TWO LETTERS From the LORD Pieter de Groot, TO THE States of HOLLAND AND WEST-FRIESLAND, And to the Governors of ROTTERDAM: In Vindication of his Reputation, and the Occasion of his Retiring to Antwerp. Dated August the first, 1672.  
With Allowance. August 24, 1672.  
LONDON, Printed, and are to be sold by Jonathan Edwin at the Sign of the Three Roses in Ludgate-street. 1672.   

and the Affection of the Inhabitants, in such a manner that I should have needed no other Aid, Assistance and Security, for my Safety. But I have, God help and forgive those that are the occasion thereof, found more cruelty and rage in the midst of my Native Country, and in the City wherein I was born, (where to my Knowledge I never gave any man the least occasion of discontent) than ever was used amongst People of one and the same Nation: My House hath been set upon several times, as well by night as by day, my Messengers dragged along the Streets, my Children threatened, myself and my Followers on a Sunday coming from the Stadt House in Sermon time assassinated with drawn Knives, insomuch that nothing but the miraculous hand of God could have delivered me from apparent death. And yet, my Noble, Great and Mighty Lords, all these dangers have never moved me to prefer my Safety before the Welfare of my Country, or to spare my Person or Estate, so long as I believed that my poor Service might be advantageous to it, or that there might be more madness than design mixed with this boisterous Work: always judging that the duty of a faithful Governor is to oppose the Common Insurrections in a State by private Consultations and Debates But after that I evidently perceived out of the Reports and Propositions which were made in your Noble, Great and Mighty Lordship's Assembly, that the general Danger would be changed to a particular one, and by the exposing of my Person make a Sacrifice to the Communality: I believed that that which hitherto might in me have passed for a sincere and faithful Intention, would henceforward be accounted Carelessness and Imprudence; and therefore judged that I was bound as well in respect of my Family, as for the defence of my Honour, to secure myself from the violent hands of my Enemies, and to retire so long till I might return into my native Country without Danger, and according to my Duty perform the Services of your Great and Mighty Lordships. I have therefore retreated into Brabant, w●th Intention, if I be too hotly pursued, to seek my Safety farther, till I meet with a Place where I may live secure and without Molestation. Nevertheless, assuring your Great and Mighty Lordships, that I will never slain my former Fidelity, which is clouded by these troublesome times, by any Action that shall prove prejudicial to my native Country, disadvantageous to your Great and Mighty Lordships, derogating from my Reputation, or contrary to the Opinion, which I am assured that all Honourable and Worthy Governors have of me. This I judged my Duty bound me to make known to your Great and Mighty Lordships, whilst I with a sincere Heart implore the Almighty God to grant your Great and Mighty Lordships a laudable Regency, Peace from without, Unity within, and accordingly the good Inhabitants all manner of Happiness.  
Dated in Antwerp, August 1, 1672. Underneath stood Your Noble, Great and Mighty's Humble and Obedient Servant, Signed, P. de Groot.   

The SECOND LETTER.  
Noble, Honourable, Wise, and most Prudent LORDS;  
My Lords,  
ALthough my Return into my native Country was not so timely as I could have wished, yet I have time enough to see, that the Disorders which have been there for some Weeks past, proceeded from no small occasion; and that the good Governors were very ill treated: yet I have nevertheless (though in my Conscience) with many others, well knowing that my Deportment (which may sufficiently be justified) had not given the least occasion thereto, patiently endured the Outrages committed on my House, Family, and Person in respect of the Public, so long as the Commotions were frequent: But after that I found the Danger would be distinguished, and deliver up my Person as a Victim to the tumultuous Communality, I judged that it was time that I secured my Safety by my Retreat, as well in respect of my Care due to my innocent Children, as also to be the better able to defend my Reputation (which I esteem equal with my Life) before the whole World; which will need little Trouble, when my Actions agreeing with the Orders from the States, shall by some of the Members be examined. I have suddenly retreated into the Spanish Netherlands, that I might not give the least occasion of Dislike to my Enemies, with intention to return and perform my Duty so soon as I am assured that your Noble and Honourable Lordships are in condition and inclined to protect me and assure my Safety, which is proper and necessary for the meanest Inhabitants, but more especially for Governors. So committing your Noble and Honourable Lordships to the Protection of the Almighty God, I remain  
From Antwerp, Aug. 1, 1672. Noble, Honourable, Wise and most Prudent Lords, Your Noble and Honourable Lordships Most humble Servant, P. de Groot.  
FINIS.