A supplication to the kings Majesty of Spain, Made by the Prince of Orange, the states of Holland and Zealand, with all other his faithful subjects of the low Countries, presently suppressed by the tyranny of the Duke of Alba and Spaniards. By which is declared the original beginning of all the commotions & troubles happened in the said low Country: to the relief whereof, they require his majesties speedy redress and remedy.  
Faithfully translated out of Duytsch into English, by T. W.  PSALM. LXXXII. 
Defend the poor and fatherless, see that such  
as be in need and necessity, have right.  
Deliver the outcast and poor, save them from  
the hand of the ungodly.  
Imprinted at London, by Henry Middleton. 1573.   

A Supplication to the King's Majesty of Spain, made by the Prince of Orange, the States of Holland and Zealande, with all other 〈◊〉 faithful subjects of the low Country's presently suppressed by the tyranny of the Duke of Alba, and Spaniards.  
Most Sovereign Lord, your▪ majesties most obedient and lamenting subjects of the low Countries, as they have often pondered with themselves, the natural affection and fatherly good inclination, which your Majesty hath (since the time that your grace by the power of almighty God received the dominion and regiment of the said countries) always and continually showed: so have they had a sure hope and undoubted affiance, that your Majesty as well upon their daily complaints and lamentations, as upon the pitiful declarations and remonstrances of some christian Princes and Potentates unto your Majesty, mercifully have considered of our pitiful and most miserable suppression, wherewith we by reason of the great and unsupportable force, arrogancy, and wicked regiment of the Duke of Alba are suppressed, and mercifully have regarded the most miserable ruin and destruction of these your natural low countries, who always have been most faithful and obedient, both to your Majesty, and also your Grace's predecessors. Not doubting but that your Majesty would grievously have been moved, that he under pretence of protecting and defending the Romish religion, under the colour of your majesties name, should presume to frustrate & break all the privileges, customs, and rights, whereunto your Majesty and your predecessors have sworn, persecuting your faithful subjects in body and goods, and destroying your countries, in none other sort, but as if he had declared himself to be an open enemy of your Majesty and the subjects of the same.  
Therefore have they always earnestly attended, that your Majesty no longer suffering the said force, would have provided some convenient means for the safeguard of your countries, and deliverance of your poor and suppressed subjects, and have a respect to the dutiful office of a king, whom the almighty God, the king of all kings, hath placed and ordained as a protector of the righteous, and a fatherly pastor of the people under your subjection, to defend and preserve them from all force and violence: and likewise to remember the manifold and faithful services, which your said countries and subjects, have from time to time most faithfully done to your Majesty and your predecessors.  
But they now (to their extreme grief) considering that all their former supplications are as nothing regarded and in vain, and that all other the remonstrances of sundry Princes and Potentates, have sortid no such effect as might have turned to their comfort and consolation, and they in their consciences assuring themselves, that your Majesty hath no reasonable occasion upon evil will or displeasure▪ so to alienate and turn yourself from your lamentable subjects: can not but undoubtedly suspect, that through malice and false information of some, who having more regard to their private lust and appetite, than to the service of your Majesty, have daily laboured to bring your majesties countries into your displeasure. Wherein they have always most manifestly and unfeignedly pretended and travailed, not only by letting and defending that our humble supplications and faithful warnings should come to your majesties ears, misconstruing the same to the worst, and perversely accusing them to your Majesty, thereby to bring the country into dissension and commotion, & so under your name to suppress and make desolate the same, & so with the goods and blood of your subjects to quench their greedy & unsatiable appetite.  
This is that (O most sovereign King) which your said subjects do, and have not without occasion esteemed to be the greatest calamity that might happen unto them, as considering that the way and means whereby they might complain and show their griefs to your Majesty, as to their bountiful and natural Protector (so by God appointed as a refuge in their extremity) is by the ungodly dealing of their enemies taken away from them: a thing which all ways hath been permitted to unreasonable creatures: namely to suffer them in their extremity and need to sue for remedy and redress.  
And therefore, although they had resolved and taken in hand with patience to attend the time of redress, thinking that your Majesty would at last have opened your ears and eyes to hear and see their miserable estate, from which your Majesty by reason of their said evil willers is now letted. But now considering in the end their suppression, the longer the more to increase & to become more unsufferable, tending not only to their damage and destruction, but also of your majesties heritage and countries, which in times past have flourished in all prosperity, and now come to ruin: they could not for the faithful obedience and alliance sake wherein they are bound to your Majesty and their native country, but now once again by writing, request your Majesty to consider and weigh the original occasion of the desolation of your countries, & by whose means the same is come to pass, and consequently execute the office of a true King, in defending the righteous, and delivering your countries from this tyranny & oppression.  
And first we humbly beseech your Majesty to call to mind and consider, that these your countries in times past having been divided amongst sundry Lords and rulers, are since by marriages, agreements, & mutual treaties, in time, and orderly by lawful succession and conveniences come under the house of Burgundy, and afterwards, by means of marriages contracted with the most famous house of Austria, and consequently allied with the most mighty kingdom of Spain▪ yet always with express condition, that every and singular the countries and provinces should possess and enjoy their own policies rights and liberties in times past accustomed, without that any province or country should be burdened of the dominion of the other, or by any means be deprived of their customs or liberties, but be bound jointly to live one with another under one Prince and head, as many children under one father, to the intent with one accord to defend their Prince & common weal against all strangers and foreign force.  
Also the Princes of the country willing as fathers to show and declare their love & affection to every one, did at their solemnisation and entering into their dominion & rule, by a solemn oath, bind themselves to use and keep each country in their rights and franchises, without suffering that any of them should be infringed or diminished, or that the one Province should have dominion or rule over the other, much less be subject unto any foreign dominion or power: upon which conditions he is accepted and taken as a supreme Lord and Governor over the countries, and thereupon receiveth the oath of obedience and faithfulness of his subjects.  
Of which the premises needeth not any further or larger rehearsal, whilst that undoubtedly your Majesty doth sufficiently remember, how that the Emperor Charles, of most noble memory, following the presidents of his predecessors, and acknowledging that the said oath of solempnisation is the only and right foundation, upon which doth consist aswell the might, & authority of a Prince, as the faith and obedience of his subjects, did in his life time, and presence of your Majesty, cause your Majesty to receive the said countries under the said oath, and swore your Majesty to the joyful income in all the lands and most of the towns, as next successor and only heir of his imperial Majesty: and afterwards the same Imperial Majesty departing out of these countries, and your Majesty receiving the full dominion, and administration of the Land: did once again, in presence of the Deputid of the countries then assembled, rehearse and strongly confirm the said privileges. So that in all times past the said countries have enjoyed and been ruled by their former privileges & liberties.  
Out of which hath followed such faithfulness and obedience of the subjects towards their Prince, and such unity and love amongst each other, that the countries by God his providence, have flourished with most happy prosperity, the Princes then adorned with all honour and high dignities, and greatly redoubted and feared of their enemies.  
And because it needs not to rehearse any thing out of the old histories, being notwith standing explenished with many precedents, it hath appeared in all the wars of the Imperial Majesty, what earnest care he had to the defence and maintenance of his countries in rest and quietness.  
Likewise your Majesty can well remember that he taking his leave of these countries, did specially and earnestly recommend the state thereof unto your Majesty: Yea your Majesty being at his arrival burdened with grievous wars and extreme charges, hath by experience found that all your subjects both great and small, every one to his state and ability, have been ready to venture both life and goods in service of your Majesty. Wherein aswell the Lords and nobles, as commons, have so acquitted and behaved themselves, that your Majesty hath vanquished & overcome your enemies, gotten great praise & renown of all kings, and potentates, and made a final end of all wars and dissensions, wherewith many years before your ancestors and countries were troubled.  
Now if it might please your Majesty, (which your lamentable and faithful subjects do most humbly require) to inquire of and consider the original occasions of the alterations of such good & quiet prosperity, into such miserable commotions and extremities, wherewith the countries are now suppressed: your Majesty shall found them to spring out of the malice and envy which some (being about your Majesty) do bear to the prosperity and welfare wherewith God almighty hath blessed your countries and subjects.  
Which envy and cankered malice, being further incensed and stuffed with unsatiable avarice and unmeasurable prodigality, hath brought them to such cruelty and tyranny, that they altogether forgetting all affection and service which they did own unto the country wherein they have gotten great honour & benefits, have (to the great prejudice of the service of your Majesty and common wealth of these countries) procured by all means and practices this most heinous fire of commotion, to th'intent to aspire to the dignity surpassing the states of the land, yea of your Majesty.  
And knowing well that to compass that devise, it was a matter impossible, the customs and liberties of the countries remaining in force, which do altogether contrary their wicked pretence: considering besides, how diligent and faithful they of the said countries were every one in his vocation (according to their oath) to stand to the maintenance of the same: they attempted in perverse manner too interpret too your Majesty the doings and proceedings of the Lords, governors, and states of the land, tending to the maintenance of the said rights, and liberties, in such sort as if they tended to disobedience or rebellion towards your Majesty.  
Amongst which, specially some being spiritual persons, have by all means attempted and sought, under pretence and shadow of religion to confederate with other foreign prelate's, and so by secret attempts and practices, to bring the country in hatred of your Majesty, to th'intent that they with their confederates which are by oath allied not with your Majesty, but with strange rulers and countries in Italy & else where, specially with the Pope of Room, might here bear rule and governance, etc. and as possibility and commodity served, to enlarge and confirm the same.  
For when they first perceived that in all the countries here abouts, yea over all Christendom, their rude and manifest abuses, and errors, by reason of the negligence and avarice of the priests were descried, & specially when it began to grieve the chief & notablest persons, that they which aught only to meddle with instructing of the people, in the faith and fear of God, and to execute his service with all fidelity, according to the example of the Prophets and apostles, did in stead thereof, not only contrary to God his commandment, but also to the decrees of the former Popes, and to all ordinances of the old counsels, yea against all statutes and usages of Princes and countries▪ take upon them to deal in worldly and Civil policies: yea also in matters touching warfare and rule of countries, seeking to suppress all degrees, and to reserve the general government to themselves, taking in hand to bring all estates in disdain and hatred of the Princes, aswell the subjects of your Majesty, as of divers other kings, & Potentates, accusing them slanderously with sedition and rebellion: whereby they have stirred and provoked, in all countries, troubles, and dissension, wars and bloodshed, setting the subjects at discord with their rulers, and the rulers against the subjects, & generally turned all things upside down, and brought in execrable confusion and error, not esteeming who was endamaged, so as they might achieve the accomplishment of their rule and dominion, and bring all things under their rule and authority.  
And to that intent, have they sought, to plant in this country the inquisition, devised and invented in Spain by certain Jews, and Renegadoes, by that means to break all privileges, rights, and ancient customs, and to make frustrate all sworn contracts, usages, and counsels, and so to get a full power and dominion over all your majesties faithful servants, which stand to the oath which they have made to your Majesty, not acknowledging any foreign Lords, spiritual or temporal, which might seek by false accusations to impute unto your subjects, heresy and rebellion, to the intent thereby to attain to their purpose,  
For better accomplishing whereof have they by force urged and brought in the new Bishops, contrary to all landrights, and sworn privileges, to the emparing of your majesties authority: choosing them not for virtue, prudence, or learning (being most of them, of the most rude and unlearnest sort) but only for that they take them as faithful and true assistants, in the executing of their tyranny and cruelty.  
Their said ungodly enterprises and consequences of the same being the longer the more espied, have the most notablest Lords, Governors, and Gentlemen, with the towns and country, given intelligence & knowledge to your Majesty by continual supplications, remonstrances and other possible means, how much the authority of your Majesty should be empared, shortened and diminished, by the said Inquisitors and Bishops, being most of them strangers and outlanders, by oath bound unto foreign Princes, and (as they pretend) exempt of your jurisdiction, and by the same have alleged the evident impossibility to bring in such invocations, and newelties, but that it would tend to the utter ruin & destruction of the whole country: seeing that it was most apparent that the bringing in thereof was but a borrowed cloak to shadow their doings, in abusing of your Majesty, & suppressing of such as would control their wicked and most notorious proceedings and abuses, which they themselves can scarce conceal. Of which the number in these countries is so great and manifold, and daily doth more increase: that if your Majesty would have been ruled by their persuasions & counsel in executing of rigour and extremities, they would have made your Majesty a king without subjects, and your subjects without rulers, as is most notorious by the innumerable number of those, which in these countries have under pretence of religion been executed and murdered aswell with fire, & water, as with the sword: besides an infinite multitude which are fled out of the country bearing with them all occupations & notable sciences to the instructing of others, & unspeakable prejudice of your Majesty and countries.  
Whereupon your Majesty was in the end occasioned to a mild moderation of the placardes, by the same declaring that your meaning was not to bring in the Inquisition: which likewise was by the Duchess of Parma, and the Lords and Governors of the country in the behalf of your Majesty, solemnly promised to all the Towns and subjects, and accordingly published by open proclamations, by commandment of the Magistrates. But shortly after, all that was overturned by means of the aforesaid persons, who in deed seem to have firmly persuaded your Majesty, that such was to the diminishing of your majesties reputation and dignity, unjustly alleging, that your subjects would withdraw themselves from the dutiful obedience of your Majesty. So that it is evident that your Majesty upon their informations, was moved to sand the Duke of Alba out of Spain into these Countries, to the intent with arms and force to compel your majesties subjects, to that which they of themselves have with all humility and obedience at all times offered.  
And notwithstanding that the aforesaid Lords and Towns of these countries had good occasion to think that they should be greatly wronged through force of foreign soldiers, and rule of a strange Governor, not being of their Country, nor of your majesties kindred or descent, but such a one as did bear towards them a most cankered hatred, had means sufficient to prevent his coming into the country: yet because he came in the name of your Majesty, and to make evident that they had not rebelled or declined from the obedience of your Majesty, trusting to their conscience and right, have willingly and honourably received him with all such as it pleased your Majesty to send with him, opening to him the gates of the Towns, delivered into his hands the fortresses and strong holds, and entertained garrisons, only for that he declared, that such was the will and pleasure of your Majesty to be thereby assured of the fidelity & obedience of your subjects, which were accused to your Majesty as rebels and traitors. Therefore, reason would have required, that the aforesaid Duke of Alba should by all means and diligence have informed your Majesty of such your subjects true obedience and inclination: and before he had proceeded to the execution of rigour, taken good and full information of their complaints, and chief touching the bringing in of these new Bishops and Inquisitors, contrarying God and all rights, and that upon good and true report thereof made to your Majesty, redress and remedy might have been had. But now clean contrary wise, so soon as he was received and was in possession of the force and rule of the Country, hath without keeping of any order of justice, or having regard to the landrightes and privileges whereunto your Majesty is sworn: not only put to death and chased away the most part of the Lords and Governors of these countries, by your Majesty elected & placed, but also generally declared all the privileges and liberties to be forfeited, and the Country to be used as a country newly conquested by force of arms, to the use of him and his associates, and so consequently freely to deal with the lives and goods of your subjects, as their lusts and appetites shall require.  
And if possibly might be laid before your majesties eyes the excessive force and not beard of cruelties which here have been used since the beginning of his government, by spoiling, robbing, chase away, and desolating: by apprehending, taking, banishment, and confiscating of goods, yea by burning, hanging, headding, hacking, racking, & most horrible and not before heard of torments and murtherings of the Subjects of your Majesty, aswell Noble as ennoble, poor as rich, young as old, widows and orphans, men, women, and young maidens, of what state, quality, or condition soever they were: we doubt not but that your Majesty would be amazed to hear the rehearsal thereof: yea and would be grieved at the same, that under your name such unnatural cruelty and tyranny should be used▪ as neither Phalaris, Nero, Pharaoh, Herode, or any other Heathen Tyrant could have invented the like, as now is used towards your faithful subjects, which with their lives and goods have always laboured to keep the Crown on your majesties head, against all your enemies.  
And that your Majesty would also have taken remorse of so many innocent infants chased away out of their native Country into strange lands: so many poor widows and orphans, and also upon the lamentable cry of the whole Country which now are suppressed by this most horrible tyrant.  
For there is none which could defend or preserve his goods from their avarice, their wives or daughters from their filthy lusts, or their lives from their bloudthirstinisse. Nobility, Richesse, manhood, or good service done in times past, could nothing prevail, if once he was entered into hatred of them. And without taking regard to the jurisdictions or ordinary courses of the country, hath stopped the jurisdictions of all justices, either in civil or criminal causes which in any wise concern the confiscations pronounced in his bloody Counsel, in such sort as neither spiritual or temporal persons, widows or orphans, hospitals, Spittels, Lazarus houses, or other which had good and devable revenues, amongst the confiscated goods, could get any payment or satisfaction. But the Duke of Alba hath gotten all into his hands without any mind to discharge any the premises, notwithstanding the divers and earnest solicitations & requests to him made in that behalf by the States of the Countries, delaying the poor aggrieved subjects with dilatory and unfounded apostillations, the one always contrarying the other, and without sending over the matters to the provincial Counsels or ordinary justices, to the intent to make them despair of any satisfaction to be made by the court, where by process they have been summoned to their excissive charge, and upon sums of small value have been forced to greater charges than the principal hath amounted unto, not suffering any law full transport to be made of any one debt for the other. To consider what number of honest woomen and young maidens they have with force and violence ravished & that the one after the other: yea misused some even to the death. How often have they compelled the husband to remain with the wife, and the father with the daughter, to force them with their eyes to behold their most villainous filthiness, and made them as instruments to the accomplishing of their luxurious lust, using such unnatural and beastly fashions, that we are in a manner abashed and astonished to declare the same to your Majesty. How often hath it happened, that the husband seeking to defend his wife or daughter of their ravishment, that they have all together as furious curs, run out of the house together crying Spania, Spania, murdering a number of the poor commons. How many women great with child have they ripped up the bellies off, and murdered the fruit in their wombs.  
Have they not flayed and pulled off the skins of some men being alive and headdid their drums with the same skin? others have they not toasted with small fires, nipped them with read burning tongues even to the death, and consequently murdered a number and made them die a hundredth deaths? How many women have they chased from their husbands, and children from their parents: yea what is there under the heavens so honest or holy which they have not defiled and trodden under foot? verily amongst all other Nations, yea amongst the cruellest, the burying of the dead, hath always been permitted and reverenced.  
But this Tyrant in the despite of God and nature, is so obstinate and perverse, that he hath caused to be taken out of the grave the carcases of the dead, and conveyed under the gallows, under pretence because some of them dying without shrift, & others without houseling had forfeited his goods which he took as confiscated. What is there amongst men more holy and honest, then is the state of Matrimony being the only and true foundation of all mutual love & friendship, the original of love, the bond of peace, and the direct way of all dealings amongst men: whereof this Tyrant maketh so little account, that he severeth the men from their wives, and the wives from their husbands, being joined together in the congregation before God and his Angels, clean contrary to the commandment and institution of almighty God and rights, & all under pretence that they were joined together in the way of heresy: but to say truth, it is only in spoiling manner, to match the beautiful and rich Matrons with his Soldiers & ruffians, and finally by his cruelty burst in sunder the original band tending to the entertaining of all mutual love: murdering and kill the women which in time of extremity had relieved their husbands, & the children for succouring the necessity of their parents, yea those which had only with a letter comforted any of them. And to the end that nothing should by him be left undefiled, hath he trodden in most despiteful manner under foot the most holy Sacrament of Baptism, whereby we are incorporated in the body of jesus Christ and communion of God his Church, willing and commanding that those children which were Christened openly and lawfully according to the institution of jesus Christ, in the name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, should once again be baptized, under pretence that they were Christened as heretics, and repugnant contrary to all godly and natural rights, ordinances of the church, & decrees of Counsels.  
Furthermore it needeth not to rehearse to your Majesty, the grievous exactions invented by him, one after an other, and with out measure doth urge of the poor commons, as the hundrethes, twenties, yea the tenth penny, of all goods, movables and immovables, of all goods bought and sold, demanding, yea & urging by execution contrary to the advise & counsel of all estates in these countries, not of the clear gains of the same, but the tenth, and twenty penny of the capital some of all sales. Whereby not only all trades and trafficques, are abandoned out of the land, but likewise the subjects of the same, deprived from the getting of the living, of them, their wives, and children. And notwithstanding that the states, have at sundry times done their endeavour largely to inform the said Duke of the inconveniences which might follow upon the said demand: and requested that he would in their behalf advertise your Majesty thereof: would not harken to them, but shaked them of without any comefort: although he was by intercession of the counsel & states of the land thereunto most earnestly instanced, and so thereby caused the decay of all merchandise, compelled the inhabitants through misery to flee away into other countries. And yet it is apparent, that when any necessity is towards for payment of the soldiers, no money is to be had, in such sort that the Spanish soldiers are at afterdele in their payment xxviij. months, and the dutch most of them constrained to go a begging from door to door: of which some have by famine and misery perished. Notwithstanding the great sums which the states have levied and paid to the paying of the said soldiers, & yet nevertheless have his garnisons consumed, and eaten out the most part of the towns, & suppressed the same with the Seruitio, which they have been forced to minister to the said Spanish soldiers, and those which have given most money, as well to him, as to Don Frederico, or any of theirs, have been the first that were discharged of the said bondage of Seruitio. With which garnisons he hath most vexed the towns cituated within the heart of the country: leaving the borders and other places of importance without any garrison, whereby in some places, things are come to alteration: besides that by reason of lack of pay, his Spanish souldirurs are fallen into a most licentious and unspeakable order of life, threatening, beating, robbing, spoiling, and by all manner of cruel exactions using your subjects: whereby is manifest, that under pretence of your majesties name and religion, he setteth nothing but to fill his greedy and bloodthirsty appetite, being to the contrary most notorious that he hath so little regard to the service of our Majesty, as to the maintenance of the common weal of the low countries, which he suffereth utterly to perish and go to ruin.  
But what needeth it with words to express this, as if he had not sufficiently manifested whereunto his proceedings have tended, showing it being blinded with his most unsatiable presumptiousnes & desire of vain glory: as in a token of a Tropheum or sign of victory in his notorious proceedings, as before rehearsed, hath caused to be erected within the castle of Andwarpe, a brazen Image standing upon the nobility and states of the country. We leave now unrehearsed what his meaning was thereby, but when, or where, hath it been seen that any Tyrant in his life time hath caused any such Image to be erected. We found that the Roman Emperors and Kings, which in a manner had brought the whole world under their subjection, have sometimes caused to be erected Images of brass, and stone: as at this present the Popes of Room who pretend to be God his vicar, yet it is done by ordinance and consent of the counsel, & commons, or at the lest by their advise and sufferance: but that they in their life time have done such, is not to be found by any examples or Chronicles, considering it to be a manifest token of mad arroganty and insupportable pride: we found only that Nabuchodonozar who caused himself to be honoured as a God, set up the like Image, commanding all men to kneel and bow unto the same: yet durst he not do it but by consent of the chief and nobles of his country.  
But this Tyrant doth aswell in his presumptuous arroganty as in execrable tryanny surpass all other tyrants: who as though he would not only advance himself to the room of the king, but likewise in God his place: hath without the advise, counsel, or ordinance of any, in his life time erected this proud Image, to the defacing and emparing of your majesties dignity, showing thereby his force and tyranny wherewith he hath subdued and brought under foot these countries.  
And in like manner he hath not been afraid following the example of the tyrant Herode: to place himself upon the market place of Andwarpe in your majesties stool & cloth of estate: which never had been touched by any Lieutenant before, sitting there representing the absence of your Majesty, as an Idol, and under pretence of publishing of a pardon: which never Queen, Duke, or any Governors or Governaunts of these countries have done the like: tending to the manifest disestimation and abasing of your majesties honour and dignity.  
These proceedings, most sovereign king are become so apparent and evident unto all the world, that all strange nations, and Potentates, have a terror and execration thereat▪ insomuch as even the Duke of Alba his soldiers, and servants, do protest and say, that they can not esteem such for good, much less that the service of your Majesty, and welfare of the country, should therein consist.  
Besides that we can not think that your Majesty being thereof sufficiently and truly informed, would permit such forces and violences, for it was never heard that any King or Potentate, hath so unmercifully dealt with his subjects: your majesties ancestors of most famous memory, have in most mild and gentle manner behaved themselves towards their subjects, that they have thereof given a most laudable example not only to their successors, but also to other Christian Princes, Dukes, & rulers, that whensoever any dissension was risen between the subjects and Magistrates, by reason of misgovernment, & taken arms in hand: and being again brought under obedience by their Lords and rulers, were never molested with these examples of cruelty, but by express capitulation from word, to word, confirmed all their privileges and liberties, and the same to enjoy their full effect.  
So as we should greatly wrong your Majesty, if we should persuade ourselves that your Majesty were so far diverted from the example of your predecessors, & from the duty of all other Christian Princes and Potentates, that in stead of ministering right and justice to your obedient subjects, and giving audience to their most pitiful complaints, should sand such a tyrant in such sort cruelly to murder them, destroying the country, and burdening your subjects with most intolerable slavery, servitude, and thraldom.  
And now the said Duke presenting unto us his feigned pardons, under the name of your Majesty for our rebellions and misdemeanours (as he termeth them) we could not accept the same without depriving of your majesties dignity.  
Knowing well that your Majesty will not, before having heard the justness of our cause condemn us of rebellion. Where is there any that justly hath informed your Majesty of our dealings, or when did ever your Majesty give ear unto any, but such as were our manifest enemies? Reason requireth both parts to be heard, before sentence should be pronounced. And therefore in the Chronicles of Alexander the great, is much commended: who whensoever he heard any parties, leaned with his head upon his shoulders with one of his ears closed, and being asked why he so did, answered that the later party aught aswell have audience as the first, which order hath always been had in estimation of all nations, as being conformable to all natural rights. So as no offender, what grievous crimes so ever he had committed shallbe judged or condemned, but that he shall first answer unto such accusations as are alleged against him.  
Now most merciful & sovereign Lord and King, we do most humbly prostrate ourselves under the foot of your Majesty, most heartily requesting the same, that it would please your Grace to bend towards us one ear, and (as in a balance) equally to weigh our estates. Your Majesty hath by posts, letters, and other means been informed of this present estate, and our mouths have been closed up, our tongues pierced with read burning Irons, and our lips seared up with burning tongues, because we should not give our necessity to understand. The ways have as yet been taken from us, so that our lamentable cries could never come unto, or pierce the ears of your Majesty.  
How then can your Majesty condemn us of rebellion (which always we have had in hatred) because that the Duke of Alba doth seek to bring us under his subjection with his letters of pardon, and we nothing esteeming of the same: which he perceiving and that with force he cannot (by God his providence) prevail, we cannot therefore accept his said letters as being directed to us who never strayed from your obedience, except it were that we would take & acknowledge the Duke of Alba for our King: for him only have we resisted & not your Majesty, whom we with life and goods (so long as it shall please God to permit us the same) will faithfully serve and obey. And therefore his pardon doth nothing touch us, which tendeth only to the Towns which have been seduced from the King's obedience. But we mark his intent, knowing that either he would be king himself, or else that we by enticement of his subtle pardons should condemn ourselves. For we receiving pardon, must acknowledge ourselves guilty of commotions and rebellion against our King, of tumult and sedition, yea of heresy and declining from the Christian faith, and in fine, to the depriving of the honour of God and the King's majesty. This is his seeking, that by receiving of his false & feigned pardons, we should by our subsignations & seals confirm the same, to the intent that he hereafter might thereby defend and excuse himself of tyranny before your Majesty and all other christian Princes and Potentates, saying, that if we had not found ourselves culpable in these grievous offences for which we were punished and tormented, we would never have received any remiss or pardon.  
Wherein we take God, the searcher and knower of all hearts, and your Majesty to witness, that if we have committed any such offences, as by the said pardon are laid to our charge, that we do altogether refuse all pardon, but desire as the most wickedest and vilest creatures on earth, to make satisfaction for our offences with our blood, and do not refuse, O most merciful King, one after an other, to suffer most extreme torments, if it may be found that we have offended in such order as is presumed.  
And do request the Duke of Alba, (if any petition will take place with him) that all such as come to him for pardon, acknowledging the pretended offence, that he without showing of mercy, do entreat them in such sort as their offences (according to right) have deserved, commending him therein in giving or maintaining any faith or credit with him as one so unfaithful to God & his King, as hath not been abashed so greatly too abuse and contemn their Majesties.  
But what is it, it shall not be found that ever we have thought any such matter, much less in effect showed the same. We have always been faithful and serviceable to our King, and sought to serve God, the father of our Lord jesus Christ in spirit and truth, according to his word and commandment, so far as our feeble nature would permit, even to the last drop of our blood.  
But considering that the Duke of Alba in stead of executing equity and justice, and hearing of their complaints and griefs, & persecuting of your majesties promises, hath contrary to all right and reason, & our rights and privileges, suppressed us with most cruel tyranny, destroyed our Countries, and used us more severely, then ever Jew's or Turks have done against their vanquished enemies. And in the mean space, hath he accused us to your Majesty, and all other christian Potentates with false accusations of rebellion and heresy: and we never could come to our answer, or receive any comfort in the universal world. So as by necessity we have been forced to take the arms in hand, and by all means possible sought to defend our poor native Country from such execrable tyranny: and rather with one accord to spend our lives, then to fall into the hands of such a Tyrant: wherein we mean to persist, except that it please your Majesty with merciful cares to attend to our complaints, and minister to us justice against such oppression and tyranny. For God be thanked, we are not so il instructed in his word, but that we know very well, that aswell our life as death consisteth in his hands, & that this death which no man can escape, is but as a ready path too the life everlasting.  
Therefore, seeing our death may be a pleasure to other, we choose rather to die an honourable death in the behalf of the liberties and common weal of our Country, then to fall into such servitude, and become footestooles unto most arrogant aliens, who always have hated us. For at the lest we shall thereby leave to our successors such a good fame, as it may be said, that their Predecessors had rather with renown to die with honour, then live in all bondage and shame.  
We contend for the liberty of our consciences, in defence of our wives and children, our blood and goods, that is to say, whether the Duke of Alba with his complices shall according to his self will be a Lord and Governor, or that we to the behoof of your Majesty, O most sovereign King, shall defend it from him. We know that the limits of our lives are set, and shall not by the pardon of the Duke of Alba surpass the same. Therefore we only desire your Majesty, that it may please the same to weigh and consider our cases, and not to suffer, that we by accepting such pardons, should for ever be reputed as rebels to God and our King, which we never thought.  
For we are fully persuaded, that although we had received those pardons, yet would it nothing have prevailed for safeguard of our lives, for thereby the Duke of Alba might have had the better action against us the proceeded with most severity, & might had better have answered for himself, if we and confessed ourselves guilty of rebellion, both against God & the King his Majesty. For than no man would have moaned us, although we had been slain and murdered as disturbers of the peace and common wealth and not worthy to live.  
And although it were not so, yet it is apparent by all the Duke of Alba his proceedings, that he meaneth to observe no faith with us, for seeing that he hath openly perpetrated the oath which the Duchess of Parma, with all the Lords and governors of the country, in the name of your Majesty, had sworn so solemnly to these towns: yet hath he in these latter wars, sufficiently expressed his perverse meaning in divers towns, as at Mons in Henauld hath he contrary to his oath, caused a number of burgesses to be hanged, at Naerdon he hath executed his cruelty in such a sort as in a town of like bigness hath not been hard of: and now at Harlem hath he or at the lest in his name, Don Frederico assured the soldiers of their lives, & thereunto certain Lords as pledges they bound themselves: and yet hath he even to the young paiges, caused them to be murdered one with another, and their naked carcases to the scandal of all women, and virgins, left lying upon the scaffold a day & a night. And such as had consented to the delivery of the town, and were entered into his service, hath he caused to be carried to the Galies, and upon the Fuycke before Harlem when he had promised the soldiers their lives, suffered them to perish with hunger, saying: that he had assured them of their lives, and not of meat and drink. As also the burgesses of Harlem, whom he had assured their lives, hath he compelled to be Miners before the town of Alkmar, where they are by the inhabitants slain: which doth pass all barbarous tyranny and cruelty, and is a most manifest token wherewith he seeketh to maintain his untrue proceedings.  
So that it is evident that he meaneth not to observe any oaths or promises, but for a small time: to the intent he might the better have his will of others, and because he might the better hereafter defend his case, against your Majesty, and other Princes, doth produce this pardon, for if we do accept the same we must needs acknowledge ourselves guilty of such offences, as he layeth to our charge▪ and is not bound to the observing of any oath: for by the counsel holden at Constance, it was above ij. hundred years enacted that no faith is to be kept with heretics.  
For whereas he doth in his pardon subtly allege that such offences as have been committed, were done more upon evil suggestin, and evil will, then of their own nature and inclination. This is but a subtle policy, wherewith he meant to deceive the simple, and bring them under his yoke: and to furnish himself of power to suppress all such as he thinketh good, and that without reproach of any, seeing that it standeth in his judgement who hath offended, the premises or not.  
But once consider most sovereign King, how that the righteous GOD hath deceived this subtle dealer in his proceedings, for in this pardon wherein he pretendeth most grievously to accuse us, he doth by express words confess, that he can by no means think that we could not have been so altered or changed, but upon evil suggestion or else we should have continued in all faith and willingness, which we always have showed to your Majesty.  
For if it be so, that we before this last offence (as he termeth it) have showed to your Majesty all obedience as he himself witnesseth? Why hath he then used such cruelty and persecution? Wherefore hath he in such sort destroyed the towns, burned the the villages, and places: murdered the inhabitants, and spoiled them of all their goods, hath not he by his soldiers by fire consumed Catwicke upon Zea, Sandwicke and Alfen, & that long before these transgressions, whereof he complaineth, were begun. Did not they pretend to set fire on the town of Vtrecht, which was so well addicted unto them, have not they in Rotterdam, where as they were received as friends, cruelly murdered a number of burgesses, was not found by Pacheco a bill of innumerable number, aswell of the nobility, as most substantial commons in sundry and divers towns, which by commandment of the Duke should have been murdered, if matters by God's provision had not altered. And whereunto tended the demand of the tenth penny, to none other end but that we should at his hands buy our goods, which he pretended to be confiscated: whereby it appeareth that he and his adherents are sworn enemies unto your Majesty: whilst he doth in such sort execute his tyranny, murder, burning, and with such force and servitude, doth aggrieve us your subjects, whom he himself doth allege to have been most faithful unto your majesty. So as through necessity we have been compelled to enter into arms to resist his force and tyranny: which his servants could not deny, who divers times have said that they would so long vex and trouble this country and inhabitants thereof, that in the end they should be forced to rebel, and so have occasion to bring it under subjection, & spoil the same of all their substance: which is to be approved by some letters, whereby was written, that this it was for which they longed. It is very true most sovereign King, that the Duke doth hear allege, as that your subjects would never had rebelled, but upon suggestion of certain evil disposed, which evil disposed are none other than the Duke himself, with his bloody counsel, and sanguine adherents, which of mere set, evil will, and unsatiable avarice, have sucked the sweat & blood of your subjects, & of long time so earnestly persecuted, and grieved to the uttermost, that they for defence of themselves, their wives, children, and all that which in this world they do esteem of, have been forced to take arms in hand: Therefore where as he presumeth that he hath so lovingly dealt with other towns, take example by Tourn●y, Valencien, lisle, Jpre, Maestricht, Deventer, and likewise by Machlin, Oudenard, Dermonde, and Naerden, where they have by murdering, robbing, hanging, ravishing of women, and with divers outrages persecuted the poor commons.  
Besides this hath there been murdered at Brussels at sundry times above CC. and thirty. burgesses, and that long before the beginning of these wars, as also in a commotion at Gaunt, which happened amongst the Spaniards, where of the commons have been slain LX. or LXX. besides an infinite number of men and women▪ which at sundry times have been murdered, which we leave to enlarge here seeing those their proceedings are accounted merciful dealings besides other most wicked insolences used in the said towns.  
And therefore he needeth not to threaten us, that if we do not accept his pardon, that no rigour which may be devised, shallbe left unexercised towards our persons, by desolation, hunger and sword, in such sort, as no remembrance shallbe left of them present. For we are certain, that here about he hath sought as much as is to him possible: and would undoubtedly have used further cruelty (whereof he boasteth so much) if the fear which he hath, that the Countries would not any longer abide his cruelty, had not letted him.  
He doth not so much esteem the service of your Majesty, nor regardeth your heritage & countries, as that he would abstain from ruining and destroying the same: yea utterly to root out the relics and memories thereof, so far as it were to him possible, as the burning & desolating which he before these wars, hath used, do sufficiently bear witness. But we trust that the almighty God will never suffer that your Majesty should permit your Countries altogether to fall into the force of such a Tyrant and destroyer.  
For, whereas he here allegeth that we have put on arms against your Majesty: that we utterly deny. For we protest before your Majesty, yea before God & his Angels, that our meaning or pretence was never such. For we will adventur ourselves and all that we have in this world, as likewise we have done towards your majesties predecessors, with life and goods to stand to the defence of your majesty against all your enemies and ill willers.  
But this we will acknowledge before the universal world, that (being thereunto extremely constrained) we have taken arms in hand against the tyranny and abuses of the Duke of Alba and his complices, to deliver our lives and goods, wives and children from the bloodthirsty hands of his ministers: and if he do prevail against us, rather choose to die an honourable death, and leave a fame to our successors, then to yield and bow to such a tyrant, and suffer our country to live under unsupportable slavery. So else we should be abashed and ashamed too show our faces in any other Countries, as having neglected the service of your Majesty. And therefore have all the Towns jointly and severally taken in hand and sworn the one after the other, to abide all sieges, if need be, to the uttermost, though to the loss of their lives and goods: yea rather set fire of our own houses, them to yield to the force of this Tyrant.  
For we are well assured, that at the hands of such a Tyrant, as regardeth no oath, and hath so often and cruelly threatened us, there is no more to be looked for, but that he would rather colour the rivers and streams with our blood, and to behange the country with our bodies, to satiate his bloodthirsty lust and appetite.  
Therefore we prostrate ourselves before the feet of your Majesty, desiring the same for GOD his sake, who hath set the Crown upon your head, and given the Sceptre into your hand once to bow your ears to our reasonable complaints. We do not desire to be dissolved from the obedience of your Majesty, but only that we may have our consciences free to Godward, to hear his holy word, & to follow the same, to the intent to give an account at the day of judgement of our souls, & that we may achieve such discharge for our miserable native Country, which always hath done such faithful service to your Majesty, from the yoke and bondage of foreign Nations and Spanish soldiers, and to suffer the Country to enjoy those liberties, privileges and customs, as your Majesty, and the most puissant Emperor Charles, your majesties most noble father (of famous memory) have to your Subjects solemnly sworn.  
Then will we at the commandment of your Majesty lay down our weapons & arms, and will venture body, goods, and all that we have in the world, in the service of your majesty by water or by land, where & whensoever your Majesty shall command the same: and your Majesty shall find that we are not altered or abastarded from you, but rather that we do excel in faithful service, all our predecessors, which hereby we do promise and swear to your majesty, beseeching even as we do faithfully mean it, so to take mercy of our souls.  
Desiring that this our declaration and oath be openly published and declared to all Kings, Potentates, Lords and Nations, to the intent they may know that we are no Rebels towards our King, for we never learned such of our predecessors: But that we of mere force and necessity have been constrained to take on arms against the enemies & usurpers of his majesties name.  
Requesting therefore all christian Princes and Potentates, that they willbe moved with a pitiful compassion of our miseries, (and much doubting that this our supplication & declaration shallbe kept back and suppressed as other our former Requests have been, & not come to our King's hands:) that they will thereof inform his Majesty, to the intent our just cause may come to light, and that his Majesty may be acquitted of the innocent blood which this Albanish Tyrant doth shed. This we heartily desire, and we all will pray unto almighty GOD, for their prosperity to remain for ever.  
FINIS.