of sense and reason whose vnderstandyng is so blynded that he beleueth that these good and well disposed persons doth séeke nothyng els but to kéepe the prouince of Belgie vnder the kynges authoritie to defend religion and mainteyne lawes seyng all their actions and doinges do openly pretend shew that they haue no other kyng no law or religion but their onely auarice and most beastly couetousnes they make a glorious pretence as though all the Belgians were Lutherans rebelles and traytors to the kyngs maiesty bycause forsooth they would not submit their neckes to the yocke of the Inquisition that is to say they would not willyngly and of their owne accord yeld vp them selues to the beastly lust and vniust tyranny of most pernicious persons But truly if they had their kyng for theyr enemy they would neuer haue so faythfully obserued their loyalty towardes him neyther would they so carefully haue retained all their cities townes and castels in hys fidelitie tuitiō neyther would they so faithfully haue geuē credite to the kyngs edictes the kynges name the kinges brode seale to the Gouernesse and in so doyng should neuer haue runne into so many so great calamities by their so light credulity neither should the Duke of Alba once haue set foote into these countryes for they had infinite occasions and oportunities offered them of dissanulling the kinges authoritie of alienating hys cities of striking league with other nations adioyning vnto them and of kéeping backe the Alban duke from the borders of theyr prouince And yet for all thys dare not the aduersaries affirme vnlesse they be most impudent that thys was once mentioned amongst them or spoken of But let it be so that they were rebels is it lawfull therfore for the King to violate hys faithfull promise to peruert the lawes both of God and man and to pollute all thinges both holy and prophane wyth thys vnaccustomed tyranny We read that in the time of our auncitors many of the cities of Flaunders dyd rebell agaynst Maximilian the most mighty king of the Romanes and the citizens dyd not onely openly refuse hys gouernement and deteyned wyth them for the space of eight yeares his sonne Philippe against his will but also did most cōtumeliously throw Maximilian himselfe into prison but afterwardes beyng ouercome by the helpe of Frederike the Emperour and other the princes of Germany they yelded thēselues agayne to hys authoritie then thys good prince Maximilian in thys so odious rebellion and hauing bene so iniuriously handled was so farre from doing any thing lyke vnto the Albane Duke that he not onely with great gentlenes receaued hys subiects agayne into his graces fauor but also with great clemency worthy of so great a prince restored vnto them agayne all theyr priuiledges and auncient immunities By the which hys vncredible lenitye he made the hole prouince most obedient in all pointes to hym and hys posteritie for euer But these men neuer remitted any tribute any subsedy or burden layd vppon the kinges most faythfull subiectes whose loyaltie towardes the King coulde neuer wyth any crime be attayned beyng alwayes obedient to the kinges commaundement who had offered vp by humble supplication all theyr riches and substaunce vnto the kings good will and pleasure desiring to haue nothing frée from the Kinges commaundement but onely a cleare conscience in religion the which they ought to kéepe vnpolluted vnto God alone And they humbly desired to redéeme the libertie of religion with an extraordinary and farre more gréeuous tribute then the Christians redéeme theyr religion of the Turke or the Iewes obtayne theyrs of the pope Yet notwithstanding these men I say spoyling those faythfull subiectes of all theyr riches forbid them the vse of fyre and water ayre land as if they were the most deadly enemies of all mankinde yet haue they God knoweth committed no offence but only geuen to light credite to the kings edicts which in manner were established as firme lawes neuer to be reuoked and so they simply beleuing the kinges letters and name kept diligently their sermons in the which there was nothing preached but the pure woorde of God and they dayly admonished to shew theyr obedience to the prince and his magistrates Yet these tyrantes doth with most horrible cruelty oppresse the hole prouince without respect either of the innocent or offenders and wyth most insatiable auarice spoyling them torment them wyth most barbarous tyranny Can any man now doubt what it is that these men haue hertofore laboured to bring to passe or whereunto they haue bended theyr mindes set theyr eyes and applyed theyr most reuening handes Or is there any man so blind that can not sée what hath bene the cause originall of these foresayd tumultes in Belgye or so blockish that he can not perceiue that these honest men I meane the good maisters and byshops of the spanish inquisition haue from the beginning onely gone about to alienate the kinges minde from hys subiectes and by euery small or none occasion to accuse them of rebellion that as they haue most furiously executed theyr tyranny in the kingdome of Naples Cycell and the countrey of Millen in new India and in the chiefest partes of Spayne so they might by some maner of meanes furiouslye rage in the lowe Germany and by litle and litle when occasion shall bee offered in highe Germany and that vnder the colour of defending the Popes religion they might oppresse the hole libertie of the citizens in Belgie take away theyr magistrates authoritie and violate the hole power of theyr lawes bring the kinges maiestie subiect to theyr authoritye and that they themselues might without law or order at their pleasure cōmaund what they wyll take what they lyste kyll whatsoeuer should offend them empty the rich mens coffers and make themselues lordes and gouernors of all thinges But if any man shall thinke that these thynges because they be present not yet throughly finished can not easily be iudged vpon let hym coniecture and take iudgement of thynges alredy past In the which we appeale vnto your maiesties most mighty Emperour and ye renowmed princes of Germany call to remembraunce what they haue heretofore done in Germany what with what fetches and counselles they haue wrought you shall perceaue truly theyr old artes you shall know these old Spaniardes you shall know these old Inquisitors for euē these be they which with their greuous cauils and sclaunders with the terror of the Popes name haue oppressed the most famous princes of Germany before Charles the v. which kyndled a most dolefull firebrand of ciuill dissention in the very bowels of hygh Germany and vnder the cloake of rebellion dyd set the Protestant Princes together by the eares beyng altogether ignoraunt of their trechery the which haue defiled all things in Germany with their wicked flagitious actes the whiche haue gone about to ouerthrow the liberties of Germany and lawes of the Empire and
ample sorte graunted them as it was to the frenchmen by theyr king and the whole assent of hys noble estates perceyuing theyr hope and expectation frustrate and themselues to be dayly more and more slaundred and that there was no more hope left eyther in the kinges clemency or in the expectation for the parlament of hauing their cause heard much lesse of equall iudgement And yet notwithstanding all of them euery where dyd not cease to call for the preaching of the gospell insomuch that the multitude could not be contayned in any priuate houses Many of them began in the vttermost borders of Flaunders where the tyranny of the Inquisition had most extreamly persecuted them and by and by in Brabant in Holland and also the rest of the prouinces to come together into the fields to the preaching of Gods word and openly to set forth theyr doctrine that at the length they might cleare themselues from the slaunderous cauils of theyr owne aduersaries being their Iudges and that all men might know who they were what kinde of men they were what number was of them and of what estimation or worship they were of first they came to all assemblies without weapons But when theyr aduersaries began opēly to threaten vnto them most extreme cruelty many of them got theyr wepons some a sword some a speare some a club as men vse them when they prepare to take armour but a very few brought dagges but within a whyle after theyr number began to encrease to many thousandes of people When the Cardinalles Vicegerentes perceiued they could not be oppressed without open violence because by reason of theyr great number of theyr fauour and power of the equitie of theyr cause of the honesty of theyr lyfe of the integritie of theyr actions they were becom maruelously strong But especialy when they saw the most part of the nobilitie openly fauoryng theyr cause whose desire of publike peace which they of late had shewed foorth in theyr bill of supplication and all theyr actions were slaundered very much wyth sundry slaunderous cauils they flye vnto theyr crafts guiles They by sundry and many wayes deceiued the nobilitie which came together in a solemne assembly at Sainttrudo to take counsell for the sauegard of themselues and for the aunswering of the most reprochfull cauils and the auoyding of theyr violent rashnes First they go about to perswade them to become the open enemies of the publike preaching and to dispatch them by force of armes But perceiuing themselues to labour therin in vayne because many of the nobles dyd resist them which were professors of that religion they compassed theyr matter about an other way fayning themselues to require theyr helpe for to pacifie the tumults of the people Therefore propounding many commaundementes they obtayned that Embassitors should be sent from among them vnto the Gouernesse of Permence the which should determine vppon all matters according to equitie and right as best should be thought for the profite of the common wealth The Embassadors mening simply went with them vnto Bruxell The gouernesse desireth thē the tumultes of the people with all theyr power and to obey the king and his magistrates with all obedience not once minding to take vpon thē armour but leauing all fond sinister suspicions to perswade themselues that the king would very well allow of their doings accompt it a full satisfaction of their duties she likewise graunteth at theyr request that it shal be lawfull for thē to kéepe theyr publike sermons in their accustomed places as they haue done heretofore It was solemply also decréed on both parties that by the auctority of the magistrates there should be appointed common places in euery citie town wherin they might make their sermons and fréely without all feare exercise their preachings that the professing of religion should be hurtfull to none so that he obserued his duty in all other matters without inuading of churches or mouing any tumults herafter they promised faythfully on both parties but the Cardinals men bound themselues by oth by theyr holy deuotion to be faithfull in performing their promise The gouernesse for her part to make it more sure calleth a counsell of the nobles who likewise promised their fidelity in performing the same she geueth forth letters patents auctorised with the kings broad seale Not lōg after she sendyng these letters to the gouernours and Magistrates of euery prouince geueth in commaūdement that this agréement should bee promulgated and that the whole common wealth should be gouerned accordyng to the comētes therof afterward by publicke Edicts she forbiddeth that any mā should reuile or speake euil of others for religion sake seyng she dyd pronounce that all men of both religions were in the kyngs safe gouernement and good protection It happened in the meane tyme whiles those thynges were a doyng at Bruxels it first in the Weast partes of Fraunders and afterwardes in many other Cities almost at the same tyme Images pictures aulters were ouerthrowen in the Churches whether by craft of the aduersaryes which euen now dyd séeke all occasiōs to accuse the people that hauyng some fayre shew they might gather an army or by the fonde zeale of many which thought they could not earnestly repent them of their sinnes vnles they had ouerthrowen the instrumentes of idolatry it is as yet vncerteine But this is most apparaunt that in many Cities the sacrifising Priestes them selues began first to cary out of their Churches their most precious reliques and vessels that then boyes rascall people followyng them dyd ouerthrowe the rest and in many Cities It is knowen also that the byshops them selues and they which were the greatest aduersaryes of the Gospel dyd by publike authothoritie ouerthrow the Images pictures and the rest of the ceremonyes and that by their authoritie and example many good godly Citizens dyd the same likewise supposing this their doyng to be commaunded by the authoritie of the Magistrate But how soeuer it came to passe the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors tooke a very fitte occasion hereby to execute their purpose for by and by they in all hast gatheryng souldiours together apprehended many of those whiche ouerthrew the Images and cast them into prison and hanged them neither could they by any questions or kinde of tormentes enforce them to confesse the which thyng they most gréedely desired that any of the Ministers of the Churches or any of the confederate princes which were at the foresayd assembly or any of the professors of the Gospel were authors of this enterprise But rather they did all with one voyce confesse that as it was most manifest by their preachynges and endeuours wherewith they did disalow that enterprise it was done contrary to all their willes and not without their great grief and sorow Therfore the gouernesse dyd not ceasse to sée the former contract of gouernyng the
yelded them selues vnto the fidelitie of the Norcarmyans whiche dyd besiege them many were stroken with the sword many were hanged many were burned and an infinite number of them by the insolencie of the souldiers shot through with dagges neither was there any thyng pretermitted agaynst them the whiche the furious rage of the souldiours vse to execute in the sackyng and subuertyng of Cities Many beyng terrified with these horrible examples of crueltie and perceiuyng them selues so deceiued to be defended frō the furie and rashnes of the souldiours neither by the publike promise agréements couenauntes or othes nor by the kynges maiestie Edictes or patentes and perceauyng their aduersaries to attempt and put in practise all kynde of hostilitie agaynst them with great power and warlyke force and that all the hope of remedy or helpe was cleane taken away for their aduersaries dyd now accompt them not onely as heretikes but also as seditious rebelles as perturbers of the common of the quiet ouerthrowers of churches and traytours to the kinges maiestie and although they by most manifest proues and by the open confessions of those which were giltie had proued their innocencie had of their own accord offered them selues to be tryed by the censures of equall iudges they did vnderstand neuerthelesse that they were accused vnto the king of these most horrible crimes they thought it best therfore to betake them selues to prayer to vowes to teares and supplications hopyng by their humble suyte iust purgation to pacifie the anger of the kyng vehemently builded agaynst them by the false cauils of their aduersaries They therfore put vp a bill of supplication wherby they might request the kynges clemencie testifieng their owne innocencie and the sclaunderous accusations of their aduersaries and especially cleare them selues of the destroying of the Churches prouyng them selues to be in no faulte and that no suspition of rebellion cā iustly be gathered vpon them most humbly protestyng also their fidelitie obedience due reuerence to be alwayes ready vnto the kynges maiestie in what things soeuer thus much onely crauyng at the kynges handes that they may haue frée libertie graūted them to professe their religion which they make subiect onely to the triall of the word of God that they may not haue their consciences greued or burdened with any kynde of authoritie for the whiche benefite in token of their thankefulnes and for due profe of their faithful obedience to his maiestie besides their ordinary giftes their accustomed tributes and all their other burdens they promise to pay vnto the kings Exchecker iij. hūdreth thousād Florences within a certeine time that they wil disturbe or destroy no churches but they will put in good sureties for the same that they will diligētly and carefully shew forth their obedience fidelitie and due reuerence in all poyntes All the Cities well neare doe geue vp to their Magistrates a bill of supplicatiō most humbly desiryng to shew foorth their diligence and fidelitie towardes their poore miserable Citizens in the furtheryng therof They do moreouer earnestly request the same thyng of the gouernesse nobles and bicause they would trye all maner of meanes whereby they might make manifest to all the world their true fidelitie towardes their kyng they sent also their letters and Embassadors to many of the princes of Germanie whom they iudged altogether not to abhorre from their religion most earnestly desiryng them that they would vouchsafe to entreate the kyng to be mercyfull to their innocencie if there were any place frée from the false accusations of their aduersaries and left vnto the kynges maiestie for equitie and mercy that they would with their humble suyte deliuer them from their heauy calamitie hangyng ouer their heades But when they perceiued that all these thynges dyd litle preuaile and that their aduersaries were more kyndled and cruell agaynst them interpretyng all thynges into the worst part as though by the great somme of money offred they had bostyngly auaunted their riches and power and that they went about to threaten the kynges maiestie myndyng to abuse the princes of Germany for to disturbe and withstand his will and pleasure and seyng also no place to be left for their purgation or humble supplication before their Magistrates that their eares their eyes thoughtes and cogitatiōs were made subiect to the accusations of theyr aduersaries they did at the length wyth most dolefull lamentation complayne vnto Brederodius other of the nobles the which by the commaundement of the Gouernesse had promised theyr fayth and fidelity to the perfourmance of the former contract that they were so iniustly and vnfaithfully dealt withal contrary to theyr publicke promise to theyr couenaunts graunted and performed by oth and they entreat them to performe that which they so faythfully promised by the commaundement of the Gouernesse and also the nobles Brederodius in the name of the other princes sending hys letters to the gouernesse desireth licence to speake with her but hauing the repulse he sent vnto her the complaintes of the people adding therewyth a byll of supplication of the nobles whereby they dyd complayne of so great and open iniurye and requested therewyth that they might performe theyr promise of defending the late agréement which they had so solemnly vowed vnto the people that no man be endamaged or hurt for hys religion or for the administration therof that the promised liberty of religion be graunted that the souldiours oures gathered contrary to theyr former promise and oth should be discharged and dismissed lastly that the common wealth should be gouerned according to equity and right and to the couenauntes whereunto they were sworne She in her aunswer maketh many doubtes and séeketh the fallacie of wordes saying that there was nothing graunted as concerning the administration of religion but only licence geuen for theyr preachinges and sermons but as for baptizing of children and the Lordes supper there was no mention made adding therfore that the people had first brokē theyr couenauntes Briefly she manifestly declareth that shee would no longer be bound vnto these couenaunts but for she perceaued her selfe to be of greater force that she would gouerne all things after her owne arbitriment and therwithall signified that Brederodius and the rest of the nobles which put vp that bill of supplication were the auctors of the sedition and therfore that she dyd accompt them as rebels and traytors to the kinges maiestie as enemies of the countrey and that the king would execute iust and condigne punishment vpon them as giltie of those haynous crimes and in the meane time she would vse her aucthoritie according as it should best please her These letters sent to Brederodius and the other confederate princes it can not be tolde how greatly they were astonished for they saw themselues most openly mocked and deceaued theyr fidelitie promised by oth to the people nothing estéemed themselues on the one part to be taken
out we accompt them not onely as our brethren but euen for the most deuine and excellent prophets of god And they likewise do embrace vs with great and incredible charity and with all brotherly loue and piety It is therfore ye Princes a more cauell fayned of our aduersaries which say that we professe a religion diuerse from the Germanes for they study nothing els but that when they haue sette vs together by the eares they might teare the members of Christ in péeces and so oppresse vs seperated and disseuered whome they were not able to ouerthrow fast ioyned in amitie But ye men and Princes whiche haue knowen long agoe their craftes and subtelties be ye not therewith moued neither suffer ye the false cauels of our aduersaryes to haue more power to teare and dismember the members of the body of Christ then the word and commaundement of the same Iesus Christ then the sincere iudgement of your Princes and Diuines hath power and force to vnite and knitte vp the same Neither let the diuerse interpretation of one word preuayle more with you then the most sure and vndoubted consent of the whole Scripture and fayth By the whiche fayth and by the most holy body of the sonne Iesus Christ into the whiche he hath ioyned vs to hym selfe with a knot indissoluble We ones agayne in most humble wise besech and intreate you that your charitable mercy which hath bene alwayes prest and ready to helpe all poore and oppressed innocentes benyngly to receaue vs also with some tuition and safegard which for the name Iesus Christ do not onely suffer all cruell tormentes but also are ouerwhelmed with most false and vniust reproches and that you would onely as long as it shall please God to chasten vs thus with exile beyng spoyled of all our goodes and commodities of our countrey with your gentlenesse somewhat to ease vs whom Gods correction doth kéepe low and in pouertie so shall you do an acceptable worke vnto God hym selfe the iust iudge of all thinges and styrre vs vp diligently to call vpon his mercy and gracious fauour for you and your people Amen The begynnyng of the Spanish Inquisition and of the Inquisitors power in Spaine The enlargyng of the Inquisitors dominion The suttle meanes and deuises of the Inquisitors Burrow-maisters This appeareth by the Spaniardes owne historie writteÌ„ by AlfoÌ„s Vloa and printed in Dutch at Dilling For there they confesse that this was their purpose to reduce the whole contrey to a kyngdome like Sicile Naples The occasion maner of the InquisitioÌ„ and the edictes in the low coÌ„trey The very wordes of the Edict dated at wormes the 8. of May. 1521 1 That the assent of the estates was not taken it is manifest by the verie words of the Edictes by the which the estates gouerners and magistrates of the prouinces were coÌ„maunded with most greuous punishmentes to establish those Edictes and to see them executed and it is declared that in the behalf of the byshop of Rome they were made onely by the artrement of the kyng 2 That exposicion was made and sealed in the yeare 1550. the moneth of SepteÌ„ber 1 In the yere 1555. 1. of December 2 In the yere 1556. 17. Ianua 1 This may be proued by the letters patentes sent to the Cities in the yeare 1559 in August A new creation of bysshops 1 Not long before the kynges departure only Granduellanus Viglius three or iiij more onelie knowyng therof 2 As the byshops of Leodia Monasteria Cameracensia and Traiectia 1 As Granuellanus Viglius Cancellarius Niger 2 These may be proued by the publike testimonie of the prouince by the bishops sermons by all theyr doynges 3 This is proued by the Cardinals decree made at Rome by the Popes coÌ„maundement 1 For by all the lawes and priuiledges of Brabant and theyr other prouinces all ecclesiasticall persoÌ„s were excluded from all function of iudgemeÌ„ts and iurisdiction and all straungers are remoued from takyng of offices and auctoritie the diuisions of byshoprickes and Abbayes are before appoynted the accustomed maner of geuyng iudgement for euer ratified and all power is denyed to the princes to chaunge any thyng therein without the assent of the estates 1 1562. 27. Februa 2 1562. 5. Maij. 3 One bill was put vp and subscribed vnto in the yeare 1562. 23. Ianua an other 1562. 18. of Marche And an other 1562. 23. Marche 4 1562. In Iune they put vp many Supplications 5 1562. 20. of December and 3. August 1563. 6 This is knowen by the testimonie of the gouernesse geuen in the assembly of the nobles 7 The dede it selfe proueth it 1 This is proued by the nobles complaints geuen to the kyng 2 That was GraÌ„duellanus his studie All Belgie can testifie this 1 This hys saying was heard of many and signified to the nobles and confirmed by the kinges legates letters 1 The resistance of the noble men 1 1562. the moneth of August The departure of Granduellanus 1564. 1 1565. 1 The kings decree by the which the tumultes of Belgye began 1565. December 1566. A coÌ„ming together of the nobles A supplication Slaunders of the aduersaries In the yere 1566. in the moneth of May. This was opeÌ„ly heard in the churches at Antwerpe and in many other places The aduersaries practises to oppresse the Gospellers This composition or determination began first at Bruxels the 24. 25. and 26. of August an 1566. 1 The proue hereof appeareth both by the copie of the letters pateÌ„tes by the Edicte of the Magistrates first proclaimed after published in Print The Edictes for ceasing from raylyng was proclaymed at Antwerpe the last of August an 1566. at Bruxelles 24. of Aug. the Earle of MaÌ„sfeld beyng preseÌ„t Free libertie of preachyng came from the gouernesse 25. of Aug. 2 An other publicke Edict concernyng raylyng reuilyng on both partes to cease was proclaimed at Antwerpe 3. Septemb. at Bruxels 6. SepteÌ„b And so afterward in other Cities 3 The 11. 12. 13. of August 1566. 4 At Antwerpe 20. August At Brede at Buscodice 22. 23. In Holland and Zeland 25. 26. c. 1 As in Antwerpe is Brede in Brabant in many places of Holland 2 At Gaunt in Flaunders At Hago in HollaÌ„d At Lire in Brabant Also at Meklyne this was done most certeinely by the commaundemeÌ„t of the magistrates 5. 25. 28. of Aug. and other dayes folowyng 1 As appeareth by the forme of the latter Edictes made set forth touchyng the stay of reuilyng words of Churches graunted vpoÌ„ the former promise conuention betwene the gouernes the people Nouember 1566. December Februar 8. 1567. Febru 16. The thinges done afore the Duke of Alua hys coÌ„ming declare who were the authors of these tumults in Belgye Of the confederacy of the nobles of the supplication Of the nobles request Of taking of armour Of the ouerthrowyng of Images Of new religion Of thinges done after the Duke of Albas commyng The Duke of Albas doynges since his coÌ„myng to Belgye Of thinges done in Germany and in other places heretofore A copye of this Epistle worde for word is to be seene in the end of the duke of Auâ—â—ces Apologye confirmed with all their haÌ„des These thinges pertain as well to the Germans as to the BelgiaÌ„s An earnest petition to the Emperor and to the princes of germany 1548.
or generall assemblies of the estates of all the prouinces to be kept as it had ben vsed in his progenitors tymes and that he placed in gouernance Ecclesiasticall men and such as not only by the law of God the ciuile and canon lawes but also by the auncient custome of the contrey by sondry decrées of the Dukes of Burgundie were excluded from iudiciall offices and from bearyng ciuile rule in the common weale Finally to make them selues in easier way to that dominion that they had conceiued vnder pretense of stablishyng religion they with importunacie procured such rigorousnesse of edictes agaynst those that professed the doctrine of the Gospell as neuer any contrey neuer any citie neuer any common weale had sene before For they had fully persuaded hym as is also conteined in the expresse wordes of the edict that Luther whoe 's doctrine those dyd follow professed the Pelagian error set naught by all the holy fathers and doctors of the Church abolished all Magistrates ouerthrew all ciuile gouernance and politike order stirred vp the people to take armure made them apt to murder steale wast and destroy with fire and finally gaue euery one leaue to lyue as he lysted In the which Peter a Soto a Spaniard hys confessor one of the maisters of the Spanishe Inquisition not of the meanest sorte dyd further them verie much By the whiche persuasion they easilie inforced the Emperour Charles a prince otherwise by nature gentle and mercifull to decrée and without the assent of the estates to publishe and from tyme to tyme to renew most cruell Edictes and such as séeme rather to be written with bloud then with inke not that he ment to haue them executed with extremitie but that he hoped by the terror of this vnaccustomed crueltie to call the peoples myndes from the studie of of that religion which he in conscience accompted wicked of the which his hope and meanyng he gaue no smale profe in that exposition of the Edictes which he afterwardes set out wherin it was appoincted that the Magistrates should by all meanes possible somewhat mitigate the extreme immoderate crueltie of the former edictes but the good masters of the Spanish Inquisition did sone by their craft subtiltie suppresse that exposition and it came at length to that tyranie that they dyd not onelie execute the full rigour of the Edictes but they obserued also a new kynde of Inquisition not much vnlyke to the Inquisition of Spayne that thereby they might atteyne vnto the full authoritie of that office function which they had long before obteyned of the byshops of Rome Therfore in the yeare of our Lord God. 1550. when the kyng of Spayne was auctorised in Belgie with great and importunate sutes they obteined an Edict as concerning their Inquisition whereby they dyd vsurpe take vppon them so much auctoritie and power of the Citizens and inhabitans of the whole prouince as they thought sufficient for the subuertyng of the auncient liberties for the disanullyng of all their accustomed priuileges but the senators and the estates of Brabant with long ernest sute first stopped this their wicked enterprise and afterward the most noble princes Marie of famous memorie Quene of Hungarie with great fayth singular pietie with no lesse wisedome suppessed it For both when the Emperour Charles was at the counsels holden at Augusta she went vnto him and obteyned that the crueltie of the Edictes should be somewhat mitigated and that the whole name purpose of the Inquisition should be omitted and also many tymes after she stoutlie set her selfe agaynst the deceytfull dealynges and rashe attemptes of the Inquisitors and diuines in so much that at the length by their letters sent into Spayne she was accused of heresie before the Emperour But she alwayes bent her whole intent and purpose to kepe the people of Belgie in the Emperours good grace and fauour to her power to take awaie all the enuie and hatred wherewith they were oppressed of their aduersaries With the which her most mercifull and wise dealyng she so faythfully ioyned the hartes of the subiectes towardes their prince that they for her sake thought no burden to be refused in so much that in many thynges they dyd most willinglie preferre her gracious fauor and good wil before the right of their auncient liberties graunted by the lawes statutes of their progenitors For in all restraintes taskes tributes or leuies they shewed them selues at the first commaundement so obedient that the princes could desire nothyng which was not deliuered them with ful consent of al their good willes and that with spede So that almost for the space of ten yeares they dyd gladlie mainteyne that great doubtfull and most daungerous warre whiche was made against the most mighty kings of France they most willinglie bestowed the greatest part of the charges thereof the which by common bookes of accompt maie be proued to surmount the somme of xl thousand millions of Florence neither dyd they geue at any tyme so much as a smale suspicion of rebellion Although in the meane tyme neuerthelesse these good maisters of the Inquisition whyle Charles reigned by the coulered shew of the foresayd Edictes and in the begynnyng of kyng Philips reigne by the graunt of a new Edict bearyng with it the kinges auctoritie which they purchased by their subtell wiles craftie persuasions raiged most furiouslie in the most part of Belgie but especiallie in Flaunders Hannonie Artesia Turnete and Insule in many places of Holland robbyng spoiling and most butcherly murderyng the people with furious violence and extreme tyranny From the which they absteyned least that their deceypt and subtiltye beyng detected this foresayd commaundement wrested out by craft should by the kynges new letters pattentes be called in agayne Neither yet were they without their frendes in the Court which beyng daylie conuersant with the kyng dyd alwaies cloake and couer their crueltie and insatiable auarice with the vayle of godlie Religion At the length the kyng hauing ended his warre agaynst the French men and preparyng to take his iorney into Spayne his subiectes for their singular obedience and their most faythfull redynes in all affaires thought they might iustlie hope for some relesse frō their other burdens but cheflie and especiallie they perswaded them selues that they should haue the yoke of the Inquisition taken from theyr shoulders But the kyng was so farre from satisfiyng their expectation that he did not onelie not remit or mitigate the crueltie vsed to them before but also encreased and augmented the tyranny euen as though their peace other matters had bene for none other cause concluded but that they might the frelyer spoile poore men of their goodes and most cruellie torment their consciences For at that time especiallie the Inquisitors by their old accustomed deceyptes and by the fayned shew of settyng forward religion obteined of the kyng newe letters
patentes to all princes and magistrates of euery Citie by the whiche the rigouresnes of the former Edictes was not onelie openlie confirmed but also by the graunt of many thyngs contrary to the right and priuileges of their auncient liberties verie much encreased With these letters the Inquisitors beyng armed after the kynges departure spoyled the poore people beyng cleane beggered before of the remnaunt of their riches they depriued cities and townes of their priuileges they most cruelly murdered the chefe of the Citizens hauyng first spoyled them of theyr goodes destroying some with the burden of rheynes long emprisonment some by most cruell tormentes some by the gallowes some by sword some by fire burying some quicke and drownyng other yee that before their cause was pleaded and many tymes at midnight contrary to the accustomed maner of executing iustice And that nothyng should be wantyng vnto them wherby they might bring in this their holy Inquisition too the vtter abandonyng and subuertyng the liberties and priuileges of the whole prouinces commit the chefe auctoritie to straungers yea to those onelie whiche were Priestes and church men contrary to all the orders and decrées of the former princes and contrary to the kings couenaunt confirmed by othe whereby they might chalenge vnto them selues not onelie full power iurisdiction of all matters but also the soueraigne auctoritie ouer all mens goods riches wiues children yea ouer their lyues also might captiuate and make subiect vnto them selues the full power of all magistrates and set the same foorth to open sale at their pleasure they begyn with a new pollicie the old web of their Inquisition which they had compassed in their mindes but not as yet throughlie finished For when all the kynges nobles and counsellours were departed from him they perswaded him that it was necessarie for the maintenaunce of the catholike religion to appoinct new byshops which should be the Inquisitors of fayth The charge hereof was committed to Somnus a deuine of Louine he goyng to Rome with great diligence brought his matter to passe in short space as he desired he deuided the prouinces as he was commaunded by Granduellanus in the which he left not the power iurisdictiō of the princes of the empire vntouched so farre was he from lettyng the other byshops nobles to escape he made certein men byshops whiche had spent their whole studie and trauayle all their lyfe tyme in the administration of ciuill affaires whereof some of them for their wit and learnyng were accompted as fooles and others for their vnchast lyfe and odious crimes were famous with most notable infamie He assigned vnto Granduellanus the Archbyshopricke of Meclenia with the Abbacie of Afflegamensia the richest most wealthyest of all Belgie that is to say he gaue him the soueraigne auctoritie of all thyngs he appoincted to Viglius the Byshopricke of Gandauia but to hym selfe he reserued the byshopricke of Buscoducia and adioyned therunto many of the most wealthyest Abbayes the which were euident signes and tokens of the emynent calamities publike bondage he imparted to the rest as their office and chardge required but to euery one he obteined licence to appoint new prebendes in his cathedral Church they which should be bounde alwayes to serue and helpe the bishop in hys Inquisition throughout his Diocese wherof two of them were alwayes Inquisitors by office the rest should seaze vppon the goodes confiscate and serue for proctures to accuse the giltie and euery magistrate was bounde to aide euery one of these with his full power and force It was lawfull for straungers to attayne to these byshoprickes vnder whiche pretence the whole prouince might easelie and in short tyme be made subiect to the Spanyardes inuenters and maisters of this Inquisition And thus this straunger and vp starte Granduellanus borne of a base degrée and most obscure parentage with that slauishe secte of the Spanishe Inquisitors doth contrary to the whole libertie of the people contrary to the lawes of the Citie contrary to the priuileges of the prouince graunted confirmed by the kynges othe contrary to all former promises contrary to all rightes and customes of our progenitors contrarie to the makyng of lawes the foundations of olde Abbayes the iurisdiction of byshoprickes the priuileges and immunities of townes by force thrust vpon the prouinces of Belgie this newe creation of byshops He goeth about partlie with flatteryng promises partlie with fearefull threatnynges to induce many cities magistrates to applie them selues to his censure and iudgement and to some Cities he causeth byshops to be giuen them will they nill they The rest of the Cities a greate many in number do openly resist and thinke that the innouation of all these thynges so manifest contrary to the lawes of all antiquities to their old accustomed priuileges is not to be suffered Likewise many Abbayes but especiallie in Brabant because their Abbates beyng dead none was appointed to succede do resiste and greuously complaine to the rest of the byshops and estates of Brabant of so great and so manifest iniury But when they saw their doynges to be in vayne because Granduellanus did with great force withstand them they takyng vnto them the rest of the estates put vp a Supplication vnto theyr gouernesse for the abrogatyng of thys disordered order of byshops She denyeth her auctoritie to reach so far and referreth the matter to the kyng Therfore by by they send their Embassadours to the kyng into Spayne which with humble petition shuld require that his maiestie would not suffer their state and condition to be altered contrary to their old accustomed priuileges and to the lawes of their progenitors But with open denyall they haue the repulse Not long after doe the estates of Brabant vrge the gouernesse agayne and craue that their cause might be heard and iudgement giuen with equitie but there suite was all in vayne for she aunswered that it dyd nothyng belong vnto her The Magistrate of Antwarpe with many bils diuerse peticions dyd go about to stay this innouation of things He openly refuseth the byshops and besides that sendeth Embassadours into Spayne to the kyng They after much ado and long sollicityng of the matter obteined at the length licence to be exempted from the bondage of the new Byshops In the meane tyme Granduellanus neuer ceased by most subtill and craftye meanes and that openlye to atchieue and wynne vnto hym selfe the full power of gouernyng the common wealth couertly to remoue from all authoritie the gouernesse of Parmenia as one not expert inough in the Belgians affaires to ordeine and appointe Magistrates in euery Citie at his pleasure to breake of and disturbe the great Senate not long before appointed by the kyng and was called the noble counsell beyng the solemne assembly of the princes gouernors of the whole prouince whiche he
a litle before had with false persuasions vnto the kyng very much blemished and made subiect to to the counsell Senate house of Spayne as it were to their guide to cut in péeces all their decrées and to rule and appoynte all thynges alone accordyng to his owne will and pleasure and by a new forme of indulgences as they terme them to bring in the Spanishe maner of distributyng of benefices and offices both Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall the whiche he abused accordyng to his pleasure he challenged the whole power of indulgences to him selfe leauing notwithstanding some of them to Viglius by this meanes when offices or benefices were vacant he some tymes stayed the gift of them for a long space and some tymes agayne vpon the first day of their vacation set them out to open sayle and sometymes he twise solde them The price he deuided openly with his brokers and proctours he accompted himselfe the Archbishop of Meclynia Metropolitane not onely of Brabant but also of the whole prouince of Belgie And when he had receaued from the Pope his Cardinals batte he disdayned all princes in respect of him selfe He mightely threatened those Cities whiche refused to submitte them selues to the Byshops bondage he openly did bost and say that the kyng could not mainteyne his honor and auctoritie in Belgie without the Spanishe power foreine ayde He sayd it was altogether necessary that the king should be released by the bishop of Rome from his oth wherwith he bound himself by couenaunt to mainteine the priuileges of his subiects that he should conuert this his lawful inheritaunce into a prouince makyng it captiue which before was frée as if it had bene wonne by force of armes or conquered by battell not enioyed by succession of auncient patrimonie and briefly that he should make them new lawes and inuent some new kynde of regiment for them like captiues taken in warre He sayd moreouer that it was necessary for the performaunce hereof that 4. or 5. of the noble men should lese their heades in whose auctoritie and carefull prudence the health and safetie of the people and the onely hope of their liberties was thought to consiste To conclude he openlye contemnyng the whole company of the primates and nobles and the gouernesse of Permenia her selfe behauing him selfe both as King and Bishop by force and violence maketh his frendes and clyentes some of them Byshops and some of them Inquisitors When as the Princes and noble men of the prouince saw no end of his madnes they thought it most expedient for themselues and for the state of the whole common weale wholy to withstande his rashnes perceiuing indéede manifestly that if by some meanes or other he were not stayd or repressed the people though most pacient louing subiectes towardes the king could not long be reteyned in their duetye of obedience neither yet did they attempt then any thing by force or violence or by any crafty and wicked enterprise but they withstoode him onely by making humble supplication to the King fully certifying hys Maiestie that if those rigorous iudgementes were executed still with such cruelty and that worthy Citezens were oppressed wyth such great tyranny in so great a corruption and common pollution of all estates it was impossible to retayne the people any longer in theyr accustomed duety and faythfull obedience but that doubtlesse the publique slaughter and common destruction of the whole prouince was wyth spéed to be looked for vnlesse his prudence forséeing the mischief dyd séeke some remedy for it with all expedition Baron of Montignie one of the order of the golden fléece was sent embassador for the performance herof But not long after he returned not spéeding of hys purpose And no maruaile why for in Spayne all things were no lesse gouerned by the Inquisitors authoritie then they were ruled in Belgye by the Cardinals will and pleasure But in the meane space whilest the liberty of religion was appointed in France and published with full consent the Cities of Belgie bordering vpon the Frenchmen began openly in publique assemblies and common preachings to profes the religion of the Gospell which for the space of fortie yeares before they kept close in theyr priuate houses Which thing they did partly because otherwise they sée they coulde not auoyd the slaunders and reprochfull opprobries wherwith theyr priuate méetinges and secret conference were openly and cōmonly defamed amongest the people and partly because they saw the daily encrease of those which professed the gospell to be so great that priuate houses could not longer contayne them So that it was necessarie either to let the citezens leauing their cities voyd of men flie to their olde enemies the Frenchmen or els to satisfy the earnest desire of the people in that one poynt which in all other thinges was most obedient But by and by the extreme tyranny of the Inquisition and the barbarous cruelty of the punishments somwhat repressed them though God be praysed it could not altogether extinguish them The more openly they professed their fayth the more vehemētly did Granduellanus séeke to encrease the number of the new bishops insomuch that contrary to the will of the nobles he attempted to depriue the citizens of Antwerpe of the kinges beneuolence towards them wherby they obtayned their liberty and were made frée from that extreme bondage He styrred so long in this matter that there had bene lyke to haue bene a great sedition if Armenter the Spayniard had not bene sent againe to the king by the consent and counsell of the gouernesse and nobles who plainly should certefie the king that the people coulde not any longer be kept in subiection that the princes themselues would renounce their authority and leaue of the ruling of the common wealth vnlesse it would please the kinges maiestie to plucke in the raynes of thys vntamed Cardynall to represse and withstande hys vnbrydeled madnesse to deliuer hys poore subiectes from the yoke of hys tyranny to make frustrate his purpose of new alterations and finally indéede to confirme and establishe hys liberalitye and benefite bestowed and graunted to the Citezens of Antwarpe Thys pytifull complaynt so moued the kyng that he shewed hymselfe very angry heauely displeased with Granduellanus and therupon depryuing him of all hys authoritye called hym home presently from Belgye By whose departure al the whole prouince of low Germany breathed vpon as it were wyth a more pleasaunt and fresh ayre dyd séeme somewhat to rest and comfort it selfe vntill such tyme as those good bysshops of Spayne dyd put the kyng in remembraunce and caused hym accordyng to theyr pleasure to lay the heauy yoke of the Inquisition vpon the prouinces of Belgye agayne and to wyll the byshops to execute the crueltye of the Edictes and that they should morouer diligently vrge againe the due reuerence of the counsell of Trydent The Cardinalles ministers whych as hys chief frendes
innumerable company And so cause them to be suspected and accused of heresie they dyd sée also that no man could escape or a voyde the tyranny of the Edictes bicause by them not onely they which were found gilty but all their neighbours frendes kinsmen acquaintaunce were lykewise punished by most horrible death vnlesse they of them selues would betray their most deare and familiar frendes To conclude they did lykewise sée that if they should cease leaue of from their purpose all hope of forgeuenes to be taken away and that for their great benefites and good will they should be rewarded not onely with great infamous ignominie with bondage and troubles of conscience but also with most extreme and cruell death The whiche truly the barbarous crueltie of the Spanishe Inquisition could neuer abyde for they thus thought and perswaded them selues that if they when for want of fauor auctoritie they could scarce execute theyr office of Inquisition dyd not omitte any kynde of crueltie would now become intollerable frée men seyng as that they haue for their defence and safegard the manifest and vnmoueable will of the kyng the auctoritie of the publike Edites the helpe industrie of counsellers a great increase of new bishops the glorious title of the councell of Trident the power of Magistrates the violence and force of Sergeauntes and souldiers redy to defend them in the executyng of their tyranny and therfore euery man was in most desperate feare Neither did any perswade him selfe except he were of the number of those Catchepoles and théeues to auoyde or put from his goodes and substaunce his wife and children yea from his owne head so great calamitie If there were any who for the great fauour they were in or for their great power and auctoritie might in this point haue persuaded them selues securitie as there were very few yet bicause they dyd playnly foresée that this tyranny continued would cause some tumultes or open rebellion they feared no lesse then the rest dyd the spoyle of their goodes and possessions with losse of their lyues In this great astonishment of all men heauines of the whole prouince Many of the chiefest and wealthyest marchauntes who perswaded them selues that their matter was in handlyng and that the wicked dyd séeke for their throtes or rather by their throtes their golden coffers bagges and iewels preparyng to flye It came to passe that many of the nobilitie beyng moued with the publike daunger and their owne perill both bicause the continuall complaintes and murmurynges of the people were dayly brought vnto them and bicause their houses and gorgeous pallaces beyng in the fieldes were subiect to the praye and spoyle of euery seditious tumulte thought it necessary with one consent to goe vnto the gouernesse and to make playne and open vnto her the miserable destruction and calamities which are incident and lyke to ensue to the kyng hym self to his louyng subiectes to his Cities and to his whole prouince if this his Edict should haue his full force and power therfore when they had made a league or agréement amongest them selues as concerning this matter and had promised that euery one of them kepyng their fayth and loyaltie to their kyng vnuiolated should séeke to the vttermost of their power the subuersion and ouerthrowe of this Inquisition and to cause the seueritie of the Edictes to be mitigated came together at Bruxels the v. of Aprill very neare thrée hundreth nobles Brederodes beyng their captaine They put vp vnto the gouernesse a bill of supplication in the which they required no libertie for them selues or the people no alteration of Religion neither did they by their auctoritie take vpon them to prescribe any thyng to the kinges Maiestie but briefly rehearsing the daungerous perils miserable calamities which dyd then hang ouer their heades they most humbly desired that the office of the Inquisitors so manifestly agaynst the kynges honour and the safety of the countrey might be taken away abrogated And that it would please the kyng and his counsell to deuise some other Edict for the mainteynaunce of Religion to the which al the inhabiters of Belgie of what state or condition so euer they were of should be bound to obey and that the execution of the Edictes might be so long stayed til such time as that the nobles and estates of the countrey after the maner of their auncetours accordyng to the custome of all well ruled cōmon wealthes might come together to the establishyng of them by the kynges auctoritie Moreouer they protested that if by the contempt and neglectyng of this theyr request the common weale hereafter should fall into any daunger they them selues were by any right not to be accused for it seyng they had satisfied their duety in forwarnyng the same this humble sute of the nobilitie was accompted iust and godly not onely of the rest of nobles but also of the gouernesse her selfe of all the Senate of the whole concourse of people so that by their common consent and open suffragies the Gouernesse agréed and promised to the vttermost of her power to get their request satisfied and that she would send her Embassadours to the kyng who should declare the whole matter vnto him and bring to passe if it were possible that their request should be graunted and there withall they appointed the Baron of Montygay and Marques Bergye to performe that legasie and in the meane tyme she promised that their should be a vacation and respite from the execution of the cruell Edictes and from the blouddy butchery of the Inquisition which she would faythfully performe commaundyng the same by her auctoritie set forth by writyng This chaunged all theyr sorow and heauy chere into an inspeakeable gladnes made them all to hope well In so much that not onely they which had determined to flye before dyd not onely chaunge their mindes but they which were gone all redy tooke counsell how to come home agayne These matters sore troubled the Cardinals substitutes the maisters of the Spaynish inquisition and the whole company of the byshops and catchpoles which had in their mindes already deuoured and swalowed vp the goodes and bloud of the noblest and richest men in the countrey And therfore they tryed all manner of wayes how they might recouer so rich a spoyle and so fat a pray which was by thys meanes by force pluckt out from betwéene their gréedy iawes they accused with most slaunderous cauilles the force of the noble men they go about to proue that it should be taken for a manifest signe of a rebellion towarde they affirme that the noble men séeke onely to rayse a tumult that thereby they might rushe in by force vppon other mens goodes that they might pay theyr debtes with other mens riches so craftely attayned yea that they did séeke the death of all priestes and sacrificers and the subuersion of churches and the ouerthrow of cities They fayned
common wealth executed in so much that she gaue by publike auctoritie vnto many of the nobles and of the confederate princes charge ouer cities in the whiche they should set all thynges in order accordyng to the due prescript of the former decrée that they should assigne places out for the buildyng of Churches and for the peoples assembly to heare Sermōs and that they should with open protestation will all men to be secure and voyde from all feare and daunger and certeinly to persuade them selues that the garisons of souldiours should nothyng endammage them With the whiche thyng all the people began excedyngly to reioyce and to lay a part all feare as though out of a most boysterous tempeste they were already arriued in a most quiet hauen stayeng them selues vpon the publike promise thus made taken and confirmed by writyng They began to builde their Churches and fréely quietly to set forth their religion But yet notwithstandyng the furious madnes of their aduersaries was not pacified although they had already punished the ouerthrowers of their Images with greuous punishementes and did sée the innocencie of these Churches most manifestly witnessed by their open confessions But rather most proudly auauntyng them selues as though they had gotten a iust occasiō to punish the rebelles and that they should nothyng feare hereafter the nobilitie the whiche did manifestly shew them selues to be heauely displeased with the insolency of of the Imagebreakers they began by litle and litle but openly to encrease the nomber of their garrisons and to set them in their Cities with this pretence onely to withstand the insolencie of the Imagebreakers and thus they armed them selues with all thynges necessary vntill such tyme that they had brought their matters to as good effect as they desired perceiuyng the people quietly to rest them selues vppon the faythful promise of the nobilitie and gouernesse set forth in the kinges name vnder hys seale and letters patentes and that the noble men also were quiet not once mysdoubting that they should haue bene so wickedly and vnfaythfully deceaued they began openly to shew foorth what theyr meaning was for in such places where as they might be most bolde and in the which the magistrate was appliable vnto their desire first with new commaundementes obscure and doubtfull edictes and with scoffing interpretation they began to disanull the auctority of the published commaundement as concerning the late contract and in many places to delay from day to day the sealing of the writings of the publike promise and with sundry cauils to deceaue the miserable citizens and in many places to put those magistrats whose dealing they knew wold be alwayes with iustice out of their offices and contrary to the orders of the cities in their roomes to substitute most wicked men prompt and redy to all kinde of impietie and then at the length as though all hindraunces had bene taken away they began with great insolency by force of armes to disturbe the companies assembled at sermons tauntingly to reuile the ministers and citizens to worne them with wepons and lastly with open tyranny to oppresse them imprisoning many hanging many banyshing many and appointing new kind of othes wherby men should binde them to the popish religion contrary to the former decrée couenaunted and established before and to accompt those which denied to obey for enemies and traytors to the kinges maiestie Morouer they did rebaptize infantes which were baptized before they spoyled all the professors of the Gospell of theyr weapons and armour they armed and stirred vp the rest of the comminaltie agaynst them as agaynst the enemies of the common wealth Neyther onely did the sacrificing priestes or preachers out of their pulpits as it were with an open outcry stir vp the people to take armour agaynst them but also in many places the Magistrates themselues which were appoynted by the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors sounding allarum gaue open licence vnto the sedition and tumultes of the people against the miserable Gospellers the which were then lately called Gwesians that is to say Beggers and rascals And hereupon began the most dolefull and late calamitie of the noble prouince For euen then first of all was that famous citie of the Valentians beséeged in enemies wise of hys owne familiar frendes and citizens because forsooth they refused vppon the sodaine to receaue within theyr walles the cruell souldiers in that number that was commaunded them that is to say foure bandes of horsemen and fiue ensignes of footmen but tooke vnto them a day to deliberate in alleaging many causes that it would not be commodious vnto them to receaue them séeing they had as yet before theyr eyes amongs theyr neighbours a most cruell and doleful president of the souldiers rashnes for not long before in the countrey and towne of Sancto Amandus nexte adioyning vnto them the very same which were thrust in contrary to theyr lawes and priuiledges contrary to the fidelitie of the promise before geuen violently robbed and spoyled the poore miserable people that professed the Gospell of all they had in so much that from the very yong infantes they pulled theyr hose from theyr legges they defloured by course one after an other after the most horrible example of the Beniauntes the chaste matrones and virgines and at length in most cruell wise set them to open sale at the sounde of the drome they put to death many burnyng them by litle and litle with small flames and with theyr swordes opened the wombes of matrones great with childe The remembraunce of which horrible thynges iustly terrifieng the Valentenentians they humbly desired that they should not be cōpelled to receaue within their walles and houses such kynde of souldiers vnto whose auarice lust and crueltie they perceiued them selues their lyues wiues children and consciences should be at lēgth in most seruile bondage seyng that for foure yeares space before they had payed of their own proper costes and charges vnto the garrisons of souldiers their wages vpon this condition that they should neuer hereafter bee vexed or burdened any more with souldiours Neither yet dyd they so manifestly refuse it but that they dyd openly in most humble wise signifie vnto the gouernesse and to the rest of the primates rulers of the prouince that they were ready to receaue the souldiours of what nomber soeuer if they had a capitaine appointed thē for that they shuld not hinder the libertie of Religion whiche they had graunted confirmed vnto them not long before by the Edict of the gouernesse by the authoritie of the kynges letters patentes by the nobilities constant confirmation and with assent of all the Magistrates But they nothyng at all preuayled by this their modestie and equitie of their cause but forthwith they were openly proclaimed as traytors and rebelles the Citie was besieged vntill that at the lēgth when they beyng persuaded therto by the letters of the gouernesse promising all kind of clemency had
for rebellious traytors to the kinges maiestie and on the other side for periured persons which with their vaine promises had brought the people into a fooles paradise and made them subiect to the slaughter and butcherly fury of theyr aduersaries theyr confirmed couenauntes the kinges name seale and letters patentes to be of no force their former agréement by the which as by a bayte they were drawne into the net to be most manifestly deluded and that they were so far from hauing licence to cleare and purge them selues that they might not be suffred once to entreat or to make supplication for mercy and that they were openly taken for enemies enuironed about with souldiers so that there was no place for them lefte whereby they might escape by flying They being thus at their wittes ende not knowing which way to take were compelled at the length in all hast to muster theyr souldiers not that they ment to attempt any thing as enemies but that they might so long defend thēselues from the violence iniuries of theyr aduersaries vntill that they might either get equity for their cause or oportunitie to flie For if they would otherwise haue inuaded the kinges Cities there is no man so great a straunger or ignoraunt of the matters done in Belgie which doth not know that many cities sending theyr Embassadors did require theyr ayde and desired that it might be lawfull onely by the graunt and authority of Brederodius which was the captayne of the confederate princes to defend themselues by force of armes against the insolency and violence of theyr aduersaries The Valencenentians required to haue one of the nobilitie for theyr captayne Many other cities also being the chiefe amongest all the rest both for theyr power and authoritie and also for the number of theyr Citizens made the same request and many other also if they had so desired would haue submitted themselues to theyr auctority And yet notwithstanding they graunted not to any of them so much as by theyr woorde to yéeld to that they required except vnto the Buscoducentians there was one graunted the which should defende the Citie in the kinges name and of the confederate princes agaynst the insolency of the forreyne souldiers and should make the nobilitie a way if it fortuned to be shut vp all the rest wer refused not because it was a hard matter for them to kéepe those cities beyng already furnished with munition of warre especially if the prince of Aurice whome now the aduersaries do most shamefully be lye calling him the auctor of the whole sedition would but once but haue imagined so great an enterprise contrary to the wyll of the King and Gouernesse séeing that at hys féete almost the whole prouince did cast themselues downe with teares beséeching him to ayd thē against these violent théeues and murderers most periured tyraunts and that they might commit themselues all theyres into his power and iurisdiction He also might with a becke easely haue retayned in hys power not onely Hollande Zelande and the countrey of Truceland all which places he had in hys gouernment beyng of themselues as all men knoweth of hability to conquer the whole prouince but also Antwarpe Machlym Bustoduse and many other of the chéefest cities But that most godly Prince would not desire any thyng that shoulde séeme to impeache the Kinges authoritie but he gaue such godly counsels to the Gouernesse and to the other Cities the which if they might haue taken place would haue somewhat brideled the furious rage and couetous tyranny of the Spanish substitutes would haue retayned the whole prouince quietly and peaceably in theyr loyaltie towarde the king but he could neuer be perswaded to take armour himselfe or to geue license to the citizens to do the same The other confederate princes as neare as they could did obey hys auctority and folow his modesty but that they were compelled many times by violence and necessitie to take armes not to inuade or set vpon any cities or to do any violence but onely to withstand the violence and to defend themselues from the insolency of theyr aduersaries and to make themselues a way to escape by force if néede should require And these thynges truly which we haue reported were onely done before the duke of Aluaye hys commyng the whiche truly we haue thought it necessary more largely to expresse that all men may know how vniustly our aduersaries do deale with vs Although at their lust and pleasure they haue gouerned all thynges and oppressed vs full xl yeares with most extreme tyranny and the which at length by their crafty and subtill deuises haue styrred vp such greuous tempestes that therby they not onely mancypated and made bonde our selues our wiues and children but haue brought also the most florishyng prouince of Belgie into most doulfull calamities and beastly seruitude They do not yet for all this ceasse to accuse vs euery where vnto all Princes and people of Europe of most horrible crimes and to lay the faulte and occasions of all their couetous and mischieuous doynges vppon our neckes complainyng belyke because we would not with open bodyes and stretched out throates submitte our selues to their glaues and swoordes They are gréeued that we are safely escaped their handes and that we haue lost onely our riches possessions to be deuoured of their gréedy auarice that we haue not committed our lyues our wiues and children our soules and consciences to theyr lust tyranny and impietie Otherwise what is there that they can most especially lay agaynst vs can they obiect vnto vs the confederate societie of the princes let therfore the writynges of the conspiracie be read they truly though we should holde our peace would declare that they attempted nothing did nothyng nor once thought vpon any other thyng but onely whereby they might shew forth their loyaltie fidelitie and due obedience to their kyng onely that they might by the power and authoritie of the kyng withstād and suppresse the crueltie auarice and outragious couetousnes of many of the wicked But if their letters sealed and confirmed with their owne handes seales be of no credite yet let the effect of their doings be beleued for whilest all thyngs were as yet in safetie what was it which they went about dyd they not by supplication desire the kyng to disanull the vnbridled power of the Inquisition to mitigate the cruelty of the Edictes and other Edictes for the orderyng of Religion to be established by the kynges authoritie and decrée of the estates But verely here is the chief poynte of our aduersaries accusatiōs bycause forsooth they beyng frée men nobles louers of their countrey and desirous of peace faythfully addicted to the kynges maiestie durst be so bold by humbled supplication to require that the Edictes whiche were contrary to all equitie much impeachyng the kynges dignitie and disturbyng the common wealth brought in by errour and by false perswasion should
be made voyde and that there might be some lawfull assembly of the estates or Parliament holden for the good gouernement of the cōmon wealth Heare we appeale to you you most mightye Emperour of the Romaines and to ye all the famous Princes of the Christian Religion and by that onely and immortall God and by his sonne Iesus Christ in whose name we pleade our cause we humbly desire you to geue iudgement in this poynte whether we in this poynte so greuously offended or rather whether they doe not accompt our iust and wholy obedience of duetie in stede of great impietie Truly when the kyng was authorised Duke of Brabant he by solemne othe and faithfull couenaunt promised that he would paciently suffer most willyngly heare all their complaintes requestes or demaundes what soeuer the which should be put vp of the Byshops Barones Nobles Cities or Townes subiect vnto him either seuerally by them selues or ioyntly of them altogether and as often as they would shewe forth their burdens or great oppressions that it should be lawfull for them to do it without any daunger or offence and without doubting that he would be angry therewith and that he would neuer suffer any to be troubled for so doyng the which if it should chaunce to happen he promised to punish seuerely all those which may be founde giltie of that offence and at length after many other thynges he concludeth that if he shall doe or suffer to be done any thyng cōtrary to this oth and promise he desired forthwith his subiectes to be frée from their othe loyaltie vntill such tyme that he shall fully make them satisfaction in that poynte and in all other matters accordyng to this his promise Iudge ye therfore ye most renoumed and puysaunt Princes whether the nobles by puttyng vp of this their supplication haue iustly deserued to haue the kyngs so great and heauy displeasure agaynst them and their poor Citizens and frendes Although who is so voyde of all sence and reason and so ignoraunt of the affaires of Princes which doth not know that it is most profitable for kynges princes that their subiectes should moue them by humble supplication to prouide for the weale publike and the some ready and fit way should be taken for the good appointement and safe preseruyng of the common tranquilitie Who also is ignoraunt that these frée solemne assemblyes be not vsed in all prouinces and amongest all people but also accompted as the onely stay and remedy of all mischiefes and publike calamities and that no man hath at any tyme heretofore gone about to hynder such solemne méetynges but they which would robbe and spoyle the poore people of the right of their liberties of all their auncient lawes customes fréedome of their priuileges and dyd desire to rule all alone accordyng to their lewde lust and appetite and by right or by wrong to execute tyranny vpon their poore subiectes soules bodyes This truly is most manifest that in Germany all the whole maiestie and honor of their Empire is mainteyned by the due orderyng of their solemne parliamentes Niether hath there any wise man doubted but that in all the other prouinces of all Europe all the safety of the people and the dignitie of the prince hath onely bene preserued by these general assemblyes But in especially in low Germany It is most manifest that the case so standeth for in it the princes haue in all ages from tyme to tyme bene subiect to the power of the generall Parliamentes haue bene elected by them confirmed of them without whose assent and authoritie they neuer would decrée any thing and it is manifestly prouided and established by the priuileges of Brabant and customes of Flaūders that they neuer haue authoritie to do it hereafter But seyng by their mutuall assent and contract they be in force of couenauntes agréed vppon and hereafter to be taken for their cōmon law of the countrey It is of vndoubted credite that the kyng cānot violate or breake them without the assent and cōsent of the other parties Admit it be so the nobles haue offēded in this one pointe let it be accompted as wickednesse vnto them by humble supplication to shew the way how the common destruction of theyr countrey might easely haue bene auoyded Wherin I pray you dyd the poore comminaltie offended or without crime haue they deserued such great and accustomed crueltie vnlesse you will say it was bycause they gaue credite to the publike Edictes published in the kynges name confirmed with his broad seale and dyd thinke they might safely without all fraude or deceit hauyng for their defence this licence graunted by publike promise hauyng recourse to the hearyng of the Gospell preached for wheras they do accuse the people of takyng armes agaynst their kyng of ouerthrowyng of the images of Churches of bryngyng a new Religion their accusation is most vayne and slaunderous For as concernyng their takyng of armore there was no man which dyd abuse them agaynst the kyng or his dignitie but truly before the publike promise and othe was neglected before the kynges Edictes wherby the libertie of religion was graūted where violated before the couenauntes agréed vpō and the leage of their common tranquilitie was broken there was no mā went armed except it were for defence of him selfe agaynst the impudent violence of théeues and murtherers the open threatnynges of most wicked persons and that also was when they went out of the Cities to the sermons some of them tooke a sword some a staffe some a speare very few caryng dagges euen as one takyng his iorney into a farre countrey armeth him selfe to withstand the inuasions of théeues cutthrotes But afterwardes when in this pointe they were commaūded to be secure and that the gouernesse had geuē in charge that should hurt or indammage them as long as they kept them selues quiet by and by they at the commaundement of their Magistrates layd aside their weapons most willyngly committyng thē selues into their to the lawes of God man and to all their tuition safegard But at length whē contrary to the promised made contrary both priuileges they perceiued them selues to be ouercome of the souldiours the which had obteyned full licence to destroy them although they had committed them selues to the publicke fayth and with robberyes murders wastings rapes adulteries all kynde of wickednes to rage agaynst them as if they were enemies and traytors then at the length many of them begā to defend them selues with gates and walles frō the violent fury of their aduersaries Last of all when they perceiued neither publike libertie nor their wiues chastitie nor their consciences tranquilitie nor their owne lyues safely defended from their violēce by their gates and walles Many we confesse tooke vpon them armore not agaynst the kynges maiestie or any Magistrates but rather that they might defend their libertie graunted them by the kyngs Edict from
euen these be they at this day whiche do vexe and trouble the inhabiters of low Germany with the very same cauils before the foresayd Charles his sonne kyng of Spayne they haue deceiued them with the same artes and subtilties and oppressed with the same enterprises these be the authors inuentors of so great vnfaythfulnes these also be giltie of their crueltie auarice these were the ministers and workers of all their mischieuous boldnes For to whō is Granduellanus the Cardinall of the Germaynes vnknowen or who knoweth not the Duke of Alba both the which haue emprisoned the most noble princes of Germany ouercommyng them partly by violence and partly by their fraude and deceyte and haue slaundered them with most reprochful contumelyes These be the firebrandes of the whole world with the which the greatest part of Europe will most dolefully be set a fire vnlesse your authoritie wisedome and power do with spéede foresée so great a mischief these men therfore are onely to be accompted as the authors of all the tempestuous broyles seditions tumultes miserable calamities which haue happened in Belgye But if there be any man that doth not as yet vnderstand let hym remember the saying of Cassianus to whom these thynges shall profite let hym diligently consider not onely to whom this publicke calamitie of Belgy is now profitable but also if there be any hope that these thyngs will be profitable to hym hereafter Seyng we could not but perceiue that this daunger was iminent either by losse of our religion or by woundyng of our consciēce or by the greuous anger of our kyng or by the dolefull destruction of our countrey whiche way soeuer it would haue happened For they haue long ago hunted after their triumphes theyr ruledome and Empyre by any these occasions So that they neuer haue ceased by theyr subtill deuises to cause the subiectes to hate theyr kyng the kyng likewise to hate his subiectes and with gréedy mouthes stretched out eares they haue takē the lest suspition of tumults and rebellion and haue filled the kynges eares and mynde wyth theyr false tales odiously amplifying their receiued newes the which though it be so manifestly to all men that it néede no longer proufe yet it is most manifestly confirmed by the kynges Embassadors which was sent into Fraūce for he in his letters sent to the gouernours writeth on this wise their will aryse vnto the king great frute and commoditie by the incommodious tumultes of Belgy because by this occasion the kyng will bryng them to full obedience and subiection and reduce the state into that forme and order of gouerment vnto the which hys auncetors could neuer atteyne the which to bryng to passe the kyng hath vehemently desired of longe tyme and therein hath alwayes hetherto spent hys whole study and endeuour and that there was no man fauouryng the kynges maiesty would counsell him to let passe so noble occasion of the performaūce of this his woorthy enterprise c. By the which wordes it is manifestly declared that the Spanishe Inquisitors whiche in the name of the kyng doe cloake and couer all their desires haue sought and gone about heretofore to get any occasion whereby they might inuade Belgy spoyle it of all his riches and goodes and rule all thynges as should best be thought to their lust and pleasure So that no man can longer doubt frō whence these haue had theyr begynnyng seyng it is manifest who they are that haue long ago desired to reape the frutes of these our troubles it is also manifest that the Cardinall hym selfe in a great assembly of many men when it was obiected vnto hym that it was to be feared lest if the people should be any more oppressed they would make some sedition was not ashamed to aunswere that the kyng had no cause to feare But rather to wish for the seditious tumultes of his subiectes for by them the kynges power and maiestie was much encreased and the priuileges of the Cities liberties of the people very much restrayned and diminished Otherwise what is it that they should seeke for by so many examples of such vnaccustomed auarice rare crueltie would they make the people subiect to the kynges authoritie euery wise man séeth that then they take not the iust and right way to obteyne they purpose For the subiectes hartes are wonne and reconciled to their prince by gentilnes humanitie and Iustice not by terror feare or tyranny and euery man knoweth that the prince of Egmonde and an infinite number of others which haue bene alwayes euer were most earnest fauourers of the kynges name and authoritie they which neuer spared the sweate of their browes or bloud of their bodyes for to kéepe the whole prouince safe in the kynges subiection and whom the king for this cause hath alwayes very much regarded were notwithstandyng destroyed of them for an old hatred conceyued thorough an old enuie of theyr noble actes so worthely atchiued in theyr warres But peraduenture they séeke by this meanes vtterly to roote out the religiō of the gospell which they though the most part of them be of no religion fayne them selues so vtterly to deteste abhorre Truly they meane nothyng lesse for then what cause had they with such infamy reproch cruelly to put to death the foresayd Prince of Egmonde the Earle Hornam and many others which were both ignoraunt of this Religion and haue bene alwayes aduersaryes of the same why do they still execute such tyranny vpon those which be altogether of the Popes religion but most noble Princes they desire nothyng lesse their onely fetch is to establishe their kyngdome in Belgy that they may rule therein all thynges accordyng to their lewde lust pleasure and contrary to all equitie and right as they haue done heretofore in Cicell and in the kyngdome of Naples that they beyng loden with the riche spoyles of so wealthy a prouince may returne home and send others in their steade they which should draw them dry of all their iuyce and bloud there is one onely way to attayne to this purpose and that is their holy Inquisition the which by good right is termed after the name of Inquisitiō for by this they doe dayly inquyre and make search in the chéestes bagges coffers of the riche men in the bewty and bosomes of the virgynes and matrones in the throtes bowels and bloud and lastly in the soules consciences of all men by this they make them selues Lordes and Monarches of all thynges they make all the princes and the kyng him selfe subiect and obedient vnot them they haue vsed this meanes first in Spayne in the which by this arte of Inquisition they haue disanulled all priuileges and libertyes the which where before very great in Spayne they haue made subiect vnto them selues all the authoritie of lawes and the maiestie of the regall scepter they haue left onely a bare name and