A declaration and publication of the most worthy Prince of Orange, containing the cause of his necessary defence against the Duke of Alba. ❀ ❀  
¶ Translated out of French into English, and compared by other copies in divers languages.  PSALM. XCIIII. 
They gather them together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. But the Lord is my refuge and my God is the rock of mine hope. And he will recompense them their wickedness, and destroy them in their own malice: yea, the Lord our God shall destroy them.  
¶ Imprinted at London by john Day, beneath S. Martin's over Aldersgate.   

❧ We William by the grace of God Prince of Orange, Earl of Nassaw, Catsenellebogen, Vianen, Dietz, Bueren, and Leerdam, Baron of Breda. etc. After all due and friendly commendations, give to weet to all those that shall see or read this present declaration. (⸫)  
Although that (to our seeming) it be not necessary to declare here at large the occasion that moveth us with our Allies & confederates, to use this begun & enterprised defence, (not for any great pleasure that we take therein, but rather through unmovable reasons and constraintes) against the unreasonable and horrible practices, (the like not heretofore heard of, practised, or executed of the Duke of Alba, his adherents, and blood thirsty rabble in the in the low Country. Nothing doubting but that all good and godly men, will hold us for more than excused, knowing our nature so inclined to peace, & therewith the faithful and diligent duties which we used, during the time of tumult and sedition: employing body, goods, and honour, to the profit of his Majesty and Country. Seeing also the confiscations, prizes, and withholding of our country, subjects, and goods, the blasphemous Proclamations, and injuries against all right and reason offered unto our person: And also that this our so just & reasonable defence, (which with God's furtherance we hope to go thorough with) tendeth to none other end, but first and chief to the advancing of the honour of God and his word, to the profit of his Majesty, country, and subjects, and likewise of the Imperial Majesty our sovereign Lord and his well beloved son: which in time to come (as true successors of the said country) pretend right thereto: likewise the rooting out of the great (not ever tofore heard of, & more than barbarous) fury and rage of the Duke of Alba and his adherents, which they have of long time used and put in effect.  
Nevertheless we have thought good, publicly to declare by these presents, the unavoidable occasions, by which we with our Allies and friends, have been constrained and enforced to take in hand this our defence: principally to put away all suspicion of rebellion, which we have fled, & mortally hated all the days of our life.  
First we are not ignorant, that it is manifest to all the world, how and after what manner, (through the practices and fetches of the Cardinal of Granuelle, with other covetous and blood thirsty (which under the colour and cloak of the religion, pretended catholic) sought none other thing but the diminishing of the honour of God, the authority of the king, and the weal of the Commons, and loving nothing more than their proper and particular profit, the undoing and destruction of other good men, where through the intolerable Inquisition, hath been put forth, with the unmerciful Placcards of the execution thereof: notwithstanding that we and other our brethren went about by all means to dissuade them from it, seeing and considering the great evils & inconveniences that already sprang thereof, & the great likelihood of more to ensue, they nothing regarding our humble suits therein: such I say (not long since) have brought and thrust in the said Inquisition into this low country. Whereby is come to pass, that under colour of the said Inquisition, the Inquisitors and dissembling hypocrites, have with all outrages proceeded against such poor innocents and faithful people, as desire to live according to the pure doctrine of the Gospel. First by confiscation of their goods both movable and immovable, than by banishment, torment and tortures, by fire, water, gibbet, by prisons & otherwise, dispatching them in corners, by means as well unlawful as lawful.  
All which tyrannies and persecutions until this present, are nothing assuaged or diinished, but rather since the unhappy entry of the said Duke of Alba into the said low Countries, from day to day are increased and augmented: so that daily they invent now torments and executions against the poor people, yea such as not only Christians, but the very Turks and Saracens would have pity and compassion of. I will not for shame rehearse the unspeakable injuries and villainies that are daily committed by the soldiers of the said Duke of Alba, so that there is no good man, but had rather choose to die, than to see such cruelty and tyranny executed, both upon him and his, before his face.  
And seeing that such cruelties and tyrannies used by the said Duke of Alba and his adherentes, covetous and bloodthirsty persons, do wholly repugn the contracts, letters sealed, and promises made between his said royal Majesty, and those of the low Country, yea against the very oath that his Majesty swore and promised: whereby we may see and clearly perceive, that the said Duke of Alba abuseth the charge that he hath obtained of his said Majesty, only for his own avarice and desire of blood, to the damage and hindrance of his said Majesty, and the destruction and ruin of his faithful subjects, chief with this horrible fury and tyranny that he useth towards those poor people, (no doubt) against the kings will, who (according to his accustomed clemency and gentleness) never minded any such thing: This to prevent, there is none other mean to withstand the said cruelties, (considering also that the passage or access to his Majesty is shut up from us,) but this our present & unavoidable defence.  
For although that heretofore the Duchess of Parma. etc. at that time Governess for his Majesty in the low countries, hath expressly permitted and agreed to the preaching of the word of God, (to the end to avoid such imminent perils and dangers, as at that time threatened the said country,) with promise that none should attempt any evil against such as had heard the said preaching, or hereafter would hear them: which at commandment of her highness we caused to be published through all the Countries under our government, binding us and our person, that the aforesaid should been inviolably observed towards the subjects of his said Majesty.  
All this notwithstanding, the said Duke of Alba and his adherentes have constrained divers of the Uassals and Subjects of his Majesty to annoyed the country, and that for none other cause, but for that they have been at such Sermons, and have showed themselves affectionate to that which they found agreeable to the word of God.  
And after they had brought it in, with impertinent Citations, & against all right and justice, without observing of order, custom or use of process, they have proceeded against them by confiscation and violating of their goods, as well movable as immovable, and all under colour of justice.  
And the troth is, that for religions sake divers notable, honourable, and good men as well by fire, sword, as other horrible means, without cause and reason, yea horribly and tyrannously, both publicly and privily, have been executed, some in dark prisons, other through other fortures and horrible pains and torments, after they had suffered divers unspeakable tyrannies have lost their lives innocently and without cause, yea even to this day such execrable and horrible executions are put in ure, to the utter destruction of the whole country, but especially of the poor Christians oppressed, of which there are many in that country.  
And to this effect, it is not long since throughout the whole low country, at one present time, in one night, through all the towns, a great number of them that they suspected of such religion, were taken prisoners, contrary to all privileges, laws, contracts, and freedoms, which his Majesty himself (as is aforesaid) had agreed and given them, yea such as he both swore and promised unto them.  
Also how they violently proceed to the prejudice and interest of the said privileges, contracts, and freedoms, to the confiscation of goods movable and immovable, using and entreating the poor prisoners at their pleasure, and scratching unto themselves the goods of those, that wrongfully and against all right and justice have been driven away, condemned, and slain, and by this means have brought the afore said country (who notwithstanding, the better to show their humble obedience towards his majesty, as to their sovereign Prince & Lord used no kind of resistance) into extreme bondage and unspeakable misery and danger. And if their wicked purpose, greedy covetousness, and bloodthirstiness be not prevented, it is like to fall into greater. Without consideration of the great faithfulness that his low country showed in contributing so often, so lovingly, so willingly, as well to his Majesty, as to his well-beloved father Charles of most worthy memory, so many notable gifts, as amount to many millions of florins, and infinite sums, and especially in these last wars, when so willingly they gave about forty millions of florins. And that of late they have offered to his said Majesty three millions of florins, to obtain leave to preach the word of God, and to exercise the same, according to the writing of the Prophets and apostles.  
And although that heretofore by the advertising and soliciting of the Lady Governess aforesaid, he promised, at the request presented in the behalf of all the lords and Gentlemen, touching the abolishing of the Inquisition & Placartes of execution that they should not doubt them: nevertheless it is manifest, that under this present tyrannous rule of the Duke of Alba, to the detriment and mockery of his majesties promise, divers notable personages, trusting to the said promise, as well of his majesty, as of her highness the Governess, have been taken and thrown in dark dungeons, whose goods (with also the goods of those that fled) were without exception of religion, contrary to all justice, customs, Statutes, laws and ordinances, taken away and conficate. So that it seemeth that in the end none shall be exempt, of what religion soever they be, so they have any thing to lose.  
And notwithstanding that we for our own person, during the time of our Government, yea ever since we came to man's state, have desired nothing so much as the stablishing and increasing of the authority, power and force of his Majesty, the maintenance of peace, quietness and tranquillity, as well of the country, as of the Subjects, likewise that all mischief, damage and interest, to our power, and as much as in us lieth, might be far removed from them: as heretofore, not sparing our goods, yea with great danger of our life (be it spoken without brag) we have effectually declared.  
Yet now without any regard hereto, we (as well as other faultless both of high and low degree) by an unorderly citation, and blasphemous proclamation, under colour as though we had attempted the superiority of the kings Majesty of Spain, and as committing Crimen rebellionis, without any sufficient precedent, or reasonable sentence, by violence are deprived of all our country and subjects, goods movable and immovable: which to this day they keep violently from us, against all human or divine right.  
And it is marvelous, with what boldness our adversaries dare propose, that we have attempted any thing against the authority of the kings Majesty, and gone about to take possession of his country, when without any farther excuse, the contrary is manifest, by our willing resignation of our charge and government of the countries of Holland, Seland, and Utreght, also the giving over of the principal towns and Fortresses in those parts: and to avoid all suspicion, we went not secretly away in to Germany, but publicly in the sight of all men.  
Which we would not have done, if our mind, intent, or enterprise, had been inclined to rebellion (as our adversaries for cloak of their horrible tyranny, wrongfully lay to our charge) And we could be well pleased; yea we most humbly desire, that the principal Captains, Officers, and justicers of such Towns, Fortresses, & Castles as were then, (according to our government) under our charge, (that the truth may the better be known) may be diligently examined, if they were ever required by us, to yield or give up any town, Fortress, or castle to our particular profit. Of which points as of all other affairs of the low country, ye shall find more ample declaration in our justification now of late setforth by us.  
But if we, which have done so good and faithful service to his Majesty, neither sparing body nor goods (without brag be it spoken) yea being at this present ready with all our heart to do much more, be now recompensed with such blasphemous accusations (against God & all justice) & further our adversaries assail us by so many sinister practices, let all good men weigh by themselves, how intolerable it is to us to bear.  
With all which tyrannies aforesaid, and innumerable other violences, our adversaries with their adherents are not satisfied: but more manifestly to show their rage and cruelty, have not long since taken out of the Town of Louvain, our well-beloved son, the Earl of Bueren (where we had placed him to continue in study, that he might hereafter be better able to serve his Majesty) with intent to carry him into Spain, as in deed they have done.  
Besides that the Duke of Alba, not long since, more clearly to show his bloodthirsty tyranny, hath taken and cruelly put to death above three score Gentlemen and Noblemen, with other notable and rich personages and burgesses of the town of Bruxelles, with an infinite number in other Towns, whose goods he hath confiscate and taken away, against all right and justice. Whereby it is to be presumed, that he goeth about to destroy and deface all the the Nobility, yea the Eagle itself.  
Yet all this could not satisfy them, but that the two Earls of Egmont and of Horn of famous memory, notwithstanding their faithful service heretofore, in so many wars, to the most mighty Emperor Charles of worthy memory, yea and also to his Majesty of Spain, so many years, with so great charge, in such danger of body (as all the world knoweth) without being heard, without any form of accustomed process used in such case, (not only against all Gods and man's law, but also against all Statutes of the Empire) hath truly put them to death by the sword: and that with such great dishonour & shame, not only of the Lords justified, but also of their notable friends and parents, as to set up their heads for a spectacle to all the world upon staves and forks.  
Further immediately after the said execution, they took a fresh, more than ij. hundredth persons prisoners.  
Which tyranny and incredible persecucution and fury of the Duke of Alba, hath driven all men into such fear, that now of late an infinite number, of both religions, are withdrawn and fled away, for fear of this general tyranny without exception of Religion.  
And the said Duke of Alba maketh his vaunt openly, to pursue and seek out to the uttermost of his power, yea 〈◊〉 their beds, not only us, but also all those which (by God's divine providence) are escaped his tyranny, as it appeareth daily by examples before our eyes.  
And forasmuch as hereby, the intent and enterprise of the Duke, with his covetous & bloodthirsty adherentes, doth manifestly appear to tend not only to the depriving of us, and all other good men, from such temporal goods as God hath given us, but the utter destruction of our bodies and goods, yea to the final overthrow of the true doctrine of the Gospel and confirmation of their horrible and Idolatrous Popery: & so to deprive us of spiritual gifts, which are to be preferred before all worldly gifts. Nether is there any hope that his Majesty, (according to his natural clemency & gentleness) will have regard unto it, considering that our adversaries, through their accustomed subtleties, have not been ashamed to moon his Majesty against his own only son, yea so far as to commit him to prison: and likewise that our complaints and supplications are not delivered to his Majesty as they ought, neither is there any audience given unto us. 〈…〉 constrained & enforced with also our Allies, Lords and friends, for the maintenance and defence of ourselves and the low Countries, but chief for the Imperial Majesty our Sovereign Lord, and his well-beloved son, pretending right and interest thereto in time to come, and finally for the profit of all the Empire, as also of the pity and compassion, which we have on the complaints that we have received of some of his majesties good subjects, to take in hand in the name of God this defence, against the fury & rage of the Duke of Alba and his adherentes, as the only and extreme mean, seeing that no fair means will serve. And would have wished (if it had been possible) not to have taken this way, as may plainly appear by our too too long patience without further proof.  
By which aforesaid defence, we call God to record, that we pretend none other thing, but only the increasing of the glory of God, the bringing in again of his word, and the advancement of the same, and that his Majesty, with his Country and subjects may be brought to their 〈…〉, and that hereafter all good & due obedience may be yielded to him and his true successors in all things: to the end that having removed the great tyranny of the Duke of Alba and his adherentes, and delivered the said Country from foreign soldiers, they may be governed according to their privileges, contracts, ordinances & Statutes, yea such as his Majesty himself hath sworn & promised unto them. And that these poor Christians which are driven away, persecuted and imprisoned, may return to their wives and children, and enjoy again such goods and movables, as have been violently taken away from them by force. And that our person (which they go about by day, by night, secretly and openly to entrap, yea even in our bed) may be in sufficient assurance, and our goods duly restored.  
And if herein we may obtain sufficient assurance (as is said) we do declare and offer by these presents, not only to leave of this our defence which we have taken in hand, but further we protest to the whole world, that our intent was never other, but to procure the advancement of the honour of God and the kings Majesty, the profit and weal of the Country, with the augmenting and increasing thereof.  
Wherefore, we hope that all those that have Germans hearts as well high as low, that love honour and virtue, and contrariwise hate all tyranny and shedding of innocent blood, especially of those that are of our true Christian religion, and desire to confess the same both with heart & mouth, that undoubtedly they will detest this horrible and unspeakable tyranny, yea so cruel as the like was never heard of in any Christian country. Chief considering the great danger and peril (without God of his great merry prevent it) into the which the whole Empire may undoubtedly fall, that not only they will not be easily persuaded to defend & continued this horrible tyranny with the oppression & extirpation of our christian religion, and extreme persecution of body and life, honour and goods of so many good, faithful and innocent people, yea such as thirst for the word of God, but that rather they will esteem this our unavoidable and enforced defence, for none other but 〈…〉 enterprised upon great and weighty occasions. And therefore our duty is (as being a member borne yea of the Empire, and of ●●y that we ought to have of poor desolate and persecuted Christians) to counsel succour, and assist as much as in us lieth, first that this horrible and unspeakable tyranny, be diligently and earnestly abolished & driven away, and that the poor Christians (which are vanished and wrongfully persecuted) may be defended and maintained, & not so oppressed, persecuted, martyred, and so miserably and diversly murdered and slain as they are at this present, some by fire, and some by water, and all for confession of the true and Christian Religion.  
Thus doing each man shall do the praise worthy work of a Christian, and a work agreeable to God, as tending to the advancement of his word, the comfort, profit, and wealth of so many good Christians as are grievously persecuted, oppressed, and imprisoned, and likewise to the whole Empire of germany a good continual and durable peace.  
Wherein we offer ourselves, with like wise our Allies, Lords, and friends to 〈◊〉 compence each man after his estate, and according to our power, and likewise to acknowledge it all the days of our life.  
The Lord God everlasting according to his good pleasure, direct and govern these affairs as his own, and bring them to good and happy end. So that our good king may (as we hope in time he shall) spy out and perceive the unfaithful and dangerous practices and fetches that these authors of persecution and tyranny do use: and likewise what good will we have always borne to his majesty and at this prelent do.  
Given the xx. of july. 1568