maiestie Which moderation hir highnesse hoped should be such as should be able to content euery man with reason And for asmuch as hir authoritie as the playntifs theÌ„selues might well vnderstaÌ„d and perceiue stretched not so farre as to surceasse the InquisitioÌ„ and Edictes as they required and againe it was not meete to leaue the countrey lawlesse in the behalfe of ReligioÌ„ hir highnesse hoped that the playntifes would hold theÌ„selues conteÌ„ted with hir sendyng to the kynges Maiestie promising to take such order in the meane while till his answere were returned that as wel the Inquisitors themselues where any were alredy as also their officers should in that respect proceede discretly and modestly in their Commissions so as men should haue no cause to coÌ„plaine of theÌ„ And hir highnes trusted that the plaintifs also would behaue themselues in such sort as they should haue no neede to deale otherwize for she hoped to behaue hir selfe so well and dewtifully towardes the kings Maiestie as he should be contented to discharge all others of the Inquisition where it was as may be perceiued by his exemptyng of BrabaÌ„d froÌ„ it at the sute of the cheef Cities therof And hir highnesse inteÌ„ded to preferre all good meanes to hys Maiestie so much the more freely to the end and effect aforesayd bycause she did surely beleueâ—… that the playntifes had no determinate purpoze or intent to alter any thyng of the auncient Religion which had bin obserued in those Countreys but rather mynded to keepe and maynteine it to the vttermost of their power Done by hir hyghnesse at Brusselles the xvi of Aprill 1565. before Easter vnder signed Margaret ¶ The Letters of assurance giuen to the Confederates MArgaret by the grace of God Duches of Parma and Pleasance RegeÌ„t and Gouernesse heere in theis Countreys for my Lord the king to all such as shall see theis presentes greetyng Whereas a great nomber of the Gentlemen of this Countrey togither did put vp a certein Supplication vnto vs in the moneth of Aprill last past the effect wherof was that it might pleaze the kynges Maiestie to abrogate and abolish the Inquisition and Edictes as well old as new which they sayd were ouerrigorous therfore could not be put in execution and in sted of theÌ„ to make others by the generall aduise and consent of the states of the sayd Countrey beseechyng vs to send the same Supplication to his Maiesty that he might prouide for it wherupon we hild many great consultatioÌ„s with the gouernours of the CouÌ„treys the Knightes of the Order the CouÌ„sell of estate his Maiesties priuy Counsell after we had preferred the whole vnto him togither with our aduice therin For asmuch as we sawe that the sayd GentlemeÌ„ might perchaunce haue some scruple or dout that y kyng would take in ill part their sayd Supplication togither with the confederacie which they had made therupon amoÌ„g themselues all that had insewed therupon which misdoutyng might cause some greater mischeef in those couÌ„treys We thought it good by the aduice aforesayd and vpon deliberation as is mencioned afore to sew to the kynges Maiestie that it might pleaze him likewize to giue them letters of assuraunce that they should not be charged with any thyng hereafter that had bin do by the occasioÌ„ therof Whereupon his Maiestie hath certified vs of his good pleazure and meenyng accordyng wherto we tenderyng the benefite rest and tranquilitie of the sayd Countreys and to mainteine the sayd Gentlemen in such wise as they may the more willyngly yeld their obedience and seruis to his Maiesty accordingly as they be bound as well by nature as by othe and as they themselues haue alwayes offred we I say at their request and information by the power authoritie which we haue vnder his Maiestie as Regent Gouernesse generall of theis his Countreys and by the aduice of the foresayd Gouerners Knightes of the Order and Lordes of the Counsell of state beyng with vs haue for their sayd assurance giueÌ„ them a Charter signed with our hand in maner and forme followyng HEr highnesse c. We doo you to vnderstande that all things afore mentioned considered and by the kings maiesties consent and good will and by the power and commaundemeÌ„t whiche we haue from hym we in the name and by the power aforesayd haue promised and by these presents do promis that nother his Maiestie nor we wyll blame or charge the said Gentlemen for the foresayde Supplication or the confederacie made therupon or for any thing that hath insued of them vnto this present so their othe and faythfulnesse whiche they haue giuen and plighted vnto vs as well for them selues as for the confederates be conformable to the poyntes and articles aboue specified and wherunto they haue bound them selues Therefore on the kings maiesties behalfe we wyll and commaund all Gouernors Knights of the Order Lords of the Counsell of Estate the Chiefe the President and the Lordes of the priuie Counsel and all other his maiesties Iustices and Officers to whom this cace perteyneth to mainteine this present assurance and to cause it to be mainteyned inâ—…iolably continually causing suffering and permitting the said Suppliants to vse and inioy it fully quietly and perpetually without causing procuring or dooyng and without suffering to be caused procured or done presently or in tyme to come directly or indirectly any trouble or impeachment to the contrary and also without attempting any thyng against the said Suppliants in any maner of wise for any cause aboue specified For so is it the kings maiesties pleasure and ours In witnesse whereof we haue signed these presents with our name and set thereto our seale Giuen in the Citie of Brusselles the. xxv day of August 1566. Signed vpon the foldyng on the right side of it thus Margaret And on the left side of the same foldyng was written thus By the expresse appoyntment of her highnesse And vndersigned Of Ouerloepe These letters were sealed with her highnesse owne Seale in red waxe vpon a double Labell ¶ The copie of a letter written by the kyng with his owne hand vnto the Prince of Orendge translated out of Spanish into French. WIth great good wyll haue I receiued your letters one the 〈◊〉 of May and afterward an other the. 〈◊〉 of Iune You might haue vnderstoode by that which I wrote to my syster how small cause you haue to thinke the thinge that you writ to me in your letter of May or rather that you ought to thinke the cleane contrary And surely you should be much ouerseene if you should thinke that I trusted you not in all thinges or that if any body had gon about to make me conceiue amisse of your duetifulnes towards me I would haue bin so light of credit as to beleue it hauyng had so great experience of your loyaltie and good seruis Therefore you may forbeare your mistrust in that behalfe and referre your selfe to the letters whiche you
maiestie hereafter this is worthy to be takeÌ„ for one of the noblest and to best purpoze in respect wherof we be throughly perswaded that your highnesse can not but take it in good worth Therefore Madam although we doubt not but that all that euer his maiestie hath decreed both heretofore and now newly again at this present concerâ—…yng the Inquisition and the streight obsernyng of the Iniunctions in the case of ReligioÌ„ haue some good grounde and iust title namely for the continuyng of the thynges which the late Emperour of noble memorie Charles had vpon very good meanyng determined and stablished yet notwithstandyng seeing that the diuersitie of tymes bringeth diuersitie of remedyes with them and the sayd Iniunctions haue already geuen occasion of many griefes and inconueniences now many yeares since for all the executyng of them with extreme rigour Surely his Maiesties laste resolution whereby he not only forbyddeth the mitigatyng of the Iniunctions any whyt at all but also commaundeth expresly that the Inquisition should proceede and the Iniunctions be executed with all rigour doth giue vs sufficient cause of iust feare that therby not onely the inconueniences wyl be greatly augmented but also there wyl in the end insue some general commotion and insurrection tendyng to the miserable ruine of the whole Contrey accordyng as the manifest tokens of mâ—…tinie among the people which appeareth already euerywhere doo shewe vs openly to the eye Wherfore consideryng the apparaÌ„ce and greatnesse of the dauÌ„gers that manace vs we haue hoped hitherto that either the Lordes or els the states of the Countrey would haue aduertized your highnesse therof one tyme or other that you might haue remedyed it by remouyng the cause and grounde of the mischeef But when we sawe that they did not put forth theÌ„selues to do it by reasoÌ„ of sum occasions to vs vnknowen and that in the meane while the mischeef increaced froÌ„ day to day so as it was lyke to come to a generall insurrection and ceuolt we haâ—…e thought it our dewtie to wayt no longer tyme but rather accordyng to the othe of our faith and allegeauÌ„ce matched with good meening and zeale towardes his Maiâ—…stie and the couÌ„trey to put forth our selues foremost in doyng our needefull indeuer that so much the more frankly as we haue more cause to hope that his Maiestie will take our aduertizement in very good part for asmuch as the matter toucheth vs much neerer than any others as them that lye more open to the inconueniences and calamities that are customably wont to spryng of like accidents bycause the most part of vs haue our houses and possessioÌ„s situaâ—…e in the open fieldes redy for all men to pray vpon and also forasmuch as if we should follow the rigour of the sayd IniunctioÌ„s in such wise as his Maiestie commaundeth vs expresly to procede their should not generally be any man amoÌ„g vs no nor in all the CouÌ„treys heeraboutes of whatsoeuer callyng state or degree hee were which should not roune in daunger of losse both of body and goodes bee subiect to the slaunder of hym that would bee his enemye who to haue a share of his goodes so forfeyted might accuse him vnder preteÌ„ce of the sayd Iniunctions wherein there was none other refuge left for the defeÌ„dant but only if the officer listed to winke at him at whose curtesie both his life his goods did wholly staÌ„d In consideration wher of we haue the more cause to beseeche your highnes most humbly so do we in deede by this our Supplication to voutsafe to take some order in the cace bycause it is a matter of great importance to send a fit and conuenient person to the Kynges Maiestie with all speede possible to aduertize him therof to beseech him most huÌ„bly on our behalfe that it may pleaze him to prouide remedy in that behalfe as well for heerafter as for the present tyme And that for asmuch as that caÌ„not be done by sufferyng the sayd Iniunctions to stand in force bycause they bee the very welspring and roote froÌ„ whence all the sayd inconueniences spryng it may pleaze him to giue eare to the abolishyng of them which he shall finde to be necessary for the turnyng away of the vniuersall ruine destruction of all his countreys heere And to the intent his Maiestie may haue no cause to thinke that we which haue none other meenyng than to yeld him most humble seruis would take vpon vs to bridle him and to bynd hym to the stake at our pleasure as we dout not but our aduersaries will inceÌ„se him to our disaduantage it may please him to make other ordinauÌ„ces by the aduice and consent of all the States assembled generally togither to prouide for the things abouesaid by sum other meanes more fit and conuenient and without any euident daunger Also we most humbly beseeche your highnes that in the meane seazon while his Maiestie may take intelligence of our inst request and determine thereof accordyng to his good rightfull pleasure you will prouide for the sayd dauÌ„gers by a generall surceassing as well of the Inquisition as of all executioÌ„ of the sayd IniuÌ„ctions vntill his Maiesty haue taken other ordre in the matter And we protest expresly that asmuch as in vs lay we haue discharged our dewries by this present aduertizement so that we do now vnburtheÌ„ our selues of it before God meÌ„ declaryng plainly that if any iuconuenience disorder sedition reuolt or sheadyng of blud insew thereof herafter for want of redresse in tyme we cannot be blamed of the coÌ„cealyng of so apparaÌ„t a mischeef Wherin we take God the kyng your highnesse the Lordes of the Counsell and our owne consciences to witnesse that our proceedyng therein hath bin as becommeth the kynges good trusty seruauÌ„tes and faythfull subiectes without passing the bouÌ„des of our dewty in any point in respect wherof also we beseech your highnesse so much the more instaÌ„tly to voutsafe to giue eare to it before any further harme insew thereof So shall you do well ¶ The Answere and Replication made to the sayde Supplication in the Counsell of the States by the Lady Regent was as followeth HIr highnesse hauying considered the petitions demauÌ„des conteined in the said Supplication is fully determined to send it to the kyngs Maiestie and to offer it vnto hym with all kynde of dewtifulnesse that she caÌ„ deuize to serue hir to moue and incline his Maiestie to coÌ„descend to their requestes afore shewed tellyng theÌ„ that there was no cause for them to hope otherwise than for all thynges meete and agreable to his natiue accustomed goodnesse for the furtheraunce whereof hir highnesse by the ayde aduice of the Rulers of the Prouinces the Knightes of the Order and the Lordes of the Counsell had taken peynes to deuize and penne a moderation of the sayd Iniunctions in the cace of Religion before the commyng of their informatioÌ„s to be presented to his
grace vsed such forecast as no place towne or fortresse of our gouernement hath bin destroyed sacked or turned away froÌ„ their dew obedience to the kynges Maiestie or the Regent Out of the same forge commeth this forgerie also which is put into the Citation of the County of Hoochestraten wroÌ„gfully slaundered to haue bin a furtherer of our ambitious practises name ly that we should haue hild many suspicious communications and priny packynges at Hoochestraten and that at Deuremond we should haue determined with the foresayd Countie of Egmond and with the County of Horne and with the sayde County of Hoochestraten to enter into armes agaynst his Maiestie and to keepe him from commyng into the lowe countrey by force For I reporte me to the Lordes that were at Hoochestraten when I was there whither there were any other talke than of makyng good cheere and of visityng one an other and of feasting certeine strauÌ„ge Lordes as frendes alyes meetyng togither so as it caÌ„ neuer bee auowed that any thyng was concluded there that was woorthy to bee suspected or any disloyaltie practised agaynst his Maiestie Also it shall neuer be fouÌ„d true that we practised either at Deuremond or any where els to stop his maiesties coÌ„ming by force or otherwise For although we were aduertised that all our dooynges were misconstrued to his Maiestie to turne away the good wyll that he bare towards vs in so much that there came to our handes the copies of certaine letters written by the Lord Frauntes of Alua his Maiesties Ambassadour in France to the Lady Regent the contents wherof were that the three within noted whiche were the Countie of Egmond the Countie of Horne and Wee should be punished in tyme and place accordyng to their desertes vntyll the whiche tyme he woulde that men should make good couÌ„tenance towards vs and that in effect these letters blamed vs for all the euylles that had happened in the sayd low Countreys auowyng the same thyng to haue bin the principal cause of the foresaid meting at Deuremond yet notwithstandyng we trusting altogether to our own innoceÌ„cie did not forbeare to communicate the contentes of the sayd letters to the Lady Regent to aske her directly what was meant by them There were certayne other poyntes treated of whiche concerned them that were there their doynges wherof I take it that the sayd two Lordes being then prisoners haue made sufficient declaration In respect wherof and because they perteyne not to the present matter and for that it is to be presumed that in this case men should holde them selues satisfyed at leastwise on our behalfe for asmuch as in the writte wherby we be 〈◊〉 there is no mention made of the foresayd two asseÌ„blyes I wil make no fâ—…rther discourse therof Only this I adde that he which had foreseene the outrages and violence vsed at this tyme in the low countreys had done his duetie and indeuor to stop them accordyng to couenants with the Duchie of Braband and accordyng to his owne oth and bond should peradueÌ„ture not be thought worthy of blame for any other rebellion consideryng that if he had mynded any such thing he could haue found no meanes to doo it than our aduersaries weene were it not that the opinion which we haue conceiued of the kyngs goodnesse who notwithstandyng doth waste destroy anâ—… spoyle the Countrey so well affectioned to his maiesties seruice at the onely pleasure of the Cardinall of Granuill had not turned me away from all suche thoughtes And therfore to come to other points of our Summons and nainely to that which importeth that we should haue ayded and counselled the Lorde of Brederode chiefe of the rebels as is there pretended to fortifie his citie of Uiane against the kyngs maiestie I confesse that commyng to Uiane certayne yeres before these alterations and beyng told by the sayd Lord of Brederode that his late Lord and Father had inioyned and commaunded hym by his last wyll and testament to goe foreward with the fortifying of the sayde Towne and of his house lately begonne desiryng me to geue him myne aduice for the fortifying therof I confesse say I that I dyd so wherupon it may wel be inferred that I gaue the saide Lorde counsell to performe the last will of his sayd Lord and father deceased but not that I ayded or counselled any captayne of Rebelles to fortifie the citie agaynst the kynges maiestie By reason whereof and for as much as it is no treazon for a man to geue his aduice vpon the fortifying of a place it appearcth playnly that those accusations tende but only to the defacyng of the truth and to the oppressing of innocencie And that so much the more because that in the low Countreys it hath at all times bin lawfull for GentlemeÌ„ of abilitie liuyng to furnish fortifye their places wherof it hath bin sene that many both of old tyme and euer since haue bin fortified by vertue of the same liberty not only vpoÌ„ the Frontiers but also eueÌ„ in the myddes in the very hart of the Countrey which fortifying was so much the more lawful for the said Lord Brederode to make because he held and possessed the said towne of Uiane with all right of soueraigntie And although his predecessors had bin in controuersie at the law vpon that point of long time before yet notwithstandyng he had continued styll in possession and seisure of the said royalties And if a man looke more neare into the aduice he shall fynd that it is against all reason and equitie to grounde any crime of treason thereuppon because it was not geuen vppon the principall poynt that is to wyt whether the fortification should be made or no whereof the Lord of Brederode made no doubt nor scruple at al but only vpon the maner and forme of the fortificatioÌ„ Which not withstandyng could not haue bin folowed vnlesse the poynt goyng afore were fully concluded and agreed vpon whereto none but the onely Lorde of Brederode should be bound to answer And it maketh not to the matter that the fortification was put in execution after the commotions For seeyng that the aduice was geuen before respecte ought to be had to the same tyme. Wheras it is auouched that we shold haue suffred the said Lord of Brederode to leuie men of warre in the citie of Antwerp in the open fight knowlege of al men contrary to the expresse order then newly taken and proclaymed to shyp them to the towne of Uiauen with all maner of munitions of warre This shall serue for answeare that although my commyng to the citie of And werpe was onely to keepe it in quiet and in obedience to the kinges maiestie which thing may appeare by the Regents letters sent both to me and to the Magistrate of the town yea eueÌ„ by the confession of the Attorney generall conteyned in the said Summons yet notwithstandyng as soone as I vnderstood
stablished bycause it was thought that we letted the succours that some intended to haue ministred vnto them togither with the outrages that leawd folkes attempted to practize howbeit that in the ende through Gods goodnesse we appeazed all without any bludshed Which dealyng of ours argueth vs to haue bin farre of from sending those mē into Zeland to surprize the Coūtrey in asmuch as all our doynges tended to the contrary For had that bin our purpoze wee shoulde not haue commaunded the Capteyne and the men of that Countrey to receiue no mē of warre but contrarywise to haue receyued them and taken them in and it appeered so much the more in that wee offered the men of Andwerp to goe out of the Towne and to discōfite the assembly our selues with such company as was there which thyng was misliked of for feare of commotiō which discouered it selfe after the sayd discomfiture as hath bin sayd afore Now then seyng there was no lookyng for his Maiesties cōmyng by sea there was not any likelyhod that by the takyng of Zeland wee ment to stop his passage and to shet him out of it whiche thyng cōsideryng how the townes and fortresses were at his Maiesties deuotion it was not possible for vs to do by sending mē without head without capteine without authoritie without expresse cōmaundement from vs which could not bee receiued there bycause of our order taken to the contrary but in that cace we should haue bin there personally in the Countrey whereby I should haue giuen some cause for men to thinke that folke would euery where haue stooped to me as to their gouernour and haue yelded me their accustomed obediēce as they had done in all other Cities and holdes of our gouernement for that had bin a more apparant and sure meanes than to send thither a sort of rascall fellowes vnarmed vngouerned and vnguided for whom we should at leastwise haue prouided in a cace beyng so well able to doe it by meanes of the towne of And werp as euery man knowes and which were afterward dispatched in manner without any resistence or defence in somuch that no man hauyng any experience of the warres would haue trusted to them in an exployt of importāce and much lesse I who had farre better meanes to assure me of the Countrey if I had mynded it as I did not And therfore I mar uell that men of skill and wisedome wil vse such allegations whereof they not only nother haue nor euer shalhaue any proofe but also which haue not in them any shewe of likelyhode Wherfore to come to the poynt of the sayd Summons which auoucheth that beyng in Antwerp to appeaze the trubbles and vprores of the people we suffered and graunted the exercize of all sectes to go at libertie in the towne indifferently it is to be cōsidered that before I tooke my charge vppon me I declared op◅nly in full Counsell of the states that it laye not in me nor was myne intent to take vppon me to suppresse the preachyng whiche was then ched with the exercize of the Religiō as a necessary appurtnaunce of the same which charge as I toke it I haue performed with vnspeakable trauell thought and care by the aduice of the mē of law of the citie of the faculties of the marchauntes all the which confessed that by my meanes and order they accoūted them selues assured of the quietnesse of the Towne thankyng vs for it with al their hartes Whiche thyng falleth out in effect to be confirmed approued and cōfessed by the Regent also who hauyng co◅itted the keepyng of the citie in quietnes to the County of Hoochestraten in our absence while we were pacifying the Countreys of Holland Zeland and Utreyght inioyned and appoynted him expresly to followe the steppes that I had gone before him Whiche thyng neuerthelesse they do now go about to deface chaungyng the thynges that were openly allowed into the crime of hygh treason agaynst all likelyhode of truth For I graunted not any Religion one or other in the towne but only suffered bare with such as had begō to preach openly before my commyng thither accordyng to my declaration heretofore blamed For although y Regēt shewed sufficiently that she hild with all Religions which agreed not with the Romish Religiō esteemed of them all alike as namely with the Anabaptistes agaynst whom I was desirous to haue ◅ade publicke defence if her hyghnesse had liked it yet did I put all such to silence as did put thē selues forth to begynne any preachynges after my commyng thither Moreouer the preachings that were made without the towne were not receiued into the towne by vs but when I was called to the Court without hauyng obteined that some other bodye might be substituted in my sted to looke to the quietnesse of the towne or that I might send a Lieutenant thither notwithstādyng that I did expressy require it in the meane while some fell to pullyng downe destroying and breakyng a sunder of images euery where they that preached erst without the towne began to get them Churches yea euen by authoritie of the magistrate And after the composition made betweene the Regent authorized by the kyng and the contederates when as in the end they were contented to haue left vppe their Churches agayne and to haue continewed their preachynges in their accustomed places without the town accordyng to the compositiō the Magistrate thought it more expediēt for many cōsiderations to graunt and assigne them places within the Towne By meanes wherof when the parties were once agreed I could do no lesse by vertue of my Commission but followe the composition For in asmuch as I was sent to kepe the towne in quiet and in loyaltie to the kyng it was our dewty to frame our selues to that whiche we sawe they had settled in vnitie and quiet specially cōsidering the weyghtinesse of the reasons that had moued the townesmen to consent to the thynges aforesayd whereof I did thē aduertize as well the kyng as the Regent besides that it was not possible to keepe the peace without sufferyng of the sayd preachynges and the exercizyng of the Religion out of hand the necessitie of which exercize offered it selfe welneere hourely by reason of the multitudes that followed the Sermōs whiche were sayne to be suffered euery where in somuch that they were vsed opēly in Churches which was the cause that the Magistrate thought it good needefull to suffer not only the exercize but also the erection of Churches And that so much the rather byeause winter was at hand by reason whereof otherwise an other secōd inuasion was to be feared wherin the other churches were like to haue bin taken and therfore the Magistrate was not only willyng but also desirous to further the sayd Churches whereunto bycause we sawe that all others had no lesse good will thā he wee thought it stoode not in any wise with our dewtye to hinder
well vpon the punishment but not vpō the meane how to punish them For the one vrgeth the kinges goyng thither as much as he can the other on the contrary part letteth hindereth it propoūdeth other new meanes As for me I haue alwayes bin of opiniō that in such caces the kynges presence would stand in great stead that aboue all thynges diligence and speedy dispatch is needefull and would greatly aduauntage the matter and that in suddein diseazes it behoueth to vse speedy yea euē violēt remedies which is the opinion wherein the kynges Maiestie as I am informed onely by one litle soule doth now dwell fully settled and resolued in so much that the same day that he arriued last at Madrid after his sicknesse hee sware in the presence of the sayd Lords how he knew well that in the thynges whiche he had to do in his low Countreys his going should be not onely to his own reputation but also to the seruis of God and therfore that it touched him so neere as he would rather hazard all the rest of his dominions than fayle to punish such Rebelliō to the example and open sight of all Christēdome And for the same cause his Maiestie determined resolutely in the same place to depart out of Spayne as soone as he possibly might and to cary with him the Prince his sonne the Queene who notwithstandyng as it was thought might haue passed thorough Fraunce leauyng his suster the Regēt of the coūtrey and his two nephewes the Emperours sonnes with hir howbeit that the Emperour was mynded afterward to take home the elder of thē and that the duke should go his way certaine dayes afore to refresh the garrisons of Italy and to fetche thence the best and auncientest Capteines and souldiers in their places to put those whō he should carry with him out of Spaine and that anon after his Maiestie shal go into Italy and speake with some of the Princes and potētates of that countrey and talke mouth to mouth with the Pope and afterward with the Emperour if it may be to link in togither with them in counsell and force and he hath alredy desired two regimentes of souldiers at the Emperours hands Which there is no dout but he shal obteine notwithstanding that he cannot as yit giue him reso◅te answere by reasō of the warre that he hath with y Turke This doue as soone as he hath set cōuenient order in his affaires his maiestie determineth to tary in the Frenche Countie and frō thence to come down into the low coūtreys with such force as shal be needful according to the behaueour of his subiectes there accordyng to the countenance that they shall shew of humbling them selues or of makyng resistence that he may make them to obey hym and God first of all Furthermore madame me thinkes I shoulde not forget to tel you howe the Countie Palatine and the Lantgraue of Hessia and the other Lutheran Princes haue sent two ambassadours hyther which beare the name of Doctors wherof the one is called Iunius and the other Dauid They came hyther a moneth or fiue weekes ago vnder colour to demaund certaine money which the sayd Princes had lent the Hugonots duryng the troubles of the Realme and therewithall to commend the professors of their godly Religion to the French kyng but in very deede as farre as I can learne to make practises with the sayd Hugonots and to giue new occasions of attemptes against the Catholik state of the kynges maiesties Countrey And for as muche as I perceyued by good ground and in very truth that some of the kyngs and Queenes Coūsell yea euen of the greatest and oldest sort how Catholicke so euer they pretended to be were mynded to serue their owne turnes by occasiō of this Ambassade by entryng into league with those Princes and so to strengthen themselues in their confederacie and alyance I was in some vnquietnesse for certaine dayes how to fynde meanes to breake that broode But the Cardinall came to the Towne in very good season who in very deede doth a whole worlde of good turnes heer and would do many ◅o if he were able I visited him had long discourse with him about the weightynes of this cace and the greate inconueniences that it drewe with it to the ruine of the Catholickes of this Realme and I aggrauated it in such wise vnto him as I made it seeme to tend not onely to the harme of the kyng my maister but also to the harme of his owne Prince By meanes wherof I gaue him a colour to attach the said Iunius as a subiect borne in the low countrey so as he wēt hence the nexte mornyng to a house of the Queenes called Monceaulx where the Court lay And when he came there he sped him so well that immediatly the kyng the Queene dispatched a writ to the Marshal of their house to put the said Lutherā Ambassadours in prison who were as then in the towne and to seaze their letters remēbraunces Instructions Which thyng had bin put in execution but that duryng the contention that happened while the Marshal was about to haue led them to prison a certeine Counseler beyng thē in the town aduized him to surceasse the execution of the writ vntill there came a new commaundement Neuerthelesse I know that although there was meanes made afterward to salue that sore yet y Ambassadours thought themselues to haue receiued such a despight their Maisters such an iniurie as I am sure that thereby the practise that was a brewyng is so broken of as it cannot be knit togither agayne Specially for asmuch as they perceiued themselues to be misused new agayne in that in sted of amendes for the sayd wrong they were very ill intreated at the Court when they came to haue audiēce afterward mocked for their labour by meanes wherof they thought that the kyng and the Queene and their Coūsell had small likyng of them a thyng that cannot but turne to the great furtheraunce of the kynges Maiesties affaires and bereue them more and more of their frēdes and alyances As for the Lady that you wot of I take hir to be one of the deepest dissemblers in the world the more I haue to deale with hir the more am I cōfirmed in that opiniō which I haue oftē aduertized your highnesse of namely that there is no trust no assurednes no frendshyp no stedfastnesse in hir I haue talked with hir many times of the matter that you know of which concerneth the kynges Maiestie and I haue told hir meetly playnly inough how greatly she is bounde thereto for the releef that she hath receiued by it in hir great nede and I do dayly still vse all the meanes that I can deuize to make hir to discouer matters accordyng to his maiesties meenyng and yours But I can get nothyng at hir hād but wordes and I am as neere my purpoze as I
was at the first day neuerthelesse I am fully determined to vrge hir in such wise at my next cominyng to haue audience as she shal be driuen to lay hir selfe open She sendes me oft the litle blacke maÌ„ that I haue written of so oftentyines to your hyghnesse who hath bin diuers tymes in Spayne since the Lorde of S. Suppliâ—… was Ambassadour there But howsoeuer the sayd Lady thinke that by his meanes she makes me beleue what she listeth and wringeth out many secretes from me I will nother let hir know what I intend nor draw them froÌ„ their opinion but contrariwise pretend to speake freely to theÌ„ And by this meanes I perceiue I giue them now then good glikes to very good effect and that I sucke more out of them than they do out of me At leastwise I wil by Gods helpe take such order henceforth as they shall neuer make their bragges that they haue couzined a Spanyard I receiued this aduertizement by a poste that went from Madrid with the Lord of S. Supplice whom the sayd Lady did send now alate to the kynges Maiestie and left him as Bayone the first of this Moneth to returne into Fraunce One sent me word that he had had such talke with hir as was behoful such as I gaue instructioÌ„s of which I am sure will do good neuerthelesse he learned not so much newes as he looked for and as their intent was that sent hym The Duke had told him a â—…awe dayes afore that he inteÌ„ded to write to me but bycause the poste sawe him maruelous sad for his sonnes mariage at his comâ—…yng away he durst not speake to hym of it The death of Sultan Solyman is not yit knowen in Spayne But as soone as tydinges commes thither of it I am sure I shall haue aduâ—…rtizement from thence whereby I shall perceiue whither that vppon theis newes there follow any alteration of purpoze in the poyntes abouesayd wherof I will not fayle to certifie your highnesse out of hand whâ—… 〈◊〉 ¶ The Princes answere to the Attourneyes Summons or Citation MAister Attourney I haue receiued a Copie of the Summons that you haue caused to be executed and published agaynst me by open Proclamation and Edict And for asmuch as I finde my selfe greatly greeued with the accusations therin coÌ„teined as a nobleman of my callyng ought to do I couet nothyng so much which thyng I hope also to make apparant as to aunswere dewly and truly therunto as becommeth me For it is no part of my meening to leaue any suspicion in the hartes of the ignoraunt that I haue not dealt honorably and accordyngly as I am bounde to the king or that I haue leudly and vndewâ—…ully behaued my selfe in the Commissions roomes and offices which it hath pleazed his Maiestie to bestow vpon me heertofore or otherwise But I hope to shew by this discourse by the laying togither of my defences that the good long continewed faythfull seruices charges and damages which I haue susteyned in them by reason of theÌ„ doo farre surmount my dueties and rewardes And therefore I haue good cause and reason to desire to enter into this reckenyng no lesse than he that hopeth and looketh for an amendement of his state by the closing vp and determinyng of his account But for as much as the thing that we most desire chiefeliest intend is coÌ„moÌ„ly last in execution if we proceede duely and orderly as we should do in so much that the Phisition or Surgeon goes not about to cure the diseaze or to heale the wounde how greeuous or daungerous soeuer it be tyll he haue first purged the humors and searched the bottome thereof neyther dooth the Mason builde a house without laying of a sure foundation before I am inforced and compelled by the maner of your Summons to defer the alledging and settyng downe of my defence vntyll your accusations be layd forth before a competent and fit Iudge in place vnsuspected where a man may hope that the things which shal be spoken shal be regarded as they ought to be and that the Iudge wyl proceede indifferently to acquitment or condemnation according as the cace shall require and deserue In the meane while I must comfort my self with the examples wherof storyes are full of suche as in recompence of their mainteynyng and increasing of the honour Countreys and dominions of their Princes kings and soueraigne Lords with the hazard of their owne lyues and the expence of their goodes haue not only bin shamefully cited and cryed out vpon but also receyued bodyly punishment and bin made a publike example by being murthered executed banished or driuen away whereas in the meane while the rewardes and recompences of their seruices haue bin giuen before their faces to them that least deserued them Which dealing is so much the lesse straunge in these dayes for as much as the innocentest person that is maye not ouely be brought in suspition but also in hatred made abhorred of the world onely by causing him to be taken and reputed for an heretike by some suborned person For be he once brought to that poynt he shall not onely fynd hym selfe defeated of all his good doynges seruices and desertes but also beyng bereft and depriued of all good likyng he shall become suspected and accusable of Rebellion Commotion Sedition and generally of all kindes of crimes and faults that can be comprized vnder the name of treason And for as muche as it is an odious thing as the worlde goes now adayes to accuse meÌ„ of preteÌ„sed heresie to the inteÌ„t they may punish it without incurryng the indignation and turnyng away of mens hartes which they woulde faine holde in bondage it standeth them in hand to couer it with the cloke of treazon wherof who soeuer is accused shall in vaine goe about to purge and cleare hym self before one to whom he perceyueth hym selfe to be suspected of heresie For in as much as treazon is not the finall cause for which he is pursued arrested apprehended and accuzed though he make his innocencie appeare by neuer so due proofe yet can he not hope for any acquitment or deliuerance but must be condemned vnder title and pretence of treazon or els be his innocencie too too apparant he must looke for â—… perpetuall and miserable deteynyng in lawe by delay of proceedyng which thing ought to excuze me sufficiently for not appearing before the Duke of 〈◊〉 Gouernor and Capteyne general of the low countreys Besides that your 〈◊〉 which you haue sued out is for in â—…any reasâ—…ns vtterly without right and such as I am not bounde to obey For â—…esides that the officer of Armes â—…ath not giuen any intelligence warnyng or â—…clyng of his doing vnto me who vpon aduertizement giuen to my Lady the Duchesse of Parma then Regent dyd withdrawe my selfe 〈◊〉 into this â—…y Countie of Nassâ—… â–ª for certaine vrgent affayres of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â–ª accordyng also as I certifyed his 〈◊〉 long
that hir highnesse hath shewed vnto him is conteÌ„ted vpon the aduice of his lords y knights of the Order others as wel of his Counsels of estate as of his priuy Counsell that the Inquisition whereof they complayne shall ceasse Secondly his maiestie coÌ„senteth that a new Edict should be made but he was not resolued whether it should be done by meane of the states in general or no. Neuerthelesse hir highnesse hoped that she should shortly haue his full resolutioÌ„ therein accordyng as his maiestie had writteÌ„ to her And she would willingly doo hir indeuer stil at al tymes that his maiestie might voutâ—…afe to coÌ„descend to y thynges aforesayd as he had done by his letters agayne And as touchyng the assurance wherof they made mention in their last sute her highnes was determined to giue it them so farre forth as lay in her And as nowe shee was able to put theÌ„ out of all doubt for as much as his maiestie had consented hereunto giuen her authoritie coÌ„cernyng the maner forme of it as shee should fynd it coÌ„uenient Wherfore shee said declared vnto them that his maiestye abhorryng nothyng more than rigor beyng desirous by his accustomed clemeÌ„cie to put them all out of suspition whiche might thynke that he was misinformed of theÌ„ to discharge theÌ„ of the mistrust which had caused those troubles was contented that her hyghnesse should for the pacifying of al incoÌ„ueniences make theÌ„ al kynds of letters that might serue to that purpoze and in such forme as shee should perceiue to be moste for their safetie for what soeuer was past CoÌ„ditionally that henceforth thei behaued theÌ„selues like good loyal vassals subiects towards his maiesty which thyng her highnesse hopeth that they wyll not faile to do as becommeth them like as shee was ready to accept their presentment And nowe for as much as they haue ful whole satisfactioÌ„ made vnto them her highnesse wyl not refuze the offer that they had made diuers times coÌ„cerning their imploying of theÌ„ selues in the seruis of his maiesty of her highnesse for the benefit rest tranquilitie of the countrey wherto the duetie of faithfulnesse of nature bindeth theÌ„ According wherunto shee intendeth that they shall giue her their faith first that they shal nother do nor procure directly nor indirectly any thyng agaynst his maiesty his states countreys subiects but that they shal imploy theÌ„ selues wholy to al maner of thyngs that good loyal vassals subiectes ought to performe towards their soueraigne Lord natural prince In doyng wherof they shal to the vttermost of their power saythfully helpe to stay the present troubles coÌ„motions vprores and to restraine the insurrection of the people that the sacking pilling pulling down of churches chappels cloysters religious houses may cease in al places yea they shall helpe to punish such as haue coÌ„mitted such sacriledges outrages abominations see that no wrong be done to any ecclesiasticall persons ministeâ—…s of Iustice Gentlemen or any other of the kynges subiectes and vassalles IteÌ„ they shal earnestly indeuor that y weapoÌ„s which y people haue takeÌ„ in haÌ„d where through so many mischefes haue bin coÌ„mitted and may be coÌ„mitted hereafter may be layd away incoÌ„tineÌ„tly Also they shal do the best they can by al good seruis to prohibit preachyng in places where none hath bin afore and to prohibit al force cause of offence publike disorder where preaching is vsed already Moreouer they shal indenor and put to their helpe accordyng as they are bound by oth fealty towards his maiesty to the expulsing and repressyng of al strangers that are enemyes rebels to his maiestie the Countrey Finally they shal do their indeuor according to the credit which they haue among such as are now rizen vp for religion or otherwise to cause them to submyt them selues to the thyngs that hys maiesty shal decre by the general aduice of his estates for the furtherance of religion the quietnes and tranquilitie of the same Geuen at Brusselles the. 23. of August 1566. Undersigned Margaret ¶ A copie of the letter which the Confederates sent backe in answeare to the Regent WE Lewis Countie of Nassaw Eustace of Fiennes Lord of Esquerds Charles of Reuel Lord of Andrignyes Barnard of Merode Lord of Rumen Charles of Vander Noot Lord of Risoire George of Mountegnie Lord of Noyelles Martin of Sarclas Lord of Tilly Philip Vander Meeren Lord of Sterbek Philip of Marbais lord of Louuerual Iohn of Mountegny lord of Vilers Charles of Lieuin Lord of Famars Francis of HaefteÌ„ and Iohn Sauage Lord of Escaubecke as wel in our own names as deputies coÌ„mitties for all the rest of the Lords gentlemen confederates that dyd put vp the supplicatioÌ„ to the kings maiesty in the moneth of April last concernyng the Inquisition Iniunctions for heresie Forasmuch as this day we haue receiued certaine letters patents froÌ„ the right high excelleÌ„t princesse the duchesse of Parma PleasaÌ„ce RegeÌ„t Gouernesse for the kyng in theis couÌ„treys heere authorized therunto by the king our souerein Lord naturall prince in maner forme folowyng that is to say Margaret by the grace of God Duchesse of Parma Pleasance RegeÌ„t c. as in the letters of assurance aboue rehearsed We do you to vnderstaÌ„d that according to the same letters of assuraÌ„ce we haue promised do promis solemly by our fayth and in the word of Gentlemen as trew loyall vassals subiectes of his maiestie That we will obserue mainteine fulfill all maner of pointes articles aforesayd as well on our owne behalfe as on the behalfe in the name of all the rest whose deputies we be whose power coÌ„missioÌ„ authoritie coÌ„mauÌ„deâ—…eÌ„t we haue we giue will giue our wordes that both we and the rest of our confederates shal keepe mainteine and performe the same in respect wherof we hold our former coÌ„federacie as voyde broken vndone so farre forth so long as the foresaid assurance promised by hir highnesse in the kings maiesties name shall hold In witnesse whereof we haue signed theis preseÌ„ts with our names Made at Brussels the xxv day of August 1566. Signed vnderneath thus Lewes of Nassaw Eustace of FieÌ„nes Bernard of Merode C. of Vander Noot Charles of Reuel George of MouÌ„tegny Philip vander Meeren Philip of Marbais lord of Louerual I. MouÌ„tegny Lord of Vilers Charles Lieuen Lord of Famars Iohn Sauage Mart. Tserclas and FrauÌ„cis of HaefteÌ„ And vpoÌ„ the backeside was written This present XXV of August 1566. the deputies and coÌ„mitties for the Lordes geÌ„tlemeÌ„ coÌ„federate named in the sayd writyng sauyng the L. Lilly FrauÌ„cis of Haeften which were absent tooke their solemne requisite othe as well for theÌ„selues as for on the behalf of the rest of that coÌ„federates to mainteine obserue performe all euery poynt article