Selected quad for the lemma: prince_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
prince_n	duke_n	earl_n	palatine_n	3,317	5	13.5289	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91185	The fourth part of The soveraigne povver of parliaments and kingdomes. Wherein the Parliaments right and interest in ordering the militia, forts, ships, magazins, and great offices of the realme, is manifested by some fresh records in way of supplement: the two Houses imposition of moderate taxes and contributions on the people in cases of extremity, without the Kings assent, (when wilfully denyed) for the necessary defence and preservation of the kingdome; and their imprisoning, confining of malignant dangerous persons in times of publicke danger, for the common safety; are vindicated from all calumnies, and proved just. Together with an appendix; manifesting by sundry histories and foraine authorities, that in the ancient kingdome of Rome; the Roman, Greeke, German empires; ... the supreame soveraigne power resided not in the emperours, or kings themselves, but in the whole kingdome, senate, parliament, state, people ... / By William Prynne, utter-barrester, of Lincolnes Inne. It is this tenth day of July, ordered ... that this booke .... be printed by Michael Sparke senior. John White.; Soveraigne power of parliaments and kingdomes. Part 4	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.; England and Wales. Parliament. House of Comomns.	1643 (1643)	Wing P3962; Thomason E248_4; ESTC R203192	339,674	255

both of the Church and Christian world but especially of the sacred Empire Therefore resolving that this mischiefe destructive to the whole Christian Republike was by no meanes to be any longer borne and tolerated with a minde well confirmed after many and various debates and consultations both betweene our selves as also with other Princes and Nobles of the sacred Empire seriously had for the safety of the Church the consolation of the Christian world the honour and profit of the sacred Empire we have thought meet that the foresaid Lord Wenceslaus should at this time be wholly removed from the Roman sacred Empire and all its dignity as one that is negligent and a destroyer of the Empire and unworthy of it Therefore we John Archbish in the name of the foresaid Lords Coelectors of the sacred Empire and our owne moved both with the commemorated as also with many other notable defects and causes by this our sentence which we give and pronounce by this our present writing DEPRIVE and REMOVE the foresaid Lord Wenceslaus a● an unprofitable negligent waster and unworthy Defender of the sacred Empire from the foresaid Roman Empire and from all his degree dignity and Dominions appertaining to the same denouncing to all the Princes Nobles Knights Gentlemen Cities Provinces and Subjects of the sacred Roman Empire that they are altogether free from all homage and Oath made to the person of Wenceslaus in the name of the Empire requiring and admonishing them under the faith of the Oath wherewith they are obliged to the sacred Empire that they doe not henceforth obey and submit to the said Lord Wenceslaus as the King of Romans nor exhibit or suffer to be exhibited to him any right obedience tribute rent or any other revenue b● what name soever it may be called but reserve the said duties for a profitable and idoneous King of Romans hereafter to be substituted by Gods gracious assistance In assurance and testimony of all which things We John Archbishop of Mentz have caused this present Instrument to be made by the subscribed Notaries in this patent forme and our great Seale to be affixed thereunto This premised sentence was read and pronounced by us John Archbishop of Mentz in our name and the names of the Lords Coelectors before remembred under the Castle Lonstein at the Rhene in the Diocesse of Triers reaching towards Brubachium out of a publike Throne erected for the use of a Tribunall the Lords Coelectors sitting there in judgement in the yeare of our Lords Incarnation 1400. the eight indiction on Saturday the twentieth day of the month of August a little before the time of the Nones in the eleventh yeare of the Papacy of our most holy Father and Lord in Christ Lord Boniface the ninth Pope by divine providence in the presence of the most illustrious Princes and Lords John sonne of the most illustrious Prince and Lord Rupert Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of Rheine Fredericke Burgrave of Norimberge the Noble Philip Lord of Nassau and Sarbrucke Emichon of Luringen John of Zigenhaim Cunrade Burgrave our Canon of Mentz Earles Bernhard of Westerburg John of Limpurge Rinehard of Honowe Barons Mr. Nicholas Berwin of the sacred Page John of Witenburg and Nicholas Burgman of the Decrees Mr. Herman President of Saint Gerion of Colen Doctors of the Law likewise the valiant Knight Sigfride of Lindow our Vice-Commander in Ringaugia John Bossen of Waldeck our Buggrave Beckelnheim and our trusty Henry Rulman of Dadenberg Gerard of Emerberg Lord in Lantscron Fredericke of Sachenheim Culman of Coneren John of Dalburg Rudolfe of Zeissikon as also many other Lords Knights and Gentlemen spirituall and secular standing by in great member called and requested to the things above written And I Nicholas Berchtoldi Fridberg Clerke publike Notary of the Diocesse of Mentz by Episcopall and Emperiall authority and sworne Scribe of my foresaid most gracious Lord Lord John Archbishop of Mentz because at that time I was personally present when this sentence which we have fore-writ was given and pronounced together with the publike Notaries and witnesses commemorated and saw and heard all these things to be done therefore at the command and request of my foresaid most gracious Lord of Mentz have reduced this publike instrument faithfully put in writing into publike forme and have subsigned and ratified it with my accustomed signe of Notariship having likewise annexed the great Seale of my foresaid Lord of Mentz in assurance and testimony of all th●● premises The names of the Notaries are Nicholaus Berchtoldi Fridburgensis Joannes Meier junior Gasterveldensis Conradus a Leiborn Clericus Padebornensis di●cesis Henricus Stalberg Rotenbergensis Tilmannus a Honberg Conradus Coler Zustensis Coloniensis diaecesis Finally it is evident that the Nobles Magistrates Parliament and representative body of the people or some part of them in default of the rest may lawfully take up defensive armes to resist their Princes endeavouring to abrogate the Law of God to waste the Church and extirpate the true Religion setled among them by the Lawes and usher in Idolatry And that in such a case as this neighbour Princes and States lawfully may yea and ought in point of conscience to aide the Subjects of other Princes afflicted for the cause of pure Religion professed by them or oppressed by open Tyranny These propositions are largely and professedly debated by Junius Brutus in hisVindiciae contra Tyrannos quaest 1. 2. 4. throughout in the Treatise intituled De Jure Magistratus in Subditos spent wholly in this Theame Georgius Obrectus Disput Jurid de Principiis Belli Num. 125. to 199. byVasquius Contr. Illustr 36. n. 30. and elsewhere by Albericus Gentilis and sundry others forecited I shall onely fortifie the later part thereof with the observation of the Duke of Rhoan who acquaints us that it is and hath beene of later yeares the very true interest honour and greatnesse of the Kings and Queenes of England both in point of policy and Religion to protect● and assist with armes all Princes of the Reformed Protestant Religion in France Germany and other parts as it is the true interest of the Kings of Spaine to protect and releeve all oppressed or grieved Roman Catholicks under the Dominion of other Princes and that their honour safety and greatnesse principally consists in the observation and maintenance of this their interest and with the words of Junius Brutus who thus states and debates the Question An Jure possint aut debeant Vicini Principes auxilium ferre aliorum principum subditis religionis causa afflictis aut manifesta tyrannide oppressis In defining this question saith he there is more need of conscience then science which would be altogether idle if charity obtained its place in this world But because as the manners of the times are now there is nothing more deare or rare among men then charity it selfe we thinke meete briefely to discusse it The Tyrants as well of soules as bodies as

Charles the bald Nephew by Lewis the godly and Iudith professeth himselfe An elected King in Aimoinius the Historiographer In summe all kings whatsoever from the beginning were Elective and those who at this day strive to come to the kingdome by succession must of necessity be First ordained by the people Finally albeit the people by reason of certain egregious merits hath in certain Realmes used to chuse kings out of the same stock yet they chuse the stock it self nor the branch neither do they so chuse it but if it degenerates They may elect another But even those who are neerest of that stock are not so much born as made kings are not so much accounted kings as the Attendants of kings which Franciscus Hotomanus in his Franco-Gallia cap. 6. 7. 10. prosecures more at large and manifests by sundry pertinent Presidents and Authorities Secondly that it is apparant by all the premised Histories That in all Empires Monarchies the whole Empire State Kingdome with the Parliaments Senates States Diets publike Officers and generall Assemblies which represent them are the Supreamest Soveraign power superiour to the Emperours Kings and Princes themselves who are subordinate Ministers and servants to them elected created by them for their common good and not absolute Soveraign Lords or Proprietors to rule domineer over them at their pleasure Which conclusion you shall find abundantly ratified and professedly maintained by Marins Salamonius de Principatu in six severall Books by Iohn Mariana de Rege Regis Instit l. 1. c. 8. Stephanus Iunius Brutus his Vindiciae contra Tyrannos throughout especially p. 91. to 110. the Treatise De Iure Magistratus in Subditos throughout Iustus Eccardus de Lege Regia Henricus Ranzovius Commentarii Bellici lib. 1. c. 3. and elsewhere Georgius Obrechtus an eminent Civill Lawyer Disputationes Iuridicae de Principiis Belli sect 115. to 200. where he thus resolves The inferiour Magistrates as in Germany the Electors Princes Earles Imperiall Cities in France the Peers of France in Poland the Vayuodes or Palatines and in other Kingdomes the Nobles Senators and Delegates of the Estates as they are severally inferiour to the Emperour or King Ita Vniverst Superiores existunt so collectively They are superiour to them as a Generall Councell is above the Pope the Chapter above the Bishop the Vniversity above the Chancellor The Prince saith Pliny the second even the greatest is obliged to the Commonwealth by an Oath as its servant ac ipsa Republica seu Regno Minor est and is lesse then the Republike or Kingdome it selfe by Franciscus Hotomanus a learned French Lawyer in his Franco-Gallia c. 6 7. 10 11. 14 15 16 18 20. Aquinas de Regimine Principum c. 6. by Hemingius Arnisaeus De Auctoritate Principum in populum c. and De Iure Majestatis Sebastianus Foxius De Regni Regisque Institutione Vasquius Controvers Illustrium passim Cavarnuius Contr. Illustr T. 2. 505. n. 1. 399. n. 6. Haenon Disp Polit. p. 179. c. Alhusius Polit c. 4. p. 146. to 154. with Iohn Calvin Instit l. 4. c. 20. sect 31. and divers others forecited Heare Iunius Brutus instead of all the rest to this particular being a Frenchman by birth and writing his mind herein both freely accutely and ingeniously in these words Now verily since Kings are constituted by the people it seems necessarily to follow populum universum Rege potiorem esse That all the people are better and greater then the King For such is the force of the word that whoever is constituted by another is reputed lesse then him he who receiveth authority from another is inferiour to his Author Potipher the Aegyptian appointed Ioseph over his family Nebuchadonozer set Daniel over the Province of babylon Darius set an hundred and twenty Princes over the Kingdome Verily Masters are said to appoint servants Kings Ministers so likewise the people appoints the King as the Minister of the Commonweale which title good Kings have not contemned and ill Kings have affected so that for some ages none of the Roman Emperours but an apparant Tyrant such as Nero Domitian Caligula would be called LORD Moreover it appeares that Kings were instituted for the peoples sake neither wilt thou say that for an hundred Homuncices more or lesse for the most part far worse then the rest all inferiours whatsoever were created rather then they for them Now reason requires that he for whose sake another exists is to be accounted lesser then he Thus the Governour of a Ship is instituted by the owner for the Shippes sake who sits at the Helme lest the Ship should be broken on the Rocks or ill hold her course And verily whiles he intends this businesse the other Mariners serve him and the owner himselfe obeyes him and yet he is a servant of the Ship as well as any mariner neither differs he from a mariner in gender but in kind In the Republike which is usually compared to a Ship the King is in place of a Master the people of an Owner Threfore to him seeking the publike safety the people obey and submit when notwithstanding he is and ought no lesse to be accounted a servant to the Republike as well as any Judge or Captain neither differs he from those in any thing but that he is bound to beare greater burthens and undergoe more dangers Wherefore verily what things soever the King acquires in warre or when he gaineth adjoyning Coasts by right of warre or by sentence of Law as those things which are brought into the Eschequer he acquires to the Kingdom not to himselfe to the people I say which constitute the kingdome no otherwise then as a servant purchaseth to his Lord neither can any obligation be contracted with him but by their authority Furthermore innumerable people live without a king but thou canst not conceive a King without a people so much as in thy mind Neither have some attained a Royall Dignity because they differed in kind from other men and ought to rule over others by a certain excellency of nature as shepheards doe over their Flocks but rather the people created out of the same Masse have advanced them to that degree that so if they enjoyed any authority any power they should acknowledge it received from them and possesse it as during their pleasure which the ancient custome of the French aptly sheweth who lifting their King up on a Buckler proclaimed him King For why I pray are Kings said to have innumerable eyes many eares long hands most swift feet what because they are like to Argus Gerion Midas or to those whom fables have feined verily no but indeed because all the people whom it concerns lend all their eies their ears their hands feet and faculties to the king for the use of the Republike Let the people recede from the King he who even now seemed eyed eared strong and flourishing will suddenly wax blind

and others to call the people to Arms and not onely to defend themselves and others against such a one but plainly to deject him from his Throne For the intire Government of the Realm is not committed by the people to the Prince alone as neither the Bishopprick of the whole Church to the Pope but to every one of the Nobles or Magistrates according to his power For the Nobles as they are called into part of the honour so of the burthen of the Commonwealth which is committed to the Prince as to the Supreme Tutor but to them as Fellow-tutors he having the first they the second place in governing the Republike The Prince swears that he will seek the good of the Realm and all the Nobles promise the same therefore if he doth ill they ought not to do so likewise if the Republike go to ruine they shall not continue For the Common-wealth is no lesse committed to them than to the King so as they ought not onely to do their duty but also to contain the Prince within the limits of his duty For if the Prince doth ought against his Oath they are not absolved from their Oaths but rather then especially ought to manifest their fidelity when the Republike requires it because they were specially instituted for that end as the Ephori and every thing ought to be reputed just when it attains its end Hence Brutus the Tribune and Lucretius the Governour of the City called the people to Armes against Tarquin the proud and by their authority expelled him the Ringdom So the Roman Senate judged Nero an enemy of the Republike and condemned him to the Gallowes punished Vitellius with death ignominiously mutilated and dragged thorow the City and spoyled Maximinus of the Empire setting up Albinus in his place Thus the French by Authority of a publike Councell thorow the care of the Officers of the Realme deprived Childericke the first Sigebert Theodoric and Childericke the third of the government of the Realm Neither is it impertinent to pronounce the same sentence of such a one as was given of Manlius Capitulinus Thou wast Manlius whiles thou diddest cast down the Senons headlong Now because thou art become one of the Senons thou thy selfe art to be precipit●ted from whence thou diddest cast them down But if perchance most of the Nobles collude and connive and being unmindfull of their duty take no care of the people let there at least be one who may admonish and detest the invading Tyrant and take care that the Republike sustain no detrimen For the care of the Republike is no lesse committed to him than to the Prince and his Collegues and he hath plighted his faith to the Republike no lesse than they If many have promised the same thing the obligation of the one is not taken away by the negligence or periury of the other If there be many Trustees Executors or Guardians the negligence default or fraud of some of them doth not discharge or disingage the rest yea unlesse they to their power discharge their trust and Oath they become perfidious yea guilty of the same crime and are subiect unto actions for their neglect as well as the others Therfore those who are bound to the whole Kingdom and Empire as the Peers of France the Electors or to some certain Countey or City which makes a part of the Realme as Dukes Marquesses Earles Constables Admirals and the like are obliged to ayde the whole Common-wealth or that part committed to them against the tyranny of the Prince if they be able c. Thus and much more this Lawyer almost verbatim out of Iunius Brutus I might add to him the like determinations of Henricus Bocerus De jure pugnae hoc est Belli Duelli Tractatus Methodicus Tubingae 1591. lib. 1. cap. 5. 29. p. 141 Justus Eccardus De Lege Regia the last Edition Alhuseius Polit. c. 4. p. 146. to 153. Haenon Disputat polit The Treatise De Iure Magistratus in Subditos where this Position is largely and learnedly debated confirmed both from Law History Theology Reason Hugo Grotius de Iure Belli pacis lib. 1. c. 4. sect 7 to the end p. 87. c. Albericus Gentilis de Iure Belli l. 1. c. 11. p. 84. c. 25. p. 205. l. 3. c. 9. 22. p. 546. 686. with others But since Iunius Brutus compriseth the quintessence of all the rest I shall trouble you onely with his Discourse Vindiciae C●ntr Tyrannos Quaest 3. p. 177. to 106. To passe by his Discourse concerning the resisting of Tyrants who usurp a Dominion without any Title whom every man may justly resist and suppresse and are bound in duty so to doe as he there proves at large I shall only transcribe what concernes them who have a lawfull Title First saith he we ought to consider that all Princes are born men We cannot therefore expect to have only perfect Princes but rather we ought to thinke it well with us if we have gained but indifferent ones Therefore the Prince shall not presently be a Tyrant if he keep not measure in some things if now and then he obey not reason if hee more slowly seek the publike good if he be lesse diligent in administring Iustice or lesse fierce in propulsing warre For seeing a man is not set over men as if he were some God as he is overbeasts but as he is a man born in the same condition with them as that Prince shall be proud who will abuse men like Beasts so that people shall be unjust who shall seek a God in a Prince and a Divinity in this frail Nature But truly if he shall willingly subvert the Republike if he shall wilfully pervert the Lawes if he shall have no care of his faith none of his promises none of Iustice none of piety if himselfe become an enemy of his people or shall use all or the chiefest notes we have mentioned then verily he may be iudged a Tyrant that is an enemy of God and men Therefore we treat not of a Prince lesse good but of the worst not of one lesse prudent but of a malicious and subtile one not of one unskilfull in Law but of a contemner of Law not of an unwarlike one but of an enemy of the people and waster of the Realme A Senate may assist him with prudence a Iudge with the knowledge of the Law a Captain in the skilfulnesse of warre but this man wisheth the Nobles Senators Captain● of Warre one neck that he might cut them off at one stroake neither hates he any more then them The first verily though he may lawfully be removed yet however he may be tolerated the latter contrarily by how much the longer he is tollerated the more intollerable he becomes Moreover as euery thing is not lawfull to a Prince so often times that which is lawfull to the people is not expedient For frequently it may fall out that the remedy which is used may

which Lewes Duke of Orleance should be President Lewes discontented with the device seekes to hold his ranke he pretends that being the first Prince of the blood the Regency belonged unto him he assists at the Councell in Parliament and in the assemblies in Towne and notwithstanding the last VVill of King Lewes and the Decree of the Estates yet will he by force have the name and effect of Regent VVhereupon discontents arising he leaves the Court in discontent and raised a civill warre However the Estates setled the Regencie and affaires of the Realme Anno 1525. Francis the first King of France was taken prisoner by the Emperour Charles the fifth in the Battell of Pavia who by mediation of Friends for his enlargement sent the Earle of Reux his Lord Steward to offer the King Liberty so as he would resigne all the rights he pretended in Italy restore the Dutchy of Burgongue as belongeth to him by right with Provence and Dolphine for the Duke of Bourbon to incorporate them with other Lands which he had formerly enjoyed and to make all together a Kingdome Moreover the Emperour offered to give him his sister in marriage propounding many other conditions so absurd and void of reason as it is better to let the curious reade them in the Originalls themselves Amongst all losses that of Liberty toucheth neerest but Francis having learned to withstand all adversity with a constant resolution said I will dye a Prisoner rather then make any breach in my Realm for my deliverance whereof I neither WIL NOR CAN alienate any part without the consent of the Soveraign Courts and Officers in whose hands remains the authority of the whole Realm We preferre the generall good before the private interest of Kings persons If the Emperour will treat with me let him demand reasonable things which lye in my power then shall he finde me ready to joyne with him and to favour his greatnesse The Emperour seeing the King constant in this resolution in the end yeelded to his delivery upon these termes That within six weekes after his delivery he should consigne the Dutchy of Burgengue to the Emperour with all the dependancies as well of the Dutchie as of the County the which should hereafter be sequestred from the Soveraigntie of the Realme of France That he should resigne to the Emperour all his rights pretended to the Estates of Naples Milan Genoa and Ast That he should quit the Soveraignty of Flaunders and Arthois c. Hereupon the King being enlarged and arrived at Beyonne he was required to ratifie the Accord which he had promised to doe when hee came to a free place but he delayed it with many excuses giving the Emperour to understand that before he proceeded to such an act it was necessary that he should pacifie his Subjects who were discontented with bonds which tended to the diminution of the Crowne of France c. After which the Pope and the Venetians sending Messengers unto him he complained of the Emperour that he had wronged him in that he had forced him to make impossible promises and that he would be revenged if ever occasion were offered and that he had often told him that it was not in the power of a French King to binde himselfe to the alienation of any thing depending of the Crowne without the consent of the Generall Estates that the Lawes of Christians did not allow that he which was taken in Warre should be detained in perpetuall prison which was a punishment proper to Malefactors and not for such as had bin beaten by the cruelty of fortune that all men knew that Bonds made by constraint in prison were of no value and that the capitulation being of no force the faith likewise which was but accessary and the confirmation of the same could not be bound that by the oath which he had taken at Rhemes at his Coronation he was bound according to the custome of other Kings of France not to alienate the patrimony of the Crowne and therefore for these reasons he was no lesse free then ready to abate the Emperors pride The Emperor growing jealous of the Kings delayes for ratification thereof sent one unto him to be certified of his intent who found him very unwilling to leave Burgundy which being very prejudicall to the Crowne of France he said was not in his power to observe and that hee could not alien the Bourguinans without their assents in an assembly of the Estates of the Country which he intended to call shortly to know their minds By which it is most apparent that the Kings of France have no power at all to dispose of their Crown lands or alienate them to others as other Subjects may doe because they hold them onely in the right of their Crowne for their Kingdomes use and service the true proprieters of them Upon which very ground Philip Augustus King of France Anno 1216. in a solemne Assembly of the States at Lyons told Walo the Popes Legate who came to prohibit his Sonne Lewes to goe to receive the Crowne of England because King Iohn had resigned it to the Pope That no King or Prince can give away his Kingdom without the consent of his Barons who are bound to defend the Kingdome and if the Pope decreed to defend this errour he should give a most pernitious Example to all kingdomes Whereupon all the Nobles of France began to cry out with one mouth That they would stand for this Article unto death That no King or Prince by his sole pleasure could give his Kingdome to another or make it tributary whereby the Nobles of the Realme should be made servants And the next day Lewes his Advocate alledged that King Iohn for his homicides and many other enormities was justly rejected by his Barons that Hee should not reigne over them That he could not give the Crowne of England to any one without the assent of his Barens and that when he had resigned it he presently ceased to be a King and the Kingdome became void without a King and being so vacant could not be disposed of without the Barons who had lawfully elected Lawes for their King who in pursuance of this his Title which the Estates of France held just sailed into England took possession of the Kingdome received homage of all the Barons and Citizens of London who joyfully received him taking an Oath upon the Evangelists to restore them their good Lawes together with their lost Inheritances Henry the 2. of France being casually slaine by the Earle of Montgommery in running at the Tilt left the Crowne to Francis the 2. being but about 16. yeares of age the Queen Mother with his wives Vncles the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Loraigne hereupon usurped the Government of his person and Realme dispossessed the chiefe Officers of the Crowne kept backe the Princes of the Blood from Court the true and lawfull Governours of the State during the Kings minority

and plotted the meanes to raise their race to the Royall Throne by displacing all great Officers substituting others of their owne faction and endeavouring to extirpate the Protestant party whom they seared as most opposite to their treacherous designes They doe and undoe place and displace in Parliament and Privie Councell like absolute Kings they revoke all alienations for life or yeares made by the deceased King in recompence of any services except sales they caused divers Protestants to be put to death imprisoned pillaged Wherewith the princes Officers and people being generally discontented to redresse the present and prevent all future disasters that might ensue require a generall Parliament as the Soveraigne cure for such d●seases whereby the Queen Mother might be put from her usurped Regency and those of Guise excluded from the King person who to please the king perswade him that their opposites sought only to bridle and make him a Ward and that he should hold them enemies to his Authority and GVILTY OF HIGH TREASON THAT TALK OF A PARLIAMENT The King of Spaine to crosse them by Letters to the King his Brother-in-law declares himselfe for the good affection he bare to him Tutor and Protector of him his Realme and affaires against those that would change the Government of the Estate as if the King were not capable of the Government Pleasant people which reject so much the word of lawfull tutelage and yet usurped it against the Lawes and Orders of the Realme holding it onely by tyranny After this they cast many slanders on the Protestants put Anne dis Burge and other Councellours of Parliament to death pistoll Anthony Minard president of the Parliament publish sundry Edicts against those of the reformed Religion promise great recompences to those that discover their assemblies fill their prisons with them imploy ayre fire and water to ruine them and kept the king from hearing his Subjects complaints The princes were kept backe the greatest of the Realme out of credit threatned and secretly pursued to death the convocation of the Estates refused the parliaments corrupted the Judges for the most part at the Guisians devotion and the publike treasure offices and benefices given to whom they pleased This their violent government against the lawes and orders of the Realme purchased them wonderfull hatred and caused many which could no longer endure these oppressions to consult VPON SOME IVST DEFENCE to the end they might preserve the just and ancient Government of the Realme They demand advice TOVCHING LAW AND CONSCIENCE OF MANY LEARNED LAWYERS AND DIVINES who resolved THAT THEY MIGHT LAWFVLLY OPPOSE THEMSELVES against the government which the house of Guise had usurped AND AT NEED TAKE ARMES TO REPVLSE THEIR VIOLENCE so as the Princes who in that case are born Magistrates or some one of them would undertake it being required by the Estates of the Realme or by the sounder part of them They who first thought of this Act of consequence had severall considerations Some moved with a true zeale to serve God the King and Realme thought they could not doe a greater worke of pietie then to abolish Tyrannie rescue the State and to finde some meanes to ease them of the Religion There were others desirous of change and some were thrust on with hatred for the wrongs which the house of Guise had done them their kinsmen and friends yet all had one designe to suppresse this unlawfull government In these consultations it was held necessary to seize on the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall his brother being advowed by one chiefe member of the State and then to require an assembly of the Three Estates to the end they might yeeld an account of their Government provide for the King and Realm After which they make the Prince of Gonde acquainted with this their designe engage him in this quarrel which being discovered produced a long bloody civill war against the Protestants under this and the two succeeding Kings in which warre those that died departed this world with this singular content to have couragiously sacrificed their lives for their countries libertie So the generall History of France in which and in Richard Dinothus you may read at large both the History and the lawfulnesse of this defensive warre over tedious to transcribe Francis dying the Crowne descended to Charles the ninth being but eleven yeares of age and a Parliament of the Estates being assembled on the three and twentieth day of December 1560. the Queene Mother was thereby allowed and confirmed Regent during the Kings minority In severall Parliaments contradictory Acts are made some restraining others granting the free exercise of the Reformed Religion thorowout the Realme The Guisian Popish faction being the strongest party most powerfull at Court and intimatest with the King notwithstanding all Acts for the Protestants immunitie and libertie of conscience impose divers illegall restraints upon them commit many outrages and massacres on them for which they could have no redresse whereupon for their own defence and preservation after many fruitlesse Petitions delusory promises they take up Arms whereupon many bloody civill wars ensue Many propositions and overtures of Peace were made by the Guisian royall party not one of them reall but all to get advantages and over-reach the Protestants against whom they had the most mischievous designes in agitation when they seemed most earnestly to desire Peace Four or five severall conclusions of Peace were solemnly made and ratified betweene them but no sooner made and proclaimed but presently violated of the King and Popish party by massacres and new treacherous Plots to extirpate the Protestant party so that every accommodation proved but a seminary of a new and more bloody warre almost to the utter ruine of France In the yeare 1592. when a publicke peace was made and all differences to outward appearance buried in eternall oblivion the King contrary to his faith and oath caused the Admirall of France the Protestants chiefe pillar as he departed from the Councell to dinner to be shot with a Harguebuze which carried away the forefinger of his right hand and wounded him in the left arme The king to colour this treachery sweares with an execration to the King of Navarre and others who complained of this outrage to take such exemplary punishment on the offendors as the Admirall and his friends should have cause to rest satisfied commands them to be pursued appoints three of the Parliament to make information against them protests after this again and again to be exceeding sorry that this act touched his honour that he will be revenged for it so as the memory thereof should remaine for ever writes to the governours of the Provinces chiefe Townes and Magistrates That he would take such order as the Authors of so wicked an act should be knowne and punished And to his Ambassadours to forraigne Princes That they should make it knowne to all the world that this outrage did displease him And

be supprest by such a conspiracie Vpon this the king and Q. Mother through advise of these ill Counsellors raise an Army declare these Princes and Nobles Rebels and Traitors if they submit not by a day whereupon they Arm raise Forces in their own the publikes defence and being at Noyon concluded That as their Armes were levyed for the maintenance of the Crown so they should be maintained by it to the which end they seized on the kings Rents and Revenues in sundry places Mean while the Protestants being assembled in a generall Synod at Grenoble Marsh Desdiguires makes an Oration to them to disswade them from opposing the mariage with Spain wherein he hath this memorable passage to justifie the lawfulnesse of a necessary defensive war for the preservation of Religion and Liberties We have leisure to see the storme come and to prepare for our own preservation Finally having continued constant in our Duties if they seek to deprive us of our Religion and to take that from us wherein our libertie and safetie depends purchased by the blood of our Fathers and our own and granted unto us by that great King Henry the fourth the restorer of France we shall enter into this comerce full of justice and true zeale finde againe in our breasts the courage and vertue of our Ancestors We shall be supported IN OVR JVST DEFENCE by all good Frenchmen assisted by all Princes and Estates which love the true Religion or the good of this State and in a word we shall be favoured of the blessings of God whereof we have hitherto had good experience in our Arms and which will be to the glory of his Name and the spirituall advancement of our Churches After which the Duke of Rhoan and Protestants in defence of their Religion and Liberties joyn with the Princes and Nobles At last both sides came to Articles of agreement made at Luudun Anno 1616. whereof these were a parcell That the grievances of the generall State should be speedily answered That Soveraign Courts should be preserved in their authority and the Remonstrances of the Parliament and Peers considered of That such as had been put from their Offices should be restored That all moneys they had taken out of the kings Revenues should be discharged All Edicts of pacification granted to them of the Reformed Religion observed The prince of Conde and all those of either Religion who had assisted him in this war held for the Kings good and loyall subjects all illegall Imposts removed and all prisoners taken on either side set at liberty Anno 1617. the King and Queene Mother seizing upon the Prince of Conde his person and sending him to the Bastile upon false pretences of disloyaltie and treason caused new insurrections warres and tumults and the Princes hereupon meeting at Soyssons resolved to make open war to seize on the Kings Revenues and to fortifie those Towns and Castles which they held in their Government which they executed and withall set forth a Remonstrance of their grievances unto the king complaining especially against the Marshall of Ancre and his Wife with their adheronts who were the causes of all their miseries who having drawn unto himselfe the whole administration of the Realme made himselfe master of the Kings Councels Armies and Forts thereby supprest the lawfull libertie and Remonstrances of the Parliament caused the chief Officers to be imprisoned and was the cause of the violence done to the Prince of ●onde first Prince of the Blood To the end therefore that they might not be reproached to have been so little affected to his Majestie so ungratefull to their Countrey and so unfaithfull to themselves and their posterity as to hold their peace seeing the prodigious favour and power of this stranger they beseech his Majestie to provide by convenient means for the disorders of the Estate and to cause the Treaty of Loudun to be observed and to call unto his Councels the Princes of the Blood with other Princes Dukes Peers ancient Officers of the Crowne and Councellors of State whom the deceased King had imployed during his reigne Withall they publish a solemne Declaration and Protestation for the restoring of the Kings authority and preservation of the Realme against the conspiracie and tyrannie of the Marshall of Ancre and his adherents Who finding no safetie in the settling of justice resolved to make triall of his power by violating the publike faith thereby to plunge the Realme into new combustions conspiring to destroy the princes of the blood of Peers and chiefe Officers of the Crowne and to oppresse them altogether with the State who might be an obstacle to his ambitious designes To which end he raised false accusations against them as if they meant to attempt the Kings and Queen Mothers persons and caused the King to go in person to his Court of Parliament to publish a Declaration whereby they were declared guilty of Treason though at last being better informed he declared them to be his good Subjects and caused De Ancre to be suddenly slain in the Louure and his Wife to be legally condemned and executed Vpon which the new Councellors and Officers advanced by him were removed the old restored the Princes reconciled to the King and by him declared for his good and loyall subjects Vpon which followed a generall assembly of the Estates wherein divers grievances were propounded and some redressed the King therein craving their advice for the setling and ordering of his Privie Councell Anno 1620. there happen differences between the King and Queen Mother who fortified Towns and raised an Army against the king at last they came to an agreement and were reconciled The two following years were spent in bloody civill warres betweene the King and those of the Religion who avowed their defensive warres lawfull which at last concluded in peace that lasted not long but brake out into new flames of war by reason of the great Cardinall Richelieu who of late years proved the greatest Tyrant and Oppressour that France ever bred reducing both Nobles Gentlemen and Peasants into absolute slavery and vassallage to make the King an absolute Monarch of France and himselfe both Pope and Monarch of the world But he lately dying by the of Divine Iustice of filthy Vicers and Diseases and the King since being some say poysoned by the Iesuites who murthered his two immediate Predecessors wise men conjecture the French will now at last revive and regain their ancient just hereditary freedom rights Liberties and cast of that insupportable yoke of bondage under which they have been oppressed for sundry years and almost brought to utter desolation I have the longer insisted on these Histories of the Kings and Kingdom of Frances which clearly demonstrate the Realm Parliament and three Estates of France to be the Soveraigne Power in that Kingdom in some sort paramount their kings them selves who are no absolute Monarchs nor exempted from the Laws jurisdiction restraints censures

crown their King in the Assembly of the Estates or Parliament of Arragon to put the King in mind that the Lawes the Iustice of Arragon and Assembly of Estates are above him act a kind of Play that he may remember it the better they bring in a man on whom they impose the name of the Iustice of Arragon whom by the common Decree of the people they enact to be greater and more powerfull then the King to whom sitting in an higher place they make the King doe homage and then having created the King upon certain Lawes and conditions they speake unto him in these words which shew the Excellent and singular fortitude of that Nation in bridling their Kings NOS QVI VALEMOS TANTO COME VOS Y PODEMOS MAS QVE VOS VOS ELEGIMOS REY CON EST AS Y EST AS CONDITIONES INTRA VOS Y NOS VN QVE MANDA MAS QVE VOS that is We who are as great as you and are able to doe more then you have chosen you King upon these and these conditions Between you and us there is one greater in command then you to wit the Iustice of Arragon Which Ceremony lest the King should forget it is every three yeares repeated in the Generall Assembly of the States of Arragon which Assembly the King is bound by Law to assemble it being a part of the very Law of Nations which sacred Liberty of Parliaments and Assemblies if any Kings by evill arts restrain or suppresse as violaters of the Law of Nations and void of humane Society they are no more to be reputed Kings but Tyrants as Hotoman hence determines I have now given you some what an over large account of the two greatest and most absolute hereditary Kings in Christendom France and Spain and proved them to be inferiour to the Lawes Parliaments Kingdomes People out of their owne Authors and Historians in which points if any desire further satisfaction I shall advise them to read but Junius Brutus his Vindiciae Contra Tyrannos De jure Magistratus in ●ubditos and Francisci Hotomani his Franco-Gallia and Controvers Illust for France Ioannis Mariana de Rege Regum Instit l. 1. with his History of Spain Hieronimus Blanca Rerum Arragonensium Commentarius Ioannis 〈◊〉 Laet Hispaniae descrip c. 5. Vasquius Contr. illust for Spain at their leisure and then both their judgements and consciences will be abundantly satisfied herein I shall now very cursorily run over other forraigne Kings and Kingdoms of lesse power and Soveraignty with as much brevity as may be For the Kings of Hungary Bohemia Poland Denmarke Sweden as they have been usually and are at this day for the most part not hereditary but meerly ellective by the Nobles and people so their Lawes which they take an Oath inviolably to observe and their Parliaments Nobles people are in Soveraigne power and jurisdiction paramount them as much almost if not altogether as the State of Venice is above their Duke or the States of the Low Countries superiour to the Prince of Orange and may upon just occasion not onely forcibly resist them with Arms but likewise depose if not adjudge them unto death for their Tyranny as Iohn Bodin the Histories of Hungary Poland Bohemia Denmarke Sweden Iunius Brutus De Iure Magistratus in Subditos Munster in his Cosmography and those who have compiled the Republikes of these Realmes attest who further evidence that most of these Realms have sometimes elected them Kings other times onely Dukes and made their republikes Principalitis Dukedoms or Kingdomes at their pleasure To give onely some briefe touches concerning these Realmes and their Kings Hungary THe Kings of Hungary are meerly elective by the States and Senators in their Parliaments or assemblies of the Estates without whom they can neither make Lawes impose Taxes leavie Warre nor conclude Peace and the grand Officer of the Realme to wit the great Palatine of Hungary who hath the chiefe Command both in Peace and Warre and power to judge the King Himselfe in some cases is elected onely in and by their Parliaments as the Marginall Writers manifest at large For their Realms and peoples deportment towards their ill Kings since they became Christians when they have degenerated into Tyrants and otherwise misdemeaned themselves take this briefe Epitome Peter the second Christian King of Hungary growing very insolent Tyrannicall and lascivious ravishing maids matrons in the third year of his reign all the Nobles and people thereupon conspiring together deposed and banished him the Realme electing Alba in his place who growing more insolent and Tyrannicall then Peter was in the third year of his reign slaine in warre and Peter restored to the Crown who proceeding in his tyrannies sacriledge and cruelty he was the third year after his restitution taken prisoner by his subjects his eyes put out and imprisoned till he dy●d Solomon the fift King of Hungary was twice deposed and thrust out of his Kingdom first by King Bela next by King Gysa elected Kings by the peoples generall consent and acclamation after whose death the Hungarians refused to restore Solomon and elected Ladislaus for their King whereupon Solomon became an Hermite and so dyed Ladislaus dying left two sons Almus the younger whom they elected King and Coloman the eldest to whom Almus out of simplicity surrendred the Crown because he was the elder brother whom he would not deprive of his primogeniture but repenting afterwards by the instigation of some of his friends he raised warre against his brother But the Hungarians to prevent a civill warre and effusion of blood DECREED that these two brethren should fight it out between them in a single duell and he who conquered in the duell they would repute their King Which Combate Coloman being purblinde lame and crookback'd refused after which Coloman treacherously surprising his brother Almus contrary to agreement put out his and Bela his sonnes eyes and thrust them into a Monastery King Stephen the second sonne of Coloman refusing to marry a wife and following Harlots the Barons and Nobles grieving at the desolation of the Kingdome provided him a wife of a Noble family and caused him to marry her After which making a war to aid Duk-Bezen without his Nobles consent in which Bezen was slaine the Nobles of Hungary assembling themselves together in Councell sayd Why and wherefore dye we if we shall claime the Dukedome which of us will the King make Duke therefore let it be decreed that none of us will assault the Castle and so let us tell the King Because he doth all this without the Councell of his Nobles They did so and added further that if he would assault the Castle he should doe it alone but we say they will returne unto Hungary and chuse another King Whereupon By the Command of the Princes the Heraulds proclaimed in the Tents That all the Hungarians should speedily returne into Hungary wherefore the King when he saw

Justice of thy Fathers He answeres I will and by Gods Assistance promise that I will doe and performe it by all mean●s After this kneeling on his knees the Arch-bishop holding the New Testament open and the Burgrave reading the words first the king takes this Oath in the Bohemian tongue We sweare to God the mother of God and all Saints upon this holy Gospell that we will and ought to keepe immovably to the Barons Knights and Nobles also to those of Prague and the other Cities and to all the Commonalty of the Realme of Bohemia the Institutions Lawes Priviledges Exemptions Liberties and Rights and also the ancient good and laudable customes of the Realme and not to alienate or morgage any thing from the same Kingdome of Bohemia but rather to our power to augment and enlarge it and to doe all things which may be good and honourable to that Kingdome So helpe me God touching the booke with two of the fingers of his right hand and all Saints The Kings of Navarre take the like Oath How this Realme hath beene altered from a Principality to a Dukedome and from it againe to a Kingdome having sometimes Kings sometimes Dukes both elected by the free choyse of the Estates to whom they were inferiour in Soveraigne power accountable for their mis-government and removeable from their Throne you may read in the marginall Authors Not to mention the Bohemians deposition of Libussa a Noble Virago who governed them for a season reputing it a dishonour to the Nation to be ruled by a woman and electing Przemys●●s for their Prince their deposition and banishment of Prince Borzinegius because he became a Christian and renounced their Pagan Religion though they afterwards twice restored him Of Boleslaus Rufus of Borzinogius the 2. thrice deposed banished by the Nobles and people or Sobe●slaus and other Princes Wladislaus first King of Bohemia in his old age by the assent of the Estates associated his sonne Frederick Anno 1173 with him in the Regality Henry King of Bohemia using the Councell of the Germans rather then the Bohemians and looking more after his owne private gaine then the Kingdomes was deposed in a generall Assembly of the Estates Anno 1310. and the sonne of the Emperour Henry the 7 th chosen King upon this condition if he would marry the youngest daughter of King Winceslaus King Wenceslaus the drunken for his drunkennesse negligence and cruelty was twice imprisoned and severely handled by his Nobles and upon promise of amendment restored to his liberty and dignity in his and Sigismond his successors raigns Zizca and the Taborites in defence of their Religion against the Popish party who most unjustly against their promise and safe conduct caused John Hus and Jerome of Prague to be put to death waged great warres and obtained many victories against the King and Emperour and gained free liberty of professing their religion publickely much against the Popes good will which liberty they have ever since maintained by the sword both against the Popish Emperours and Kings by meanes of which civill wars the kingdome suffered some Interregnums During the Minority of king ●c Ladislaus Anno 1439. this kingdome was governed by two Presidents appointed by the Estates Anno 1611. the Emperour Rodulph being willing to settle the kingdome of Bohemia on his Brother Matthias in an assembly of the States of Bohemia called for that purpose the Estates thereupon drew many Articles which Matthias was to sweare to before his Coronation with 49. Articles of complaints and grievances for which they craved redresse and the inhabitants of Prague required the confirmation of 8. Articles which concerned the private Government of their City All which the Emperour and Matthias were constrained to Grant and sweare to before they would admit Matthias to be their King who had nothing in a manner but the Title some of the flowers of the liberty of the Crowne being parted with by his assenting to these Articles Anno 1617. Matthias resigning the Crowne of Bohemia and renouncing his right thereunto recommended Ferdinand Arch. Duke of Austria to them or his successour The States would not admit him king but upon Conditions the which if he should infringe The States should not be bound to yeeld him Obedience Moreover it was added That he should confirm to the States before his Coronation to maintaine all the Priviledges Charters Immunities Municipall Rights Constitutions and Customes of the Realme and people as the Emperour and his predecessors had done by his Oath and Charter in Writing All which assented to he was proclaimed and crowned king Soone after the Arch-bishop of Prague causing some of the Protestant Churches to be ruined and those who complained of it to be put in prison and plotting the extirpation of the Protestant Religion through the Iesuites instigation contrary to their Liberties and the Provinciall constitution hereupon the Protestant States of Bohemia assembled at Prague fortified the Towne binding the three Townes of Prague to them by an Oath entred into a solemne League promising to fight against the Common enemies of God the King and Religion and in that cause to live and dye to which end they levyed a great Army banishing the Jesuites out of Bohemia as the Authors of all the miseries which had hapned in that Realme and many other Realmes and States of Christendome and inciting murderers to kill Kings who would not live after their manner and medling with affaires of State and who had drawne the whole Country into the hands of certaine perfidious Catholickes by whose practises the Country was in danger of ruine For which causes they banished them for ever out of the Realme of Bohemia enjoyning them to depart within 8 dayes never to returne After this the Protestants hearing that the Emperour and Popish party raised Forces against them possessed themselves of many Townes and places within the Realme and raised two Armies All the Protestant Princes and States of Germany Morauia and Silesia except the Elector of Saxony assisted them with men money or Councell publishing a Declaration to justifie their action being for the Common cause of Religion the● endangered The Prince of Orange and States of the united Provinces promised them assistance of men and money other Protestant Princes and the Protestant States of Lower Austria did the like The Protestant Armies after this had many victorious incounters with the Imperialists and Popish Forces and took many Towns King Ferdinand in the meane time being newly chosen Emperour the States of Bohemia being assembled together at Prague which the Deputies of the incorporated Provinces Anno. 1619. Concluded and protested by Oath never to acknowledge Ferdinard for their King who had violated his first Covenants resolving to proceede to a new Election and on the 26. of August Elected Fredericke the Prince Electer Palatine of Reine to be their King who accepted the dignity was afterward Crowned king accordingly After which the States of Bohemia

them the chiefe places and offices as they doe in the Realm of Naples Sicilie Millaine at the Indies and in other Countries which are subject to the Kings command being also moved thereunto by the riches of the said Countries well knowne to the most of them the said councell or some of the chiefe of them have oftentimes given the King to understand That for his Maiesties reputation and greater authority it were better to conquer the Netherlands anew and then to command absolutely at his pleasure than to govern them under such conditions which he at his reception to the Seigniory of the said Countries had sworn to observe The King of Spain following this counsell hath sought all meanes to reduce these countries spoiling them of their ancient Liberties into servitude under the government of Spaniards having under pretext of Religion sought first to thrust in new Bishops into the chiefe and greatest Townes indowing them with the richest Abbeyes adding to every Bishop nine Chanons to serve him as Councellors whereof three should have a special charge of the Inquisition By which incorporation of the said Bishops being his creatures and at his devotion the which should happily have been chosen as well of strangers as of them which were born in the Country they should have the first place and the first voyce in the assemblies of the Estates of the Country And by the adiunction of the said Chanons had brought in the Inquisition of Spain the which had also bin so abhorred and so odious in these Countries even as slavery it selfe as all the world doth well know So as his Imperiall Maiesty having once propounded it unto these Countries upon due information given unto His Maiesty ceased from any more speech thereof shewing therein the great affection which he bare unto His Subjects Yet notwithstanding divers Declarations which were made unto the King of Spain as well by the Provinces and Townes in particular as by some other of the chiefe Noblemen of the Country namely by the Baron of Montigny and afterwards by the Earle of Egmont who by the consent of the Dutchesse of Parma then Regent of the said Countries by the advice of the Councell of Estate and of the Generalty had to that end been successively sent into Spain And notwithstanding that the king had by his own mouth given them hope that according to their petitions hee would provide for the contentment of the Country yet that he had since by his letters done the contrary commanding expresly and upon pain of his indignation to receive the new Bishops presently and to put them in possession of their new Bishopricks and incorporated Abbeyes to effect the Inquisition where they had begun to practise it and to observe the Decrees and Canons of the Councell of Trent the which in divers points doe contradict the priviledges of the Countrey The which being come to the knowledge of the Commons hath given just occasion of so great an alteration among them and greatly diminished the love and affection the which as good subjects they had alwayes borne unto the King and to his predecessours For they called chiefly into consideration that the King not onely pretended to tyrannize over their persons and goods but also upon their consciences whereon they held themselves not to be answerable nor bound to give account to any one but to God only For this cause and for the pitty they had of the poor people the chiefe of the Nobility did in the yeare 1566. exhibit certain admonitions by way of a Petition beseeching him that for the pacifying of the Commons and to avoid all tumults and seditions it would please his Majesty shewing the love and affection which as a mild and mercifull Prince he bare unto his Subjects to moderate the said points and especially those which concerned the rigorous Inquisition and punishments for matters of Religion And to informe the King more particularly thereof and with more authority and to let him understand how necessary it was for the good and prosperity of the Countrey and for the maintenance of peace and tranquility to abolish and disannull those innovations and to moderate the rigour of publike Edicts for matter of Religion the said Marquesse of Berges and Baron of Montigny at the request of the said Lady Regent the Councell of Estate and the Generall Estates of all the Countries went into Spain as Embassadors whereas the King instead of giving them audience and to prevent the inconveniences delivered by them the which for that they were not redressed in time as urgent necessity required began in effect to discover themselves throughout the whole Countrey by the perswasion and advice of the Councell of Spain hee hath caused all them to be proclaimed Rebels and guilty of high Treason and to have forfeited body and goods that presented the said Petition And moreover thinking himselfe to be fully assured of the Countrey by the Forces of the Duke of Alva and to have reduced them under his full power and subiection he had afterwards against the Lawes of Nations the which have been in all ages inviolably observed yea among the most barbarous and cruell Nations and most tyrannous Princes imprisoned and caused the said Noblemen Embassadors to be put to death confiscating all their goods And although that all this alteration which had hapned in the yeare 1566. upon the foresaid occasion was in a manner pacified by the Regent and her councell and that the greatest part of them which had presented themselves unto her for the Liberty of the Countrey were retired or chased away and the rest brought under obedience yet not to lose the opportunity which the Councell of Spain had long expected as it appeared plainly the same yeere 1566. by Letters intercepted which were written by the Embassador Alana to the Duchesse of Parma to have meanes under some pretext to overthrow all the priviledges of the Country and to govern them tyrannously by the Spaniards as they did the Indies and other Countries which had been newly conquered by them he by the advice and councell of the said Spaniards shewing therein the small affection which he bare unto his Subiects of these countries contrary unto that whereunto he was bound as their Prince protector and good Shepheard sent into these countries the Duke of Alva very famous for his rigour and cruelty and one of the chiefe enemies of these countries with a councell of the same Humour and disposition And although that the said Duke of Alva entred with his Army into this countrey without any let or opposition and was received of the poore Inhabitants with all reverence and Honour expecting all mildnesse and clemencie according unto that which the King had so often promised by His Letters fainedly written yea that He was resolved to come himselfe in person into the Countrey and to order all things to every mans content the said King having besides all this at the very instant of the Duke of

Alva his departure caused a fleet of ships to be armed in Spaine to bring him hither and another in Zeeland to goe and meet him as the bruite was to the great charge of the Countrey the better to abuse his poore subjects and to draw them more easily into his snares notwithstanding the said Duke of Alva presently after his arrivall although he were a stranger and not any way of the blood Royall gave it out that hee had a Commission from the King of Governour Generall of the Countrey the which was quite contrary to the priviledges and antient Customes thereof and discovering his designes plainly he suddenly put garrisons into the chiefe Townes and Forts of the Countrey and then he built Citadels in the richest and strongest Townes to keep them in subjection And by commandement from the King as they said he friendly called unto him as well by letters or otherwise the chiefe Noblemen of the Countrey pretending that he had need of their councell and assistance for the service of the King and the good of the Countrey who having given credit to letters were come unto him whom contrary to the priviledges hee caused to bee carried prisoners out of Brabant where they had been apprehended causing their processe to bee informed before him and his Councell although they were no competent Iudges and before any due proofes were made and the Noblemen that were accused fully heard in their defences they were condemned to have committed Rebellion causing them to be publikely and ignomiously put to death Others who for that they were better acquainted with the Spaniards dissembling were retired and kept out of the Countrey were declared Rebels and guilty of high treason and to have forfeited bodies and goods All which was done to the end the poor inhabitants should not aide themselves in the just defence of their liberty against the oppression of the Spaniards and their forces by the help and assistance of these Noblemen and Princes Besides an infinite of Gentlemen and rich bourgers whereof some he hath put to death others he had chased away and forfeited their goods oppressing the rest of the good inhabitants as well by the insolence of the souldiers as by other outrages in their wives children and goods as also by divers exactions and taxes forcing them to contribute for the building of new Citadels and fortifications of townes which hee made to oppresse them and also to pay the hundreth and twintieth peny for the payment of souldiers wherof some were brought by him and others newly levied to employ them against their Countreymen and themselves who with the hazard of their lives sought to defend the liberties of their Countrey to the end that the subjects being thus impoverished there should be no meanes to frustrate his designes for the better effecting of the instructions which had been given in Spain which was to use the Countrey as new conquered To which end in some places and chiefe Townes he changed their forme of government and of justice and erected new Consuls after the Spanish manner directly contrary to to the priviledges of the Countrey And in the end thinking himselfe free from all feare he sought to bring in by force a certaine imposition of the tenth peny upon all marchandise and handi-works to the absolute ruine of the Commons whose good and prosperity consists chiefly in traffique and handi-works notwithstanding many admonitions and perswasions made to the contrary as well by every one of the Provinces in particular as by all in generall The which he had effected by force if it had not beene that soon after by the means of the Prince of Orange and a good number of Gentlemen and others borne in these Countries banished by the Duke of Alua following the party of the said Prince and being for most part in service and other inhabitants affected to the libertie of their Countrey the Provinces of Holland and Zeeland had not revolted and put themselves under the Princes protection Against which two Provinces the Duke hath since during his Government and after him the great Commander of Castile sent in his place by the King not to moderate any thing of his Predecessors Tyrannie but to pursue it more covertly and cunningly than he had done force those said Provinces who by their Garrisons and Citadels were made subject to the Spanish Yoke to imploy their persons and meanes to helpe to subdue them yet no wayes easing the said Provinces but intreating them like enemies suffering the Spanyards under the colour of a mutinie in view of the said Commander to enter by force into the Town of Antuerpe and there to continue six weeks living at discretion at the poore Bourgers charge sorcing them moreover to be freed from their insolencies to furnish foure hundred thousand florins to pay the said Spanyards which done the said Souldiers growing more bold through the sufferance of their Commanders presumed to take Armes against the Countrey seeking first to surprize Brussels and in the place of the ancient and ordinary seate of Princes to make it a nest and den of theeves The which not succeeding according to their designe they tooke A lost by force and soone after forced the Towne of Maestricht And since being violently entred into Antuerpe they spoyled it sacked it and wasted it with fire and sword in such sort as the most barbarous and cruell enemies could not have done more to the unspeakable losse not onely of the poore inhabitants but in a manner of all the Nations of the world who had their Merchandise debts and money there And although the said Spanyards by a Decree of the Councell of Estate to whom the King by the death of the great Commander had conferred the generall Government of the Countrey were in the presence of Ieronimo de Rhoda proclaimed enemies to the Countrey yet the said Rhoda of his owne private authority or as it is to bee presumed by vertue of some secret instruction which he had from Spaine took upon him to be the head of the said Spanyards and their adherents so as without respect of the Councell of Estate he usurped the kings Name and Authority counterfeited his Seale and carried himself as a Governour and the Kings Lieutenant in the Countries The which moved the Estates at the same instant to agree with the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland which accord was allowed by the Councell of State as lawfull Governours that they might joyntly with their common forces make warre against the Spanyards Omitting not as good subjects but by divers humble petitions to beseech the King to have regard unto the troubles oppressions and insolencies which had hapned and were like to follow and that hee would bee pleased with all convenient speed possible to command the Spanyards to depart out of the Countrey and especially those which had been the cause of the sacke and ruine of the chiefe Towns of the Countrey and other innumerable insolences

other cause For as he saith in another place either thou wilt not undertake enmities or labour or cost or else thou art so hindered with negligence sloathfulnesse idlenesse or with thy studies or certaine imployments that thou sufferest those to be deserted whom thou oughtest to protect But while thou sayest thou dost thine owne businesse lest thou mightest seeme to doe wrong to any thou runnest into another kinde of injustice For thou desertest the society of life because thou bestowest on it nothing of thy study nothing of thy paines nothing of thy goods These things Ethnickes Philosophers and Politicians hold truely more piously than many Christians in this age Hence a neighbour is bound by the Lawes of the Romans to take away a servant from a cruell Master But among the Aegyptians he who had casually found a man to be beaten by Theeves or to suffer any injury and had not re●cued him if he could was guilty of death if not hee was bound to accuse the Theeves before the Magistrate Which if he had neglected he was beaten with a certaine number of stripes and punished with a three dayes fast Now if this verily be lawfull in one neighbour towards another yea lyeth upon him out of duty to assist every one he meets against a Theefe shall it not be much more lawfull to a good Prince not onely to ayde and patronize servants against a raging Master or children against a furious Father but a Kingdome against a Tyrant a Republike against the private lust of one man a people a Lord I say against a publike servant and agent Yea verily if he shall neglect it shall not he merit the name and punishments of a Tyrant as the other of a theefe Hence Thucydides saith Not onely those are tyrants who reduce others into servitude but much rather those who when they may repulse that violence take no care to doe it but especially those who will be called the defenders of Greece and the Common Country but yet helpe not their oppressed Country and rightly for a Tyrant is in a sort compelled to retaine violently the Tyranny which he hath violently invaded because as Tyberius said he seemeth to hold a Wolfe by the eares which he cannot retaine without force nor yet let goe without danger Therefore that he may extinguish one crime with another hee commits many wickednesses and is compelled to injure others lest he should be injurious to himselfe But that Prince who idlely beholds the wickednesses of a tyrant and the ruine of the blood of innocents which he may hinder because he doth as it were take pleasure in the gladiatory sport is by so much more criminous than the Tyrant as he who sets sword-players to fight is guiltier than the man-slaying Gladiator as much as hee who slayes a man for pleasure sake is more criminous than he who doth it by constraint or out of feare or necessity If some oppose But it is a fault for any to intermeddle with or thrust himselfe into anothers businesse Terentian Chromes may answer I am a man I thinke no humane thing strange unto me If others that they may seeke lurking holes for their impiety object that there are distinct limits distinct jurisdictions now it is not lawfull to thrust a sickle into anothers Corne Neither truely do I advise that by this pretence thou shouldest invade anothers territories usurpe anothers jurisdiction to thy selfe draw thy neighbours corne into thine owne floore which most doe under this pretext I doe not say that by the example of that arbitrator of whom Cicero thou thy selfe shouldest judge the thing controverted to thy selfe but rather that thou shouldest restraine a Prince invading the Kingdome of Christ containe a tyrant within his limits stretch out an helping hand to an afflicted people and a prostrated Commonweale But thou must do it in such sort that thou mayest not looke after thine owne profit but the good of humane society altogether For since Justice wholly lookes abroad injustice onely regards it selfe thou shalt at last doe this justly if thou shalt have no regard of thine owne profits Briefely if a Prince violently passeth over the fixed limits of piety and justice a neighbour may piously and justly leape over his limits not that he should invade anothers but that he should bid him be content with his owne yea he shall be impious and unjust if he neglect it If a Prince exercise tyranny over the people he may no lesse or lesse slackly assist them than him if the people should move sedition yea he ought to doe it the more readily by how much it is more miserable that many suffer than one If Porsena reduce Tarquin the proud to Rome much more justly may Constantine sent for by the people and Senate of Rome expell Maxentius the Tyrant out of the City Finally if a man may become a Wolfe to a man nothing truely forbids but that a man may be a God to a man as it is in the Proverbe Therefore antiquity hath enrolled Hercules among the number of the gods because he punished and tamed Procrustes Busyris and other Tyrants the pests of mankinde and monsters of the world in every place So also the Roman Empire as long as it stood free was often called The Patrocinie against the Robberies of Tyrants because the Senate was the haven and refuge of Kings People Nations So Constantine sent for by the Romans against Maxentius the Tyrant had God the Captaine of his Army whose expedition the Universall Church exalted with powerfull prayses when yet Maxentius had the same authority in the West as Constantine in the East Likewise Charles the Great undertooke a Warre against the Lombardes being called by the Nobles of Italy to their aide when as yet the Kingdome of the Lombards was long before established and he could claime no right to himselfe over them Likewise when Charles the Bald King of France had by Tyranny taken away the President of that Country which lyeth betweene Seine and Liger Duke Lambert and Jamesius and the other Nobles of France had fled to Lewis King of Germany Charles his Brother by another mother to crave aide against Charles and his mother Judith a most wicked Woman He in a most ample Assembly of the Germane Princes heard these suppliants by whose unanimous Counsell a warre was publickely decreed against Charles for to restore the exiles Finally as there have beene some Tyrants in every place so likewise among all Historians there are every where examples extant of tyranny revenged and people defended by neighbour Princes which the Princes now at this day ought to imitate in curbing the tyrants both of bodies and Soules of the Republicke and of the Church of Christ unlesse they themselves will be named Tyrants by a most deserved right And that we may at last conclude this Treatise in one word piety commands the Law of God to be observed and the Church to be defended