Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	good_a	great_a	people_n	3,792	5	4.4298	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08085	The aunswere of the Lords the Estates Generall of the Vnited Prouinces of the Lowe-Countries, to the letter of the Archduke of Austria, heere-after inserted together vvith the proposition done in the name of the sayde arch-duke to the forenamed states, by Otto Hartius, and Jeronimus Coomans, learned in the lawes : also, the extract of certaine letters, written out of the campe before Groning.	United Provinces of the Netherlands. Staten Generaal.	1594 (1594)	STC 18451.5; ESTC S458	10,711	18

The Aunswere Of the Lords the Estates generall of the vnited Prouinces of the Lowe-Countries to the Letter of the Archduke of Austria heereafter inserted Together VVith the proposition done in the name of the sayde Arch-duke to the forenamed States by Otto Hartius and Jeronimus Coomans learned in the Lawes ❧ Also the extract of certaine Letters written out of the Campe before Groning ❀ Printed first at Middelburgh by Richard Schilders Printer to the Estates of the Land and Earledome of Zealand 1594. LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe The Aunswer of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces of the Low Countries to the Letter of the Archduke of Austria THE generall Estates of the vnited Low Countries in the assembly of their people haue opened and redd the Letter of the most excellent Prince Ernestus Archduke of Austria Duke of Burgundie c. closed and sealed with the Seale of his Highnes dated in Brussels the sixe day of this present Month of May receiued the twelfth of the same Moneth by the hands of Maister Otto Hartius and Ieronimus Coomans learned in the Lawes at whose insinuation doone the next day after to say the xiij day haue the 16. day of the said Moneth in the assembly of their aforesaid people deliuered vp in wryting as appeareth by the clauses in the aforesaid Letter inserted And after due examination of the afore-saide writing and Letter to the end they might open to his Highnes their good intent meaning haue declared and by these presents doo declare that since the time that their people for vrgent occasions and very necessitie were constrained to put themselues in Armor for the behoofe of the freedome of the Low Countries with the priuiledges and iurisdiction of the same in generall and of the Prouinces people Citties and Indwellers of the same in particuler and for repulsing of the Spanish tyrannie and lordly gouernment ouer the consciences bodies and goods of the Inhabitants of the sayde Low Countries their wiues and children their meaning and intent alwaies was yet is to maintaine the same with the helpe of GOD against the Spanyards and their adherents With thys stedfast hope that almightie God through his gracious goodnesse and blessing shall further the same their vpright meaning and good intent which the longer the more is not onely found to be for their owne Low-Countries but also toucheth the estate of all their neighbours Kings Princes and Common-wealths Like as their people haue found also through the power of Gods mighty hand that hee hath not onely blessed their meanes and pretences but also hath mooued the harts of Kings and Princes their Neighbours to the vpholding maintenance of their aforesaid needeful and vpright intents Whereof their people do attribute the praise only to God trusting in the vnalterable power of his godly Maiestie expecting at his hands and goodnes a laudable issue and ende of heauie warres hauing sure confidence that their people of the Low Countries in general shall be vnited and brought into their olde estate and prosperitie The which they more earnestly doe desire in that they haue well proued and tryed and besides that do yet very well remember the commodities quietnes and pleasantnes of peace rest and vnitie but also contrariwise haue found and felt the incommodities disquietnes and vnfruitfulnes of warres But like as his Highnes declareth in the said letter and professeth his good will and affection and thanketh al those that are vprightly affectioned to the vnity and prosperity of the Lowe Countries so haue they and their people also great cause to complaine before God and all the worlde ouer them which yet vnder the pretence of peace doo seeke and practise the spilling of innocent blood of Christians and to further the ruine and vtter decay of the Low Countries whervnto the Spanish counsel who now in all respects do finde themselues sore offended with these Countries will worke more extreamely then before vsing thereto such horrible shamefull and vnlawfull proceedings as heeretofore hath not beene heard or thought on And much more is the vtter ruine and decay of these Countries to be looked for in this respect that it is well knowne to all the world into what extremity they are come and how their cases do stand Namely the destruction of innocent blood by the Hangmans hand of many thousand innocent and guiltlesse people aswell men as weomen of all qualities amongst which haue beene some of the principallest Lords of the land The violation of the principallest freedomes priuiledges and iurisdictions of the Lowe Countries and Citties aswell in generall as perticuler many murthers burnings violation erations concussions and o●her enormities and execrable deedes after very many remonstrations supplications with sending of certaine of the Neitherlandish Lords into Spaine as namely amongst others the Marqu●s of Bergen and the Lord of Monteng●y who there were ill dealt withall and vsed against the law of Nations Also the intercession of great Potentates done in vaine to the end that the Lowe Countries the people Citties and good Inhabitants themselues might be suffered to inioy their laudable freedomes priuiledges and iurisdictions and the tyranny of the Spanish nation and their adhearents ouer their consciences bodies and goods might be cast of which hath brought their people to these aforesaid extreamities And therefore it may please his Highnes to vnderstand that the States before named haue with good insight and pondering proceeded as they doo nowe shewe themselues towards the welfare of these Countries and inhabitants thereof like as in times past and in like cases is alreadie passed And that their people canont beleeue much lesse be assured any waies of any alteration of the Spanish humors which heretofore haue beene more apparant and part of them promised with great losse and damage to these Countries For in the beginning of these warres the out-rage of the Spaniardes was so great that all were put to death which came into their power And to vse such like law for so laudable a matter as the conseruation of their natiue Countrey against forraine tyranny either with their counsel or deedes that not only their plaine Countries were wasted but also many principall Citties with murthering robbing burning and other horrible execrable and vnnaturall dealing euen whilst such matters were intreated of and let the people of these Countries be assured that no other thing is to bee looked for at the Spaniards hands which in the end wil not turne to the vtter shame ruine and ouer-throwe of these Inhabitants There began the blood thirsty Counsell to chaunge and theyr humors to alter in apparance but in such sort that the people marked that it would fall out hard with them to come with anie force and therefore haue had many parleys and conferences And the first entreatement of peace began in Anno. 1574. which the Estates of Holland and Zealand vsing their olde honest and simple manner were mooued to seeke redresse of their griefes by writings

people knowe vnderstand the same by these presents as well to abandon all suspition as to the more neerer reuealing of our foresaid goodnes and vpright inclination towardes you and those which might looke for the same at our hands Forasmuch then as the matter toucheh you so neer you your people and those which are vnder you should set before your eyes the luck fortune and welfare which thereby might come and redound to your natiue Countrey so pittifully oppressed and spoyled through these long lasting warres And so far foorth as the good luck which you had this last yeare as matters of warre bee sickle and inconstant should make any to forget the foresaid euils and mischiefes and not to think vpon those which might chaunce and fall out and thereby seeme to assure themselues ten fold without any accepting of this good occasion shall it not then bee needefull to thinke on examples and things passed which teacheth that in short time such great alteration may happen that oftentimes that is soone lost which shortly before hath beene gotten with greate labour honour and reputation Wherefore we do pray you both hartely and earnestly that you will altogether take good counsell therein deepely weighing and pondring all things and you your selues offer vs such laudable and honest conditions of peace that by meanes thereof it may be perceiued the sooner the better that you be not such as seeke to lengthen or prolong the warres which bringeth so many kindes of oppressions to the Communally as is well knowne to all men but that thereby the same might be brought to some perfect ende sure rest and quietnes And for our parts we wil shew you with our déedes that no deceit or craft is hid therein not seeking any thing els then a true stedfast peace which and all that we do is with good earnest and simplicity to the furthering of the Common wealth Wherein if you shew your good will Then shall you shewe what you esteeme and thinke of vs and desire to be in time of neede as is best knowne to you your selues Like as the bringers hereof Maister Otto Hartius and Ieronimus Coomans learned in the lawes shall declare being thereto appointed by vs with proffering of our good will towards you Praying almightie God c. From Brussels the fift of May Anno. 1594. Vnderneath stood Yours to commaund Ernestus The superscription was ¶ To the Honorable the Estates of Gelderland Holand Zealand Freesland Vtricht Ouer-Jsell and others assembled at Earles Hagh in Holand ¶ The proposition done by Otto Hartius and Jeronimus Coomans learned in the Lawes to the Lords the generall Estates of the vnited Nether-landish Prouinces My Lords AS wée lately had gotten Pasport of the Lordes of the Counsell of the Estates that wee might come into these vnited Prouinces for the dispatching of our busines and particuler matter for which we yeeld the said Lordes freendlie thanks and those which put to their helping hands for furthering of the same with offering the like to be done to be sorrowed for on our side for those which shall néede to goe from hence and the same beeing brought to the knowledge of his Highnes the Arch-duke of Austria Ernestus he hath thought good to send vs that we shoulde in his name salute you proffering you all good and to declare vnto you that the principall cause which moued him to send vs into these Countries was the singuler loue affection which he hath alwaies borne to the welfare and quietnes of the same And that he hopeth that God of his grace will sende such meanes that through him the same may be vnited againe in good peace and tranquility as it was before the beginning of these ciuill troubles towards the which and to vnderstande hys good will and meaning the better hee hath charged and commaunded vs to recite vnto your Worships the Letters which we deliuered the twelfth day of this Month of May. Hoping that your Worshippes shall thereby cleerely perceaue his will and meaning is to settle a sure peace and long during vnitie in these Countries and that the indwellers thereof may be pacified to their contentment And although the same in the yeare past prooued to bee in vaine and also when any entreaty of peace or accord is agreed vpon straightwayes through misconstruing therof they fall into new enmity and warres through whose occasion and dooing is not at this time to be ript vp and God graunt it be not hereafter neither So that if your Worships should be conceiued with any mistrust of suspicion or mooued with any misliking to deny such reasonable conference especially because that lately matters haue fallen out according to the will and pleasure of your Worshippes yet doth his Highnes hope that the same shall not rest or depend vpon any temporall and alterable prosperitie whereby this present occasion should cease or come to none effect For which all honest people and louers of the whole Lands peace and vnitie should desire and wish your worships to set the same before your eyes First that all worldly matters haue their howres times and seasons And like as there is a time of diffidence thereafter may well come and followe a season of confidence That all men together ought to trust vnto and to looke to the security of himselfe and his successors Secondly there neuer rose vp in any Country so great wars tumults or discorde either publiquely or perticularly but it was lastly ended and layde downe more with entreaties and conditions then with force of Armes For warre is of such vnhappie fruitfulnes that it bringeth out a beard to one and a foote to another Thirdly that it neuer went well or prospered with any Prince estate or Common wealth which refused or denyed a laudable proffer of entreaty of peace Touching which wee had rather haue the examples of our time and remembrance thereof to passe vntouched then by repeating or reauealing therof to remember the faults of them or others For if your Worships at this time should bee mooued or detracted with any kinde of diffidence or mistrust or thinking to refer the same till another time yet wee hope you will respect the time and season and howe the sam● is put to the arbitriment of your Worships and of other persons to say with his Highnes sprong out of the house of Austria whose vpright dealing vnderstanding vertue and honour well beseemeth such a Prince Whereby only may be vnderstood that seauen or eight one after another of the same house haue come to bée Emperours not by succession which is giuen aswell to euill as good Princes but by the voyces and free election of the Electors and Common-estates of the Empire commonly grounded on princely vertue and constancy in worde and deede of him that is elected Like as not long agoe appeared in the person of Maximilian the second Father to his Highnes who for his moderation and goodnes might haue been accounted for a speciall selected instrument of the Common wealth for reforming of discords and controuersies of religion to hold vp in ballance and to lay downe Such as the like of him hath not beene in times past or likelie to follow And following the footesteps of the same hath by vs sent the original letter to your Worships which wee doubt not is receiued by your Worships with such frendly and good affection as we do hold assuredly the same to be written without enemity We pray therfore and earnestly request you that your Worshippes will duely ponder the contents of the same with such an answere that his Highnes and all honest people may the sooner the better haue cause to conceaue some good hope of their long desired peace which they looke to haue through your worships wisdome and prouidence With humble petition that if your Worships repre-senting this honourable assembly or any one in perticuler should finde himselfe agreeued with any difficulty in any wordes points or vnderstanding of the aforesaid writing of hys Highnes we are ready at all times to explane the same if wee may stand you in any steede Also we hope that our interpreting thereof shall bee to your Worships contentment Which in effect is cōtayned in the force of the clauses of the said letter of Credent and standeth vpon our persons Friendly praying you to accept thereof in good part And note withall by the way with your Worships leaue ●●at by the confession and declaration of certaine persons which are taken and examined his Highnes is empreached that hee should haue pretended the death of Earle Morrice of Nassow through the meanes of the same persons or otherwise as likewise should haue been done to the Earle of Barlaymont Being an absurd and impudent delation because they neuer came or euer passed from his Highnes in the least respect or from his house or stock from which in times past neither such infamous deedes haue proceeded nor with Gods helpe shall proceede We are heere in the name of his Highnes to enquire the truth of the matter praying your Worshippes that the prisoners may be safely kept and sent with some Comissary to Antwerp or Brussels with writing to his Highnes that they at certaine time and place be sent back againe or els to be transported to Breda being vnder the iurisdiction of this gouernment to the said Earle of Barlaymont who for this purpose shall be accompained with a Comissary in the name of his Highnes and appeare there in person to examine them vpon such circumstances and perticulers as shal be aduised and found needefull to be examined of With due pasport to be giuen Or els if it please your Worships to aduise some other expedient meanes that the trueth may be discouered which surelie should redound to the vnburthening and excusing of his Highnes and your Worships shall thereby attaine great honour for your good iustice as in such case the like hath not beene thought of or of any other perticuler consideration which the prisoners should say and declare or els not publishing the same to the preiudice of any man or contemning any good meaning of his Highnes c. Propounded and done in the assembly of the Lords the generall Estates the sixteenth of May. Anno 1594. in Earles Hagh And subscribed by vs Otto Hartius and Ieronimus Coomans FINIS