bloudy warres betweene the three Henries Fredericke and Philip and an insinite nomber of other Emperours agaīst the Popes of Rome but for because that the same Emperours woulde not obey their Commaundementes sometimes when they willed them to make warre in all hast vppon the Sarrasins sometimes when they woulde haue them leaue of that title which they had receiued by succession of their auncestours sometimes when the Popes themselues would be put in possession of certaine townes and territories which they said they should inherite as the patrimony of S. Peter and finally vppon any cause that it pleased them to picke whereof all the Chronicles and Histories be filled And what was the cause why Pope Alexander marched in publique place vppon the necke of the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa adding thereunto many wordes full of reproche and shame And what is the cause againe why euen at this day they make the Monarks and kinges to kisse their feete but onely in signe and token of subiection which they claime as due And presently if they be not obeyed they thunder againste them and pronounce absolution vnto all their subiectes although they reuolt frō that fidelitie which they owe of duty Wherfore seing that the kīg is so much subiect to the Pope of Rome whō in no wise we cā acknowledge to be our superiour since that he feareth so much his thūdrings excōmunications How can you either say or beleue that his Ma. doth cōmaūd absolutely amōgst vs what he listeth himself specially in such a matter wherin the Pope pretendeth to haue more interrest than any man aliue I beseech you if the king woulde here our requests finding thē grounded vppon good reasons were willing to graūt vs the exercise of our religiō do you thīck that it were lawfull for him so to do Your selfe haue tould me very plainly that if the king would cōdiscēd to any such matter you would take armes agaīst him cause to your power the whole coūtrie to rebell And this I am sure your self wil not denie to haue said whē I was with you at Mountford Wher thē remayneth the fre auctoritie of the king to cōmaund where is the greatnes of his Ma. yea rather what becommeth of his liberty of your Maxime that no subiecte may take armes in hād without the appointmēt of his king lord seing that one only vassal wil to his power cause al his Estats to rebell if that the aduice opinion of his Maiesty touching the cause of his Coūtry subiects shal not agre with his cōceite But I am contente to pardon you herein consideringe the zeale which you beare to the Romishe Religion vppon condition that you will imagine that oure zeale which we beare vnto our Apostolicall Religiō of the Gospel is not a whit lesse althoughe peraduenture it is nether so plausible in mans capacitie neyther so profitable to them that maintaine it Yet haue we examples very freshe of the Emperour Charles of noble memorie who escaped very hardly from beinge excommunicated by Pope Paulus 3. for that hee graunted vnto the Almaynes but onely the Interim which was almost conformable in all poincts vnto the decrees of the Pope And I pray you what ado was there when he willed that a generall Councell shoulde be called in Almaine where the Almaynes might be harde in free disputacion And finally was it not the Pope that constrained him to make warre vpon the Christiās and did oftentimes threaten him with thundringes if he wente not to worke with speede in such sort that the Emperour was constrayned to couer the pretence of his warre with the cloke of rebelliō to th ēd he might draw vnto him Mawrice and th' other Princes which were confederates of the Smalcaldiens I speake nothing here of the holy Inquisition of Spaine nor of the Prelates of the Counsayle which be of the Popes creation and haue made a solempne othe vnto him neuer to agree to anye matter that they shall thinck to be preiudicial to the aduaūcement of the Sea of Rome but that they shall reueale the same and resist it with all their power Who seeth not how that our king is so possessed with them as hee is not able by anye meanes in the world to iudge any thīg in this matter contrary to their opinions aduice vppon paine of being condempned for a rebel vnto the sea of Rome Howe then can that be true where you say that wee make warre vppon the king Take away once the respect of the Pope and his Prelates and bringe to passe that either the king himself be not subiecte vnto him or els that he be content that we may be free from his lawes and then shall you see how soone and how soundlye wee will yeld our selues vnto the perfect obedience of our king naturall Prince as to one annointed of God himself to do vs right Iustice And if you esteeme this to be vtterly vnreasonable and that you meane to make the minde of oure Prince to be at the commaundemente of other mennes willes do not maruaile I pray you if we pretend to be no rebels in seeking that he maye gouerne vs by his absolute Auctoritie withoute receyuing lawes from others I come now to that other poinct where you say That it is a very straung thing for subiectes to force their Prince to assemble Estats at their pleasure Surely this seemeth very wonderfull considering that you cannot be ignorant how that the king himself by his owne pure will hath tyed himselfe thereunto as to the firmest ground and surest staffe whereuppon his auctority power Regall doth chiefly yea I may say onely leane rest For seing the Estates in a fourme of politique gouernement are none other thing but the chiefe and principall heads of the people representing the body of the multitude What thing is there that can bee so naturally vnited vnto a good king who desireth to be both father and Pastour of his people as are the Estates of his Country Euē as for exāple there is nothing that hath such affinity with the head of a mās bodye as those members which are called vital for that they be the chiefest Instrumēts by the which the vitall spirits proceding from the braynes to diuers sinewes are communicated in generall to the whole body and to euery member and by the which likewyse euery member retayneth his perfecte vnity and naturall knitting to the body Euen so a good king being the head of his people doth by the meanes of his Estates communicate and imparte vnto the whole body of his cōmon wealth not onely his fauoure grace priuiledges whereby he keepeth them in vnitie but also his bounty Iustice and wisedome from the which as out of a quicke fountaine do springe good lawes Ordinaunces whereby the people are still gouerned in good discipline as it were in the liuely being and naturall motion of the same This is the cause why our auncestours excelling in
CERTEIN LETTERS VVHERIN IS SET forth a Discourse of the Peace that was attempted and sought to haue bin put in effecte by the Lords and States of Holland and Zelande in the yeare of oure Lorde 1574. ALSO A SVPPLICATION put vp by the said States of Hollande and Zeland and other places of the Low Countryes to the King together with the aunsvvere and a Reply vppon the same and diuers other particularities PSALME 28. O Lord God take me not away with the wicked nor with them that commit iniquitie which speake peace to their neighbours imagine mischiefe in their harts IMPRINTED AT LONdon in Fleetestreate by Thomas Marshe ANNO 1576. TO the intent to giue some lighte to suche as are not acquainted with the state of the affayres and controuersies of Hollande and Zelande and to stoppe the mouthes of malicious aduersaries which ceasse not to reporte al maner of vntruth and reproch of the noble valeaūt and vertuous prince the Prince of Orendge his adherēts of the iust case which they maintein here is translated a short Discourse of the orignial cause and ground of their entering into Armes togither with a nomber of weyghtie substantial reasons wherby they iustifie their doing by good conscience and equitie And it is the rather set forthe at this tyme because some of the parties and authors therof bee now here as Mounsieur Sainct Aldegond and Moūsieur Champagny and others who may iustify the same as neede shall requyre to the open mainfestation of the truth with out further trauel Read with aduisemēt and iudge indifferently as the righte of the matter shall leade the. Sum Dea quae rara paucis Occasi◠nota To his very friend E. B. esquier affectionate friend and deuotiste seruaunt vnto the fayre and vertuous Lady the Countesse of Culenberghe THis olde prouerbe as cōmonly all other hath his groūd vpon knowē experience Malus animus malamens an euill affection maketh an euill construction Men wrest or driue the interpretaciō of doings to the frame of their owne coceits which they deriue from the fauour or disfauour that they haue settled in their owne perswasions It is not vnknowen what extraordinary discourses what priuate fansies in common meetīgs are daily made of the case of our neighbours in the low Country Such maner of debatinge where cōtrary opiniōs haue distracted you seeme to be the cause of your question wherof you desire to be resolued in your letters You coulde not haue written to a man more indifferent than I am who am as farre from parcialitie as he that loueth that is to say preferreth neither party before other but our country before thē both I do therefore as I wish you to doe set the pin of the beame eauen and examine the weight of either skale Let vs then cōpare the sides and begin with the sharper that we maye haue the milder ending First I will call to minde what th one of those sides obiecteth Secondly what thother aunswereth And thirdly what to drawe to concerne our selues In the matter of obiection let vs see what strength it hath in iustice In the matter of defence let vs see what weight it hath in equitie And for the matter of Our selues let vs see what necessity what commodity what right and what facilitie it is said to beare to draw vs to any side It is sayd by some which are loth that Spaine should be weaker or Englande stronger that the Prince of Orendge his adherēts are rebels in Armes agaīst their natural Prince and maintayners of a most daungerous president against all Princes To this is aunswered on thother part as in this booke you shal see discoursed that there is difference of the bande maner of their subiection from other None of them holdeth that a king maye be shaken of by his subiects but they all saye that Lords electible vpon pacts conditions are also reiectible accordīge to the same pacts cōditions specially in Dominions subiecte to the ciuill lawes which are not the Lawes of England The order of eche state is to be regarded not all States haue kings Some haue other formes of gouernment Not all kingdoms haue like maner of admissions or receyuings of kings Som follow natural succession of bloud some Choise some Lot or chaunce Some kings or rulers haue simple absolute power some limitted circumscribed Therles of Holland and Zealand as is well knowē many examples haue proued at their Ioyous entree that is to saye at ther receyuinge to inauguration or seisen of their Estate be bound by oth to prescribed pacts orders whereby not onelye their forme of rule is bounded but also vpon diuers points the subiects homage allegiance expresly discharged And that discharg in fact hath bin executed by such fact say they the auncesters of the Prince himself that now chargeth them haue bin receyued The Prince and states of that Country alledge the othe of their Earle the precise forme of assoylmēt vpon his breach of their Priuiledges they produce one chiefe point that they ought not to be pestered with gouernaunce or garrison of straungers they recken vp thintollerable outragious manifest oppressions done vpon them and the euident practise to bring that free Nation to most vnsufferable seruitude they shield themselues vnder the liberty right of Nature the prouision of agreements the othes of their Princes their power of refusall vppon their Princes periurie wyth many like matters whereof they make the worlde Iudges by their many Protestacions Apologies Iustifications Supplicatiōs to the states of th empyre other meanes alwayes seuering their case from other subiectes of Naturall and absolute Kinges FOR say they in their case of resistinge the Kinge these things are to be considered the nature of the Gouernement and subiection the cause of resistance and thirdly the maner of the resistance The nature of the Gouernment the subiection stādeth in these two considerations VVhether it hee Merum Imperium that all thinges may be done Pro voluntate Regnanti◠or it be Moderatum which is Temperatū Legibus wherein the Ruler hath his rule prescribed him which way to rule the Subiect a Paterne described him which way to obey If the Gouernment be Merum absolutū then is the Person inferiour a slaue and no subiecte For in all due subiection there is Taxis which is neuer in Voluntate If the Gouernmente be Temperatum then is thinferiour a subiect and no slaue IN all subiection there is an honest liberty giuen by Law it self whereby all Actions and Pleas in Lawe are as open to the subiect as to the ruler for the maintenaunce of truth and equitie In slauerie there is none such because he is not to be measured but by the will of the Ruler which howsoeuer it turneth is his right he hath no actiō of Appeal or Plea to the contrary Then it followeth that the Law is the rightest Auctoritie and the same
profits there is no end And among other this is the greatest that they vvill not like Ireland be chargeable but a most Noble encrease of reuenevves to the Crovvne able at their ovvne charge to defende themselues vnder her Magisties name protection and to serue the Realme of Englād a Nauie ioyned with her Maiesties Nauie and mariners able to hold and driue from Sea all Princes in Christēdom Finally Safety Riches Strēgth and honour For right their offers say they make it apparent both by discent in her Ma. if the holder against his oth vvil stand vpon discent alone electiō by the States vpō breach of othes pacts on thother parte rightfull conquest vppon iust causes for so manifest iniuries perils a conquest I say yet with a sweete and easye yoke to the people willing to receiue it For facility is to be marked saye they their owne offer the readinesse of the people to embrace their owne strēgthe to haue stand thus long alone the distracting of the aduersary all cōmodious opportunities delyuered by God him self And to all these good meanes the moste glorious acte to releue the Church of God against Papists the violators and enemyes of publike naturall and Christen fayth the great meane to appease the controuersies of Christendome for Religion Adde also the noble pollicy fitnes to enter into vniuersal league of Christians against the Pope Popish conspiracies the aide of so noble a Prince the Prince of Orenge so able so worthy and so likely a man to serue Christendom against the Empire of the Turcke tyranny of Rome the greedy ioye of her Maiesties people to follow her pleasure in pursuing of such a noble enterprise Thus you see what I haue heard say on all sides I leaue to you the iudgment of all these conceits I leaue to Counsellers the gouerning of vs all by the best aduises and directions who I doubt not in their wisedoms do see the best in this Parliamēt cā lack no help of consent sinewes that this Realme cā giue And I leaue to God the guidinge of harts successes But beside all that I haue noted before as the opiniōs of other this you shall take as mine owne full beleuing that it is not in our will to haue peace by lettīg them alone when the aduersary tarieth but to subdue them that he may aduaūce himself agaīst vs But to hold warre further of both in place and time is novv offered to her Maiesties Election Peace she cannot haue sure by peace And one notable matter I hear of they be most desirous that England will receiue them but rather then they will returne to their old thraldome they will creepe vnder the yoke euen of the Muscouite or Turke himselfe Much rather will they yeld them to Fraunce that hath now so many armies ready to take hold of thē if Englād reiect thē That consequence may proue ill for vs And I do not take it certaine that Fraunce shall for euer haue ciuill warres It maye be that God after the bloud of so many Martirs wil giue peace to his Church in Fraūce You see ther is but one life betwene them the successiue raigne of many tollerabl◠Prīces If God should bereaue the world of the present French king sodenly or otherwyse blesse Fraunce wyth an other or that the Kinge of necessity yelde to a firme peace How easly vpon our refusal vvill the alliaunce of the Prince of Orenge wyth the house of Fraunce draw Holland and Zeland to Fraunce O merueylous aduauncement of Fraunc◠by sea and land Shall they be lords o◠Trafique Lords of furniture of Shippīg ▪ Lords of great many shippes goo◠harborowes that most is so greate◠so neere vs I pray God it neuer be tha◠may be so daungerous ⧠To the Reader LIKE AS in time paste oure aduersaries haue alwayes frō the beginning pickte quarrels against our cause with intente to procure a greater mislike thereof in all mennes mindes and to that effecte haue framed many fayned slaunders in layinge to our charge that wee are not onely fallen awaye from the fayth but also become rebells against the Maiestie of the Kinge of Spaine oure soueraigne and naturall Prince to th ende that vnder the shadowe of such fine coulours they mighte both blemishe the eyes of the simple sorte which are altogether ignorante of the cause and also seeme closely to couer their owne disordinate greedines of gaine euen to the face of the wysest vnlesse they bee the better acquainted wyth those affayres Euen so wee ascertaine oure selues that they will not sticke by all meanes they maye hereafter likewyse to practise the drowninge and vtter suppressinge of all such true dealing as doth nowe but begin by litle and litle to come to lighte They publishe and proclaime althoughe moste vntrulye that wee are the persōs that will giue no eare to any agreemente be it neuer so reasonable and that we endeuour our selues to seeke nothing els but how we may maintayn this ciuil dissention and dangerous warres within oure owne boosome although it procure the vtter destruction of this our poore Country and all for oure pleasure they say because wee are minded to bend our wills appetits to crosse his Maiestie Thus do they still cauil VVherfore to th end that none may hereafter by giuing to light credit to their false reports so much abuse themselues as to condēne those that are innocentes and to iustifie such as bee most cruell enemies to iustice VVee thought it most necessary after many supplications at diuers sōdry times exhibited vnto his maiestie yet once againe to publish this our last request made vnto him therwithall to lay before your eyes all such meanes as haue bin made on our parte for the appeasinge of this warre as ye may most plainly perceiue by seing of such letters as haue bin written on eyther part to that effect without adding or deminishing any thing therin to th ēd that euery man may iudge without any suspicion according to the truth of the matter Meaning thereby most manifestly to show forth both in whō lyeth the originall cause beginning of this warre also who is most to be blamed for that we attaine not vnto a perfecte peace and vnity Moreouer that we haue alwayes acknowledged the kinge of Spaine to be oure Soueraigne Prince and liege Lord as one giuen vnto vs of God to rule and gouerne vs with all iustice and equity according to such contractes as we weare both bound vnto and according to such aunciente Rights Vsages Liberties and Priuiledges as hee hath bin most solemply sworne vnto and that we haue alwayes had our recourse vnto him most hūble and with al due reuerence For albeit that some pretending a fayned desire of quietnes and vnity in our Country haue priuately perswaded vs that in oure treaty of peace wee must looke especially to the obseruing of two points that is to witte
agreement which mighte ensue thereof mighte be attributed rather vnto the bountye and liberalitye of the Kinge than to any righte or equitye that we mighte looke for of dutye This Kinde of dealing was cause sufficient why this treaty ceassed vntill suche tyme as Mounsieur de Champaign sent a letter vnto Mounsieur Charles de Boisot Gouernour of Mydleburch the tenure whereof follweth her-afterword forword with an anuswere thereof made by his Brother MouÌ„sieur Lois de Boisot being marked with A. and. B. But vnderstanding that he was absent by reason that he was sent of a message into England from his excellency he thought best him self to make a voyage vnto Vtrecht whether it were to assist his brother in lawe Mounsieur the Coente de la Roche towardes the obteyning of a pardoÌ„ then published as him self sayd or for some other pryuate affayres of his owne I know not But this I am sure of that when he caÌ„me thither he talked at landge of the matters aforesayd with MouÌ„sieur de Sainct Aldegond who remayned then prisoner as with one whome he fownd yet still so affected to the furtheraunce of our peace as that he requested moste earnestly that notwythstanding the difficulty before rehersed yet the pursute of a thinge so necessary for our publique weal might not be left of vpoÌ„ suche a soden Herein he made promise on the behalf of the Prince of OreÌ„ge and of the Estates of Holland and Zeland that they would rather be coÌ„teÌ„t to leese soÌ„me parte of their owne right than seek to vsurpe any thing vpon the Kings Maiestie for the which cause it was thought good to ymploy the forenamed prisoner who presently was sent to RoterdaÌ„ towards his excellency to treat vpoÌ„ exchaunge of prisoners to th end that ther with all he might woorke somme good effect in the matters before rehersed Prouided alwayes that he tooke great regard to the aucthority of the King and that no poynts of religion weare in any wise mencioned It hapned also that Signeor Ian de Mattenes MouÌ„sire de la Rinicre and the Aduocat TresloÌ„g caÌ„me a litle befor this by lyceÌ„ce also vnto RotterdaÌ„ for certeÌ„ particuler affaires as thei said had by by coÌ„mitted vnto them a specialchdarge to deale with his excelleÌ„cy with the foresaid Estates touching soÌ„me good meane of pacification The aunswere that theis estates gaue vnto theÌ„ followeth hereafter woord by woord and is marked with the. C. But as it appeareth this aunsuere pleased not MouÌ„sire de ChaÌ„pagni Wherefore during the abode of MouÌ„sier de S. Aldegonde as yet in RotterdaÌ„ he wrote a letter vnto him to the same effect declaring therein his minde more at large This letter likewise followeth in order and is marked with D. hereupoÌ„ yt followed that MouÌ„sier de S. AldegoÌ„d treated yet soÌ„what furtherwith the foresayd Estates in such ernest sorte as that they weare coÌ„tent to make their coÌ„plaiÌ„t vnto the Kings Ma. in forme of supplicatioÌ„ with owt attributiÌ„g the name of the Estats there vnto which of duti beloÌ„ged vn to theÌ„ and also with owt making any mecioÌ„ of any point of religioÌ„ but only requesting most huÌ„bly that it wold please his Ma. to set order in al things by his owne anothoriti and by the general aduice of the estates but first that it would please him to cause all the strauÌ„gers which troubled the conutrye to auoyde from thence submitting theÌ„selues in all things besids to any suche order as his Maitstie and the Estates generall shoulde thinck moste meete for them as appeareth by ther request which is marked with the letter E. the which request the forenamed Mounsieur de S. Aldegond caried him self vnto Mounsieur de Champagini to MouÌ„tsort yelding him self agayne in to his prison at Vtrecht But with in a while after MouÌ„sieur de ChaÌ„pagni hauing bene at the court in Bruxels sent backe the foresayd request vnto Mounsieur Iunius Gouernour of the Vere who together with MouÌ„sieur de Carnes had remayned in hostage at Mountsort for Mounsiur de S. Aldegond during his absence and by that meanes also were admytted by MouÌ„sieur de Champagni to treat of this matter as may well appeare by a letter he sent to Mounsire Iuniê° which followeth likewise marked with F. wherupon the sayd Iunius made him an aunswere by writing agayne as appeareth with the markes of G. and H. We leaue the rest vnto the good reader to coÌ„sider of desyring God te geue vs the grace that all may redouÌ„d vnto his glorye and the edifying of his Churche A. To Mounsire ' M. Charles Boisort my very freend Mounsire Boisot the great league of amytie which hathe been betwene M. de Granuill and M. Thresorier our fathers whome God pardon the frendeship of the Cardynall my brother and myne owne goodwil towardes you which still I obserue inuiolable with my Ladies your sisters and with all the rest of your freeÌ„des here haue caused me osteÌ„tymes to be sorye for your absence and greeued for your troubles Now therefore sythence that his Maiestie at this present sheweth a great desier of the peace and tranquillitye of these lowe countries and a great affection that all suche as haue absented them selues from his fauour should returne agayne vnto his good grace the which thing I assure you I haue both wished for long and also procured to my power in all tymes and places conuenient for that purpose and synce that I my self by the appoyntmeÌ„t of his excellency am come vn Vtrecht of purpose to conferre with my Brother in lawe Mounsire ' de la Roche touching the bringing home againe of theis loste sheepe All theis things and our old frend ship considered I thought good to write vnto you to theÌ„d that throwgh your furtheraunce aunswering to my well meaning we might endeuour owrselues to deliuer this poore cuÌ„ntre from those great miseries which we se embra se it on euery side promising vnto you by the faith of an honest man and tru freeÌ„d to straine my self to the vttermoste of my power therein and to procure for you if you doe here any notable seruice towardes the bringing aganie of this people to the obedience of his Maiestie not only a full restitucion of that which was yours but also peradueÌ„ture a good reward and this dothe he will me to offer vnto you vpon so good a grownde as in myne opinion neither you ought to refuse nor the Townes which are reuolted froÌ„ his seruice to omytt And if I had any meanes to conferre with you I woulde not doubt but wee two shoulde make so good an entrance into those matters as that not only your self and those townes but also agreat many of others should finde better fruit thereof then youe wolde thinck for I haue fownde bothe better accesse and creditt then I can tell you by writing and also a singuler bownty in the Gouernour that now is at all tymes when any speache hapneth betwene him
by our predicessours but only by this vnitye Howe cometh it to passe that at feastes and publique places the townes prouinces haue bin alwayes called together by publique aucthority but only to shewe the vnity of the poore countrie euen as Grece did by the assemblye at their Olimpiades Is not the name of the Base Almaignes or Flemings as the Spaniardes do cal vs at this day cōmon vnto vs all The speache althoughe it be distinctly of diuers sortes yet is so common amongst vs that in the self same townes they be vsed equallye The iurisdictions owt of owr soueraigne court doe they not almoste generally proceed from Machlyne and all spirituall processes Doe not they of auncient custome proceed eyther from Coleigne or from Maians What shoulde I say more than that owr whole countre is but one Circuyte or Prouince of the Empire Doe you then thinck yt so straūge that an Imperial Circuyt shoulde assēble estates iointlie cōsydering that shoulde otherwise seeme monstruous if one Prouince should be assembled withowt the rest But paraduenture you will say that this warre in the respect of Brabant is no Ciuill warres the which sayeng no man of Iudgement will affirme And if there were none other thing to alledge but that owr King and the Emperour Charles had made al their Edicts and Plackartes of Religion in generall to all the prouinces weare not that a sufficient Argument to confute your saying that they haue nought in cōmon the one with thother yea rather is it not a full iustification of the request of those of Holland and Zeland in that point if you will be ruled by right and reason Quod omnes attingit ab omnibus probari debet for if the rigowr of those Placartes laid vpon all theis Prouinces in generall hathe caused a generall alteracion of the people Why shoulde not we assemble and call together the generall estates of theis prouinces to remedye suche inconueniences as generally doe light vpon vs all And sure this is the better cōfirmed by those two causes that you alleadged for the which Princes in tymes past were wont to assemble generall estates that is to witt the benefit of their Coūtrie and the vveale of their affaires For they coulde neuer be better spoken of than at this present when we treat not of one simple benifitt but of the whole saffetye of owr coūtrie and especiall restitucion of his Maiesties dignitye Wherefore if euer there weare cause to assemble estates in generallitye surely now there is greater cause soe to doe than euer ther was This notwithstanding if I may speake of myne owne hed witheowt thaduise of the Estates and Townes in theis partes I doe thinck that if the King or his counsell be offended with this generallity they will be content to haue agraunt from his Maiestie that they may lawfully assemble the states only of Holland and Zeland and that it will please hym to ratifie that which they shall find by sounde coūsell and deliberaciō to be fit for his Maiesties seruice and for their coūtries saffetye Considering that herin as I haue said they haue had agreater respect to the Auctorite of the King than to any thing els But it seemeth that there is some other hiddē cause which moueth you to be so suspitious of this assembling of estates in that you saye that this request seemeth to be made as it vvere to tye him to a lavv and to kepe him as a vvarde I cannot beleue but that this proceedeth rather of some ill grounded conceytes or sinister suspicions of suche in the court as cannot disgest owr simple peticion than of your owne good iudgement or aduise I cannot be parswaded that you can digresse so farre from all reason For surely you know well ynoughe howe that the moste true and legittimate power and dignitie of all kinges monarches and Emperours the greatest vnitye prosperitye of all people and prouinces dothe especialie cōsist and principally depende vpon the assemble of estates euē as it appeareth in Almaigne in al other Kingdomes Prouinces which are wel quietly gouerned For those assembles which we call Edictes in the comon wealthe are euen the same which in the churce of God were called counselles the which owr aūcestors holy fathers doctors in the Primatiue churche helde in suche reuerence estimacion as that they ordeigned that frō half yere to half yeare or at the furthest from yere to yere generall Sinodes should bee called as often as any necessitye required Whereunto they euer had a moste soueraigne recourse vntill suche tyme as that the great power of the Popes did subdewe the Sinodes by their absolute aucthoritie against the which owr forefathers at mani tymes and especiallye in the coūcell of Basil did moste openly resist They ordeigned that from tenne yere to ten yeares a generall counsell and Synode should be called thorow owt all Christendome wherūto the Pope himself shoulde be subiect Which thing was so odious vnto the ambicion of the successours of that Pope as that to their power they haue hindred euer since the assēble of the councelles so farr foor thas that in the great necessitye of Christendome and at the earnest solliciting of the Emperour Charles the councell of Trent was at length called and prolonged almoste by the space of 30. yeres after with a 1000. Kindes of delayes excuses to delay the same After that likewise in the councell of Constaunce Thoan the 32. one of the 3. Popes that were degraded at that tyme being accused of 50. articles at the least and all those cryminall sighing sore aunswered thus that besides all those faultes he had cōmitted a greater offence that was for because that he had suffered suche a free councell to be called as him self was bounde to be ruled by the reby he him self was with great infamye deposed I doe alledge all this to showe that it is the parte of Tyrantes only to mislike generall assemblies and that all good Princes Kinges and Emperours haue alwaies desicred theis diettes and assemblies as all good prelates haue to their power procured the assemble of Synodes and councels in the Churche of god For this is certein that whereas many doe assemble together and consult whether yt be for the affaires of the cōmon welthe or of the churche of God there ordinarily is God him self president sendeth his goodspirit lightninge moste commōly the eyes of a nomber in suche cases as paraduenture one alone or a fewe cānot discerne awhit Wherefore me thineketh that in this case they of Hollād Zelād haue declared what great confidence they haue in the mercifull gouernment and clemency of the King in hauing set be fore his face the true and only meane to pacifie the troubles of this countrie For synce that in any wise they muste make no questions of Religiō what coulde they in this worlde offer with more humilite and better right than to submit thē solues to the Iudgement of
that respect of the dignity and Maiesty of the King be kept moste inuiolable and that in anye wyse no mention be made of the alteringe of Religion and although we haue had most euident proofes to perswade vs that this is not the way to mittigate the mortall hatred of oure enemies but rather to encrease and sharpen it Yet neuerthelesse wee haue in all pointes behaued oure selues so reasonably and wyth so great humilitie as euen our enemies them selues cannot accuse vs and say truly but that we haue in all pointes obserued a dutifull order as moste plainly shall appeare by the discourse followiÌ„g Considering that wee haue franckly remitted the whole iustice of our cause vnto the IudgmeÌ„t of his Maiestie the generall estates of our Countrie Hoping that they both beinge better acquainted with our estate also better affectioned both to the King and countrye then Straungers can bee mighte the rather haue both the meanes the will to giue such counsell vnto the king as may be most expedient for the seruice of his Maiestie for the establishiÌ„g of a perfect peace vnitie amoÌ„gst vs and last of all for setting our couÌ„try in her auncient prosperitie Hereuppon our aduersaries contrary to our expectacion haue behaued themselues with suche parcialitie as they woulde not once so much as haue any regarde or respecte vnto our request made vnto his Maiestie but vsurpiÌ„g the soueraigne dominioÌ„ of our Country they haue cleane depriued his Maiestie from all libertie of IudgmeÌ„t and according to their owne appetite will cleane barred oure cause froÌ„ all knowledge of Iustice of set purpose to hinder all concorde And that haue they done principally as they themselues confesse for because we haue vrged the generall assembly of the Estates which beyonde all memorie of man hath alwayes ben vsed heretofore amongst our auncitours and Predecessours Besides this to make their malice more manifeste they haue euer since committed greater cruelties in burning and scorchiÌ„g such as were of our ReligioÌ„ than euer they did before Moreouer they haue sought to briÌ„g in all the rest of the Estates of our couÌ„try with threatnings force of purpose to make theÌ„ serue their turne towards th executioÌ„ of their tyraÌ„nical appetites VVherby it appeareth most plainly that they are not content with hauing once raised this great bloudy warre to the preiudice of his Maiestie vtter destructioÌ„ of his Country but do shall endeuour themselues to procede with their tyraÌ„nous deuises to th end they may subdue the Countrie at their owne pleasure and bring it into perpetuall seruitude bondage Moreouer wheras they make shew at some times of a desire to entre into some treaty with vs of agreement they do not pretend that to any other end but onely to deceaue vs and by such a fayned dissimulatioÌ„ to hold the other Townes and Villages in some good hope that they may not ioyne themselues with vs to resiste their tiraÌ„ny hoping that by this meanes they may come to their purpose Like as they haue already procured in FrauÌ„ce by their vndirect and priuie practises But such is our trust in the bountifull mercy of our good God by whoÌ„ we haue bin so myraculously defended hitherto froÌ„ their wicked enterprises as wee not onely hope to escape froÌ„ the daunger of their diuelish deuises but also that all people nations of Christendome all Kings PoteÌ„tates and especially the Maiesty imperiall with the Electours Princes of the Empire seing here by most clerely our faithfull and sincere humlity our most sure and certaine equity ioyned with our ferueÌ„t desire to attaine to peacâ— and vnity coÌ„paring the same with the disdainful pride cruell tiraÌ„ny of our aduersaries will yeld vnto vs their indiffereÌ„t fauourâ— and maintaine the iustice of oure cause by acoÌ„uenient meanes they may And if peraduiture it fall out hereaster that we be forced by the vniust vnreasonable procedings of ouâ— aduersaries eueÌ„ against our willes to seeke serch for som other relief more to our assuraÌ„ce safety thaÌ„ we haue don heretofore we hope that euen then they will not impute the fault thereof vnto vs but vnto oure enemies who haue forced vs therunto VVherof we require all and euery person by maner of protestacion â—o be aduertised herein that we only haue recourse vnto the Iustice equity wisedom of the most high and renowmed Maiesty of the Emperour to all the most noble and excellent Electours and Princes of the Empyre of Almaigne together with all the potentates of ChristeÌ„dome that they may take some care of our cause not giue credit or hearing vnto the slanderous reports of our aduersaries but coÌ„sider somwhat neerer the indiffereÌ„cy of our cause mainteigne the same so farre forth as duty to God the world doth require Also wee do aduise all the Estates of these Lowe CouÌ„tries to coÌ„sider herein as it were in a glass what estimacioÌ„ our enemies make of them withall to imagine how they determine to haÌ„dle them if their deuises take such effecte as they do desire VVherefore let them beware that for waÌ„t of courage or other occasioÌ„ they suffer not theÌ„selues to be abused by their fayned and double dealinges Altho they make shewe of a feruente affection for the perfecte peace quietnes of oure Conutry But rather hauinge regarde vnto their tyrannicall call euill meaninges which they beare in generall vnto the Estates of our Country Let them resolue theÌ„selues couragiously to resiste such insolencies and call to minde both their othe and dutie that they owe to their CouÌ„try and by all industrie seeke the maintenance of the good and lawfull rights contracts aend liberties of their foresaide country In the doing wherof they shall not only do a good deede in their life time but also leaue vnto their posterity a good report to their immortal glory Now then to th ende you may the better vnderstaÌ„d theffect of the letters folowing and the ground of all the matter You must be aduertised that at suche time as Mounsieur Philip of Marnix Mounsieur of Mont SaiÌ„t AldegoÌ„dy being prisoners at Vtrecht had by the licence and commaundement of Mounsieur of Noircarmes written diuers sondry times vnto the Prince of Orenge as touchinge the meanes to enter into some communication for finishing of these present warres the matter was brought to such perfection as that after the death of the forenamed Seig. of Noircarmes the persons were nominated which were to be imployed in this matter But in the meane time happened the ouerthrow of Mounsieur the CouÌ„te Ludovvyk and for that cause it seemed not good vnto the great CoÌ„maundador to proceede any further herein alledging that thereby the aucthoritye of the King shoulde be somewhat dyminished Neuertheles the said CoÌ„maundador wished and aduised all the townes of Holland and Zeland to addresse them selues vnto the King by maner of supplicatioÌ„ to this end that the effect of the