A SECOND PART OF SPANISH PRACTISES OR A RELATION OF MORE Particular wicked plots and cruell in humane perfidious and vnnaturall practises of the Spaniards WITH More Excellent reasons of greater consequence deliuered to the Kings Maiesty to dissolue the two treaties both of the Match and the Pallatinate and enter into Warre with the Spaniards WHEREVNTO IS ADIOYNED A WORTHY ORAtion Appropriated vnto the most Mighty and Illustrious Princes of Christendome wherein the right and lawfulnesse of the Netherlandish warre against Phillip King of Spayne is approued and demonstrated PRO. 20.28 Mercy and truth preserue the King and his Throne is vpholden by mercie PRINTED M.DC.XXIV MORE EXCELLENT REASONS OF GREATER CONSEQVENCE DELIVERED TO THE Kings Maiesty to dissolue the two Treaties both of the Match and the Pallatinate and enter into Warre with the Spaniard FIRST it is to be observed that the State of Spaine not content with those ordinary prouisions for the exercise of the Romane Religion by the Infanta and her family which other Princes in like case would haue demaunded and which his Maiesty with great reason might at the beginning of the Treaty haue conceived they would haue beene contented with Haue with great vehemency upon advantage of having the Princes Person in their possession pressed a generall conniuence for all his Maiesties subiects of the Romane Religion to the great dishonor of Almighty God in the sincerity of his seruice in this Realme and to the great derogation of the Lawes of this Kingdome And lastly to the great discouragement and griefe of all his Maiesties well affected subiects from whose generall discontent they expect as well appeareth a consequence of no small mischiefe Secondly it is obserued that during the continuance of this treatie and by reason of the same Popish faction haue exceedingly increased in this Realme both in multitude and boldnesse And whereas they haue beene divided heretofore amongst themselues into the part of the Iesuites depending vpon Spaine and the secular Priests otherwise They are generally now strongly vnited together depending no lesse vpon Spaine for temporall respects then vpon Rome for spirituall And considering the house of Austria hath beene alwayes a capitall enemy to our Religion to increase their owne greatnesse by extirpiting the protestant party in all places where they can prevaile It cannot but be of most dangerous consequence to the safety of the King and the Realme vnlesse remedy be prouided with speede for the abating of that party here at home which cannot be during the time that these Treattse are on foote Thirdly it is obserued that by aduantage of these Treaties and thereby keeping of his Maiesty in hope of a generall peace they haue contrarily vnder the pretence of assisting the Emperour oppressed the Protestants party in most parts of Christendome being the ancient Alies and confederates of this Crowne to the endangering not onely of the whole State of the reformed Religion but also of the Common safety of all the professors of the same Fourthly during the time of these Treaties of loue with his Maiesty they haue with all kind of hostility set vpon his Maiesties sonne in Law the husband of his onely and most Royall Daughter inuadeing his Townes and Territories in all places and infine dis-inherited him with all that Royall Off-spring of all his ancient Patrimoniall Honors and Possessions to the great dishonor of his Maiesty and extreame griefe of all his well affected Subiects And now also at the last when they should come to make good the hope of restitution they haue layd new grounds for endlesse delayes and turned pretended difficulties into apparant impossibilities not forbearing also now to annexe as a Condition to the weake hope of their vncertaine and imperfect resolutions That the eldest sonne of the Count Pallatine should be brought vp in the Emperours Court so restlesse are their desires to worke the ouerthrow of Religion by all possible devices Lastly it is apparant how manifoldly from time to time they haue deluded and abused his Maiesty with their Treaties how small respect they haue shewed to the Prince his Greatnesse and worth what endignities they haue offered againe and againe to his highnesse by importuning him vpon all aduantages to forsake his Religion contrary to the custome of all Princes and contrary to the ancient Lawes of Honor and Hospitality who ought to haue beene vsed there withall Princely freedome and pressed to nothing vnto which he was indisposed considering with what confidence being so great a Prince he had put himselfe within their power although it pleased God to guide and fortefie so his Princely heart that he constantly withstood all their attempts and stratagems to his owne immortall honor and to the vnspeakeable comfort of the good people of his Fathers Kingdome Wherevnto may be added their infinite aduantagiousnesse and endlesse delayes in their Treaties And finally what dishonor they haue obtruded vpon our Nation and Religion in inviting still to new Treaties and turning al to the aduantage of their owne particuler ends being true to nothing but their owne grounded Maximes with which neither the Match nor the restitution of the Pallatinate can possibly consist but vppon such termes as threaten to our State an incurable mischiefe AN ORATION OR SPEECH OF THE RIGHT AND LAWFVLNES of the Netherlandish Warres against Phillip King of Spaine Vnto the most Mighty and Illustrious Princes of Christendome Illustrious Princes of Christendome GReat and Mighty are the Kingdoms in your possession which extend far and wide throughout all the world but much more great and farre more excellent are the vertues and knowledge by which you hold preserue and governe the same righteously even to the vttermost extent of felicity In the meane time let me now intreat you ô most peaceful Princes that you will heare me with a friendly and well-affected minde the sequell hereof and fundamentally will understand wherefore the Spaniards doe most falsely accuse vs That this peace was violated and broken by vs which accusation I hold to be very grievous Among other Conditions Lawes and Contracts of this peace this was one of the chiefest and weightiest That Don Iohn should not admit any Spaniard or stranger nor any of them by whose counsell and advise it was evidently knowne that the Provinces were brought into that extreme spoyle into the Councell And contrarily hee called and sent for them to him kept them in his Court and in his most secret chambers That Baptista Taxis a most notable Spie and enemy of our common affaires who a little before had beene Secretary vnto Duke d' Alva who was not onely adioyned to his priuy Counsell but also was made and set ouer them Besides him one Octauius Gonzago an Italian as also hee tooke vnto him one Escouedo a crafty Spanish Fox vnto whom hee adioyned certaine Netherlanders But what Netherlanders I pray you Those who partly had beene the stirrers vp and fauourers of so many miseries who were both hated of
their natiue Countrey and of all good men viz. Barlemont Megan Hierge Flojon Hautepenny Assonuille and other plagues of their Countrey who hauing ordained the Law of Lentulus Cataline and Cassius established the same with their counsels deeds viz. That all those that by preseruing the Common-wealth would be preserued should be declared for enemies By this counsell and aduice the Spaniards presently euen at the beginning of this peace should haue surprized the Towne of Gent if the good and profitable counsell and also the valiant deeds of the States had not hindred the same For don Iohn himselfe could not refraine nor keep in his hatred and enmity any longer which he bore to the Netherlanders but had quickly forgot that sacred oath which he had sworne vpon the Euangelists before the Bishop of Shertogenboseh and the Popes Nuncius or spirituall Embassadour He had promised and sworn that hee would deale with all the souldiers in the Netherlands who were 15000 about their Arrearages to the end that they thereupon might bee discharged like as in the agreement of the peace had beene concluded And contrarily thereunto he promised the Souldiers in the Kings behalfe anew to haue greater meanes honours offices and rewards and held a most mischieuous counsel with Fronsberghen and Focker Collonels of the German souldiers part of whose wicked counsell hee effected and the rest being hindred by the States he could not effect But yet to the end that you may see and know the ground of this Businesse I will in few words declare vnto you how the matter fell out For vnder these two conditions or couenants viz. in maintaining of the Romish Religion and in yeelding lawfull obedience to the King did the whole Treatie of the peace consist And when the States which had sworne hereunto with an high Oath then were they presently admitted that those affaires concerning the Land which presently in the beginning of the treatie of peace were begunne but could not be concluded vpon that they should be dispatched and concluded in the next assembly of the States But yet Don Iohn whose affection burned with a lust and longing desire by some secret and concealed practice to breake the peace and to begin the warre againe casting all these conditions and promises at his heeles made a way for those complaints which Phillip and all the former Governours had vsed as a cloake to cover all their intended wâ—cked imgainations against the Rei-publicke viz. That the Hollanders and Sealanders neglected and despised the Romish Religion and by that meanes the commandement of the King was neglected Vpon this Anvile did they hammer night and day they assayled the States and were exceeding troublesome vnto them counselling them that they altogether should beginne the warres against Holland Sealand and the Prince of Orange who was the most eminent Champion against the vniust government of the Spaniards who indeede had beene exceeding beneficiall to the whole Common-wealth In this counsell Don Iohn had his eye vpon these two obiects which should be exceeding profitable and serviceable to further his intent that by their Ciuill warres the substance and treasure of the land might be exhausted and they being weakned and bruysed by their owne Warre that then he with the more ease and conveniency might suppresse them together Whereas he still persisting with these desires and intreaties being as it were dasht against a Rocke by a Tempest The States answered him that it were better and more profitable for the Common-wealth That concerning all those matters whereof Don Iohn made his complaints to haue them by a friendly composition decided and vnited in the assembly of the States and if they could haue imprinted or perswaded him to haue beleeued the same we had never fallen into the miseries of a Ciuill Warre For what is more repugnant to the common good and to all humane Lawes and Iustice then to try by warre those controversies which may be decyded by Right and Reason Archâ—damus though no Christian King but of a stately honourable any provident Nation sayd That it was vnlawfull to take Armes against those who were willing to haue the matter tryed by Law When and iniury had beene offered to the Romanes themselues they did not presently begin with wars but did first send Clarigatum that is they caused those things that were stollen or taken away to be more apparently and manifestly demanded againe But how profitable good and wel-ordred is the cumstome of the Common-wealth of the Venetians which I lately saw and observed where they will not suffer that the principall Nobles themselues of that flourishing Common-wealth should contend chide or maintaine enmity among themselues for or about other mens small and petty affaires But they bring the same into their Senate or Councell and there they desire pray and admonish them that they will remember and be mindfull that they are all of them Saint Markes children which name they haue given their Rei-publicke and that they are brethren and Burgeses of such a free and happy government and that it was not beseeming for them for any particular businesse to cherish and foster any private dissention or hatred which might thereafter prooue to be more generall to the perill and danger of that Rei-publicke Which custome aboue all other affaires ought to be vsed in the affaires concerning the Land and ought to be esteemed of in all wel-ordered Common-wealths If this were so we should not see one City so against another oftentimes in one Province or Rei-publicke or one Noble-man so against another of the contrary party to threaten warre murther destruction burning and blaking nor violence to assault each other But now to returne to our former purpose in respect that there are two sorts of Warres the one with words by way of Iustice the other with violence The first being proper to men the second to vnreasonable beasts And that wee must necessarily avoyde violence vnlesse the course of Iustice be denyed vs. Therefore we must beleeue that the States farre rather would haue decyded those controversies by their good and wholesome counsels by reason and conference then to make them greater by Warre and spilling the blood of the Citizens Contrarily Don Iohn complaineth of the States very publiquely Hee reprooues and vpbraids them all for Rebels and then deales with the High-dutch Souldiers no longer by secret dealing in the affaires very prejudiciall to the Common-wealth with whom very cunningly hee had long time dealt with all but then began he very publickly to deale with them so that the whole discovery of that businesse by divers intercepted letters was fully come to the knowledge of the States And many things they dayly saw with their eyes as first when he removed his Court and family with his Councell-companions to Bergen in Henegow being a very strong Towne and very fit for his conjurations and complottings and commanded that the same should bee provided with a strong Garrison Moreover when as he surprized
into their power many other cities and prouinces And finally is that Vlisses-like-wit Alexander Farnesius Duke of Parma brought out of Italie who like vnto a most craftie and cunning bird-catcher with the song of his lenitie and promises of great rewards insnared and captiuated all the Cities and Townes of Brabant and Flaunders Of this Prince I could say very much which I am constrained to omit Yet this one matter I cannot passe by in silence That although in the time of his gouernment hee effected many things very great and eminent for Philip yet could hee not escape of being suspected as if hee would haue vndermined the King in the gouernment because that through his gentlenesse linitie and amitie he had drawne vnto him the affections of all the Netherlanders and that hee also seemed perspicuously to haue looked into and also to beare a hatred to the wickednesse and fraudulent treacheries and deceites of the Spaniards Therefore Philip gaue him fungos or Toads-bread to eate which Agrippina had so commended to the Emperour to the end that by the power and operation thereof he might be admitted counted and receiued into the number of the gods But I pray you what was that at last for a peace which as a Comet or bright shining starre shined vnto vs out of the firmament of the Spanish trecheries vnto which the Duke of Parma counselled vs at what time the Arch-enemy stood as it were ouer our heads and that the incredible great Spanish Fleet filled and couered the great Ocean or main Sea A Fleet which was so terrible to behold that I can hardly iudge whether the Fleet that Xerxus had which couered the Sea called Mare Ponticum had a greater number of Shippes more Souldiers or greater warlike preparation With this Fleet Phillip had thought totally to haue suppressed vs who were at that time ravished as it were with that pleasant and delightfull sound of peace Yet when this Fleet by the onely power of the Almighty God was wonderfully destroyed and brought to naught then presently by the Emperours Embassadours hee offered these Prouinces a new Treatie of Peace to the end that he thereby might transport all his Army and power of warre out of the Netherlands into France The treacheries which many yeeres before he had plotted against that kingdome beganne then to haue a wonderfull good progression For his naturall kinsman Henry being made away by paracide or his murthering of a kinsman and the state of all that kingdome being vtterly confused with Ciuill warre then the matter and the present occasion required that he with Armes and a mighty Hoast should prosecute his designe in that flourishing and famous great Kingdome of France which Kingdome hee by violence hauing taken in and conquered he might thereafter without any trouble at all haue subiugated those Netherlandish Prouinces and all the other Kingdomes of Christendom What Is it yet lawfull for me or may I yet speake any more of Arrereges or residue of the dangers of this Reipublicke Yes it is lawfull for me and it shall be lawful for me alwayes to stand for the dignity of my natiue Countrey and to confesse the truth Like as all good Orators or eloquent speakers doe euer keepe some of their most forcible and ponderous Arguments to the last And like as experienced Generals vse to place their best souldiers in the last rankes euen so Phillip in these latter yeares presented a peace vnto these Netherlands which should be adorned and confirmed with notable fidelity the whole foundation and chiefe ground worke thereof lay and consisted in the vertues mercy endeuors diligence and in the loue of the Arch-duke Ernestus his sisters sonne who after the Duke of Parma was placed in the gouernment of these Prouinces He promised these Prouinces a peace not such a peace as should be limited with any grieuous or heauie conditions and contracts like as the former was but such a peace as they themselues would wish or desire In the meane time Phillip sent his great and huge Armies into France and his secret murtherers into Holland to haue murthered the Illustrious Prince Mauritts Earle of Nassow a famous and notable imitator of the vertues and valour of his father and a singular defender of our Liberty and by such an odious and treacherous villainy to haue made him away like as they but a little before by a most cruell and trecherous hand had murthered his most worthy and valiant father the Prince of Orange And finally Phillip concluded many more mischieuous and more wicked purposes against these Prouinces then euer before he could haue bethought himselfe of I doe not speake any thing vnaduisedly ô Princes but that which thousands besides me of good reputation can testifie in faith and verity and that which Phillips owne letters doe make good What then Meaneth the king of Spaine that our States by any propositions of peace can bee diuerted from their enterprises and designments Doth he not yet know and vnderstand that all our affections are so abdurate and hardned that we will far rather yeeld and giue place to Armes and Warre then to any kind of new inuented peace-treacheries after what manner soeuer the same might be propounded Or thinketh he peraduenture that the affections of our States euery day lie open to his desire and appetite What Is he yet ignorant that the counsels of all our people with a generall consent and vniformity of voices are long agoe vnited and knit fast together in this point and that they will farre rather honourably in warre and Armes liue and die for their Lawes and for their natiue Country then from henceforth shamefully to sinke or quaile vnder his treacheries and deceits What doe I say sinke or quaile Nay to come into the extreamest euills of Tyrannie to bee bound with vntolerable and inhamane bonds of slauerie and to bee reckoned and accounted among those slaues that are bought and sould We haue prepared made ready and sharpened a perpetuall and an euerlasting warre and Armes against him we neither haue nor may cast our eyes vpon any other peace then vpon such a peace as is grounded confirmed and may bee maintained with force and Armes But in regard that a little before I beganne to speak of France and to proue that our warre partly was joyned with that same therfore I will proceede to adde some other matters hereunto by the which you may evidently see and perceiue how many treacheries traps and deceits that Phillip hath laid for them He hath a long time since as you know O Princes laboured and endeuored to assaile France with all the violence and force of his warre to the end that he by the occasion of the Civill dissentions in France might effect so much by his wars and charges that if he could not swallow and devoure the whole Kingdome yet that at the least he might get a great part thereof For he had made his full reckoning and accovnt before hand by
preparing of that cruell Fleet that both France and England had been a prey vnto their enemies Wheras those good Princes notwithstanding had nothing at all endamaged him neither was he by any juiustice provoked to that warre vnlesse peradventure it be that he thought this occasion sufficient that the Pope at the will and desire of Phillip had excommunicated those two flourishing Kingdoms for their exercising and ministery of the Reformed Religion who for the extirpation and eradication of that Religion Phillip as a Cato Maior with the puissance of the Romish Censores or correction masters vseth to haue regard vnto all the Kings and people of the earth and therefore to correct and punish them which is indeede a matter known vnto you all for which no man can sufficiently wonder at the shamefulnesse thereof and might now neither be passed by nor omitted And that Phillip in these warres of France dealt most earnestly and with the greatest diligence and alacrity with the Duke of Feres and other Spaniards of the League whom he as companions had assisted in that warre to haue estranged the Right and Title of the Crowne of France not onely from the succession or descent of the Kings blood and kinred but euen from all Frenchmen and to haue drawne the same to Spaine These things are so certaine O Princes that there is no man which doubteth of the truth hereof But to what end do I bring these into your Remembrances What is this to maintaine the purpose I haue in hand For this end it serueth thereby to proue how exceeding great the ambition is of this most cruell Tyrant and to the end you may perceiue and see how greatly not onely we but euen all of you together must keep good watch and looke vnto it For like as the nature of the Vine is to extend the branches as the armes thereof farre and wide and therewith embraceth and layeth hold vpon euery thing that is neer it if it be not lopt and pruned Euen so shall Phillip if you doe not all at once make resistance at the last destroy and devoure all Christendom with most cruell and bloody warre Moreover he by his Btibery and secret conspiracy had lately effected so much in Scotland that some of the chiefe of that Kingdome should haue received and taken in twenty thousand Spaniards if they had not been punished after the matter was knowne and revealed according as their treason deserued I need not to thinke with my selfe that I can sufficiently expresse with words what treasons what perills what daungers he so oftentimes hath attempted against the Queene and Kingdome of England Can ambition and violence proceed yet any further Yes truely For the like treacheries practised hee a little before against the Principallity of Collen the Dukedomes of Gelders Gulich Cleane the County of Berghe and that ancient Emperiall Towne of Aken All which is most manifestly and apparantly knowne by good Testimony and by his owne letters And who knoweth in what lurking hole and corner of hipocrisie and dissimulation he hideth and sheltreth his most mortall hate against the most mighty Princes of Italy whom as soone as the wind of the first oportunity shall blow very suddenly shall be turned into coales and ashes by his vnquenchable and fearefull great flames of Warre Doe ye not yet see and perceiue enough ô Princes what treacheries and deceits that Philip prepareth for your most happy Kingdomes and Prouinces which are your Patrimonies Considering there is no man so blind nor senselesse who seeth not and vnderstandeth not that the ambition of Phillip neuer resteth but dayly draweth him from land to land and raiseth a new warre out of war So that he by warres sinne mischiefe and meere villanous deceits and treacheries vnder the pretence of a seeming-peace seeketh to deject and detrude euery one of you from the seate of your Gouernment For this his desire is vnsatiable and immoderate and cannot be included nor shut vp neither in Heauen nor in Earth If that all Phillips Kingdomes which he useth commonly in that long traine or taile of his most proud Titles and Termes of Honour were put or layd into one of the Seales of Critolaes ballance and in his other seale his Ambition or greedie desire of Honour All the Kingdomes would scarcely weigh the quantity of one graine in comparison of his Ambition Alexander the Great looked about for more worlds when he had conquered the whole world but Phillip would if he could with the Gyants assault the heauens And therefore O Princes and you most peacefull Princes I intreate you and I would admonish you that you judge no more of the occasion and lawfulnesse of our warre but in your judgements and opinions to hold it for good and I exhort you most earnestly againe and againe that you by all meanes both in your vnderstandings and with all your powers will take heed of the treacheries robberies and mischievous practises of Phillips deceit In former times whenas the Athenians partly with warre and partly with deceits and treacheries sought to get unto themselues certaine neere adjacent places as the Cities of Syracusa Lacaedemon Messena and Catina they by their immoderate Ambition and desire of others Rights drewe such an hatred upon their owne heads that Darius the most mighty King of Persia with the whole country of Grecia voluntarily undertooke and prosecuted warre against them unto which euery man ranne and hasted as to quench a publicke flame But you O most Illustrious Princes ought long ago to haue expelled Phillip with your conjoyned forces from you and from your prosperous States that seeketh continually your liues and Kingdomes by most unjust warre and by most wicked enterprises And it concernes and is fitting not onely for you who for a long time since haue beene provoked spurred and stirred up thereunto by the many injuries and ambition of Phillip but euen you altogether who see and perceiue that he incroacheth with violence upon the limmits of your neighbours and with an easie and slow pace creepeth and incroacheth towards your Countries It standeth you upon in time to looke unto it to the end that your neighbouring Countries being conquered and brought under his slauery and bondage Tyranny when you lest thinke upon it do not incroach upon you When as Phillip of Macedon the Father of Alexander the Great after the Battell with the Tribaldes had entertained a long dissembling warre with the Athenians the Thebeans assembled themselues for this occasion fearing lest when the Athenians had bene conquered the fire of their neighbouring-warre might haue flowne unto them And a little before there being a confederacy made betwixt two of the mightiest Cities who before had bene at extreme enmity with each other terrified thereby and by their Embassadors all the Country of Grecia esteeming it so that a common enemy ought and must be repelled with common force so that if the first invasion of Phillip of Macedon had had good successe he
the Castle of Antwerpe by Treacherie and did surprize those well provided and fortified Townes of Namen and Charlemont and put a strong guard into them of his owne souldiers thinking thereafter by treachery to haue taken in the Towne of Brussels So that already the principall and chiefe Cities and Townes by the great number of his Forts and Citadels where beleagred and oppressed and then he wholly beganne to set vp himselfe against the Rei-publick and also many other things were then done by his advise and motion whereas hee according to his oath ought to haue advised that all the souldiers should haue layd downe their Armes and presently to haue departed out of the Country All which things appearing manifestly to the eyes of the States who adjudged that the same tented to the subversion of the Common-wealth they thought that they were bound continually to keepe a good counsel-watch neither did they turne their eyes aside from the Rei-publick from that time that he sought to haue all the governement alone vnto whom they in all officiousnesse not being mooved by any distemperature of minde sent as Embassadours vnto him Marolaus and Brusus charging them that they should present and shew their full performance innocency and integrity and should free them from all suspition and evill conceit the which they most certainly knew that he mischievously had dissembled that the faith that was given at Gent should be renued They should also promise that the States should make diligent enquirie and execute seuere punishment vppon those Treacherous murtherers and conspirators who as he sayd layd waite for his life and had conspired against him making a shewe and dissembling as if to prevent the same hee went to Namen They would augment his Guard more then those he had already to the number of three hundred compleat armed men who should bee all of them Netherlanders the which before that time was never offered to any Governour or Ruler And yet with all these supplications and intreaties they effected nothing for there was neither modesty nor reason to be found in Don Iohn Nay hee could not bridle nor keepe in his owne evill arrogancy and audacious passion but declared the same to Marollaus at the same time of his Embassage boasting himselfe that hee now did wholly assure himselfe and that hee doubted not but that hee had brought vnder the subjection of his will and command the Citie of Antwerpe that hee had no lacke neither of money nor men that hee now had all things in a readinesse for the furnishing of a Warre and that hee with his sword would purchase vnto himselfe a greater authority power command and government then the States had promised and granted him in the pacification of Gent and that it was his will that these Embassadours should report all these things vnto the States for he would not conceale any thing from them that hee knew to appertaine to this his intent and will This matter is undoubtedly sure and certaine and sufficiently knowne before this so that heere it is not needefull to produce witnesses And although it be a very miserable thing not to be able to deny and very shamefull to be confest yet I thinke verily that the Spaniards themselues although they be lesse shamelesse then a man would beleeue they are cannot deny this at any time Don Iohn had written vnto Tre-longe and to his other companions and fellow-workers of his secret trickes and conspiracies That hee had given as a Cymbrian spoyle the wealth of the Citizens of Antwerpe for a prey vnto his Souldiers The souldiers ranged already through the City as mortall enemies and forced the Citizens to giue them whatsoever they listed Many of the principall citizens began to flye out of the City and as it were banished by which meanes the traffique and trading of the Marchants by shipping beganne to cease And although there were great and manifest tokens of their malignant enmity yet neuertheles the States did beare al this very moderatly and modestly and indeed would haue born yet much more if that mortall and pittifull proiect which Don Iohn intended had not beene discouered and made manifest as the day euen as if a man at the first sight seemed to perceiue some livelesse and insensible creature and afterwards by more certain and sure signes and tokens beginneth to think of what quality that was whereof hee doubted euen so the States did also very easily vnderstand by all those things which they had seene that this prince did cherish in his mind and counsels an hatred tending to the ruine of the common-wealth but of what qualitie that he was and how farre he would extend himselfe ouer the reipublick that they most euidently discerned and distinguished thereafter both out of his owne and by letters from others For there were many letters intercepted in Gasconie viz. Two of Don Iohns written by himselfe vnto the King and other from him written to Anthonie Perez the chiefe of the Kings Covncell Moreover fiue letters from Escouedo to the King out of which the States might assuredly vnderstand that there were fed and bred monsters and strang impostures that privat conspiracies were there practised that there was great dissention mingled among the Cities and the Nobilitie of the Netherlands and by what meanes the same was effected and how fit and serviceable it was that tyrany and the Inqvisition according to that firme resolution of the Spaniards should bee brought in established and to that end soldiers armes and all warlicke preparation very earnestly was required for the King Consider and vnderstand illustrious Princes the secret and privie conspiracies of this man Heare the words which this man vseth in his letters written to the King which as I said before were intercepted In regard that this bodie saith he is so vnhealthful that it cannot be cured any otherwise but by cutting off of the vnsound members you must now carefully obserue this occasion which is presented And Escouedo adds thereunto the rest very amply as a good interpreter of his meaning who might very well write that which Don Iohn himselfe would not giue to vnderstand This Escouedo was the right minion and seruant of Audacitie and Treacherie whom I thinke by reason of his nature and manners was named Escouedo because that hee knew by his deceit to bring the miserable Netherlanders into his net He wrot that vnto the King which Don Iohn would haue him to write viz. That it possibly could not be that the Netherlanders should be brought vnder the pure and perfect obedience and will of the King vnlesse that first they were tamed and constrained thereunto with fire and sword That therfore both men and armes were very needfull and that the same must be effected by warre By the which as a good architecture of the Spanish tyranny he gaue them to vnderstand that the crueltie and rigour which Alua and Requisenius had abused must not continually be put in practise but
themselues so to speak do earnestly exhort do require command that the States with a constant courage should keepe and maintaine their armes and neither now nor neuer to lay them out of their hands but to shew vnto the other subiects of Phillip those of Sicilia Calabria Lombardy Arragon Castile India Portugal yea euen vnto your selues O Illustrious Princes I say to shew and with valiant deeds to proue that not onely we but all of you together yea and all men vpon the face of the earth far rather ought to dye then to behold or looke vpon the face of that tyrant Do ye yet think or can you imagine with your selues that Phillip with the limits of our countrey hath limited in his tyranny Do yee not yet see and perceiue that the high ascending and mortall flames of the Spanish tyranny devoureth and swalloweth vp the tresholds doores and turrets of your kingdomes Arise and at the last awake out of this your sleepe and carelesnesse come hither with speede and in all haste flye hereinto for to quench these vniuersall fire-flames Wherefore do yee seeke vnto vs against our wils by your counsels authorities and respects to induce vs to make peace with Phillip whereas it had been more fitting that you your selues long agoe with warre and force of armes should haue expelled Philip and with an especiall force and power to haue supprest him And to the end I may speake vnto you all one after another you most mighty Princes of Germany be sencible that Philip in your Dutchland doth not hunt after a cruell and vniust government but so to speake doth possesse the same already For he hauing once conquered these Netherlandish prouinces when you will not bow and submit to his gouernment he will haue all the hauens of the sea and the mouthes of all the Germane riuers at his owne will and in his owne power thereby afterwards to impose such grieuous toles and taxations vpon your nauigation and trading or else wholly will hinder the same euen as it shall please himselfe And this is that for which and in behalfe whereof one or two of the prouinces doe appeare in your assemblies and consultations you heare him publickly speak his minde and you esteeme and preferre his tyrannicall advice and counsell before your owne prosperity and tranquility You haue him the Bishop of Frisinghen and Hildeshem preferred before and you haue seene them made Princes and Prince-Electors of the Empire The Bishop of Collen Liege and Magdeborgh and you haue seene that the most ambitious Duke of Bavaria hath laid snares for you all And to the end that I may turne my speech vnto you O you illustrious mighty powerful Princes of Poland hath not Philip brought a great number of that generation of mankind I say Iesuites into your Countrey by whose religion and policy they haue brought almost the whole world into an vp-rore to the end that he by their meanes with Sun-shine-like deceits might propound vnto you what his will and counsell is To you also most peaceful Princes of Italy I haue already sayd and say againe that the sword of the Spanish tyranny hangeth by a very small threed ouer your heads already naked and drawne out of the scabberd And for you O most illustrious Senators or Priuy Councellors of Venice you your selues haue seen and beheld the tyranny of Phillip in your owne State and gouernment when he sent money to arme the Turke against you and diuerted the power and force of the Turk from his owne dominions vpon Cypris although that hee by thee quity and right of the covenant had been exceedingly oblieged and beholding vnto you Therefore O Princes of Christendome yet euen now at the longlast be carefull of your owne estates and affaires of your owne liues and prosperitie marke and consider it well that Phillip is enemy and tyrant to you all and suffer him to liue no longer in the world but resist and impeach his ambition to reigne and that his pestilent and mortall government proceed no further And like as some certaine members are cut off when they begin to be without life and blood and are hurtfull to all the other parts of the body euen so must you also esteeme that this inhumane cruelty in humane shape must so to speak be separated and cut from the common body of men Verily the deed of the Persians is much to be commended and ought to be wel thought upon of you all who when Cometes and Oropastes two of their Magicians or wise men by the like tyrannie and murther of Smerdis King of Persia possessed the Kingdom they were slaine by the valour of seuen of the ablest Princes of Persia all of them running with a singular affection diligence and burning zeale to kill and to destroy those tyrants with their swords one of the Magitians clasped about the neck of one of the Princes whose name was Gebrias which made his companions to linger the more because they would not kill him in steed of the Magician for this was done in a dark place who commanded the Magician to thrust his sword through his body Yet in the end the Magician was slaine and this valiant Gebrias who had rather to haue died then that the tyrant should haue escaped with life was saved and had his life preserved Such an hate did these men beare to tyrants The Grecians informer times attributed divine honour to those men who had slaine a tyrant And doe you thinke that the Netherlanders shall do euill or more vniust that they oppose and resist Philip that jnhumane tyrant The Romanes expelled their King Taquinus Superbus because that he did but in some sort weaken the state of their common-wealth and shall we suffer or indure Phillip in our common-wealth who not onely with fire and sword would destroy and turn-vp-side-downe all the Netherlands but euen the whole world No by no meanes Our States without doubt will proceede and prepare the way for you to break off and to expel this tyrant They wil perseuere to diuert driue away and to foyle him so farre and wide from suppressing and killing of our prosperity that once not onely they and theirs but also euen the other provinces of the Netherlands may bere-established in their former liberty and may lead them out of the straights of the Spanish tyranny and repossesse them in the possession of their predecessors That finally they being re-established and better ordered and vnited and bound with the Prouinces of the whole Netherlands they may stop the incursion and invasion of this cruell tyrant and altogether with one accord may expell him from their prosperity and from their common liberty Amen FINIS AN ADIOYNDER OF SVNDRY OTHER PARTICVLAR WICKED PLOTS AND Cruell Inhumane Perfidious yea Vnnaturall practises of the Spaniards To the well-affected indifferent READER GEntle Reader there being so much spoken as thou maist perceiue by the fore-going first Part of the Spanish practises touching the cruell
inhumane trecherous perfidious yea vnnaturall practises of the Spaniards in most parts of the World which may sufficiently delineate him in his deserued colours that whosoeuer beholds him may mourne to see this Hazael so to tyrannize ouer the innocent and that the Lord should permit and the earth beare such an vnheard of monster yet notwithstanding much more might be added in sundry other particulars as the Dutch Chronicles mention and other Writers haue well set out amongst which although I my selfe be a stranger by Nation to them yet since the time of my abode here hauing attained some vnderstanding in the Language I haue thought fit to adde some further particulars which in my reading I haue obserued and could adde many more but my purpose being onely to annex a few things I will not enlarge lest I adde another Treatise But before I come to what I intend I haue thought fit hauing some ouersight in the publishing of this Treatise aforegoing to note by the way The Dutch word Ghesante signifieth indifferently Embassadour or Messenger the ill translating of one word in the 21 folio it is touching the Princesse of Parma the Translator termes her a crafty Queane wheras the word beares no such sence in the Dutch but signifies one that hath a sharp wit to deceiue as is said of the serpent that beguiled Eue. Beside that that is translated Embassadour speaking of such as were sent from the States to the King I conceiue to be more fittingly rendred Messenger First thou art to vnderstand gentle Reader that the King of Spaine was louingly receiued here in the 17 Prouinces and a solemne oath was taken on both parts the King for his part swore to maintaine all their Lawes and Priuiledges and they to him all due homage and allgeance Hee presently demanded of them a summe of money whereupon the States did assemble and collected for him 40. millions of Florines of Brabants money to be paid in nine yeares and paid it into his Exchequer and although it was more then they had paid before to his predecessours yet vpon this he did take great displeasure against them and as they write he for this did hate them to death But he pretended this to be the cause of his wroth because he saw that there were some among them that did defie the Pope and all his Religion but that could not be for the Citie of Aelst was as superstitious in that Religion as Rome it selfe for they did persecute the Reformed Religion euen vnto death and yet for all that both they and 170 faire Villages that belonged vnto them were by them plundered and spoyled of all their goods and many of them wounded and tormented for to confesse where their money was and many were killed Thus much by the way My scope and chiefe intent is to shew the first and iust cause of the warres in the Netherlands whereby the diligent Reader not partially affected may clearely vnderstand that the Netherlanders did not rebelliously take vp Armes against a lawfull Prince as some ignorantly thinke and speake but iustly and religiously defend themselues against a perfidious Tyrant who sought their ruine by all possible meanes he could and the subuersion of the whole State A long while they patiently vnder-went his cruell oppressions and intollerable vexations as the Histories clearely manifest till there was no hope but either they must become slaues in soule and body worse then that of Israel in Egypt they and theirs for euer or else be butchered by mercilesse executioners of a cruell Tyrant The Inquisiâ—â—â— was there 4. yeares before This Tyrant hauing a purpose to innouate all things to root out the ancient inhabitants and to frustrate all the Lawes Customes and Priuiledges which himselfe had sworne to maintaine knew not how better to effect his euill ends then by raising a bloudy Inquisition to set ouer them for their gouernment which said Inquisition raised in Spaine concluded and pronounced certaine Articles the tenth of February 1568 which were confirmed by the King the 26. following Now because it may appeare I doe them no wrong in this charge I will lay downe the Articles themselues verbatim The most sacred Office of Inquisition so often attempted in the Netherlands by his Maiestie and hindered vntill this time shall be instituted and aduanced in this manner which is most expedient 1 They must perswade the Emperour being gone astray and wickedly confederated with heretikes that hee resigne his Kingdomes vnto his Sonne with the whole administration of the Neitherlands 2 That the Emperour with his two sisters hauing giuen ouer all affaires leauing the Netherlands shall retire into Spaine vnto Vs being assured that they shall neuer returne more to doe any harme 3 These being dispatcht we must also draw the king to vs and keepe him for euer that he part not and not suffer any Flemmings to haue accesse or conference with him 4 That the King write vnto and command the Clergie of the Netherlands that with the Inquisition they should accept of 15 new Bishops the which should be free from all secular iurisdiction yea in cases of treason 5 The subiects of the Netherlands through their malice and waywardnesse will reuolt and moue seditions and tumults pleasing to all but to our companie 6 The Princes and Noblemen heads and authours of those factions with the subiects must be taken away and the others reduced vnto reason 7 They shall hire at our charge theeues and spoilers of Churches and Images whose offences shall be by all the world imputed to Rebels by some subtill meanes and so we shall vanquish them 8 That all Comerce Negotiation Liberties and Priuiledges shall be rooted out and that all be reduced to extreame pouertie whereby the realme shall be permanent for Vs. 9 No man of all those Countries except he be of our faction shall be held worthy to liue and finally all to be rooted out and all Goods Possessions Arts and Trades and all Orders to bee taken away vntill there may bee a new Realme and a new people 10 In this action the wise and valiant Duke Alva shal be imployed in person whereas any other were he of the bloud Royall or a Prince shall be of no esteeme so as being suspect yea in the smallest matters they must be dispatcht 11 No Contracts Rights Promises Donations Oathes Priuiledges and solemne Assertions of the Netherlands shall be of any force for the Inhabitants as being guilty of high treason 12 But aboue al we must haue an especiall care that in these matters of so great weight and moment wee proceed not violently but by meanes by degrees and that discreetly to the end the Princes Nobilitie and inferiour subiects may mutinie amongst themselues so that one may persecute yea execute the other vntill at last the hangman be executed himselfe For in all Christendome is there not a Nation more foolish and indiscreet and whose levitie and inconstancy may sooner be deceiued then
these Netherlanders and God punisheth them accordingly There were other Articles found in President Vergaes chamber at Antwerpe and there Printed and those are more cruell then these By these articles and vnlimited power of these lawlesse Inquisitors no man had any assurance of life or goods for a day but were in danger continually to be called into question either for the law of their God or for some work of mercie which either religion morall equitie or the bond of nature called for or else if they had colour for none of these they would impose such vnreasonable taxations which if the Cormorants had not their gorges crambed full they would make prey of all whether by right or wrong it mattered not But my purpose being to auoid prolixitie and to passe by impertinencies and needlesse repetitions I will come to that I intended In the yeare 1565 a match was concluded for the Prince of Parma and the nuptials were solemnized at Bruxels whither all the Nobilitie and Gentry of the Countrey were inuited and accordinglyt here met of them about foure hundred who like faithfull Moses being grieued to see the daily oppression of their brethren by the hard task-masters of the Inquisition who not onely robbed them of their goods but also by inhumane crueltie and vnnaturall butchery depriued them of their liues who daily led them as sheepe vnto the slaughter The consideration hereof they ioyntly layd to heart and hereupon being met vpon this occasion they resolued to present a petition to the Princesse of Parma which they did the fifth of April next following The Earle of Breedrod deliuering the petition humbly requested a fauourable answer Three dayes after they receiued this answer viz. they should send two of their Noblemen to the king by whom she would write in their behalfe The Lord of Barlaymont being present after their departure said like a flattering Courtier they were a company of Rascals and Beggars It was concluded that the Marquesse of Bargen and the Lord of Mountigny should goe into Spaine who humbly presented their suit to the King but could get no answer in 16 Moneths after The 26 of August anno 1566 the Princesse of Parma sent for the Gentrie telling them she had receiued letters from the King containing promise that all should be well and that the Inquisition should cease And for the Proclamations they should not be of force but his Maiestie would take such order as they and the State should well like of The Princesse also gaue them toleration for their Religion on condition they should not deface nor breake downe the ornaments of the Churches for there had beene before this time vilde and lewde persons that frequented the meetings of the Reformed these went into the Papists Churches stole their siluer and what was worth carrying away and brake down their Images but the Reformed suspected that this was done by the appointment of the Princesse neither was their suspition without good ground for it is to be seene in the Kings letters Art 7. that she had order to hire this raskall company to doe this villany Emanuel de Miter saith that in Flanders they tooke 50. of them at one time and hanged 2â— and whipped the rest which fact was imputed to the Protestants to the end that they might not only be odious there but also seeme guilty euen in the iudgement of other Nations howbeit the offenders were punished with imprisonment yea with death euen by the Reformed themselues who iointly confessed the action vnlawfull and were so farre from hauing occasion of offence in this nature that Papist Burgers themselues offered good securitie that no such thing should be attempted by them Who then can make any doubt that they were free from giuing any hand in those outrages laid to them the very opposites in Religion being Iudges who as appeares were willing to undertake for them now as their faithfulnesse brought so good effect for their persons so did the Lord worke that the truth of Religion found many friends likewise the Lord wondrously prospering the course of Reformation in so much that in short space they had in Flanders 60 Assemblies some Churches themselues builded but were by Duke d' Alva soone cast downe who erected gallowses of them and hanged them vpon them The Princesse of Parma also began to entertaine souldiers with pretence to apprehend the Church-robbers but intended indeed to take away the ancient Liberties and Priuiledges of the Netherlanders wherefore sending certaine companies to Valencyn the inhabitants denied them entertainment who for that were proclaimed Rebels the 14 of December soone after they were besieged sacked and many of them put to death But before they of Valencyn denied entertainment to the souldiers Let pretended it for religion but his aime was to get their lands and goods the Nobility had receiued letters out of Spaine from the Marquesse of Bargen shewing that the King was exceedingly incensed against the Netherlanders that he had in the presence of many vowed to be fully reuenged of them though it were with the hazard of all his Countries that hee would make them an example to all the world and would inuite the Pope and Emperour to assist him in this quarrell Vpon the receit of the letters the Nobility assembled at Dortmond to consult what were best to be done but concluded not any thing some iudging it safest to ioyne and make head to resist his tyrannicall furie other seeking rather to escape by flight Now was the Inquisition againe brought in contrary to the Lawes and Liberties of the Country which the King was sworne to maintaine for execution whereof there were appointed 12. Inquisitors commaunding them to receiue the Councell of Trent these were called The bloudy Councell and so they were indeede which Rome well knew refusing it anno 1559. when as they fell vpon the Inquisitors house set it on fire wounded the chiefe of them brake open the prison and set at liberty the captiues and would haue burned a Cloyster that belonged vnto them had they not beene by faire meanes disswaded by two Lords in the Citie viz. Marc Antonio Colunus Iuliâ— Caesar Likewise Venice Naples and Millaine though they be Papists would not suffer it the Marchants of Lisbon who are as superstitious in the Romish Religion as any in the world yet they did offer the King two millions and a halfe that they might not haue it in their parts Yet the cruelty of this Inquisition did here encrease and many souldiers came into the Countrey that some of the Countrey forsooke their houses and resorted towards Freezland and some did stay at home and went to meete Duke Alva and welcomed him into the Countrey and shewed him all the kindnesse they could As the Grais of Egmond the Grais of Horn many of the Gentry at Brussels 1568. but hee very shortly tooke off most of their heads so that hee did so terrifie the inhabitants that there fled out