A true Copy Of a Letter sent by the Prince of Parma to the general States of the low countries, assembled at Antwerp. With their Answer to the same the xii. day of March. 1579.  
¶ Translated out of French into Dutch, and from the Dutch into English.  
According to the Dutch Copy, printed at Antwerp by Christopher Plantyn, Printer to the King's Majesty.   

The copy of the Prince of Parma his Letter.  
MY Lords, for that we have caused a treaty to be made with diverse of the particular Provinces concerning the matter of reconciliation with his Majesty, and finding, the same well inclined thereto, albeit their desire is, that it should rather proceed from you that are assembled at Antwerp (his majesties intention and ours concurring therewith.) We have thought good to advertise you of the same his good meaning, that in case you have any desire to do the like with convenient expedition: (yet lying in you either to hinder or further all those harms, wrongs and oppressions, which these present wars do bring) you would signify your meaning unto us. Assuring you that on our behalf there shallbe no default, as h●herto there hath not, to proceed therein with all sincerity and up rightness. Presenting in the name o● his Majesty and the foresaid Provinces in particular, to ratify and establish the pacification of Gaunt, th● unity which followed and the perpetual Act and edict in all Articles and points thereof, and to give such assurance in that behalf, as reasonably may be demanded, conditionally that only the exercise of the catholic Roman Religion, and dutiful obedience to his Majesty be observed and kept, as it was in the time of the late Emperor of blessed memory Charles the fifth. And as yourselves have sol●m●elye taken your oaths to his Majesty, and promised by so many writings and Letters, and whereunto by all godly and pro●●table laws you are bound, without 〈◊〉 expecting any further matters 〈◊〉 your hands. Considering that ●●●ein consisteth the perfect stay and ●●●sing of these cruel Wars, and 〈◊〉 tranquillity & ease of these Coun●●●s, which his Majesty and we do ●●●sh and regard, and you as good ●●biects aught to endeavour to pro●●re for their safeties and your own benefits. Requiring you openly and plainly, and with expedition to advertise us which of the Provinces ●o accept or refuse this offer, that ●●ervpon we may take order to employ ourselves as shallbe expedient 〈◊〉 the service of God and his Ma●●●ty. Thus (my Lords) the Lord ●●ue you in his keeping.  
Written at ●●●ershem the xii. of March. 1579. Subscribed. Alexander. And below. F. le Vasseur.  
The Superscription.  
To my Lords the Deputies of the Provinces assembled at Antwerp.   

The answer of the general States, to the Prince of Parma his Letter.  
MY Lord we have received your Letter, dated the xii. of this instant March, touching the agreements of the Provinces, with our sovereign Lord the King of Spain: For answer whereunto, we advertise your excellency, that in regard of us there hath not been any duty or good occasion omitted that might tend to the concluding of a good & assured peace, as by our actions may plainly appear to the whole world. For in the month of August last, the Ambassadors of the imperial Majesty, of the King of France and the Queen of England being assembled with our Deputies at Lovan a place of th● appointment of the late Lord Do● John of ostrich, with good hope t● conclude a peace. The cause was i● good forwardness, and like to succeed to a good effect. How be it th● King of Spain, took the matter ou● of the hands of the said Don John o● ostrich, and referred the treaty and negosiation thereof to the Imperial Majesty. Whereupon for that no endeavour on our be half should be slacked, which might advance the foresaid treaty of peace: the Earl of Swartzenbergh Ambassador to the emperor's Majesty, by our consent and request, journeyed twice to your excellency to treat and pacify the vissagrement betwixt the kings Majesty and those Countries according to the meaning & assent of the King of Spain, and our-submission. But notwithstanding all his endeavour employed therein, we find that your excellency, was not only far from ioning: but also the better to oppose yourselves to the same, entertained the said Ambassador with many delays, and in steed of upright dealing with the generalty touching the said treaty of peace, practised by means thereof and by indirect and particular treatings, to procure a separation and dissension of the Provinces: So that we cannot perceive any reason that your excellency hath to say, that the same hath not been in any fault to agreed to a good peace with all uprightness and sincerity. Neither can we see by what means your excellency can discharge yourself either before the Imperial Majesty for the delays and 〈◊〉 used toward his Ambassador▪ or before God and the whole world, for the shameful suspicions and misstrustinges used in the matter. Which are increased in all trusty and discreet hearts: by reason that (the King of Spain having openly revoked, disallowed, and disannulled the pacification of Gaunt, when the Country's might and greatly desired to observe and keep the same.) Your excellency now in this time after so many alterations and troubles presenteth again by the aforesaid Letter, the ratification of the same peace with this condition, that the only exercise of the Catholic Romish Religion and the dutiful obedience to his Majesty should be maintained and observed, as it was in the time of the late Emperor Charles: the which is altogether contrary unto the foresaid pacification and a manifest breach thereof, and such as all the States in general have found to be directly against the common wealth and other Countries. For that in the time of the late said Emperor Charles, the cruel burnings, Statutes and other Rigours were in such force and so sharply executed for the preservation and defending of the foresaid exercise of the Ronush Religion, that the foresaid States generally and with one common accord, for the maintenance of the profitable trade and traffic of merchandise with other Countries that were for their benefit, were constrained to procure the same to be mitigated & restrained.  
Whereby your excellency may well perceive, what proceedings and effects we may hope for, by means of such presentations which are unpossible to be practised or put in effect. Being moste sorry that a case of so great weight and importance, proceedeth not with more speed and discretion. Not withstanding to express our good wills and ready affections to the peace, we are still conteut according to the offer of the imperial Majesty and consent of the King of Spain that the same shallbe negotiated and treated by the said Ambassador wh●●e the oportunieye of the affairs of these parties, and the treaties whereinto we are entered with others shall permit the same: yet if your excellency hath an earnest & zealous meaning to make a short treaty and conclusion, and to reduce the matter to a good end and assured rest, it may please the same by virtue of his authority without so many delays and retreaties to take a shorter way to make provision against the destruction & oppression of the countries so greatly and so long time afflicted, agreeing with sincerity and uprightness to that which willbe the prosperity and rest of the subjects and inhabitants of the same, by the general States and consultations which are to be holden and used in that behalf according to equity and reason. And we for our part (if your excellency through long delay hencesorth do not hinder all occasions and commodities to do the same) will not fail to hearken to all reasonable conditions, for the performance whereof we may have good assurance and warrant. Protesting as we have already protested to the Baron of sells and others, that all inconveniencies & alterations which hereafter may happen, shallbe known, which with pursuing of wars against these Countries, do give occasion of greater mistrusting misliking and alterations of the subjects. With this we pray the almighty God (my Lord) to have your excellency in his keeping.  
From Antwerp the▪ xix. of March. 1579. 

The general States of the low Countries.  
The Ordinance of us the Lords, the general States.   underwritten. A. Blyleven.  
The Superscription.  
To my Lord: my Lord the Prince of Parma.   

❧ Imprinted at London by Richard Ihones.