title to the Kyng with part of the taskes and subsides they challenge vnto them selues soueraigne rule and authoritie and in causes capitall they appoint vnto the giltie either lyfe or death at theyr owne arbitrement whom they determine to destroy no man is able to saue no not the kyng hym selfe though he most earnestly desire it whom they take vpon them to defend neither the seueritie of the lawes nor Iudgement sincerely geuen nor the kynges commaundement is hable once to hurt hys litle finger therfore it is no maruayle if all estates yea and the kynges them selues be very much afrayde of them Afterwardes they folowed the same way in Naples Cicell Myllen and in the great countrey of Indya they openly but in vayne put the same practise for to make subiect to them selues all Germany for they were withstode and preuēted by your wisedome most mighty princes and by the wisdome power and vertue of your auncetors but yet they cease not at thys time by theyr craftye wiles deceites to peforme that which they haue so long desired For that I may pretermit the Gronyngans the wise Phrisians the Transisellians Geldrians Remanicensians and many other of the empyre the which alwayes haue obayed to the iurisdiction of the Romane Emperor haue vsed hys lawes and statutes and haue appealed to the court of the Emperor and submitted themselues into the gouernment of the Duke of Brabant onely vpon thys condition that they might retayne theyr lawes customes and statutes fastly without any appearing of the same all which the Duke of Alba hath depriued of all theyr liberties and priuileges and as though they had bene ouercomme by battell appoynted them new lawes created new magistrates contrary to theyr aūcient maner and constitution hath exacted vnaccustomed tributes hath built castelles in theyr cities hath banished the chiefe of theyr citiezens seased vp theyr goodes that I may I say pretermit all these thinges and infinite more of like sort in the which although he hath no right or title yet he pretendeth to haue some kinde of interest For what ende I pray you doth he séke openly to enlarge the bondes of hys gouernment without any iust or shadowed title therunto euen into the very middest of the empyre What causeth him to séeke or rather by force to take vppon hym the gouernment of the countrey of Cleueland threatningly to commaund them to banish out of theyr countrey all the Belgians What causeth hym by prescript to commaund Collyn and the other frée cities of the Empier what they should do vnto the low Germaynes It is impossible that it should not be reuealed vnto you most worthy princes what crueltie he hath committed what fieldes he hath destroyed what droues of beasts he hath caried away what matrones and virgins he hath defloured how many inhabitauntes he hath murdred in the East contrey of Phrisia and the contrey of Emdon What should we thinke moreouer séeing he doubteth not by hys edicte to call home all the studentes of low Germany which were gone abroad to forren vniuersities whatsoeuer onely Rome excepted and all the young men which were departed to other places for the learning of some arte or manuell occupation threatning perpetuall banishment and losse of all theyr goodes if they do not returne insomuch that he hath spoyled the poore yong men trauelling abroad for the knowledge of tongues and getting of wisedome of the fruite of all theyr studies and labourers making them vnfit hereafter to take office vppon them in the common wealth and hath vtterly beggered and vndone many which trauayled abroad to gette theyr lyuing by theyr arte and occupation In the whych he sheweth hymselfe vtterly to denounce all humanitie for if all humanitie be maintayned by the mutuall societie and company of men must he not néedes be the enemy therof which by violence seketh to take away that one gift wherby man only sheweth himself to differ from the brute beastes For the knowledge of tonuges and vse of reason althought it be peculiarly geuen vnto man yet the fruit therof is not fully reaped but in the company and society of mē especially in our affayres which we haue with other nations Therfore séeing he goeth about to bereue vs therof what séeketh he els but to destroy the toung the whole vse of reason the which truely so great is hys inhumanity he would do if he could bring it by any meanes to passe For what other thing doth he séeke by this his Inquisition Why doth he forbid the people the vse of holy Scripture Why doth he refuse onely the knowledge of Gods holy wil and Testament to the deuines that is forsooth to his Inquisitors and byshops Why doth he forbidde the people to pray in a knowne tongue but that he desireth rather to rule brutish beastes then reasonable men For he feareth lest if they should vnderstand any thing they would at the length detest so great vnaccustomed barbarousnes and therfore he will haue no cities or countries gone vnto but those vnto whom he prescribeth lawes and ordinaunces It hath bene very well by the wyse iudgement doyngs of our aūcetors brought to passe that yoūg men studious in good literature and liberal artes should trauel vnto other vniuersities to sée their cities and maners and to learne their toungues and for thys cause by the liberality and costes of kynges Princes frée Vniuersities were founded and great libertyes priuiledges graunted to them that thether the young men of other countryes might more often resort and that by thys meanes the fayth frendship and societie of men among themselues might the better be retayned the which truely is no new custome but hath bene vsed hertofore in all ages For we read that Platoe and the other philosphers dyd wyth long diuers trauellinges learne their wisedomes whereof we all stand now in admiration from straunge peoples and far nations carry the knowledge therof into Grece The Romanes before times vsed to sende theyr children into Gréece and Asia for learnings sake and that I may not onely stay in those olde examples not much before the immanitie of the Turke had ouerrun all Gréece the Germaynes Frenchmen Italians the Spanyardes them selues were wont earnestly to go to Athenes for study sake The which libertie or custome who soeuer taketh away he taketh truly away all humanitie and professeth him selfe the deadly enemy of all other nations For it is wont to be forbydden that any Citizen should inhabite or dwell amongest those agaynst whō our Haroldes haue denounced warre the whiche for this cause is done because we thinke it not lawfull for our Citizens young men to resorte to those people whō we accompt as enemyes seyng therefore right noble Princes that he doth forbyd his Citizens frée yong men to be brought vp amongest you all other nations onely Rome excepted what cā otherwise be gathered but that he misdoubteth your faith and suspecteth your meanyng
Ladie long in honor and prosperitie to serue our most gracious Queene whō God long defend to hys honor and the succour of hys Church and comfort of her owne conscience in not omittyng any thyng to the helpe of Gods flocke and sure remouyng of Gods enemyes dangerous practisers that as her present gouernement ministreth aboundance of good frutes so the tymes imminent and posteritie may find no lacke but for her good prouisions yeld her eternall thankefull memorie when God shall haue receiued her as hys faythfull seruaunt to eternall blessed kyngdome Your L. most humble Elias Newcomen THe same tempest most victorious Emperor and most noble Princes which now almost a whole hundred yeares hath troubled sundry partes of Europe hath now also at this time by most cruell tyrannie enforced vs being spoyled of our goods chased out of our natiue contreyes oppressed with sclanders of our aduersaries and tossed with all kinde of calamities to flée as most humble suters to your clemencie for succor For we suppose there is no man ignorant that long agoe Spaine and since also by litle and litle a great part of all Europe not onely hath flamed with inward contentions and tumultes but also hath in maner ben ouerwhelmed with most greuous storme of persecutions and tyrannie Wherby certaine idle men which in onely name and outward gesture professed a solitarie life seuered frō all gouernance of common weales and onely addicted to the preaching of the worde of God or quiet studie of holy scriptures haue begonne to créep into courtes of Kinges and Princes and couering their greedy affections with cloke of religion to minister such counsells wherby they might by their new deuised meane of Inquisition against heresie drawe to themselues from the ciuile magistrate the hearing and iudgement of the controuersies of greatest weight and importance And so by litle and litle they haue atteined not onely by searching and inquiring to become Lordes of euery priuate persons goods possessions houses and most secrete places yea and their wiues and children but also to bring the magistrates and Princes themselues in subiection to their authoritie In what places they perceaued their desires to be hindred either by the auncient libertie of the people or by the discretion of the Rulers and Princes straightway they charged such with forged sclander of heresie and rebellion and so greuously enflamed the hartes of Kinges and Emperors against their subiectes And by thys craftie meane they haue stirred vp ciuile dissentions tumultes of commonalties and oftentimes gréeuous warres whereby they haue brought most florishing contreyes into great displeasure and hatred of all kinges princes and nations and so drawen them to extreme calamitie This if any prouince in Europe hath euer felte surely our contrey namely that part of base Germanie that is subiecte to the most mighty king of Spaine hath and specially at thys time to their great destruction most miserably suffred For since that by the most false sclanders and other corrupt craftye meanes of the Spanishe Inquisitors thys countrey hath vnder pretense of heresie and impietie bene brought in greuous displeasure with the Emperor Charles the fifth of happye memorie and his sonne Philippe King of Spaine and Lorde of base Germanie and oppressed with most hainous Edictes about religion procured by guile and sclanderous report and so hath of their great truth and obedience to their soueraigne Lordes now more than fiftie yeares with incredible pacience borne the Inquisitors most cruell yoke and now at length after matters in other countreyes adioyning well settled to peace and quietnesse and the truth of the cause commonly disclosed hoped to finde some release of so great calamitie it is now come to passe that the aduersaries being greued to see them aspire to such libertie of religion as by thys time florished not onely in Germanie but also in Fraunce and many other places haue in strange maner and with most earnest endeuour trauailed not onely to frustrate the hope of the inhabitantes but also by bringing in a farre more greuous tyrannie to pull from them all the residue of their right and libertie that they had remayning and so to spoile such wealthy ones of their goods and such noble and mighty ones of their liues as they saw to be of habilitie to withstand their attemptes Therefore adioyning to them the Bishop of Rome and hauing obtained hys Bull they did by sondry sclanders and with extreme importunacie wreste from the King an Edicte agaynst all the Priuileges of the contrey agaynst their lawes ordinaunces and auncient liberties namely for the precise obseruing of the decrées of the Counsell of Trent and for bringing in of new Bishops that shoulde put in execution throughout the whole land a new forme of Inquisition farre more cruell than the very Spanishe Inquisition which was first inuented against Iewes and Mahometane Apostataes and so in short time should openly bring a most florishing and frée Prouince into the most dishonourable seruage of straungers and those most villanous and abhominable persons to torment at their pleasure the honestest and best men vpon suborning of any infamous informer or most corrupt witnesse with bondes with racke with gallowes and with fire to thrust the wealthy out of their possessions to subdue the magistrates them selues to their iurisdiction and to make themselues Lordes of all specially to destroy vtterly and with most exquisite tormētes to murder and roote vp all those that refused to obey the Bishop of Romes power and would haue their consciences subiecte to the onely worde of God contayned in the bookes of the olde and new Testament This matter geuing iust occasion to the Nobilitie that they exhibited supplication for staye thereof to the Duchesse of Parma Regent there for the King and in the same declared what calamitie would thereof vndoubtedly ensue and likewise whē the commonaltie hauing heretofore vsed their religion within their priuate houses and seing the same thereby subiecte to sclanders and enuie did now by laying it open in publike preachinges and assemblies to the indifferent iudgement and examination of all good men deliuer it from false and cauillous reportes it came to passe that the aduersaries hereupon tooke occasion by raising of sondry tumultes most hatefully to incense the King against the whole people as giltie of the most haynous crimes of heresie rebellion sedition and treason against God and the king And where his maiestie was fully determined to come into the lowe conteyr and him selfe in person to heare the cause and to end the whole matter according to right and equitie they partly by suttle crafty meanes and very traitorous practises purposely deuised for the destruction of the people of that contrey and partly by the importunate labour and impudent gredy endeuour of certaine persons and partly also by aduises and threatninges procured from forene partes euen in maner against his will brought hym to thys that being greuously incensed agaynst his subiectes sodeinly altering hys former
ample sorte graunted them as it was to the frenchmen by theyr king and the whole assent of hys noble estates perceyuing theyr hope and expectation frustrate and themselues to be dayly more and more slaundred and that there was no more hope left eyther in the kinges clemency or in the expectation for the parlament of hauing their cause heard much lesse of equall iudgement And yet notwithstanding all of them euery where dyd not cease to call for the preaching of the gospell insomuch that the multitude could not be contayned in any priuate houses Many of them began in the vttermost borders of Flaunders where the tyranny of the Inquisition had most extreamly persecuted them and by and by in Brabant in Holland and also the rest of the prouinces to come together into the fields to the preaching of Gods word and openly to set forth theyr doctrine that at the length they might cleare themselues from the slaunderous cauils of theyr owne aduersaries being their Iudges and that all men might know who they were what kinde of men they were what number was of them and of what estimation or worship they were of first they came to all assemblies without weapons But when theyr aduersaries began opēly to threaten vnto them most extreme cruelty many of them got theyr wepons some a sword some a speare some a club as men vse them when they prepare to take armour but a very few brought dagges but within a whyle after theyr number began to encrease to many thousandes of people When the Cardinalles Vicegerentes perceiued they could not be oppressed without open violence because by reason of theyr great number of theyr fauour and power of the equitie of theyr cause of the honesty of theyr lyfe of the integritie of theyr actions they were becom maruelously strong But especialy when they saw the most part of the nobilitie openly fauoryng theyr cause whose desire of publike peace which they of late had shewed foorth in theyr bill of supplication and all theyr actions were slaundered very much wyth sundry slaunderous cauils they flye vnto theyr crafts guiles They by sundry and many wayes deceiued the nobilitie which came together in a solemne assembly at Sainttrudo to take counsell for the sauegard of themselues and for the aunswering of the most reprochfull cauils and the auoyding of theyr violent rashnes First they go about to perswade them to become the open enemies of the publike preaching and to dispatch them by force of armes But perceiuing themselues to labour therin in vayne because many of the nobles dyd resist them which were professors of that religion they compassed theyr matter about an other way fayning themselues to require theyr helpe for to pacifie the tumults of the people Therefore propounding many commaundementes they obtayned that Embassitors should be sent from among them vnto the Gouernesse of Permence the which should determine vppon all matters according to equitie and right as best should be thought for the profite of the common wealth The Embassadors mening simply went with them vnto Bruxell The gouernesse desireth thē the tumultes of the people with all theyr power and to obey the king and his magistrates with all obedience not once minding to take vpon thē armour but leauing all fond sinister suspicions to perswade themselues that the king would very well allow of their doings accompt it a full satisfaction of their duties she likewise graunteth at theyr request that it shal be lawfull for thē to kéepe theyr publike sermons in their accustomed places as they haue done heretofore It was solemply also decréed on both parties that by the auctority of the magistrates there should be appointed common places in euery citie town wherin they might make their sermons and fréely without all feare exercise their preachings that the professing of religion should be hurtfull to none so that he obserued his duty in all other matters without inuading of churches or mouing any tumults herafter they promised faythfully on both parties but the Cardinals men bound themselues by oth by theyr holy deuotion to be faithfull in performing their promise The gouernesse for her part to make it more sure calleth a counsell of the nobles who likewise promised their fidelity in performing the same she geueth forth letters patents auctorised with the kings broad seale Not lōg after she sendyng these letters to the gouernours and Magistrates of euery prouince geueth in commaūdement that this agréement should bee promulgated and that the whole common wealth should be gouerned accordyng to the comētes therof afterward by publicke Edicts she forbiddeth that any mā should reuile or speake euil of others for religion sake seyng she dyd pronounce that all men of both religions were in the kyngs safe gouernement and good protection It happened in the meane tyme whiles those thynges were a doyng at Bruxels it first in the Weast partes of Fraunders and afterwardes in many other Cities almost at the same tyme Images pictures aulters were ouerthrowen in the Churches whether by craft of the aduersaryes which euen now dyd séeke all occasiōs to accuse the people that hauyng some fayre shew they might gather an army or by the fonde zeale of many which thought they could not earnestly repent them of their sinnes vnles they had ouerthrowen the instrumentes of idolatry it is as yet vncerteine But this is most apparaunt that in many Cities the sacrifising Priestes them selues began first to cary out of their Churches their most precious reliques and vessels that then boyes rascall people followyng them dyd ouerthrowe the rest and in many Cities It is knowen also that the byshops them selues and they which were the greatest aduersaryes of the Gospel dyd by publike authothoritie ouerthrow the Images pictures and the rest of the ceremonyes and that by their authoritie and example many good godly Citizens dyd the same likewise supposing this their doyng to be commaunded by the authoritie of the Magistrate But how soeuer it came to passe the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors tooke a very fitte occasion hereby to execute their purpose for by and by they in all hast gatheryng souldiours together apprehended many of those whiche ouerthrew the Images and cast them into prison and hanged them neither could they by any questions or kinde of tormentes enforce them to confesse the which thyng they most gréedely desired that any of the Ministers of the Churches or any of the confederate princes which were at the foresayd assembly or any of the professors of the Gospel were authors of this enterprise But rather they did all with one voyce confesse that as it was most manifest by their preachynges and endeuours wherewith they did disalow that enterprise it was done contrary to all their willes and not without their great grief and sorow Therfore the gouernesse dyd not ceasse to sée the former contract of gouernyng the
common wealth executed in so much that she gaue by publike auctoritie vnto many of the nobles and of the confederate princes charge ouer cities in the whiche they should set all thynges in order accordyng to the due prescript of the former decrée that they should assigne places out for the buildyng of Churches and for the peoples assembly to heare Sermōs and that they should with open protestation will all men to be secure and voyde from all feare and daunger and certeinly to persuade them selues that the garisons of souldiours should nothyng endammage them With the whiche thyng all the people began excedyngly to reioyce and to lay a part all feare as though out of a most boysterous tempeste they were already arriued in a most quiet hauen stayeng them selues vpon the publike promise thus made taken and confirmed by writyng They began to builde their Churches and fréely quietly to set forth their religion But yet notwithstandyng the furious madnes of their aduersaries was not pacified although they had already punished the ouerthrowers of their Images with greuous punishementes and did sée the innocencie of these Churches most manifestly witnessed by their open confessions But rather most proudly auauntyng them selues as though they had gotten a iust occasiō to punish the rebelles and that they should nothyng feare hereafter the nobilitie the whiche did manifestly shew them selues to be heauely displeased with the insolency of of the Imagebreakers they began by litle and litle but openly to encrease the nomber of their garrisons and to set them in their Cities with this pretence onely to withstand the insolencie of the Imagebreakers and thus they armed them selues with all thynges necessary vntill such tyme that they had brought their matters to as good effect as they desired perceiuyng the people quietly to rest them selues vppon the faythful promise of the nobilitie and gouernesse set forth in the kinges name vnder hys seale and letters patentes and that the noble men also were quiet not once mysdoubting that they should haue bene so wickedly and vnfaythfully deceaued they began openly to shew foorth what theyr meaning was for in such places where as they might be most bolde and in the which the magistrate was appliable vnto their desire first with new commaundementes obscure and doubtfull edictes and with scoffing interpretation they began to disanull the auctority of the published commaundement as concerning the late contract and in many places to delay from day to day the sealing of the writings of the publike promise and with sundry cauils to deceaue the miserable citizens and in many places to put those magistrats whose dealing they knew wold be alwayes with iustice out of their offices and contrary to the orders of the cities in their roomes to substitute most wicked men prompt and redy to all kinde of impietie and then at the length as though all hindraunces had bene taken away they began with great insolency by force of armes to disturbe the companies assembled at sermons tauntingly to reuile the ministers and citizens to worne them with wepons and lastly with open tyranny to oppresse them imprisoning many hanging many banyshing many and appointing new kind of othes wherby men should binde them to the popish religion contrary to the former decrée couenaunted and established before and to accompt those which denied to obey for enemies and traytors to the kinges maiestie Morouer they did rebaptize infantes which were baptized before they spoyled all the professors of the Gospell of theyr weapons and armour they armed and stirred vp the rest of the comminaltie agaynst them as agaynst the enemies of the common wealth Neyther onely did the sacrificing priestes or preachers out of their pulpits as it were with an open outcry stir vp the people to take armour agaynst them but also in many places the Magistrates themselues which were appoynted by the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors sounding allarum gaue open licence vnto the sedition and tumultes of the people against the miserable Gospellers the which were then lately called Gwesians that is to say Beggers and rascals And hereupon began the most dolefull and late calamitie of the noble prouince For euen then first of all was that famous citie of the Valentians beséeged in enemies wise of hys owne familiar frendes and citizens because forsooth they refused vppon the sodaine to receaue within theyr walles the cruell souldiers in that number that was commaunded them that is to say foure bandes of horsemen and fiue ensignes of footmen but tooke vnto them a day to deliberate in alleaging many causes that it would not be commodious vnto them to receaue them séeing they had as yet before theyr eyes amongs theyr neighbours a most cruell and doleful president of the souldiers rashnes for not long before in the countrey and towne of Sancto Amandus nexte adioyning vnto them the very same which were thrust in contrary to theyr lawes and priuiledges contrary to the fidelitie of the promise before geuen violently robbed and spoyled the poore miserable people that professed the Gospell of all they had in so much that from the very yong infantes they pulled theyr hose from theyr legges they defloured by course one after an other after the most horrible example of the Beniauntes the chaste matrones and virgines and at length in most cruell wise set them to open sale at the sounde of the drome they put to death many burnyng them by litle and litle with small flames and with theyr swordes opened the wombes of matrones great with childe The remembraunce of which horrible thynges iustly terrifieng the Valentenentians they humbly desired that they should not be cōpelled to receaue within their walles and houses such kynde of souldiers vnto whose auarice lust and crueltie they perceiued them selues their lyues wiues children and consciences should be at lēgth in most seruile bondage seyng that for foure yeares space before they had payed of their own proper costes and charges vnto the garrisons of souldiers their wages vpon this condition that they should neuer hereafter bee vexed or burdened any more with souldiours Neither yet dyd they so manifestly refuse it but that they dyd openly in most humble wise signifie vnto the gouernesse and to the rest of the primates rulers of the prouince that they were ready to receaue the souldiours of what nomber soeuer if they had a capitaine appointed thē for that they shuld not hinder the libertie of Religion whiche they had graunted confirmed vnto them not long before by the Edict of the gouernesse by the authoritie of the kynges letters patentes by the nobilities constant confirmation and with assent of all the Magistrates But they nothyng at all preuayled by this their modestie and equitie of their cause but forthwith they were openly proclaimed as traytors and rebelles the Citie was besieged vntill that at the lēgth when they beyng persuaded therto by the letters of the gouernesse promising all kind of clemency had
the rashnes of théeues and wicked souldiours neither was this done of all men but of a very few the whiche when they perceiued no there hope to escape but onely exile and seing the same also by the wickednes of their aduersaries to be shut vp from them they thought it best by force of armes to make them selues some way to escape by the which truly if they had not done and also if that the terror of Brerodius souldiours had not made theyr aduersaryes a litle doubtfull doubtlesse not one of them from so great a slaughter had escaped safe from the gredy iawes of their aduersaries They can neuer proue that any other or that these for any other cause dyd take vpō them armore before the commyng of the Duke of Alba although they had many and sundry oportunities and occasiōs offred them both to possesse many much and well fenced Cities and also to inuade and spoyle the kynges treasure and Excheker But they would commit nothyng wherof they might not with a safe conscience make rehearsall before God and all good men But if any in solent persons either haue gone about or done any other thyng or for some other purpose seyng their doinges were neither commaunded nor alowed by those whiche were the chief of the congregation let not so great a multitude of innocēt persons be punished for the insolencie of a few for it doth nothyng apperteine vnto vs what a few priuate men haue committed for to reuenge their iniuries taken before either of the Inquisitors or of the sacrificyng priests or of any other person Much lesse doth the ouerthrowyng of Images Idols apperteyne vnto vs for we will easely proue that it was done without the commaundement or consent of our Minister Elders or congregations vnlesse a few of ours perceyuyng the Magistrate to agrée therunto did thinke it likewyse lawfull for them to do the same although truly who soeuer they were that committed it they haue bene more then sufficiently punished for their offence for in place of one dead and blockish Image their hath bene aboue xxx liuely Images of God for whom the sonne of God dyd shed hys bloud murthered destroyed and burnt and in stede of one rotten blocke more then ten liuely bodyes yet the Images restored and renewed by their common charges As concernyng the new Religion wherof they accuse vs to bée authours euery man knoweth how farre our religion which we professe is from that kynde of newnes For besides that this religiō was deliuered vnto vs by Christ the antiquitie of all thyngs the eternall sonne of God by his profites Apostles and Martyrs from many ages it is manifest that aboue whole fifty yeares it hath florished in Belgie and bene set foorth in priuate méetynges and Sermons Neither was it at any tyme either by any lawfull iudgement or Edict rightly made cōdemned For what so euer iudgementes hath bene geuen agaynst the professours of this Religion the iudges them selues and Magistrates were compelled by the seueritie of the Edictes to confesse agaynst their will and with great strife of conscience to pronounce the same Yea they which were found gilty were not suffred lawfully to defend them selues but they had their mouthes stopped with a ball and theyr tounges cut out of their heades contrary to the true order of Iustice It is manifest also that all the Edictes whiche were made by Charles the Emperour and kyng Phillip are voyde and of none effect bycause they were made contrary to the lawes and statutes of the coūtrey without the counsel and consent of the estates of the prouince required in solemne assembly as they were bound by othe thereunto without whose assent nothyng accordyng vnto the custome and maner of their auncestors could be established and were also thrust vpō many of the Magistrates agaynst their will staiyng them selues vpon most vayne foūdations full of friuolous cauils by false vnderstādyng as we haue before declared by the euident playne wordes of the Edictes Therfore this religion can not by any maner of meanes be counted a new religion nor they the professors of the same seyng they were vncōdemned as yet by any lawfull iudgement accused of any cryme much lesse should they be estemed as the authors of sedition and tumultes of the people and causers of this great greuous calamitie But what néede we in so playne a matter to vse so many wordes séeing the case doth euidently shew it self and euery man perceyueth who ought to be accused as auctors of these turmoyles calamities We haue hertofore declared what was the meaning and intent of the spanish Inquisitors and priestes what counsell they haue taken what helpe and ministers they haue vsed by what meanes they haue espyred vnto thys tyrannicall gouernment and soueraigne authority in Belgye without any law or prescript Though these thinges peraduenture because of theyr great modestie and equitie which they vse in other prouinces may séeme to some not probable although truely they be dayly song in euery childes mouth yet if he way these present tymes if he sée the effectes of matters these theyr doinges and affayres and note this the vncredible tyranny of the Duke of Alba all which are most apparant to all mē he shall nothing doubt therein All they whom they did call rebels haue forsaken they countrey and although they might haue had good occasions and opportunities to kéepe some stirre yet they chose rather voluntary exile banishment and most extreame pouertie then that they would vexe theyr countrey with most dolefull warre But what haue they any thing for all thys mitigated theyr cruelty Haue they not after all these thinges brought to passe in Spayne by theyr deuises that the king which in a solemne assembly at Madride had sworne that he woulde in hys owne person reuenge the iniury which he thought himselfe to haue taken of hys subiectes at Belgye and for that cause made all thinges ready for hys iorney and had fully determined to take his sonne and the Quéene hys wyfe wyth hym should alter hys purpose agaynst his will and because they knewe hym by nature to be a Prince prone to all kinde of mercy and gentlenes to continue still in Spayne Haue they not substituted or sent an Embassador in hys stead the kings sonne and many of the nobles were vnwilling thereunto the Duke of Alba whom by hys nature and maners they well knew to be very fit for theyr purpose both by those thinges which he did in Germany by the order of hys whose lyfe but especially also by the deadly hatred and rancored grudge which he had of long time layd vp in hys stomake agaynst the Princes of Belgye for theyr valiaunt actes atchieued in the warres of Fraunce agaynst his will and meaning Haue they not committed vnto him the full power and auctoritie yea haue they no caused the kynges onely sonne lawfull heyre and Lord of the prouince of Belgye to end hys lyfe
of sense and reason whose vnderstandyng is so blynded that he beleueth that these good and well disposed persons doth séeke nothyng els but to kéepe the prouince of Belgie vnder the kynges authoritie to defend religion and mainteyne lawes seyng all their actions and doinges do openly pretend shew that they haue no other kyng no law or religion but their onely auarice and most beastly couetousnes they make a glorious pretence as though all the Belgians were Lutherans rebelles and traytors to the kyngs maiesty bycause forsooth they would not submit their neckes to the yocke of the Inquisition that is to say they would not willyngly and of their owne accord yeld vp them selues to the beastly lust and vniust tyranny of most pernicious persons But truly if they had their kyng for theyr enemy they would neuer haue so faythfully obserued their loyalty towardes him neyther would they so carefully haue retained all their cities townes and castels in hys fidelitie tuitiō neyther would they so faithfully haue geuē credite to the kyngs edictes the kynges name the kinges brode seale to the Gouernesse and in so doyng should neuer haue runne into so many so great calamities by their so light credulity neither should the Duke of Alba once haue set foote into these countryes for they had infinite occasions and oportunities offered them of dissanulling the kinges authoritie of alienating hys cities of striking league with other nations adioyning vnto them and of kéeping backe the Alban duke from the borders of theyr prouince And yet for all thys dare not the aduersaries affirme vnlesse they be most impudent that thys was once mentioned amongst them or spoken of But let it be so that they were rebels is it lawfull therfore for the King to violate hys faithfull promise to peruert the lawes both of God and man and to pollute all thinges both holy and prophane wyth thys vnaccustomed tyranny We read that in the time of our auncitors many of the cities of Flaunders dyd rebell agaynst Maximilian the most mighty king of the Romanes and the citizens dyd not onely openly refuse hys gouernement and deteyned wyth them for the space of eight yeares his sonne Philippe against his will but also did most cōtumeliously throw Maximilian himselfe into prison but afterwardes beyng ouercome by the helpe of Frederike the Emperour and other the princes of Germany they yelded thēselues agayne to hys authoritie then thys good prince Maximilian in thys so odious rebellion and hauing bene so iniuriously handled was so farre from doing any thing lyke vnto the Albane Duke that he not onely with great gentlenes receaued hys subiects agayne into his graces fauor but also with great clemency worthy of so great a prince restored vnto them agayne all theyr priuiledges and auncient immunities By the which hys vncredible lenitye he made the hole prouince most obedient in all pointes to hym and hys posteritie for euer But these men neuer remitted any tribute any subsedy or burden layd vppon the kinges most faythfull subiectes whose loyaltie towardes the King coulde neuer wyth any crime be attayned beyng alwayes obedient to the kinges commaundement who had offered vp by humble supplication all theyr riches and substaunce vnto the kings good will and pleasure desiring to haue nothing frée from the Kinges commaundement but onely a cleare conscience in religion the which they ought to kéepe vnpolluted vnto God alone And they humbly desired to redéeme the libertie of religion with an extraordinary and farre more gréeuous tribute then the Christians redéeme theyr religion of the Turke or the Iewes obtayne theyrs of the pope Yet notwithstanding these men I say spoyling those faythfull subiectes of all theyr riches forbid them the vse of fyre and water ayre land as if they were the most deadly enemies of all mankinde yet haue they God knoweth committed no offence but only geuen to light credite to the kings edicts which in manner were established as firme lawes neuer to be reuoked and so they simply beleuing the kinges letters and name kept diligently their sermons in the which there was nothing preached but the pure woorde of God and they dayly admonished to shew theyr obedience to the prince and his magistrates Yet these tyrantes doth with most horrible cruelty oppresse the hole prouince without respect either of the innocent or offenders and wyth most insatiable auarice spoyling them torment them wyth most barbarous tyranny Can any man now doubt what it is that these men haue hertofore laboured to bring to passe or whereunto they haue bended theyr mindes set theyr eyes and applyed theyr most reuening handes Or is there any man so blind that can not sée what hath bene the cause originall of these foresayd tumultes in Belgye or so blockish that he can not perceiue that these honest men I meane the good maisters and byshops of the spanish inquisition haue from the beginning onely gone about to alienate the kinges minde from hys subiectes and by euery small or none occasion to accuse them of rebellion that as they haue most furiously executed theyr tyranny in the kingdome of Naples Cycell and the countrey of Millen in new India and in the chiefest partes of Spayne so they might by some maner of meanes furiouslye rage in the lowe Germany and by litle and litle when occasion shall bee offered in highe Germany and that vnder the colour of defending the Popes religion they might oppresse the hole libertie of the citizens in Belgie take away theyr magistrates authoritie and violate the hole power of theyr lawes bring the kinges maiestie subiect to theyr authoritye and that they themselues might without law or order at their pleasure cōmaund what they wyll take what they lyste kyll whatsoeuer should offend them empty the rich mens coffers and make themselues lordes and gouernors of all thinges But if any man shall thinke that these thynges because they be present not yet throughly finished can not easily be iudged vpon let hym coniecture and take iudgement of thynges alredy past In the which we appeale vnto your maiesties most mighty Emperour and ye renowmed princes of Germany call to remembraunce what they haue heretofore done in Germany what with what fetches and counselles they haue wrought you shall perceaue truly theyr old artes you shall know these old Spaniardes you shall know these old Inquisitors for euē these be they which with their greuous cauils and sclaunders with the terror of the Popes name haue oppressed the most famous princes of Germany before Charles the v. which kyndled a most dolefull firebrand of ciuill dissention in the very bowels of hygh Germany and vnder the cloake of rebellion dyd set the Protestant Princes together by the eares beyng altogether ignoraunt of their trechery the which haue defiled all things in Germany with their wicked flagitious actes the whiche haue gone about to ouerthrow the liberties of Germany and lawes of the Empire and
purpose he sent thether in hys stede with most large Commission to heare the cause and dispose of the state of the common weale the Duke of Alua a man both a most assured minister of their Inquisition and for olde grudges a most bitter enemie to the Princes and state of the lowe contrey He coloring hys owne malitious affections with the glorious pretense of zele to restore the Romishe religion and to chastise Rebells it is incredible to tell how great and how outragious crueltie he hath echewhere executed vpon the poore inhabitantes of the lowe contrey without respecte or difference by how many and how strange deuises he hath robbed all mens goods how he hath spoyled the whole Prouince of all their ornamentes disarmed them of their defences depriued them of their liberties and stripped them out of their lawes and priuileges how euery honest man he hath condemned by priuate warrant without iudiciall order euery the most innocent mans bloud he hath shed euery most vertuous person he hath put to most vile shame all lawes of God and man he hath violated the bandes of mariage he hath broken the Sacrament of Baptisme he hath polluted all order of charitie and frendly societie he hath ouerthrowen finally no part of most extreme crueltie and such as neuer was heard of before hath he omitted And yet in the meane time he ceaseth not to throw vpon vs the blame of his haynous factes and by proclamations published by infamous libels printed openly to all princes and states to accuse vs of most greuous crimes for thys onely cause forsooth that in fléeing we gaue place to his furie and by the helpe of Gods protection haue escaped his sworde most thirsty of our bloudes All which thinges forasmuch as almighty God hath so determined that we shoulde for a time be here afflicted by the tyrannie of the wicked we woulde haue thought it best for vs to passe ouer in silence and in pacience and to waite for the time which the great Iudge hath appointed either for bringing our innocencie to knowledge or for opening the eyes and eares of our King to vnderstand our vniuste miserie and iuste complaint were it not that we doe plainly sée that such our silence specially in thys so sacred and so full assemblie of your maiestie most victorious Emperour and of your highnesses most noble Princes might hereafter bring no small preiudice to vs and our innocencie before such to whom the truth shall not be sufficiently knowen For by such meane the sonne of God Iesus Christ him selfe and his doctrine which we professe according to hys worde shoulde become subiecte to the most haynous sclanders of the aduersaries as if the professors thereof before thys so reuerend iudgement seate of Christendome before so vpright and vncorrupt iudges before thys theatre so furnished with so great assemblie of sondry nations were by silent confession found gilty not onely of heresie and pestilent vngodly error but also of shamefull rebellion of wicked sedition and disturbance of common peace Wherefore we haue vtterly determined that we can not with good peace of conscience longer kepe silence But for asmuch as we know that the order of these vsuall assemblies of the states of the sacred Empyre haue their chiefe respecte to this end that such as be oppressed by force and iniurie may heare present their compleintes as to the chiefe throne of Iustice in Christendome we thought it our duetie to declare our whole estate to your maiestie most mightye Emperour and to your highnesses most noble Princes and to open vnto you the very originall fountaines of thys our most greuous calamitie that if the mercie of God haue decréed to make an end of our so great miseries we may by your goodnesse and liberalitie beginne to take breath agayne after thys most heauy weight of oppression If not yet the cause being more throughly heard we shall before indifferent iudges deliuer our innocencie from the most vniuste sclanders of our aduersaryes Wherby if nothing ells yet thys we shall obtaine that from henceforth our religion and the profession of the Gospell shall not beare the infamie of so greuous crimes with them that heretofore being filled with the accusations of the aduersaryes haue not vnderstoode the truth and that Iesus Christ the sonne of God whose name we professe shall not bee wounded through vs and finally that we shall not as enemies of publike peace and quietnesse be expelled from common societie by forrene Princes and peoples which is the chiefe thinges that our enemies doe séeke but that the whole truth being throughly vnderstoode the whole originall of the mischiefes shall be iustly layed vpon them that inflamed with their owne gredy malices do tumble vp all thinges and such good and innocent men as they haue by wrong and tyrannie spoyled of their goods and can not yet bereue of their liues they labour to oppresse with most vile sclaunderous reportes to your maiestie O Emperor and your highnesses O noble Princes that so they may drawe you into the fellowship of their crueltie and by your helpe they may either satisfie their vnsatiable thirst with our bloud or glutt their most bitter hatred that they haue conceaued against vs with our destruction Which thing that they shall not obtaine your equitie truth and vprightnesse and our innocencie do assure vs In confidence whereof we prostrate vs at your feete we flée to your protection and mercy craue helpe of your religiousnesse iustice vprightnesse and we most humbly besech you that preseruing the iustice of law ye will vouchsafe most mercifully to defend our miserable and afflicted innocencie aganist the outragious power and vnbridled boldnesse of our enemies That ye may vnderstand how iustly ye may do it that ye may clerely perceaue in whom the fault of the whole mischief resteth we besech your maiesty most inuincible Emperor your highnesses most noble Princes that at leasure ye will gently and diligently read this booke annexed to this our supplication wherin with the truth of the whole historie we declare our innocencie to all men and that with the same pacience and equitie of minde that you vse to receaue the complaintes of all miserable and innocent persons it may please you also to vnderstand our cause and to your power deliuer vs out of these calamities So shall ye shew your selues worthy ministers to the soueraigne king of kinges supreme iudge and shall stirre vp our hartes to be continuall suters to his grace and mercy for you IT is now nere a hundred yeres agoe sins the most noble Ferdinand and Isabell Kyng and Quene of Castile hauyng ended theyr great and long warre agaynst the Mahumetanes which had inuaded inhabited and trobled the kingdome of Spayne by the space of almost viij hundred yeres and hauyng chaced the sayd enemies out of all Spayne and recouered the kyngdome of Granada gaue theyr mynde to stablish relligion and to roote out all