THE TRUE REPORT OF THE LAMENTABLE DEATH, OF WILLIAM of Nassawe Prince of Orange: who was traitorously slain with a Dag in his own Court, by Balthasar Serack a Burgunian, the first of july 1584.  
Herein is expressed the Murderers confession, and in what manner he was executed, upon the tenth of the same month. Whose death was not of sufficient sharpness for such a caitiff, and yet too sour for any Christian.  
Printed at Middleborowgh, by Derick van Respeawe▪ Anno. 1584.   

G. P. His Proheme to the inhabitants of Flaunders.  
WHo so considereth the state of Princes (although they are as Gods upon earth, being anointed of God, having their authority from God, and sitting in God's seat to rule the sword with the Law, may perceive that they live in more care and greater danger, than the simplest subject. Lamentable therefore is their late example of the Prince of Orange, slain (by a treacherous villain) in his own Court: his death and the manner thereof, may forewarn other Princes to be careful, whom they retain into the presence of their person. Great is thy loss, and greater will be thy misery (O Flaunders,) for the want of thy Prince, who did guide thee and governed thy people, with wisdom, love, policy and continual care for thy quietness: he was thy comfort and the stay of thy state in all extremities.  
The chiefest states of thy Country shall miss him: the widow, the sucking Babe and the fatherless child shall have cause to bewail his death. Yea rich and poor, altogether may lament his mishap, and cry woe upon that man that bereaved him of life, whose nobleness deserved fame, and whose worthy acts and enterprises, being honourable, are meet to be registered among the most laudable reports of learned Historiographers. If the Romans did bemoan the death of Caesar, the Trojans the loss of Hector and the Lacedæmonians the want of Alexander, than hast thou (O Flaunders) more cause to lament the loss of thy good Prince, who with wisdom, force, and great care, (aided by the power and providence of God himself) did keep thy country, from the hands of him that would make a Monarchy of Realms in his ownehandes: to the utter spoil of thee and thine, & to draw other Realms under his subjection. O most accursed wretch that he was, so subject to the subtleties of sathan, to work the untimely death of so gracious a Prince, that hither to hath defended your liberties, & maintained your right these many years, to the great glory of God, the advancement of your wealth, and the maintenance of true Religion. It were too tedious to set down in what subjection all the Low Countries of Flaunders, hath been many years yoked in by their enemies: the effect whereof is so notorious & apparent to all the world & the same so truly laid open by many, that it is here needless to touch it: as also to handle the great care of this Prince from time to time, who continually sought to maintain your liberties and to defend your Country from extreme misery: which doubtless hath sharply pinched you: and now having lost him who was the principal prop of the Low countries, it is like to fall out to the utter overthrow, ruin, and destruction of that poor commonalty, (a matter most lamentable) except God (the only defender of those that trust in him) do speedily procure and stir up, a careful and godly Prince to be the defender of that people and Country, that there by the Towns and Villages there about may become populous & thoroughly replenished (now grievously impoverished through civil dissension) to the quietness, wealth, and peace of the same.  
And considering it is most necessary to publish a true discourse of this late lamentable mishap, I have thought it good briefly and plainly to set down the true circumstance thereof: and that for one special cause, which is, that considering the untrue imaginations and feigned reports, of this Prince's death, now blazed a broad, as well to his friends as to his enemies▪ the truth being laid open, and made manifest to all men, that then those reports may be accounted fryvolus and to be trodden under foot. I therefore admonish you, O ye people of Flaunders, that having lost the stay and staff of your country, that you yet vouchsafe with patience to remain content with GOD'S works, who provideth wonderfully for you. It is your sins that is the cause of all your care: wherefore call upon God in this your time of affliction: and with prayer and hearty repentance, to turn unto the Lord, who no doubt will deliver you from danger: as he did the children of Israel, and assure yourselves, that he will so establish your country in short time, pouring thereon peace and plenty, that the remembrance of your great extremety now fallen upon you, shall in short time grow out of memory and be made a flourishing common wealth which God the father withal speed grant to confirm. Amen.   

The discourse of the Treason wrought against William of Nassawe, Prince of Orange, by Balthasar Serack, a base borne Gent. of Burguni, of the age of 25. years.  
Upon the 12. day of june last past 1584. there came to the Prince of Orange) a base borne Gent. of Burguni, who brought certain Letters from the States of France, conserning matters of news, touching the death of the French kings brother, who died a little before: which Letters, the Prince in most thankful manner did receive, and gave the messenger such friendly entertainment in his own Court, as became a Prince in such causes. The Prince liking well of this messenger, would sundry times use conference with him, touching the garrison of the Prince of Parma; whose soldiers greatly impoverished the countries round about. This messenger (in whom there remained nothing but subtlety and secret mischief) did show unto the Prince, how he could at any time bring him or his souldrers into the Prince of Parma's garrison, whereby he might take the advantage of the Prince of Parma's power, for that this messenger being a cunning pen man, could finely counterfeit the Prince of Parma's own hand, so near that the one should not be known from the other. The Prince notwithstanding would not so deal by his devise, but yet he would inquire of him how all things stood, aswell in the Prince of Parma's garrison, as of the Prince's pretence towards the Low countries, who continually certified unto the Prince of Orang the truth, which caused the Prince to repose a greater trust and confidence in him, so that he remained in the court without suspicion of any treachery. But behold what followed, on the 1. day of july last passed, which by the new computation of the Romish Church, was the tenth day of the same month, this Traytot thus harboured and lodged in the Court of this good Prince, seeing a small Pistol or Dag in the hands of one of the Prince's servants, did demand what it might cost him, saying: I have occasion to ride a journey shortly, and that dag would be a good defence for me upon the high way side, wherefore he requested the Prince's servant that he might buy it of him, who thinking nothing of that which happened afterward, did sell it to him for the some of 10. shillings of English money. The Prince then being in his Court at Delft, (a town of great strength, where the chiefest States do inhabit,) who being gone to dinner, and the Guard attendant about his person, this Traitor seeing it a meet time to compass his pretended mischief (which was, to bereave the Prince of his life, as he did) went into his Chamber, & charged the pistol with powder, and put three bullets in the same: that done he placed it privily in his pocket, and went down to dinner: who after he had dined, hearing that the Prince would anon go up into his privy chamber, devised in his mind where he might best plant himself, for the finishing of his wicked intent, who finding a privy corner upon the stairs, where he might be shadowed and not be seen, placed himself until the Princes coming.  
The Prince, so soon as he had dined, (which was between one & two of the clock in the afternoon) came forth of the great chamber, with his Lady and Gentlewomen attendant, his Lady purposing to walk abroad, took her leave of the Prince, who going towards the stairs which did lead to the privy chamber, and seeing an Italian named Ma. Carinson, who had stayed to speak with the Prince, to whom the Prince very friendly spoke, saying: Carinson welcome, and took him by the hand, willing this Italian that he should go up with him into his privy chamber, purposing there to use some conference with the Italian Gentleman: and before the Prince entered the stairs, there came an English Captain, called Captain William's, who doing reverence unto the Prince, was entertained in most friendly manner, laying his hand upon Captain William's head, willing him also to come up with him.  
The Guard then attendant upon the Prince: Master Carinson and Captain William's followed: But the Prince going up the stairs, not thinking of any such matter as happened, no sooner came directly against this villainous traitor, but he presently discharged his Pistol, (wherein as before mentioned) he having put 3. bullets, two of those bullets went through the Prince's body, and the third remained in his belly, through which wicked stroke, the Prince fell down suddenly, crying out, saying▪ Lord have mercy upon me, and remember thy little flock.  
Wherewith he changed this life, to the great grief of his Lady, who greatly lamented his death, as also to the great sorrow of the whole country. The Guard pursued the murderer and sought to slay him, but he overscaped the first Guard, and was stayed by the second watch guard, which was within the Prince's court.  
When he was taken, they demanded of him what he had done, who very obstinately answered, that he had done that thing, which he would willingly do if it were to do again. Then they demanded of him for what cause he did it, he answered, for the cause of his Prince and country: more confession at that time they could not get of him. Forthwith they committed him to prison, where he remained alive to the pleasure of the Estates of the country, who shortly after devised a torment (by death) for this murderer, which was reasonable sharp, yet not so terrible as he deserved.  
Grievous was the cry of the people that came flocking to the Prince's gates, to hear the report and truth of what had happened, which known, every household was filled with sorrow, who powered forth their plaints, and did shed tears, for the loss of so good a Christian, and so careful a Prince.  
The murderer while he remained in prison, was sundry times examined by the chief Estates of the country, up whose procurement he committed the said fact, who answered: at the Prince of Parma's request, and other Princes, at whose hands he should receive for doing the same 25000. Crowns.  
The order of the torment, & death of the murderer, was as followeth, which was four days. He had the 1. day the Strappado, openly in the Market. The second day whipped and salted, and his right hand cut off. The third day, his breasts cut out and salt thrown in, and then his left hand cut off. The last day of his torment, which was the 10. of july, he was bound to 2. stakes, standing upright, in such order that he could not shrink down nor stir any way. Thus standing naked, there was a great fire placed some small distance from him, wherein was heated pincers of Iron, with which pincers, two men appointed for the same, did pinch and put his flesh in small pieces from his bones, throughout most parts of his body. Then was he unbound from the stakes, and laid upon the earth, and again fastened to four posts, namely by his feet and arms: then they ripped up his belly at which time he had life and perfect memory, he had his bowels burned before his face, and his body cut in four several quarters. During the whole time of his execution, he remained impenitent and obstinate, rejoicing that he had slain the Prince.  
Upon the 16. day of july, the Prince was very royally buried, in the new Church at Delft, being lapped in sear cloth and Lead, according to the manner of other Princes in time past.  
The Cittizenes' of Antwerp, are many times driven to shut up their gates, by reason of their enemies, who would gladly take the City at some advantage: The enemy hath built a Fort upon the Bank, between Antwerp and Lullo, so that they do what they may to stop the passage of the River from them.  
There is not as yet any Governor chosen for the Low countries: but they are in hope that some order will be taken for them very shortly.  
God for his mercy sake send quietness in those parts, that the people may enjoy their own, to the health, wealth, and comfort of them all now distressed. Amen.