Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	death_n	great_a	king_n	2,913	5	3.6168	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07032	A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, otherwise called Flanders Wherein, is sett forthe the originall and full proceedyng of the saied troubles and ciuile warres, with all the stratagemes, sieges, forceble takynges, and manlike defenses, of diuers and sondrie cities, tounes, and fortresses of the same, together, the barbarous crueltie and tyrannie of the Spaniard, and trecherous hispaniolized Wallons, [and] others of the saied lowe Countreis. And there withall, the estate and cause of religion, especially, from the yere 1559. vnto the yere 1581. Besides many letters, commissions, contractes of peace, unions, articles and agrementes, published and proclaimed in the saied prouinces. Translated out of French into Englishe, by T.S. ge[n]t.; Chronyc. historie der Nederlandtscher oorlogen, troublen enn oproeren oorspronck, anvanck enn eynde, item den standt der religien, tot desen jare 1580. English.	Stocker, Thomas, fl. 1569-1592.; Marnix van St. Aldegonde, Philips van, 1538-1598, attributed name.; Rijckewaert, Carolus, called Theophilus, fl. 1577, attributed name.; Henricpetri, Adam, fl. 1576. General historien der aller namhafftigsten unnd fürnembsten Geschichten, Thaten und Handlungen.; Le Petit, Jean François, 1546-ca. 1615, attributed name.	1583 (1583)	STC 17450.3; ESTC S111524	324,446	432

ancient customes priuiledges franchises of this Citie or against the Citizens and enhabitauntes thereof but ayde defende and keepe them asmuch as is possible for men to do 21 And if they vnderstande any thing tending to the hurte of his Maiesties seruice or the disquieting of the Citie they shall be bounde forthwith to aduertise their Captaynes thereof that they maye make reporte of the same to those to whome it shall appertayne 22 All which they shall do vpon paine and punishment both of bodies goodes limmes and banishment or other arbitrary or pecuniarie correction according to the demerite of the fact and circumstances thereof 23 Vnto all which articles euery one of them when they shall bee enrolled shall bee bounde to sweare and really promise vnto God almightie to keepe and not crosse any maner of way nor yet rebell against them vpon the payne and perill aforesaid Ouer and besides all this the Lieutenant Captaynes Ensignes Corporalles Seriauntes of bandes and diseners shall sweare and promise with all their power to holde and keepe so farreforth as they are able all the Souldiers and Dizaines in good policie obedience and modestie and shall effectually bryng to passe whatsoeuer at any tyme shal be commaunded them to do with their companions and dizaines and likwise to countergard and preuent all discorde sedition and ill will which may aryse betweene the souldiers and the Citizens And if it so fall out that they be not able to appease them then immediatly to aduertise his Excellencie his Lieutenaunt or their Captayne for redresse thereof And so it was subscribed By his Excellencies appoynted De Penants AT the very same tyme there was openly solde a printed picture in which was pictured Commissions and letters from his Maiestie with the Inquisition tyed and hanging at a Bowe that was bent The Protestants or those of the religion going about to pull it downe with ropes The Pope and his shauelings labouring with might and mayne to vpholde and maynteyne them The Protestantes crying out and saying Pour Placcars et Inquisition casser trauaillous tous sanscesser To witte for the ouerthrowing of these Commissions and this vile Inquisition wee neuer cease trauelling till wee haue brought them all downe The Pope on the other side answering and saying Per force et aussi conseil bon Retenous les Placars et le Inquisition to witte And wee for our partes with all the force and counsayle wee can will retayne and keepe them in despite of any man All these thinges aforesayde were done wh●lest my Lorde the Prince of Drange was at Antwerpe but the pulling downe and breaking of the Images was the cause that the Catholikes yeelded more to the Protestantes then they at the first intended For the feare of the rage and furie of the people and the helpe of the Gentlemen Straungers strooke them to the verye heart and besides they knewe well ynoughe● that the kinges Maiestie was a great distance off to helpe them wherefore they were enforced to behaue themselues accordingly as the tyme serued and of necessitie to make a vertue in dispice of them and of their great sorrowe and griefe In the meane while The L. Regent tollerateth the sermons the Ladie Regent by the counsayle of the Lordes of the Goulden Fleese and others graunted and permitted the Protestauntes to haue publique Sermons promising to appoynte them some place without the Citie for the exercise of their religion Ouer and besides that the Inquisition and seuere Commissions shoulde from thence foorth bee abolished so that no man shoulde any more be pursued and bunted after for his conscience But yet vpon this condition that the confedered Gentlemen which tooke no parte shoulde sweare that they woulde procure the people to forsake and lay downe theyr armour and weapon and that the Churches should bee no more spoyled nor any thing that shoulde bee preiudiciall vnto the Cleargie men or Catholikes To be short that they should be ready to yeelde all obedience vnto his Maiestie Hereupon an accord was made in August 1566. Duer and besides this the Regent had procured the most qualified Catholikes to bee sworne to the same and confirmed by his Maiesties commaundement which was proclaymed in diuers places The noble men for the perfourming of their promise and oth wrote and declared to the Consistories all those thynges which had been treated of which was that they should lay down and leaue off their armour and weapon and behaue themselues as good and obedient subiects ought to doe towards their prynces for if they so did not the matter would goe yll with them whereupon the people to shew theyr obedience willingly leaft off and layd downe theyr weapons During these troubles king Philip being aduertised by his suborners and flatterers of the pulling downe and breaking of the images was marueilously angry determined in his owne person to come downe into the lowe countryes with a mayne force for the auengyng of the contempt and misbehauiour committed and doone vnto his matestie But before hee had called together his councel at Madrid to consult about the appeasing of the low countries it was concluded that his maiestie shoulde not goe thyther because that this sire might otherwise bee well enough quenched by force of armes howbeit as for the chosing of a generall that should execute the same they were of sundrie opinions For many were of the opinion that the prince of Spaine Don Charles his maiesties onely sonne and heyre should bee appointed generall not onely for that that by right of nature it apperteined vnto him but also by reason of the good affection which the catholikes of the lowe countries be are hym as beeyng theyr naturall prince and the onelye sonne of the kyng theyr Lorde vnto whom they would sooner yeelde theyr obedience and loue then to any other The duke of Alua 〈…〉 be generall of the arm●e for Flaunders Some of them were loth to lay vpon this young prince so waightie a burden and warlike commission but saide that the Duke of Medina Celi was a meete man for that purpose Some others againe gaue theyr consent to the Duke of Alua whereupon in the end it was so determined The young prince being aduertised of this resolution was greatly greeued and despited therewith and for that cause conceaued a marueilous great harred against the Duke of Alua and other Lordes which beeing once knowen together his good affection that hee had to the lowe countries was the cause of his death as heereafter more at large shal bee declared Whiles they were about to make readie for this warre The kings letters vnto the ladie Regent his matestie wrote to the ladie Regent and to other chiefe Lords of the lowe countries very sharpe letters expresly signifying how angry and greeued he was at the insolencies passed commanding in flat wordes a restauration of the commissions vnto their former strength and accustomed course with many other things hereafter following Hereupon the

were whether President Counseller Boroughmaister or whatsoeuer officer els were enforced before the Inquisitors to take knowledge of as many as were presēted vnto them punish al those that were fauourers of herefie and heretikes Furthermore the Inquisitors tooke a note of all merchants artificers poore or rich that were any way suspected of the reformed religion The Inquisitors are commonly Franciscanes or preaching Friers which take a note of al suche as come not to confession or that offer not to their boxe giuing a copie of thē to the new bishops whose officers as vshers Sariauntes first of al by cōposition burdened the poore soules who soone after were enforced to flee the countrey if they would not be taken so put to death as by experience often was seene At that time it was noysed all the low countrey throughout A brute rumor of warres in the low countries supposed to be a most certaine truth that Duke Erike of Brūswike had leuyed a mighty army both of horsemen footmen to plant the Inquisition in the low countries by force of armes accordingly as he had before by the deuise purpose of the Cardinal of Granuelle enterprised to accomplishe so by that meane meāt to make a conquest of the prouinces of the lād of Belgique and abolish al priuiledges and franchises and in the end make an absolute kingdome of it for this cause was the charge committed to the rulers and captaines who had receiued money of Duke Erike for the leuying of men of warre These newnes engendered such a great feare in the hearts of the people as that the notablest richest merchāts of the countrey Many merchants got thē away into other countries got packed vp al their goods together went away into other lāds insomuch that the artificer had no work to set himself vpon al rēts reuenues decreased many cities townes were vnpeopled so that it was a lamētable thing to see into what a miserable estate the low coūtrey which before was the Paragon of all trade of merchandise not the like in the vniuersal world to be found was fallen now become thus sodainly desolate ruined Againe there were certaine gouernours officers of great authority wealth who first considering of the horrible effect tenure of the letters manifestly declaring that in case there were any man that would oppose himself against the meaning of those letters not ayde the Inquisitors for the accomplishing of their commssion that he whatsoeuer he was should be deposed from his estate another placed in his roome next of al they seeyng the fury and wrath of the people to be greatly moued through such disorderly charges and tyrannies and become so outragious mad that they would not spare any magistrate or officer whatsoeuer And last of all considering that they coulde not with a good conscience in such a case be both plantifes Iudges they were fully resolued to yeelde vp their offices into the kings hands if he purposed to persist in that his intended opinion On the otherside the ancient enemies of the house of Burgoin woulde in no wise let slip this occasion but carefully and dil●gētly sounded the heartes of the enhabitaunts of this low Countrey to see if they could by any meanes possible make them shake off their sidelitie from their Prince Lord hauing gotten men for that purpose to she we vnto them howe insupporlable a bondage that is by which all other franchifes priuiledges and other ordinaunces are defaced and broken and that there shoulde be other Lawes and Statutes appointed after the manner of Spaine which should haue full power and authoritie ouer their moueable and vnmouable goods their wiues and children yea that all the goodes which they haue so long possessed should now be no longer theirs but shoulde themselues also be brought into flauerie and bondage Howebeit they tolde them that this thing shoulde not take effect before such time as his Maiestie shoulde submit himselfe vnto the Inquisition Neither did they forget to shewe the great dammage and losse whiche the countrey was like to receiue through the want of the recourse and company of the Marchantes seeing that marchandize is the very nurse of these Prouinces and that by reason of the trade thereof in other partes the enhabitantes of the lowe Countreys should be ready to starue And that which is more that the bondage of conscience wherunto they shoulde be alwayes tyed was nowe concluded vppon Moreouer they compared all these thinges to other prouinces and regions with their franchises and liberties saying that these prouinces farre passed all other in trade of marchandise and goodnesse of Ground and further tolde them of the great commoditie which other prouinces receiued from these lowe Countreys and coulde not be without them Neuerthelesse their fidelitie and constant loyaltie to their prince was so great and wrought so in them as that they gaue no eare to such suborners but aduertised the Magistrate to be ware of this fetch and drift and preueut it howbeit they were no whit the more abashed for all this neither knewe they what was best for them to do or what best to be left vndone Now for the better vnderstanding of the cause why The bringing in of the new Bishoppes and in what fort these new bishops were erected we are to know that the Priestes Inquisitors for their better assurance of the bringing in of the inquisition into king Philips dominions considering that certaine ecclesiasticall prelates in some measure fauoured the Protestants and were in great authoritie and very rich they therefore greatly enuied them for it For which cause the Inquisitors imagined to erect a newe estate of prelates and to deuide the Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbaies Pryories c. into many partes And to this ende in the yeere 1558. was appointed at the request of king Philip by the Exclesiasticall estate Francis Sonnius a Doctor in 〈◊〉 and sent to Rome Sonnius sent to Rome who hauing set foorth the noblensse of the lowe Countries and the great riches of the Ecclesiasticall prelates there wrought his matters so wisely as that hee compassed this much That Pope Paule the 4. of that name by the aduise of seuen Cardinalles appointed for that put pose gaue the saide Sonnius audience and graunted him his demaund Whereupon they tooke from the Archbishopricke of Coloigne whose dyocesse was ouerlarge the Bishoprick of Vtrecht made the same an Archbishoprick wherunto they subiected fiue other Bishops to wit the Bishoprick of Deuenter in the countrie of Tranfisselaine the Bishopricke of Harlem in Holland the Bishopricke of Leauwarden in Friseland the Bishopricke of Middlebourgh in Zealande and the Bishoprick Groening in the countrie of Wedde All which plates are farre distant from the Citie of Coloigne neither doe their languages agree with them of Coloigne and therefore the sentences pronounced at Coloigne could not wel bee

March the same yeere The tyrannous Papists troubled the preachinges in the Towne of Andenarde and slue fiue of the company with Harquebuzes The same tynie also the reformed Churches in Flanders were vtterly despersed The 27. of Aprill the same yeere were the last Sermons made in Amstelredame when as the Lord of Brederode with the noble men and ministers departed the same Citie and was the last dispersion of the Churches in the lowe Countreys The ende of the first booke The seconde Booke of the Histories of the troubles in the low Countreys In the beginning whereof shall be described and set forth the Inquisition of Spaine and the execution thereof and next after howe the banished Princes Noble men Gentlemen and others assailed the low Countreys both with horsemen and footemen good store for the recouerie of their enheritances and goods from which they were driuen away by the tyrannie of the Duke of Alua. WE haue discoursed and set down in the first booke the maner of the passing of all the dealings in the lowe Countreys before the D. of Alua his comming and also in what state they stoode at his arriuall And besides howe all they of the reformed religion after the forbidding of the exercise of preaching were persecuted and condemned by the Inquisition But now if thou wilt a while giue eare I wil discouer vnto thee what maner a thing the same inquisitiō is which is more famous then rightly known all Europe ouer The declaration here of woulde be taken of many but for a fable and leasing if the spring head and first original thereof were not manifestly set forth and to say truly the gentle reader should take small pleasure if we should but onely speake of the bare name there of without telling what it is in deede Wherefore for the first point I will declare vnto you what it is who are the indges thereof and the maner of the administration of it And because there is not the least within these Iowe Countreys but knoweth that this Inquisition of Spayne hath been the very true originall of all the troubles I will not forget to lay wide open and set downe in writing the declaration and beginning thereof Spayne at the first was gouerned by meane kings Spaine in olde time gouerned by petie kings and after warde the greatest part thereof was conquered by the Affricanes who at last peaceably possessed it and freed it from the bondage of the Romanes After this the same Prouince was for a while gouerned by the Uandales and Alanes whom the Gothes in the dayes of the Emperours Theodose and Ualentinian the thirde expulsed out of Fraunce who conquered many Lands and Countreys destroying the Romaine Empire At last these wandering people were by the ordinaunce of Boniface gouernours in Affrica who through the dealing of the other Affricane gouernours were sent and called thereto But as they were by the vice Bothes pursued on this side the sea there passed ouer of mē women and children vnder the conduct of Gontram and Gensericke their kings and lordes in the yeere 720. about eyght hundred thousande persons to destroy and conquere Affricke After this retraite of this foresaid Uandales the Gothes by the consent of the Emperours gouerned the realme of Spayne vntill the dayes of K Rodrigue who hauing violated and defloured Cana Count Iulians daughter was ruined slayne with all his kinred For the same count Iulian in reuenge of the wrong and shame that was done him sent the Uandales Mores Affricanes and Sarazins vnder the conduct of Musa their king who haning discomfited and slayne in many battels mo then seuen hundreth thousand men conquered all Spayne and deuided it into diuers kingdomes to witte Granade Ualence Portugall Toledo Cordua and many others But the christians which came of Gothes for the auoyding of the intollerable oppressions and horrible furie of these nations retyred and withdre we them selues into the Mountaynes of Arragon who at that tyme were called the Cantabrians and Asturians and chose one named Pelagius to be their king This Pelagius forsaking the name of a Gothe beganne to make very great warres against the Mores but hee had therein but euill successe Wherefore his successours required ayde and helpe of the French kinges to witte of Pepin Charlemeine Lewis and many others so that in short tyme the Countreys that were lost were conquered agayne which were deuided into Prouinces and after into kingdomes giuing them the names of the fortresses and Townes whereby they were conquered to witte of the Citie or Towne of Leon or Legion the kingdome of Leon of Tarracon Arragon of Barcinone Barcelone of the Castle which Pelagius built so soone as hee had wonne Leon against the assault of the Mores the kingdome of Castile and after all this the kingdomes of Portugall Nauarre Galice Toledo Ualence Cordua and Granade were exected to wit when the Mores were enforced to become subiecte to Christian kings and Countreys at suche tyme as euery one warred against them in his owne Countrey the chiefe of which were the Arragonians and Castilians Nowe amongst all the Princes and Potentates that warred vpon the heathen and Infidelles Ferdinando king of Arragon was the most famous But after that the Countrey was out of the daunger of the Mores by reason of the happie successe of the heathen warres the sayde king Ferdinando suffered the Mores as his predecessors had also done to liue in quiet subiection and obedience paying certayne tribute Neuerthelesse their kinde of life was paynefull especially amongst those that were freemen and yet tollerable inough seeing they were not troubled or molested for the cause of religion But as the thinges of this worlde neuer continue in one selfe and the same estate and that the heartes of kinges and princes doe often chaunge which causeth the subiectes for the present tyme to be ouercharged and burdened There were some that perswaded the sayde king to chose certayne personnes who shoulde haue an eye to their many superstitions and infidelities to the ende the Mahometishe and Ieweshe religion myght not any way derogate from the Catholique Religion Neuerthelesse wee see by experience that oftentimes they whiche make pittes for others fall them selues into them For it is an harde matter to stumble against a stone when as they will labour to reduce others to their opinion and fantasie The king had appoynted for this purpose the moste qualified men following therein the order of his predecessors And as a king careth not what payne hee ordinarily taketh to excell all other kinges and Monarches in honour and fame Euen so this king Ferdinand purposed and concluded to shewe him selfe a no lesse true and politike then a warlike Christian for in leauing all his warlike affayres he bestowed all his care about the aduauncing of christian Religion which is a most good kingly deede and worthy great commendation as also it is the parte and duetie of a king who is the Image of the most excellent and Almightie

king to vse Iustice and true mercie vnto his subiects In doing whereof he hath been most happie and blessed and is a figne of a true testimonie of that name which the Pope gaue vnto him and to his successors kings of Spaine to wit the title of most Catholike king which Pope Gregory the thirde of that name graunted the yeere 1230. To Alfonse king of Galice who also hath giuen to all Spaniardes the tytles of double Catholike Nowe this thing was the cause that all the Mores Sarazins and the Iewes them selues who as the Histories witnesse fithens the sacking and destruction of Ierusalem hauing by the appoyntment of the Emperour Titus continued in these Countreys haue withdrawne them selues out of Spayn because they were enforced to beleeue confesse Iesus Christ to be the sonne of God and therefore forsooke they the Countrey sought out for themselues some other better place to dwell in Insomuch that many thousandes haue gotten them away vnto the borders of Gibalter and from thence into Affricque into diuers other places But the rest who like well of Spayne continue there still and both themselues and their children are baptised Neuertheles not long after when the spaniards perceiued how greatly the opinion of the Godhead whether it be good or bad taking once impression in mens imaginations preuayled and what force it hath in mens harts when it is once rooted therin especially when in long processe of time it is successiuely learned from one to another for then they will become obstinate and neuer forgoe it Then was the exercise of the Iewish Religion forbidden them and as they coulde not in trueth forgette and forgoe the sayde exercise the Spaniardes fell to persecuting of them and yet by a certayne kinde of Iustice meaning vtterly to roote them out But it was impossible to roote out suche a people so obstinately bent and setteled in their Infidelitie A little before this there was a newe order of Fryers instituted by a Spaniarde The beginning of the order of the Iacopins borne within the Dyocesse of Lexonie to witte in Caliroga named Dominicke whiche was called the order of the lacopins and authorized by Pope Honorius the thirde of that name the yeere 1216. And this was brought in by reason of a vision that appeared to him as hee lay a sleepe by which was shewed him that the Churche being shaken and readie to fall was helde vp by Saint Dominicke onely albeeit Pope Innocente the thyrde his predecessor had no will to yeelde to the Institution and exection of that order of Fryers This Religious order is growen into suche credite and so highly esteemed of as that the king of Spaine hath committed vnto the Iacopins all the affayres concerning conscience and religion and although there was before tyme a certayne forme and manner of Inquisition instituted yet was it by this order of the Iacopins whiche was thought to be the most holy of all the rest confirmed and established For when they sawe that the Iewes coulde neyther by the prayers preachings and admonitions of the Iacopins bee conuerted they then proceeded with them after a rigorous maner and tooke vpon them the swoorde to force them to the religion if so bee they woulde not depart and gette them out of the countrey This rodde or swoorde whereof I heere intende to speake whiche the Iacopins vnto this present haue vsurped agaynste these poore people hath been the cause as it is sayde that the Inquisition beganne in the dayes of King Ferdinand whilest hee raigned Because that this manner and fourme of Inquisition is more rigorous then the first was against those herefies and heretiques which they called Marans The originall of the marans which name is ●sed amongst many Christian nations against such as of a singuler desire wishe to haue a newe religion forsaking and reiecting the olde whereupon the originall of the Marans was but a litle before that knowne For as the Iewes looked for the promised Messias and had alwayes in their mouthes this name Maran to witte Our Lorde Euen so the Iewes which had receyued the Christian fayth sayde Maranathi that is to say The Lorde is come Shortly after there arose a dissention and ennemitie amongst the Christians to witte betweene the true Christians and those which denied that the sayde sauyour was come who were called Marans and condemned for a pernitious and wicked sect This is the cause why the Iewes had alwayes that name in their mouthes and that the Spaniardes on the other side called them Apostates and heretiques which woorde they also vsed againste all suche as helde not the true doctrine of the Romishe Church And therefore the Iacopins were the authours of the Inquisition who deuised a better forme thereof then that that was before The king foorth with ratified this forme and Pope Sextus the Genoway confirmed it Without all doubt the king had great occasion to doe this for the rooting out of the wicked and reprobate doctrine of the Mahometistes and Iewes who went about none other thing but to burden mens consciences with the looking for the promised Messias and besides the Sarazins and Arabians whiche the Mores had sent into Spayne committed great mischiefe Yea and the Iewes themselues were condemned by Pope Sextus the yeere 1475. Because they had crucified a childe of two yeeres of age cutting off his genitories and ryght pappe The Iewes put to death a child of two yeeres 〈◊〉 and afterwarde persed him vnto death and then cast hun into the riuer which thing they did vpon palme Sunday in despite and mockery of Iesus Christ and to the dishonour and shame of all christians which Iewes were punished and executed after they had by torture sharp examination and proofe confessed the fact These Iacopins by reason of the reputation whiche they had gotten by the setting vp of their newe order of Religion called them selues the defenders of the Christian doctrine and Religion not onely in Spayne but also in Italy and in other places of Christendome where they had brought in and planted their order The first commission they had was graunted them against the Iewes and Mahometists but after when their authoritie encreased and extended it selfe further then they called themselues the Inquisitors of Heretikes for the persecuting of all such as woulde not obserue the ordinaunces and institutions of the Catholike religion Nowe that we might knowe what kynde of men these Inquisitors haue beene Experience hath shewed vnto vs to wit such mē as through their wickednes haue peruerted all thinges For these good Gentlemen proceede euen as they are affected against the accused whiche is the cause that all men bate them especially sithence the agreement whiche the Pope made betweene the foure orders of begging Fryers And the cause of this controuersie was by reason that the inquisitors had examined certain diuines of the order of the Carmelites vpō some articles of the faith of which number was Iulian

then the patient is degraded in very deede the selfe same day as followeth First hee is apparrelled in all his Churchrobes as if hee should go to masse All which are taken from him by one that playeth the Bishops part vsing certaine ceremonies and wordes as hee bereaueth him of them one after another vtterly cleane contrary to the ceremonies and wordes that are vsed vnto hym when he is Priested After this they scrape his hands lippes and crowne with a glasse or rasor to take away the holie oyle wherewith he was annoynted All these ceremonies are openly vsed in the sight of the whole world Nowe when all the sentences are pronounced the priestes degraded as aforesaid The seculer magistrate receiueth them that must dye accordyng to the appointment and commaundement of my masters the Inquisitors to execute and dispatch them out of the worlde at the ordinarie place hauing with them suche diuelish and shamelesse Proctours as neuer cease callyng vpon them to renounce the truth which they had confessed and receiued But if the Inquisitors vnderstande that there are some of thē that haue not truly repented but that the woolfe is couered with the sheepes skinne they deliuer them into the tēporall magistrates hands they beseech him to deale fauourably with them and to beware that they breake none of theyr lymmes nor yet drawe any blood of them and in theyr chiefe giuing of iudgement they say seeing that the paine and trauell which wee haue taken about to conuert these persons is all in vaine and to no purpose wee deliuer them into the handes of the temporall magistrate to bee punished according to lawe and iustice yet beeseeching him that if so bee they shall acknowledge their errours and bee conuerted that they wil shew them al the fauour and mercy that they may possibly And all the rest which are not adiudged to dye are sent backe agayne to prison but the next daye in the morning they that are condemned to be whipt are scourged rounde about the streetes some are condemned to the Gallies other some to perpetual imprisonment and some of the rest to weare S. Benets furniture and carry him about But if any of those happen againe to slip and fall into their handes they are then without al redemption Thou hast now gentle Reader heard the causes occasions of the Spaniards warring in the low countries of their warring heretofore against the Mores in Spayne by whō thou maist vnderstād from whence the very right spring head of these dolorous waters come wherwith they had ouerflowed drowned the low coūtries had not God of his meere mercy prouided for the same And besides thou shalt forthwith vnderstād of wonderful things to wit who by whō what time wherfore the Spaniards are dispersed all the lowe countries about And therfore I beseech thee consider whether the matters aforesaid set forth in the 1. booke be not the amiable kynd deeds of a liberal Duchesse against the horrible cruelty of the inquysitiō Truly she hath geuen vs hony mingled with great bitternes for it is wel inough knowen to al the world what cruelty vnmercifulnes shee hath vsed against the poore and miserable subiects The king of Spayne fearing that the Protestantes Religion woulde encrease and grow in the low Countreyes to the great hurt and disaduauntage of the Catholike church and losse of the Inquisition sent very earnestly as hath beene heretofore in the first booke set downe vnto his sister the Lady Margaret Duchesse of Parma willyng her to preuent this Empayre downfall But when he vnderstood that the matter waxed euery daye woorse then other and that the Duchesse dealt not cruelly enough against his subiects he sent out of Spaine Don Ferdinand Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua The departure of the Duke of Alua out of Spayne to be Gouernour and Liuetenant general of the low countries Who embarqued him selfe with his men of warre at Barcelone in Spaine in the moneth of May 1567. sayling towards Genues with the wind in the poupe The king had commanded all the captaines of the realmes of Naples Scicile Lombardie and the rest to march with their bandes vnto the territorie of Millaine which they performed whiles the Duke lay sicke of an ague there was a mightie company of men of warre come together Chiapin Vitelli was his lieuetenant and Gabriel Serbellon master of the ordenance When the Duke of Alua was ryd of his Ague The maner of the Duke of Alua his going on his voyage hee tooke his iourney through Sauoy towardes the count of Burgoine hauing with him eight thousand Spaniards eight thousand Sauoyās a thousand light horse and from thence through the Dukedome of Lorayne towardes Luxenbourgh where he put into pay the counte Albert of Lodron with three thousand Almaines three hundred horse and came downe together into the low countries vnto Bruxelles And there he imparted vnto the dutches the cause of his comming shewing vnto her his commission authoritie and power which when she had seene shee sent to the king her brother desiring leaue that shee might returne to her L. husband the Duke of Parma and hauing resigned her estate and office vnto the Duke of Alua The departure of the dutches out of the lowe countries she departed out of the lowe countries the tenth of Apryll 1568. to the no small griefe and sorrowe of the people who considered that the Duke had taken vpon him all authoritie and power and meant to continue the dewse which hee had conceiued in his brayne fauoured and fortified by the strength of the Spaniardes whiche were with him to the great and myserable ruine and destruction of the lowe countries Nowe when the Duke of Alua had gotten into his possession all the Townes and fortresses well furnished with Spanishe souldiers hee caused the commissions of the institution of the Inquisition to be proclaimed commanding euery man in the name of the king to obserue the catholike religion and obey the church of Rome Afterwarde The erection of the councell of troubles hee ordeined a newe councel called the councel of troubles of twelue councellours who shoulde haue full power to giue sentence iudge and pronounce sentence of death and in many places put in new magistrates as pleased himselfe This done hee by reason of the troubles alreadie passed caused a great number of the people to be taken besides those whome the Dutches of Parma had before imprisoned and executed on them cruell iustice Moreouer he caused a proclamation to bee made for the fugitiues assigning them a day for their comming in and whoseuer missed his goods to be confisked This foresaid Duke at his first entrance greatly dissembled and would in no wise punishe any for the troubles passed with any corporall payne to the ende to feede the people with a vaine hope and saide that the king had giuen a generall pardon for all the hurly burly that had beene committed

countries should be franke and free from the daunger of ciuill warres And so long as the subiects saw al things goe well forward they alwayes continued constaunt in their obedience and fidelity and although the Brabanders who heeretofore flourished in all kynde of trade of merchandise had in the former warres beene in great perill and daunger yet for all that they gathered a greate peece of money so that it is too too manifest that the king was well assured agaynst all the force of any Monarches and Princes and that which is more beyng reconcyled with his enemies he was not onelye discharged of all the debtes whiche grewe by reason of the warres but also in a very fewe yeeres attayned to woonderful great wealth prosperity and honour For when his Maiesty was raysed vy to so high a degree of honour forren Potentates Princes feared him because his subiectes so honoured and reuerenced him and his Maiesty was thought to be the most mighty Monarch yea so farre passing al others as that it must of necessity needes bee granted that whatsoeuer they were that would goe about to impeach and disturbe this his so great good felicity must vndoubtedly by this notable vuyon be oppressed and beate downe Iusomuch that all they haue greatly offended whiche haue busied themselues about matters preiudiciall or hurtfull to his Maiestie and the common weale and done such thinges as are worthy punishmēt to the example of others whē as the warres being suppressed they haue renewed fresh cōmotions and caused ciuill warres and therfore the Prince of Orange doth verily and stedfastly beleeue that they which haue brought the countrey of Brabant into this extreme misery calamity bondage ought likewise to be punished and chastised And sith the Prince of Orange is publikely in the Indit ement accused by the Attorney generall to be the original first mouer of the alterations happened in Brabant he is cōten ted to abyde the paynes in the said Inditement expressed if so be it bee true that the Attorney hath set downe The sayde Attorney generall affirmeth that the Prince is ambitious and of an vnbrydeled mynde to gouerne whereuppon ensueth that hee hath a purpose to take vppon him and enioy an other mans office and Estate and hath pretended nothing els in al his counsels and affayres For the confutation of this article as the originall and chiefe poynt of the complaynt of the Attorney generall it is sufficient that he referre the matter ouer vnto all such as know the prince of Orange by whom it may be vnderstoode if euer hee was desirous of rule and besides that he hath well gouerned his goodes and possessions whiche by Gods grace were lefte and geuen vnto him by whiche hee hath more increased his honour and reputation then by any other charge that euer he had And al men know that if the Prince had sought and hunted after his owne particular gayne that hee had a farre better waye and meane to haue heaped riches together by which hee might haue come to estimation and authority there held him then to be at great charge and expenses in Court in hope to come to authority by others procurement so that all the world knoweth that the prince in all his actions and behauiour neuer sought his owne particuler benefite And besides the Prince neuer once thought to drawe awaye his Ma. subiects from their obedience due vnto the same notwithstanding that the people alwayes most earnestly loued him but contrariwise continually to keepe them in a good liking of his Ma. but the very cause in truth of this their estraunging them is the cruelty of the commissions newly published This then is the onelie waye and meane that maye bee saide that the Prince euen to the last cast hath alwayes shewed his good and sincere affection vnto his Maiesty his lowe Countries and it must of necessitie be graunted that the Prince at no hand hath at any time ment to take vpon himselfe any authoritie ouer his Maiestie which as some thought might more commodiously haue been conserued in tranquilitie and peace whereupon followeth that the Prince his meaning was farre otherwise For his Maiesties authoritie coulde no way haue been peaceably conserued if so be the Countrey of Brabant should hane been conserued in her auncient and former prosperitie but by consenting to the exercise of the cruell Inquisition For he ment to oppose him selfe agaynst the sayde Inquisition All which his actions doe witnesse that he is no whit ambitious but cleane contrary For long before that time hee had resigned his dignitie of the Counsell of Estate as also the dignitie of the kinges chiefe officer of the treasure that arose vppon penall Statutes which is the meetest office of all other to binde the Estates to be beholden vnto him Yea hee was offered to take vppon him the gouernmente of altogether if hee woulde haue accepted of it whereunto all the rest of the nobilitie laboured most carefully to attayne But the Prince so abhorred this Ambition as that hee resigned these two dignities into his Maiesties handes when he considered that hee coulde doe his Maiestie but slender seruice in counsell by reason of certaine beastly dealings which bereaued him of the meane for that seruice Neuerthelesse when his Maiestie had appointed him to be of his Counsell hee so duetifully administzed this function and dignitte as his conscience witnessed vnto him to be necessarie to each mans most profitte although he afterwarde perceiued that his Maiesties loue altered and abated through the practise and deuise of one or two noble men But after that his Maiestie had aduisedly euery way considered of the Prince of Oranges good and faithful seruice as he departed out of Zeland towards Spaine hee most earnestly besought the said P. to be of his counsell who after long excuse accepted thereof Nowe when as the Prince saw that they helde on their olde course and far otherwise then his M. had commanded and appointed him two yeeres after or neere there about he agayne besought that he might be discharged Wherefore the ●e we deuises were more and more set forwarde which were the causes of the beginning of the troubles and commotions By which the Inquisition was somewhat moderated and a fresh surceassed But as in these Countries the Regiment of Aimaines as a necessary thing was brought into them for their defence and safegarde they were suffered to haue Sermons as well in the Townes as in the fieldes abroade and namely in diuers places some except where the reformed religion had been alreadie accepted of in the Countreys neere there about kept the exercise of the sayde religion secretly whereby the sayde reformed religion dayly encreased in this so populous Countrey so that at the last in fewe yeeres the name of the Inquisition became very odious considering that by it aboue fifcie thousande had been put to death in Europe and a greater number were enforced to forsake their goodes kinsfolkes and

all their friendes and spende their liues in perpetuall miserie which thinges did not onelye cause great alterations and changes but an hatred against the inquisition Insomuch that in many places the officers durst not openly put it in execution but very secretly and yet not without great perill and danger of commotion Which thing some of the officers can beare witnesse of who had some of the prisonners taken from them agaynst their willes whiche caused all suche as experience had taught long before to foresee that the sayde Inquisition woulde bee the cause of some trouble and commotion if in continuaunce of time it were not wisely prouided for and good order taken about it The Queene of Hongrie then gouernesse of the low Countrey greatly feared this mischiefe and miserie Wherefore shee tooke her voyage to Ausbourgh towardes her brother the Emperour of famous memorie Charles the fifth with whome shee so handled her businesse as that the crueltie of the Counsell of Trent then concluded vpon shoulde be moderated and that the Antwerpians and Brabanders that woulde not receyue the Inquisition shoulde bee quite and cleane rid of it as afterward they were Nowe whiles the Countrey of Brabante had beene in quiet a good long time throughe the aucthoritie of the Gouernesse and that all thinges were ordered by the aduise of the Counsell of estate the Attorney Generall thrust himselfe in to treate or deale immediatly after his Ma. departure eyther alone or els with some tyrannous noblemen of in matters of great charge and waight and immediately signified vnto his Ma. of their peruerse counsel When the king was aduertised that the Inquisition had not his right course and proceeding he was very angry pensiue neuerthelesse some curteous noblemen earnestly besought him to haue an hearty remembrance of the seruices good deedes which his subiectes had done in the former warres so rule himself as the state of the time required abolishe all newe deuises as the new Bishoppes the Inquisition according to the priuiledges of the countries seeing that some wicked men had practized these new deuises in the lowe Countries contrary to the state of the time and against all the immunities and priuiledges of the lowe Countries and that those thinges might be abolished considering that the troubles and commotion in Fraunce which happened there by reason of the Inquisition are appeased and suppressed by the ceasing therof Moreouer that the erection and institution of the new Bishoprickes is hurtfull to the forraine Archbishoppes and bishoppes whiche haue any iurisdiction and diocesse in these low countries For this and many other reasons therefore they of the lowe Countries considering that the newe deuises were the causes of great misery and manye mischiefes if in tyme they were not prouided for and remedyed made complaynt vnto the Gouernesse who by and vppon the deliberation and determination of the Counsell of estate dispatched the Baron of Montigni knight of the order and sent him poste into Spayne to his Maiesty with commission to declare vnto the king the Estate and generall mislyking of the lowe countries whiche hath risen by reason of these newe deuises and that for this cause it is come to passe that the Nobilitye of Brabant to meete with this mischiefe and misery haue beene pressed and constrayned especially to haue theyr desire and demaunde accomplished alwayes hoping that his Maiesty would satisfie their request or that he would at the least moderate the charge and burden wherwith they were too too much oppressed and especially the Byshoppes and Abbots whiche heretofore flourished in Brabant were nowe greatly endammaged wherfore they haue likewise sent their Deputies vnto his Ma. as also the Antwerpians for the withstanding and letting of the Inquisition and the Institution of the new Bishops The which message at sometimes had kept in suspence the troubles of the low countries because euerye man hoped that the sayde Deputies and Ambassades might by his Maiesties good counsell and conclusion receiue some good ordinance for their aduancement and profite accordingly as the affayres required But that the reformed Religion was so rooted euery where as that in some places Sermons were openly preached to wit at Valence Tournay and other Cities and Townes the reason was that because the liberty of the religiō in France was agreed vpō the low countrey mē hoped verily thought thēselues to haue as wel deserued for their seruices passed towards their king his presidēts as the Frenchmē towards the French king and therefore that they ought likewise to bee agreed haue the liberty of conscience granced of them For it might be manifestly seene that it was impossible for the auncient Romish ordinances to be obserued and kept in the countries aforesaid because that they which vsed the trade of merchādise bought solde their commodities with such nations their neere neighbours as were of another religion But when the aduerse party began to suppresse root out the reformed religion thē it might be easily seene how it continually grew encreased And yet neuertheles the cardinal of Granuelle so hotly followed his busines as that he put the afore sayd Bishops in possessiō because be himselfe had the Archbishoprick of Malines for his share by vertue wherof he was Legatus natus Primate ouer al the other bishops had ouer besides for a commendum the Abbotship of Affligam which was one of the richest in al the whole countrey hauing gotten also to himselfe of the Abbayes that remayned certayne of the Diuines to be his fauourites And although cōtrary to al hope expectation this new deuise was brought in into diuers cities yet might the enuy malice of many be easily seene knowen herein for diuers cities woulde at no hād receiue accept of these new bishops but opposed thē selues against them to wit the Antwerpians Rurmondians Goreningians Deuentrians others Howbeit by this doing the cardinal of Grāuelle had obteined such authority fauor as that he might giue away bestow al his M. offices benefices wher it pleased him insomuch that he had gottē for his part to be Lord king ouer al his other fellow bishops for by the mean diuers deuises were practized to obtaine keepe the authority superintendentship in his Ma. countries And to the end he might vnderstād the state of al the whole doings there as also to get the loue and good wil of al the kings princes potētates neere about he had authority to make place al his Ma. commissaries other officers emōgst the rest made his brother Germaine Ambassador in France who had woon there such fauour as that the king and the Queene sent with al careful diligence to haue him sent back vnto their Ma. for the quiet of the common weale And whosoeuer would cōsider throughly weigh the things afore said might easily iudge who it was that had vsurped chalēged to himself power

wherevnto all good subiectes and louers of their Countrey of very right offer them selues and the rather she we them selues readie because all the worlde knoweth of the peruerse counsaill and deuise of the saied Spanyardes and their Adherentes as tendyng after the long pacience of their insupportable outrage in the ende to the vtter ruine destruction and sclauerie of all the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis and the faithfull enhabitauntes of the same wherevnto it was apparaunt thei would come had it not been that some other conuenient remedie aboue all other thinges in tyme had beene prouided and that cheefly by the common power and agrement of all the lowe Countreis for the departure and driuyng awaie of the Spanyardes and their Adherentes and that after certaine louyng warnynges and admonitions by his excellencie and the saied Estates of Hollande and Scalande giuen to that ende vnto the rest of the Prouinces of the saied lowe Countreis semyng to be thereto enclined and altogether affected so that for the ad●●uncement of the benefite quiet and vnitie of the saied Lowe Countreis his Excellencie and the Estates aforesaid agreed on either side to meete and entre into communication together about the same when his Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande were agreed and withall had ioyned and strengthened them selues together in this matter for the Bommelians and all the reste of their associates For the sendyng to this ende and purpose their Deputies at a certaine daie to Gant And therefore for this cause his Excellencie together the Estates of Hollande and Sealande haue substituted and by these presentes doe substitute The noble honourable and good Lorde Phillip de Marnix Maister sainct Aldegonde Arnold Thorpe Willyam Zuilen of Newfield Adrian Myle Cornelius Kyng Adrian the yonger in the behalfe and name of his Excellencie and the Estates to be all together or the greater parte of them at the said conference in the Citie of Gant and with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis or their lawfull Deputies beyng there present to treate aduise and conclude vpon whatsoeuer maie best serue for the setting fore ward of the peace Ami●ie and Vnitie of the saied lowe Countreis and the enhabitauntes of the same hauyng alwaies a regard to the former speeches and honest offer oftentymes by his Excellencie and the sard Estates of Hollande and Sealande and their associates but especially to the last treatie of peace with the Kynges Deputies at Bred● and to that whiche there vpon the matter of pacification might haue been treated of and made whervpon the said Deputies might proceade further on if thei thought it requisite or necessarie Giuyng and grauntyng vnto the saied Substitutes or to the more parte of them full aucthoritie and also generall and especiall Commission to accorde and agree with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces about whatsoeuer thei shal find to be any w●e profitable and for the 〈◊〉 theraunce and 〈◊〉 of the Common wealth but especially for the resistyng weakening and driuyng out of the saied Spanyardes as common enemies to the Countrey and common quiet thereof and to the same ende also binde them selues with the rest of the Prouinces vnder suche reasonable conditions and articles as ma●e be godlie and honouble for the repose and wealthe of the Countrey His Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande aforesaid promisyng vpon their fidelitie and honour to holde the same as good and effectuall and so farforthe as concerneth them irreuocablie and inuiolably to keepe whatsoeuer their saied Deputies as before is mentioned and in that whiche hath been before saied shall treate of without crossyng or sufferyng the same to be crossed directly or inderectly bindyng them selues their gooddes and generally all the inhabitauntes bothe of Hollande and Sealande and their associates by these presentes bothe for this tyme and the tyme to come without exception of any In witnesse whereof his Excellencie and the saied Estates of Holland and Sealand to these presentes haue Subscribed and for confirmation thereof put to their seales Giuen at Middlebrough the 12. of October and at Delft the 14. of September in the yere 1576. Subscribed by Willyam of Nassou And by the especiall commaundement of the Estates of Hollande subscribed by Peter Bushe And by the expresse commaundement of the Estates of Sealande subscribed by Faymon and sealed with three Seales in redde Waxe at a double Labell of Parchement The Commission of the Secretary The Se●reta● Commission WHere about the seruice of the Lordes the Commissioners chosen by my Lords of the Estates of the Countries here about assembled at Bruxelles for a new entraunce into the conference of the pacification with the Deputies of my Lord the Prince of Orenge and of the Estates of Holland and Zealand and their Associates it was necessarily required that thei should haue a Secretary for the dispatchyng siegniyng and an ende takyng in their name all the Letters Actes Copies and other writinges about their businesse who was left by my saied Lords to bee chosen by the Commissioners aforesaied My saied Lordes of the Estates hauyng chosen and named Ihon de Penantes one of our soueraigne Lorde the Kyng his Counsellours and Maister of his Chamber of the Accomptes of Brabant a man accordyng to their hartes desire haue and doe by these presentes aucthorize the saied Penantes to make dispatche siegne and autentique of knowledge in the name and by the appointment of the saied Lords Commissioners all Acts Letters Copies Writynges that the same might be the better beleued and al other needefull businesse and what soeuer in them contained to be receiued and admitted as thynges very true and credible Prouided alwaies that he shall be duely sworne vnto the said Lords Commissioners therein accordyngly as to them shal seeme most meete Giuen at Bruxelles by vertue of the Estates of Brabant in the name and at the request of all the rest and siegned by their Secretary the 13. of October 1576. and vnderneath was written by the expresse commaundement of the saied Lordes of Estates and subscribed by Cornelius Weelemans and sealed with the priuie Seale of the saied Estates after the maner of a Commission Bee it knowne vnto all men that at the suppication and request of our saied Estates and accordyng to the agreement and confirmation of our said Counsell of Estate in maner and forme as it is set doune the 5. of this present Moneth We will and commaunde our welbeloued and faithfull chiefe Presidentes and those of our priuie Counsell and Counsell at large Our Chauncellour and Counsell of Brabant Our Gouernour President and Counsellors of Flaunders and Artois our greate Bayliefe of Haynault and Counsellors at Mons The Prouoste of Valencia Gouernour of Lys●e Doway and Orchies Our Gonernour President and Counsellors at Namure Our Gouernour Bailiefe and Counsell at Tournay Our Liutenaunt President and Counsailors at Vtright and the Sherife of Malines That thei cause

Dampmartin vnto the Estates what the cause was of his retournyng into Fraunce and of the forsakyng of the lowe Countreis and amongest other thynges he wrote vnto them of the louyng request of the Kyng his Brother by reason of an vprore that arose in Fraunce So that hereby some bodie had perswaded the people that his presence was an hinderaunce to the generall peace of the lowe Countreis and besides that he went about none other thyng but to make hym self Lord and Maister of all the Cities hereabout whiche his dealyng he forsooth would aswell as he could needes excuse saiyng that it was vtterly vntrue and his reason was because that at his departure he rendred vp all thinges into the handes of the Estates further offryng that wheresoeuer he became he would alwaies remaine their good frende and so takyng his leaue required that thei would in regarde hereof be myndfull of the greate charges he had beene at for the aidyng of them leauyng with the saied Estates Maister Pruneaux as his Ambassadour lydger The Estates greatly marueilyng The Estates sende thankes to the Duke of Antowe at this his so sudden and vnlooked for departure dispatched Seigmour Froymont and Gyles Martin a Doctor of the Ciuile Lawe and Secretarie of the Citie of Antwerpe towardes the saied Duke to declare vnto hym how greatly thei had weighed and considered of his departure beseechyng hym to take suche a course as that he might still remaine hereabout and acknowledgyng the benefites whiche thei had receiued by hym offered hym all their seruice with promise of suche satisfaction and contentation as was meete for one in so high a callyng Now the Prince of Orenge had so well and wisely handled his matters at the Citie of Gaunt as that the peace of the Religion was there proclaimed the 27. of December 1578. and with all certaine other Articles concernyng the Ceremonies of the Romishe Religion The 29. of Ianuary 1579. The Estates of Hollande and Sealande Vtright Gelderlande Friselande and the reste of the Prouinces wisely consideryng that the Enemie went about to dismember the Prouinces as hereafter you shall heare and that the Malcontentes were very foreward in the suppressyng of those of the reformed Religion fell to a conclusion of a farre better vnion at Vtright the tenure whereof hereafter ensueth Wee hauyng by wofull and lamentable experience founde out The vnion of Vtright that sithence the pacification of Gaunt by whiche all the Prouinces of the Lowe Countreis sufficien●ly bounde theim selues to aide one an other bothe with their bodies and goods for the driuyng out of these Countreis the Spanyardes and other Foreine nations with all their adherentes the Spanyardes with Don Ihon of Austriche and the reste of their Chieftaines and Captaines haue hunted and still by all meanes possible doe daiely hunte after the saied Prouinces aswell whollie as in parte for the bryngyng of them vnder their subiection tyrannic●ll gouernement and sclaucrie And bothe by armes and practizes to dismember thesaied Prouinces and make the vniō whiche was made sithence thesaied Pacification of none effect to the vtter ruine and desolation of thesaied Countreis whiche wee in deede haue founde not long sithence by their perseueraunce in their said purposes through the soliciting of certaine Cities and places by their letters as the Countrey of Geldrelande and the surprisyng of others by Armes And therefore all thei of the Duchy of Geldrelande and of the Countrey of Zurphen and all thei of the Counties of Hollande and Sealande Vtright and the Countreis about Friselande beyng betweene the Riuer of Eems and Lauwers haue thought it bothe good and profitable to binde and vnite themselues together more nerely and particulerly not that thei meane to cutt them selues of from thesaied generall vnion that was made by the Pacificatiō of Gaunt but to be thereby a greate deale the stronger and prouide against all inconueniences wherevnto thei might fall through the Stratagemes enterprises or force of the Enemie and vnderstande how and in what sorte the aforesaid Prouinces might behoue themselues in suche occurraunces and so defende themselues against the power of the Enemie And for the auoidyng of a further separation of the saied Prouinces and the particuler members of the same leauyng still the saied generall vnion and Pacification of Gaunt in full strength and vertue are accordyng thervnto by the Deputies of the said Prouinces fully by theirs respectiuely aucthorised to the same agreed and concluded vpon the poinctes and articles ensuyng not meanyng thereby whatsoeuer shall otherwise fall out to separate theim selues from the holy Romishe Empire 1 And first it is agreed and concluded vpon that thesaid Prouinces shall binde confederate and vnite them sclues together and by these prefentes doe binde cōfederate and vnite themselues for euer to holde together euery maner of waie as if thei were but one onely Prouince without also for euer to separate deuide or cut of theim selues one from an other either by will graunt alteration contracte treatie of peace or of mariage nor yet for any other occasion whatsoeuer that might happen and to vphold and maintaiue the Prluiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes laudable and auncient Customes Vsances and whatsouer either especiall or particuler Rightes of euery Prouince particuler Cities and all the members and enhabitauutes of the same and none of theim to hurte and hinder one an other but rather aide and helpe one an other by all the meanes possible thei can yea if neede bee mainteine confirme strengthen garde and defende one an other bothe with their bodies and gooddes against all and euery persone and persones whether it bee man or woman whiche shall goe about in deede any waie to infringe theim Prouided alwaies that the controsies that are or hereafter maie be betwene some of the saied Prouinces members or Cities of this vnion as touching their perticuler and speciall Priuiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes Laudabse and auncient Customes Vsances and other rightes shal be decided by the ordenarie course of law arbitrement or frendly agrement and none of the other Countreis and Prouinces Cities or members of any of them so lōg as either partie is contented to submit hym self to the law once to haue to doe with them without it shal be their pleasures to go frendly betwene them for the makyng of a louyng and peaceable accorde 2 Item for the conformyng and accomplishyng of the saied vnion and confederacie the saied Prouinces shal be bound to aide one an other bothe with their bodies goodes and blood against all the force and violence that any waie maie be offred them vnder the colour and name of his Maiestie or in his behalfe whether it be by reason of the Pacificatiō made at Gant or because thei tooke armes vpon them against Don Ihon of Austrich receiued Archduke Mathias for their gouernour and whatsoeuer dependeth or hath fallen or shall fall out thereon although it should be vnder colour onely of reestablishing restoring or

aboue rehearsed a Prouiso is made and set done for the relieuyng of some Ecclesiasticall persones who had liued and been brought vp in certaine Monasteries and Colleges and by reason of the Religion forsoke them and maie hereafter also forsake them and because of the same it is to bee feared that some sutes and controuersies maie growe and whiche thei knowe well inough to bee already on foote because suche persones will pretende a right in the succession of the gooddes and possessions of their Parentes Brethren Sisters and the reste of their kinsmen and affinitie whiche are by their deathes lefte vnto theim or yet to bee lefte and also those whom thei had in their life tyme vnder the title of Gifte chaunged or els certaine others might be altered chaunged and alienated or after their deathes be assured For this cause the saied Prouinces confedered for the preuentyng of the saied sutes and controuersies whiche thereon might arise haue thought good to suspende and surcease all the sutes instituted or hereafter to be instituted by reason of the cause aforesaied vntill suche tyme as the saied confedered Prouinces and the reste whiche in this vnion and league maie hereafter ioyne together bee otherwise in this behalfe and that by the aucthoritie of the Magistrate also if neede bee ordeined and declared Giuen also by the faied Deputies the first of February 1579. and subscribed Lantzweerrot The 4. of February 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the saied Deputies at Vtright the Deputies of Gaunt hereafter vnderwritten who saied that after thei had seen and perused the poinctes and Articles of thesaid vnion and that by vertue thereof had long before been needefull and by theim thought to bee good by vertue of their letters of trust their especiall procuration and instructiō dated the 27. of Ianuary 1579. had allowed and ratefied theim promisyng with the reste of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe the said Articles and euery poincte and tittle of theim In witnesse whereof the saied Drputies haue here vnderneath sette to their handes the daie moneth and yere aforesaied And in the behalfe of the Gantois was subscribed Adolf de Grutere Leuyn Tayart Christofer de la Becque and Lucas Mayart The 5. of Marche 1579. appeared in the assemblie of thesaid Deputies at Vtright the Deputies of the ordenarie knighthood in Nymegue quarter and those also of the Citie of Nymegue who declared that thei had seene and perused the poinctes and Articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue thereof is further needefull and thought to be good and necessarie wherevpon by vertue of their instruction thei haue sealed them with the priuie signet of their saied Citie of Nymegue dated the 12. of February 1579. and by these presentes allowed and ratefied the same c Promisyng with the reste of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe all those poinctes and euery parte and parcell of thē in particuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies together with the ordenary knight hood of the Citie and quarter of Nymegue haue hereunto set to their owne handes the daie monethe and yere aforesaied And subscribed Giles Piec Ihon Kelsken Arnold de Seller Thierry Flemmyng Lambert Ihonson Ihon de Hans The 9. of Marche appeared in the assemblie of the said Deputies of the vnited Prouinces the ordenarie knighthood in the quarters of Arnhem who declared that thei had seen and perused the poinctes and Articles of the said Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue thereof was further needefull and thought to bee good and the same by vertue of their letters of trust dated the 18 of February and accordyng to certaine instruction dated the 16 of the same monethe 1579. bothe sealed with the secret signet of the Citie of Arnhem haue by these presentes after lōg and ripe consideration allowed and ratefied and the same doe also allowe c Promisyng vpon the condition as aforesaied to keepe obserue and followe them and euery parte and parcell of theim in perticuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies of the Court of the ordenary knighthood in Arnhem quarter haue vnderneath set to their hande the daie moneth and yere abouesaid And subscribed Alexandre Bentincq The 13. of Marche 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the saied Deputies of the vnited Prouinces assembled at Vtright the Deputies of Leewardē Sneecq Franiquer and of certaine places called Grietmans and Grietenien with certaine perticuler Gentlemen of Friselande whose names are sett doune in their procuration Who saied that thei had seen and perused the poinctes and articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer els by vertue of theim was further needefull and whiche thei thought to bee right good who by vertue of their procuration dated the 12. of March 1579. had allowed approued ratefied by these presentes did also allowe approue and ratefie them promising with the rest of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue and followe those poinctes and euery parte and parcell of theim in perticuler In witnesse whereof the saied Deputies of the saied Cities of Leewarden Sneecque Franiquer and of certaine places called Grietmans and Grietenien with certaine particuler Gentlemen of Friselande haue here vnderneath sette to their handes the daie monethe and yere aforesaied and subscribed B. Idzaerde lelle Sibess The 11. of Aprill 1579. appeared in the assemblie of the said Deputies of the Vnited Prouinces at Vtright assembled the Deputies of the Citie of Venlo namely Gerard de Loha Harman de Laet Cornelissen Sheriffes Iames Goris a Counseller and Ihon de Groot as ordenary Deputies for the same place Who there saied that thei had seen and perused the pointes and Articles of the saied Vnion and whatsoeuer by vertue thereof was further needefull thei thought to be good and had allowed approued and ratefied by these presentes did allowe approue and ratefie them to be suche by vertue of their instruction dated the 3. of Aprill 1679 Promisyng with the rest of the confedered Prouinces to keepe obserue followe them and euery part and parcell of them in perticuler In witnesse whereof the said Deputies of the saied Citie of Venlo haue here vnderneath sett to their handes the daie monethe and yere abouesaied And subscribed Girard de Lohn Herman de Laet Cornelissen Iames Goris Ibon de Groot Where his Excellencie for the conseruation and maintainaunce of the Common weale the Lawes and franchises of the lowe Countries thought it alwaies verie profitable and necessarie that all good amitie vnion and concord betwene the Prouinces of the saied Countries Cities and perticuler members of the same was to be kept whereby the comon Enemie might with greater force common power and mutuall assistaunce bee not onely resisted and repulsed But also to cut of all meanes of sowyng and procuryng any entended unschiefe or dissentiou emongest the same Prouinces Cities or their members aswell by reason of the difference that is in Religion as otherwise and therefore his Excellencie hauyng seene a