councelles specially in respect of the reformation of the Clergie without gaynsaying of any thing to the ende that heresies may be punished and manners also corrected and men may yeeld all fauour and assistence to the Inquisitors of the fayth in the executing of their office and that the Inquisition may be put in vre as it hath bin hitherto and as it ought to be by the law of God and man which thyng his Maiestie commaundeth expressely by his said letters Wherfore according to this his maiesties writyng againe to the intent to obey the same in a thyng so holy so worthy to be fauored I could not forbeare to write thus much 〈◊〉 you praying and beseching you and on his maiesties behalfe expresly coÌ„maunding you to rule behaue your selues herein accordyng to his appoyntment without withstaÌ„dyng of it in any point or article yea and to giue intelligence therof to the Officers â—…en of Law of the chiefe townes of the couÌ„trey Duchie of BrabaÌ„d that they also may rule theÌ„ selues according hereunto without dissembling or winkyng at thyngs vnder the penalties conteyned in the sayd Iniunctions And that ye may the better intend vnto it you shall appoyâ—… and ordeyne a Counseller of your Colledge who notwithstandyng may be chaunged at euery halfe yeare to the intent that no one man be ouerburthened continually to doo nothing els but to haue an eye to the Countrey of Braband for the keepyng of the Decrees of the said most holy Councell and to adâ—…ertize you from tyme to tyme of all occurrents â–ª that ye may prouide for them accordyng to his Maiesties meanyng And to the intent we may continually know the state of religion in the poyntes aboue mentioned we desire and commaund you as before to write vnto vs particularly of the successe of thinges from three monethes to three monethes to repayre to vs if there happen any hard poynt or to such as are of his maiesties priuie counsel that report thereof may be made vnto vs for the which purpose we likewise wil appoint some CouÌ„seller to take peculiar charge therof and to be answerable to you or to hym whom you shall assigne And to the end that in all the thyngs abouesayd ye may the better perceiue his maiesties expresse wyl we haue caused the poyntes of his letters and other writinges that concerne this matter to be annexed to this letter that ye may rule and guide your selues accordyng to thâ—… forme tenor of them without making any default And thus right deare and welbeloued our Lord haue you in his holy keeping Written at Brussels the 〈◊〉 day of December 1565. H. V. It was subscribed thus Margaret And somewhat lower it was signed thus Of Ouerloepe Agayne vpon the backe iâ—… was indorsed thus To our right deâ—… and welbeloued the Chauncelor and men of the kynges Counsell in Brabant ¶ A Supplication of the Noble men of the low Countrey presented to the Lady Regent the Duchesse of Parma and Pleasance the fift of Aprill 1566. before Easter MAdame it is well enough knowen that the people of the low Countrey haue alwayes yet are styll greatly renowined throughout all Christendome for their great faythfulnesse towardes their naturall Lordes and Princes wherin the Nobilitie and GentlemeÌ„ haue alwayes gone foremost as they that neuer spared either body or goodes in the mayntenance and increasement of their Princes states And in the saine manner we his maâ—…sties most humble subiects are mynded to continue styll from well to better so as we be ready night and day to doo hym humble seruis both with our bodyes our goodes And for as much as we see in what plight thinges stand at this present we haue chozen rather to hazard the bryngyng of some mislikyng and displeasure vppon our owne heades than to conceale suche thynges from your highnesse as might hereafter turne to the preiudice of the kyngs maiestie and therwithal disturb the peace and quietnesse of the CouÌ„trey Hopyng that the euent wyll shewe in time that of al the seruises which we either haue done or shal doo to his
¶ A iustification or cleering of the Prince of Orendge agaynst the false sclaunders wherwith his ilwillers goe about to charge him wrongfully Psalm 17. ¶ The malitious person layeth wayte for the righteous and seeketh hym to put hym to death But the Lorde wyll not leaue hym vp into his handes nor account hym for an offender though he be taken for such a one Psal. 5. ¶ Thou wylt destroye them that speake lyes The Lorde abhorreth the murtherer and the deceyuer Lord leade me forth in thy righteousnesse because of theÌ„ that lye in wayt for me Psal. xciiij ¶ They imbattell them selues agaynst the soule of the righteous and condemne the gyltlesse bloud But the Lord wyl be my defence and my God shal be the rocke of my truste ¶ Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwellyng ouer Aldersgate Febr. 24. These bookes are to be sold at his long shop at the West doore of Paules ¶ To the Reader THe thynges among other that are cheefly to be coÌ„sidered in this Iustification of a moste rightful case and innoceÌ„t person against vniust slauÌ„ders and slaunderers are the vnmeasurable crueltie and vntolerable trechery of the Papistes Who to maynteine the wrongfull authoritie of their tyrannous kingdome agaynst God and his Christ and agaynst the Maiestie of lawfull Princes whom God hath aduaunced to Souereintie for the mayntenaunce of his trew Religion and for the welfare of the people committed to theyr charge do so stoppe the eares and blynd the eyes of Princes with their horrible leazynges where they take place and beare sway as they nother can see the wronges done to their subiectes by those ministers of Antichrist nor herken to their iust complayntes that they might vnderstand them and redresse them For whereas they themselues hauyng shaken of al obedience towards God and his Ministers and confounded the generall bonds of naturall and coÌ„mon reason do both resiste all law and lawfull Magistrates and also as much as in them lyeth inforce men either to most miserable thraldome of conscience by forsaking God and all godlynesse and of body by losse of goodes landes libertie wiues children lyfe and good name or to some meanes to withstand so extreme wretchednesse whereunto they driue them by streyning them beyond all abilitie of humane patience yit most slaunderously they beare the states and potentates of the world on hand that those most innocent and giltlesse persons whiche stand in nothyng but onely that which their Prince hath both graunted and sworne that it should bee lawfull for them to do and in such wise as he by lyke graunt and othe hath giueÌ„ them leaue and commaundement to do as appeereth most euidently by his solemne Protestation and vowe made at the tyme of his ioyfull entry when he was first admitted to the superioritie of those countreyes at the earnest request and intreataunce of the late Emperour Charles his father who made the lyke solemne othe Protestation and vowe before him and with him are the authors practizers and workers of all disorders confusions mutinies vprores trubbles rebellions and treazons only bycause that after suffrance of their excessiue tormeÌ„ts the thrustyng of theÌ„ out of their natiue countreys they giue them not leaue to tread theÌ„ vtterly vnder foot as myre or rather to rid theÌ„ quite cleane out of the world with the Gospell and Religion of christ Which thyng they could not doe if the Princes whoÌ„ the Romish Antichrist holdeth yit captiue in the prison of superstitious ignorauÌ„ce would vout safe but onely to stand as indifferent Iudges and to make that simple account of them which euen comoÌ„ reazon would they should that is to wit as of their subiectes For no rightuous Iudge condemneth without heering the allegatioÌ„s of both parties nother doth any rightfull Prince permit his subiectes to reuenge their owne wrongs and much lesse to oppresse deuour and eate vp one an other Therfore when the hartes of the Souereine liege Lordes are so shet vppe and their myndes so alienated aforehaÌ„d by the sinister perswasions of cankerharted Papistes and sly Sycophantes which care not whose house be on fire so they may warme themselues by the coales of it as no truth can haue enterance into their eares or accesse into their presence needes must the people go to wrecke to the preiudice of the Prince and the people being so wronged caÌ„ not but seeke to iustifie the right and truth of their cace by all good and reasonable meanes to the church of God and vnto all such as are not so wholly caried away with blynd and fantasticall affection but that they haue some abilitie to discerne right and equitie as may appeere by the treatise heere insewyng For heere is nothyng sayd or intended to the defence maintenance or allowyng of any disobedience disorder or vnlawfull behauiour of the subiect towards his Prince but to shewe most humbly and dewtifully both to Prince and subiect the intolerable incoÌ„ueniences that grow by neglecting the mutuall regard that eche of them ought to haue of other and by the permittyng of Papistes to intrude themselues into suche state of credite and authoritie as they may be able to inforce a Gouernement to the vpholdyng of their owne kingdome And forasmuch as in this treatise there is mention made of a Ioyfull Entrey it is necessarie to know what the same was Therfore it is to be vnderstode that when soeuer any souereine Lord entered into the possession of dominion ouer the Low Countreys whither it were by name of Earle Duke or any other title of superioritie by succession election or otherwise he first tooke a sacred and solemne othe to mainteyne the Lawes Statutes Customes Liberties and Priuiledges of those Countreys and not to procure cause suffer or permitte the infrindging breaking abrogating disanulling impeaching or altering of them or any of them or the bringing in setting vppe or stablishing of any new without the consent counsell aduice and agreement of the states of the same Countrey to the benefite and commoditie of the people before the whiche othe heâ—… was in no wise allowed or acknowledged as Lord there By reason wherof Charles the Emperour and his sonne Philippe nowe king of Spayne to stablishe the continewaunce of their possession in those Countreys as their predecessours had alwayes done at their first Entryes did lately make solemne and faithfull promis Protestation vowe and othe as well for their heyres and successours as for themselues that besides their maynteinyng of the coÌ„mon weale peace rest quietnesse tranquilitie and securitie of those Countreys they and euery of them should and would keepe obserue and performe all the auncient customes Lawes Statutes Liberties and Priuiledges of the same inuiolable and not bryng in any new customes or orders or suffer any to be brought in nor set any Gouerner Magistrate or Officer ouer them or in authoritie among them beyng not the same Countreyman borne and hauing landes goodes or possessions there nor call any assembly of the
maiestie hereafter this is worthy to be takeÌ„ for one of the noblest and to best purpoze in respect wherof we be throughly perswaded that your highnesse can not but take it in good worth Therefore Madam although we doubt not but that all that euer his maiestie hath decreed both heretofore and now newly again at this present concerâ—…yng the Inquisition and the streight obsernyng of the Iniunctions in the case of ReligioÌ„ haue some good grounde and iust title namely for the continuyng of the thynges which the late Emperour of noble memorie Charles had vpon very good meanyng determined and stablished yet notwithstandyng seeing that the diuersitie of tymes bringeth diuersitie of remedyes with them and the sayd Iniunctions haue already geuen occasion of many griefes and inconueniences now many yeares since for all the executyng of them with extreme rigour Surely his Maiesties laste resolution whereby he not only forbyddeth the mitigatyng of the Iniunctions any whyt at all but also commaundeth expresly that the Inquisition should proceede and the Iniunctions be executed with all rigour doth giue vs sufficient cause of iust feare that therby not onely the inconueniences wyl be greatly augmented but also there wyl in the end insue some general commotion and insurrection tendyng to the miserable ruine of the whole Contrey accordyng as the manifest tokens of mâ—…tinie among the people which appeareth already euerywhere doo shewe vs openly to the eye Wherfore consideryng the apparaÌ„ce and greatnesse of the dauÌ„gers that manace vs we haue hoped hitherto that either the Lordes or els the states of the Countrey would haue aduertized your highnesse therof one tyme or other that you might haue remedyed it by remouyng the cause and grounde of the mischeef But when we sawe that they did not put forth theÌ„selues to do it by reasoÌ„ of sum occasions to vs vnknowen and that in the meane while the mischeef increaced froÌ„ day to day so as it was lyke to come to a generall insurrection and ceuolt we haâ—…e thought it our dewtie to wayt no longer tyme but rather accordyng to the othe of our faith and allegeauÌ„ce matched with good meening and zeale towardes his Maiâ—…stie and the couÌ„trey to put forth our selues foremost in doyng our needefull indeuer that so much the more frankly as we haue more cause to hope that his Maiestie will take our aduertizement in very good part for asmuch as the matter toucheth vs much neerer than any others as them that lye more open to the inconueniences and calamities that are customably wont to spryng of like accidents bycause the most part of vs haue our houses and possessioÌ„s situaâ—…e in the open fieldes redy for all men to pray vpon and also forasmuch as if we should follow the rigour of the sayd IniunctioÌ„s in such wise as his Maiestie commaundeth vs expresly to procede their should not generally be any man amoÌ„g vs no nor in all the CouÌ„treys heeraboutes of whatsoeuer callyng state or degree hee were which should not roune in daunger of losse both of body and goodes bee subiect to the slaunder of hym that would bee his enemye who to haue a share of his goodes so forfeyted might accuse him vnder preteÌ„ce of the sayd Iniunctions wherein there was none other refuge left for the defeÌ„dant but only if the officer listed to winke at him at whose curtesie both his life his goods did wholly staÌ„d In consideration wher of we haue the more cause to beseeche your highnes most humbly so do we in deede by this our Supplication to voutsafe to take some order in the cace bycause it is a matter of great importance to send a fit and conuenient person to the Kynges Maiestie with all speede possible to aduertize him therof to beseech him most huÌ„bly on our behalfe that it may pleaze him to prouide remedy in that behalfe as well for heerafter as for the present tyme And that for asmuch as that caÌ„not be done by sufferyng the sayd Iniunctions to stand in force bycause they bee the very welspring and roote froÌ„ whence all the sayd inconueniences spryng it may pleaze him to giue eare to the abolishyng of them which he shall finde to be necessary for the turnyng away of the vniuersall ruine destruction of all his countreys heere And to the intent his Maiestie may haue no cause to thinke that we which haue none other meenyng than to yeld him most humble seruis would take vpon vs to bridle him and to bynd hym to the stake at our pleasure as we dout not but our aduersaries will inceÌ„se him to our disaduantage it may please him to make other ordinauÌ„ces by the aduice and consent of all the States assembled generally togither to prouide for the things abouesaid by sum other meanes more fit and conuenient and without any euident daunger Also we most humbly beseeche your highnes that in the meane seazon while his Maiestie may take intelligence of our inst request and determine thereof accordyng to his good rightfull pleasure you will prouide for the sayd dauÌ„gers by a generall surceassing as well of the Inquisition as of all executioÌ„ of the sayd IniuÌ„ctions vntill his Maiesty haue taken other ordre in the matter And we protest expresly that asmuch as in vs lay we haue discharged our dewries by this present aduertizement so that we do now vnburtheÌ„ our selues of it before God meÌ„ declaryng plainly that if any iuconuenience disorder sedition reuolt or sheadyng of blud insew thereof herafter for want of redresse in tyme we cannot be blamed of the coÌ„cealyng of so apparaÌ„t a mischeef Wherin we take God the kyng your highnesse the Lordes of the Counsell and our owne consciences to witnesse that our proceedyng therein hath bin as becommeth the kynges good trusty seruauÌ„tes and faythfull subiectes without passing the bouÌ„des of our dewty in any point in respect wherof also we beseech your highnesse so much the more instaÌ„tly to voutsafe to giue eare to it before any further harme insew thereof So shall you do well ¶ The Answere and Replication made to the sayde Supplication in the Counsell of the States by the Lady Regent was as followeth HIr highnesse hauying considered the petitions demauÌ„des conteined in the said Supplication is fully determined to send it to the kyngs Maiestie and to offer it vnto hym with all kynde of dewtifulnesse that she caÌ„ deuize to serue hir to moue and incline his Maiestie to coÌ„descend to their requestes afore shewed tellyng theÌ„ that there was no cause for them to hope otherwise than for all thynges meete and agreable to his natiue accustomed goodnesse for the furtheraunce whereof hir highnesse by the ayde aduice of the Rulers of the Prouinces the Knightes of the Order and the Lordes of the Counsell had taken peynes to deuize and penne a moderation of the sayd Iniunctions in the cace of Religion before the commyng of their informatioÌ„s to be presented to his
maiestie Which moderation hir highnesse hoped should be such as should be able to content euery man with reason And for asmuch as hir authoritie as the playntifs theÌ„selues might well vnderstaÌ„d and perceiue stretched not so farre as to surceasse the InquisitioÌ„ and Edictes as they required and againe it was not meete to leaue the countrey lawlesse in the behalfe of ReligioÌ„ hir highnesse hoped that the playntifes would hold theÌ„selues conteÌ„ted with hir sendyng to the kynges Maiestie promising to take such order in the meane while till his answere were returned that as wel the Inquisitors themselues where any were alredy as also their officers should in that respect proceede discretly and modestly in their Commissions so as men should haue no cause to coÌ„plaine of theÌ„ And hir highnes trusted that the plaintifs also would behaue themselues in such sort as they should haue no neede to deale otherwize for she hoped to behaue hir selfe so well and dewtifully towardes the kings Maiestie as he should be contented to discharge all others of the Inquisition where it was as may be perceiued by his exemptyng of BrabaÌ„d froÌ„ it at the sute of the cheef Cities therof And hir highnesse inteÌ„ded to preferre all good meanes to hys Maiestie so much the more freely to the end and effect aforesayd bycause she did surely beleueâ—… that the playntifes had no determinate purpoze or intent to alter any thyng of the auncient Religion which had bin obserued in those Countreys but rather mynded to keepe and maynteine it to the vttermost of their power Done by hir hyghnesse at Brusselles the xvi of Aprill 1565. before Easter vnder signed Margaret ¶ The Letters of assurance giuen to the Confederates MArgaret by the grace of God Duches of Parma and Pleasance RegeÌ„t and Gouernesse heere in theis Countreys for my Lord the king to all such as shall see theis presentes greetyng Whereas a great nomber of the Gentlemen of this Countrey togither did put vp a certein Supplication vnto vs in the moneth of Aprill last past the effect wherof was that it might pleaze the kynges Maiestie to abrogate and abolish the Inquisition and Edictes as well old as new which they sayd were ouerrigorous therfore could not be put in execution and in sted of theÌ„ to make others by the generall aduise and consent of the states of the sayd Countrey beseechyng vs to send the same Supplication to his Maiesty that he might prouide for it wherupon we hild many great consultatioÌ„s with the gouernours of the CouÌ„treys the Knightes of the Order the CouÌ„sell of estate his Maiesties priuy Counsell after we had preferred the whole vnto him togither with our aduice therin For asmuch as we sawe that the sayd GentlemeÌ„ might perchaunce haue some scruple or dout that y kyng would take in ill part their sayd Supplication togither with the confederacie which they had made therupon amoÌ„g themselues all that had insewed therupon which misdoutyng might cause some greater mischeef in those couÌ„treys We thought it good by the aduice aforesayd and vpon deliberation as is mencioned afore to sew to the kynges Maiestie that it might pleaze him likewize to giue them letters of assuraunce that they should not be charged with any thyng hereafter that had bin do by the occasioÌ„ therof Whereupon his Maiestie hath certified vs of his good pleazure and meenyng accordyng wherto we tenderyng the benefite rest and tranquilitie of the sayd Countreys and to mainteine the sayd Gentlemen in such wise as they may the more willyngly yeld their obedience and seruis to his Maiesty accordingly as they be bound as well by nature as by othe and as they themselues haue alwayes offred we I say at their request and information by the power authoritie which we haue vnder his Maiestie as Regent Gouernesse generall of theis his Countreys and by the aduice of the foresayd Gouerners Knightes of the Order and Lordes of the Counsell of state beyng with vs haue for their sayd assurance giueÌ„ them a Charter signed with our hand in maner and forme followyng HEr highnesse c. We doo you to vnderstande that all things afore mentioned considered and by the kings maiesties consent and good will and by the power and commaundemeÌ„t whiche we haue from hym we in the name and by the power aforesayd haue promised and by these presents do promis that nother his Maiestie nor we wyll blame or charge the said Gentlemen for the foresayde Supplication or the confederacie made therupon or for any thing that hath insued of them vnto this present so their othe and faythfulnesse whiche they haue giuen and plighted vnto vs as well for them selues as for the confederates be conformable to the poyntes and articles aboue specified and wherunto they haue bound them selues Therefore on the kings maiesties behalfe we wyll and commaund all Gouernors Knights of the Order Lords of the Counsell of Estate the Chiefe the President and the Lordes of the priuie Counsel and all other his maiesties Iustices and Officers to whom this cace perteyneth to mainteine this present assurance and to cause it to be mainteyned inâ—…iolably continually causing suffering and permitting the said Suppliants to vse and inioy it fully quietly and perpetually without causing procuring or dooyng and without suffering to be caused procured or done presently or in tyme to come directly or indirectly any trouble or impeachment to the contrary and also without attempting any thyng against the said Suppliants in any maner of wise for any cause aboue specified For so is it the kings maiesties pleasure and ours In witnesse whereof we haue signed these presents with our name and set thereto our seale Giuen in the Citie of Brusselles the. xxv day of August 1566. Signed vpon the foldyng on the right side of it thus Margaret And on the left side of the same foldyng was written thus By the expresse appoyntment of her highnesse And vndersigned Of Ouerloepe These letters were sealed with her highnesse owne Seale in red waxe vpon a double Labell ¶ The copie of a letter written by the kyng with his owne hand vnto the Prince of Orendge translated out of Spanish into French. WIth great good wyll haue I receiued your letters one the 〈◊〉 of May and afterward an other the. 〈◊〉 of Iune You might haue vnderstoode by that which I wrote to my syster how small cause you haue to thinke the thinge that you writ to me in your letter of May or rather that you ought to thinke the cleane contrary And surely you should be much ouerseene if you should thinke that I trusted you not in all thinges or that if any body had gon about to make me conceiue amisse of your duetifulnes towards me I would haue bin so light of credit as to beleue it hauyng had so great experience of your loyaltie and good seruis Therefore you may forbeare your mistrust in that behalfe and referre your selfe to the letters whiche you
duetyes sake to his maiesty and my natiue soyle I woulde I say aduenture not onely al the goodes that I haue in the worlde but also myne owne person my wife and my children whom euen nature wylleth me to preserue and keepe Wherefore I beseech you let it please your highnesse to haue regard of it according to your tryed and accustomed discretion and to take this mine information in good parte as proceedyng from one that speaketh of earnest affection and good wyll to doo his maiestie seruis and to preuent all inconueniences â–ª wherof I take God to witnesse whom hauing commended my selfe most humbly to the good grace of your highnesse I beseeche to giue you long and good lyfe in health From Brusselles the. xxiiij day of Ianuarye 1565. accordyng to the Computation of Braband ¶ The Regentes answere to the Princes Letter MY good cousin I haue receiued your two Letters of the xvi e. of this present moneth by the one of which you excuse your selfe of your not coÌ„myng hither as you would haue done And by the other you put me in mynde of the declarations which you haue made to me at other tymes coÌ„cernyng the inconueniences that might rise of the three poyntes which my Lord the king hath commauÌ„ded which I remember very well And since that tyme as I am informed the discontentement and grudging of the people is groweÌ„ in such wise as I am done to vnderstand by diuers aduertizementes commyng to me dayly from good places that the sayd inconueniences are tootoo apparaÌ„t eueÌ„ at the poynt to shew themselues to open sight Which thyng caused me to thinke it meete and expedient to assemble the Gouerners as I haue done to be heere vpon Monday or Tewsday next at the furthest that by their helpe I may consult of such things as shal be most expedient for the preuentyng of the sayd inconueniences or for the good seruice of the king for the peace and tranquillitie of his countreys and for the safety of his vassals subiectes and inhabitants And I know your affection and zeale towardes his Maiesties affayres and in the behalfe of the Countrey to be such as I assure my selfe that you will not fayle all other matters set aside and omitted to be here at the same tyme which I pray you hartily good Cousin to do for to that ende doth this letter purposely come vnto you And I pray the Creator to grauÌ„t you the thyng that you would most desire of him From Brussels the xix day of Marche 1565. It was vnderwritten Your good Cousin and signed Margaret and further countersigned Berty And the superscription was To my good Cousin the Prince of Orendge CouÌ„tie of Nassaw Knight of the Order Gouerner of the CouÌ„tie of Burgon and of the Countreys of Holland Zeland and Vtreyght ¶ Extractes of certaine points coÌ„prized in the Iniunctions and ordinances set forth in the lowe Countreys in the cace of Religion And first of the generall Iniunction or Edict made and decreed by the Emperour Charles the. xxij of September the yeere 1540. which was made after the paterne of an other as rigorous as that whiche came foorth in the yeere 1531. FOr asmuch as in consideratioÌ„ aforesayd we be desirous to the vttermost of our power to plucke vp abolish roote out the sayd condemned and disallowed sectes errours and heresies to keepe our subiectes in the feare of God and in the true obedience of our sayd holy Catholicke fayth likewise in awe of our mother holy Church we vpoÌ„ great and substantial deliberation with our CouÌ„sell and by the aduice of our right deare welbeloued sister the Queene Dowager of Hungarie and Beame c. RegeÌ„t Gouernesse of our Countreys heere and also by the aduice of our cheef CouÌ„selers haue of our owne will certeine knowledge ordeined and decreed do ordeyne and decree for an euerlastyng Statute and Law as followeth First that no person of what state degree or callyng soâ—…uer he bee shall haue sell giue cary read preach teach maynteine talke of nor dispute of either secretly or openly the doctrines writynges or bookes that are made or shal be made by Martin Luther Ioh. Wickliffe Iohn Husse Marcil of Padua Oecolampadius Vlrichus Zuinglius Philip Melancthon Frauncis Lambert Iohn Pomerane Otto Brunfelsius Iustus Ionas Iohn Puper and Gorcian or by any other authors of their sect or by any other heretickes and 〈◊〉 or the errours disallowed by the Church or the doctrine of their adherentes fauorers and complices no nor euen the new TestameÌ„ts Printed by Adrian of Bergues Christopher of Râ—…moÌ„d and Iohn Zell nor theis Latin bookes followyng videl The phrases of holy Scripture The Interpretation of the Chaldey names Vadians Abridgement of Topographie The Paralippomenon or Chronicles of thyngs worthy of rememberance The story of the originall of the Garmanes The CoÌ„meÌ„taries vppon the Poetry of Pythagoras Walcurioze Commentaries vpon Aristotles Phisikes The workes of Eobanus Hessus Griphies Prayers vpoÌ„ the Lordes Prayer The Method vpoÌ„ the cheef places of Scripture The Cathechizin of Erasmus Sarcerius The same mans Scholies vpon the Gospels of Mathew Marke Luke The same maÌ„s Postilles vppon all the Sondayes Gospelles through the whole yeere Also of the maner of learnyng Diuinitie Of the framyng of a mans lyfe and of the reformation of manners Christopher Hegendorphius exhortation The same mans instruction of Christen youth with an exposition of the Lordes Prayer Philip 〈◊〉 abridgement of Chronicles both in Latin and in Duche Sebastian Munsters Annotations vppon Saint Mathewes Gospell and the Enterludes played not loÌ„g ago in our Citie of Gaunt by the nineten places of Rhetoricke vppon this question what is the greatest comforte to a man that is at the point to dye nor any other bokes written or printed within theis xviij yeeres last past without declaryng of the author printer tyme and place nor likewise the new Testament the Gospels the Epistles the Prophesies or any other bookes in Frenche or Duche conteining Prefaces Prologes Appostils or glozes sauoryng of doctrines disallowed repugnant or coÌ„trary to our holy Catholicke fayth or to the Sacramentes or to the commaundementes of God or of the Church Also that no man shall peynt or cause to bee peynted or portrayed or holde haue or keepe any Images portraitures or pictures to the reproche or disgracyng of the virgin Marie or of the saints that are canonized by the church nor also breake deface or pull down the Images made or heerafter to be made in the honor or rememberance of them that if any body haue any such books peyntyngs in his hands or keepyng he burne them incontinently UpoÌ„ peyne in cace that any be fouÌ„d to haue done agaynst any of the pointes aboue declared to be executed that is to say the meÌ„ by the sword and the women by the pit so they do not maintein defend their errours but if they stand in those errours