Prouinces and brought them in the same case wherein others then vvere Which (b) And prouision was necessary that you fainted not before you had done businesse requires many words much speech as also that wee haue made sundry chargeable expeditions into Brabant and Flanders and howsoeuer the inhabitants and cities there were warned and intreated to giue a peremptorie answer concerning a mutuall vnion with vs yet not any one citie nay not any one man of note shewed or declared that he would be on our partie And they are compelled who belong vnto the other Prouinces whether they dwell heere or else where to beleeue acknowledge that the (c) Yours especially in sowing discord you can make nothing else good whatsoeuer you boast of honestie courage and constancie of our men especially those of Holland and West-Frisland hath beene and is yet at this day very commodious vnto them (d) He speakes truely heere concerning you great and mighty States you were alwayes indifferent in the matter if I except the Aduocate and one or two more-He is the troubler hereof You neuer denied a lawfull but not partiall and diuided and equall Prouinciall Synod vnto Holland and West-Frisland but rather imploied your paines to procure one But a (e) Who made that Question Or who vsed those arguments by way of opposing it was it not your selfe and your Arminians Out yee Popish knaues sonnes of darkenesse and night shadows you flie the light and dare not shew your selues in publick and defend your fopperies in an Ecclesiasticall Assemblie Hence it is that you seeke starting holes and by passages and deuise things contrary to truth But the time is neere wherein all Arminians shall be repressed and restrayned Bestirre your selfe and act your part most excellent Prince Maurice I most humbly pray you and you my Lords the mightie States bestirre your selues buckle to it Master Plancius most decre and neere both by reason of one common and naturall language and also daylie acquaintance and familiaritie and you Francis Gomar whose care of and for vs still shewes it selfe you Anthony Smoutius Vrsine Salignacus Dammannus de Lauignus Ellerus and al the remainder of the Ministers of Gods word bestirre your selues I say and defend our ancient Reformation conuince these Innouators bannish and roote them out from among you appoint and publish a Nationall Synod at Dort or any where else which the Arminians doe more hate then the Owle the light of the Sunne I for my part if it bee fitting will strengthen and prepare my selfe therein against them with reasons obseruations histories and testimonies of Scripture to my vtmost power question was made by what meanes this might bee ordained in so great dissension disagreement so that it might tend which was the principall matter to the benefit of the Church and Country and quietnesse of the Comminaltie And certainely there is a maine difference betwixt the meetings of particular parts of one Prouince or foure parts thereof and a Synode of a whole and entire Prouince betwixt the times of schisme and dissension the times of Peace and Concord Men talke much of the Commissions and Oathes as well of the Chiefetaines as of the militarie route but it is euident that such eyther haue not seene or at least vnderstand not these things seeing both the words and meaning thereof are much different from that which they vndiscreetely coyne They iudge of others according to their owne false peruerse and lying hearts They doe manifestly contradict the truth I contest your knowledge when they say Master Francis Francken of pious memorie was Aduocate of the Countrie For you know that he had no publick office in your Assembly but that he was a Counsellor and Pensioner of Goud afterward leauing that office hee supplied the Aduocates place for some yeers and interceded for both Councels and afterward hee was made a Counsailor himselfe It is conspicuous that they forbeare to speake the truth when they report that I said to his Excellency and also to some Preachers that I had made (a) Your exception against the matter controuerted giues not ful satisfaction or the originall which is writte in Dutch is false Neuerthelesse when he striues most to excuse it he plurges himselfe into more errors I will briefely therefore since it is a matter of moment lay downe what is here spoken The Labellers say and proue by Barneuelts owne words that Vtenbogart was made an Arminian by him Barneuelt denies he did any such thing because forsooth he learned nothing concerning the point of Praedestination eyther of Arminius or Vtenbogarte Now I demand if he haue satisfied the obiection and approued himself to be as cleere as if he were washed with milke Hee that hath any brayne sees hee is not well in his wittes if hee thinkes as hee writes or else foolish altogether if hee thinke one thing and write another especially since the matter in question is the crime of Heresie and the villany of seducing in a cause concerning saluation But what lettes why the Aduocate may not be said to haue made the Preacher Vtenbogart an Arminian Because he affirmes that he learned nothing of the said partie yea this is rather a solid confirmation of the matter especially since it is vsed for an excuse To speake more plainly Barneuelt is an Arminian Vtenbogart is an Arminian too the one made the other an Arminian Now the question is who was the seducer I that I may end the controuersie will frame an hypotheticall Syllogisme such an one as Cicero concerning Milo and Clodius Eyther Vtenbogart seduced Barneuelt or Barneuelt Vtenbogart But Vtenbogart did not seduce Barneuelt therefore Barneuelt seduced Vtenbogart The hypothesis makes the proposition of an vngainsayable truth the assumption is affirmed by Berneuelt himselfe The conclusion then is Berneuelt was the seducer Vtenbogart an Arminian This I said that I when Hermānus Herbartes cause about 26 yeeres since was handled before me at the Haigh and amongst other things it was declared that he would not professe the Almightie God to be the Author of sinne that I as I said warned Vtenbogarte returning to his house that this businesse of praedestination condemning or reprobating would stirre vp great troubles as a matter that became not Christians and was repugnant to my mind and thousands more in which minde and opinion I professed I had persisted from the yeare 1568. and therefore that I had learned nothing either of Arminius or Vtenbogarte concerning this point T is false also that I made them Burgomasters Aldermen and common Counsellers in free-cities-who fitted my humour seeing these things were the least part of my care In fine that being intreated thereto by some few cities I mentioned the matter to his Excellence But his Excellence herein chiefly vsed the counsell of the Presidents Vander Myle Wingaerd Iniossa and the Senatours T is a meere cogge that the King of France offered by his Embassadours the reliefe of
an hundred thousand crownes monethly As this also was feigned that the charges of the warre surpassed the summe of seuen millions of crownes In like manner that three millions of crownes were requested of the King of France It is also a plaine lie that I gaue vnto President Ianyn and Busanual some thousands of Florenes As yee likewise know it to be a fained tale that I had power of disposing an hundred twenty thousand Florenes yeerely I had onely in lieu of my extraordinary expences and the trouble of making correspondence within and without the Countrey and the adiacent places fiue hundred Florenes yeerely Which difference how great it is let any man iudge They do sensibly manifestly and palpably lie when they say that our treasure was lessened by excessiue and extraordinarie charges since the truce seeing beside the paiment of many thousands to the Frenchmen vvhich were neither reckoned nor accounted concerning which three yeres before alwaies after diuerse demonstrances were tendered in the Assembly of your Honours and Highnesses in the fines or mony-matters of Holland and West-Frisland there was no disorder no losse happened since the truce but rather a great ease and notable increase of things succeeded as before I haue shewed So that it was diligently prouided that the debts and charges might not exceed the reuenewes It is an apparant lie too that I promised President Ianyn that in the while the truce last I would bring in the practise of the Romish religion I alwaies laboured for the contrarie so that the propounding thereof hitherto hath beene debarred and kept heere in priuate For these many yeeres I haue laboured with tooth and naile priuately and publikely to vnite all the companies of the East-Indies make one generall one of them all to procure the approbation and assistance thereof Which many of the companies thereof can witnesse And as soone as we may hope for a successe of making a company for the West-Indies I will bestow my paines herein too and confute those that withstand it If these forgering fellowes would manifest and discouer themselues maintaine what they haue written I will vndertake to make good proue that in all other Articles wherin they haue deposed against me they haue done me notable iniury and that in many things they haue trespassed against the authoritie liberties and priuiledges of the Countrey and of Holland and West-Frisland and that therefore both themselues as also they which had a hand in this businesse (a) If they deserue to bee punished you deserue death by whose instigations these courses were taken deserue to be seuerely punished When I would haue ended these matters I thought with my selfe and also desired your Honours and Highnesses in generall and the Nobles and Gouernours of free-Cities in particular to consider by (b) The assertions following are meere impostures deuised for Barneuelts protection the ouerthrowe of Graue-Maurice and the vtter destruction of Religion Therefore reader credite nothing therein For my part I will not make any stay in declaring so much but showe it in a word where need requires what meanes these tempests might bee allayed In fine I say with reuerence and vnder your correction be it spoken that all (c) This crafts-master feares lest hee should bee called to an account for his doings or rather constrained thereto Wherefore for his owne saueguard hee perswades that violence may be vsed vpon no man the proofes hee vses are onely for fashion sake and that vvith great words and titles hee may deterre vs from a further searching into the truth violent courses whereto the forenamed practises inclined would bee hurtfull and pernicious to the state of the Prouinces and free Cities to his Excellence and his whole house and euery member thereof to all good Patriots of what condition soeuer but especially to the true and reformed Religion and all those who embrace it And that that this was a meere plot deuised by the Spaniard to the perturbation and vtter ouerthrow and destruction of these famous Prouinces Wherefore (d) Marke how this bloud-sucker heere makes way for future tragedies but his poison lies in his taile take heed therefore of his venemous and deadly sting that ought to bee approued of which the King of Frances Embassadour very discreetly and with good reason commended the King of England againe and againe counselled and perswaded both to the generall-States and vnto you too in the yeere 1613. Whereto his Maiesties admonitions and aduice giuen within this yeeres compasse may also bee referred and applied as also the counsell and admonitions of the King of Switzerlands Embassadour extraordinarie and diuers warnings giuen to the same purpose in sundry assemblies both publikely and priuately Namely that all guile and dissimulation all sinister suspect and ambition all conceiued gall hatred and reuenge might be laid aside and the former grudges being forgotten and not thought of as farre as was possible without notable preiudice to any a new vnitie of mindes might be made in charitie peace and concord For this is the onely remedy whereby the counsels hostilitie and treacherie of the Spaniard might be resisted These things being done speciall care is to bee taken that such as are deputed for the Assembly of the generall States and those which consult in common without any instructions should perswade themselues that the last Vtricke vnion is the very foundation of their Assembly well and aduisedly prouiding that the (a) Yea the thirteenth Article too Ah! I' ay souuent ouy dire qu' on cognouit l'animant au parler le pot au sonner So ghesse we at the metall by the sound So by the voice the beast in chase is found Articles concluded of therein as their prouidence and pleasure thought fit may be obserued and enacted the defects of the former yeeres contributions may bee excused and supplied Consents may bee maturely and well obtained for the contributions of the yeere present and satisfaction may be made vnto Holland and West-Frisland by the contributions of the other seuerall Prouinces proportionably for the money dispended vpon two companies of footmen of the French and two troopes of horsemen That (b) How stately doth hee heere like the principal commonwealthes man prescribe lawes vnto the Generall States and limit their power and yet they are chiefe Lords and Administrators of all things But if this Foxes cunning bee haply vnknowne to the Reader I will briefely lay it open Et à fin que ie ne te voye plus en sinistre opinion de la chose Regarde car des yeux ie t' osteray la nue Qui des yeux des humains rend moins clare Iauenë And that you may no longer misconceiue the matter Attend I meane the curtaine to vnfold Which yet the mindes cleere sight in doubt doth hold The prouinciall States beyond Holland and West-Frisland and Vtricke those beyond the Islands now also are conformed by the most
belonging vnto the Prouinces of Holland and West-Frisland the members and Cities thereof specially according to their seuerall commissions instructions resolutions and Actes and that in great and weighty matters your consent bee sought for and that in all things your decrees be obserued (bb) Noble Gentleman excellent Prince giue this coward the hearing but follow not his counsell Labori eux Athlete poudreux d'exercice Qui ne trembla iamais pour un petit novice And howsoeuer you haue differred to cope with your enemie dessous un fer rouille n' est moins preux un Achille That his Excellence and the Iudges in cases iudiciall and other differences may equally administer Iustice and bee assisted for the better performance thereof That the Exchequer in guiding the Dominions and other matters left to the disposall thereof duely execute it office and be encouraged in execution thereof That the Officers both in general and particular and all gouernours of Citie and Townes behaue themselues decently in promoting a good and ciuill gouernement in the Administration of Iustice the increase of the publike good and in a word in procuring the peace and vnitie of Cities Boroughs strangers and towne-dwellers that they wisely vse their authoritie and be assisted and confirmed in the same Now if these things bee thus ordered and euery one haue their owne right if euery ones (a) How gladly would hee bee a great Lord and Master ouer all but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But there is a God that sees and surely punishes such things authoritie office honour and possessions be reserued to themselues safe and sound without doubt within a short time al things wil go better with vs. My good Lords I haue beene more (b) So haue my castigations therefore if you obtaine pardon I haue no reason to despayre of it for in tediousnesse and prolixitie we iuÌ„pe only your cause vs worse then mine for the truth is strong aboue al things and conquereth for euermore tedious then I was aware of I intreat you all to looke to marters as well generally as particularly concerning your prerogatiues rights priuiledges and safetie For (c) And heere thus agained Souvent i'ay beu encor qu' a contre oeur Quand i' auoy mal de tres amers breuvages O Socij neque enim ignari sumus ante malorum O passi grauiora dabit Deus his quoque finem Those are not the first euils Iwis we haue endured we hope braue mates to bee rid of these my part such were my troubles yet God deliuered me out of them in the yeares 1586 and 1587 vnder the Earle of Leicester and in the yeares 1588 1589 vnder the Lord Willoughby his successour in the gouernment of the English garrisons vnder whose name these impudent forgers seeke to shelter patronage themselues then in the yeare 1600 after the battell of Flanders afterward in the yeare 1608. in the treaty concerning the league For these 32. yeares the truth hath triumphed in her conquest ouer falshood I presume (d) Amen Amen may God assâ—yle the the truth and her followers but you and your wicked adherents your Arminians slaues to Antichrist shall perish together For thus much I presume except you repent and conforme yourselfe to Antiquity God in his good time will assoile the truth destroy falshood and confound the authours thereof and others also there are and those great ones and of good deserts too not onely in our Prouinces but in the neighbour kingdoms also dominions as well heretofore as in this present age who could not acquit free themselues from such greater calumnies false accusations I (a) And I most mighty God earnestly beseech thee from the supreame Throne of thy Maiesty that thou wouldst bee pleased to looke vpon thy holy People and the faithfull Ministers of thy Church and so fortifie protect and defend them against their insulting enemies wheresoeuer the false brethren and Prophets and especially the maintayners of the Arminian wicked sect who seeke to trouble and breake that vnion which thou hast confirmed That they whom thou hast praedestinated to saluation may alwayes haue the vpper hand and triumph in the certainty of their saluation but they whom thou hast created vnto confusion and as vessels of thy most iust wrath may tumble and be thrust headlong thither whereto from all eternitie thou didst predestinate them euen before they had done any good or euil Euen so Father because it seemed good vnto thee thy word is truth thy word endures for euer Amen beseech Almightie God in mercie to open your eyes my good Lords and with the blessing of his heauenly grace to strengthen and confirme you in your prosperous and happy gouernment From the Haigh April 20. 1618.