A PROCLAMATION GIVEN BY THE DISCREET LORDS AND STATES, against the slanders laid upon the evangelical and Reformed Religion, by the ARMINIANS and SEPARATISTS: Containing all the Points, Accusations, Declarations and Confessions, taken out of the last Provincial Synod holden at Arnhem, the 15. day of September last passed. 1618.  
Together with the several Examinations and Confessions (at Vtrecht and the Hage) of one Leydenberg, Pensioner of Leyden, and Taurinus; with their sudden and fearful ends.  
Printed according to the Dutch Originals, AT LONDON, By G. E. for T●: TH: and RICHARD CHAMBERS, and are to be sold at the sign of the black Bear in Paul's Churchyard 1618.   

The Governor, Chancellor, and Council, in the name of the Lords and Estates of the Dukedom of Gelderlandt, and County of Zutphen, do give to understand:  
THAT whereas, not only out of these Provinces, the evangelical Reformed Christian Religion, and the Teachers thereof (thorough public Writings and published Books, by the Arminians and Separatists) but also within these Provinces, (as well amongst the common people, as by written Remonstrations delivered over to the discreet Lords and States and their Deputies) is brought in question; about sundry terrible and blasphemous Points of Doctrine: whereby the evangelical Doctrine and the Teachers thereof are defamed and made causers of the oppression of the Truth, disturbation of the Policy of Government, lamentation & grief of many zealous Souls and Consciences, departing and seducing of others, and the augmentation of the enemies of the Truth. The discreet Lords and Estates, out of sundry and manifest Reasons heretofore given by the Separatists in Church-matters, are moved to command the said Points deliberately to be examined, and in a respective Class, whether any of the Teachers might be found guilty therein. Which done, they of the Class, which were most suspected and guilty therein, have declared, first, in their Assemblies, and afterwards in presence of the Deputies in the Provincial Synod, for themselves, and in the name of their Committees, that they never held or acknowledged, nor yet hereafter will hold or acknowledge that the same Points are the opinions of the Reformed Church. Also, that they know not, that ever the same was intended in such sense and meaning by any of the Teachers in the Reformed Church, but much rather, that they had an horror and trembling to think the same, detesting and renouncing the same in the highest degree. Whereupon also, those that were any ways affected to the Remonstrants, commonly called Arminians, and authors of the foresaid objected Points, to be the old Reformed opinion; have acknowledged and confessed (in the aforesaid Provincial Synod) that they had penned some of the same through ill report, some out of a wicked presumption, and some out of vainglory, acquitting and holding their fellow-brethrens free and guiltless therein, being hearty sorry that they ever did lay the same to their charge, promising hereafter never to charge any body with any such like Accusations either publicly or privately. But much more to do their uttermost endeavour to moderate the same, and to set them in peace and quietness, who therewith were any ways troubled or molested, and to help to defend and take away all further slanders and accusations one of another.  
We therefore considering that the aforesaid slanders and calumnies of the Doctrine and Teachers of the evangelical Reformed Churches, (as well at home as abroad) is rumoured both far and near, and desiring to exalt and extol the same, to the maintaining of the Truth have found it fit and convenient to extract and publish the aforesaid Points and Accusations, Declarations and Confessions, out of the Acts of the last Provincial Synod: So that every one having knowledge thereof, may hereafter hold themselves quiet in Conscience, remain and continue in the truth of the evangelical Reformed Religion, give no credit to the slanders and objections of their enemies, and that thereby the Churches and Commonalty being established in the accustomed unity, God's glory may be furthered, and the Subjects may live in peace, tranquillity, and prosperity under their lawful Magistrates.  
Given in the Council of Gelderlandt at Arnhem, the 15. of September, 1618. Subsigned E. Engelen.   

An Extract of the Acts of the Synod of Gelderlandt, held at Arnhem in july, 1618.  
THE Acts of the Superiors of the Synod being related, the first separation or division of these Countries was also declared, and the writings and Controversies which followed there upon▪ and how the Ministers about the Town and Country of Nymegam, in their first Letters and Writings (sent and delivered unto the Country) had objected ten Points or Positions, like as followeth.  
1 Th●● God from all eternity hath reprobated the most part of mankind, and inevitably ordained them to damnation, without any respect of their unbelief and sins, which they might or should commit, or of the sin of Adam: only according to his delight and pleasure, the which he taketh in the revealing of the glory of his power and might.  
2 Or if that God in the aforesaid Reprobation in any wise hath regarded the sin of Adam, or the original sin thereout proceeding, but not any actual sin or unbelief, whereby the Reprobates could deserve this Reprobation more than others.  
3 That amongst these Reprobates are an infinite number of young Children of the faithful, which dying in their Infancy without any actual sin, poor innocent Sucklings are taken away and cast into the fire of Hell; so that it availeth them not to have received the holy Baptism, nor that any man should pray unto God Almighty for them.  
4 That God from all eternity hath elected, and inresistably ordained to salvation the lesser part of mankind, without respect of their belief, as a condition necessary to salvation; yea, also without any motion of Christ, as the meriting cause of salvation, only by mere chance and good luck in some men, without any respect of qualities: so that Christ is only the executor of the said Decree: and Belief a fruit of the Election.  
5 That God towards the fulfilling of his eternal immutable Decree, hath created the most part of mankind for damnation, and with this intention made them that they should be damned.  
6 That God forceth and provoketh men to sin, yea, and that he is the cause of sin.  
7 That God hath given his Son to be an Advocate for the relapsed human generation, whose sacrifice would be sufficient to satisfy for all men's sins, yet that his intention was not that Christ should die for all, but only for a few: and that the Reprobates, whensoever the Gospel is preached unto them, must also believe that Christ died for them; and if they did not believe so, were therefore justly damned.  
8 That God sendeth his holy Word unto many Reprobates, and invites them to his communion, not that they should thereby be converted and believe in Christ, but expressly with such an intention that their hearts should be hardened, and therefore more grievously punished: And that those Reprobates must acknowledge the aforesaid vocation & invitation of the Lord (through his holy Word) a work of Grace and Mercy, for the which they are obliged to thank the LORD.  
9▪ That the Elect are converted, and Faith and Belief infused into them with an inresistable strength, in such sort that they cannot choose but be converted and believe in Christ▪ like as (on the contrary) it is impossible for the reprobates to attain true Faith, what means soever they use, although they did do all the works of the Saints.  
10 That he that once believeth in Christ, cannot wholly nor finally lose the same, nor fall from Grace through carelessness, nor through the greatest and highest deadly sin, as Adultery, Murder and the like▪ that he being fallen into most heinous sins, must of necessity be converted afore his death, by virtue of the aforesaid absolute and in evitable Decree.  
Maintaining that some Teachers in these Provinces do teach and hold the same, and do undertake to thrust them in for the opinions of the Reformed Churches. In consideration whereof the four Classes, Teil, Zuophen, Over, and Neder veluwen, have solicited, that considering they have declared, and do by these presents declare, never to have acknowledged the same, nor now to acknowledge the same to be the opinions and sentences of the Reformed Churches: nor to know that the said Points were ever maintained by any of the Teachers of the reformed Churches, in that sense and meaning: but that they were much more abashed and astonished thereat, detesting and ●●nouncing the same in the highest degree: That those persons might be specified by their particular names which ever intended or maintained the same, and did their uttermost to make them pass for Points of Belief in these Provinces, whereof they in their first and second writings have so often made mention, leaving them that are not of us to answer for themselves▪ In the name of them of South- Holland, Doctor Henricus Arnoldi hath declared, in presence of the aforesaid Classes, to detest and renounce the same, and if so be they could charge any body therewith▪ that they would make means that he should appear in this present place, to the end he might clear himself before this Assembly, or if he were found guilty, acknowledge his ●ault▪  
Also the Commissaries of both the Countries, in the name thereof, and of the Honourable Lord●▪ have earnestly besought and solicited, that the same might be published in these Provinces to the end the Lords and Magistrates might proceed according to justice and equity▪ to def●nd these Provinces from such blasphemies.  
That o●● sentences and opinions are that God Almighty will eternally torment in the pit of Hell, innumerable young Children: Notwithstanding that they were of believing parents, and that only because of original sin, so that the aforesaid Children have no more hope of salvation than the wicked Angels.  
That we do hold the opinion of Churches, and not God's Word the rule of our Belief: and that we are therein much like to the Papists, as if the holy Church could not err.  
That the Confession and Catechism is Norma secundaria Fidei, a secondary rule of Faith, as if we said that the holy Scripture becomes to be a rule of our Beleiefe, when she is expounded according to the sense and meaning contained in the Confession and Catechism.  
Unto these and such like accusations, as also to the ten foresaid Points or Positions, the Brethren of Nymegam and Bommel, for themselves, and in the name of their fellow-brethrens of the Arminian opinion in the same quarter; have for their answer declared: That they had satisfied themselves, and with alacrity listened to the Declarations of the Brethren of the four Classes, as also to that which Doctor Henricus Arnoldi had annexed thereunto out of the name of the contra-Remonstrants or old Reform in Holland. And do acknowledge that they did place some of the said Accusations through evil report, some out of a naughty presumption, and some out of vainglory, and do acquit and discharge all and every of the assembled Brethren, and are hearty sorry that ever they accused them therewith, and desired that they would not be so highly offended, but to pardon them, and to bury it in the fire of love, and place it in oblivion, and promised hereafter not to charge any man with such accusations, either publicly or privately: but rather to do their uttermost endeavour to moderate the same, and to set them in peace and quietness that therewith are any ways molested, and help to take away all occasion of discord and dissension one with another.  
Also, that if so be in time to come they were found to have committed any thing here-against, they do willingly submit themselves unto all censures of Nationall or particular Synods, and also upon pain of banishment.  
All this being witnessed with words, the Assembly was confirmed with shaking of hands with the Precedent.   

Ledenberch his Confession both at Vtrecht and the Hage: Also, the death of Taurinus, and how the said Ledenberch murdered himself.  
FIrst, to break the Union and to ordain another form or kind of Government, and that thorough the help and assistance of the Provinces of Holland, Vtrecht, and Oueryssell.  
Secondly, to depose his Princely Excellency.  
Thirdly, to make the Religion common.  
Fourthly, to maintain and assist one another therein with life & goods.  
Fiftly, that they have communicated the same with some of the Council of France, and thereunto desired advice and counsel.  
Further, some seven or eight Months since, that Taurinus had made a Book called the Waech-Schael or Balance, and that the same was corrected and amended by Vtenbogaert, and that the Original was delivered into the hands of some of the States of Vtrecht.   

Their Confessions in the Hage.  
FIrst, that they would renounce and break the generality and unity of the State.  
Secondly, change and alter the Religion.  
Thirdly, to degrade the Prince of▪ Orange.  
Fourthly, to massacre the people of the Towns which were their greatest enemies, or offered resistance.  
Fiftly, if that failed, to take in assistance of some foreign Potentates, as Spain or Brabant, delivering unto them Vtrecht, Nimwegen, Berghen op Zoom, and the Briel.  
The 23. of September (being Sunday) Taurinus died at Bockhoven, a mile from Heusden, and was buried the Friday after at Scheidam.  
The 27. of the foresaid month, Ledenberch was examined, acknowledging the abovesaid, and thereafter said to his Son, I have confessed that which will cost life and goods, and having two days afore conveyed a table-knife into some secret place, commanded to lay his breeches by his Bed: which being done, he said to his Son, If chance thou hearest any noise to night, be still, for I have not been at stool these two days: and then between one and two of the clock in the night he rose, and taking a penknife out of his penner, he thrust it into his belly to the haft not far from his Navel, and feeling that he was not sped, he took the table-knife, and therewith cut his throat, and stabbed himself with the same knife into his short ribs, and lastly into the breast: his son awaking, it was alas too late for his poor soul.  
FINIS.