that respect of the dignity and Maiesty of the King be kept moste inuiolable and that in anye wyse no mention be made of the alteringe of Religion and although we haue had most euident proofes to perswade vs that this is not the way to mittigate the mortall hatred of oure enemies but rather to encrease and sharpen it Yet neuerthelesse wee haue in all pointes behaued oure selues so reasonably and wyth so great humilitie as euen our enemies them selues cannot accuse vs and say truly but that we haue in all pointes obserued a dutifull order as moste plainly shall appeare by the discourse followiÌ„g Considering that wee haue franckly remitted the whole iustice of our cause vnto the IudgmeÌ„t of his Maiestie the generall estates of our Countrie Hoping that they both beinge better acquainted with our estate also better affectioned both to the King and countrye then Straungers can bee mighte the rather haue both the meanes the will to giue such counsell vnto the king as may be most expedient for the seruice of his Maiestie for the establishiÌ„g of a perfect peace vnitie amoÌ„gst vs and last of all for setting our couÌ„try in her auncient prosperitie Hereuppon our aduersaries contrary to our expectacion haue behaued themselues with suche parcialitie as they woulde not once so much as haue any regarde or respecte vnto our request made vnto his Maiestie but vsurpiÌ„g the soueraigne dominioÌ„ of our Country they haue cleane depriued his Maiestie from all libertie of IudgmeÌ„t and according to their owne appetite will cleane barred oure cause froÌ„ all knowledge of Iustice of set purpose to hinder all concorde And that haue they done principally as they themselues confesse for because we haue vrged the generall assembly of the Estates which beyonde all memorie of man hath alwayes ben vsed heretofore amongst our auncitours and Predecessours Besides this to make their malice more manifeste they haue euer since committed greater cruelties in burning and scorchiÌ„g such as were of our ReligioÌ„ than euer they did before Moreouer they haue sought to briÌ„g in all the rest of the Estates of our couÌ„try with threatnings force of purpose to make theÌ„ serue their turne towards th executioÌ„ of their tyraÌ„nical appetites VVherby it appeareth most plainly that they are not content with hauing once raised this great bloudy warre to the preiudice of his Maiestie vtter destructioÌ„ of his Country but do shall endeuour themselues to procede with their tyraÌ„nous deuises to th end they may subdue the Countrie at their owne pleasure and bring it into perpetuall seruitude bondage Moreouer wheras they make shew at some times of a desire to entre into some treaty with vs of agreement they do not pretend that to any other end but onely to deceaue vs and by such a fayned dissimulatioÌ„ to hold the other Townes and Villages in some good hope that they may not ioyne themselues with vs to resiste their tiraÌ„ny hoping that by this meanes they may come to their purpose Like as they haue already procured in FrauÌ„ce by their vndirect and priuie practises But such is our trust in the bountifull mercy of our good God by whoÌ„ we haue bin so myraculously defended hitherto froÌ„ their wicked enterprises as wee not onely hope to escape froÌ„ the daunger of their diuelish deuises but also that all people nations of Christendome all Kings PoteÌ„tates and especially the Maiesty imperiall with the Electours Princes of the Empire seing here by most clerely our faithfull and sincere humlity our most sure and certaine equity ioyned with our ferueÌ„t desire to attaine to peacâ— and vnity coÌ„paring the same with the disdainful pride cruell tiraÌ„ny of our aduersaries will yeld vnto vs their indiffereÌ„t fauourâ— and maintaine the iustice of oure cause by acoÌ„uenient meanes they may And if peraduiture it fall out hereaster that we be forced by the vniust vnreasonable procedings of ouâ— aduersaries eueÌ„ against our willes to seeke serch for som other relief more to our assuraÌ„ce safety thaÌ„ we haue don heretofore we hope that euen then they will not impute the fault thereof vnto vs but vnto oure enemies who haue forced vs therunto VVherof we require all and euery person by maner of protestacion â—o be aduertised herein that we only haue recourse vnto the Iustice equity wisedom of the most high and renowmed Maiesty of the Emperour to all the most noble and excellent Electours and Princes of the Empyre of Almaigne together with all the potentates of ChristeÌ„dome that they may take some care of our cause not giue credit or hearing vnto the slanderous reports of our aduersaries but coÌ„sider somwhat neerer the indiffereÌ„cy of our cause mainteigne the same so farre forth as duty to God the world doth require Also wee do aduise all the Estates of these Lowe CouÌ„tries to coÌ„sider herein as it were in a glass what estimacioÌ„ our enemies make of them withall to imagine how they determine to haÌ„dle them if their deuises take such effecte as they do desire VVherefore let them beware that for waÌ„t of courage or other occasioÌ„ they suffer not theÌ„selues to be abused by their fayned and double dealinges Altho they make shewe of a feruente affection for the perfecte peace quietnes of oure Conutry But rather hauinge regarde vnto their tyrannicall call euill meaninges which they beare in generall vnto the Estates of our Country Let them resolue theÌ„selues couragiously to resiste such insolencies and call to minde both their othe and dutie that they owe to their CouÌ„try and by all industrie seeke the maintenance of the good and lawfull rights contracts aend liberties of their foresaide country In the doing wherof they shall not only do a good deede in their life time but also leaue vnto their posterity a good report to their immortal glory Now then to th ende you may the better vnderstaÌ„d theffect of the letters folowing and the ground of all the matter You must be aduertised that at suche time as Mounsieur Philip of Marnix Mounsieur of Mont SaiÌ„t AldegoÌ„dy being prisoners at Vtrecht had by the licence and commaundement of Mounsieur of Noircarmes written diuers sondry times vnto the Prince of Orenge as touchinge the meanes to enter into some communication for finishing of these present warres the matter was brought to such perfection as that after the death of the forenamed Seig. of Noircarmes the persons were nominated which were to be imployed in this matter But in the meane time happened the ouerthrow of Mounsieur the CouÌ„te Ludovvyk and for that cause it seemed not good vnto the great CoÌ„maundador to proceede any further herein alledging that thereby the aucthoritye of the King shoulde be somewhat dyminished Neuertheles the said CoÌ„maundador wished and aduised all the townes of Holland and Zeland to addresse them selues vnto the King by maner of supplicatioÌ„ to this end that the effect of the
by our predicessours but only by this vnitye Howe cometh it to passe that at feastes and publique places the townes prouinces haue bin alwayes called together by publique aucthority but only to shewe the vnity of the poore countrie euen as Grece did by the assemblye at their Olimpiades Is not the name of the Base Almaignes or Flemings as the Spaniardes do cal vs at this day cōmon vnto vs all The speache althoughe it be distinctly of diuers sortes yet is so common amongst vs that in the self same townes they be vsed equallye The iurisdictions owt of owr soueraigne court doe they not almoste generally proceed from Machlyne and all spirituall processes Doe not they of auncient custome proceed eyther from Coleigne or from Maians What shoulde I say more than that owr whole countre is but one Circuyte or Prouince of the Empire Doe you then thinck yt so straūge that an Imperial Circuyt shoulde assēble estates iointlie cōsydering that shoulde otherwise seeme monstruous if one Prouince should be assembled withowt the rest But paraduenture you will say that this warre in the respect of Brabant is no Ciuill warres the which sayeng no man of Iudgement will affirme And if there were none other thing to alledge but that owr King and the Emperour Charles had made al their Edicts and Plackartes of Religion in generall to all the prouinces weare not that a sufficient Argument to confute your saying that they haue nought in cōmon the one with thother yea rather is it not a full iustification of the request of those of Holland and Zeland in that point if you will be ruled by right and reason Quod omnes attingit ab omnibus probari debet for if the rigowr of those Placartes laid vpon all theis Prouinces in generall hathe caused a generall alteracion of the people Why shoulde not we assemble and call together the generall estates of theis prouinces to remedye suche inconueniences as generally doe light vpon vs all And sure this is the better cōfirmed by those two causes that you alleadged for the which Princes in tymes past were wont to assemble generall estates that is to witt the benefit of their Coūtrie and the vveale of their affaires For they coulde neuer be better spoken of than at this present when we treat not of one simple benifitt but of the whole saffetye of owr coūtrie and especiall restitucion of his Maiesties dignitye Wherefore if euer there weare cause to assemble estates in generallitye surely now there is greater cause soe to doe than euer ther was This notwithstanding if I may speake of myne owne hed witheowt thaduise of the Estates and Townes in theis partes I doe thinck that if the King or his counsell be offended with this generallity they will be content to haue agraunt from his Maiestie that they may lawfully assemble the states only of Holland and Zeland and that it will please hym to ratifie that which they shall find by sounde coūsell and deliberaciō to be fit for his Maiesties seruice and for their coūtries saffetye Considering that herin as I haue said they haue had agreater respect to the Auctorite of the King than to any thing els But it seemeth that there is some other hiddē cause which moueth you to be so suspitious of this assembling of estates in that you saye that this request seemeth to be made as it vvere to tye him to a lavv and to kepe him as a vvarde I cannot beleue but that this proceedeth rather of some ill grounded conceytes or sinister suspicions of suche in the court as cannot disgest owr simple peticion than of your owne good iudgement or aduise I cannot be parswaded that you can digresse so farre from all reason For surely you know well ynoughe howe that the moste true and legittimate power and dignitie of all kinges monarches and Emperours the greatest vnitye prosperitye of all people and prouinces dothe especialie cōsist and principally depende vpon the assemble of estates euē as it appeareth in Almaigne in al other Kingdomes Prouinces which are wel quietly gouerned For those assembles which we call Edictes in the comon wealthe are euen the same which in the churce of God were called counselles the which owr aūcestors holy fathers doctors in the Primatiue churche helde in suche reuerence estimacion as that they ordeigned that frō half yere to half yeare or at the furthest from yere to yere generall Sinodes should bee called as often as any necessitye required Whereunto they euer had a moste soueraigne recourse vntill suche tyme as that the great power of the Popes did subdewe the Sinodes by their absolute aucthoritie against the which owr forefathers at mani tymes and especiallye in the coūcell of Basil did moste openly resist They ordeigned that from tenne yere to ten yeares a generall counsell and Synode should be called thorow owt all Christendome wherūto the Pope himself shoulde be subiect Which thing was so odious vnto the ambicion of the successours of that Pope as that to their power they haue hindred euer since the assēble of the councelles so farr foor thas that in the great necessitye of Christendome and at the earnest solliciting of the Emperour Charles the councell of Trent was at length called and prolonged almoste by the space of 30. yeres after with a 1000. Kindes of delayes excuses to delay the same After that likewise in the councell of Constaunce Thoan the 32. one of the 3. Popes that were degraded at that tyme being accused of 50. articles at the least and all those cryminall sighing sore aunswered thus that besides all those faultes he had cōmitted a greater offence that was for because that he had suffered suche a free councell to be called as him self was bounde to be ruled by the reby he him self was with great infamye deposed I doe alledge all this to showe that it is the parte of Tyrantes only to mislike generall assemblies and that all good Princes Kinges and Emperours haue alwaies desicred theis diettes and assemblies as all good prelates haue to their power procured the assemble of Synodes and councels in the Churche of god For this is certein that whereas many doe assemble together and consult whether yt be for the affaires of the cōmon welthe or of the churche of God there ordinarily is God him self president sendeth his goodspirit lightninge moste commōly the eyes of a nomber in suche cases as paraduenture one alone or a fewe cānot discerne awhit Wherefore me thineketh that in this case they of Hollād Zelād haue declared what great confidence they haue in the mercifull gouernment and clemency of the King in hauing set be fore his face the true and only meane to pacifie the troubles of this countrie For synce that in any wise they muste make no questions of Religiō what coulde they in this worlde offer with more humilite and better right than to submit thē solues to the Iudgement of
profits there is no end And among other this is the greatest that they vvill not like Ireland be chargeable but a most Noble encrease of reuenevves to the Crovvne able at their ovvne charge to defende themselues vnder her Magisties name protection and to serue the Realme of Englād a Nauie ioyned with her Maiesties Nauie and mariners able to hold and driue from Sea all Princes in Christēdom Finally Safety Riches Strēgth and honour For right their offers say they make it apparent both by discent in her Ma. if the holder against his oth vvil stand vpon discent alone electiō by the States vpō breach of othes pacts on thother parte rightfull conquest vppon iust causes for so manifest iniuries perils a conquest I say yet with a sweete and easye yoke to the people willing to receiue it For facility is to be marked saye they their owne offer the readinesse of the people to embrace their owne strēgthe to haue stand thus long alone the distracting of the aduersary all cōmodious opportunities delyuered by God him self And to all these good meanes the moste glorious acte to releue the Church of God against Papists the violators and enemyes of publike naturall and Christen fayth the great meane to appease the controuersies of Christendome for Religion Adde also the noble pollicy fitnes to enter into vniuersal league of Christians against the Pope Popish conspiracies the aide of so noble a Prince the Prince of Orenge so able so worthy and so likely a man to serue Christendom against the Empire of the Turcke tyranny of Rome the greedy ioye of her Maiesties people to follow her pleasure in pursuing of such a noble enterprise Thus you see what I haue heard say on all sides I leaue to you the iudgment of all these conceits I leaue to Counsellers the gouerning of vs all by the best aduises and directions who I doubt not in their wisedoms do see the best in this Parliamēt cā lack no help of consent sinewes that this Realme cā giue And I leaue to God the guidinge of harts successes But beside all that I haue noted before as the opiniōs of other this you shall take as mine owne full beleuing that it is not in our will to haue peace by lettīg them alone when the aduersary tarieth but to subdue them that he may aduaūce himself agaīst vs But to hold warre further of both in place and time is novv offered to her Maiesties Election Peace she cannot haue sure by peace And one notable matter I hear of they be most desirous that England will receiue them but rather then they will returne to their old thraldome they will creepe vnder the yoke euen of the Muscouite or Turke himselfe Much rather will they yeld them to Fraunce that hath now so many armies ready to take hold of thē if Englād reiect thē That consequence may proue ill for vs And I do not take it certaine that Fraunce shall for euer haue ciuill warres It maye be that God after the bloud of so many Martirs wil giue peace to his Church in Fraūce You see ther is but one life betwene them the successiue raigne of many tollerabl◠Prīces If God should bereaue the world of the present French king sodenly or otherwyse blesse Fraunce wyth an other or that the Kinge of necessity yelde to a firme peace How easly vpon our refusal vvill the alliaunce of the Prince of Orenge wyth the house of Fraunce draw Holland and Zeland to Fraunce O merueylous aduauncement of Fraunc◠by sea and land Shall they be lords o◠Trafique Lords of furniture of Shippīg ▪ Lords of great many shippes goo◠harborowes that most is so greate◠so neere vs I pray God it neuer be tha◠may be so daungerous ⧠To the Reader LIKE AS in time paste oure aduersaries haue alwayes frō the beginning pickte quarrels against our cause with intente to procure a greater mislike thereof in all mennes mindes and to that effecte haue framed many fayned slaunders in layinge to our charge that wee are not onely fallen awaye from the fayth but also become rebells against the Maiestie of the Kinge of Spaine oure soueraigne and naturall Prince to th ende that vnder the shadowe of such fine coulours they mighte both blemishe the eyes of the simple sorte which are altogether ignorante of the cause and also seeme closely to couer their owne disordinate greedines of gaine euen to the face of the wysest vnlesse they bee the better acquainted wyth those affayres Euen so wee ascertaine oure selues that they will not sticke by all meanes they maye hereafter likewyse to practise the drowninge and vtter suppressinge of all such true dealing as doth nowe but begin by litle and litle to come to lighte They publishe and proclaime althoughe moste vntrulye that wee are the persōs that will giue no eare to any agreemente be it neuer so reasonable and that we endeuour our selues to seeke nothing els but how we may maintayn this ciuil dissention and dangerous warres within oure owne boosome although it procure the vtter destruction of this our poore Country and all for oure pleasure they say because wee are minded to bend our wills appetits to crosse his Maiestie Thus do they still cauil VVherfore to th end that none may hereafter by giuing to light credit to their false reports so much abuse themselues as to condēne those that are innocentes and to iustifie such as bee most cruell enemies to iustice VVee thought it most necessary after many supplications at diuers sōdry times exhibited vnto his maiestie yet once againe to publish this our last request made vnto him therwithall to lay before your eyes all such meanes as haue bin made on our parte for the appeasinge of this warre as ye may most plainly perceiue by seing of such letters as haue bin written on eyther part to that effect without adding or deminishing any thing therin to th ēd that euery man may iudge without any suspicion according to the truth of the matter Meaning thereby most manifestly to show forth both in whō lyeth the originall cause beginning of this warre also who is most to be blamed for that we attaine not vnto a perfecte peace and vnity Moreouer that we haue alwayes acknowledged the kinge of Spaine to be oure Soueraigne Prince and liege Lord as one giuen vnto vs of God to rule and gouerne vs with all iustice and equity according to such contractes as we weare both bound vnto and according to such aunciente Rights Vsages Liberties and Priuiledges as hee hath bin most solemply sworne vnto and that we haue alwayes had our recourse vnto him most hūble and with al due reuerence For albeit that some pretending a fayned desire of quietnes and vnity in our Country haue priuately perswaded vs that in oure treaty of peace wee must looke especially to the obseruing of two points that is to witte
treasoÌ„ for that they being then the vassals of the King of Fraunce yea and that more is lincked very nere vnto him in baÌ„des of blood and hauing yelded vnto him their homage fealtye did take armes not only withowt his appointment but also against his owne person and estates in the feeld Surely no maÌ„ caÌ„ make me beleue but that the good Duke Phillip knew very well what was the dutye of a subiect wheÌ„ as to reuenge the deathe of Duke Ihon his father who alitle before had slayne the Duke of Orleans brother to the King he caused the King of England to comme into Fraunce and made him Lorde of the Cittye of Paris and of the best parte of the whole kingdome If this lawe which nou set downe here were so generall as you woulde make it surely he had neuer atteined vnto the name of so good a Prince as he was accompted neither had he lefte behinde him to his posterity so good a reporte of immortall glory as wee know of Likewise his sonne Charles the hardy when he tooke armes against Lois the. 11. and defeated a parte of his armye at Monthelery knew not hee very well that subiectes mighte make no sturre withowt appointment or aucthoritie from their Lorde wil you say then that owr King doothe wrongfully enioy the countye of Burgondy the which was graunted by the same Lois and Charles vnder the title that the subiect did beare armes against his liege Lorde But howe often hathe it been sene and iudged to be right and reasonable that the subiectes in particuler and the Townes and Prouinces in generall haue taken Armes in such cases as this not only withowt the appointment of their Lorde but also euen against their soueraignes them selues and yet hathe nether your lawe nor Maxime been of sufficient waight against the reasons and argumentes that they alledged in defence of their equytie Wherefore of force your conclusion cannot holde when as you inferre by this your Maxime that they of Holland and Zeland haue committed an offence vnexcusable in hauing taken armes against their Prince For first you shoulde haue declared that the groundes and occasions that forste them therevnto were not reasonable or at the least not sufficient to maynteyne the equitye of their cause and then mighte you haue had somme better apparaÌ„ce of reason But surely it seemeth that for becaus you wolde haue the equitye of their cause quyte suppressed from the eares of the worlde and from the knowledg of his Maiestie you haue cleane troden vnder foote and sent backe againe their request grownding your self only vpon the opinions of suche of the courte as you knewe before to bee aduersaries to their attemptes And I pray you what if theis of owr side shall say that they not only haue not taken armes against his Maiestie but also that they haue not stirred but by his consent and aucthoritie Dothe it not seeme vnto you reasonable that the othe which the King hath taken and the expresse article wherin he coÌ„maundeth that no man shall any longer yelde obedience vnto him self than he obserueth the points of the artiles that he is sworne vnto may iustifye their doinges especially seeing that bothe his Maiestie is absent that straungers vnder the title of his name haue not only broken theis articles but also soughte vtterli to disanull that sollemne coÌ„tract the which he made at his entrye into Brabant which is the chiefest of all the Prouinces he possesseth in theis partes for as touching that which you saie That to beare armes against his Maiestie or his Ministers is all one I cannot comprehend where of that should be grounded considering that the King him self at his foresaid entry and acceptacion dothe promise sweare declare that presently ipso facto all officers Maiestrates ad Mynisters shal be taken but for sciphers of no validity who either haue ben heere before or shal be hereafter placed in preiudice of those articles which he is sworne vnto or that shal coÌ„mit any thing against the same So that the King him self dothe by his othe disgrade all suche ministers and dothe put weapens into owr haÌ„des to resist their iniquitye violeÌ„ce And if that you graunte that all this is trew in respect of theÌ„ of Brabant but that HollaÌ„d and Zeland may be no partakers thereof theÌ„ muste you needes Iustifie the Prince of OreÌ„g and all those that serue him being bothe inhabitantes naturally borne in Brabant in that they wolde not acknowledge suche ministers as haue violated and broken the othes and contractes of the king And since that they wear not bounde to acknowledge or allow theÌ„ but mighte take armes against theÌ„ it followeth that they might with good reaso occupie enioy all those landes Prouinces which did yelde any fauour or deuocyon at any tyme to suche mynisters being disanulled and disgraded And as touching the rest of Holland and Zeland their fault and offence can be none other but that they bee not borne in Brabant For I cannot thinck that you wil denie but that the said ministers against whome they beare armes haue brokeÌ„ and violated in a maner all those articles which the King was sworne vnto at his firste entrye And if thies things were not thus what is he that seeth not plainly how that in this point the Kings hands be fast tyed together synce that your selues doe confesse that in all matters Ecclesiasticall and touching faithe he is bounde to be obedient vnto the Pope his legates and vicars Dooe not we know how that that CoÌ„mission which was coÌ„cluded vpon and ordeined amongest your ecclesiastical persons and Bishops to roote owt this owr religion which you call new was inuented and forged by Pope Pius the fourthe being sollicited therevnto by Docter SoÌ„nius who for that cause remayned at Rome by the space of three or fower yeares afterwarde broughte amongest vs into theis quarters the pestileÌ„t seed of theis troubles calamities that we feele at this day Do not we knowe that it was onely the Pope which gaue coÌ„maundemeÌ„t to the king that thordinauÌ„ces of the Councell of Trent should be published here againste the which all the Estates both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall did set themselues to withstand as a thing preiudiciall against the aunciente lawes customes and priuiledges which the king hath sworn vnto vs Briefly haue not all the Instruments and Authours of this Tragedy bin created onely by the Pope And who is ignoraÌ„t I pray you that the Pope in his decres doth openly vaunte that all kinges and Princes are bound to hold all their Crownes and Scepters of him and to obey him in euery point Haue we no learned of our auncestours how that the â—opes of Rome haue coÌ„maunded at their pleaâ—ure the most noble Emperours and Prince â–ª of Christendome and sought to execute their wils by excommunicating and accursinge of them as often as they would resist their pleasures FroÌ„ whence proceeded those cruell and
bloudy warres betweene the three Henries Fredericke and Philip and an insinite nomber of other Emperours agaīst the Popes of Rome but for because that the same Emperours woulde not obey their Commaundementes sometimes when they willed them to make warre in all hast vppon the Sarrasins sometimes when they woulde haue them leaue of that title which they had receiued by succession of their auncestours sometimes when the Popes themselues would be put in possession of certaine townes and territories which they said they should inherite as the patrimony of S. Peter and finally vppon any cause that it pleased them to picke whereof all the Chronicles and Histories be filled And what was the cause why Pope Alexander marched in publique place vppon the necke of the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa adding thereunto many wordes full of reproche and shame And what is the cause againe why euen at this day they make the Monarks and kinges to kisse their feete but onely in signe and token of subiection which they claime as due And presently if they be not obeyed they thunder againste them and pronounce absolution vnto all their subiectes although they reuolt frō that fidelitie which they owe of duty Wherfore seing that the kīg is so much subiect to the Pope of Rome whō in no wise we cā acknowledge to be our superiour since that he feareth so much his thūdrings excōmunications How can you either say or beleue that his Ma. doth cōmaūd absolutely amōgst vs what he listeth himself specially in such a matter wherin the Pope pretendeth to haue more interrest than any man aliue I beseech you if the king woulde here our requests finding thē grounded vppon good reasons were willing to graūt vs the exercise of our religiō do you thīck that it were lawfull for him so to do Your selfe haue tould me very plainly that if the king would cōdiscēd to any such matter you would take armes agaīst him cause to your power the whole coūtrie to rebell And this I am sure your self wil not denie to haue said whē I was with you at Mountford Wher thē remayneth the fre auctoritie of the king to cōmaund where is the greatnes of his Ma. yea rather what becommeth of his liberty of your Maxime that no subiecte may take armes in hād without the appointmēt of his king lord seing that one only vassal wil to his power cause al his Estats to rebell if that the aduice opinion of his Maiesty touching the cause of his Coūtry subiects shal not agre with his cōceite But I am contente to pardon you herein consideringe the zeale which you beare to the Romishe Religion vppon condition that you will imagine that oure zeale which we beare vnto our Apostolicall Religiō of the Gospel is not a whit lesse althoughe peraduenture it is nether so plausible in mans capacitie neyther so profitable to them that maintaine it Yet haue we examples very freshe of the Emperour Charles of noble memorie who escaped very hardly from beinge excommunicated by Pope Paulus 3. for that hee graunted vnto the Almaynes but onely the Interim which was almost conformable in all poincts vnto the decrees of the Pope And I pray you what ado was there when he willed that a generall Councell shoulde be called in Almaine where the Almaynes might be harde in free disputacion And finally was it not the Pope that constrained him to make warre vpon the Christiās and did oftentimes threaten him with thundringes if he wente not to worke with speede in such sort that the Emperour was constrayned to couer the pretence of his warre with the cloke of rebelliō to th ēd he might draw vnto him Mawrice and th' other Princes which were confederates of the Smalcaldiens I speake nothing here of the holy Inquisition of Spaine nor of the Prelates of the Counsayle which be of the Popes creation and haue made a solempne othe vnto him neuer to agree to anye matter that they shall thinck to be preiudicial to the aduaūcement of the Sea of Rome but that they shall reueale the same and resist it with all their power Who seeth not how that our king is so possessed with them as hee is not able by anye meanes in the world to iudge any thīg in this matter contrary to their opinions aduice vppon paine of being condempned for a rebel vnto the sea of Rome Howe then can that be true where you say that wee make warre vppon the king Take away once the respect of the Pope and his Prelates and bringe to passe that either the king himself be not subiecte vnto him or els that he be content that we may be free from his lawes and then shall you see how soone and how soundlye wee will yeld our selues vnto the perfect obedience of our king naturall Prince as to one annointed of God himself to do vs right Iustice And if you esteeme this to be vtterly vnreasonable and that you meane to make the minde of oure Prince to be at the commaundemente of other mennes willes do not maruaile I pray you if we pretend to be no rebels in seeking that he maye gouerne vs by his absolute Auctoritie withoute receyuing lawes from others I come now to that other poinct where you say That it is a very straung thing for subiectes to force their Prince to assemble Estats at their pleasure Surely this seemeth very wonderfull considering that you cannot be ignorant how that the king himself by his owne pure will hath tyed himselfe thereunto as to the firmest ground and surest staffe whereuppon his auctority power Regall doth chiefly yea I may say onely leane rest For seing the Estates in a fourme of politique gouernement are none other thing but the chiefe and principall heads of the people representing the body of the multitude What thing is there that can bee so naturally vnited vnto a good king who desireth to be both father and Pastour of his people as are the Estates of his Country Euē as for exāple there is nothing that hath such affinity with the head of a mās bodye as those members which are called vital for that they be the chiefest Instrumēts by the which the vitall spirits proceding from the braynes to diuers sinewes are communicated in generall to the whole body and to euery member and by the which likewyse euery member retayneth his perfecte vnity and naturall knitting to the body Euen so a good king being the head of his people doth by the meanes of his Estates communicate and imparte vnto the whole body of his cōmon wealth not onely his fauoure grace priuiledges whereby he keepeth them in vnitie but also his bounty Iustice and wisedome from the which as out of a quicke fountaine do springe good lawes Ordinaunces whereby the people are still gouerned in good discipline as it were in the liuely being and naturall motion of the same This is the cause why our auncestours excelling in
wisedome and perfecte pollioy haue very well ordeyned heretofore that especially the king should very straightly be bounde and vnited with the Estates of the Country not to do any thing of importaūce without communicating the matter vnto them firste as they on the other side oughte to behaue themselues vnto theyr Prince as to their heade giuen to theim of god From hence is proceeded the great and vniforme loue and Fidelitie which Princes in these partes haue borne to their people and they likewise to them And surely this principle appeared in the person of the good Duke PHILIP who at the firste vnited all those low Countries into one body and made many lawes the assured vnitye which either is or oughte to bee betweene a Prince and his people Esteeminge it better to be beloued called father by them than to be feared and redouted of thē For he knew well ynoughe that loue is the surest grounde and faithfullest garde of all gouernmēts and preheminēces in such sort that they be greatly to be detested and to be accōpted publique pestilēces who to bringe thēselues in credite by villanies and seruile flatteries vnder the pretence of maintayning the auctoritie of our Prince haue whispered in the eares of his councell that whosoeuer talketh of the generall assemble of the Estates doth catch at the Crowne from his Maiesties head For surely these be the auctours of all tyrānies troubles and insolencies these be the disturbers of our common quiet these be the enemies both of God and the worlde although they attribute neuer so much wisdome and experience vnto themselues doing in this case not vnlike vnto him that would dismember the parts of the body from the head and depriue them of their vertues and naturall actions vnder the pretence of doing good to the head True it is that for a time they seeme to yelde as it were a staye and proppe vnto the power of Princes in causinge theym in generall to be more feared than loued but in th ende they shew themselues to seeke noughte els but the fall of Princes and the ouerthrow of all their people at one time as wee see most clearely by th' example of the kingdome of Fraunce the calamitie and ruine whereof hath not proceded from any thing els but by the breaking of thordinaunces of the Estates generall and by sufferaunce that the kinge mighte gouerne at his owne appetite with absolute authoritie without hauing regard either to the body politique or to them that should represent the same I would to GOD that this poore Country of ours would behold it selfe in this glasse which is so cleare so neare vnto it without fallinge into the same inconueniences But our sinnes being already growen to a certaine rypenes haue hastened our vtter ouerthrowe in blindinge the eyes of such gouernours as haue perswaded our Princes to thinck that their ruine consisteth in the Assemblie of the generall Estates of the country whose order is a common consente to resolue vppon such pointes as do concerne the tranquillitie of the same whereas if at the least this had bin lookt vnto in the begīning before that those troubles did breake out into so great a flame according to those instructions which the Gentlemen of the confederates gaue vnto his Maiestie surely then might all the incōueniences which haue happened since haue very well bin auoyded Yet at length let vs looke although very late first which be the grounds and occasions that hinder vs from hauinge recourse vnto that so ready and wholsome a remedie which in times past hath alwayes bin the refuge both of Prince People when any incōuenience did threatē them You say That since that these Countries do consist vppon diuers Seignories vvhich in degree iurisdictions and customes haue nothing to do the one vvith the other but onely a neighbourhode vnder one Lord therefore they are not to compell the king to assemble the estates generally I beseech you then sirs If wee shoulde demaunde of the kinge to assemble onely the Estates of Holland and Zeland which Prouinces haue alwayes bin ioyned together and that by their aduise hee woulde ordaine some conuenient remedies for these present troubles calamities euen as his Maiesties predecessours the Princes of Bauier were wont to do in the like cases not adding any other to these Prouinces except it were Hainault and Ostrenant woulde you iudge then that wee had any reason on oure sides At the leaste your argumente whereon you seeme to ground moste would seeme to be of no force And I surely do thincke that this particuler assembly since that you cannot abyde the generall were much fitter for the people of Holland and Zeland than th' other weare which they demaunde But I pray you consider what wrong they of Holland Zeland haue committēd in submitting themselues in their foresayd request vnto thorder of their Prince without presuming to prescribe any law vnto him or in referringe themselues to the Iudgement of the generall Estates of all the low Countries to whō they were content to submit thēselues to th end that they might not seeme to seeke to be iudges in their owne cause And if there be no reason at all to assēble the generall estates of so many and diuers Prouīces in a matter that toucheth only one particuler Prouince then I pray you why should that protestatiō which the Estats of Brabant Flaūders presōted wherin they would admit Religion but that of Rome bee preiudiciall vnto them of Holland and Zeland Howe be it surely if all be well considered this disease is growen so generall in all these prouinces as it cannot be remedied but by a medecine generally taken For who knoweth not howe that in this cause there are ioyned to Holland and Zelande in a maner all Gelderland Phriseland and Ouerijsel wyth many both of the townes and peoples of Brabant Flaunders Hainault and Arthois who vnderstandeth not that when this request was presented by those gentlemen in the yeare 66. there were almost as many of oure Prouince as of any other yea and that the nomber of them of Hainaulte Arthois and Nanin did farre exceede them of Holland and Zelande Wherefore if some haue bin frighted by force and threatninges some other oppressed by the tyranny of the Duke of Alua and some againe haue not bin able to finde oute the oportunities and open wayes which they of Hollande and Zeland haue founde is it therefore to be saide that they ought to be barred from giuinge ayde and remedie to quench this great fier and generall cause of Ruine No for this is certaine that the harme which proceedeth of these warres doth touche the other Prouinces as neere as it doth Holland and Zeland For if it happen that these Countryes bee either destroyed or alienated from the obedience of the Kinge Consider I pray you whether Braband and Flaunders with many other Prouinces shal be subiect to any inuasion that first will assaulte them or not
and how in such necessitie hauinge loste the commoditie of the Sea they may be releaued with vitaile or succoured from Spaine or Italie In so much that to barre alother Prouinces from this generalitie is nought els than to seeke the meanes to depriue the Kinge and his successours from all possession of any estate or Prouince in these parts But let vs see how these matters will hang together You say That it is but by speciall grace and fauour that the auncestoure of our king haue suffered and permitted a generall Conuocation of the Estates in vrgente affayres Admit that it were so yet surely it were a great discurtesie to perswade the king to shew lesse fauour vnto these Countries than his predecessours haue done and it were the waye to force him to seeke some other kinde of superioritie and gouernemente cleane cōtrary to that which they followed in such sort that thereof nought els can be hoped for thā a contrary fruit to that which they gathered that is to say the hatred of subiects in steede of loue and tyranny in place of good gouernment and finally vtter destruction in steede of flourishing prosperitie But sure I cannot imagine that you are so ignorant of the Chronicles or such a straunger to the knowledge of the state of these Countries as that you know not how that since the time of Charlemayne these Countries and Prouinces haue euer bin vnited in one body together with many other neighbours borderers vnder the title of beinge called Austrasia or Lorein which toke that name for that in diuision that part fel to one of his nephews called Lhothayre and how that afterward by diuersity of successours beinge dismembred th one from the other yet they did alwayes keepe a certaine vnitie of Amitie and alliaunce together euen vntill the tyme of the good Duke Philip who broughte them againe into one body and tyed them fast and vnseperable by many good ordinaunces lawes and priuiledges which he gaue vnto them in generall shewing him selfe therein to be both a father to his Country a pastour to his people in such sort that it was offred vnto him by the Emperour and Pope for that tyme to make therof a kingdome the which he would neuer agree vnto both because that he would not offer by such innouations any kinde of preiudice vnto the Priuiledges of the Prouīces and Townes particulerly neither yet go against the othes that he had sworne vnto them And if you liste to alledge that oure Kinge doth at this present occupie certain prouinces which then had nothing a do with them I will aunswere that likewise the foresaid Duke did at that time enioy certaine others almost of like importaunce the which haue since that time bin seperated and dismembred in such sort that the said good Duke Philip being receiued into the possession of Hollande and Zelande almost in the ende of his raigne did leaue this coniunction of these Prouinces vnto his sonne and onely heire CHARLES the hardy who being of a more hauty minde went about openly to make these Countries a kingdome had he not bin hindered partlye by the Estates of the saide Countries whoe withstoode the same and partly by the disfauour of the Emperour Frederick 3. who raigned at that time But let the cause be as be may hee left vnto his daughter and heire the succession of all the said countries as one body vnited and knitte together with many faste and straighte bandes after the which sorte Maximilian her husbande the Emperour and his sonne the Archeduke Phillip receiued the same and in such sort lefte theim vnto the Emperour of noble memory Charles the fifte father to oure Kinge who being not content with the foresaid coniunction and bandes and as it were foreseing how that afterwards some would go about to sowe hatred amongst them and to set th' one against thother vnder this pretēce that they had nothinge common amonge themselues tooke awaye and abolished from theim all the diuersitie of Questions that mighte encounter them some from vnder the Crowne of Fraunce some from the title of the Empyre and some from other places And at a generall diet of Almaigne by the consente of all the Electours and Estates of the Empyre hee vnited and broughte together all these prouinces into one compasse or Circle of the Empyre ordayning and appointing that from that tyme forward all they should ioyntly and vnseperably be acknowledged too be of the Empire and that for that cause they shoulde pay in thordinary contribucions of the Empire as muche as twoe Electors did And this hath been inuiolablye kept bothe of his Maiestie of noble memory And also by own king and Maistar that now is so farre foorth as that his Maiestie did sende one S. of Hoochstrate into Almaigne in his name to acknowledge the foresaid prouinces as one bodye politique ioyned to the Empire And for such were they taken at that time soe that I cannot sufficienly meruaile howe you can saye that in degrees and Iurisdictions they be so dyuers and that there is nothing common amongst them but only neighborhod And I pray you how hapneth yt then that in all Cōtribucions and reliefs they be euer assembled generally and that the participaciōs of eache relif is gathered according to the abillitye and facultie of euery prouince Woulde you wishe that in the tyme of contributing the prouinces shoul be but one bodye and that whē they seeke to remedie the euident Ruine of the whole countrie in generall eache should seeke for their remedye in particuler with owt ioyning th one to thother surely in my simple Iudgement this thing is not onlye withowt all reason but also dothe simell of tooto tyrrannius wyckednes But what shall we say when his Maiestie propounded the necessitie of his warre with Fraūce in the yeare 1557 in what sorte did the Estates then chardg them selues with that great burden but only in generall the which warre in th end of nine yeres with a single fidelitye shewed towardes their King a woonderfull vnitye kept among thē selues they brought to happy end by their nine yeres cōtribuciō to the great glorye honour of his roiall Maiestie Is it reason then that in making warre vpon a straunge Prince theys prouinces shal be but one body and the Estates vnited together and that in turninge away from themselues an vtter overthrow procured by this ciuill warre they shal be counted diuers dismembred not be suffred to assemble the estates general to th ende that by a generall remedye they may help and cure a common maladie But is it not plaine howe that in all thinges wherein any prouinces bordering together may by any meanes be ioyned and vnited theis countries be and haue ben always in the same sorte vnitid more than any others for from whence proceedeth that custome which they haue euer had to assemble the Townes and prouinces in the exercyse of the bowe and other armes left vnto vs
his Maiestie in a generall assemble of all owr estates shewing therin that they feared not at all to haue their cause brought to light before the face of the whole world and of his Maiestie because they felte themselues cleare from all crimes which wrongfully were laide to their charge And if their religion were so wicked as the Kinge is informed that it is what can they do more sincerely than with humble sute to request that it might be iudged and tryed euē by those who haue protested most plainly that they will by no meanes admit or receiue the same Cā there be any thing more conueniēc for the dignity and honour of his Maiestie or for to expresse their owne faithfull seruice than to submit themselues wholly to the iudgment of his Ma. and of those Estates which he shall lawfully call together It seemeth certainly that you amongst you do feare and flye from the iudgement and aduice of the kinge and that you take him to be so childishe as that he cannot discerne white from blacke or els that your selues must prescribe him what he shall do For you hindered our request from cōminge to his cares It falleth out now that your selues are they that make the king a Ward in that you will not suffer him to here the cōplaints and sutes of his subiectes This is to take the Crowne from his Maiestyes head to make your selues kinges Considering that the dignity and prehemiēnce of Royalty doth not so much consist vpon titles and ritches as in the discerninge iudging of the cōplaints and requests of his subiects in administrīg Iustice vnto them The pretēce then of these Hollāders Zelāders is so farre frō makīg him a Warde as that the onely mark that they tēd vnto is to set him at his ful liberty again which is to iudge lawfully accordinge to the custome of his Auncestours vpon all the controuersies complaints of his people which libertie you haue cleane berest him of yelded the same vnto the Italian Pope to the Prelats of the inquisiciō barred him clene both from hearing iudging of his subiects causes As touching the last point wherin you say That in your opinion his Maiestye ought not to yelde vnto our request no not one iote Surely I do most of all marueile that you woulde wish the K. to iudge no otherwyse than as you list If you be vassall to the K. leaue the choise to his Maiestie whether he wil yelde or not and do not you prescribe a law before that he himself haue first herd our requests afterwards giuen his iudgement vppon the same Otherwise you will giue the worlde to vnderstād how that you take the king to be so ignoraunt as that he cannot iudge of his owne affayres or els that your opinion must be a law whereby his Maiestie must of force be ruled Well if your opinion which you haue groūded vpon your owne conceite be so fast settled in your stomacke as that you will not alter the same Yet I woulde ye considered that all the Estates and Cities in these quarters be of an other minde And peraduenture it may bee that if the opinion of all the Estates in general may be vnderstood the greater part of thē wil be of our minde If you thinck otherwyse why do yee not suffer the matter to come to proofe by leauinge to his maiestie full liberty to iudge discerne of all sutes requests except your meanīg be that we must of force take your opinion for the kings determinaciō But surely for mine owne parte I cannot yet be so well perswaded of your great modestie wisedome Wherefore I am to request you that without suffering your selfe to be any longer blinded wyth these cauilling pretences you indeuour your self in good faith true meaninge to further the tranquillity and quiet of these Countries the which cannot by anye meanes be reestablished but by this that the king may haue his auctoritie kept to himselfe inuiolablie in hearing and cōsidering the requestes and controuersies of all such his Subiectes as crye and call for his helpe and mercye that hee may see some remedie for the same by the common aduice of the generall Estates of the Countrie and that he suffer vs not to bee oppressed by the cruell tiranny of Strangers who seeke nothing els but to satisfie their couetous mindes and greedines of gaine with the price of our bloude and wyth the vtter ouerthrow desolacion of his maiesties inheritaūce in these Prouinces to the great diminishing of his Maiesties Royall Estate not caringe a point though all this go to wracke so that they may returne into their Countries againe loden charged with the spoile of vs from the which I hope that Almighty God will defende vs with his puissant Arme as he hath done heretofore ⧠IMPRINTED AT London in Fleetestreate by Thomas Marsh. Anno. 1576.