CERTAIN NEWS OF THE whole description, aid, and help of the Christian Princes and Nobles, the which for the comfort and deliverance of the poor Christians in the low Countries, are gathered together, and are now with their armies in the field.  
Drawn and Copied out of a letter, sent unto us out of the same Campe.  ¶ Apocal. 18. ver. 5. 
For her sins are gone up to heaven, and God hath remembered her wickedness.  
Reward her even as she rewarded you, and give her double according to her works.  
And pour in double to her, in the same Cup which she filled unto you.  
¶ Printed at Dordrecht. 1574.  
¶ Translated out of dutch into English, the. 12. of April.   

Beloved Reader, we find in the old and ancient Histories & Monuments, and that amongst all other wise Monarchies & kings, we read how the great and mighty Caugnista, king of Egypt, when he saw that he should die, he called unto him his seven sons, and having a Quiver of Arrows bound in a bundle, commanded them one after another to break them in pieces, the which when it was not possible for them to do, he caused the bundle to be unloosed, and caused them to be scattered one from the other, commanding each of them to break one of them, which then was very easy to be done: he willing to teach his seven sons by this example, that if so be they were divided in the kingdom, & kept not themselves within the bonds of unity and concord, that then they easily should be consumed, broken in pieces, and thrust out of their Empire. In like manner we read of the old Granduellis, how he left this for a Testament in his last will, unto that mighty Emperor Charles the fift, that if so be his Majesty would prospero in the Roman Empire according to his will, that then he should endeavour himself to the uttermost of his power, to raise all hatred and discord to be between the elected Princes, and the other Princes of the Empire, that in the mean time, while they were at strife, and warred one with the other, than the Eagle might eat and devour them all: this subtle practice hath that Antichrist of Rome, this seven years here in these low Countries, and about ten or twelve years in France, not without great bloodshed and utter ruin of both these Countries practised: And except that the Almighty God with his strong arm had turned them from us, that hellish Dragon, with the water that proceedeth out of his mouth, would have drowned and devoured us up: And that this was their practice, we may perceive, for if they had once overcome France, and these low Countries, they would proceed further, against all the Princes and Nobles under the Empire, which have and do confess the Gospel, spoiling them of all dominion and liberty, yea, and of their lives also, as it may manifestly appear by the bloody execution of that tyrannish Counsel of Trent, and the Spanish Inquisition, which spareth neither Dukes, Earls, nor Lords, of what state soever they be, but against all promise, faith, and fidelity, like most wicked perjurers, have most piteously murdered, beheaded, and taken their lives from them.  
By the which, through the illumination of God, there are moved the chiefest Protestant Princes of the Roman Empire, who foreseeing what might come to pass, have thought that if they should now hold their peace and be still, and not assist their fellow members of the faith, in the time of their need, that then so soon as the tyrant had quenched his ire in France, and in these low Countries, with sheadding of Christian blood, and murdering all Magistrates and subjects, unto the which he aspireth, that then he would also proceed against them, and not put up his bloody sword into the Scabbard, till that he had rooted out of all lands, all those that deny the Pope, and acknowledge Christ only to be the head of the Church.  
And albeit that the godly and Christian Magistrates know of a surety, that Almighty GOD, with his mighty hand, can deliver his Church, without the assistance of any man, nevertheless we may find in holy writing, that God by his appointed Magistrates, hath always defended the same, and specially, how the father of all the faithful, our father Abraham, when he heard that his brother Lot, and all his goods and household were taken and carried away captive, he arose up with all his power and pursued the enemies and slew them, & delivered those that were taken with all their goods, and restored to every man his own, so that if all examples that could be showed should here be brought in, it would be tedious for the Christian Reader: but this must we well note and understand, that God hath given the sword into the Magistrate's hand to defend the good and innocent, and to punish the wicked and ungodly, Yea, that most unchristian Emperor Traianus, when he ordained any Praetor, and gave to him the sword of justice, would say thus unto him, Use thy sword against mine enemies, in just causes, and if I myself do otherwise then justice, use thy power upon me also.  
Let us then Christian Reader, give thanks unto the almighty God, who hath raised up these godly Princes and Magistrates, to be means for to deliver his poor afflicted people, the which for their sins, have this while been worthily punished.  
And therefore are we bound to pray to God from the bottom of our hearts, that he will govern with his holy Spirit these Princes and Nobles, which are gathered now together for our aid and comfort, that they may in all their enterprises, seek nothing else but the glory of God, the honour of his holy name, and the commodity of all Christendom, and that the devilish, Popish, and Antichristian Kingdom may be rooted out and utterly destroyed. Amen.  

❧ The description of the Princes and Nobles which are now gathered together, and have to their advantage the City of Maseike: where as it is now very commodious for them to pass over the Maze by Ship into Brabant.  
AND therefore Christian Reader, that thou mayest Praise the great and marvelous goodness of God, who as he hath the hearts of all Princes and governors in his hand, and hath not only moved them to aid and assist us, but also hath made them willing to turn that great tyranny back from us, which truly the Pope by his enterprises would have brought on us, and all other Godly Christians, in what Land or dominion soever they were: we have therefore for your comforts, caused their names, and Armies with their preparations of Rutters and other Soldiers, here under to be written, that ye thereby Christian Reader might have better entelligence thereof as followeth:  
Duke Magnus, brother unto the mighty and Renowned King of Denmark, a Noble man, and very expeart in the Wars, he amongst all other is chosen chief General of the field, and over all the rest of the other, wise Marshall Princes and Nobles, and he hath under his own government. 2500. Horse, and 4000 Gunners.  
Duke Hans Cazimirus, and Philip Land grain of Hessen, they have both 1500. Horse, and. 10. Ensigns of Soldiers.  
Duke Christopher, Son unto the Palsgrave, hath. 2500, Horse, and. 4000 Gunners.  
Grave Lodowick, Grave john, Grave Hendrik of Nassow, Brethrens unto the renowned Prince of Orrange, they have between them. 4000 Horse, and. 8000. Gunners.  
Item Grave Lodowick hath beside these 900. Light horsemen, and. 2000 Gunners, which shoot with Corriers.  
Also there is the renowned and Elected Prince, Duke Augustus, although not in his own person, yet with his favourable aid, he is with the aforenamed Army. And unto these also are joined the Duke of Saxon, and the Duke of Wymeren, for that as yet they are unmustered, we can add no certain number.   

The other Army.  
Besides these, julius Duke of Bruynswick, a very Rich and mighty Lord, pitying the state of the poor Christians, and being one that hath a true love unto the Gospel of jesus Christ, and a very enemy unto the Antichrist of Rome, hath joined himself, and given his consent to this great preparation of these Wars, and hath appointed the expert and courageous, Grave of Swartzenborch, so be general over his Army, which do gather themselves together in field between Paterborne, and Soest in Westphalen, and hath under his government these that follow:  
Mandersloe hath under his band. 4000 Ruitters, and two bands of Soldiers, and there followeth unto these Armies daily, many Barons, squires, and Gentlemen, with other credible Merchants and Citizens, the which being moved with a Godly zeal, do not herein seek any of their own profit or gain, but rather the glory of God, and the commodity of the whole land and Provinces, & that the consciences of the poor captives that are in Babylon, under the hands of that mighty Hunter Nemrod, which is the Pope of Rome, might be delivered.   

¶ The Conclusion.  
For as much beloved Reader, that the almighty God hath so mercifully appeared unto us, and hath offered this his present benefits & help, Let us not make small account thereof, or lightly regard it, but rather let us with a Godly life and conversation, in prayer and thanks giving, attend and wait on the good will & pleasure of God, not murmuring and saying, that the maintenance of so many Ruitters and soldiers doth impoverish, and bring the whole country into great misery, for this we may assure our selves, and therein take comfort, if so be the Tyrant should get the upperhand, they will not be content with our Cities, Lands, goods, and possessions, but they would force our Wives, ravish and defile our Daughters, kill our young men, murder our old men and women, and with penury and hunger, famish our Children and sucking Infants, and so bring us into such an everlasting thraldom and bondage, that we should have wished rather to have died, if it were possible a thousand times, then to live any longer in such a miserable captivity & misery. Therefore most dear christians, let us think, although we are hindered a year or two, of our goods & occupying, for to withstand the enemy, we know and hope notwithstanding, that God by such means will give unto us his holy word and Gospel, which is not to be bought for any worldly goods or treasure: and for as much as we hope, that once within these few days, God will drive the Tyrant away from us, and bless us with all manner of blessings, we living godly and in his fear, our country shall prospero in all godliness and other kind of occupying, the which God grant unto us for his son Christ's sake. Amen.   
FINIS. BY THE STUDY OF LETTERS IMMORTALITY IS GOT  printer's or publisher's device 
1573