in my heart and had taken such deepe roote therein it should come in good time to bring forth hir fruites For seeing that I was so long time brought vp in the Emperors chamber and being of the age to beare armes I was euen then presently inwrapped with great charges in armies for these reasons I say and considering the scarcitie of good education that we had in respect of religion it was no marueile though I had then in my head the feates of Chiualrie hunting and other exercises which yoūg noble men vse rather than those things which concerned my saluation And yet notwithstanding I confesse that I haue great occasion to prayse God that he hath not suffered this holie seede to be choked which he him selfe hath sowen in me and I saye moreouer that I neuer liked of these cruell executions of fier of sword of drownings c. whiche were at that time verie common against those of the religion as the scriuener or painter for so he nameth him selfe of this infamous Proscription calleth them Wherein albeit he flatter lie and slaunder altogether in other places he hath notwithstanding spoken verie well in this behalfe saying those whom he condemneth to be of the religion as in deede it only deserueth this name by excellencie which thing also the trueth it selfe hath wrong from his owne mouth so great is the strength and power of the same trueth But when as I being in Fraunce had vnderstoode by King Henrie his owne mouth that the Duke of Alua sought and spake of the meanes The coūsell of the King of Spaine the Duke of Alua to roote out those of the religion cōmunicated to the Frēch king by the saide L. King to the Lord Prince of Orange to roote out all those that were suspected to be of the religion in Fraunce and in this Countrey and thorowe out all Christendome and that the saide Lord King who thought that as I was one of the Commissioners for the treatie of peace and had had speache with him of such great matters so I was also of that religion had declared vnto me the groūd of the counsell of the King of Spaine and of the Duke of Alua I to the ende I might not be of lesse estimation with his Maiestie as though he would hide any thing frō me aunswered in such sorte that the saide Lorde King was not deceaued in his iudgemēt which also gaue him occasion sufficiently inough to discourse vnto me so much as that thereby I might vnderstande the ground of the purpose of the Inquisitors I confesse that I was at that time in such sorte mooued with pitie and compassion towardes so many good people as were appointed to slaughter generally towardes this whole countrey to which I was so much bounde into which they ment to bring in an Inquisition worse more cruel than that of Spaine yea that there were nets laid to catch euen the very noble men and the Lords of the countrey as wel as the cōmon people insomuch that they whom the Spaniards and their adherentes were not able to supplant by any other way might fall by this meanes into their hands frō whence it was impossible to escape because that a man could behold nothing els but a very laberinth whereby they might be cōdemned to the fire I seing I say these things do confesse that from that time forwarde I did earnestly attempt to helpe to driue out of the countrey this vermin of the Spaniards I do not repent me that I haue done it but iudge rather that I and my Lords my companions which fauoured this so laudable an enterprise haue done a deede worthie of immortall prayse The enterprise of the Lordes to cause the Spaniardes to departe out of the countrey and which in deede had bin altogether accōplished and we by that meanes had atchieued the vpheaped measure of honour if after their gripes we had as well shut the gate against them so that they might neuer after haue entred in againe vppon vs as we haue since founde out and had the meanes to purge the Countrey of them And I saye yet somewhat more vnto you my Lords and I wishe that the whole counsell of Spaine yea that the whole worlde should vnderstande it that if my brethren and companions of the order and of the counsell of Estate had liked rather to ioyne their counselles with mine then to make so good and cheape a market of their own lines al of vs would haue imployed our bodies and goodes that we might haue hindered the Duke of Alua and the Spaniardes from entring againe into the Countrey and I am yet euen at this present content that they should vnderstande that as alreadie one parte of the countrey is scoured from this filth insomuch that there is not therein any remembraunce thereof except it be of their bones so I will not cease by the power of God and by the assistaunce of your fauour which I hope will neuer faile me to imploye all the power that I haue with you my Lordes to purge the whole countrey in generall from this vermine and to cause them and all their adherentes to passe from hence ouer the Moūtaignes there to trouble their owne Countreis if they will and to suffer vs to liue here in peace and quiet possession of bodies goodes and conscience Wherefore they are deceaued verie much when they thinke that I attempted this worke after their departure out of this countrey For I did it then whē I was in Fraunce euen a hunting with the King whilest they them selues were here and I ceased not till that by the meane of the late Ladie of Sauoie of most noble memorie I had obtayned leaue to come againe into this countrey vpon my faith and promise giuen to returne againe to Reins at the coronation of King Frauncis the seconde and being come hither I prouoked not banckeroutes but good and honourable people and of the chiefe most noble personages of the countrey in the name of the Estates to demaunde that the Spaniardes might be inforced to with drawe them selues which thing was at the last executed and the enemies may remember if they will who were those good and honourable personages that brought them that most vnpleasaunt message who when they shall shewe themselues the aduersaries shall knowe and confesse their impudencies and slaunders But as concerning that which they saie that I was the principall authour of the supplication presented and offered vp The request presented by the Nobilitie I will in deede tell you my Lordes the whole matter that is that hauing once perceaued that the mischiefe was growen so farre that there was not nowe any more question of burning onely the poore people which suffered them selues to be cast into the fire but that sundrie of the best nobilitie and of the principall men among the people murmured thereat I fearing some daungerous issue as I had seene before mine
forth a decree for my profitt what hath he done for me but administred me iustice and would not take from me that which the lawes reason and verie nature it selfe did giue me But if it please you my Lords to consider the nature and qualitie of this succession you shall finde my right and title to haue bin such that the Emperour could not haue depriued me of it or taken it from me without an extreame iniurie and a most manifest wrong There were in the succession two principall members or braunches The firste was The succession of Nassau Challon that which came by our house of Nassau which my Lordes my predecessors the graundfather and great graundfathers vncles by the fathers side and cosen germaine by the fathers side enioyed that is to saye the goods which at this day belong vnto me in Brabant Flaunders Hollande and Luxenburgh the other was the succession of the house of Challon As concerning the succession of Nassau which men commonly call Breda because it was the principall place of my Lordshippes and where I and my predecessours had helde our chambers of accountes counsell principall instructions pertayning to vs and ours who was he that might molest me in that vnlesse it were my Lorde my father who was the vncle and I the cousin germain of my Lord the Prince Rene the onely sonne of my Lord Henrie Countie of Nassau my vncle and the brother of my Lorde my father But so farre of is it that I was hindered in that successioÌ„ by my said Lord and father that he him selfe tooke paines to come sollicite the matter that I might be put in possession thereof neither was there euer founde man so shamelesse that would set him selfe against it but Schoore the President or iudge who in the counsell saide that the sonne of an heretike ought not to succeede because that my Lorde my father following the examples of good Kings as of Dauid Iosias others had refourmed the Churches of his countries which he helde had in Germanie and had purged them from abuses according to the worde of God and that by the permission and sufferaunce of the Emperour And notwithstanding all this the counsell ceasseth not to giue aduise to determine the matter according to reason and equitie as in deede it could not otherwise do seeing that they had mainteined my Lord the Countie of Kingstain myne vncle in the succession of the Countie of Rocheforte although that he him selfe were a protestaunt Seeing then that this was in question if that may be called a questioÌ„ which was in our owne house as whether that the succession aforesaid were adiudged to the father or to the sonne pronouÌ„ced notwithstanding always according to the lawes none beside could iustly pretend any right thereto As concerning the house of Challon first it cannot be saide in respect of the Barronies which I peaceablie holde and possesse in the Dutchie of Burgundie The Barronies of Burgundie of Daulphine and in Daulphine of Vienna that I am therefore bound to the Emperor for he had not anie more power therein than I all being vnder the power of the Frenche King who alike seased the Countie of Charrollois apparteyning to the Emperour and my Barronries when warre was mooued betweene them two in so much that I can not be otherwise bounde vnto him therefore but in this that I was conteyned in the treatie of peace made at Sessons which was the last duetie that he could yeelde to the memorie of my Lorde my cousin who but a little while before died in the same expedition and that on foote at the siege of Saint Disier after so manie deedes of armes done for his seruice And lesse hath he bin able to fauour me in my Princedome of Orange where he had nothing to see too nor to do no neither he nor anie Prince whatsoeuer Princedom of Orange I my selfe holding the same in a naked bare and absolute Soueraigntie which thing fewe other Lordes are able to saie And there is no Prince in respect of my saide Princedome whose amitie and good grace I stande in neede of but of the French Kings who I hope will not touche that that belongeth to a poore Prince who is his most humble seruaunt because reason suffereth not that beyonde which reason he will not go and also because of the loyall and faithfull seruices that my predecessours haue done to the Crowne of Fraunce and the Dutchie of Brytannie whereof he is descended and is the heire with great daungers of their liues great expenses and infinite trauailes There remayneth then that which belongeth vnto me in the Countie of Burgundie and whereof I haue bin so long time so vniustlie and tyrannouslie spoyled and dispossessed which by meanes of lone and borrowing yeeldeth vnto me euen to this present time two millions at the least of losse But I would in the first place that they should remember wherefore the Countie of Burgundie is called Franck or free to wit amongest other reasons Possessions in the FraÌ„ck or fre couÌ„tie because that the freedome and libertie of the Lordes and such as holde possessions in the sayde countrey is that they haue power by will to bequeath and to dispose of their goods howe and to whom they shall thinke good without being either for their wiues or their children or other heires whatsoeuer inforced otherwyse to dispose of their goodes but in such sorte as shall be agreeable to their owne will and pleasure Seeing then that so it is that my Lorde the Prince Rene mooued of his owne good will did without anie other respect that he had to me who was at that tyme a yonnge childe liâ—ing in Germanie vnder the power and discipline of my Masters and Gouernours and he hauing no other respect but that I was his cousin germaine did I say appoint me his generall heire which thing also he did according to the power that he had euen by the lawes and customes of the countrey I saie that if I ought to yeelde thankes to any it is to the memorie of the saide Lorde Prince who being the eldest of our house ment also that as I should succeede him in the order of age so I should come in like sorte to succeede him in his goodes and possessions I perceaue not then as yet euen to this present time that I am anie thing at all bounde for this succession to the house of Spaine neither is there anie man in the worlde that can saie it with ttueth But the Emperour gaue a graunt vnto the said Lord Prince by will to bequeath it The graunt to whom he should thinke good and by the power of that graunt the Prince chose me for his heire This my Lordes maketh very much for me and can at no hand serue myne enemies turne For wheÌ„ the Emperour yeelded to the graunt he knewe not who should be nominated heire by the Prince neither was it knowen of any
liberall hart in the Prince And albeit the Emperor had graunted some thing to the memorie of my Lord the Prince Rhene The Prince Rhene that according to the last appointement he had graunted some extraordinarie priuiledge and benefit vnto his will should this I beseech you be a sufficient recompence yeelded to so faithful and so excellent seruices as he had perfourmed who was so valiaunt and so couragious a Prince had done for him so many duties hauing by force of armes not onely recouered for the Emperour the damage of a battaile lost but also hauing againe cōquered for him the Dutchie of Gelderlande and in fine he him selfe yeelded vp his spirite at the Emperours feete and that for his seruice What shall I neede to speake of Prince Philibert who alone obtayned for him Lombardie and the Kingdome of Naples and with my Lord the Duke of Burbō assured him of the state of Rome and tooke the Pope for him as a prisoner and to be shorte hath giuen him a heape of all excellencie and blessednesse And yet nowe his sonne will come reproching the remembraunce of such Princes and will saie that the Emperour hath executed iustice to their successor and cousin Nowe if they of Nassan had not liued heretofore if they of Orāge had not done so many deedes of armes before that the King was borne he would not haue put so many titles in the beginning of this Proscription by which he doth falslie slaunderouslie pronounce me a trayterous and wicked persone which as yet neuer hath fallen out and I hope neuer shall fall out in anie of my race But let them aunswere me by whose commaundement the Cardinall of Graundvelle impoisoned the last Maximilian the Emperor whilest he was the King of the Romans I knowe what he tolde me concerning that matter and that afterwardes he was so afraide of the King and the Spaniardes that he was altogether fearefull to make profession of that religion which he knewe notwithstanding to be the best He proceedeth and saieth that he hath as it were in order of succession An obiectiō touching the benefits and honors bestovved by the king of Spaine vppon the saide Lorde Prince continued and increased more and more my state and countenaunce hauing made me of his order afterwardes Lieutenaūt generall in the gouernement of Hollande Zeelande Virecht and Burgundie of his counsell of Estate and that he hath bestowed vppon me sundrie good turnes and honours As concerning benefites I can not at any hande confesse it vnlesse a man will call the great expences that I haue bin at as well for the seruice of the Emperour as of the King benefites For they which liued at that time and speciallie in the Kinges time may wel remember howe the Court alwayes was greatlie accompanied with the nobilitie of sundrie and diuers nations and for the most parte with the nobilitie of Germanie Nowe euery one knoweth that my house laye alwayes open and that ordinarelie I was to make the discharge and defraying of all charges bearing the expences of the Court with a verie little allowaunce and order that was made on the Kinges behalfe Euerie one knoweth also the great and excessiue expences that I was of necessitie to bee at in the voyage in whiche both agaynst my will and likewise against sundrie protestations made to the Emperour and also to the Queene of Hungarie I was constrayned to carrie the Crowne of the Empire to Ferdinando the Emperour and herevnto I was the more vnwilling because it seemed not reasonable vnto me that I should carrie from my Maisters head the crowne which in times past had bin sett therevpon by my predecessors After this I made the voyage into Fraunce wherein I was sent for one of the pledges appointed for the establishement and execution of the peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis whiche brought vnto me also great expences and extreame charge in so much that I can in these three pointes vnto which adde also the charges that I was at in the last warres specially those at the towne Philippe and Charlemont where I was generall verely assure you that I spent more than fifteene hūdred thousande Floreins and yet notwithstanding the Chamber of account or Exchequor may easely assure men of this that I neuer had so much as one farthing in recompence for these seruices yea that being Lieutenaunt generall of the armie I did not receaue for all charges but three hundred Florins a moneth which was not sufficient to pay the sernaunts that pitcht my tentes yea also if the Queene of Hungarie were yet aliue she could wel remember that which she spake vnto me when the Emperour perceauing him selfe to be in the greatest extremitie that euer he was partly by the power of Duke Maurice and of William the Lantzgraue and partly by the powers of the Frenche King made the peace of Passau The peace of Passau with as great losse to our hoūse which serued him with our great losse and charges to preserue the Empire for him as it had before obteyned the same for him For albeit in an open assemblie of the Empire the Emperour being by the aduise of the Electours set in his throne and Imperiall seate had iudged that by a definitiue sentence that we should haue the Countie or Earledome of Catzenellenboghen with more than twoo millions of Florins for arrerage he made notwithstanding his peace with our losse putting by the agreement of Passau our aduerse parties in the possession thereof without any recompence giuen to vs. Which thing I propoūde not at this present to stirre vp againe anie contention seeing that our house hath since that time agreed with the most famous house of the Lantzgraues of Hessen whose good kinsemen and seruauntes we are but to the end we may make the whole world to vnderstand the great benefits that we haue receaued from the house of Spaine and that euerie one may knowe who it is that by good right is to be taxed for ingratitude and vnkindnes And this my Lordes is not the like firste parte that they haue shewed vs. For my Lorde the Prince Rhene being at that tyme the eldest of our house pursuing so courageously the warre of Cleue lande the Emperour promised him that he would neuer conclude peace with the Duke of Cleue lande Peace made vvith my Lorde the Duke of Cleue but vpon condition that he should leaue vnto vs peaceablie the thirde parte of the Dutchie of Iuilliers which appertayned vnto vs by the succession of my Lorde the Countie Iohn of Nassau my great vncle and Margaret the Countesse of Iuilliers and of Marck notwithstanding perceauing him selfe to be the Conquerour he made peace with him as pleased him forgetting that this victorie was obteyned to his handes by the trauayle and valiauntnesse of my said Lorde and cousin The honours As concerning the honours which he saieth he hath done me I will neuer denie as I
and liberties of the countrey yea and aboue equitie and iustice it selfe he hath broken all bondes that he might outrage in all maner of vnreconcilable hatred and crueltie The aide called Noeuenale At the same time you my Lords graūted vnto him the aide which was called Nouenale by meanes of which aide and by the valiauntnes and wise gouernement of the Lords nobles of this our countrey and of sundrie braue Lords and souldiers of Germanie his affaires were so well and so blessedly guided that after the winning of two battailes the taking of townes and prisoners of great calling and that in great number also he inforced his enemie to accept a peace as vnprofitable for the Frenche king as it was honorable and profitable for the King of Spaine And if it be lawefull for me to speake anie thing of my selfe if hee haue but one droppe or sparke of gratitude and kindenesse in him hee can not denie but that I was one of the principall instrumentes and meanes to cause him to come to so excellent and to so profitable a peace hauing priuately treated thereof with my Lordes the Constable Montmoranci and the Marishall of Saint Andrewe at the instant request of the King who assured me that the greatest seruice that I could performe vnto him in this worlde was to make a peace and that he purposed to haue it whatsoeuer it cost him because he ment to go into Spaine But so farre of was it that eyther he or his counsell consisting of Spaniardes and of certaine other persons of this countrey who alwayes continued in hatred against you your libertie and the whole lande did take in good parte either this so good an aide or the happie execution that insued thereof that on the other side they iudged this succour and aide to be a fault of hie treason against his Maiestie and for the which you and aboue all other the late my Lorde of Lalaing had incurred by good right the sentence of punishment The late L. of Lalaigne and all the Estates appointed to death by the Spaniardes And why so Because you my Lordes would not agree to anie thing without the assemblie of the Estates generall and because you ment to cutt the talents of these harpies and Rauenours of Barlemontes and such like when you decreed that the money should be distributed by your commissioners according to the conditions propounded vnto them Beholde in deede two great faultes the one for soth was to demaunde a meeting and an assemblie of the Estates For in asmuch as it serueth for a bridle and a barre vnto tyrannie it is a crime so much the more hated of tyraūts who are the deuourers of the people and enemies of their subiectes and of their owne crowne as this noble assemblie is loued honoured and reuerenced of true Kinges true Princes and such as are the good fathers of the people because it is in deede the true foundation of an Estate the assuraunce of the common wealth and the onely peace quietnes of Princes The other fault will neuer be pardoned for these byters of the people liuing with the blood of poore people haue so long time made account of their theeueries and sackings that they suppose their spoyles to be as good and as an assured reuenewe yet much more frutfull as their fieldes and gardens and dissembling the true cause of the mischiefe whiche they hide from their Princes they seeke pretextes and cloakes in flattering of them and in lying vnto them to harden and to set on fire their heartes against their subiectes I haue seene my Lordes their doings I haue hearde their wordes I haue bin a witnes of their aduise by which they adiudged all you to death making no more account of you than of beastes if they had had power to haue murthered you as they do in the Indies where they haue miserablie put to death more than twentie millions of people and haue made desolate waste thirtie tymes as much lande in quantitie and greatnes as the lowe countrie is with such horrible excesses and ryottes that all the barbarousnesses cruelties and tyrannies whiche haue euer bin cōmitted are but sport in respect of that which hath fallen out vpon the poore Indians which thing euen by their owne Bishoppes and Doctours hath bin left in writing and to make the King without excuse before God and men the historie thereof was dedicated vnto him by one of his owne subiectes in whom there remained as it should seeme some smal sparke of iustice From that time then my Lordes I and other Lordes and sundrie of the best wisest personages both of the nobilitie and of the common people thought it good to cause if we could the Spaniards to departe out of the coūtrey thinking in deede that albeit there were yet remayning some corrupt blood amongest vs as verely we see ther is more remayning then were meet which did proceede from this infected race of the contagion of the fathers who serued at that time the ambition of the Spaniardes and followed the Cardinalls businesses yet notwithstanding that the better number and all the Lordes of the greatest credit and countenaunce would be enemies to this Spanishe tyrannie But partly thorowe other businesses and partly by reason of my voyage the going of some other Lordes into Fraunce whether we were sent for hostages as also to be present at the Frenche Kinges daughters mariage the businesse it selse was interrupted and the perfourmance thereof hindered Nowe so farre of is it my Lordes that I will denie a great part of that which is set out against me that I account it on the other side a great prayse for me and will it may so fall out tell you more thereof than mine enemies knowe and the more that they shall write against me and giue a testimonie of their furie and enuions harte against this countrey the more wil I reioyce herein that it hath pleased God to shewe me this grace to be an ayder to cutt of the course of this vnmeasurable tyrannie and by that meanes also to haue bin an assistaunt to the manifestation and opening of the true Religion They say that from the time that the King turned his foote from these lowe countreis I haue by sinister practises sleightes and subulties assayed to gett the good willes of the Malcontentes and of such persons as haue bin greatlie indebted haters of Iustice desirous of nouelties and specially of those that were suspected to be of the religio As concerning them that had the knowledge of the religion I confesse The loue that the L. Prince hath alvvayes born to thē of the religion that I neuer hated them For seeing that from the cradell I was nourished therein and that my Lord my father had liued and died therein hauing driuen out of his Lordshippes the abuses of the church who is he that will thinke it straunge that if this doctrine were after such sorte ingrauen
in al. True it is that we besought the Emperors Maiestie the French King the Queene of Englande and the King of Portugale to intreat for vs that a good peace might be graunted vs but to take that as though we had submitted our selues vnto them we suppose not that any wise man would so thinke And as concerning that forbidding which they say was made concerning the publication of the sayd Articles your patience and gentlenesse ought greatly to be praised when you did not openly and for an example cause such to be punished who were so rash as to publish the same without your leaue and so farre off is it that we feared the communicating diuulging and publishing of them that on the contrary side we caused them to be printed The Lord Prince hindered not the cōmunicatinge of the articles of Colin to the people with the declarations of their insufficiencie and they were sent thorow all the Prouinces and Towns that they might be deliberated vpon and that the aduise and resolution of all might be had But there is great difference betweene a thing communicated in order by the way of righte and by the authoritie of them which haue power so to doe and betweene this that certaine little Scoutes should priuily cast amongst the people certaine little Pamphlets as some of them which were sent to Collen about your seruice caused vnder hand and closely to passe forth those thinges which they had negotiated and treated off with the enemie wherein they betrayed both you and the Countrey as more largely appeareth by their owne Letters whereof I will not speake any further because that all is set abroade and brought to euery mans sight They thinke the vnion of the Prouinces made at Vtrecht to be wonderfully wicked and euill And why so Because that all that which is good for vs is euill for them The vnion of the prouices made at the time of the seperatiō of Artois Haynault and that which is healthfull for vs is deadly for them They had set all their hope vpon a discord and disagremēt and they had prouoked therto some of the prouinces who haue had as many deliberations counsels as ther are moneths in a yere beside they had at their commaundement certaine pestilent fellowes amongst vs. What remedie then could a man deuise better against dissention then vnion And what counterpoison more certaine against their venim of discorde then concorde By meanes whereof their purposes their trecheries their night counsels their secrete intelligences were all at one time scattered abroade God who is the God of peace and concorde declaring therby how much he hateth such deceitful tongues and how he can easily ouerthrow such false and abhominable enterprises You see my Lordes that I giue them a fayre and large field to crie out against me and to scorne at me I confesse vnto them that I haue procured the vnion that I haue aduaunced and promoted the same that I haue endeuored to maintain it and I tel you my Lords yet and I speake it very plainly and loude that I like it well that so not only they but also all Europe shoulde vnderstand it Maintaine your vnion keepe your vnion but do it but do it indeede my Lords that so you may execute not in wordes nor by writing only but in effect also that which your sheafe of arrows tied with one bād only doth meane which sheafe you beare in your seale Let thē go now and accuse me that I haue brought all to confusion when I procured the vnion for the doing of which matter I wil neuer blush For if vnder the shadow of a peace they would bring forth vnto vs a deuision if they would assemble themselues one while at Arras another while at Montz giuing vs alwayes faire wordes and that to this ende that they might sunder themselues from vs and so draw by their cordes vnto themselues light headed fellowes like vnto themselues wherfore should it not be lawfull for vs on our owne behalues to ioyne and tie our selues together Vnlesse as it may be they thinke that they are permitted to doe euill and to abandon the Countrey and when I pray you Euen when Maestricht was besieged will not yee O yee poore people feele when yee shall reade these thinges the hote yron which shall burne your conscience and that it was not lawfull for vs then to doe good and to heale the Countrey Let vs then here my Lords learne that which is profitable and necessarie for vs to learne and let vs learne it of the greatest enemie that euer the Countrey had yea of the greetest tiraunt of the whole earth Cōcerning the voiage of the Lord Prince into Oueryssell An. 1580. They obiect vnto me afterwards a hotrible crime and worthie forsooth of this more great Proscription than that which was pronounced by Sylla and Carbo that is that I departed not out of Antuerp for two yeres space and that I went to Vtrecht A man may easily see that they know very well what I doe as though that with their very great sorrow and greef I had not in those two yeres space trauailed twise into Flaunders where by the aide of the foure members or partes of that Prouince I placed better order in the sayde countrey then they woulde or wished But go too let vs graunt that I did not for two yeres space together go out of Antuerp was not this a great faulte to be alwayes nigh vnto you that I might the better serue you in euery thing which it pleased you to commaund me But I went to Vtrecht beholde my Lordes the euill beholde the bile or sore for this is the voiage that woundeth them euen to the hart They had before hande so wisely purposed their matters they had layde so sure a foundation for their affaires and businesse they pleafed themselues so much therein they writ thereof to their friendes they helde in their handes so many countreyes and gouernments they had written so many Letters and had vsed so many hirings secrete intisements and open practises as they thought all to be sure their owne and yet I comming only to shew my selfe at Vtrecht with the good assistance and counsell of my Lords the Deputies of the Prouinces behold that great mist or fogge was vanished away so many Castels as they had reserued for their tirannie were beaten downe and so many of our owne Townes assured to vs they hauing for all no other thing left vnto them but one only Towne of importaunce wherein was the Captayne of the enterprife which Towne notwithstanding hee knew not how to make subiect to his commaundement but by an abhominable murther of one whome he called his father who the euening before had set at his table he as a Iudas dealing with him vnder a false kisse And this my Lordes is the cause that maketh them crie so loude yea this is the Helena for which they fight Touching the Priestes