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
conteined in the sayd writyng in the hands of the most honorable the princes of Orendge Gawre the CouÌ„ty of Horne the Lord of Hachicourt and the CouÌ„seller of Assouleuille assigned therto by her highnes Subscribed thus In my presence And signed Of Onerloepe Beneath that was writteÌ„ again The. 27 day of the said moneth of August the said yeare 1566. the said lord of Lilly FraÌ„cis of Haeften after the readyng of the sayd writyng vnto them haue also set to their names seales taken the oth abouesayd in the handes of the most honorable the prince of Bawre the CouÌ„ties of Manusfeld of Horne the Lord of Hachicourt the Counseller of Assouleuille assigned thereto by her highnes as is sayd afore Subscribed In my presence also And signed Of Ouerloepe ¶ A copie of the Letter closed by the Regent and sent heereupon to the Counsellers and townes of the low Countreys MArgaret by the grace of God Duchesse of Parma and Pleasance c. Regent and gouernesse c. Right deare and welbeloued I wyll not omit to let you vnderstand how my Lord the king aduertiseth vs by his letter of the. 13. of the last moneth of his resolution concernyng the things wherin I asked his couÌ„sell and aduicc in the moneth of May last Wherof his maiesty could not giue answere any sooner because 〈◊〉 taryed for the coÌ„myng of the Marques of Berghes and the Baron of Mountegny sent vnto hym by vs vpoÌ„ whose report al the cheefe handling of the matter consisted And truly as touching the Inquisition his maiesty taking regard to the thinges which I informed hym of by the aduice of the knights of the Order and of the couÌ„sellers both of estate and of the priny couÌ„sel being with vs is coÌ„tented that it shall cease Likewise also aes touchyng the Iniunctions in the cace of heresie he is contented that newe shal be made so as respect be had to the maintenance of the holy caâ—… faith of his â—…sties authority But he is not yet resolued whether that shal be done by the states generally or otherwise And therfore I haue written very earnestly vnto him agayne and I looke shortly for his maiestyes good wyll and pleasure in that behalfe Moreouer wheras I informed his maiesty of the dout which the GeÌ„tlemeÌ„ that preferred the Supplication to vs in Aprill last to the ende afore said dyd east lest his maiesty should mislike of theyr sute and of the confedoracie that they made among them selues for the same which dowt might haue caused distrust coÌ„sequeÌ„tly the trouble and vnquietnes of the Countrey his maiesty intendyng to deale according co his accustomed clemencie and abhorryng all rigor as much as may be is coÌ„tented that if we see that his so doing may cause al vnquietnes to cease as we be promised that it shall we shall make requisite assurance in such maner forme as we perceyue to be expedient Which thing is don so as nothing shal be imputed to to theÌ„ by his maiesty nor by vs for aught that is past coÌ„dicional ly that they behaue theÌ„selues heÌ„ceforth lik good and loyall subiectes vassals of his maiesty wherupoÌ„ al their coÌ„federacies must be void brokeÌ„ of vndon so long as the things that I haue promised theÌ„ in the kings name do hold staÌ„d firme as you may see by the acts passed therupoÌ„ And we aduertise you further that the kings maiesty intendeth and purposeth to mainteyne the true ancient Catholike Religion and that his gouernors couÌ„sellers officers and magistrats â—…al do their indeuor to the full that there may no incoÌ„uenience happen in the meane while tyl he come hyther to take order which thyng he promiseth to do shortly if he caÌ„ by any meanes â–ª possble Of al which thynges as seruyng to the pacification and quieting of these present troubles as wel in Religion as in the common weale W â–ª thought good to aduertise you that ye mighâ—… indeuor your selues so much the more to do your dueties as becommeth his maiesties true and faythful subiectes and also folowe his holy and good meanyng in resistyng the froward and seditious disturbers of the common weale in maintenaâ—…ce of the Catholike fayth aud in his maiesties seruis to the quietnesse and tranquiâ—…tie of the Countrey and your selues And so right deare and welbeloued our Lord haue you in his holy keepyng From Brusselles the. xxv day of August 1566. FINIS a It appeareth by the Iniunctions put forth in the yeares 1521. 1526. 1529. 1531. 40. 44. 46. 50. 56. and others b It appeareth by the writ of SuÌ„mones dated the xix of Ianuary and by the Proclamation the 24. of the same moneth inserted in 〈◊〉 end hereof c It appeareth by the commissioÌ„s dispatched therupoÌ„ and sent backe agayne An. 1558. d It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 23. of Iuly 1561. e It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 11. of March 1562. the 29. of Iuly 1563. f It appeareth by letters sent to the king the 20. of April the. 27. of May. 1566. g It appeareth by the kings letters dated the 2â—… of Sept. 〈◊〉 the 6. of Iâ—…ne 〈◊〉 the 31. of Iuly 1566. The vsurpa tion of the Cardinal of Granuil The practises of the Cardinall Horrible persecutioÌ„s * The Queene of Hungary h It appeereth by the ProclamatioÌ„ set forth in April 1550. i It appeeâ—…th by the Iniunction set forth in SepteÌ„ 1550. k It appeereth by the CommissioÌ„ set foorth 1555. and by the letters of reuocatioÌ„ grauÌ„ted afterward â–ª l It appeereth by the Bulles of Paule the 4. Pâ—…s the fourth InnouatioÌ„s â—…ade by the â—…ardinall Incorporation of Abbyes m In August 1562. n In February 1562. o In May. 1562. Assemblyes at Sermons to heere preachyngs p The yeere 1564. q It appeereth by the foresayd Bulles of the Popes and the Decree of the seuen Cardinals The County of EgmoÌ„ds iourney into Spayne r In the begynnyng of the yeere 1565. s In the Sâ—…mer 1565. The kynges resolution t It appeereth by the extractes of the kynges letters sent abrode by the Regetes letters dated the 18. DeceÌ„b. 1565 both the whiche are inserted in the ende v It appeareth by the reports and requests exhibited in Court. Wordes taken out of the Summons The Inquisition was the fouÌ„tayn of al the alterations in the lowe Countrey * Viglius x It appeareth by two letters sent in the beginnyng of the yeare 1566. y It appeaâ—…eth by the â—…xpresse â—…ordes of â—…he confederacie sigâ—…ed with â—…heir hands z It appeareth by the request of the confederates and the answer thereto which are both inserted hereafter a It appeareth by the purposed conceit of a new Edict b It appeareth by the agreement made the 24 of March. 1566. by the commoÌ„ Register of 1565. called the Register of Braband c It appeereth by hir letters of assuraunce dated the 25. of August 1566. hereafter in serted d It appeereth by the kynges letters of the first of August 1566. the translation wheroâ—… is inserted hereafter e It appeareth by letters sent to the kyng the. 14. of Iune 1566. The words of the Summons or Citation f It appeareth by his two letters sent in the moneth of August 1566. The interuiew at DeuremoÌ„d The words of the Summons The fortifying of the Towne of Vianen g It appeareth by her letters dated the. 12. of Iuly 1566. Artilery giuen to the Lorde of Brederode The wordes conteined in the Summons All this appeereth by many letters sent in Marche an 1567. The accusation concernyng Andâ—…erpe h It appeareth by their owne report made the 4. of Sept. 1566. i It appeareth by her letters of the. 4. 5. and 8. of Octob. 1566. k It appeeâ—…eth by the agreement made the 23 of August 1566. l It appeereth by their owne report made the 24. of August 1566. m It appeereth by their letters sent in Septemb 1566. n It appeaeth by the lisproofe â—…uoydance â—…ent to the â—…ttorney â—…enerall â—…o the Duke â—…f Alua the 〈◊〉 of March â—…568 Nouemb. 1. No. 1 â–ª No. 2. No. 2. No. 3. No. 3. No. 4. No. 6. * This Duke is the Duke of Alua and the Prince is the prince Deboly Ruygomes Abouchera No. 7. No. 7. n He meeneth the Prince of Orendge the Countie of Egmond and the Countie of Horn. o These are the letters with the kings resolu tion sent abrod by the Regent the 18. of Decemb 1565. No. 2. fo 77. The Councel of Trent The Inquisition Mary Queene of Hungary The Iniunctions Proclamations Decrees or Edictes p Accordyng to the computatioÌ„ of the Empire it is 1566. No. 8. q Accorling to the oÌ„mon recâ—…ening it â—…as 1566. No. 9. ✚ * That is to wyt by burnyng of them quick ✚ ††No. 9. ††c In that they forbid in maner al Bibles Testamentes sauing the Latin ones and therin are coÌ„teyned an infinite number of bookes among other the bookes of Melancthon Carolostadius Coruine Sarcer Lambert Bullinger Agrippa Wickâ—…e Husse Pomerane Ionas Pupper Brentius Spangenberg 〈◊〉 Epin Martir Vrbane Musculus and Bucer o Whiche was very large and maruelous â—…gorous †No. 9. All the Iniunctions or Edictes made for hereâ—…e are found togither in the booke of the statutes of the Low Countreys printed at Gaunt ††††††* †* No. 4. No. 4. No. 4. ⧠Imprinted at London by Iohn Day dwellyng ouer Aldersgate Februar 24. 1575.
other thyngs as he shall see meete to be done by right and reason in that cace And so to do we giue you full power and authoritie and speciall commission Chargyng and commaundyng all our Iustices Officers and subiectes to obey you in doyng hereof and to attend diligently vppon you and to geue you counsell ayde and comfort and prizonroome also if neede bee that you require it For so is our pleasure And bycause the sayd Prince of Orendge as we heere say hath gotten him selfe away out of our couÌ„tveys our will is in that â—…ace that the summoÌ„s citatioÌ„ which you shal make by Proclamation and open cry within the barres of our Court at Brusselles your settyng vp of the Copyes of this our presentes togither with your sayd doynges and your castyng of them in at the outtermost part of the Prince of Orendges houses within our couÌ„treys your stickyng vp of like Copyes vpoÌ„ the doores and Iawmes of the cheef church there to the intent he may not be able to pretende ignoraunce shal be of as good force valew power as if it had bin done to the sayd Prince of OreÌ„dgis owne person for such haue we authorized do authorize the said Summons and CitatioÌ„ by theis presentes But for asmuch as other men haue commission to deale with the takyng of the Inuentorie of the sayd Princes goods meddle not you with them Giuen in our sayd Citie of Brussels the xix day of Ianuary the yeere of grace 1567 and the yeere of our reigne ouer Spayne Sicile c. the xiij and ouer Naples the xv It was subscribed thus By the kyng And vnder written thus Mesdach And sealed with a Seale of red wax vppon a halfe labell ¶ A Copie of the Serieant at Armes doynges BY vertew of the letters patentes of personall SummoÌ„s wherof the Copy is set word for word heere before I FrauÌ„cis Knibber ordinary Serieant at armes to the priuy the great Counsels haue this present xxiiij day of Ianuary the yeere 1567. at the request and instance of the kynges Maiesties Counseller and Attourney generall the obteiner of theÌ„ came into the Listes of the Court at Brusselles at eleuen of the clocke in the forenoone where hauyng caused the Trumpâ—…s to be sounded I haue with lowd voyce and open crye red the sayd letters patentes and by the vertew of the same summoned and cited William of Nassawe Prince of Orendge on the kynges Maiesties behalfe to come and appeere personally from fifteene dayes to fifteene dayes in tymes wherof the first fiftene shal be the ix day of February the second fifteene shal be the xxv of the same moneth and the third and last fifteene which is the peremptorie day of law without lookyng for any mo shal be the eleuenth day of Marche followyng And this to be done before the hygh and mighty Duke of Alâ—…a Marquis of Coria c. Knight of the order and Gouernour and Capteine generall for the kynges Maiestie in his low couÌ„treys in the sayd Citie of Brusselles or in any such other place as my Lorde the sayde Duke shal then be vpon Peyne of perpetuall bannishement and forfeyture of all goodes belonging to the sayd Prince of OreÌ„dge there to answere to such points and Articles as the sayd Attourney generall shall list to take chooze agaynst him and moreouer as is reherced more at large in the sayd letters patentes Done vnder my signe manuell the day moneth and yeere aboue written Underneath was written thus Conferred and founde to agree by me And it was signed thus Knibber ¶ An abstract of the last Letters writynges sent by the kyng to the Lady Regent togither with the last dispatch concernyng the cace of Religion FIrst as touchyng the Iniunctions and decrees as wel old as new wich concerne the cace of Religion his maiestie vnderstandyng in what state Religion stode in those quarters thought it not expedient to make any chaunge or alteratioÌ„ of them but that as well the Iniunctions of the late Emperours Maiestie as his owne Maiesties Iniunctions should be put in executioÌ„ for he saw that the cause of all the mischief that had happened the cause of the increacyng spreadyng of it so farre had bin the negligence cowardlynesse and dissimulation of the Iudges And therfore if there were any of them that either durst not or would not execute their office for feare of suÌ„me hurlyburly they should aduertize his Maiestie that he might prouide others of more corage and better zele towards the execution of thynges wherof there ought to be no want in that Countrey where there is such store of Catholikes and so many desiâ—…ous to do God his Maiestie seruis by the doyng whereof the executyng of the Iniunctions there was good hope that the hurt which was done there would better and sooner be remedied than by any other way Secondly as touchyng the Inquisitors of the fayth his Maiestie chargeth hir highnesse to beare such an eueÌ„ hand as they might be fauored in the executioÌ„ of their Commission as the thyng that was expedient for the benefite and vpholdyng of the Religion for it was his Maiesties mynde that the Inquisition should be executed by the Inquisitors as it had bin thitherto and as belonged to them by the lawes of God and man affirmyng that it was no new thyng for asmuch as it had bin vsed coÌ„tinewally as well in the tyme of the late Emperour as in his owne time and the incoÌ„ueniences that were to be feared were much apparanter neerer and greater where the Inquisitors were not suffered to prouide for things accordyng to their office nor ayded in their doynges And for 〈◊〉 as hir highnesse knew what that ment his Maiestie charged hir to do what she could in that behalfe for it was very requisite that shee should so doe and not to consent that any other thyng should bee treated of in that behalfe bycause hir highnesse knew how neere it touched hys hart and what pleasure and contentation it would bee vnto hym Thirdly his Maiestie tooke order with her highnesse that sith the holy Councell of Trent was already published so as ther remayned now no more to doo but the puttyng therof in execution which was a thyng that belonged to the Bishops her highnesse shoulde giue them all the furtherance and helpe that shee possibly coulde that it might take effect as it ought to doo Also he would that the Decrâ—…es of the Councel of Trent that concerned the reformation of the lyues and maners of the Clergie should be put in execution chargyng as well hir highnesse as all his Officers to fauour and further them by all requisite meanes and that if neede should require any further prouision to be made on his maiesties behalfe shee shoulde cause it to be dispatched out of hande that euen where the men of the Church would not obey the reformation that was to be made by the bishops there they might
¶ 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
States nor cause any leuying of money or men of warre no nor any coyning of money to bee made there without the consent and aduice of the States of the same Countrie And for the more confirmatioÌ„ and assurance therof after the rehearsall of the particular poyntes and Articles of the said Entrie whiche are many they added in effecte this conclusion folowing That if they their heyres or successors shall by them selues or by any other either wholy or partly doo or cause to be done any thing contrary or preiudiciall to the premisses after what sort soeuer it be they consent agree and graunt to their Prelates BaroÌ„s Knights Townes Cities Liberties and al other their subiectes that then and from thencefoorth they shall not doo to theÌ„ their heyres or successors any kind of seruis nor owe them any duetie of allegeaÌ„ce nor obey theÌ„ in any matters wherein they shal haue neede of them or which they shall desire or require at their handes vnlesse that vpon reconciliation satisfactioÌ„ and attonemeÌ„t they be by the states of the same Countries accepted new againe And to the same intent they decreed and ordeyned that all officers appoynted or placed contrary to the faythful purport and true meanyng of this their sayd Entrie should be dischargcd displaced and likewise that what soeuer thing were or should be done or attempted in preiudice or impeachment of the premisses should be esteemed as voyde and of none effecte In witnesse and euerlastyng confirmation whereof the said Emperour the Prince his sonne did set their handes and seales to the sayd othe in writyng at Louane the fift day of Iuly 1549. And this is it that is called the ioyful entrie Whereby and by many presidentes of their stories whiche make mention how the people of those Countries haue refuzed renounced reiected remoued and depozed diuers of their Lords soueraignes for their misgouernment and for infrindging their sayd othe and in their places elected appoynted set vp and established others of whose Iustice they had better opinion aud likelyhood which thyng notwithstandyng they haue not vsed to doo but vpon most vrgent and extreme necessitie after long sufferance and seking of redresse by all reasonable meanes with most duetifull iutreatance submission supplication and humilitie It may playnly appeare that the state of the lowe Countreys is not an absolute Monarchie or heritable kingdome after the maner of this Realme and of Fraunce and such other like but a State with condition terminable and not to continue any longer than the Lorde whom they doo so accept vpon hope of his good gouernment dooth continue in reignyng and rulyng accordyng to his oth taken at his entrie Which if he violate then are they by the same his othe discharged of their subiection and obedience to hym and haue full authoritie and free libertie both to resist hym and his Officers and also to chooze and take to them any other head or Soueraigne that wyll be more frendly and beneficiall to their Countrey as appeareth by that solemne and autentike deede of Duke Iohn dated at Louane the fourth of Maye 1420. and by diuers other Records to the same effecte Whereupon it foloweth that this IustificatioÌ„ of the Prince of Orendge and of suche as take his parte and of the cace wherein they stande is most iust and rightfull euen in these respectes though there were no further proofes wberof notwithstandyng there are very many in this treatise folowing Thus I commyt thee to God who giue thee the spirite of iudgement to discerne accordyng to truth that thou be not lead into errour to allowe the thyng that is euyll or to condemne the thyng that is good ¶ A Iustification of the Prince of Orendge against his sclaunderers SUch as haue experience of the affayres of states and common weales are wel able to discerne them that seeke to trouble the trauquilitie and quiet of the publike weale through ambition and desire of priuate commoditie and doo take all maner of straunge and vnaccustomed kinde of dealyngs which meÌ„ of power credite and authoritie doo vse to bee sure and infallible tokens of lyke driftes And therefore to shewe who haue bin the chiefe ringleaders and authours of the troubles that haue happened in the low Countrey the onely thyng to be considered is who they were that had cause to desire innouation in that Countrey for any commoditie or profit which they looked for and were the first beginners and putters therof in execution For the doing wherof in my opinion it is necessarye to set downe the state of the sayd low Countrey in such wise as it was before the late troubles and after the warres whiche as well the late right high and cenoumed Emperour Charles as the kyng of Spaine Princes of the same lowe Countrey and soueraigne Lordes of the subiectes there maynteyned in maner continually by the space of ten yeares together against the French king Which state was such that although in the meane season the people were in some vnquietnesse by reason of the Inquisition and Iniunctions that were obserued iu diuers Prouinces in the case of Religion whiche vnquietnesse augmented dayly more and more through the increase of the Religion and through the rigour of the Iniunctions which grew so extreme and so farre out of all square as it was a woonder that they were suffered and borne withal so long tyme and so patiently in so freee a Countrey as shal be declared hereafter yet notwithstaÌ„ding it was euidently seene that in all other respectes the subiectes were ready not onely to yeelde al due obedience but also to spend their bodyes and goodes for his maiesties sake For the Nobilitie behaued them selues with incredible courage and forewardnesse in the sayd warres and the States of the Countrey dyd freely and of their own accord geue an incredible masse of money towards the charges thereof amountinge fully to the summe of fourty millions of Florens that so wyllyngly as there was neuer any signe of iniâ—…ikyng perceyued for the matter by reason wherof it might wel haue bene thought that the Countrey was so affectioned towardes his maiestie as they would not haue spared any thyng for the mayntenaunce of his state and honour against his enemyes And therefore his maiestie might easily thereby assure hym selfe thereof against all forreyne powers And for as muche as it is a naturall thyng that all great seruices and well dooinges shoulde ingender truste it could not be but that the said countrey namely the Noble men in consideratioÌ„ that by their peril bloudshed prowesse his maiestie had atchieued so many honourable victories and the commons for that he had dispatched so long and tedious a warre with so great honour by their succour ayde and aâ—…istaunce must needes be in great hope that his maiestie would haue regard of their so great duetifulnesse and notable seruice wheÌ„ so euer occasion were offered By meanes whereof a man might also haue openly warranted the Countrey
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
Countrey are to be imputed to them selues and to the Cardinals ambitiō not to so fonde perswasions impressiōs as the terme of Spanish Inquisition such like For no lesse fond is that allegatiō than were the wordes of hym who thought to staye all innouations by saying that the kyng meant not to stablish an Inquisition but onely a visitation as who should say men respected more the woord than the deede and were more hasty to make insurrection for the termes of Inquisition and Spanish than for the rigor and crueltie that they had seene and wer afraid of by the execution of the Iniunctions And therfore I say that the sayd confederacie and complaints and al the ◅est of the thyngs that insued dyd but onely shewe the effecte of that whiche we had told the Lady Regent asorehand in open counsel that we feared would come to passe that is to wyt that his maiesties sayd resolution would cause some great alteration specially by reason of the hope that a number had conceyued vpon the returne and report of the sayd Lord the Countie of Egmond And wheras I wrote the same thyng in effect to her highnes afterward she confessed to vs by her answer that she perceyued clearly howe the sayd resolution was the cause of all the troubles and therfore as is sayd the sayd confederacie being made without my knowledge or aduice ought not to be imputed therunto For when I was aduertised of it within a while after as it were a fifteene dayes or theraboutes before the confederats were mar◅es I protested openly and ◅atly that I liked not of it ne thought it to be the right meanes to maynteyne the quietnesse and tranquilitie of the common Weale It is very true that I esteemed it not as a rebellion con◅piracie or coniuration because the confederates stood st◅dfastly vpon this poynt that they meant not to doo or attempt any thing against the welfare of his Maiestie and of his Countrey wherein they were of the same opinion that we be confirmed by common experience whiche was that the Inquisition and rigour of the Iniunctions coulde neuer come to good in so muche that by the examples whiche we had seene afore in Almain France Ingland and Scotland we were driuē to confesse that the kynges resolution in that behalfe could not but bryng great waste desolation destruction to those Countreys without any furtheraunce of his proceedings wheras on the contrary part it was to be seene that the Countreys which haue the libertie of Religion or at leastwise of conscience and where the Inquisition and the rigor of the Iniunctions is not put in executiō continue in rest and quiet which is an euident proofe that to lyue without the Inquisition in libertie of conscience is an other maner of thing thā to liue loosely lawlesly and without order as some haue falsly and sclaunderously reported for otherwise the princes of Germanie which set as much store by the rest and quietnesse of their Countreys as the kynges maiestie doth would in no wise abyde it specially if they mistrusted that any disobedience would insue of it And was so much the more confirmed in this opinion because the confederates shewed not them selues stubborne ne meant to obteyne their request by force but onely sued that his maiestie who sayd they was abused by certayne persons which vnder the colour and pretence of Religion went about to satisfie their owne ambition couetousnesse would vouchsafe to take intelligence of their complaint and suit and thereupon folow the aduice of his counsell offryng them selues to be ruled and lead accordingly as the same being duely informed should decree concernyng the matter of Religion So that when they were once vp in this rebellion conspiracie or coniuration he ought to haue inclined to their petition and to haue regard of their supplications either in that they required to haue their Noble mē heard or for that all cōfederacies ▪ generally without exceptiō do stande in their own conceyt wherin I confesse I liked none of both his maiesties doings For in my iudgement a Prince may be a◅sed and therfore it is good reason that the subiect vassall or what soeuer he is that is indomaged shoulde haue leaue to vtter his griefe And Emperours and kinges haue bin commended in that they haue ◅uffered them selues to be rebuked by prinate persons for not seemyng to geue eare to their requestes and complaints as he was which suffered one to say to hym in open str◅ate If thou lyst not to heare our suites lyst not to be our Emperour and as an other was who beyng a kyng and soueraigne Lord dyd notwithstandyng suffer an old woman to appeale from hym because as shee sayd he gaue no ◅are to her matter And seeyng that in these low Countreys in cases of importances whereupon both honour and goodes depend whether it be publikely or priuatly mē haue bin wont to referre them selues to the states who haue b◅ of that authoritie that in all tymes yea euen in the tyme of Charles late the Emperour of happy memorie they haue oftentymes assēbled by reason of occurrents of lyke or lesse importance yea and euen in the case of Religion and an Edict by their aduice in the yeare 1531. whiche was then published as appereth by the style and processe therof let vs not thinke it vnlawfull for vs to require the same thyng nowe which we see to haue bin done and vsed in like cases heretofore And many good cōfederacies and holy leagues are founde to haue bin made heretofore as for example the confederacies of the Machabees other doinges and that men may make them styll to the honour of God and to the prosperitie of their kynges and countreys So that in my iudgement there can no rebellion be inferred vppon the poyntes aforesayd For as touching that the cōfederats did promise and sweare to mainteine helpe and defend one an other agaynst the Inquisition and Iniunctions seeyng that that promise might haue bin made to cease by the meanes aforesayd and they offered in effect by their petition to goe from it because it seemed to be agaynst the kyngs commoditie to obey what soeuer should be ordeyned by the aduice of the States it seemeth against reason that whereas hunters and others that deale with the tamyng of vnreasonable beastes do indeuour to put away their fiercenesse moodinesse and wyldnesse by diligence company and cherishing rather than by cudgelling whippyng and roughnesse the kyng should by the froward instigations of the Cardinall and his hangers on vse rigour and roughnesse towardes so loyall subiectes and faythfull vassals rather than meeldnesse and clemēcie to keepe them at his accustomed deuotion by surceassing at leastwise for a tyme the executiō of the sayd Inquisition Iniunctiō which to all mens seemyngs could not be set foreward nor continewed in that tyme without apparant domage hurt preiudice to his Maiestie and Countreys specially seyng that the
stablished bycause it was thought that we letted the succours that some intended to haue ministred vnto them togither with the outrages that leawd folkes attempted to practize howbeit that in the ende through Gods goodnesse we appeazed all without any bludshed Which dealyng of ours argueth vs to haue bin farre of from sending those mē into Zeland to surprize the Coūtrey in asmuch as all our doynges tended to the contrary For had that bin our purpoze wee shoulde not haue commaunded the Capteyne and the men of that Countrey to receiue no mē of warre but contrarywise to haue receyued them and taken them in and it appeered so much the more in that wee offered the men of Andwerp to goe out of the Towne and to discōfite the assembly our selues with such company as was there which thyng was misliked of for feare of commotiō which discouered it selfe after the sayd discomfiture as hath bin sayd afore Now then seyng there was no lookyng for his Maiesties cōmyng by sea there was not any likelyhod that by the takyng of Zeland wee ment to stop his passage and to shet him out of it whiche thyng cōsideryng how the townes and fortresses were at his Maiesties deuotion it was not possible for vs to do by sending mē without head without capteine without authoritie without expresse cōmaundement from vs which could not bee receiued there bycause of our order taken to the contrary but in that cace we should haue bin there personally in the Countrey whereby I should haue giuen some cause for men to thinke that folke would euery where haue stooped to me as to their gouernour and haue yelded me their accustomed obediēce as they had done in all other Cities and holdes of our gouernement for that had bin a more apparant and sure meanes than to send thither a sort of rascall fellowes vnarmed vngouerned and vnguided for whom we should at leastwise haue prouided in a cace beyng so well able to doe it by meanes of the towne of And werp as euery man knowes and which were afterward dispatched in manner without any resistence or defence in somuch that no man hauyng any experience of the warres would haue trusted to them in an exployt of importāce and much lesse I who had farre better meanes to assure me of the Countrey if I had mynded it as I did not And therfore I mar uell that men of skill and wisedome wil vse such allegations whereof they not only nother haue nor euer shalhaue any proofe but also which haue not in them any shewe of likelyhode Wherfore to come to the poynt of the sayd Summons which auoucheth that beyng in Antwerp to appeaze the trubbles and vprores of the people we suffered and graunted the exercize of all sectes to go at libertie in the towne indifferently it is to be cōsidered that before I tooke my charge vppon me I declared op◅nly in full Counsell of the states that it laye not in me nor was myne intent to take vppon me to suppresse the preachyng whiche was then ched with the exercize of the Religiō as a necessary appurtnaunce of the same which charge as I toke it I haue performed with vnspeakable trauell thought and care by the aduice of the mē of law of the citie of the faculties of the marchauntes all the which confessed that by my meanes and order they accoūted them selues assured of the quietnesse of the Towne thankyng vs for it with al their hartes Whiche thyng falleth out in effect to be confirmed approued and cōfessed by the Regent also who hauyng co◅itted the keepyng of the citie in quietnes to the County of Hoochestraten in our absence while we were pacifying the Countreys of Holland Zeland and Utreyght inioyned and appoynted him expresly to followe the steppes that I had gone before him Whiche thyng neuerthelesse they do now go about to deface chaungyng the thynges that were openly allowed into the crime of hygh treason agaynst all likelyhode of truth For I graunted not any Religion one or other in the towne but only suffered bare with such as had begō to preach openly before my commyng thither accordyng to my declaration heretofore blamed For although y Regēt shewed sufficiently that she hild with all Religions which agreed not with the Romish Religiō esteemed of them all alike as namely with the Anabaptistes agaynst whom I was desirous to haue ◅ade publicke defence if her hyghnesse had liked it yet did I put all such to silence as did put thē selues forth to begynne any preachynges after my commyng thither Moreouer the preachings that were made without the towne were not receiued into the towne by vs but when I was called to the Court without hauyng obteined that some other bodye might be substituted in my sted to looke to the quietnesse of the towne or that I might send a Lieutenant thither notwithstādyng that I did expressy require it in the meane while some fell to pullyng downe destroying and breakyng a sunder of images euery where they that preached erst without the towne began to get them Churches yea euen by authoritie of the magistrate And after the composition made betweene the Regent authorized by the kyng and the contederates when as in the end they were contented to haue left vppe their Churches agayne and to haue continewed their preachynges in their accustomed places without the town accordyng to the compositiō the Magistrate thought it more expediēt for many cōsiderations to graunt and assigne them places within the Towne By meanes wherof when the parties were once agreed I could do no lesse by vertue of my Commission but followe the composition For in asmuch as I was sent to kepe the towne in quiet and in loyaltie to the kyng it was our dewty to frame our selues to that whiche we sawe they had settled in vnitie and quiet specially cōsidering the weyghtinesse of the reasons that had moued the townesmen to consent to the thynges aforesayd whereof I did thē aduertize as well the kyng as the Regent besides that it was not possible to keepe the peace without sufferyng of the sayd preachynges and the exercizyng of the Religion out of hand the necessitie of which exercize offered it selfe welneere hourely by reason of the multitudes that followed the Sermōs whiche were sayne to be suffered euery where in somuch that they were vsed opēly in Churches which was the cause that the Magistrate thought it good needefull to suffer not only the exercize but also the erection of Churches And that so much the rather byeause winter was at hand by reason whereof otherwise an other secōd inuasion was to be feared wherin the other churches were like to haue bin taken and therfore the Magistrate was not only willyng but also desirous to further the sayd Churches whereunto bycause we sawe that all others had no lesse good will thā he wee thought it stoode not in any wise with our dewtye to hinder
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