¶ A copy of the Letters which my Lord the Prince of Orange, sent unto the Kigns and Potentates of christendom.( {inverted ⁂ })  
SIr,  
I doubt not, but that your Maiectie hath been advertised of a certain Proscription, which the King of spain, hath appointed to be published againct me, because he hath caused the same to be spread abroad in all languages, and hath sent it also into diuers quarters of christendom. I and all my very good friends haue thought, that I could not sufficiently defend mine honor( which I am advised and purposed not to hazard or endanger for any thing) but by setting a just defence, against this unjust Proscription. In regard whereof, I haue presented unto my Lords, the estates of these countries, my answer: which answer also( for the maintenance of mine honor and reputation, amongst the Princes & Potentates of Europe, who in respect of their pre-eminences and dignities, are the succours of poor Princes and distressed noble men) I haue been bold to send unto them, and to you( sir) particularly, most humbly beseeching your majesty, that, after you haue seen it, you would yield like iudgement thereof, as it hath pleased my Lords the Estates, who haue been most faithful witnesses of all mine actions, to do, and to esteem and judge thereof also( as it shall please your majesty to take knowledge of it) by their aduise and counsel, which also is annexed to my said defence. And because( Sir) your majesty may think it strange, that the King of spain, having heretofore violently taken from me all my goods, after that I had put my governements into the hands of the duchess of Parma, then the governess of this estate, and had withdrawn myself into the country of germany, the place of my nativity, where I kept myself peaceably among my brethren, kinsfolks & friends, as also I had fully purposed so to continue: and that, having at the same time, conveyed or carried away from the schools, my son the county of Bueren, and both contrary to the privileges of the country, and against his own oath, causing him to be carried prisoner into spain, where he is as yet cruelly kept captive: and besides, having procured me to be condemned to death, by the Duke of Alua his own officer: because( I say) your majesty may think it strange, that for all these reasons( which were nevertheless very great and weighty) I haue not hitherto published any defence, which was directed to the said King, or might directly concern him, which thing notwithstanding I do at this present and declare thereby, that the faults, wherewith the King of spain mindeth to charge me, belong unto himself. I do therfore most humbly beseech your majesty( Sir) that before you judge of this my writing, you would consider the quality both of the crimes and faults, wherewith I am charged by this Proscription, and also the quality of mine own person. For, if the King of spain was content to withhold from me my son and my goods, which he hath in his possession, & further to offer( as at this present he doth) five & twenty thousand crownes for my head, and to promise to make such noble as should murder me, and to pardon them all the faults whatsoever that they could haue committed before that time: no man should think it evil in me, that I haue attempted by all the means I could,( as in deed heretofore I haue done) to preserve myself and mine, and to enable myself what I could, to enter again into that which is mine own: and that I haue followed that order and course of life that I haue done. But further the King of spain, having al the world thorough published, that I am a public plague, an enemy of the world, unthankful, unfaithful, a traitor, and a wicked person: these are such injuries( Sir) that no gentleman, no though he were of the basest of the king of Spaines natural subiectes, can or ought to endure: in so much( Sir) that though I were one of his simplo and absolute vassals, who oweth homage unto him by honor, yet so it is, that by such a sentence, and so unjust in all and every part thereof: I also having been by him, spoiled of my lands and worships, in respect of which, I should heretofore haue taken an oath unto him, I might haue held myself absolved and free from all my bands towards him, & haue assayed also( which thing even nature hath taught every one) by all the means I could to maintain mine honor, which ought to be to me and to all noble men, more dear than life and goods. Notwithstanding, seeing it hath pleased God, to show me this great grace, that I am born a free Lord, not holding of any other but of the Empire, as do the Princes and other free lords of germany and italy: and further seeing that I bear the title, and haue the name of an absolute and free Prince, though in deed my princedom be not very great: yea whatsoever it be, I not being his natural subject, neither having held any thing of him, but by reason of my Seignuries & worships, of which notwithstanding he hath wholly dispossessed me: it hath seemed unto me, that I could not defend mine honor, and satisfy or content my near kinsfolks, sundry Princes( to whom this is my honor that I am linked) and my whole posterity, but in answering by public writing to this accusation, which in the presence of all christendom, is published and set out against me. And though I haue not been able to do it, without touching his honor, I hope notwithstanding( Sir) that your majesty will impute it, rather to the enforcement, that the quality and heinousness of this Proscription hath laid upon me, than to my nature or will. For as concerning this point, that some men may think it strange, that I do after this sort defend myself, seeing that I haue sometimes heretofore held of him sundry lands and worships, for answer thereto, I will most humbly beseech your majesty, to consider the heinousness of the injury, that is done me, which a right noble man will never in deed abide: also that I am not his natural subject, and, as concerning my fees and pensions, that he hath spoiled me of them. But suppose that I had always enjoyed them: yet so it is, that the same lawe which he useth towards others, should not be denied to me. 
In the letter sent to the French King, it is writtē: He holdeth of your majesty.  He holdeth of the French King in loyaultie and homage, and even as the vassal doth of his Lord, the county or earldom of Charollois: and yet for all that he ceaseth not, to make war against the crown of france, yea he never leaveth of continually to practise and devise, somewhat against the same. He taketh this as a sure foundation or rule, that, being a sovereign governor in some other place, it is lawful for him, to reuenge himself of the wrong, which he pretended was done unto him, by the late French King henry of most noble memory. When he made war against the Pope Caraffa, because as a vassal he held of him the kingdoms of Sicilia and Naples, he published his defence, by which he maintained, that he was absolved from his oath, because that the Pope kept not himself, within the terms or points that the Lord oweth to his vassal, according to the feodall laws which are mutual, and respect as well the one, as the other. Now( Sir) there is nothing so natural or kindly, as, that every one should in his own cause, receive the very selfsame rule and order, that he would haue an other man to receive or allow of. Wherefore he should not think it strange, that I, being so many ways reviled & injuried by him, and not being his subject, that I, I say, do aid myself, with the means that God hath given me, and with which he hath been willing to help himself against his lords, who haue not offended him in any thing whatsoever, that draweth nigh to the wrong which I haue suffered at his hand: yea he should not think it strange, that I use against him that reproachful note, hy which he assayeth to mark as it were in the forehead, both me and my race.  
And because my Lords the Estates,( who haue more nighly known the truth of all that is contained in this my defence, and haue approved the same) haue yielded unto me sufficient testimony enough touching my life past: I do most humbly also beseech your majesty( Sir) in approving this same mine answer, to beleeue that I am not, either a traitor or wicked person, but that I am,( thankes be to God for it) a noble man, of a very good and most ancient house, yea a good man and true in every thing that I promise, not vnthankeful, nor unfaithful, nor having committed any thing, whereby a Lord or Knight of my state & countenance, may receive any reproach or shane: most humbly beseeching you, to hold and account me, in the number of your most humble servants. And thus having most humbly submitted myself unto your majesty, I will pray God( Sir) to give it, together with perfect health, a most blessed and most long life. At Delft in Holland, the iiij. day of february 1581.  
Your majesties most humble and obedient servant, WILLIAM of NASSAV.   

¶ A declaration made by my Lord the Prince of Orange, to my Lords the Estates General of the low Countries.  
MY lords,  
ye haue heretofore seen a certain sentence in the form of a Proscription, which was sent by the King of spain, and afterwards published by the appointment and order of the Prince of Parma: and howe by the means thereof, mine enemies haue against all right and reason attempted, grievously to touch and to taint mine honor, and to cause my former actions, to be thought evil and wicked: wherein I haue been very willing and desirous, to take the advice and counsel of sundry notable personages, and men of great name and calling, yea of the principal counselers and wise men of this country. But by reason of the quality and form of the said Proscription, and the heinous and grievous crimes wherewith I am charged, although in deed wrongfully, I haue hitherto stayed: notwithstanding I haue been advised and counseled by sundry my friends, that I cannot otherwise defend mine honour, but to show by public writing, howe unjustly I haue been accused and charged with many faults: and also howe I haue been openly injuried, and maliciously slandered. According to which advice and counsel( my Lords) seeing that in this world, I aclowledge you only for my superiors, I offer unto you this my defence, written against the reprehensions of mine aduersaries, by which I hope that I haue not only discovered all their deceits & slanders, but also lawfully justified, all my actions past. And because, that their principal mark and purpose is, to seek out all the means they can, to take away my life, or else to cause me to be banished out of these countries, or at the least, to diminish the authority which it hath pleased you to give me, as if obtaining that thing once, all should fall out as they would wish it: & on the other side, because they slander me, that by unlawful means I keep and hold my authority, I beseech you my Lords to beleeue, that albeit I be content to live amongst you, so long as it shall please God, and to continue towards you my faithful service: yet notwithstanding, that mine own life, which I haue dedicated to your service, and my presence in the midst of you, are not so dear unto me, but that I can most willingly abandon and forego my life, or else withdraw myself out of the country, when you shall think or know, that either the one or the other may any manner of way serve your turn, to purchase unto you a more assured liberty. And as concerning the authority which it hath pleased you to give me, you know my Lords howe many times I haue besought you, to content yourselves with my service, and to unburden me thereof, if you should think that it would stand well, with the good estate of your affairs, which thing even as yet I do demand of you, offering notwithstanding( as I haue always done) in all that wherein it hath pleased you to command me, stil to continue to employ myself in the service of the country: in regard of which I esteem nothing of all that is in the world, as I do more largely declare the same unto you in this my defence. Which if you shal judge it convenient, I beseech you to think it good, and to take care, that it may be brought to light and published, to the end, that not only you( my Lords) but also the whole world may judge, of the equity of my cause, and of the unjust dealing of mine aduersaries.  
Presented by my Lord the Prince of Orange, to my Lords the Deputies of the Estates general, and of the provinces united together, being assembled in the town of DELFT, the xiij. of December. 1580.  
underneath was written, I I. HOFFLIN being present.   

The answer of my lords the Estates general, made to the former declaration.  
THE Estates general, having not many dayes since, seen and red a certain Proscription, published by the enemies, against your Excellencies person, by which they charge the same with heinous crimes, endeavouring to make it odious,( as though by unlawful means, and indirect ways, it had usurped the place and degree, wherein it is set and established) and to deliver your said Excellencies person over for a parie, and to take from it the honor thereof: having in like sort seen and viewed, a defence set out by your excellency, against the said Proscription, find, by the truth of that which hath passed in these countries, and which is known and manifest also, to every one of them, in respect of themselves, that the said crimes, faults and reproaches, haue vniustlie been laid vpon the same. And as concerning the offices, as well of lieutenant general, as of the particular governements, they affirm that his excellency, yea even then, when he was lawfully elected & chosen, did not accept them, but at our instant request, in which also he hath continued at our entreaties, and that with the sound contentment and satisfaction, of the whole country: and the said Estates do yet again beseech him, that it would please him to continue therein, promising him all aid and assistance, without sparing any of the means they haue, and also to yield unto him ready and willing obedience. And because they know, the faithful services, that your excellency hath yielded to these countries, and those also which they hope, in time yet hereafter to come, you will perform: they offer unto him, for the assurance of his person, to maintain a company of horsemen for the safeguard thereof, beseeching him to accept it on the behalf, and at the offer of those persons, which think themselves much bound to the preservation thereof. And so much as toucheth the said Estates( who think themselves also charged by the said Proscription) they mind shortly in like sort to justify themselves, so far forth as they shall think it convenient. So concluded in the assembly of my lords the Estates general, in the town of Delft, the xvij. day of December. In the year of our lord, 1580.  
By the express determination of the said Eslates. Signed I. Houfflin.   

AN apology OR DEFENCE, OF MY Lord the Prince of Orange, county of Nassau, of Catzenellenboghen, Dietz, Vianden, &c. Burchgraue of Antwerp, and viscount of Bezanson, Baron of Breda, Diest, Grimberghe, of Arlay, Nozeroy, &c. Lord of Chastelbellin, &c. lieutenant general in the low Countries, and governor of Brabant, holland, Zeeland, utrecht, and Frise, and Admiral, &c. Against the Proclamation and Edict, published by the King of spain, by which he proscribeth the said Lord, whereby shall appear the slanders and false accusations, contained in the said Proscription.  
THis is the thing which I haue always prayed unto God for( my Lords) & desired withal my hart, that he would grant it me, from the time that I vowed my person, & all the means that I haue in the world, for the recovering of your liberty, & the safety of your persons, goods, and consciences: if I say, I should at any time haue preferred, that which respecteth myself particularly, before your health & wealth generally, that I might in this behalf, bear an eternal punishment, which I should haue drawn vpon myself, by mine own good will and accord: But on the other side, if that which I haue done heretofore, hath been by me attempted & taken in hand, only for the preservation of your estate: and that I haue born, a great parte of the burden of this present war, onely for the common safeguard of the country: and that the hatred conceived by certain wicked persons, against the country, against godly people & honourable personages, having been for a certain time dissembled and covered in their hartes, cometh wholly and that at once, to vomit and cast up itself vpon me only, rather then vpon so many good people, & specially vpon the general estate of the common wealth: then I say this hath been the thing that I haue greatly desired, that, if my good will had been such towards you( my lords) your children, your towns and commonalties, as in deed it hath been, I might one day carry away, a solemn testimony thereof, as well for the peace of mine own conscience, as for the defence of mine own honor, before all the people of the earth, and before al posterity. And now I do greatly rejoice myself, and yield immoatal thankes unto our good God, & I haue great occasion of contentement and quietness, seeing that he suffereth me to be made so rare, and so noble, and so excellent a mark thereof, by this cruel and barbarous Proscription, yea such a one, as the like hath not been heard in these countries, commended amongst all people & nations, for their singular and incredible courtesy. For albeit that nothing be more to be wished of a man, than the race and course of his life, to be sound, blessed, prosperous, and upright, without any dash, blow, stumbling, or any wicked encountering: notwithstanding if all things had fallen out unto me, as I would haue wished, and that I had not encountered, with the hatred of the spanish nation and his adherents, I should haue lost the gain of this testimony, which my very enemies haue yielded me, & which I take to be the most excellent flower of glory, that I had been able to haue desired, to haue been crwoned with, before my death. For what in this world can be more acceptable, and that specially to him, who hath enterprised so great and excellent a work, as is the liberty of so good a people, oppressed by so wicked people, than to be deadly hated of his enemies, yea such enemies, as are withal the enemies of the country, & by their own very mouth and confession, to receive a sure testimony, of his faithfulness towards his own people, and of constancy, against tyraunts & disturbers of common peace? in so much, that the Spaniards and their adherents, thinking in deed to do me displeasure, haue done me many pleasures, as by this infamous Proscription, they haue thought to hurt me more than before, and yet they haue made me more rejoice, and given me more contentedness of mind. For I haue not only thereby received that profit, but they haue opened unto me a more large field to defend myself, than I durst ever be bold to desire, that so I might cause all the world to know, the equity and iustice of my enterprises, & by it leave unto my posterity, an example of virtue meet to be followed by all those, that would not dishonour the nobility of their ancestors, from whence we are descended, & of whom, not so much as one onely, hath at any time favoured tyranny, but all they haue loved the liberty of the people, amongst whom they haue born office and had authority. I haue no occasion to complain, that I haue not had heretofore, matter large enough to speak of myself, and to reprove the foul and heinous faults of mine enemies: but neither would shamefastness suffer me myself to sing and set out mine own praises, which surely is a hard matter not to do, whatsoever modesty a man pretend in such a matter: neither would public honesty permit me, to enlarge myself to rehearse the faults of mine enemies, liking much better to bury some part of their grievous enterprises under silence, than in publishing them( albeit in truth) to cast myself into danger, to incur the suspicion to be a slanderer. Seeing than( my Lords) that in this Proscription, the question is not onely to tax any person, and barbarously to make it a pray, but also it is known to every one, that by my wounds, they mind to wound the common wealth and the state of all these countries: as also this is no more now performed, by small diffamatory libels, made by people of no account, and whose injuries done against me, should no more move me, than the tongue of some little serpent, which a man must rather break in pieces with his foot, than endeavour to fight against it with weapons: but that men of so great countenance, should so far and so vilely debase their greatness, as to busy themselves, faslie to backbite and to slander, it hath seemed unto me altogether necessary to speak, to the end that our common country( for which I am ready to give up my life, as I haue already lost my goods) may not feel her self damnified or hurt by my silence, & that on the other side, these famous titles, of so many Countries & kingdoms, stretching themselves so far as over Africa and Asia, may not dasell the eyes of many, who judge the affairs & matters of this world, rather by shadows, appearaunces, and outward shows, than by strength and soundness of reason. I know notwithstanding all this, that those which persecute me, haue in many points advantage against me, and principally in two points: the one is, that they make a show and boasting, of their great qualities and estates, which do infinitely exceed my condition: the other( which is also a natural thing to al men) willingly to open their ears to evil speeches & slanders: for I haue oftentimes heard, the most elegant of all the Poets, to haue very well said, that there is not in any feast any sauce so sweet, to the pallet of the mouth, as evil speech and backbiting is to the ear: and on the other side, that nothing is heard so much against the heart, and with so great grief, as the speech of him that praiseth himself. Of these two points, that which bringeth pleasure is given to mine enemy, and I haue for my share, that which is hard and unpleasant almost to the whole world. But I hope, that by the mean of your favour and usual good will, that neither the one nor the other, shall bring me any loss or hurt, seeing that so it is, that this long time sithence you haue tried, that these great and famous States, if they be spotted and tainted with tyranny, can not gain much of free heartes and noble courages. And on the other side, knowing the ordinary trade and course of my life, who love not more to blame an other man, than to praise myself, yet if it so fall out that I do, either the one or the other, as it is a very hard thing not to do so( albeit that it shal be with the greatest modesty that I can) and if there be any thing that may seem not very seemly, it shalbe long to you( my lords) to attribute the same, rather to the necessity so to do( which mine enemies haue laid vpon me) than to my nature, & by that means to unburden me, and to lay the fault wholly, vpon their own shamelessness & importunity. And I will pray you( my Lords) to remember, that I am falsely accused to be unthankful, unfaithful, an heretic, an hypocrite, like unto Iudas and Cain, the disturber of the country, rebellious, a stranger, an enemy of mankind, the public plague of the christian common wealth, a traitor, and a wicked person, that I am set out to be slain as a beast, with reward to all murtherers, and to all poisoners which will attempt the same, leaving you to judge( my lords) whether it be possible to purge myself from such slanders, without ripping up in some matters, the ordinary course of my life, & without exceeding my custom, in speaking of myself and other men. In the mean while, I am so assured of the iustice of my cause, and of my soundness and faithfulness towards you, and on the other side, of your equity and roundness, and of the knowledge that you haue, howe & after what sort all things haue passed, that I demand no other thing of you, but onely that you would judge, and take notice of this matter, and determine thereof for your own good, health, and preservation, that which the laws, freedoms, liberties, and privileges of the country, command you, according to the hope that the people hath of your wisdom and uprightness: which thing also I pray you to do, yea I earnestly beseech you, by all holy & sacred things, and that by the oath and band which you bear to the country, certainly assuring myself, that as in many other matters I am less than mine enemies, so that I shalbe in this behalf so much the more their superior, as that by all means & crafts they haue purposed, to violate, break, & suppress your laws, your privileges, and liberties: whereas on the other side, I haue with a good heart and all faithfulness, employed myself to maintain & preserve the same. And albeit( my Lords) that I am not in such sort an enemy, to my renown & own good name, but that I take delight and pleasure( as also I hope my actions and deeds deserve the same) to be in good account among all the Princes, Potentates, and common weals of the world( excepting onely amongst the Spaniards & their adherents, who persevering in the pursuit of their tyranny, I desire not either grace or favor, or any friendship at their hands) not withstanding, seeing that you are the men only in this matter, to whom I haue taken an oath, to whom alone I count myself bound who alone also haue power to approve or improve my acts & deeds: I shall hold myself very well satisfied, when on your parte I shall haue received a testimony conformable & agreeable to my intents and purposes, which haue always been joined with your good, profit, and service: and I shall patiently suffer other people and nations, to judge thereof according to their passions and affections, or rather( which thing also I more desire) according to equity, right, & iustice, having first put of all prejudice, and freed their own understandings from the thick clouds of these greatnesses and glory, which might heretofore haue somewhat dazzled them.  
now if mine enemies( my lords) had come directly, to the point and matter of the Proscription, setting out the reasons, vpon which is grounded, this barbarous sentence( which sentence in deed doth overmuch declare their mind very base and much degenerating from the virtue and courage of their ancestors) I had not used likewise any circuits or compassinges of words, but had at the very entry declared, both what mine own innocency is, and howe weak and ruinous their foundations and groundworkes are. But seeing that to make me odious, they haue better liked, to set, even at the entrance, before the eyes of all the world, a heap of injuries, and in the course of this speech, without purpose to interlace them, speaking so shamelessly of me: I suppose, that it is necessary, yea in dead most just, that I answer to such slanders, to the end that some being moved or persuaded by such words, may not yet receive this my defence, with a heart more estranged from me, than the lawe allowed amongst people, and iustice itself requireth.  
As concerning then this heap of injuries, by which I am so shamelessly rent in pieces, and which being taken out of this Proscription, nothing shall remain therein but a smoke: you see( my lords) howe plain and without painting colours the defence is that I use. If you knome me to be such a one, as mine enemies publish me to be: if I carry either in my body or in my soul, such colours as the forger of this writing saith, that he hath painted me out withall( for my lords ye haue known me from my youth, and I haue not spent my age else where, but with you) shut immediately your ears, and refuse to hear or understand, so much as one word coming out of my mouth. But if on the other side, I haue all my life thorough, been more honest, more sound, more continent, and less covetous, than the authors of this slanderous writing, and then he, which hath published the same, to wit, the Prince of Parma and his predecessors, whose facts are over well known by histories: if I say, you haue known me and mine ancestors, more virtuous people than these( for I speak not as yet of the King) and their ancestors, then beleeue, that as they falsely slander at the very entrance, so they shal be no more meet to be believed, in all the rest of their shameless accusations. For, to what end I pray you, serveth this recital of so many injuries, but onely to show unto the world, that my enemies are skilful to slander and backbite, and that he, whom yet thorough Gods goodness, they haue not been able to murder, neither by poison, nor sword, nor yet to deceive by promises, nor yet busy him with vain and uncertain hopes, they do assay at the least to wound him, with the venom of their tongue, accustomend even from their youth to so infamous an occupation?  
They at the beginning make a recital, 
Of the good turns which some say, the lord Prince hath received of the Emperor Charles.  of many good turns which I haue received from the Emperour, in respect of the succession, of my late lord the Prince of Orange my cousin, that the King made me of his order, lieutenant general in the government of holland, Zeelande, utrecht, and burgundy, and one of the counsel of Estate. To what end are these things alleged? to declare that I am greatly bound to the house of spain, and that I can not shun this, 
Accusation of ingratitude.  but that I must be condemned of ingratitude: and moreover, that by reason of the oath that I had taken, and of the lands and worships, that I hold in homage of the said lord, I am bound to procure, the profit and advancement of his affairs and matters, thinking to make me likewise culpable and faulty of unfaithfulness. 
Accusation of unthankfulness.  verily I confess and agree, with the King and the whole house of spain, that nothing is so much to be condemned in this world, as a man defiled with these two spots & stains, to wit, of unthankfulness & unfaithfulness, and he that hath spoken these two injuries to a man, he hath said as much to him & against him, as if he had charged him with all the accusations & slanders, that wise people and fools, discreet and undiscreet, could rak together: and specially look, by how much a Lord is of a more noble and famous house, by so much the more shall he be dishonoured, if he can be convinced of these or such faults: and I refuse not to be hated of all the world, to be rooted out of the earth, and that the memory of me & mine should be withered for ever, if I may be found such a one.  
But that shall be with this condition also, that if I declare, that there is no Prince in the world, more ungrateful and unkind towards a poor lord, than he that accused me and would condemn me, is against me and mine: that the unfaithfulness also which he hath used in respect of me( for I will not yet speak of the open violating of his faith towards the country) is incredible, that then( I say) he also may be subject to the like condition and state, and may be holden for such a one as he is, amongst all living people, and all posterity to come: and I shall think the punishment more great in his behalf, than he thinketh any in mine, as may appear by that, which he maketh show to seek for by this tragical Proscription, the which thorough Gods grace and goodness, doth no more astonish me than a vain vision or dream. First( my Lords) I protest, that the remembrance and memory of the Emperour Charles, shall always be in an honourable account with me, as well because of his acts, as that it pleased him, to show me so much honor, as to haue nourished me in his chamber, by the space of nine yeeres, to whom also I yielded & performed, most faithful and most willing service. But if he, who by reason is most bound of all men to maintain his renown, come to accuse me of ingratitude and unthankfulness, as, that I haue not acknowledged the good turns, which he saieth, that I haue received of the Emperour: I beseech you to hold me excused, if being constrained for the defence of mine innocency, I declare, in respect of good turns alleged, that I haue not received any at all from him, but that in doing him service, I haue received most great losses, as you shall plainly understand, if it please you to hear me patienly.  
now then he saith, 
An aunswer to the accusation of ingratitude.  that in respect of the succession of the late Lord, the Prince Rene my cousin, the Emperour handled me favourably. But wherein? First, there was never any lord as yet found so evil advised, that would pretend right against me for succession, in so much that if the Emperour hath not hindered me in that, what hath he done for me, that a judge, the greatest enemy I could haue, would not haue done likewise? Was there yet any party found so rash, that durst offer himself to speak against it? And though I had had adverse parties, if my right were so clear and so well grounded, that nothing was ever yet hitherto able to be alleged against it, which was able to darcken it, or to shake it: and that hereupon the Emperour had given forth a decree for my profit, what hath he done for me, but administered me iustice, and would not take from me that, which the laws, reason, and very nature itself did give me? But if it please you( my Lords) to consider the nature and quality of this succession, you shall find my right and title to haue been such, that the Emperour could not haue deprived me of it, or taken it from me, without an extreme injury, and a most manifest wrong.  
There were in the succession, 
The succession of Nassau & chalon.  two principal members or branches: The first was, that which came by our house of Nassau, which my lords my predecessors, the grandfather and great graundfathers, vncles by the fathers side, and cousin germaine by the fathers side, enjoyed: that is to say, the goods which at this day belong unto me, in Brabant, flanders, holland and Luxenburgh: the other was, the succession of the house of chalon. As concerning the succession of Nassau, which men commonly call Breda, because it was the principal place of my worships, and where I and my predecessors had held our chambers of accounts, counsel, & principal instructions pertaining to us and ours, who was he that might molest me in that, unless it were my lord my father, who was the uncle, and I the cousin germain, of my Lord the Prince Rene, the onely son of my Lord henry, county of Nassau, my uncle, and the brother of my lord my father? But so far of is it, that I was hindered in that succession, by my said Lord and father, that he himself took pains to come & solicit the matter, that I might be put in possession thereof: neither was there ever found man so shameless, that would set himself against it, but Schoore the President or judge, who in the counsel said, that the son of an heretic ought not to succeed, because that my lord my father, following the examples of good Kings, as of david, josias & others, had reformed the Churches of his countries, which he held & had in germany, and had purged them from abuses, according to the word of God, and that by the permission and sufferance of the Emperour. And notwithstanding all this, the counsel ceaseth not to give aduise, & to determine the matter according to reason and equity, as in deed it could not otherwise do, seeing that they had maintained my Lord the county of Kingstain mine uncle in the succession of the county of Rocheforte, although that he himself were a protestaunt. Seeing then that this was in question( if that may be called a question, which was in our own house, as whether that the succession aforesaid, were adiudged to the father or to the son pronounced notwithstanding always according to the laws) none beside could justly pretend any right thereto.  
As concerning the house of chalon, first it cannot be said in respect of the baronies which I peaceably hold and possess in the duchy of burgundy, 
The baronies of burgundy & of dauphin.  and in dauphin of Vienna, that I am therefore bound to the Emperor, for he had not any more power therein than I, all being under the power of the french King, who alike seized, the county of Charrollois, apparteyning to the Emperour, and my Barronries, when war was moved between them two, in so much that I can not be otherwise bound unto him therefore, but in this, that I was contained in the treaty of peace made at Sessons, which was the last duty that he could yield, to the memory of my lord my cousin, who but a little while before died, in the same expedition, and that on foot, at the siege of Saint Disier, after so many deeds of arms done for his service. And less hath he been able to favour me in my princedom of Orange, 
Princedom of Orange.  where he had nothing to see too nor to do, no neither he, nor any Prince, whatsoever, I myself holding the same in a naked, bare, and absolute sovereignty: which thing few other lords are able to say. And there is no Prince, in respect of my said princedom, whose amity and good grace I stand in need of, but of the French Kings, who I hope will not touch that, that belongeth to a poor Prince, who is his most humble servant, because reason suffereth not that, beyond which reason he will not go, and also because of the loyal and faithful services, that my predecessors haue done to the crown of france, and the duchy of Brytannie( whereof he is descended and is the heir) with great dangers of their lives, great expenses, and infinite travails.  
There remaineth then that which belongeth unto me, in the county of burgundy, and whereof, I haue been so long time, so vniustlie and tyrannouslie spoyled and dispossessed, which by means of loan and borrowing, yeeldeth unto me, even to this present time, two millions at the least of loss. But I would in the first place, that they should remember, wherefore the county of burgundy, is called frank or free, to wit, 
Possessions in the frank or fre county  amongst other reasons, because that the freedom and liberty of the lords, and such as hold possessions in the said country, is, that they haue power, by will to bequeath and to dispose of their goods, howe and to whom, they shall think good, without being either for their wives or their children, or other heires whatsoever enforced, otherwise to dispose of their goods, but in such sort, as shall be agreeable to their own will and pleasure. Seeing then that so it is, that my lord the Prince Rene, moved of his own good will, did( without any other respect that he had to me, who was at that time a young child living in germany, under the power and discipline, of my M●sters and Gouernours, and he having no other respect but that I was his cousin germaine) did, I say, appoint me his general heir, which thing also he did, according to the power that he had, even by the laws and customs of the country: I say that if I ought to yield thankes to any, it is to the memory of the said lord Prince, who being the eldest of our house, ment also, that as I should succeed him in the order of age, so I should come in like sort to succeed him in his goods and possessions. I perceive not then as yet, even to this present time, that I am any thing at all bound for this succession, to the house of spain, neither is there any man in the world, that can say it with ttueth.  

The grant  But the Emperour gave a grant unto the said Lord Prince, by will to bequeath it, to whom he should think good: and by the power of that grant the Prince choose me for his heir. This( my lords) maketh very much for me, and can at no hand serve mine enemies turn. For when the Emperour yielded to the grant, he knew not who should be nominated heir by the Prince, neither was it known of any man, until the day of the opening of the will, which was done in the presence of mary the queen, after the death of the said lord Prince: in so much that the Emperour consenting to the grant, seeing that his purpose was not to advance me, I do not think myself to be bound unto him, because the favour which was shewed unto the Prince( which notwithstanding every mean person whatsoever, may easily obtain, by ordinary letters out of the chancery) was not shewed on my behalf, or in respect of me. Besides, to judge of the grant, by that which afterwards ensued thereupon, should be to judge against the rules, which so oftentimes I haue heard the Emperour repeat, who said, that counsels ought to be examined, liked or disliked, by the causes and not by the effects. But let us put the case, that he had not had the grant, yet nothing was appointed by the will of my Lord the Prince Rene, but according to the laws, as hath been before said.  

Testament military.  But what will they answer, when besides all these reasons, I shall say unto them, that the testament or will of my lord my cousin is a military testament( which thing also they cannot gain say nor darken) yea, and that made, with very great solemnity, ripe iudgement, and in good season: made I say, & grounded, by express terms and words, upon this, that the said Lord Prince( who had before felt, what were the dangers of war, in so many expeditions taken in hand for the Emperours service) was now on the way, to go to a war so daungerous, and that with so great a Prince as King francis was. And though I be not a great Doctor in the laws, yet so it is, that I do very well remember, that I haue heard sundry learned persons disputing of this matter, in the presence of my Lord my father, who affirmed, that not onely military testaments or wills, but also little scrippes or scrolles, to be of such value & force, according to the laws of the Empire, that if a man of war, or a soldier, had before his death made or given the least mark of his will, yea the least sign that a man can imagine or think of: as if he had but traced or drawn with his blood vpon his targett, his name whom he will institute, ordain, and appoint, to be his heir: or with the print of his halberd or of his sword, had written the same on the ground, that that decree of his last will, is inviolable, and to be preferred before al other ordinance, according to the ancient privileges of those, which are honoured with the warlike chain or coller. Howe much more then was this privilege, due to so valiant a Prince, & to so noble a Knight? For the question is not here, of some one simplo mark or other, but here is a testament or will well & advisedly made, and that not in hast or by a simplo soldier wounded, and being ready to die, but by a virtuous Prince, and one worthy of immortal honor, assisted by his counsel, and somewhat forward in his way towards the expedition, and the things bequeathed not to a stranger, but to his cousin germaine, and not to an importunate flatterer, but to a young child being very far of from the Emperours army, which went to beseidge Saint Disier, & purposed to do the same even to Paris. But here is an ordinance I say, made not without the knowledge of the Emperour, but by his own grant, yea an ordinance according to the laws and customs used in all places. This then being so strong, it was not in mans power to reason against it, and much less to make it void, unless by some one way or other, which should haue been over tyrannons, and which( it may be) might haue brought more hurt than profit, to the renown and credit of the Emperour, specially if he had ment to offer any other thing than reason. And as there haue been amongst my predecessors some, who haue in deed found means and ways, to cause unjust and ungrateful persons, who kept their goods and possessions from them, to yield them the same: so I hope, that God will yet show me this grace, to haue a blessed issue against him, who hath unjustly spoyled me of my goods, and would barbarously take from me my life also. But seeing that I am enforced, yet to speak of the succession, I would fain haue some tel me, whether the Emperour suffering me to enjoy the succession, hath given it me of his own or no: for if I haue received nothing from him, but that which before appertained to my Lord the Prince Rene, I perceive not how the King can in any manner upbraid me, that either he, or the Emperor his father, haue given me any thing, unless this be liberality, to give largely of an other mans goods.  
But on the other side, albeit that at this present time, I say nothing of the wrongs that haue been done me in the said county, in which I haue such rights and pre-eminences, and whereof they haue spoiled me, and whereof I speak nothing at this time, leaving to debate and reason thereof, till arms & weapons shall haue yielded me more reason, than the injustice of him that keepeth all from me: this I must needs speak, I had no sooner taken hold of the succession of the Seignurie or Lordship of Chastel-bellin, 
The Lordship of Chastel-bellin.  but I was even assoon spoyled thereof, which is of so small value, that at this present there are due unto me, three hundred fifty thousand pounds of arrearage, by reason thereof. And this is the heap of injustice that they charge me with, if I haue done any. The Emperour was requested by my Lord my father, that at the least I might, according to the laws, be first restored unto the possession, in which my predecessor had been, but he would not suffer it: only he suffered me( being well-being spoyled) to follow my right by iustice and lawe, wherein he left me at the least, some gap, because he did not let me, from debating my right against him, when the cause was called forth to the parliament of Malines. But the son( who notwithstanding dare upbraid me with his good turns) seeing the cause ready to receive iudgement, the very self same day that the process and controversy should haue been cleared, & the aduise of the President and counsellors was already registered, and I had aduertissement given me, to seek and provide for silver for the Iudges fees: he I say, forbade his court to proceed any further, and left the process hanging upon the hook or file, where it remaineth yet to this present. You see( my lords) that iustice was well ministered by him which had sworn the same to me, and to the Barons of this country. And these be the great aduauntages and profits, that I haue received from the house of spain: this is the foundation and groundwork of al their reproaches: and vpon this is this infamous frame or building of Proscription, stayed and settled.  
But if on the other side, I should come largely to lay out, howe much the house of spain is bound to my predecessors( for concerning myself I will as yet say nothing) I am afraid to enter into so great a sea, which I can not pass over in many months, wherefore I will touch onely the principal matters, leaving unto you my lords and to the readers, the particular searching and finding out of the said bounds, in the histories and ancient records of this country.  
He that of the house of ostrich, first came into the low countries, and that a longtime after that my predecessors held therein, both Counties and Baronneis, was the Emperor Maximilian, then Archduke of ostrich. now who knoweth not, that the county Engelbert my great uncle, was he who maintained and upheld the said Emperour, 
My lord Engelbert county of Nassau.  employing his goods, his life, and his wit, for the preservation of him? Was it not the county Engelbert, together with my lord of Romont, that obtained the victory of Guinegaste, having by his courage kept the footmen together, when as the horsemen had broken the rank and order, by means whereof, the great conquest of King Lewis the eleventh was stayed and let, which thing did afterwards, assure Maximilians state and condition? Was it not he, which vpon his return out of prison out of france, found Maximilian wonderfully troubled in flanders, against my lord of Rauestain, and those of Bruges, who also prevailed so much by arms and by counsel, that a truce and conclusion was made, who was once again the cause, to uphold and maintain the said Archduke, and who in like sort caused the accord made with the inhabitants of Bruges, to be maintained, whereof even yet at this day, there do remain notable marks and tokens, both of his fidelity, and of the thankfulness of the inhabitants of Bruges? It is the very same Engelbert, that subdued those that rebelled against him, about the borders of the Rhine, and established the said Emperour quiet in his countries of Oultremeuze: that I may speak no more of the daungerous voyages attempted for the said Emperor, as that voyage into Brytan for the treaty of marriage between the said lord Archduke, & the lady Anne heir of the duchy, and afterwards twice queen of france, which matter he so well followed, that all was agreed and further proceeding should haue been made therein, saving that my Lord John Prince of Orange, father of my Lord Philibert, 
The said county lieutenant general from the time of Duke Charles.  dashed all, and procured the marriage of the said Ladies cousin germaine, with Charles the French king. And the merites and valures of the said Lord county, were in those countries so great, that he was made lieutenant general thorough out the low country.  
The successor and heir of the said lord county Engelbert, and of his goods which he had in these countries, was my lord the county John of Nassau, 
My lord Henry, county of Nassau.  his brother, and my great uncle, and after his death, there succeeded him my lord the county henry my uncle, the eldest son of the said Lord county John, and his heir in the goods and possessions he had here in Brabant, Luxenbourg, holland and flanders: and my lord the county William my father, was his heir, in the goods and possessions which he had in germany.  
No man can deny, that in his time there was any lord in all these countries, who laboured more in the service of the Emperour Charles, than he. And to the end, I be not overlong in reciting that which is so well known, I will onely in a word tell you, that it was he, that put the imperial crown vpon the Emperours head, having so earnestly followed this matter, even then, when the Emperour, in respect of his young age, & by reason of his absence( for he was in spain) was not able to pursue the same, that he persuaded the Princes electors to prefer the Emperour before the french King, who earnestly laboured to obtain the said election. And as every one knoweth, that this imperial crown was the bridge, which afterwards made a passage to the Emperor, to obtain so many conquests: so none can deny, but that the acknowledgement thereof, ought to be given to the said lord county.  
But can any man show me at this present, so much as one mark or note of recompense, or one onely good turn that our stock hath received from the house of spain? Men may see in sundry places of these countries, pieces of ordinance, with the arms of hungary upon them, which the King of hungary gave to my predecessors, in testimony and remembrance of that their virtue and strength, which they had employed and shewed in their service against the Turkes, certain of which pieces were violently taken from me, & carried away by the Duke of Alua, out of my house of Breda, when he played the tyrant in this country, and yet some of them remain there to this day. Which thing I put down to declare, that so long as these pieces shall last, so long also shall the notes and marks of my ancestors virtue endure, & there shall remain also, a notable testimony which the King of hungary hath given them. But, as my predecessors haue been so noble, and by the grace of God, & the good government of their things, were never yet poor: so they never yet demanded any thing of the Princes of these countries, neither yet received any thing as of free gift, and yet I am sure, that the imperial crown at the least, deserved some one recompense or other. I confess that the succession of chalon, and of the princedom of Orange, was a great increase unto our house, but if we be bound to any for that, truly it is to the great King francis, who gave in marriage to the Lord mine uncle, the sister of my lord the Prince Phillibert, the daughter of my lord the Prince John, who was nourished and brought up with queen Anne, the Graundmother of the said Lord King, & whose Cousin the said Princes was. And thus you here see( my lords) the honesty and good behaviour of this monarch of france. The Emperour got and received his crown by the pains and travails of my uncle: francis the King( who knew all, that the said Lord had done, for his Competitor, that is, for him that sought to be Emperour as well as he) ceased not for all that, to give him this princess in marriage, who was not the supposed heir only, but the very heir in deed of my lord the Prince Philibert, the said King confessing, that he ought not to be displeased with him, who had constantly followed that parte which he took vpon him to follow: In so much that I may say of him, as the Historiographers of his time said, that it was an assured testimony of a noble and liberal hart in the Prince. And albeit, the Emperor had granted some thing, to the memory of my Lord the Prince rhine, 
The Prince rhine.  & that( according to the last appointment) he had granted some extraordinary privilege and benefit unto his will: should this I beseech you be a sufficient recompense, yielded to so faithful and so excellent services as he had performed, who was so valiant and so courageous a Prince, & had done for him so many duties, having by force of arms, not onely recovered for the Emperour the damage of a battle lost, but also having again conquered for him the duchy of Gelderlande, and in fine he himself yielded up his spirit at the Emperours feet, and that for his service?  
What shall I need to speak of Prince Philibert, who alone obtained for him Lombardie, and the kingdom of Naples, and with my Lord the Duke of Burbon, assured him of the state of Rome, and took the Pope for him as a prisoner: and to be short, hath given him a heap of all excellency and blessedness? And yet now his son will come, reproaching the remembrance of such Princes, and will say, that the Emperour hath executed iustice to their successor and cousin. now if they of Nassau had not lived heretofore: if they of Orange, had not done so many deeds of arms, before that the King was born, he would not haue put so many titles in the beginning of this Proscription, by which he doth falsely & slaunderouslie pronounce me a traitorous and wicked person, which as yet never hath fallen out, and I hope never shall fall out in any of my race. But let them answer me, by whose commandment the cardinal of Graundvelle, empoisoned the last Maximilian the Emperor, whilst he was the King of the Romans, I know what he told me concerning that matter, and that afterwards he was so afraid of the King and the spaniards, that he was altogether fearful, to make profession of that religion, which he knew notwithstanding to be the best.  
He proceedeth and saieth, 
An objection touching the benefits and honors bestowed by the king of spain upon the said lord Prince.  that he hath as it were in order of succession, continued and increased more and more my state and countenance, having made me of his order, afterwards lieutenant general in the government of holland, Zeelande, utrecht, and burgundy, of his counsel of Estate, and that he hath bestowed upon me sundry good turns and honours. As concerning benefits, I can not at any hand confess it, unless a man will call the great expenses that I haue been at, as well for the service of the Emperour, as of the King, benefits. For they which lived at that time, and specially in the kings time, may well remember, howe the Court always was greatly accompanied, with the nobility of sundry and diuers nations, and for the most parte, with the nobility of germany. now, every one knoweth, that my house lay always open, and that ordinarelie I was to make the discharge and defraying of all charges, bearing the expenses of the Court, with a very little allowance and order, that was made on the kings behalf.  
every one knoweth also, the great and excessive expenses, that I was of necessity to bee at in the voyage, in which both against my will, and likewise against sundry protestations made to the Emperour, and also to the queen of hungary, I was constrained, to carry the crown of the Empire to Ferdinando the Emperour, and hereunto I was the more unwilling, because it seemed not reasonable unto me, that I should carry from my Maisters head the crown, which in times past had been set thereupon by my predecessors. After this, I made the voyage into france, wherein I was sent for one of the pledges, appointed for the establishment and execution of the peace made at Chasteau in Cambresis, which brought unto me also great expenses and extreme charge, in so much that I can in these three points( unto which add also the charges that I was at, in the last warres, & specially those at the town philip and Charlemont, where I was general) verily assure you, that I spent more than fifteen hundred thousand Floreins, and yet notwithstanding, the Chamber of account or exchequer, may easily assure men of this, that I never had so much as one farthing, in recompense for these services: yea that being lieutenant general of the army, I did not receive for all charges, but three hundred Florins a month, which was not sufficient to pay the servants that pitched my tentes: yea also if the queen of hungary were yet alive, she could well remember, that which she spake unto me, when the Emperour( perceiving himself to be in the greatest extremity that ever he was, partly by the power of Duke Maurice, and of William the Lantzgraue, and partly by the powers of the french King) made the peace of Passau, 
The peace of Passau.  with as great loss to our hounse, which served him with our great loss and charges, to preserve the Empire for him, as it had before obtained the same for him. For, albeit in an open assembly of the Empire, the Emperour, being by the aduise of the electors set in his throne and imperial seat, had judged, & that by a definitive sentence, that we should haue the county or earldom of Catzenellenboghen, with more than two millions of Florins for arrearage, he made notwithstanding his peace with our loss, putting, by the agreement of Passau, our adverse parties in the possession thereof without any recompense given to vs. Which thing I propound not at this present, to stir up again any contention, seeing that our house hath since that time, agreed, with the most famous house of the Lantzgraues of Hessen, whose good kinsmen and servants we are: but to the end we may make the whole world to understand, the great benefits that we haue received, from the house of spain, and that every one may know, who it is that by good right is to be taxed for ingratitude and unkindness. And this( my lords) is not the like first parte that they haue shewed vs. For my lord the Prince rhine, being at that time the eldest of our house, pursuing so courageously the war of Cleue land, the Emperour promised him, that he would never conclude peace, with the Duke of Cleue land, 
Peace made with my lord the Duke of Cleue.  but vpon condition, that he should leave unto us peaceably, the third parte of the duchy of Iuilliers, which appertained unto us, by the succession of my lord, the county John of Nassau my great uncle, and Margaret the countess of Iuilliers and of mark: notwithstanding, perceiving himself to be the conqueror, he made peace with him as pleased him, forgetting that this victory, was obtained to his hands, by the travail and valiauntnesse, of my said lord and cousin.  
As concerning the honours, 
The honours.  which he saieth he hath done me, I will never deny, as I haue said heretofore, but that the Emperour did greatly honour me, whilst he nourished me & made me of his Chamber, by the space of nine yeeres, and afterwards in my two first warres, having appointed me & given me charge over all his ordinance, in these countries.  
And albeit, that I was not then one and twenty yeeres old, yea though I were absent from the Court, at my Lordship of Bueren, notwithstanding( the Duke of Sauoie attempting a voyage) the Emperour himself choose me for general of the army, albeit that the lords of the Counsel, 
My lord the prince made general of the army at the age of 21. yeeres.  yea & the queen herself, did present thereto sundry other persons, whose capacity and understanding was very great, as my lords the Counties of Boussu, of Lalaing, Martin van Rossem, old Knights and Souldiers, and the Counties of Arenbergh, of Meghem, and of Egmont, who was twelve yeeres elder than I. All this notwithstanding, albeit that no man name me,( as afterwards they affirmed to the Emperour) by reason of my youth, yet so it was, that it pleased the Emperour to choose me, for the reasons which then he declared, & which the queen of hungary, enforcing me ro take the charge vpon me, caused me afterwards to understand, which also I like better for this present time to conceal, than to declare, least I might seem, overmuch to praise, prise, and esteem myself. I say yet more, that it pleased the Emperour( my lords) then to cause me to come from the camp, when he declared unto you, the will and purpose that he had to put over his kingdoms, into the hands of his son the King, and it pleased him yet further so much to honor me, that he would not perform this solemn act in my absence, yea he presented himself amongst you in your assembly, leaning vpon me by reason of his infirmity, which thing sundry at that time thought was a very great honour unto me. But be it so, that since that time, the King had bestowed vpon me some honours, yet I cannot see, howe after any sort he can prevail or get any thing thereby, seeing that contrary to all right and reason, yea contrary to his own oath, he hath gone about to take them from me.  
As concerning the order, if the Emperour and the college or company of the knights thereof, haue given me their voice, I am no more bound to him therefore, than to other knights, seeing it was necessary for him to allow of that, which the college approved, even as he himself knoweth, that we, in the last assembly of the order, held in these countries, did, by plurality of voices, without his aduise, and against his will, choose sundry knights of the order, and caused them so to be received and accepted. But be it, that I were indebted to him therefore, yet so far of is it, that he may reproach or upbraid me therewith, that on the other side, he himself is to be therefore greatly charged. 
The privileges of the order.  He hath sworn, and it is also contained in the points that concern the order, that the knights of the order, should be judged by their brethren, that is, them of the same order. verily, it was never in the power of Duke Philipp surnamed the Good, to enforce my lord John of Luxenbourg, to forsake the oath which he had made, to the King of england, the said lord of Luxenbourgh, committing the determination of the matter in controversy between them, to the college & company of the knights of the orders. But the brethren, which the King hath appointed to my lords, the Counties of Egmount and of horns, to the Marques of Bergues & of Montignie, for their trial, were porters, petiefoggers, and people of no account, by which also he hath caused me to be condemned, against all order and course of law, even as I haue heretofore protested, and haue alleged the insufficiencies thereof, in the presence of all Europe. In so much, that he himself having done against his own oath, and against the orders and articles of the college or company, he is at no hand to be heard, in such reproaches as these are, wherein there are found the engraved marks, of his own oath being violated and broken. And beside, if I ought to yield thanks to any of the order, for the governements and other dignities that I haue, it must be to the Emperour, whose mind it was, & who had so decreed the same, before he would depart out of this country, having before known the duties that I had performed, & my faithfulness, namely in respect of my services yielded, in the government & guiding of his army, wherein I haue for witness, my Lord of nevers, and the late my lord of Chastillon Admiral of france, who in dead made us afterwards to know, that he was our adverse party: all which notwithstanding, they gained nothing( thankes be to God) vpon me, but I builded in despite of their beards, the town philip, & Charlemont, albeit that the plague, did very strongly afflict our army.  
As concerning the government of burgundy, I can certainly assure al men, that I haue not received any thing, 
The government of burgundy.  but that which my predecessors haue at all times maintained, as appertaining unto them by inheritance, and in deed my lady Philibert of Luxenbourg( my lord the Prince Philibert hir son being in italy) caused the Estates of burgundy to assemble and meet, in the Town of Nozeroy. And because that some thought it not meet and convenient, because my said town was vpon one of the Frontiers of the county of burgundy, she answered, that she ment to maintain the possession, of the lords of the house of chalon, who were by inheritance Gouernours of the county of burgundy. But be it whatsoever it be, the behaviours of the King towards me do sufficiently declare, that he can not object unto me these honours, which against all rules of honor, he goeth about to take from me, together with my life and goods, having by violence taken from me mine own son, against all lawe, either of God or man, yea against the privileges of the country, which he swore to observe at his glad entrance into it.  
As concerning the charged and office of counsellor of Estate, 
counselor of the estate  I haue sufficiently enough declared in my defence made heretofore, in the year sixty seven, that the cardinal and others practised this matter, that I might be called thereto, thinking thereby to cloak and cover themselves, onely with my authority before the people, and therefore I ought not to think myself bound unto them for this, because, that in doing this they sought not so much mine advantage, as their own profit. But if they be deceived of their hope, they must attribute it, either to their own want of capacity, as not being able wisely enough to order and direct their enterprises, or else( which in deed is more true, for they did not want wit & understanding) that their wickedness was grown so great, so apparent, and so palpable, that no man was able to endure them, but that they were cast out of the country, as a venom or poison, yea as a public plague.  

Of the last marriage of the said Lord Prince  now, for as much as they haue not onely directed themselves against my person, accusing me of unthankfulness and unfaithfulness, but even as rage and madness doth equally bite the whole world, as well the innocent as he, whom men judge culpable: so their petulancy, and disorder hath been so great, as that they haue desired, to touch & taint the honour of my wife, by the blame which they suppose to lay upon my last marriage: I know not, whether I may judge them more to be condemned in impudency, or in beastliness, whilst that these skilful men, who boast themselves to be so good painters, know not as yet to practise that lesson, which is so often said and repeated, by the meanest schollers that be, that is, that he that prepareth himself to speak evil of an other man, ought to be exempted from all crime and fault. For this argueth great impudency and rashness, if men know their notable faults, and yet will notwithstanding pass over their own thorns and thissels, as if they were roses: or if they know them not, what beastliness & blockishness doth this argue, not to perceive and see that, which every hour of a day offereth itself, to their eyes and sight? They see every day before them an incestuous king, which is one onely half degree, nigh unto jupiter, the husband of juno, his own sister, & yet they dare reproach me, with a holy, an honest, and a lawful marriage, made according to Gods word, and celebrated according to the ordinances of the Church of God. And again I am here enforced to beseech you( my lords) not to think of me that, which as yet you haue never seen in me, to wit, that by their wicked speeches, I am moved, to lay open these abominable biles, and to set before the eyes of al the world, the benumbedness and hardness of such consciences, as these men carry, but rather that it would please you to impute it, to this rage and desperate madness of the enemies of God, of the enemies of all christendom, and your enemies particularly, who are inflamed & set on fire against me, for no other reason, but for this, that they know, the great care, diligence, and faithfulness, that I haue had for your preservation. He then, that hath married his niece, dare reproach unto me my marriage, a marriage I say, very lawful and according to Gods order. He I say, dare vpbraied me with my marriage, who( to the end he might obtain such a marriage) hath cruelly murdered his own wife, the daughter and sister of the kings of france( as I understand they haue in france, 
The murder of the queen of spain.  informations and instructions concerning that matter) yea his lawful wife, the mother of two daughters, the true heires of spain, as I doubt not, but that the crown of france( the which heretofore hath given the crown of Castille, to a bastard of whom Philip is descended, dispossessing a tyrant thereof, though he were lawfully born thereto) shal haue no less power, to maintain and keep it for the true heires, if God which is a just judge, and never suffereth such wickednesses unpunished, do not take vengeance of it in his life time, depriving him of his estate, which thing he hath most rightly deserved, although he had not committed any other fault but this incest, accompanied with so abominable a murder. But you will say, he had a dispensation for it. From whom? From the Pope of Rome, which is a god in earth. verily I beleeue that, for the God of heaven would never haue consented thereto. But what was the groundwork and foundation of this earthly, heavenly dispensation? For soth this, that he must not leave so goodly a kingdom without an heir: and mark wherefore there was added, to the former horrible faults, a most cruel murder, 
The murder of the Prince of spain.  the father unnaturally murdering his own child and heir, to the end that by that means, the Pope might haue a gap open, to give a dispensation, for so execrable an incest, abominable to God and men. If therefore we say, that we do reject the government of such an incestuous king, the slayer of his son, and the murderer of his wife, who can justly accuse us therefore? Howe many kings haue there been, which haue been banished and driven out of their kingdoms, which had not committed such horrible crimes? For as concerning Don Charles his son, was he not to be in all likelihood, our Lord and master? And though the father could allege against his son a just cause of death, did not this matter belong unto us, who had so great interest therein, rather to judge thereof, than to three or four Friers and Inquisitors of spain? But it may be, that he made conscience to leave him for his heir, whom he knew to be born in unlawful marriage, because that at the time, that he seemed to mary the daughter of portugal, the mother of Don Charles, he was married to the lady Isabella Osorius, 
The marriage of the K. of spain with the lady Isabel Osorius.  by whom also he had two or three children, whereof the first was name Don Pedro, and the second son was name Don Bernardino: of which marriage Rigomes the Prince of Yuoli, if he were living, could give a good and sufficient testimony, for he was the procurer thereof, whereby also he obtained that great credite, and so much goods in spain, the which they do at this present, vnkindlie suck and draw from his widow, as it were with a sponge. now, if he haue so well behaved himself, in that supposed marriage, that marriage also which he hath made with the daughter of france, hath not as yet been more happy. For beside the murder of the queen his wife, it was also made noble, by an adultery, excelling all other adulteries, that is, that he kept ordinary and common household, with the lady Eufrasia, 
The adultery with the lady Eufrasia.  who being become great with child by him, he enforced the Prince of Ascoli to mary hir, and at the end of a certain time, the poor Prince( as the ministers of the kings tyranny say) died for grief, because, that having to strong an enemy, he was not able to remedy this, but that an other mans bastard should be his heir. But they that speak more certainly of this matter, affirm, that he received a morsel more easy to swallow down, than to digest. And yet he, who is decked with a crown of three such marriages, being I say, himself three times such a husband, dare upbraid and reproach me with my marriage.  
But suppose that he were not so defiled, and that we might count him for a guiltless person, yet for all that I fear him not, as though he were able to reproach me with any fault, and thankes be to God, I haue not done any thing, but very advisedly, and that by the counsel of sundry honourable, wise, and discreet persons. Neither is it needful, that he should travail much in that matter, wherein he hath no interest, but to behold and see, and of which also I am not bound, to yield him any account or reason. For as concerning my wife that dead is, she was allied to Princes of very great credit, to wise & honourable Princes, who I doubt not, but that they are fully satisfied in that behalf, & if I would enter further into that discourse, I could easily make it to appear unto him, that the most skilful of his doctors comdemne the same. As concerning the marriage, by which I am allied at this present, albeit that they make the zeal, that they would seem to haue, to the traditions of the Romish church, a bucklar and defence for their doings, yet so it is, that they shall never make any man in the world beleeue, that they are more zealous for that Church, then my Lord of Montpensier, my Lord my father in law, who maketh not profession of his religion, as the cardinal of Graundvelle, and such as he are, do, but as he thinketh, that his conscience commandeth him. And notwithstanding, having well weighed that, which is already past: and having heard the aduise of sundry principal persons, of the court of parliament at Paris, assembled at poitiers, for great and weighty causes: having also heard the aduise of Bishops and Doctors, he hath found out at the last,( as such is the truth in deed) that not onely albeit there had been a promise made on my wives behalf, yet it was none by lawe, because it was made in the time under yeeres, against the Canons and the ordinances of france, and the Decrees of the high courts, yea against the Canons of the counsel of Trent, to which mine enemy giveth and yeeldeth so great credite: but also that there was never any such promise made, but sundry protestations rather to the contrary, which is apparent, by good informations and instructions made, even in the absence of my wife. And although this were not so, yet so it is, that I am not so little conversant in good and holy doctrine, but that I know, that all these bonds of conscience, laid vpon us by men, can not be any bonde at all before God. Neither can that hinder me which some say, that if such a thing were permitted to a Lord of my countenance, yet at the least, the Pope ought to give a dispensation for it. For it is long since( God be thanked for it) that I know very well, of what value is this traffic of the dispensations from Rome: and so far of is it, that I will haue recourse unto him( who even unto this present, hath procured against me all the mischief he could) that I hope verily, that as this good sheapherde hath done to me & to all good people, the worst he could: so God will give me grace, to promote the destruction of that mystical kingdom, which he hath set up in his den of Rome, by means whereof, he hath heretofore ruled over all the whole earth, causing Princes and Kings to kiss his pantofle or show, yea treading under his feet the Emperour.  
They object unto me also, that I am a stranger, as if the Prince of Parma, were a great country man, 
That the said lord Prince is not a stranger.  who was not born in this country, nor hath not a farthing worth of goods here, nor any title, who yet notwithstanding, doth with his white staff command, certain very evil advised persons, and who yield themselves obedient unto him, even as his poor slaves. But what do they mean by the term stranger? verily such a one, as is born out of the country, then if that be so, he himself shal be a stranger as well as I, for he was born in spain, a country which is naturally the enemy of the low country, and I was born in germany, a country which is naturally a friend and fellow to this country. They will answer, that he is a King, but I say to the contrary, that this name of King is not allowed of by me. Let him be a King in Castille, in Arragon, at Naples, amongst the Indians, and in every place where he commandeth at his pleasure: yea let him be a king if he will, in jerusalem, and a peaceable governor in Asia and Africa, yet for all that I will not aclowledge him in this country, for any more than a Duke and a county, whose power is limited according to our privileges, which he swore to observe, at his gladsome entrance. As concerning that which toucheth myself, it is plain and manifest, that I and my predecessors, from whom I am descended in the right male line, haue begun more than two hundred yeeres ago, to possess Counties and Barronnies, in the countreys of Luxenbourg, Brabant, flanders, & holland. For about the year, a thousand three hundred and forty, my lord the county Ottho, of whom I am descended in the seventh degree, and whose eldest heir I am, married the countess of Vianden, and since that time, the county of the said Vianden, departed not from our house, but we haue always peaceably enjoyed the same, until such time, as the king had unjustly dispossessed me thereof. afterwards, my lord the county Enghelbert, the first son of the son of the said county Ottho, married the lady of Leck and of Breda, from whom also, I am in the right male line descended, and that in the fifth degree. May I therefore by any good right, be called a stranger? And that I may say nothing at this present time, of the goods which I haue in burgundy, where I haue( thankes be to God) a very good portion, may I justly be counted a stranger? And I leave it to you( my lords) to judge, who know better our laws, than any people of the world, howe our ancestors haue used it, time out of mind, and whether the lords of Rauestain, of Luxenbourg, and of Saint paul, of nevers, of Estampes, and other lords, holding Counties and Baronneis in this country, were accounted for strangers, and whether yet at this day, you account not as naturalles of the country all those, which possess such worships, so that they will take part with these countries: and haue we not for that in deed an express lawe amongst us, as well in Brabant as in other places? For, as concerning the title of the Duke of Brabant, county of flanders and others, which he beareth and braggeth of, albeit I confess these dignities to be great, yet notwithstanding, if he and his Spaniards know it not, they must learn this, that the Barons of Brabant, with the good towns and cities of the country, haue in deed( when the Dukes of Brabant haue so far forgotten themselves, that they haue passed the bounds of reason) very well taught them, what was the power of the Barons, and generally of the Estates of the country of Brabant. now it is manifest, that I am descended from such lords, as for sundry ages together, haue possessed the principal Baronneis and worships of Brabant, flanders, holland, and Luxenbourg. But I hope, that my lords the Estates, haue so well begun to declare unto him, howe much he hath failed in his duty: and also that the said lords will hereafter take him forth so good a lesson, that the poor people of Sicilia, Calabria, Lombardie, Arragon, and Castille, will learn by our example, that this tyrant ought not to be suffered on the earth: yea that the poor people of Granata themselves, will know, howe they ought to handle such a tyrant, who in the time of the war with the Moores, caused to be imprisoned, about an hundred merchants, inhabitants of Granata, all of them being Christians, of which the least was worth, fifty thousand ducats, and afterwards, by a hurlie burly amongst the people, caused them to be slain, putting into his coffers all the goods of those poor people. And to be short, my lords the Estates( God aiding them) will teach them, how such must be handled, that will falsify their oaths made and given to so good a people, at their joyful entrance.  
But( my lords) if I come to proceed further, and should begin largely to lay out before you, the long time past, in which my predecessors, had not onely their beginning here, but were also lords, and possessed great goods, titles, and dignities in these countries, I might say unto you, that at the time that his predecessors, were Counties of Habsbourg, & remained in Switserlande, mine were long time before lords of the country of Gelderlande, whereof yet at this present, there are remaining the arms of our house of Nassau, for the arms of the Duke of Gelderland, and we haue not( as it were) passing by it, kept the said country in possession, but, after that my lord the county Ottho, had married the daughter and heir of the Voght or Regent of Gelderlande( for so did men name at those dayes the lords of Gelderlande) which continued from the year 1039. until the year 1350. my predecessors were the lords, Counties, and Dukes of the country of Ghelderlande, 
The Counties of Nassau, were the Counties & Dukes of Gelderland from the year 1039. to the year 1350.  as yet even to this day men may behold the monuments and marks thereof. And I assure myself, that so far of is it that he, that calleth me a stranger, can show such marks, that he had his original and beginning from these countries, that on the other side, his rase in the said time, was altogether unknown, in the said country.  
And because that he employeth himself, to make a false, foolish, and ridiculous declaration, containing as he saith, the progress and proceedings of my enterprise, because that many amongst you, when these matters were begun, were not of competent age to understand the same, or else because you having not then intermeddled in the public affairs, could not well see howe all things were directed and governed by the craft of the cardinal and his favourers, and by the counsel coming out of spain, 
The inhabitants of the know countries counted for the Spaniards subiectes and sclaues.  which always ment to command this country, as it had done others, spain itself being in their opinion the head of our worships, and we their subiectes and sclaues, I will for these causes recite unto you, how al things haue been governed, by these goodly heads and wise brains( who suppose that the rest of the world are as beasts in respect of themselves) until they had brought us within two fingers breadth of our destruction, and of a miserable bondage, if God by his providence had not watched over us, and had not delivered us from their cruel counsels and bloody hands. 
Nota.  And, as I haue here need, I do once again beseech you( my lords) of your patience, to continue well and quietly to hear me, as you haue already done, & I doubt not, but that as many among you haue seen the whole, or else some parte of my acts and behaviours, or else haue understood it from their fathers, and other good people, which haue been witnesses thereof: so having heard me, ye will as easily judge my words to be as true, as those of mine enemy are false and shameless. I will not( my lords) recite unto you any thing of that, which I haue seen in the Emperours time, not because I did not perceive sundry matters set out & practised by the spaniards, 
The natural disposition of the Spaniards was always cruel, but yet kept under for a time, by the wisdom of Charles the Emperour.  which I approved not as good, and of which I did not sufficiently conceive, that the disease in process of time, might grow so far, that in the end it should be very necessary to use, a strong and powerful medicine, and to purge the country, from these pernicious and hurtful spanish humours. But because I was not able then, by reason of mine age and the little experience I had, to know the deep malice of the spaniards and their adherents, I could hardly persuade myself, that we should be enforced to bring, a hot iron to this canker of spain, or else to come so far, as to roote it out. But after that, together with my age, I began to be of a more settled and sound iudgement, I had in deed a contrary opinion, and delivered the same to sundry others, which never knew to think, that the rage and cruelty of the spaniards, could proceed so far: for nothing fell out, by which I might haue very particular knowledge, of their cruel, covetous, and proud natural disposition, but I certainly and assuredly looked for the same long time before. I will therefore let pass that time, which cometh not also at any hand to be compared, in any manner of disorder and tyranny with that, which hath since fallen out in the time of the king his son, not that the spaniards were then better, than they are at this present: for, amongst the Indies and in other places, where they commanded absolutely, they yielded to evident a proof, of their perverse, natural disposition, and tyrannous affection and will. But their ambition and pride, was in some sort restrained, by the good affection that the Emperour bare to the subiectes of this country: & because also, that these provinces were full of brave Lords, wise and valiant men, savouring of their ancient nobility,( and would to God they had children like unto them) which served in steede of a bridle against their insolency, and of a countermure against their pride & rashness. I will then come, to the time which ensued, because also that he, who was the heir of the goods, though not of the virtues of the Emperour, is he that cometh to assault me, after an order more than barbarous and tyrannicall.  
The Emperour of most noble memory, and the queen mary, seeing their affairs and businesses so impaired by the means of a clean contrary issue, of the warres of germany( which fell out otherwise then the Pope & the spaniards had promised to themselves) whilst that the french king, was joined in league, 
The Emperor dischargeth himself of his kingdoms and Lordships, & committeth them to his son.  with some of the chief Princes of germany, his majesty I say, was enforced to agree with his enemy, his affairs standing in such condition, that despairing of his ability to keep his own countries, he purposed to withdraw himself into spain, and there to led a private life, after that he had yielded up all his kingdoms, lands, and Lordships, and had laid them vpon the person of his son. And albeit, that the King, because of the condition of his own estate, had need to uphold his subiectes, in good will and affection towards him,( of which thing also he had most express commandment from his father) seeing, that of the means and valour that they had, there did wholly depend, the safeguard of the country, and the maintenance of his own honour▪ yet, whether it were by reason of the nourishment which he had in spain, or by the counsel of those, which then did, and even to this time haue possessed him, I know not, he hath always fostered in his heart, a mind to make you subject, to a certain simplo and absolute bondage, which they call, a full and whole obedience, depriving you altogether, of your ancient privileges and liberties, that they may dispose of you, your wives, and your children, and handle you, as his officers haue done the poor Indians, or at the least as they do, the people of Calabria, Sicilia, Naples, and milan, whilst they remember not, that these countries, are not countries atcheiued by conquest, but come for the most parte by they way of patrimony, or else such as willingly gave up themselves unto his predecessors, under good and lawful conditions. But it is likely that he did it by the aduise of such, as served the Emperour his father, and the King his great uncle, in steede of a foundation, the better to rear up, the building of the kingdoms and worships, to which we see, the house of ostrich hath attained, it being at this day, without all controversy, the greatest, & the mightiest of all christendom. And this affection in him, was not but to much made manifest, immediately after the departure of the Emperour, 
The kings hart alwais enemy to these countries.  as if the lords that then lived, did yet remain amongst us, they could yield you sufficient testimony thereof. For even so soon as he was constrained to enter into war with the French king, considering the power of his enemy, ad also the wise advertisements of the Emperor, if he had had but one only spark of good & sincere affection, towards these countries, he should at the least haue maintained, his subiects in good devotion & affection towards him. But in the midst of his great affairs( so disorderous & unruly was the desire he had to play the tyrant) he gave forth a most plain & most certain demonstration of his evil will. The Emperor, who( my Lords) knew better, then any Prince or man of the world, 
The Emperors counsel given to the King his son.  the arrogant and proud nature of the spaniards, and it may be also, the inclination of the King his son, and on the other side, the state of this country, & whatsoever might destroy & preserve it, did seriously advertise his son, that if he kept his pride of spain, he should diligently foresee, that he were not the cause, of the utter ruin and destruction of this estate, which could not long suffer & endure, this same proud government, which the spaniards exercise in every place where they can. And he gave him this exhortation, in the presence of the late my Lord the county of Bossu, the father of him that last deceased, and in my presence also, and in the presence of sundry other lords of his chamber, of which some are yet at this day living. But neither the authority and commandment of his father, nor the profit of his own affairs, nor iustice, nor his oath,( which yet notwithstanding doth keep in the most barbarous nations) were able in any thing, to moderate and restrain, the natural disposition and affection that he had, to tyrannize over us, but on the other side, as though he had been above all laws, privileges, and liberties of the country, yea and above equity and iustice itself, he hath broken all bonds, that he might outrage in all maner of vnreconcilable hatred and cruelty.  
At the same time, 
The aid called Nouenale.  you( my Lords) granted unto him the aid which was called Nouenale, by means of which aid, and by the valiauntnes and wise government of the Lords & nobles, of this our country, and of sundry brave Lords and souldiers of germany, his affairs were so well and so blessedly guided, that after the winning of two battailes, the taking of towns, and prisoners of great calling, and that in great number also, he enforced his enemy, to accept a peace, as unprofitable for the french king, as it was honourable and profitable for the King of spain.  
And if it be lawful for me to speak any thing of myself, if he haue but one drop or spark of gratitude and kindness in him, he can not deny, but that I was one of the principal instruments and means, to cause him to come to so excellent, and to so profitable a peace, having privately treated thereof, with my lords the Constable, Montmoranci, and the Marishall of Saint andrew, at the instant request of the King, who assured me, that the greatest service that I could perform unto him in this world, was to make a peace, and that he purposed to haue it whatsoever it cost him, because he ment to go into spain. But so far of was it, that either he or his counsel, consisting of spaniards, and of certain other persons of this country( who always continued in hatred against you, your liberty and the whole land) did take in good parte, either this so good an aid, or the happy execution that ensued thereof, that on the other side, they judged this succour and aid, to be a fault of high treason against his majesty, and for the which you( and above all other, the late my lord of Lalaing) had incurred, 
The late L. of Lalaigne and all the Estates appointed to death by the spaniards.  by good right, the sentence of punishment. And why so? Because you( my lords) would not agree to any thing, without the assembly of the Estates general, and because you ment, to cut the talents of these harpies and Rauenours of Barlemontes, and such like, when you decreed, that the money should be distributed by your commissioners, according to the conditions propounded unto them. behold in deed two great faults, the one for soth was, to demand a meeting and an assembly of the Estates. For in as much, as it serveth for a bridle and a bar unto tyranny, it is a crime, so much the more hated of tyraunts( who are the devourers of the people, and enemies of their subiectes, and of their own crown) as this noble assembly, is loved, honoured, and reverenced, of true kings, true Princes, and such as are the good fathers of the people, because it is in deed the true foundation of an Estate, the assurance of the common wealth, and the onely peace & quietness of Princes. The other fault will never be pardonned, for these byters of the people, living with the blood of poor people, haue so long time made account of their theeueries and sackings, that they suppose their spoils, to be as good, and as an assured revenue( yet much more frutfull) as their fields and gardens, and dissembling the true cause of the mischief, which they hid from their Princes, they seek pretextes and cloaks in flattering of them, and in lying unto them, to harden and to set on fire, their heartes against their subiectes. I haue seen( my lords) their doings, I haue heard their words, I haue been a witness of their aduise, by which they adiudged all you to death, making no more account of you, than of beasts, if they had had power to haue murdered you, as they do in the Indies, where they haue miserablie put to death, more than twenty millions of people, and haue made desolate & waste, thirty times as much land in quantity and greatness, as the low country is, with such horrible excesses and ryottes, that all the barbarousnesses, cruelties, and tyrannies, which haue ever been committed, are but sport, in respect of that, which hath fallen out vpon the poor Indians, which thing, even by their own bishops and doctors, hath been left in writing, and, to make the King without excuse before God and men, the history thereof was dedicated unto him, by one of his own subiectes, in whom there remained, as it should seem, some small spark of iustice. From that time then( my lords) I, and other lords, and sundry of the best & wisest personages, both of the nobility, and of the common people, thought it good, to cause( if we could) the Spaniards to depart out of the country, thinking in deed, that, albeit there were yet remaining some corrupt blood amongst us, as verily we see, ther is more remaining then were meet, which did proceed, from this infected race, of the contagion of the fathers, who served at that time, the ambition of the spaniards, and followed the cardinals businesses, yet notwithstanding, that the better number, and all the lords of the greatest credit and countenance, would be enemies to this spanish tyranny. But, partly thorough other businesses, and partly, by reason of my voyage, & the going of some other lords into france, whether we were sent for hostages, as also to be present at the french kings daughters marriage, the business itself was interrupted, and the performance thereof hindered. now so far of is it( my lords) that I will deny a great part of that, which is set out against me, that I account it on the other side, a great praise for me, and will( it may so fall out) tell you more thereof, than mine enemies know, and the more that they shall writ against me, and give a testimony of their fury and enuions heart against this country, the more will I rejoice herein, that it hath pleased God, to show me this grace, to be an ayder to cut of the course, of this unmeasurable tyranny, and by that means also, to haue been an assistant, to the manifestation and opening, of the true religion.  
They say, that from the time, that the King turned his foot, from these low countries, I haue, by sinister practices, sleights and subtleties, assayed to get the good wills of the Malcontentes, and of such persons, as haue been greatly indebted, haters of Iustice, desirous of novelties, and specially of those that were suspected to be of the religion. As concerning them that had the knowledge of the religion, I confess, 
The love that the L. Prince hath always born, to thē of the religion.  that I never hated them. For, seeing that from the cradle, I was nourished therein, and that my Lord my father, had lived and died therein, having driven out of his worships the abuses of the church: who is he, that will think it strange, that, if this doctrine were after such sort engraven in my heart, and had taken such deep roote therein, it should come in good time, to bring forth hir fruits? For, seeing that I was so long time brought up, in the Emperors chamber, and being of the age to bear arms, I was even then presently enwrapped, with great charges in armies: for these reasons I say( and considering the scarcity of good education that we had in respect of religion) it was no marvel, though I had then in my head, the feats of chivalry, hunting, and other exercises, which young noble men use, rather than those things, which concerned my salvation. And yet notwithstanding I confess, that I haue great occasion to praise God, that he hath not suffered, this holy seed to be choked, which he himself hath sown in me, and I say moreover, that I never liked, of these cruel executions, of fire, of sword, of drownings, &c. which were at that time very common, against those of the religion, as the scrivener or painter( for so he nameth himself) of this infamous Proscription, calleth them. Wherein, albeit he flatter, lye, and slander altogether in other places, he hath notwithstanding spoken very well in this behalf, saying, those whom he condemneth to be of the religion, as in deed it only deserveth this name by excellency, which thing also, the truth itself hath wrong from his own mouth, so great is the strength and power of the same truth. But, when as I being in france, had understood by King henry his own mouth, that the Duke of Alua, 
The counsel of the King of spain & the Duke of Alua, to roote out those of the religion, communicated to the French king, & by the said L. King, to the Lord Prince of Orange.  sought and spake of the means, to roote out all those, that were suspected to be of the religion, in france, and in this country, and thorough out all christendom: and that the said Lord King( who thought, that, as I was one of the Commissioners for the treaty of peace, and had had speech with him of such great matters, so I was also of that religion) had declared unto me, the ground of the counsel of the King of spain, and of the Duke of Alua, I, to the end I might not be, of less estimation with his majesty, as though he would hid any thing from me, answered in such sort, that the said lord King, was not deceived in his iudgement, which also gave him occasion, sufficiently enough to discourse unto me so much, as that thereby I might understand, the ground of the purpose of the Inquisitors. I confess, that I was at that time, in such sort moved with pity and compassion, towards so many good people, as were appointed to slaughter, & generally towards this whole country, to which I was so much bound, & into which they ment to bring in an Inquisition worse & more cruel, than that of spain, yea that there were nets laid, to catch, even the very noble men and the Lords of the country, as well as the common people, insomuch that they whom the Spaniards and their adherents, were not able to supplant by any other way, might fall by this means into their hands, from whence it was impossible to escape, because, that a man could behold nothing else, but a very laberinth, whereby they might be condemned to the fire: I, seing I say these things, do confess, that from that time forward, I did earnestly attempt to help to drive out of the country, this vermin of the Spaniards, & I do not repent me, that I haue done it, but judge rather, that I, and my Lords my companions, which favoured this so laudable an enterprise, haue done a deed worthy of immortal praise, 
The enterprise of the lords, to cause the spaniards to depart out of the country.  and which in deed had been altogether accomplished, and we by that means had achieved the vpheaped measure of honour, if, after their gripes, we had as well shut the gate against them, so that they might never after haue entred in again upon us, as we haue since found out and had the means to purge the country of them. And I say yet somewhat more unto you( my Lords) and I wish that the whole counsel of spain, yea that the whole world should understand it, that if my brethren and companions of the order, and of the counsel of Estate, had liked rather to join their counsels with mine, then to make so good and cheap a market of their own lives, al of us would haue employed, our bodies and goods, that we might haue hindered the Duke of Alua and the spaniards, from entering again into the country: and I am yet even at this present content, that they should understand, that, as already one parte of the country, is scoured from this filth, insomuch that there is not therein any remembrance thereof, except it be of their bones: so I will not cease, by the power of God, and by the assistance of your favour,( which I hope will never fail me,) to employ all the power that I haue, with you( my lords) to purge the whole country in general, from this vermin, and to cause them and all their adherents, to pass from hence over the Mountaignes, there to trouble their own countries if they will, and to suffer us to live here, in peace and quiet possession, of bodies, goods, and conscience. Wherefore they are deceived very much, when they think, that I attempted this work, after their departure out of this country. For I did it then, when I was in france, even a hunting with the King, whilst they themselves were here, and I ceased not, till that by the mean, of the late lady of Sauoie, of most noble memory, I had obtained leave, to come again into this country, vpon my faith and promise given, to return again to Reins, at the coronation of King francis the second, and being come hither, I provoked not bancke-routes, but good and honourable people, and of the chief & most noble personages of the country, in the name of the Estates to demand, that the spaniards might be enforced to withdraw themselves: which thing was at the last executed, and the enemies may remember( if they will) who were those good, and honourable personages, that brought them that most unpleasant message, who when they shall show themselves, the aduersaries shall know and confess, their impudencies and slanders.  
But as concerning that which they say, 
The request presented by the nobility.  that I was the principal author of the supplication presented and offered up, I will in deed tell you( my lords) the whole matter, that is, that having once perceived, that the mischief was grown so far, that there was not now any more question, of burning onely the poor people, which suffered themselves to be cast into the fire, but, that sundry of the best nobility, and of the principal men among the people, murmured thereat: I fearing some daungerous issue, as I had seen before mine eyes france itself to haue endured, a daungerous access of civil war, for the like occasion: and doubting least we should be assailed in this country with the like disease, which commonly hath most daungerous accidents, and effects, more hard to heal, than the disease itself, as alas we do over much see it at this day: seeing I say, these things, in respect of the bonde wherewith I was bound by reason of my oath, and in respect of my duty towards the country, I besought my lords my brethren, and companions, the knights & principal Counselloures of the Estate, to assemble together at Hoochstraten, with purpose to declare unto them, the apparent danger wherein the country was, to wit, of falling into civil war, and that this was the true and onely mean to hinder it, that we, who by reason of our degrees and offices, had authority in the country, should take the matter into our hands, and so to use that remedy, which we should find most agreeable, for the countries good, and onely to bring to pass, that the Cardinalles creatures( who sought nothing, but effusion of blood, bannishmentes, confiscation of goods, and to be short, wounds and murders) should not deal therein, which had brought an assured destruction to the country, but rather that those which thought it not meet, that men should burn others according to their accustomend order, should not want a guide, who might let and hinder him in his attempts. And albeit, I shewed them very many reasons, to cause them to condescende to my counsel, and that I had added thereto( beside the good will which was between us) the aduise also of my lord the county of Schwartzenbourg my brother in lawe, and the lord George van Hol, who had at that time very great credit with the lords, for the evident and excellent services, which they had performed to these countries: yet it was not in my power to obtain any thing, & this mutual sight one of an other, did not profit me any whit at all, saving for a testimony to all the world, that then, seeing the mischief a far of, which now we see present upon us, I did seek all the good means I could, to prevent & turn away the same. But they of whom I haue spoken, who thought these persecutions heard, and who saw not so long as they endured, any assured rest in this country( which thing always falleth out in such like affairs) began and laboured to propound and brooch new enterprises, which, by reason of the offices I had, I found out a mean to discover: yet for all that, fearing least some most daungerous event might ensue thereupon, and supposing that this way was the most mild, & very lawelike or lawful, I confess, that I thought it not evil, that the request was presented, which thing so far of is it, that I mind to dissemble, or colour over, that I count it a most great profit, both for mine own honor and reputation, and also for the service of the King and the country, for if the wise Counsellors of the King, had been so well advised as to yield thereunto, there had not ensued so many miseries, by which, there wanteth but a little, but that the whole country had been consumed. But if they desire to know, the true & the nighest cause of the said request, and of that which followed thereupon, let them ascribe it to their insatiable cruelty, which was not content, with the intolerable rigor of placardes and licences, but following the example of that fool Roboam, and believing the counsel of an unwise woman, of a cardinal the Popes creature, and other such like, they said, the father hath corrected you with rods, 
The duchess of Parma, and the cardinal Grandvelle, were the cause of all the mischiefs in the know countries.  but the son will chastise you with scorpions. whereupon there was set out, a most earnest pursuit, concerning the receiving of the new bishops,( who were set up but a little while before) that is to say, so many tormentors, to burn the poor Christians, then were the privileges trodden under feet, and by whom? verily by a passionate woman, who was yet notwithstanding armed, with the visar of a Kings power, and with the treason, perjuries and subtleties of a cardinal. behold I say, the stithie or and vile( my lords) vpon which was forged all the evil that ensued, to wit, because they yielded not,( as requisite and necessary it was) to the request presented by the nobility, wherein I know, and I may protest it, before God and before you( my lords) that I did not therein commit any thing against mine Honor, and mine oath, but I advertised the duchess, & al the Lords of the counsel, of the great inconveniences which afterwards fell out, insomuch that all the mischief ensuing thereupon, must be imputed to themselves. For so far of is it, that they would harken to me, that they thought on the other side that they had found, a matter or mean fit for to execute that, which they had a long time purposed and set before them, that is to say, that after that they had destroyed them, that were suspected to be of the religion, they might afterwards the more easily bring the rest, under a miserable and intolerable bondage. And not only were they admonished by me( my Lords) but also sundry, public, and particular admonitions were given them by diuers others, both good people and louers of the country, yea and louers of the King also more then he deserved, and they did in good time advertise him, of the danger to come, and what was the kings duty, by reason of his oath, of his obligations or bonds, and of the conditions upon which he was received and admitted for lord of these countries, as also his ancestors were before him.  
My Lord the county of Egmond himself, was sent into spain, to show the said advertisements, unto the Kings own person, which notwithstanding so far of was it that it could profit any thing, that the said Lord county on the other side being deceived, under the colour of the word of a King( which afterwards cost him very dear) brought letters altogether contrary to that, which the King from his own mouth, had given him in charge to speak, in somuch that then he was enforced to confess, that I did before his journey well foresee, that which should come thereof. And yet these schollers of Machiauell, would here blear our eyes, with these goodly shows of loyaultie, fidelity, natural clemency, and such golden and glorious words, and yet notwithstanding they make no difficulty, to play with the oaths which they take, & with the words that they give, to men of such quality and countenance. behold then, the authors, promoters, and framers of the troubles, that haue fallen out by reason of the first request or supplication, and you haue understood( my lords) that this was the counsel that I haue given therein.  

Touching my lord the county Ludowick of Nassau.  As concerning that which they speak, of the late my lord the county Lodowick my brother, they should do better, to leave so good a Knight in peace and vnnamed, than to speak of him, seeing that he was much more honest then they, and without comparison a better christian, and I make no more of this that they call him heretic, then our lord Iesus christ did, when as good people as our enemies are, called him samaritan.  
As concerning public preaching, which after their maner they call heretical, 
Of the public assemblies of thē of the religion.  you yourselves( my lords) do sufficiently know, by whom and howe they were brought in. And albeit, that I had not at that time so much credit with them, as that they would demand my aduise therein, neither in dead did I ever counsel them: Notwithstanding, the matters being come to such terms, I confess that I was of aduise, that the duchess of Parma should yield unto them, wherein if I haue given ill counsel, then that which followed afterwards, doth at the least sufficiently declare, whether those that supposed my counsel to be nought, haue very well handled their Masters affairs and businesses, but rather God hath manifestly shewed, that albeit he do for a time correct his own children, yet he never leaveth, a perjury so well qualified and notorious, as that of the kings & the duchess of Parmes was, without grievously punishing it, to the end that al the world may know, that he saieth not without cause, that he will not hold him guiltless, who shall take his name in vain.  
As concerning the beaters down of Images, 
Concerning Images beaten down and ouerthrowen.  and other disorders, I beleeue( my Lords) that there is none amongst you, but he knoweth well enough, that such ways and manners of doing, please me no whit at all, and that many of them, who should haue aided & sustained me, haue on the other side with great injury torn me in pieces, because I would never consent, that such things should be done, without some ordinance and decree of the superiors and Gouernours.  
They haue no better foundation, 
of the with drawing of the lord Prince into germany.  then such as you haue heard before, for this that they say, that the providence and wise government, of the duchess of Parma was so great, that I was enforced to depart out of the country. It may be, that they should say somewhat, if they would say, that the deceits of the duchess & hir perjuries, were the cause thereof: or if they would speak, of the small resolution, and of the over great easiness, to beleeue that some had, who looked continually for the hangmen and tormentors, and of the over great affection, that I and other great lords had towards the King, who persuaded my lords of Berghes, and of Montignie to go into spain, supposing, that for their good services, & the nobility of their race, the King himself would be content, to understand by their mouth, that which was necessary for the preservation of the country, rather than to hear it by the spaniards: but seeing that they were entreated in such sort, as every one knoweth, I thought, that I had just occasion, more nighlie to take heed unto myself, than before. If they would say these things were the cause, they should speak some piece of the truth. But I was resolved a year before, to depart and to give up my offices, as appeareth by letters written with the kings own hand, and which I haue also joined to this present writing, which doth sufficiently set out, the falsehood of their speech. And if any man would know, why a year afterwards I withdrew myself into germany, my defence published in the year sixty seven, doth sufficiently declare the causes thereof, to wit, specially because I would not consent, that the spanish Inquisition, should be received into my governements. By reason whereof, I resigned them before, into the hands of the said duchess, with full purpose to live in peace and quietness, with my kinsfolks and friends, looking when it would please God, either to give the King better counsel, or, if he did yet wax worse and worse, when it would please God himself to open a gate, to deliver this poor country, which I saw plunged, into a bottomless depth, of thieves and miseries. For, who can without being wounded with wonderful grief, rehearse the banishementes, the taking away of goods, the imprisonments, the torments endured, the sundry sorts of horrible and miserable deaths, wherewith these bloody people,( surmounting in cruelty, Phalaris, Busyris, Nero, Domitian, and all tyrants) haue persecuted the poor subiectes of this country? And notwithstanding these things, I seeing no mean, to comfort them over this misery, did hold myself peceable & quiet.  
And, because in this Proscription they say, that I was at the least offered it, 
The King of spain enforced my lord Prince, by al maner of injustice, to take arms.  whilst that the last treaty held at Colen lasted: they ought to know, that they should be contented with my voluntary banishment, and not to pursue me any further, seeing in deed, that I gave them to understand, by a man of countenance and credit, who yet is living, that if they attempted, to touch mine honour and my goods, they would constrain me, to take such order for my affairs as I might.  
But, as mad people, after that they could not draw me by their honeyed and flattering words, the king also thinking, to busy me by over honest letters, 
The county of Bueren, taken in the schools, and carried into spain, against the oath given & made, at the Kings gladsome entrance, and against the privileges of Brabant.  which yet notwithstanding I did plainly perceive to be full of deceit, they directed themselves, first to my young son, a child and a scholar, and against the privileges of the university, they took him violently from louvain, yea, after the exhortation and declaration made by the university, that barbarous fellow Vergas, answered barbarouslie in false latin: Non curamus vestros priuilegios: we regard not your privileges. After this, they carried him out of Brabant, against the privileges of the country, and against the kings oath, and they sent him into spain, that so they might remove him from me, who am his father, and even unto this present, they keep this innocent, in hard and cruel prison, insomuch as, if they had done me no other injury, I should be unworthy, not only my stock and the name which I carry, but also of the name of a father, unless I did employ, all the wit, and all the means that God hath given me, to assay to deliver him out of this miserable bondage, & to recover if I could, such a wrong. For I am not( my Lords) so unnatural, that I feel not the affections of a father, 
Nota.  neither yet so wise, but that oftentimes the grief, of so long an absence of my son, doth present and offer itself to my understanding. And yet they were not content, but, against all order of iustice, they apprehended my brethren, and pursued me with summoninges, seasementes of goods, and thrust me on, even as it were by force, to attempt sundry things, 
The unjust procedings, against the honor, the life, and the goods of the Lord Prince.  whereof I myself never thought: they put the process of me and my companions( against the articles of the order, and against the oath of the King, who was the chief thereof) into the hands of I know not what porters and petty foggers, who were not meet to be, grooms or pages, to my companions and me: they do degrade me: they do deprive me of my goods: they do condemn me to death. And is this any other thing, than to free me from mine oaths? and to set me at liberty, to come out, to assault mine enemy, by all the means that GOD shall give me? behold then, howe, when I seek nothing but quietness, they stir up trouble, I seek peace, and they provoke me to war. And what war? A war attempted to deliver my child, to preserve my life, to recover my goods, and, which is more dear than all, to defend mine Honour. And yet, I do not here propound unto you( my Lords) any thing of that, which concerneth the common cause, and belongeth unto the general State. This then( my lords) is that, which these men slightly pass over, and under silence as it were, and which of set purpose they omit, as in deed not serving much for their purpose. If then, I not being the Kings natural subject( which thing also he himself saith) if I being absolved from mine oaths, by this unjust proclamation and sentence: If I having so just a groundwork, by force to demand my son and my goods: If I say, I had driven him, not onely out of the low country, but also out of all his lands and worships, yea and though I did desire to make them mine own, seeing that against all right and equity, yea against his own oath, he hath by force constrained me, to attempt so necessary a war, even then, when with all my power I did avoyde it, and hath done me all these outrages, and that at the very self same time, or a little after, when by his own letters written with his own hand, he yielded me so great, and solemn a testimony of faithfulness, as no man in the world could desire a greater, as appeareth by the copy of the letter hereafter inserted, who is he( the premises being rightly considered) that can accuse me of any other fault, then this, that I framed myself to much to the time, before that I would take arms, and that I would not enjoy that, which the lawe of war, and of al nations yielded unto me, unto me I say, who am born a free lord, and who haue this Honour, to carry the name and title, of an absolute Prince, albeit that my princedom, be not of any great length or largeness?  

The justifying of the taking of arms by my lord the Prince.  But, seeing that the special foundation, and groundwork is this, that I haue taken and born arms against my superior, I am likewise content, to enter into this matter, where they shal find themselves to haue as good foundations, as in other places. And in the first place I would fain haue them to tell me, by what title King philip, the heir of the bastard henry of Castille, possesseth the kingdom of Castille, & of Leon? For it is most manifest, that henry his predecessor was a bastard, who rebelled against the lawful heir, who was his own brother & Lord, whom also he slue with his own hand. What right then or title had this bastard being the kings great grandfather? They answer, that Don Pedro was a tyrant, and in deed I confess, that commonly they give him the name of cruel. But if by this title philip hold Castille, why doth not he perceive, that men may by the same measure, drive him out, that hath chased away others? And if there haue never been, any more cruel tyrant, who hath more proudly, and with less consideration violated, the privileges of the country, then Philipp himself, shall not he be much more unworthy, to bear, & to wear the crown of Castille, then Don Pedro? For, at the least Don Pedro was not an incestuous person, nor a slaier of his son, nor a murderer of his wife. And if some will say, that this concerneth me no whit at all, I am content to come yet somewhat more nigh, albeit that I haue not purposed, to stay myself upon that, which I shall presently speak unto you. But suppose, that I did take up arms against him, and that he were simply my superior, and that I were born his subject( which yet is not so, even as he himself confesseth it) what should I do but that, which his predecessor had done, 
Albert Duke of ostrich took arms against Adolfus of Nassau the Emperour.  against the Emperour Adolfus of Nassau, his Superior? every one that knoweth never so little in the matters and affairs of germany, knoweth, how Albert the first Duke of ostrich, of that name and race( for before he bare the title, of the county of Habsbourg) armed himself against the said lord Emperour my predecessor.  
And albeit, it was Gods will, that the said Emperour should die in the battle, yet I know, what the wisest writers haue judged thereof, albeit that Gerrard, then Bishop of Maience, the principal author of that conspiracy, ment to colour & darcken the same. And verily, if a man will somewhat more nighly look into the story, he shall find, that this faction was set up by Pope Boniface( of whom it is said, 
Pope Boniface the 8.  he entered into his popedom as a fox, he reigned as a lion, & died as a dog) because the Emperour would not aclowledge him for such a one, as he said he was, and therefore, he stirred up against him Albert, who was already much displeased against him, because Adolfus was preferred before him, in the election to the Empire, & some bishops also, overmuch addicted to the Pope, did join themselves unto him, and aided him.  
But who is he, that would willingly reverence so wicked a man, who in his jubilee, caused to be carried before him, in the maner of a triumph, two sword, causing him, that carried one of them, to cry, O Christ behold thy Vicar on earth, and the other, to say, O Peter, behold thy successor? And verily, having committed so wicked a feat against the Emperor, and having Albert at his commandment, he was purposed, for the like consideration, to do as much to the French King, called Philipp the faire, giuing his kingdom to the said Albert, and caused him to be name King of the Romains and of the French men. But he found the preestes of france, less ready to serve him, and less able to help him, and the whole kingdom stirred up, by the learned Orations of Master Peter Coignieres, and a resolute King who caused his foolehood( for so the King called him in his letters) to be taken at Anania, 
King Philip the faire, beginneth his letter with these words Sciat fatuitas vestra, that is, let your folly or foolehood know  by one of the lords, and he the eldest of the noble house of Colonnes, and by a gentleman of Languedoc, name Nogaret, who brought him to Rome, where also they put him to death, as he had most justly deserved the same. But, as I haue said, I will not stay myself vpon these foundations, but mind to come to the mutual bonds, which are between him and vs. Let us thē put the case, that al this, were neither so nor so. Doth not he very well know, that if he be Duke of Brabant, I, by reason of my Baronneis, am one of the principal members of Brabant? Doth he not know wherein he is bound to me, my brethren and companions, 
The justifying of the taking of arms by the Estates against Philip Duke of Brabant, & county of flanders.  and the good towns of the country? Hath he forgotten vpon what comditions he keepeth this estate? Doth he no longer remember his oath? Or if he think vpon it, doth he so little regard that which he hath promised to God and the country, and that vpon conditions tied to his Dukes hat or garland? It is not needful( my lords) that I should here set out unto you that, which he hath promised us, before that we took any oath unto him, for sundry amongst you know the same: But because that others shall see, this my defence, I was very willing, to call to your remembrance, the sum of his oath. You know( my lords) whereunto he is bound, and that it is not in his disposition, to do whatsoever he liketh of, as he doth in the Indies, 
The sum of the privileges of Brabant.  for he cannot here amongst us, by violence enforce, one of his subiectes onely, to any thing whatsoever, unless that the custom, of the bench of the iustices, where they dwell, permit the same. He may not, by any ordinance or decree, alter or change, after any sort whatsoever, the estate of the country. He must content himself, with his ordinary and common revenues: he may not cause to be levied, nor yet exact any impositions or taxes, without the good will, and express consent of the country, and according to the privileges thereof: He can not bring souldiers into the country, without the consent thereof: He may not touch nor deal with the decrying or imbasing of money, without the consent of the Estates of the country: He can not cause any subject to be apprehended, without information made, and knowledge first given, by the Magistrate of the place: having any for a prisoner, he cannot sand him out of the country. I beseech you( my lords) do you not see, hearing only this sum rehearsed, if the Barons and Nobles of the country, who by reason of the pre-eminences, & the charge of the armies, do not oppose themselves, I say, not only when these articles are violated, but when they are tyrannously trodden under foot, & when not one article, but all, & that not once, but a thousand thousand times, are broken & corrupted, not by the Duke onely, but by barbarous and savage people: Do you not see, I say, that if the Nobles, according to their oath, and bonde, do not enforce the Duke, to yield equity and iustice to the country, that they themselves should be condemned, of perjury, unfaithfulness, and rebellion against the Estates of the country? And as concerning myself, I haue in deed a particular reason, and which toucheth me yet more nigh, that is, that contrary unto all the said privileges, I was deprived of all my goods, without observing any form or order of iustice therein. But that which fell out in the person of my son, the county of Bueren, is so evident a testimony, of the enemies disloyaultie and unfaithfulness, & of the transgression or breach of the privileges, that no man can, with any good reason doubt, why I haue taken up arms.  
And in that, I was not able at the first time, to take fast footing in the country, which he upbraideth me withall, what new thing hath betithed unto me, 
The first army of the L. Prince.  which hath not fallen out unto the greatest Captaines of the world? Yea, even unto him himself, who hath so oftentimes entered, and that with so great and mighty armies, into Holland and Zealand, and yet, with a handful of people, and by the aid of my lords the Estates, of the said provinces, he hath been shamefully driven out of the said country, and that great captain the Duke of Alua and his successors, without having at this day, in the said countries, one foot of land under his disposition, and government, as by your good aid, I hope that shortly, he shall not haue any in all the rest of the country. To be short, by his oath he meaneth, that in the case of gainestanding him, we should be no longer bound unto him, neither yield him any service or obedience, as appeareth by the last article. If then I be not bound unto him: If I owe him not any more service or obedience, why is he so rash, as to say, that I haue taken up arms against my Lord? Certainly between al Lords and vassals, there is a mutual bonde, and this saying of a certain Senator to a consul, shal be always praised: If thou dost not account me for a Senator, I will not account thee for a consul. But between Vassals there is very great difference, some remaining without comparison in far greater liberty, than other some, as we are in Brabant, having such large privileges and rights, that we may freely make & give, grants in our lands, so that, excepting the homage which we owe, we cannot haue any thing more than we haue. And amongst other rights and privileges we haue this, to stand our Dukes in that steede, that the Ephori at Sparta did their kings, that is to say, to keep the kingdom sure, in the power of a good Prince, and to cause him to yield equity, which stood against his oath.  

An objection.  But some will say, that there is a condition annexed, that is, that we shal be so long freed from our oath, till he haue amended the fault. But what if he will never amend it? If after the Emperour Maximilian, and the Princes of the Empire entreat him, and make intercession for us, that it would please him to unburden the country: for a full answer, some would say unto them, that they should meddle with their own matters, and that the King knoweth well enough, how to govern his subiectes: If, after infinite declarations, by the message of very noble lords of this country, we do request him to do us iustice, he proudly reject our requests, and put to death the said lords, and such as he can take, causeth them to pass thorough the hangmens hands, and pursue the rest, by all unworthy and cruel means: If he bring in upon us new armies, utterly to destroy us, shall we tarry always looking for mercy, until such time as the spanish cruelty, shall haue cut of from us all hope of respite? But he will now amend the fault, and hath sent means therefore, by the lord of skulls: also he hath disallowed the Duke of Alua. We shall see al these things in their order. For the present I am contented to declare, that by good reason I haue taken up arms against him: First, with the Estates of holland and Zealande, and afterwards with you( my lords) that he is foresworne against the whole country, and in respect of me, 
Nota.  against the articles of the points of the order, against the privileges of Brabant, in taking away my son, and carrying him into spain, depriving me of my goods and dignities, having set me sufficiently free from mine oath towards him, and declaring at this present, his very base heart, and yet notwithstanding tyrannous, publishing this cruel and barbarous Proscription, as the heap of all injustice and unworthiness.  
now( my lords) sith it hath pleased him, to stretch out his speech unto the times which followed, I mind verily to enter thereinto also, and that the more willingly, because that I haue done nothing of that, whereof hereafter he accuseth me: but first, by the aduise and consent, of the Estates of holland and Zealande, and afterwards by your consent in general, so that if there haue been any fault committed, it ought not to be imputed to me, but rather I should be greatly praised, because I served you so well & faithfully. I will then come, to the accusations that remain, but it shalbe with this condion ( my lords) that I may, as heretofore I haue done, largely rehearse, and plainly set out, that which he maliciouslie omitteth, to the end he might cover his wicked and cruel heart, and yet nevertheless ceaseth not, to cause it to be published, by certain small slanderous libels.  
I haue( my lords) observed, that all this accusation, or ill speech rather, which followeth afterwards, is divided into two partes: the one touching that, which was joined with the coming of the Duke of Alua, and which followed thereupon, and specially concerning that, which after my coming into holland and Zealande, was executed, by my government, & my lords the Estates of the said countries: The other, is that which hath fallen out, since that God opened your eyes, by the mean of the pride and outrages of the Spaniards, and that you published them, and their adherents, for rebelles and enemies to the country, that so you might at the last deliver this poor country, from this accursed rase. Wherefore I will follow the self same order. And first I render thankes to God, that even by the very silence of mine enemy, you( my Lords) do know, and I hope, that all the world shall know, that I was not so much as suspected, 
The lord Prince was not so much as suspected by his enemies, to haue touched or taken any of the common treasure.  to haue applied to mine own profit, so much as one onely penny, of the public coin: for though in other things, as you haue already begun to see, they haue not stuck at it, to set out false accusations, and to charge me, with over manifest slanders: seeing also, that they do not object unto me, the least suspicion of covetousness, they do sufficiently thereby declare, not only, howe free I am from that fault, but also, albeit they themselves be impudent, and in very deed my deadly enemies: yet they durst never object against me, this fault wherewith commonly, the Gouernours of provinces, are either wrongfully or rightly charged. But, I thank God, I haue long time ago learned, that he which governeth and commandeth others, ought above all things to haue clean hands, and even void if it may be of all suspicion, which was the cause, that even from my youth, I unburdened myself, of the charge of the treasures, which was most gladly received & accepted of others. And albeit( my Lords) that it was at no hand needful, that I should make mention of these things, whilst I speak unto you, who know, that I never had the handling of one onely penny of the public treasure: and as concerning this, that it hath pleased you to appoint me so much, as well in respect of my Estate, as in respect of the extraordinary charges of the war, you know howe little I haue received thereof: and of the means, which yet I haue, howe I haue therewithal maintained and upheld, sundry great charges, since that I entred into your service: which I do notwithstanding not impute, to the want of your good will towards me, but to the condition of the time wherein we live. But sith, that by the secret confession of mine enemy, I may haue such an advantage, I mind not to pass it over under silence, to the end I might cause, certain small Serpentes that are amongst us, to understand, that they ought to be ashamed, to haue spread abroad, either against their conscience, or else thorough a certain extreme folly and madness, that which the very enemies: who haue conspired against me and the country, haue as yet never been so impudent, as to object against me: perceiving in deed, that in propounding such a matter, the brightness of the truth, would discover the filthiness of their life.  
Seeing then, that they place me in so goodly a field, as to declare not what I haue done, but what the Estates of Holland and Zealande haue done, by my aid and service, I refuse not, even before you my lords, and before all the men in the world, to enter into account with them: but also, sith that you are the chiefest Iudges, of that which is done in this country, it is more than reasonable, that you should regard that, which they haue unjustly performed, in all the other provinces, whilst that my lords the Estates of holland, Zealande, and I, did stand in steede of stays and hinderaunces, unto the course of their enterprises and attempts.  
First they say, That I practised to return, into holland and Zealande. Though it were so, what other thing did I, but that which my duty required? And if I did enter upon so good a foundation, 
The causes which moved the lord Prince, to come into Holland.  as I haue heretofore laid out, into the country with an army, why should I haue made any stay, to enter into that which was of mine own government, & whereunto I was more sworn and bound, and wherein I hold the chiefest degrees of Honour, amongst the nobility? But so far of was I, from attempting such matters, that on the other side, I am ready to show the letters both of the principal Gouernours of the towns, and of the principal towns themselves, by the which I was called, for the deliverance of the country, against the tyranny of the spaniards, & namely of the Duke of Alua. And as concerning the promises that I made, at my entrance thereinto, and namely that they say, that I promised the said Estates to maintain them, if the Duke of Alua would press them, with the tenth and twentieth penny, shall never be found true, but this rather, that I came the second time, openly and in arms into the country, that I might deliver it, from that tyranny, which then oppressed them, not onely in respect of the tenth penny, but, for a thousand other sorts of more than barbarous cruelty, and specially, for the great slaughter, that the Duke of Alua thē made, of the poor inhabitants of the said countries. And as concerning that, that they say, that the ecclesiastical romanists, were persecuted by me and driven from their goods, and an other religion brought in, I need my lords for this no other defence, but that which you yourselves know thereof, to wit, that the whole change, which ensued thereupon, was rather a work of God, then of men. You know, howe often I haue been accused, that I did over coldly set myself against the aduersaries: that I did suffer them to much: and that I should be the cause of the ruin of the country, because I was over slow to chase them away, and to roote them out. And, when the question was, to send some of them packing, you know the duties that I performed, to the end that every one might live in peace, and one of them with an other. But the Estates, which at the first, thought it fit and profitable, for the preservation of the country, that both the one and the other religion should be tolerated: learned afterwards, by the insolences, attempts, and treasons, of the enemies which were mingled amongst us, that their Estate was in danger, of an vnavoydeable ruin, unless they hindered the exercise of the roman religion: and they perceived, that those that made profession thereof, at the least the preestes, had taken an oath to the Pope,( as they do in every place where they come) which they preferred before the oath, they had made to the country: insomuch, that in the assembly of the Estates at Leyden, 
The causes wherefore some of the romish Church, withdrevv themselves out of holland.  as also in the league of the countreys of Holland and Zealande, this article was with one consent agreed vpon, neither could the enemies be ignorant of these things, seeing that in the treaty held at Breda, about the question of religion( the enemies there propounding this, on their own behalf, that that change fell out, by the guiding of certain particular persons) there was shewed unto them, the consent of all the towns under their several seals. And now I beseech you, what bonde could there remain unto me, seeing that they, unto whom I had made a promise, 
The establishment of one only religion in Holland and Zealand, & wherefore it was so done.  did not only discharge me thereof: but they themselves also, did cut it in sunder, break it, and made it of no force? And notwithstansting, I will leave it to the iudgement of the wise, whether therein I haue done well or evil. This only I say, that when such things were propounded, I desired them, that they would not proceed so far, and therefore much more, when they did execute and perform the same: whereof not onely my lords of holland and Zealande, but also, certain troublesone, & waieward persons, amongst us( who also haue spread abroad against me in strange countries, their wicked speeches) will give me so good a testimony, that I hope I shall not need any great defence, against such accusations, which being by me denied as false( for so they are in deed) I fear not that they shal be able to yield any proof thereof: leaving it to you( my lords) to judge, howe foolish such an accusation is, which may be beaten back, with a simplo denial, and yet notwithstanding the greatest parte of the goodly colours, wherewith this painter boasteth that he hath set me out, may be quiter & clean defaced, with such a sponge only. If they will allege, that yet notwithstanding they, that were driven out, haue just occasion to complain, because that promise was not kept with them: I answer, that albeit this is not directed against me, yet notwithstanding, for the defence of the Estates of holland and Zealande, I will say this much, that this complaint, should haue but a very ill foundation, because it is not reasonable, that any such people should enjoy a privilege, by means of which they would deliver the country into the enemies hands. Their purpose was, to betray the lives, and the goods of the subiectes, and not one or two or three privileges onely, but all the franchises and liberties, preserved time out of mind, and from age to age, by our predecessors and ancestors.  
They add withall, That I haue procured liberty of conscience. If they understand thereby, that I haue made an open way to such impieties, as are commonly committed in the house of the Prince of Parme, where Atheistrie, and other virtues of Rome, are counted but sport: I answer, that it is amongst the heires of the Lord Peter Lewis, where a man must seek & find such liberty, or rather unbridled licence. But I will in deed confess, that the brightness of the fiers, wherein they haue tormented so many poor christians, was never deliteful or pleasant to mine eyes, as it hath rejoiced the sight of the Duke of Alua and the spaniards: and that I haue always been of this mind, to wish and procure what I could, that the persecutions might cease, in the low Countreys. I will moreover confess unto you, to the end, that the enemies may know, that they haue to do with one, that speaketh roundly & without any painting, to wit, that the King, when he departed out of Zealande,( which was the last place that he left in this country) commanded me, to put to death, many godly and virtuous people that were suspected to be of the Religion. Which thing I would not perform, but advertised them themselves thereof, knowing in deed, that I could not do it with a good and safe conscience, and that I was rather to obey GOD, than man. Let the spaniards then speak, what they themselves shall think good, I know that sundry peoples and nations, which are much better then they, who also haue learned, that by fire and sword, men little or nothing prevail, would praise me, and approve my fact.  
But seeing that you( my lords) together with the general consent of the people, haue since that time approved it, in condemning the rigour, of the placardes and licences, and in causing those cruel executions to cease, I do no whit at all regard that, which the spaniards and their adherents, do murmur and whisper, concerning the same. 
They that ill entreated the preestes, were punished.  Neither can I sufficiently wonder at their folly, when they are not ashamed to object unto me, the murtheringes of the people of their Church, seeing, that not onely they know my natural disposition, to be altogether estranged from such violences: but also that you and the whole world, do very well know, that by commandment and appointment, some, in respect of such outrages, as these men would charge me withall, were put to death: and other some, being of great note and noble houses, were arrested, by the principal servants of my household, and after that they had been kept prisoners a long time, they were not delivered, but in respect of the house, from whence they had this honour, to proceed and come: the long imprisonment of their persons being appointed unto them, for the punishment which they had deserved. But that which was done by my charge and appointment, is in such sort known to all the world, that they are not able, either to disguise or darken the same, onely( as they haue very well learned to speak truth) that which I haue done virtuously, they say, that I haue feigned, that the thing did displease me. But who hath told them that I feigned? Or who is he that hath revealed unto them so much of my secrets? They see that which I haue done, they can not judge my heart, neither is there any man so malicious,( except it be the forger of this writing, or some spaniard) which ought not rather to give iudgement upon that which he seeth, than upon that, which he malitiouslie and wickedly suspecteth.  
The cast also infinite blames and slanders, vpon our religion, and they call us heretics. But it is such as a long time since, they took vpon them to prove it, and yet were never able to bring it to purpose or effect. And I say, that these injuries( being like unto the words of women, provoked & chased with colour) do not deserve any answer, much less that beastliness, to say, that I never trusted any either priest or Friar, unless he were married, and that I enforced them to mary. For, who is it that knoweth not, that without choice or discretion, they cast at my head, every thing that they find in the way, so great is their fury, and their passion so outrageous and unmeasurable? 
Concerning the marriage of Preestes.  And albeit that these things were true, as in dead they are not, neither yet reasonable( for we learn by our Religion, that marriage ought to be free, and should not be either enforced or forbidden) yet so it is, that this fault should not be comparable, with that tyranny over consciences, which hath forbidden marriage to a great part of christendom, against which forbidding, not onely the East churches opposed themselves, but also the churches of germany and france.  
But that( my lords) which is greatly to be esteemed in this Proscription, so true and well grounded, is this, That the King commanded not the Duke of Alua, to impose the tenth and twentieth penny, without the consent of the people. If thē the Duke of Alua, in a matter of so great importance, and which was the cause of the death and destruction, of so many thousands of men, hath passed his commission, what punishment followed thereof? The Duke of Alua, for having performed to his own son this duty, to wit, that he mighi mary his cousin, leaving another, whom under the colour of marriage accomplished, he had abused,( even as Rigomes had before performed for the King, as before hath been declared) was cast into prison, and put out of favour, and should not as yet haue been delivered, 
Concerning the tenth & twentith penny.  if in all spain they had been able to haue found a tyrant, more fitt to exercise tyranny vpon the poor Portugales then he. He was then chastised for a small fault, and for such a great one, he was honoured, much made of, and filled with rewards: And he that would press the King, with the death of my lords of Egmount and of horns, he would say as much, and disallow again the Duke of Alua for it. Is not this a good mean think ye, to discharge himself of all faults? But let them take which parte they will, either the King commanded it, and then he can not avoyde the name of a tyrant, or else he commanded it not, and yet for all that the name of a tyrant shall remain unto him, because he did not chastise and correct him, who of his own private authority, had usurped such a tyranny, upon a frank and free people, whereby it appeareth, that he is culpable thereof. And albeit, that I haue always esteemed the Duke of Alua, for the enemy of the country, and as one who hath willingly bathed himself in our blood, and in the blood of all Christians, carrying closely a turkish heart within him: yet so it is, that I haue known him to well, and haue been to to much practised to beleeue this, that he should be so sottishe, and so presumptuous, as to dare to attempt, to lay vpon the people an imposition of such consequence, and to pursue it so long time, and that by such extraordinary, yea & altogether insupportable means to the country, without good and sufficient commandment directed unto him therefore, and that not once only, but sundry times. I beseech you( my lords) to weigh this well, whether he, that in his own proper and private name, durst condemn, or favour them that did condemn, the Burgmaster of Amstelredam, in five and twenty thousand Florins of amercement, because he set himself against the tenth penny, was not well assured, and had not sufficient discharge for the same from his Superior? Neither need we( 〈◇〉 lords) any other place then this, whereby to know, the fraudes, dissimulations and crafts, wherewith the King, hath so long a time, lead and deceived us, and yet purposeth still to do, if we suffer him to wound us, with the prick of his tongue, or to astonish us, with the threatenings of his armies. And because, he will haue the bruit thereof, sounded abroad, by reason of the towns taken, and surprised in holland, to wit, within this two, three, or four yeeres, and that with more force then he hath fought against the turk withall: I answer him, that, having the advantages whereof he braggeth, he ought to consider, whether this tend not to his very great shane, that he is altogether driven out of that country.  
And it standeth him not in any steede, to allege, the mutiny of the spaniards. For a governor, and specially such a one as had such great means as he had, doth sufficiently bewray his insufficiency & unworthiness to command, when he is not able by such means, to keep in obedience his own Souldiers: on the other side, in excusing himself so foolishly, he seeth whether he will or no, that he is enforced to confess, that I, and my lords of holland and Zealande, having very slender means, as namely but four or five thousand men, haue broken his attempts, and caused him to consume three score thousand. And whilst( my lords) he thus in this country lost his time, his men, and his money, he lost likewise within two months, the kingdom of Tunis, and the Goulette, 
The shameful lostes of the kingdome of Thunis & the Goulette.  with the greatest shane and confusion, that ever any mighty Prince did, yea though he were driven out of his own land, albeit some would lay the fault hereof, upon the youth of Don John, & vpon the whoredom of the cardinal. For whilst he did so ill employ his forces here amongst us, Sinam Basscha, took from him that kingdom, and that fortress, which men supposed could never haue been taken: & this he did in the sight of spain and of Sicilia, without that ever any of the Kings side, durst so much as show his head, to fight against him, or onely to turn him aside. And yet, if he had no regard to the good of christendom( which in dead he never had, as witnesseth the painted league that he made, which also cost the Venetians so much) nor respect to his own honour, at the least, the memory and name of the Emperour his father,( who did little or nothing regard, all his notable deeds and feats of arms in respect of that conquest) ought to haue moved and thrust him forward, with a noble and earnest desire, wisely to haue maintained that, which the Emperour his father had so valiantly conquered for him and all christendom. But the rage and fury to destroy us, which carried him away, took both his eyes from him, that he could not see that evil, and his understanding also that he could not discern it, he loving overmuch to make proof, rather of his weakness against his own proper people, then of his forces, against the common and universal enemy of christendom.  
This( my lords) is that which he objecteth against me, & which also fell out, before our general coniunction, and joining together. whereunto( it may be) it was not altogether necessary to answer, saving that it is requisite, not onely to satisfy you, but also to stop their mouths, and to make all the world to understand their impudencies and slanders. For, if the question were, but of that which concerneth yourselves, and those which heretofore were on our side, who haue notwithstanding, very euelly and without any cause, withdrawn themselves from us: you, and those with you, haue heretofore sufficiently declared, that you had a far better opinion of me. For first, the accord treated of by you, with me & my lords of holland and Zealande, at Gaunt, hath sufficiently justified me, seeing that if you had supposed me to be such a one, as this infamous Proscription describeth me, you neither would nor could haue entered into treaty with me: beside, so many honourable embassages, as you since that time haue sent unto me, to S. Gheertrudenberghe, and even yet to Antwerp, both to cause me to come into Brabant, and to cause me to come unto you to Bruxelles, that I might be assistant with you in counsel: and also, that ye did honour me with the title of lieutenant general: All these things I say do sufficiently declare, what is the opinion and iudgement that ye haue had, of all these false and friuoulous accusations, which thing alone, I suppose, to be over sufficient and strong to confute them.  
But let us now see, howe before that time, they on their behalfs governed themselves, with what pride, insolency, and disdain of our whole nation. I will not repeat, the perjuries and deceits of the duchess, nor of the King, in the behalf of my lords the Counties of Egmount and of horn, nor the baits and allurements, which they prepared for me, nor yet generally that which fel out before the coming of the Duke of Alua, but that onely which was done afterwards, until the time of our general coniunction and joining together, to the end, that as the remembrance of the mischiefs and griefs past, shall bring unto you pleasure and contentement, and the same( as I hope) unto me, who with some delight haue aided you therein: so that by the same you will more and more strengthen yourselves, in this resolution, which is both holy, and worthy of immortal praise, & which you also haue taken vpon you, that is, to oppose and set yourselves against the spaniards and their adherents. now, as well the said Duke of Alua, as those that commanded under him and after him, haue sufficiently made us to understand, what was at all times the counsel of spain, to wit, to roote us out, and to bring us into bondage. For, as Hanniball, even when he was but nine yeeres old did swear, by the altar of his goddes, that he would be al his life long, an enemy to the romans: so was this Duke of Alua, from his childhood nourished, and brought up, in an vnreconcilable hatred against this country, 
The insupportable pride of the Duke of Alua, & other officers being spaniards.  which, by so much blood as he hath spilled, could as yet never be satisfied, but so much the more hath he caused it to run out on every side, in all the towns of this country, yea so far forth, that he hath caused to be put to death( which thing also he himself bragged of) eighteen thousand poor innocent men and more, and that by the hands of the hangman or tormentor, and yet for all that, that cruel lust of his, could never be satisfied. So that if any would know, what are the privy counsels of spain: what is the Kings good will, and howe much he loveth us, he shall find it all deciphered & set out, in the bloody deeds of the Duke of Alua, as if it were set out before his eyes, and lively painted in a table of painters work. For there hath not been any kind of dissimulation, treason, and unfaithfulness, which he hath not used, that he might bring under his subiection and service, the principal lords of this country, and that by offers, promises, & new titles of Honour, bestowed vpon them. But, the good & virtuous people, that he could get into his hands, he hath cruelly put to death, without any respect, either to their innocency, or to the privileges of the country, and yet nothing was done, but by the Kings commandment. He committed the like, against the citizens and good merchants, so proudly treding under feet, our ancient liberties and freedoms, yea every thing, that was remaining amongst us of the glory of our ancestors, that it seemed that he thought, that you were at no hand worthy to be reckoned, in the number of men.  
And where is it, that we can haue a more certain and plain proof, and that so open, 
the profane and proud erection, of the Duke of Alua his image, in the midst of the late Citadel at Antwerp  that it is( as it were) in the sight and beholding of all christendom, concerning this matter, and withall, of his unsupportable contempt and disdain of all these countries, then in that proud, ambitious, profane, heathnishe, and withall foolish setting up of his own Image, in the midst of the citadel at antwerp, going impudently vpon the bellies of the Noble men, of the Estates, and of all the people of this country? Was not this think you, a notable monument of his tyranny, and a testimony of his pride? What shall I need to speak of his servants, and of all that vermin that came out of spain, who spake of us, not as it were of Villacos( as they use to say) or villains, but even as it were of brute beasts? You( my lords) haue even as yet your ears, altogether beaten with such matters, and you are able to set out their gestures, their proceedings, their words full of boldness, of pride, and of contempt: also their unsupportable acts, and howe when they were within your towns, with what pride and insolency they did command you. Wherefore, if that be true which wise men report, that, for the understanding of the natural disposition of a lord or Noble man, men must examine him by his friends and familiars: and for the knowledge of a master, men must sift his servants: you may( my lords) by the virtues of the Duke of Alua, his masters principal officer, and the executor of all his counsels, casely judge, what good affection and will, the King beareth you, who sent him to you, to torment you: and also ye may know what ye ought to look for, unless ye provide for it in time,( as in deed ye ought) which thing also, all the good people of this land look for at your hands.  
I will speak nothing, of the rauishings, raunsomes, and exactions committed by the spaniards, I will onely stay myself vpon the principal point. ye could never yet tell, howe to obtain a free assembly, 
The assembly of the Estates general, ever refused.  of the Estates general, your enemy very well knowing, that, to hinder the calling together & meeting of them, was in deed to cut of by the foot, the three of your privileges, and utterly to dry up the spring of your liberty. For, to what end serveth it the people, to haue privileges in faire parchment, kept up in a coffer, if by the mean of the Estates, those privileges be not maintained, and so men feel the effects thereof? And in deed long time before, the King himself had received a dispensation from the Pope, 
The King taketh a dispensation from the Pope, for his oath made at his gladsome entrance.  for the oath which he had made unto you, to keep your privileges. Wherein he did not onely violate and break his faith: but also did over easily, yea very hurtfully beleeue, foolish counsellors, whereby he to to manifestly declared, howe great his own wisdom was. For, might he not very well understand, that, counting himself free from the oath, which he had made to you, you also were freed and quit from your oath towards him? In so much, that he, minding to be unburdened of his oath towards you, you ought not unto him, any obedience and subiection. That I may at this time say nothing, but leave it unto others more exercised in such matters than I, to handle this question, whether the Pope may justly vaunt, that he hath any such power and authority, yea or no: and whether any thing in the world, shall remain certain and sure, if oaths so solemnly made, may, under such a pretext and cloak, be violated and broken. At the same time, marriages made out of the country, were wholly forbidden, and that which was never practised, was prohibited, to wit, that youth might not go out of the country, to study in any other school of the world, but in that at Rome: and condemning by that means, all other schools( which is an over great arrogancy) they did condemn( so unwary they were) even those of the Iesuites, 
The schools of all the world forbidden, save that of Rome only  without thinking any whit of them: and so( which is in deed the worst) they opened a way, to very barbarousnes. For, as the meetings together of all maneer of learned men, hath brought forth unto us in this country, sundry persons well qualified, who haue greatly ennobled these provinces: so this interdiction and forbidding, could not but in process of time cause, a more than turkish ignorance, that I may say nothing of this, that by that means, they would make this country subject, 
The publishing of the council of Trent.  to such comditions as never were heard of. About the same time, the council of trent was published, which council hath seemed, even to the Frenchmen themselves, so unjust, that even unto this day, it could not as yet be published, in the kingdom of france.  
A little while before this time, there was egerlie pursued, and at the last obtained, the installing of the new bishops, 
bishops duly made.  which had been so long time before debated, by reason of the inconveniences, which all wise people, and louers of the country, and haters of the tourmenting of mens consciences, did foresee, would ensue thereupon: which thing also I myself, writ even unto the King: that I may say nothing, of the warnings, that I gave to the duchess, sometime in open counsel, and oftentimes else where: all these their purposes, tending to no other end, but to set up the cruel Inquisition of spain, and to establish the said bishops, that they might serve, in steede of inquisitors, burners of mens bodies, and tyrants over their consciences.  
It is true, that at this day they deny, that ever they ment to bring in, this cursed Inquisition, but, if I bring forth unto them a man worthy of credit, who was at that time a Pensioner of frank, and who had the rack twice shewed him, to be tormented upon it, that he might confess, who they were of the lords of the said frank, which were purposed to refuse the Inquisition: will they say that he is a forged witness, who yet notwithstanding is such a one, as they are not able to object any thing against him? And beside, if need were, I could find enough other, plain, 
Placards & licences renewed.  & most manifest proofs. There followed the most rigorous placardes & licences, with express commandment, to abate nothing of the old rigor: and verily the bul granted by the Pope, for the erection of the said bishops, doth plainly carry with it this much, that every bishop, might give in his own Cathedral church, two prebends: that every one of the Canons, should be bound, to assist him in the matter of the Inquisition: and that particularly, two amongst them, should actually, and in deed be inquisitors. And as Princes or tyrants, which possess new kingdoms or worships, do lay upon them a tribute, in sign of their victory: so the Duke of Alua, in testimony of his conquest( for this was his common speech, to wit, that these countries, appertained to the King, not in title, or by right or patrimony, but as being conquered, by armor and weapons) then I say, to the end he might make all the world to understand the condition, whereunto he had made subject this country, he laid vpon the people, by the commandment of his master, 
The imposition of the tenth penny, without the good will, & consent of the Estates.  the perpetual payment of the tenth penny, without the consent of the Estates, without the consent of the towns & provinces, and he resolved with himself & his people, to execute the same by force. Insomuch, that when he understood, that certain noble & courageous harts, began to be moved, even at the very hour( ye see my lords, howe great Gods providence is) when he received news of the taking of the Briele, he was resolved, to put to death, the same night the principal Burgesses and Citizens of Bruxelles, because, that they set themselves against this imposition, which was violently published against their privileges. The Hangman, name master Charles, was commanded to haue in a readiness, seventeen halters, and certain ladders of ten or twelve foot high: the souldiers were up in arms: Don Frederico, came into the house, of Viglius the President, to conclude the speech of the comdemnation, when these happy news, against the good Burgesses and Citizens of Bruxelles, arrived there. The lieutenant of the Amman, was one of them, that should haue been put to death, because he refused to execute them, that set themselves against these attempts, and in dead the Duke of Alua, ment to keep the promise with them, which but a little while before, he had spoken unto him, saying: By this 
* to wit, Beard, a form of swearing, used amongst the spaniards.  if you will not do it, I will cause you to be hanged. And moreover, the Iudges are knaves, It is sufficient that which I command you. And I confess, that at the same time, I being again provoked, as well by sundry good people, as by mine own oath, came again the second time with an army, of which expedition I will say no more at this time, 
The second coming of the L. prince with an army.  because there is none amongst you, but he knoweth, what then were, and what yet at this present are, the events and successses thereof. now then( my lords) if it please you on the one side, to consider, that which the Duke of Alua did, before that this war, was begun: what just occasions he gave me, and the Estates of holland and Zealande, to haue our recours to arms: and also that, which he and the great Commandador did, until the day of the revolting and rebellion of the spaniards: and on the other side, to way, howe since that time, I haue guided & governed myself, I refuse not to make ye Iudges thereof, and to give ye leave to determine thereof, as ye yourselves shall think, convenient and meet. But ye haue already sufficiently declared, what ye think thereof, by the pacification of Gaunt, by the expulsion of Don John, and by so many acts and testimonies, that I need not to haue any more, yea even by this, that ye would not discharge me, of my offices and charges, although that very oftentimes I requested the same of you.  
now I will come to that, which in the second place they touch, in their cruel Proscription, to wit, that, which followed the time, wherein the spaniards were declared rebels, and enemies to the country.  
About that time( my lords) there was treated and concluded the Pacification of Gaunt, 
The pacification of Gaunt: and that the enemies, both spaniards and their adherents, haue broken the same against their oath.  and that with so great joy and contentement of the people, yea and of all the provinces, both generally and particularly, that no man alive, is able to remember the like.  
every one may remember, the mutual promises of friendship, of intelligences, partaking of counsel, and such like comprehended therein. But what? They themselves, who afterwards did make manifest, the great, and inveterate hatred of their heart, and were notwithstanding of the number of those, which treated of the same matter with my Deputies, & with them of holland and Zealande: they I say, entreating thereof, did overthwartly cast against it, all the hinderaunces that possibly they could, to cause it to die, before it came to ripeness: which thing, without controversy, they had obtained, if they had not feared to fall into danger, & if the people, and all the provinces( who perceived, and saw before hand a far of, that this pacification, should be the groundwork of their liberty, and the restitution of their ancient privileges) had not, as it were with one voice, enforced them to conclude the same. And, because( my lords) often times in this execrable Proscription, and in their little, foolish, diffamatory libels, and secret letters, they object unto me, that I haue violated and broken the same: Let us see, howe they on their behalf, haue maintained and kept it. It was no sooner confirmed by oath, but that the lord of Haussi, according to your commandment, 
The lord of Haulsi, sent into Zealand to demand succour of the L. Prince, for the siege of the castle of Gaunt.  made sundry voyages into Zealande to me, that he might obtain succour of men, and munitions of war, for the siege of the Castle of Gaundt, one of the nests, of the spanish cruelty, which thing he also obtained. But, a certain man, unworthy of his stock, and of his country, could not contain himself, but at the same time began to vomit his venom, charging with a fault the said Lord, in recompense of so good a service, & which was in deed the very gate, to the liberty of the country and county of flanders, and namely of the town of Gaunt, which had been so long time before, kept under by tyranny: and it was a matter of no great account, to the said Sweueghen, to the county of Reus, Mouqueron, and others, that the spaniards, yet all bloody with the murder of Antwerp, & laden with the spoils, of good Burgesses and citizens, should perform a like execution in the town of Gaunt, as they had committed in the most renoumned town of Antwerp: which thing also they had executed and performed,( as the letters of Rhoda and others, do sufficiently prove) had not the said succour hindered them. mark I pray you, howe that even then when the Trumpet sounded, for to publish the Pacification of Gaunt, these honest people began to break the same. hereupon Don John arrived in these Countreys, 
the coming of Dō John  and albeit that mine enemy would here play the falsifier, and alter the matter: haue not I yet the letter signed with the Kings own hand, and with the hand of one of the Secretaries of his estate, & sealed with the seal of his arms, which yield testimony concerning the charge and commission given to Don John? Haue not they been published to all the world? Was there yet ever any spaniard found, that durst contend against him? By those letters we haue known, that all the difference, between Don John, the Duke of Alua, and Lewis of Requesens was this, that he was more young, and more foolish, than the others, and that he could not so long time hid his venom, dissemble his attempts, & withhold his greedy hands, from the desire that he had, to wet and wash them in our blood. I will not( my lords) make in this place any recital of these matters unto you, for they are known unto little children, and all the land, is as it were, watered therewith. Albeit then that these things were set out before the whole world: and albeit that the pacifiers knew and understood the same: Notwithstanding the inveterate hatred towards this poor people was so great( so much were they accustomend, to aid them that oppressed your privileges, and to subject themselves to tyranny, was even become altogether natural unto them) that even like horseleeches, foaming with rage, they themselves came to lance themselves, vpon the thorn of the bloody hart of Don John, and agreed with him, against mine aduise, and the aduise of them of holland and Zealand, and against their own oath taken, against the pacification of Gaunt, and yet these men dare object unto me the pacification and mine oath, as though those bands had been prepared, onely to shakel me, and my lords of holland and Zealande, whilst that those good and loyal peacemakers, having broken all bond of laws, of loyaultie, and of fidelity, might haue liberty to perpetrate, commit, and do, whatsoever their disloyal heart, should put them in mind of. They will say, that they caused Don John to promise, that the spaniards should depart: as though that all our agreement and league, consisted in that onely point. But before they had concluded with Don John, should not they haue placed me, in my governements, and put me in possession of my goods, and restored me my son, who was one of the number of the prisoners? Haue they so much as onely thought vpon it, though that sundry amongst them were kin unto him? No whit at all in deed. For they had a far other mark, which thing they themselves did sufficiently declare, by so many consultations as they made, that they might at the length find out a way to oppress me, and to bring holland and Zealande under subiection, knowing, that at the same time, I yet onely, and the Estates of the said countries, were they which did openly hinder their pernicious purposes, which was, to enter in the place of the spaniards, to exercise the like tyranny that the Spaniards had done, but yet as they thought, with more power and authority, and also, that they might remain in their own Countreyes with greater impunity. Concerning this matter, I refer myself to the instructions, given to those which came to treat with me, at Saint Geertrudenberghe, which I will bring to light, if need be thereof.  
At the same time, they sent to the queen of england, that they might fill hir with al false matters against me, and also move hir to arm herself against me and my lords, the Estates of holland and Zealande: But the knowledge that she had of the truth, and the singular wisdom, wherewith she is endued, made hir to take a clean contrary resolution, then that which they hoped of. To be short, they devised as much ae they could, to execute and perform against us, the same practices that the spaniards had done, and this( my lords) was the observation of the Pacification of Gaunt, that these men used even from the beginning. And as concerning the spaniards, 
The spaniards licenced by Don John to return.  which Don John  told them he had sent away, they saw( at the least if they had any understanding, though never so little, for they wanted not advertisement and intelligence) that some stayed in Luxembourgh, other some in Burgundy, and other some in france, under the shadow of the civil war, which was at that time raised up in france, looking onely for their watchwoorde, that they might return again in an instant, which thing also they did. Beside this, they knew, that Don John retained with him fourteen thousand germans, of the old soldiers, 
fourteen thousand Lance knights left by Don John in garrison, in the principal towns  which he kept in garrison, in the principal towns of the country: that at Malines, he treated with the said germans: that he spake one thing to them, and another thing to you my lords: and did in the mean while, take the Castle of Antwerp, from the power of the Duke of Aerschot, and of the Prince of Chimai his son, and left it in the hands of Treslon. They saw I say, these things, and did notwithstanding aid and favour him therein, and yet they will say that they kept the Pacification of Gaunt. For, as concerning that which mine enemies say, that Don John swore unto it, I confess further, that the King himself promised, it should be observed, which maketh him so much the more vanquished, for even at the same time, he commanded Don John to break it, as appeareth by his own letters.  
And as concerning Don John, true it is, that he promised and swore, to see the same performed, but that was with a condition, which he spake of before hand, 
Don John sware to the pacification of Gaunt.  in the presence even of some of your Deputies, which should be added, to wit, that it should be kept until such time, as he repented him thereof, which condition fell out very quickly afterward.  
For, this young man, supposing that he was at the top of his business, and that he had in his hands( by reason of the garrisons of germans, and sundry traitors taking parte with them) the best towns, took( but yet not without doing, an unworthy injury to the queen of Nauarre) the Castle of Namure, a place which he thought was very fitt and necessary, for the spaniards to go and come. But so soon, as the Castle of antwerp, was by composition yielded up unto you, he found himself far from his reckoning, which caused him at one time to lose, many friends, who began even than to change their copy and countenance: and Don John was thereby made, so perplex and doubtful, that he had no other succour, but this, that, having corrupted some of your own Deputies, he might protract the time, and busy you, with a painted hope of peace. And I would to God, that at that time, ye( my lords) had not been hindered, by these good observers of the Pacification of Gaunt, from believing my counsel, for then, by a very small army, we might haue been quit and rid of Don John, of his spaniards and adherents, and of so many miseries, as since haue ensued. I would then yet further know, in this place( my lords) whether Don John did then keep this Pacification, & his union so solemnly sworn( as they say) which he had made, with these favourers of the spaniards. And why shall he come to upbraid me with the Pacification of Gaunt, which yet hath caused this to be declared unto us, by the lord of skulls, that he would not keep it? Shall he to my hurt, enjoy a privilege, which he himself renounceth and forsaketh? And when we haue said all, it is not with him, that I, and the Estates of holland and Zealande, haue contracted and accorded, but it is with you( my lords.) Now, if after so many breaches of the Pacification, and that in such sundry sorts: if after that contrary to the said Pacification, they haue destroyed the towns, where they could exercise their tyrannous government, and the best Burgesses and citizens therein, alleging against them false and wicked things: If then I say, after these things, you( my lords) haue judged, that for your own surety, you ought to enlarge some of the articles, yea and if need were, that you were minded, altogether to break, cut in sunder, and revoke them: who is he that could accuse you therefore, If ye haue used that which was your own, as you yourselves thought it convenient for your own profit, unless it be he, which would use his own oath, as a net and snare to catch you in?  
For as concerning that which they say, that the change hath been on my behalf: though that were true, yet so it is, that I am no more bound, in respect of the contractours with me, seeing that they haue so many ways, violated and broken the contract itself: and seeing that on your part, it was thought convenient, that the change should be made, you haue as much authority and power to dispose thereof, as a Lord hath right in his own inheritance: for the Pacification was yours, which also you might use, at your own pleasure and discretion.  
But I haue so often times, both by word and writing declared, nothing to be broken on our partes, that I shall not need to bestow any more time, to set out the same unto you: Onely I will confess this, that they of holland and Zealande were in deed forbidden, to innovate or change any thing in that country: but that the other Estates, 
Nothing was attempted, by the L. Prince, the Estates general, and those of the Religion, against the pacification of Gaunt.  might not in their provinces, by some lawful condition, provide for their safety, it will never be found that there was as yet any such obligation or bonde: which thing may be manifestly seen and known, by the reading of the eleventh and the twelueth Article. And in deed, vpon the making of the said Pacification, as one of those which were Deputies on our side, did declare unto some one of the principal persons of the other side, that some such matter might fall out, and that therfore it was better, to accord some liberty, for the poor subiectes of the provinces, whose causes they handled, and for whom they were to make agreement: so some other answered him again, that he needed not take care for such matters, and that those of Brabant, flanders, and the other countries, would not at any time demand a change in the matter of Religion. now, if they haue been deceived, what cause is there for them so furiouslie, to direct themselves against me? I give them also the same answer, in respect of the change which fell out, in certain towns of my government, for I can in dead assure men before God, that I haue not given any aduise or consent thereto: and that many things fel out ther, as also in flanders, which pleased me no whit at all: and I do defend it against thē, that if there haue been, some soldier like insolency & violence, that that was nothing, but sweet smelling roses, in respect of the intolerable excesses, which they haue committed: and also at the least, that we haue not had on our parte, any infidelity or treason, or intelligence with the spaniards, as our enemies on their parte haue had. For haue not they, against their faith & promise, with an armed power begun a war, and assaulted their confederates, when we were, within two dayes ready to give battle to our enemies? 
The beginning of the liquor of the Malcontents even then, when they were ready within 2. dayes, to drive away Don John.  Haue not they pursued the execution of their complott and conspiracy against their confederates, and declared their defection and falling away, at that time, when the good town of Maestricht was besieged? Was there ever any detestable and vile act in the world, and is it not this? even then, when you yourselves looked for the forces and powers of your confederates, to succour a good town besieged, with which they were entred into a sworn league: and of which, they could not in any sort, either wrongfully or rightly complain: even then I say, they did not onely destitute and forsake you, but also made war vpon you, and that as whotly and as fiercely as they could. The stories report, that Suffetius was drawn in pieces with four horses, because he stirred not, but only looked on, when Tullus Hostilius his confederate, fought the field: then what Gibbettes, and what punishments can a man devise, which might be sufficient to correct, this unfaithfulness and treason? And whose treason? 
The continuance, during the siege of Maestricht.  Those( my lords) who before had laid their hands, vpon the county of Mansfelt, Viglius, Fonc. Assonuille, Berti, and others of the council of Estate, then when I was not so straightly bound unto them, as since I haue been, & was not yet come into Brabant: Those I say, that by such laying hands vpon them, had given all the world to understand, what judgements they had concerning the King & his counsel: leaving it to you( my lords) to judge, what great consideration, there is in such people, that whilst we make war, they can not foresee, that they sharpen the sword of those, whom they had taken prisoners, to take away their own heads. They will say, that I haue not shewed myself to be an enemy against them of our side, who haue passed the bounds set thē. verily I haue not approved the excess of any, but do they think that I am so unwary, as that for to show them a pleasure, I will open a gap to the destruction of the country, and so make Escouedo a prophet? Haue they ever heard that a wise father, for the contentement of his enemy, would seek the ruin of his children? Nay rather this is his duty, to correct the faults, and in amending of them, to labour the preservation of his family and household.  
But Bours, Montigni, and others, do not they know the duties that I haue performed, to establish every thing in good order? Haue they forgotten the Articles, agreed upon, even such as they themselves demanded, & which since that time, they haue broken against their oath? It is then rage, folly, ambition, hatred against the religion, & desire to govern, which hath carried away their heartes, and tossed them as it were with madness: and which hath first moved them: and which since that time they haue covered, with the cloak of the Pacification of Gaunt. For I know( my lords) howe hardly they were distressed, and what labour they took, to cloak and colour their enterprise, and that a simplo captain, did in this counsel open a gap unto them, who was immediately followed.  
I know, that sundry will think it a new & strange thing, that children of so good a house, issuing from such fathers, should so far forget themselves, as to heap up such reproaches vpon their own stock: yea some I think will think it vnbeleeuable, that ever there could be found, such great inconstancy in them: and for mine own part, I can not choose, but be greatly sorry for it, by reason of the good will and reverence, which I haue born to their fathers: and the desire which I haue had to see them advanced, in al virtue, honour and reputation( which thing they might haue attained, if they had onely learned to forbear but a little while, and to bear some part of the misery of their country) and I would yet in deed desire, that they might become so wise, that by a good repentance, they might amend the faults past. But to the end, that I may not speak, of sundry their particular actions, which are not come to the sight of al the world, and are notwithstanding full of inconstancy and lightness: if we come to consider that which every one knoweth, and is laid out before the eyes of all the world, who is he that can sufficiently enough marvel, at the inconstancy and vanity of their resolutions? They served the Duke of Alua, and the great Commandador, as servants or pages, and they made war against me, with all extremity: a little while afterwards, they treated with me, and reconciled themselves, and then( lo) they were the spaniards enemies. Don John came, they follow him, they serve him, and they endeavour and practise my destruction. Don John failed in his enterprises, concerning the Castle of antwerp, incontinently they forsake him & call me: I was no sooner come, but contrary to their oath, without communicating any thing thereof, either to you( my lords) or to me, they call my lord mathias the Archduke: He being come, they saw that they could not come to their mark, therefore they left him, and without advertising him any thing at all thereof, they go to seek my lord the Duke of Aniou: they bring him in, and they promise him wonderful things. They saw, that they could not bring him to this point, to make him a captain against you( my Lords) and them of the Religion, then they left him, and joined themselves to the Prince of Parma. Are there any waves of the Sea more inconstant? Is there any 
* It is a part of the Sea, which floweth seven times a day with such great force, that it carrieth ships with full sail against the north-wind.  Euripus more uncertain, than the counsels of such people, who think that they are so highely set: so much lifted up: and so strengthened, that it should be lawful for thē, to play and dally, in such sort with Princes, of such quality and calling? If then they haue done such things( as all the world knoweth they haue) assure yourselves, that there is nothing so light and vain, but they will enterprise & attempt it. And what could they haue committed more grievous, then to haue consented to this wicked Proscription, which was framed against his head and life, who had helped and healed theirs, and caused their possessions and goods, to be restored to the principal amongst them? And beleeue( my lords) that this is not the last pranck they will play. For, though they should very quickly confess it,( which thing I also desire) yet shall you find them more then ten times, change their horse and their saddle, before, that this business be rid and ended.  
As concerning that, which they object against me, That I caused myself by force and tumult to be chosen governor of Brabant. You( my lords) do remember, that I never spake to you thereof: and that I haue not any maner of way, provoked you thereto: and on the contrary side, you remember( I hope) the great withstanding that I used, & my plain declarations & speeches made to the contrary: 
The estate of governor of Brabant and lieutenant general.  and also as concerning the estate of lieutenant general, that I ment to haue had the aduise and consent, of the gouernours which were in the army, and which being very shortly after tumultuouslie and disorderly handled( I mind not now to tell by whose fault) was sent me, even as I yet haue it, signed with their own hands. now, if some of the people, preferred and promoted this choice, & yet I neither entreating nor provoking them thereto, shall I mislike thē therefore? Nay rather, I am enforced to confess, that they were more wise, and better foreseing to the affairs of this country, then I was at that time. For they well understood, that if they should leave the handling of the matters, and the administration of the public cause, in the hands of these men, that were become spaniards as it were, and so greatly affencted towards them: it should be nothing else, but to build upon the quick sand, a ground work not strong enough, to set such a frame and building vpon. And it is as true that they say, 
The government of flanders offered to the Lord Prince, and yet not accepted.  that by the tumults of Gaunt, I was chosen governor of flanders, for it bewrayeth a very ignorance of our affairs: because that the four members or partes of that province, did choose me, not once, but sundry times, and that not while the tumults lasted, but since that the matters were well quieted: yea and they themselves, haue oftentimes sued for it, both to me and to you, and yet to this present I haue not minded to accept it.  
Also, I do not( my lords) think it raisonable, 
Of the moneys levied by my lords the estates, and how they were distributed.  to answer concerning the means and money levied by you, and which, according to your aduise, were governed under your authority, by your treasurers, commissioners, and receivers, without that I, or any of mine, did ever see penny thereof. But if any must be blamed for it, it is the enemy himself, who hath enforced you to use, and seek means for your own defence.  
And if he, to the end he may execute mischief, exercise tyranny, and oppress your liberty, do bestow so great and excessive charge and expenses: why should not you bestow some cost, to do good things, to repress the tyrant, and to preserve your privileges and your liberty, which cannot be valued? And if the matter be, to give up all that we haue, even to the uttermost farthing, and to the last drop of our blood: what should we do, but that, whereunto we are holden and bound? and whereof we haue in ancient Histories, so many goodly examples, as well of strangers, as of our brave and valiant Predecessors and ancestors? But so far off is it, that we should leave off, that on the other side, seeing we see that which pricketh and provoketh thē, that that is it, which we should take unto ourselves, thereby to endeavour and to encourage ourselves to go forward. For to answer that which he saith, that I haue committed to prison, and caused to be slain, some of them that gainsaid these contributions, I suppose it is not needful to answer them to this, before you( my lords) who know, that these are manifest slanders: and who know also, that I haue been more blamed, for my over great gentleness and patience, in tolerating sundry wicked persons, who by their subtleties and secret practices, hinder our affairs, then I haue been accused of mine enemy, for my rigor and hardness. But if that which they object against me were true, there are sundry, which speak at this day very high, and for whose sake the threedes and snares haue been cut: and I do notwithstanding as yet not repent me, that I haue so used them, but will always rejoice, that I haue had a mind ready rather to receive injury, then to do it, not doubting but that God, who is a just judge, will bring vpon the heads of these traitorous and disloyal people( who did eat bread with us, and were partakers of our Counsels, and notwithstanding at this present, are in their counsel against us) the reward and recompense of their wickedness, as already vengeance pursueth them, with a perpetual disquietness, vexation, and tossing of spirit.  
As concerning the business or matter, which the lord of Seeles took upon him to deal for, 
The negotiation of the Lord of Seelles.  and which also was known, to be full of dissimulations and deceits: to answer this, it appertaineth to you( my lords) who haue so wiselye discovered his fraudes: and who haue caused him to understand, that those that haue not seen spain, are not for all that beasts, as he and such as he are, do suppose: to you I say it belongeth to answer this, because that this accusation is directed against you. I confess, that I was of the same mind that you are, that he was no more to be trusted, than a beguiler and a deceiver: and that he was to be taken, as an instrument chosen to bring all to division and disorder: vpon which point to resolve myself, no man holp me, so much as he himself. For, in that that he told me, that I was so much in the kings favour, as that there was no lord in these quarters, of whom he had better opinion than of me, and whom he would employ so much as me: this made me more and more to think, that they would gladly haue taken away my head and life, if I would haue let it gone so good cheap, as this fellow so greatly affencted to the spaniards, would haue persuaded me.  
I confess, I say, that I was of the self same opinion that you were: and that you haue most wisely resolved upon this point, to wit, that, according to the example of that wise captain, you haue stopped your ears, against the sirens or Myrmaides of spain. But what say I, that I haue been of this aduise? Those miserable men, that haue consented to this cursed proscription, haue not they also resisted his attempts as well as I? The very self same Magistrates, which haue caused this Proscription to be published, haue not they also rejected the Lord of Seeles, and all his trifling tales? which is sufficient enough to answer that, which they say, 
The changing of the Officers.  concerning the changing of the catholic Officers.  
And would to GOD, that I had had power, or that by the headlongnesse or hastiness of some, I had not been let and hindered, from procuring and performing such a change in every place: for then there had not followed, so great a flood of evils, as since wee haue seen, by reason of the disiunction and discord of the provinces, which, it is to be feared, least it will daily more and more grow, to the general destruction of the country: at the least I hope, that if the provinces, who haue so wickedly forsaken us, do not repent them of so great a fault, they shall perceive, that there was never any man better corrected for wicked counsel, then they that haue first given the same. And concerning this point, I will not stick at it, to answer this slander, that I haue, and that by mine own private authority, put into charge and office the said officers, seeing that in every place, where I haue been assistant in the changing of the lawe, I haue therein executed onely that charge and office, which it hath pleased you to give me, and that as your Commissioner and deputy, doing nothing therein against the laws and privileges. In dead I will confess, that I sought as much as possibly I could, to bring in and to place in these offices, virtuous people, honourable personages, men of good conscience, and above all louers of the country. But I know what wringeth and pricketh them, that is, that I did not willingly favour those, which they had in their own cord, people without faith, without godliness and honesty towards their country, yea bloody people, and slaves to execute their tyranny. And this is that( my lords) which these men call confusion, to wit the good rule and government of our common wealth, according to our laws, which also are as contrary to their barbarous intents and purposes, as the day is to the night. And in deed( my lords) there is no great need, to answer such objections, seeing that our own enemy doth sufficiently answer them for vs. For, who were these officers, of whom they say, we haue discharged and unburdened ourselves? They were( say they) well affencted to the King. Which is as much as if they should say, they were good enemies to the country: and by this( my lords) you understand, that it was very well done to change them, in sundry places and quarters.  
They upbraid me, with the great credit that I haue amongst the people. So far of is it, that I am ashamed of this, that I am very sorry that I haue not as yet attained more, that is to say, that I haue not well known, 
Touching the authority of the L. Prince amongst the people.  howe to persuade them to do that, which I haue so oftentimes set before them, both by word and writing. For, it is long time since, that I would( thorough the aid of God) haue cleansed the country, from these filthes of spain. But if they be such as they say they are, and that I am such a one as they describe me to be( for to show them some pleasure, I will easily grant them this point) they must of necessity confess, that their tyrannies and cruelties, haue been wonderfully excessive and outrageous in all sorts, in that they haue incurred, such a general hatred of all that people, who before were so well affencted, and hath been so loyal and faithful to their predecessors, and even unto them themselves, before such excesses were committed: and on the other side, that if the people haue willingly chosen me, to be the claimer and challenger of their liberty, what other thing can men say: what shall the strange nation speak: and what shal posterity report but this, that there was in me something, worthy of favour and friendship, and in them somewhat worthy of extreme hatred? I confess then, that I am, and that I will al my life long be popular, that is to say, that I will pursue, maintain and defend, your liberty and your privileges. Thus you see, howe these wise brains, are utterly void of common wit and understanding, and howe that even then when they blame me they praise me. True it is, that five or six ill advised persons gathered together, being the enemies of your liberty, whose counsels, imaginations, and secret thoughts, tend altogether to this, to seek out the ways, to make you subject to their tyranny, which should be more cruel, or at the least more unworthy and more slauishe, then that of the spaniards hath been: that these men I say, measure the brain of all the world, by the ell of their own understanding, and think that every one, will condemn that as evil, which they judge to be so.  
But when the whole matter shalbe weighed at the common beam and balance, thē they shall find that they haue greatly misrekoned themselves. For he, whom they judge unworthy to live, that he might profit the common wealth( for what other thing is the common wealth, then the good of all the people) they will make him thorough their own folly, so much the more honoured, as the people itself will more esteem of him that maintaineth them, than he that would oppress them.  

The regard that the L Prince hath always had of nobility.  I cannot also sufficiently wonder at that, which they themselves haue here forgotten: yet sundry base but wicked writers, haue lyingly put down, in their fonde Libels of diffamation against me, to wit, that I hate nobility. For, shall I begin this hatred at myself, my kinsfolks, and friends, who are( thankes be to God for it) al descended of a noble and famous race, and that so ancient, and of such great riches and dignities, that I am not afraid to affirm, that sundry of mine enemies, cannot with any good right prefer themselves before us, and few amongst them, shall be found, that may be made equal with us? But experience hath declared, whether I do not that which is in my power for the advancement of Noble men. Now, if I haue long time ago foreseen, that certain ambitious heads( who since that time haue forsaken us) would go about to take possession, of certain governments and charges, that so they might afterward abandon the country, and falsify their oath: if I say I haue known their lightness, vanity and inconstancy, and their affection also, tending to tyranny, and therefore ment not to favour them, and so by that means I haue holpen to preserve, the better and the greater, and the more sound part of our estate: I haue not for all that hated or despised nobility, but ment by good counsel, to prevent the destruction of the country, which might haue followed. If their Fathers, who were more wise, more valiant, and more virtuous than they, and with whom I haue lived in such good friendship: if, I say, they were now alive, they would die with grief, seeing their stock so much degenerating, from the constancy and virtue of their ancestors, who lived so honourably and without reproach: If they saw I say, that there is at this day no country, wherein they are not counted, for inconstant people, and great coops men: If they saw, even the spaniards whom they serve, and the cardinal( who is the hindge, yea the Spindell whereupon the Mill turneth) to play with them, as it were with a ball: to make them as it were little children: to led them by the nose like beasts: and to uphold them, 
The cardinal receiveth to Morillon, that it is not yet time to cause Bourse and others to yield an account.  till it be time to demand again their pictures, instruments, tapestry, and other movables, which they haue taken away, and even so far till they come to the point to be led to the slaughter, even as it appeareth by his own Letters written with his own hand, which you( my lords) haue seen and do know: If they saw these things I say, what would they then do?  
And because that mine enemy( as though he did distrust his own authority, and that he doubted whether the weight of his own titles would be sufficient, to entrap me) proceedeth yet further, and joineth the Emperours authority to them, and the credit also, of certain of my lords, the ecclesiastical Electors, saying, 
The treaty of Colen.  that they had propounded such reasonable articles, as every man of good iudgement would deem them to be such: he knew not( in a word my lords) to speak more than you. What say I you? Nay then all the inhabitants of these Countreys, who did with one voice refuse the said Articles, as impertinent, captious, and unreasonable, being without iudgement and void of reason. But whom shall they be able to persuade, that a people beaten with such long war( which cannot be without a million of inconveniences) would refuse a peace, if it were reasonable? Or that good, yea very good subiectes, and suffering very much, would refuse to agree, with their superior, except it be, when they see that such agreements, are baits to catch them? such a peace is worse then war: and such sweet hony of the tongue, is more to be doubted, then the steelie edge of sword. It may be, that the Emperor, who thinketh such a condition and state to be fit, in his own lands, that come to him by patrimony, holdeth an opinion, that it should be likewise proper and fit for us here. The Emperor was advertised of our state, by our enemies, and by the traitors which were amongst us, who also under the colour of an ambassage to Colen, assayed to destroy all our matters. The Emperor informed other Princes, who trusted to his report, thinking that that which came from this part, was an oracle.  
But you( my lords) who know the depth of the state of these countries, the commodities or discommodities, the true causes of the upholding, or of the ruin thereof: who haue also much to lose therein: who also are bound by all laws to the preservation thereof, haue otherwise judged of those articles: all the people was asked their aduise therein: and they did al with one consent, reject those conditions, as over unreasonable: and this was done, not in one town onely, but in al. True it is, that we besought the Emperors majesty, the French King, the queen of england, and the King of portugal, to entreat for us, that a good peace might be granted us, but to take that, as though we had submitted ourselves unto them, we suppose not that any wise man would so think.  
And as concerning that forbidding, which they say was made, concerning the publication of the said Articles: your patience and gentleness ought greatly to be praised, when you did not openly and for an example cause such to be punished, who were so rash as to publish the same without your leave: and so far off is it, that we feared the communicating, divulging, and publishing of them, that on the contrary side, we caused them to be printed, 
The Lord Prince hindered not the communicating of the articles of Colin, to the people.  with the declarations of their insufficiency, and they were sent thorough all the provinces and Towns, that they might be deliberated vpon: and that the aduise and resolution of all might be had. But there is great difference, between a thing communicated in order, by the way of right, and by the authority of them, which haue power so to do: and between this, that certain little scouts, should privily cast amongst the people, certain little Pamphlets, as some of them which were sent to colen about your service, caused under hand and closely to pass forth, those things which they had negotiated, and treated off with the enemy, wherein they betrayed both you and the country, as more largely appeareth by their own Letters, whereof I will not speak any further, because that all is set abroad, and brought to every mans sight.  
They think the union of the provinces, made at utrecht, to be wonderfully wicked and evil. And why so? Because that all that which is good for us, is evil for them: 
The union of the provinces made at the time of the separation of Artois & Haynault.  and that which is healthful for us, is deadly for them. They had set all their hope, vpon a discord and disagreement, and they had provoked thereto some of the provinces, who haue had as many deliberations & counsels, as ther are moneths in a year: beside they had at their commandment certain pestilent fellowes amongst vs. What remedy then could a man devise better, against dissension then union? And what counterpoison more certain against their venom of discord, then concord? By means whereof, their purposes, their treacheries, their night counsels, their secret intelligences, were all at one time scattered abroad, God( who is the God of peace and concord) declaring thereby how much he hateth such deceitful tongues, and how he can easily overthrow, such false and abominable enterprises. You see( my lords) that I give them a fair and large field, to cry out against me, and to scorn at me. I confess unto them, that I haue procured the union: that I haue advanced and promoted the same: that I haue endeavoured to maintain it, and I tel you( my Lords) yet, and I speak it very plainly, and loud, that I like it well, that so not only they, but also all Europe should understand it. maintain your union: keep your union, but do it, but do it indeed( my Lords) that so you may execute, not in words, nor by writing only: but in effect also, that, which your sheaf of arrows, tied with one band only, doth mean, which sheaf you be are in your seal. Let thē go now and accuse me, that I haue brought all to confusion, when I procured the union, for the doing of which matter, I will never blushy. For if under the shadow of a peace, they would bring forth unto us a division: if they would assemble themselves, one while at Arras, another while at Montz, giuing us always faire words, and that to this end, that they might sunder themselves from us, and so draw by their cords unto themselves, light headed fellowes like unto themselves: wherefore should it not be lawful for us, on our own behalues, to join and tie ourselves together? unless( as it may be) they think, that they are permitted to do evil, and to abandon the country: and when I pray you? even when Maestricht was besieged( will not ye, O ye poor people, feel, when ye shall read these things, the hote iron, which shall burn your conscience?) and that it was not lawful for us then, to do good, and to heal the country. Let us then here( my Lords) learn that, which is profitable and necessary for us to learn: and let us learn it of the greatest enemy, that ever the country had, yea of the greetest tyrant of the whole earth.  

Concerning the voyage of the Lord Prince into Oueryssell, An. 1580.  They object unto me afterwards a horrible crime, and worthy forsooth, of this more great Proscription, than that which was pronounced by Sylla and Carbo: that is, that I departed not out of Antuerp for two yeres space, and that I went to utrecht. A man may easily see, that they know very well what I do, as though, that with their very great sorrow and grief, I had not in those two yeres space, travailed twice into flanders, where by the aid of the four members or partes of that province, I placed better order in the said country, then they would or wished. But go too, let us grant, that I did not for two yeres space together, go out of Antuerp: was not this a great fault to be always nigh unto you, that I might the better serve you in every thing, which it pleased you to command me? But I went to utrecht: behold( my lords the evil: behold the boil or sore, for this is the voyage, that woundeth them even to the hart. They had before hand so wisely purposed their matters: they had laid so sure a foundation for their affairs and business: they pleased themselves so much therein: they writ thereof to their friends: they held in their hands so many countreyes and governments: they had written so many Letters: and had used so many hirings, secret enticements, and open practices, as they thought all to be sure their own: and yet I coming only to show myself at utrecht, with the good assistance and counsel of my Lords, the Deputies of the provinces: behold that great mist or fog, was vanished away: so many castles as they had reserved for their tyranny, were beaten down: and so many of our own towns assured to us: they having for all, no other thing left unto them, but one only town of importance, wherein was the captain of the enterprise: which town notwithstanding he knew not how to make subject to his commandment, but by an abominable murder, of one, whom he called his father: who the evening before, had set at his table, he as a Iudas dealing with him under a false kiss. And this( my lords) is the cause, that maketh them cry so loud, yea this is the Helena, for which they fight.  
And as concerning that, which they object against me, 
Touching the Priestes, driven out of the country of Freiselande.  that I haue driven out some of the ecclesiastical persons or church men: you( my lords) know, that this is not true. But when their captain, who is in Groeningen, had taken prisoners some of the religion, and had murdered other some, yea the very Bourgmaister, and all this, contrary unto his oath: having also before time, brought in and sworn unto, the new religion( as they call it): and having solemnly, and that with his oath, and his sign, and his seal confirmed, the union of utrecht: al these things considered, who is he that will think it strange, if those on our side, ment what they could, on their own partes to assure themselves, seing that they saw the enemies, without any reverence to their oath taken, to tread under their feet al holy and sacred things, and with such a perpetual reproach to them and their rase, to haue violated & broken, whatsoever iustice and equity, doth as yet remain in the world? And this wee may say at the least, that no man can justly charge us, that in the midst of those troubles, which our enemies themselves haue stirred up, that ever any of our side, proceeded or came to such a heap of injustice, as to wet their hands in the blood, of those that were confederate to them, or of those which stayed themselves vpon their fidelities: which thing their Captaines haue done, yea and that with their own hands.  
Concerning the Nobles, which he saith, 
Concerning certain noble men, that departed out of Freiselande.  haue withdrawn themselves out of the country, who is he, which ever drove out so much as one of thē. But if the terrors of their own consciences haue pursued them, & that they haue been vexed by their own feeling, which( as it were infernal and hellish furies) hath chased them from place to place, who ought to be accused therefore, but only they themselves who secretly, disloyally, and vnfaithfully, haue practised the destruction of their own country? And would to God that they had sooner felt this burden, and that they which remain, and are overtaken with the like madness, migt follow thē even at the heels, so should they deliver us from great travail, and the common wealth from fear, least some one time or other, they should execute their pernicious purposes.  

The roundness and plainness of the lord Prince.  It is a ridiculous & fond thing, that they call me hipocrit, who never in respect of them, haue used any dissimulation. For while I was their friend, I haue freely foretold them, that they twisted the thread of their own destruction, whilst that they attempted and took, these barbarous ways of persecuting. And if their rage and unmeasurable heat, joined with a contempt of us, had not hindered them, from following my counsel: they had not been brought to that state, in which they are at this present. When I was their adversary and enemy, for your liberty, I know not what hypocrisy they haue found in me, unless they will call this hypocrisy, to make open war vpon them, to take towns from them, to drive them out of the country: and without dissembling to do against them, whatsoever the law of war suffered me? But, if it please you( my lords) once again to read my defence, which I published three yeres ago, you shall see there, the Letters of a King, who is a deceiver and an hypocrite, and who thought to catch me then, in the snare of his sweet and deceivable Letters, as he supposeth at this present to astonish me, with his threats and thunders of words. But, thanks be to God, I haue a counterpoison, against both the one and the other venom.  

The Lord Prince accused of diffidence or distrust.  They proceed afterwards, with a great heap of foolish words, to amplify this matter, that I stay and ground myself vpon a certain diffidence and distrust. Though I did so, should I be for all that, like unto cain and Iudas as he accuseth me? No verily. For it is one thing to despair of the promises, and of the grace of God, who cannot lye, and an other thing not to beleeue, the words of a subtle and deceitful man, who keepeth not faith or loyalty, as the poor Moores of Grenado, may speak to much thereof: and also, as the death of the lords, the Counties of Egmont and horns, of blessed memory, do give sufficient proof thereof. But if these good divines, such as the cardinal is( who is one of the foundations of his Church) had thoroughly sounded, for the true and nigh cause of the ruin and fall of Iudas and cain; they should haue found, that it was despair, whither by the grace of God, I haue not been brought, and I hope never shal be. On the other side, if men, would look vpon, the monstrous and thundering speeches which are used, in this not barbarous only, but more then turkish Proscription: shall they not find therein, the very style of desperate persons, such as we hear the Poets use, when they bring in furious and mad men. They then haue the seared conscience of Iudas, the astonished conscience of Cain, and the reproved conscience of Saule. You see notwithstanding( my lords) the great wisdom of these wise heads, diffidence or distrust, say they, is a common thing to al wicked persons. But I speak unto thee( O cardinal) who hast spent so much time in the schools, and I bid thee tell me, whether thou call not this learning, to wit, to be from a mans youth instructed, to lye and deceive? I demand then of thee, what thou wilt answer to the most strong and sententious of al orators, and to the greatest lover of his country, who saith( as I haue understood it from my youth, by all learned men) that the greatest and surest fortress, that a free people can haue, against a tyrant, is diffidence and distrust? And this speech was directed against one called Philip, who had learned but a little tyranny, in respect of thy Lord Philip, who exceedeth all other ancients, and for whom, no oration pronounced against Philip, is sufficiently worthy, no not that, which for the excellency of it, is called divine. I know thou wilt aduise and take counsel concerning this matter, and in the mean while I will speak, I will writ, and I will cause to be engraved in every place, this notable sentence, worthy of eternal remembrance: & would to God, that I might be better believed, than that good Orator was, amongst his people, who suffering themselves to be busied and abused, by people like unto thyself, and other such wretched workers of confusion( which are at thy commandment, and haue set on sale their tongues and pens) were at the last snared, and utterly brought to confusion. But I hope( my lords) better things of your constancy and courage.  

The offers which the enemies say haue been made to the L. Prince, to cause him to depart out of the country.  And as good Orators, do always keep towards the end, some strong and piercing reason: and as good Captaines, leave their best soldiers in the last ranks: so these so skilful and so much exercised men, come at the last to entangle and snare me, with the weight of a great and a grievous reproach. They haue offered me( they say) great commodities, to the end that I might depart to the place where I was born, where every one ought to desire most to live, to the which I meant not to consent. What could they say( my lords) which might make more for me than this? consider I pray you their folly, or their shamelessness. For this must needs be, either that they speak shameleslie, or else that they are so void of good understanding, that they praise me, when they think to blame me. It is a pleasant thing for every one to live in his own country, wherefore then, doth this cursed race of spaniards, go from country to country, to torment and to trouble all the world? But if, in respect of so many bonds, as I am bound unto you by, I prefer your service,( as I ought) before the country wherein I was born: am I therefore to be counted a traitor and a wicked man, and the public plague of the world? And yet notwithstanding you know, that ever since I was an eleven or twelve yeres old, I haue been nourished and brought up amongst you, and not else where, in so much that this country, is become as it were my natural country. If then, they haue made me sundry promises: if they haue offered me( as they say) great commodities, and I haue notwithstanding refused the same: what can they condemn in me, except it be my constancy and fidelity, towards God and the country, which I haue preferred before all the goods in the world? think not( my Lords) that I love to be so continually occupied in travail and labour, or like to hear, so many wicked speeches and slanders, on the behalf of mine enemies: and( which is more) that I would hear them of them, that ought to be my friends and are bound unto me: or that I take delight, to be so long time deprived of my goods: to see my son so long kept in cruel prison: to behold myself charged with such infinite debts, and yet should be able to put an end, to so great difficulties and distresses, and would not: or that I should not be like unto other men of the earth, who all prefer quietness before travail, and prosperity before affliction. But what? If I cannot obtain such blessings, and so blessed a condition without betraying you, without forsaking you, without giuing you over( as much as might be) for a pray, into the teeth of these bloody wolves: let the rest of the world pardon me( for I know that you approve me, and that I need no excuse before you) if I will not, either for goods, or for life, or for wife, or for children, mingle in my drink, one onely drop of the poison of treason. But, so long as it shall please God, to give me any drop of blood, one pennyworth of my goods, any understanding, industry, credite and authority, how small so ever it be: I will employ: I will dedicate: and I will consecrate the same wholly unto your service. Notwithstanding, seing they upbraid me with such things, I will yet tell you( my lords) that they haue not done any such thing, without borrowing somewhat of the truth, and going beyond it also, according to their good custom. For such offers as they speak of, were as yet never made me, not but that I haue been, well and surely advertised, that I could not demand any thing, in respect of mine own particular, but that they would yield the same unto me: that they would promise to set my son at liberty: to leave him all my estates: to assign unto me in Germany, so much goods as I haue here, as well in respect of that which I possess, as of that which is held from me: to discharge me of my debts, which are very great, and to give me in ready coin, a millyon of Money, and good assuraunces for all these things.  
These be( my lords) the goodly offers which haue easily turned them aside, which are departed away from vs. But so far of is it, that such conditions were offered unto me, that on the other side, they never knew, either by the Letters of the emperors Ambassador, or by his secret practices, with some of my servants, and sundry of my nearest kinsfolks, or by the Letters of the Commissioners: how to get this only at my hand, to wit, that I should send particular articles, and that in my own name: but I haue always answered, that if the peace migt be concluded, as you( my lords) demanded it, I should be satisfied: I not minding to haue any other condition, either good or evil, than that which you accepted of: nor yet minding, neither directly nor indirectly, to sunder myself from the common cause, vpon which I did judge, that either my adversity, or my prosperity did depend.  
Is not this a great fault, to upbraid a man with this, that he is a good man? and that he is, as much loyal, constant, and assured, against all the winds of faire promises, as by Gods grace he is, against all the floods of cruel threatenings?  
Hitherto( my lords) you haue heard, the accusations, or rather the injuries, wicked speeches and slanders, which they haue gathered together, against my honour and reputation. It shal belong to you( to whom only I think myself bound, by reason of my goods, of the state wherein they are, and specially of my oaths) to judge thereof as it shall please you: for I do not refuse, if I be found culpable, to receive punishment: but if it fall out as I hope it will, there you judge, that I am accused by tiraunts and slanderers, then I shall esteem my mean, yet notwithstanding my most loyal, and my most faithful service, to haue been very well employed.  

The sentence of the proscription.  NOw then( my lords) vpon these frail and weak foundations, they come to build the sentence of their Proscription, and here they lay out all their tragical eloquence: they thunder: they lighten: they storm and rage: they do as the Corebae or furies do in theaters: they dart out all execrable words, and such as haue been kneded, in Cocyte, Styx, and Acheron, against this poor captain. But this, thankes be to God, doth astonish me as much, as the thunderinges and lightninges of Pope Clement, thrown out of the mount Tarpeius, against my Predecessor, my Lord Prince Philebert, did astonish him: who ceased not for all that, to make him his Prisoner. For, after that I haue looked round about me, I find that they are, but winds of words, and noises, to make children afraid, rather then a man, who thorough Gods goodness hath not lost his courage, for the roringes of al their canons, nor for their four score thousand Souldiers, who were always at the Duke of Alua his commandment: nor yet for so many armies by sea: nor yet for so many treasons of the said Duke, or of his successor against me: nor for the treasons of the duchess of Parme, who was before them: and yet notwithstanding, this was in deed a more fearful thing, than a vain noise of such a great thunder, which so quickly vanished away and hurt no man. And it is sufficient for me, shortly to say before you( my lords) and before all Europe, that every spaniard, or every one that favoureth the spaniards, of what quality or condition soever he bee( I respect not now any mans person) who hath said, or shall say,( as this infamous Proscription hath published it) that I am a Traitor, 
The aunswere of the Lord Prince, to the sentence of Proscription.  and wicked man, that he speaketh falsely, and against the truth. In the mean while, let them forbid me, as long as they will, both fire and water, I, together with my friends, will not leave of for all that, even in despite of their rage, to live as long as it shall please God, to give us grace: which God only hath in his power, my life and my death, and hath numbered all the hears of my head, whose great favour and assistance, I haue felt, even until this present time, and I hope that he will preserve me, even unto the end. As concerning the goods which I possess, which also he giveth away( for hitherto, he hath been so good a husband, that he will give nothing of that, which he hath violently taken from me) I hope,( God aiding me) that it shall cost them so dear to haue them: that they shall get others else where far better cheap. As concerning my other goods, which he keepeth from me, I hope, that God will give me grace, as well to dispossess them thereof wholly, as I haue already done of a good part: and that they haue never violently taken goods, from any poor Prince( albeit that they haue spoiled sundry thereof) which shall lye and weigh more heavy vpon them.  
He promiseth five and twenty thousand Crownes, either in lands, or in ready money, to him that shall yield me up, into his cruel hands, dead or alive, or to him which shall take my life from me. But albeit, there hath heretofore no publication been made of such a matter, until this present time: thinketh he that I am ignorant, how oftentimes he and his, haue bargained with murtherers and poisoners, to take away my life from me? And if God haue shewed me such grace, as to make me able to preserve myself, even then, when I was not advertised of any such danger: I hope, that he will not show me less favour at this time, wherein I am admonished, but rather, that as I haue great occasion to look unto myself: so he will stir up, sundry good and virtuous people, who shall watch for my assurance and safety. But albeit, that I know not in the world, any impudency so shameless, which may be compared, with the impudency of the spaniards: notwithstanding, I cannot sufficiently marvel, that they haue been so shameless, as to dare to publish, before all Europe, not only that they set a price, vpon a frank and free captain, who( thanks be to God for it) did as yet never fear them: but also that they annex thereunto, such recompenses and rewards, yea and those so barbarous, and so estranged from all rule of honesty and humanity, as the like hath not been heard of: that is to say, in the first place, that they will make him noble, if he were not noble before, who shall do so Gentlemanlike, or so noble an act. But I beseech you, suppose, that he, which should execute so wicked an act,( which thing I hope GOD will never suffer) were of a Noble rase and stock: think you, that there is any Gentleman in the world, I mean amongst the Nations, which know what nobility is, who would so much as eat, with so wicked, ungodly, and mischievous a man, who for money should kill another man, yea, though he were the least, and the most abject person that could be found?  
now, if the spaniards account such people for Noblemen: and if this be the way to come to honour, in Castile and spain, I will no more wonder at that, which all the world believeth, to wit, that the greatest parte of the spaniards, and specially those, that count themselves Noble men, are of the blood of the Moores and Iewes, who also keep this virtue of their ancestors, who sold for ready money down told, the life of our saviour, which thing also, maketh me to take patiently this injury laid upon me. In the second place, they pardon him, every offence and fault, how grievous soever it might bee. But what if he had pulled up the Christian Religion, out of one of his kingdoms? what if he had ravished his Daughter? what if he had spoken evil of the inquisition, which is the greatest crime that can be in spain? should he be pardonned? But, seeing mine enemy, ment so far to forget himself, that he would attempt, to take away, my goods, my life, and mine honour: and that he might haue more witnesses, of his injustice and follies, to publish it so thorough out the world, and that in so many languages, I could not very well desire, in respect of most great advantage unto myself, that he should haue enriched and adorned, this his proscription, with any other ornaments, than these very same, to wit, that for killing of me, he should make noble, not onely villains, and infamous persons, but also the most wicked, and the most execrable people of the whole earth: and to give such a great, yea so honourable a reward, to so notable a virtue. For what could be found out more fit, to justify my righteousness and innocency, then to go about, to roote me out by such means? and then this, to carry a mind, by tyranny, impoisoninges, forgiving of grievous crimes, making of wicked men noble, and such like, to oppress the defemder of the liberty of a people, that is cruelly and tyrannously vexed?  
I doubt not( my lords) but that GOD who is just, hath taken from him and his, all understanding: and that he hath suffered him to declare and set out to all the world, matter enough, whereby they may know, his poisonful hart, against this country, and against our liberty, in as much as he maketh no account, of any act, how wicked and detestable soever it may be, in respect of the death of him, who hitherto hath so faithfully served you. And further, he is not ashamed, to mingle with such sacrileges as these are, the name of God, calling himself his Minister or Officer. Hath the Officer then this power, not onely to permit that which God hath forbidden: but also, to reward it, with money, or money worth, with nobility, and the forgiveness of offences? And what offences or crimes I pray you? verily of all crimes how grievous soever they can be. But I doubt not, but that God, thorough his most just iudgement, will cause to come down, the just vengeance of his wrath, vpon the captain and head, of such ministers and officers: and that on the other side, he will of his great goodness maintain, mine innocency and mine honor, so long as I live, and amongst my posterity after me. And as concerning my goods and my life, it is long time since, that I dedicated them to his service, and I know that he will do therewith, whatsoever he shall see to be good, for his own glory, and for my salvation.  
And because( my Lords) he proceedeth also, to bring the drops of this infamous Proscription vpon your heads, so far of is it, that you shall be moved therewith, that ye should rather think, that herein the spaniard and his adherents, follow the natural disposition of women, who, after that they haue wept, scratched and bitten, do for their last remedy and refuge, come to injuries and reuilinges: and even so doth your enemy, now yield out his last barkinges: and if we give them proof, of our constancy, resolution, and courage, behold they are, at the last of their miserable and wretched enterprises. For, Sylla, Carbo, Marius, Antonius, and such other tyraunts, the first fathers of these abominable Proscriptions, never gave example to the spaniards, to commit such folly and beastliness, albeit that they haue traced out before them, that example of cruelty and barbarousness, which these miserable wretches haue accomplished and performed: But they proscribed such only as were fugitives, driven away, hidden in secret, and that within the countreys, over which they had power and authority. And these men are like unto them in this, that is to say, in cruelty, because they proscribe, good, virtuous, and honourable personages: but yet in this point, they show themselves sottish and foolish, that they proscribe him, whom they should fight against, with an armed power. For, to send a poisoner, as the duchess of Parme sent one: or to sand a murderer, as hir son, the general heir of the virtues of his ancestors, did: this is not the effect of a Proscription, but of bribery, and the every rather.  
behold( my lords) not what I am able to say, against this tyrannous Proscription, but what I haue thought meet for this time: speaking unto you, which haue the knowledge, of sundry things, that I omit, because they are known unto you, and because also, that if I would attempt, to speak of the particular enterprises, of the King, and of his chief Officers, I should assay to do that, which no Orator is sufficiently able, worthily to describe: yea that, which no good man, was ever able to conceive: so great is their cruelty, tyranny, and all maner of unjust dealing. Notwithstanding I hope, that as well by the matter contained in this Proscription( which is a sufficient testimony, of their over base and abject courage) as by my answer you shall sufficiently know, what are their pernicious purposes, and miserable attempts: and by this knowledge, you shall also learn, what it is necessary, for you, to cast your eye vpon, and diligently to understand: that is, that they despair, that ever they shall be able to vanquish you by force, and therefore they assay to sow division amongst us, magnifying chiefly those, who haue not only forsaken us, against their oath: but even haue left us in perilous times, and namely, whilst that one of our towns was besieged: whereof they are not able, to make any just complaint, nor allege their accustomend pretext and cloak, yea( which also is the heap, of all disloyalty and unfaithfulness) at the very same time they come to assault us, in other places and quarters. As for the threats annexed in this Proscription, tend to no other end, but to astonish you, to the end you might separate yourselves from me: and plainly to declare, that they make war against me, and not against you, even as the wolf would persuade the sheep, that he had not war with any but with the dogges, which being once discomfited, he would easily agree with the flock of sheep: for the dogges were always the authors, of their debate and combatting. But( my lords) though I were absent: though I were departed into germany, would they burn no more? would they spill no more blood? would they drown no more? Was the liberty of the country maintained, by that gentle and mild man, the Duke of Alua? Did they not then wickedly put to death in spain, your own Ambassadors my Lords of Bergues, and of Montigni? Did they not at the same time, set before your eyes, upon spears and lances, the heads of your principal Captaines and governors? The other point, which they most set before them, is the extirpation of Religion. I mind not here( my Lords) to enter into this question, which is the true Religion, wherein God is truly served and called vpon, and that according to his word: but leave it rather to bee declared by others, more exercised in that matter than I: and yet so, that every one may know by my profession, what I beleeue concerning the same. But this I cannot choose but tell you, that such is the estate of your country, that without the exercise and free use of the said Religion, it cannot stand three dayes. You see the number of them that profess it, maruailouslie increased: you see that hatred against the Pope, is inrooted deeply, in the hartes of all the inhabitants of the country, because that his damnable practices, against this whole estate, are manifestly discovered.  
Who is he then, that can boast that he loveth the country, and would give counsel to drive away such a great number of people, which once departing, shall leave the country, waste, poor, and miserable, and shall people and enrich the strange nations about us? But suppose, that they will not depart, or void the country, who is he that can enforce them so to do? let us look upon our neighbours: let us consider our own examples, and if wee bee not utterly void of wit and understanding, wee will never choose such pernicious and hurtful counsels, as shall utterly, even from top to to, bring to ruin and destruction, this estate. I will yet say somewhat more unto you( my lords) that albeit that amongst them, which follow the roman church, there are sundry good people, and louers of their country: and that amongst them, there are some also, which haue most honourably acquitted and behaved themselves: yet notwithstanding those of the Religion, are very well assured of this, that there shall never be found any amongst them, who hath had intelligence, or made any practise with the enemy, but all of them generally, haue been contrary unto him. And albeit that some haue been found amongst them, who being like unto wanton and proud children, haue brought thorough their vnheedinesse, some trouble into the house: yet for all that, they haue not had any dealing, with the common enemy. Seeing then( my lords) that you know their purposes and attempts, there resteth no other thing but this, that you do in time provide for them, and labour what ye can, to redress the same. And how shall this be performed? forsooth by this means, that ye perform in effect, that which ye haue always in your mouth: and that which the mark of your sheaf of arrows signifieth, which it hath pleased you to haue graven in your seal: that is to say, that no member of this goodly body, respect that which is his own, but regard the whole body altogether: that some one parte of the body, take not unto itself that meate, which is prepared for the whole, but that it suffer the stomach( which is the counsel, that ye shall ordain and appoint) to concoct and digest the same, and to send it by the veins, to all the members of this estate, and specially, that wheresoever any disease or sickness shall appear, the physicians should speedily be sent thither, and that the patients should quietly bear for a time, the miseries upon them, that so they may feel at the length, a joyful deliverance, from their disease and evil. Shall not this be a just reproach upon us and oures, for ever, if that, having so glorious an estate under our power, and so goodly means for our defence, we do, thorough a miserable covetousness and greedy desire, to get unto ourselves some commodities, and that with the prejudice and hurt of our country men and friends, whilst some draw one way, and other some an other: if wee do I say, find ourselves and that in a moment, snared and overwhelmed by our deadly enemies? Remember( my lords) I pray you, the very great diminishing and weakening of this estate, which came to pass after the death of Duke Charles, which fell vpon us for no other thing, but because that while the provinces, busied themselves, to contend and to fight one of them against another, for certain pretended privileges, and for certain commodities, the rest was abandoned and forsaken. think not that it is in my power( the affairs and matters being in such condition as they are) any long time to resist the enemy, with such small and slender means, as you( my lords) know, that I haue had in my hand and possession. But on the other side, if I haue any experience, or practise, of government and war: if I know this country, and the means that the enemy hath, though that all the armies and powers, which they threaten shall come the next year, out of spain and italy, should come vpon us and our powers, they shal do no more, but much less rather, then the Duke of Alua did in Holland and zealand. And if it be in your power to take order for this( as it is indeed) and yet notwithstanding ye do it not: by what name shall a man call this fault, if it be committed by you( my lords) who are here assembled, and vpon whom, all the good people of this country stay themselves, esteeming you as their fathers, and their Protectors, who will also willingly embrace, as some joyful news sent from heaven, any good order which you shall decree and establish? Wherefore take pity of yourselves, and if that which concerneth yourselves move you not, yet take pity I pray you of so many poor people already destroyed, and more like to be: of so many poor widows and fatherless children: of so many murders and slaughters, committed within the bowels of your own country: of so many Churches destroyed: and of so many Pastors wandering up and down together with their poor flocks. Set before you, that cruel and barbarous execution, committed at Niuelle, by the county of Mansfeld. Which things you may easily avoid, and cast all the evil and mischief of this war, upon the enemy, if only you remove partialities and partakinges, and with one courage and hart as it were, employ together all the means that you haue, without sparing, I say, not the bottom of your purses, but that which aboundeth therein. And as concerning that which particularly toucheth myself, you see( my lords) that it is this head, that they seek for, the which by such a price, and so great a sum of money, they haue vowed and appointed to death, and say, that so long as I shall be amongst you, the warres shall haue no end. Would to God( my lords) either that my perpetual banishment, or else my very death itself, might bring unto you, a sound and true deliverance, from so many mischiefs and calamities, as the spaniards( whom I haue seen, so many times deliberate in counsel, devise and speak of particularly, and whom I know within and without) do devise against you, and prepare for you. O how sweet should this banishment be unto me? O how delitefull should this death be unto me? for wherefore is it, that I haue given over, yea lost all my goods? is it to enrich myself? Wherefore haue I lost mine own bretheren, whom I loved more then mine own life? Is it that I might find some other else where? Wherefore haue I so long time left my son a prisoner, my son I say, whom I ought so much to desire, If I be a father? is it because you are able to give me an other? or because you are able to restore him to me again? Wherefore haue I put my life so oftentimes in danger? what other recompense, what other reward, can I look for, of my long travails, which haue come vpon me for your service sake, even so far, that they haue brought upon me old age, and the ruin and loss of all my goods, except it be to purchase and to procure you liberty, and that if need be, with the price of my blood. If you therefore( my Lords) do judge, either that my absence, or that my very death itself, may serve you, or stand you in any steede, behold I am ready to obey, command me, yea sand me even to the worlds end, and I will obey you. behold, my head over which no Prince nor monarch, hath any power, save you only, dispose thereof as shall make most for your own good, and for the health and preservation of your common wealth. But if you judge, that this mean experience and small diligence that is in me, and which I haue attained, by so long and so continual travell: If you judge that the remainder of my goods, and that my life itself, may as yet serve you( as in deed I do wholly dedicate and consecrate the same unto the country) resolve then vpon the points, which I propound unto you and set before you. And if you think that I bear any love to the country, and that I haue any sufficiency in me, to give counsel, beleeue that this is the only mean, to assure, yea to deliver ourselves from the enemy. This being done, let us with one hart and good will go together, and let us together imbrase the defence of this good people, which demandeth nothing else, but to haue good counsels laid open before them, nor desireth any thing else, but to follow the same: And this doing, if you yet continue towards me the favour, which heretofore you haue born me, I hope by your aid, & Gods grace( which I haue so often heretofore felt, and that in very perplexed and doubtful matters) that that which shall be resolved vpon, by you, shall be, for the good, and preservation, of yourselves, your wives and children, and all sacred and holy things.   

¶ The copy of a Letter written by the King with his own hand, to the Prince of Orange, translated out of Spanish into french.  
I HAVE WITH GREAT AFFEction received your Letter of the xxvij. of may, and since, that other which you writ unto me, the xiiij. of june: and by that which I haue written to my sister, you haue been able to understand, the small occasion that you haue to think that whieh you writ unto me, in that Letter of the xxvij. of may, but rather the contrary. Also it is certain, that you should much deceive yourself to think, that I would not haue all confidence and good opinion of you: and albeit some certain one, should mean, to perform a contrary duty towards me, yet this should remain, that I would not be so light, as to give credite thereto, having so great experience of your loyalty and services. Wherefore you need not trouble yourself therwith, but stay yourself vpon the Letters, which heretofore I haue written unto you in this behalf, and vpon your own deeds, but at no hand rest vpon that which some, enemies( it may be of my service, and of your good estate) would endeavour to cause you to understand. Touching the liberty you demand, to leave of your charges and offices, it grieveth me, that your particular affairs and businesses, are in such terms and state as you say: and I cannot but tell you, that the affairs of those countries, standing in such sort and maner as they do, it is not reason that such persons, as yours is( to whom I trust, and vpon whom I stay myself) should abandon and forsake the same, specially I myself being so far off from the said countries, yea rather it were reason, that those, that are in their own houses, should speedily provide for, and help this present necessity, and employ themselves vpon that, whereunto they are bound, as ye haue presently done, in going to Antuerpe, whereby I haue received great contentment and joy, and am very well assured, that ye will there do, whatsoever shall bee most convenient for my service, and for the quietness and peace, of the said town and country, and for the avoiding of the disorders, that shall arise there: which thing also I hope of you, and I know that ye will not declare yourself to be any other, than such a one as ye haue heretofore declared yourself to be, all your life long: And to the end ye may perceive, that I do deal freely with you, I will not cease to advertise you, that there hath been in these quarters a great rumour, concerning this, to wit, that your brother hath been found to be a dealer, in those things that are done there. And because I cannot cease, much and often to think of this matter, I charge you straightly diligently to consider, how it may be remedied and redressed, that it proceed no further, and look that you do effectually perform it: and if it seem good unto you to remove for a few dayes, your brother far from you, do so. From the foreste of Segouia the first of August.  
Subsigned PHILIP,  
And written vpon the backside To the Prince of Orange. And sealed with the kings seal.   

❧ A PROCLAMATION AND AN EDICT IN form OF A PROSCRIPTION, made by the majesty of the King our lord, against William of Nassau, Prince of Orange, as the chief captain and disturber of the state of christendom, and specially of these low Countreyes, by which every one is authorized, to hurt him and to kill him, as a public plague, with a reward to him that shall do it, and shall bee assisting and aiding thereunto.  
PHilip by the grace of God King of Castile, of Leon, of Arragon, of Nauarr, of Naples, of Cicilia, of Maleorcha, of Sardinia, of the Isles, of the Indes and the firm land, of the Ocean Sea, archduke of Austrich, Duke of burgundy, of Lothier, of Brabant, of Lembourg, of Luxembourg, of Gelderland and of Millan, county of Habsbourg, of flanders, of Arthois, of burgundy, Palatine both of Haynault, of Holland, of zealand, of Namure, and of Zutphen, Prince of Swaue, Marques of the holy Empire, lord of friesland, of Salines, of Malines, of the city, towns and country of utrecht, of Oueryssel, and Groninge, and governor in Asia and afric. To all those that shall see these present writings, greeting.  
It is known to all the world, how the late Emperour of most excellent memory, Charles the fift, my Lord and father, whom God absolve, hath favourably handled and dealt with William of Nassau, for the succession of the late Rene of chalon, Prince of Orange his cousine: and howe from that time forward, even from his first age, he hath( although he were a stranger) greatly advanced him, which thing wee ourselves also, haue always successively continued, and daily augmented more and more, having made him first of our order, afterward our Leiuetenaunt general in the government of Holland, zealand, utrecht and of Burgundy, and withall, of our counsel of estate, bestowing upon him sundry benefits and honours, whereby both by reason of the oath of fidelity and homages, which he hath likewise made unto us, because also of the fees, pensions, lands and Lordships, held of us in diuers our countries and provinces, he was greatly subjecteth and bound to obey us, to keep and hold his faith given, and to procure the good and profit of our affairs, and consequently to maintain, all quietness and peace in our estates and countreyes. Notwithstanding every one knoweth, that we were not so soon departed, out of those our low Countreyes, but that the said William of Nassau, made Prince of Orange by the means above mentioned, did by his sinister practices, devises and crafts assay, first, to get the good wills of those whom he knew to be discontent, greatly indebted, haters of iustice, studious of novelties, and specially such as were suspected to be of the religion, bancketting them, provoking them, and drawing them after him, by faire words, promises, and vain persuasions, even so far, that he was the principal author, promoter and framer, of the first request, presented by certain companies of young Gentlemen, who did daily frequent his house and table: yea that the very plot thereof, was laid in his said house, by and with the assistance of county Ludouick of Nassau his brother a great heretic. And albeit, that he was the director of al these devises, yet in that time, he daily haunted the counsel of estate, being present at al consultations and resolutions, taken and made therein, in so much that every man may easily mark, the faithful trust that was in him, and the observation of his oaths. And afterward passing from the said request, & proceeding further, he & his adherents, brought in hererical preachings, & public assemblies in sundry places of our said countries, whiles that the duchess of Parma, our most dere & best beloved sister( thē Regentes and general governs of our said low countries) had sent unto us, that we might give order concerning the said request. And also, by the aduise, knowledge, & partaking of the said P. of Orange the heretics( being guided by those presenters of the aforesaid request, who were favoured by him) began tumultuously to break Images, Alters, and Churches, to profane al holy and sacred things, yea the sacraments instituted by god. nevertheless, by the grace of god, & foresight of the said Lady, the matters were so well governed and remedied, that he was enforced to depart out of our countries, & to leave his said governments, yet notwithout being full of wrath & threatenings that he would be revenged therfore, which thing he thought the year following to perform by arms, but in vain, for he was so speedily pursued, by our army continually following him at his heels, that he was driven out, of al our said countries, without being able to remain in any part therof. But as soon after, there did in sundry places appear some discontentment of our said subiects, against the government of the D. of Alua( who succeeded the said Lady in the government aforesaid) and amongst others, in the provinces of Holland & zealand, so he practised that he might return thither again. To which notwithstanding he was not received, but that first he did holily swear, to the estates of the said countries, and the towns therein, that he would maintain the said countries and towns for us, and in our obedience, & that he would not change any thing whatsoever, of the ancient, catholic, and romish religion, but as a governor only, would assist and defend them, against the said D. of Alua, if he would enforce, & by violence draw them to that, which he pretended, that is to say, to the payment of the x. & xx. penny, of that imposition, which he would charge them withal, a thing indeed which we never commanded him, neither ever understood to haue been done, but with the good leave & liking of our said subiects, & yet that also in the steede of other aids & impositions, whereof we meant to vnburthen thē. Notwithstanding, so soon as the said Nassau, was entered and received into the said government, he began by his officers & complices, to bring in heretical preachings in every place where he could, persecuting all the good pastors, preachers, religious persons, and honest people, whereof he drove away a great number, and amongst them he caused many of them to bee murdered, or else winked at the murder, that was made of them, by some of his adherents, until such time as the said Estates, being greatly offended with this cruelty, would haue a reason and an account yielded thereof▪ but thē he feigned that the thing did much displease and dislike him, and yet notwithstanding afterwards, he returned to his first purpose & mark, ill entreating those, which he knew to be catholics, and contrary to his attempts, aiding himself with the council of heretical Ministers, as well strangers, as of the said country, changing likewise the Magistrates, which he knew favoured not his enterprises and purposes, and afterwards proceeded to bring in liberty of conscience, or( to speak truly) confusion of religion. whereupon immediately after it fell out, that the catholics were openly persecuted, cast down, and driven away: the Churches and Monasteries both of men and women broken down, ruinated, and made even with the earth: the religious persons both men and women evil handled, banished and rooted out, unless they would play the Apostatates, & become married, for in the other he had no confidence at all( as also he himself, being before a married man, his second wife yet living, did take a religious woman and an Abbais, solemnly blessed by the Bishops hand, whom he as yet keepeth with him, the most shamefast and infamous thing that can be, not only according to christian religion, but also by the laws of the romans, and against all honesty) and at the last, hath proceeded so far, that he hath not left any more place for the catholic religion, suffering all the errors and impieties, of all other sects and heresies, that he might thereby, overthrow and roote up( if he would) our catholic and holy religion, which hath been always observed by the whole estate of Christians.  
Furthermore, he hath caused our poor subiectes of holland and Zelande, to be so stiff, and brought them to stand vpon such terms, that almost all the towns thereof, one after an other, haue been besieged and taken, some by assault, and other some by composition and yielding, in so much that more thē once, he hath been almost utterly driven out by our armies, until such time that, the great commander of Castile, being dead, whom we also made successor in that government after the said Duke of Alua, whom wee called back from thence, that wee might make our subiectes more contented thereby, things came into some disorder, and disobedience of soldiers, who took the town of Ziriczee, which disorder began to give some favour to the said Nassau: and immediately after, the estates general of our said countries, in those quarters,( desiring once to get out of these miseries of war, persuaded by the said Orange, saying and feigning that, he desired nothing, but the good peace and tranquilitie of the countreyes, and to set them free from strange soldiers, and to hold the country under our obedience, and withall to preserve therein, the ancient catholic religion, such as it had always been exercised and practised amongst them, and to keep the privileges and liberty of the said country) did make with him the treaty of Gaundt, established expressly upon these two grounds, that is, to maintain the said religion, and obedience to vs.  
While these things were in handling, wee sent our good brother, the late Lord Don John of Austria, of blessed memory, with commandment and intention to pacify, reconcile, and accord, all the troubles of our said countries, by the most gentle mean, and fauourablest way that could be, which thing also he did, yielding unto our subiectes every thing, which any maner of way, might be granted unto them, ratifying and confirming also, the said treaty of Gaunt, which he caused to be published in every place, according to the accustomend maner, which the foresaid Orange did gainsay, by all the forces and power he had, but not being able to hinder it, he would never afterwards cause the same to be published, in the places of his governments( freting as is said because he was not able to let it) notwithstanding that we ourselves had afterwards approved, confessed, and confirmed both the one and the other agreement and treaty, and notwithstanding that our said good brother( together with the deputies of the rest of the estates, had sent diuers great and good personages, to the said Orange, to persuade him to that, to the end effectually to accomplish on his part, that whereunto he was held and bound, by the articles and points, of the said treaty of Gaunt. And because, that he pleaded and alleged continually that he ought to recover his whole government, and withall, that the towns which would not aclowledge him for governor, or else those, which afterwards we had taken by force of arms, and brought by some other means into our obedience, should be put under his said government, he was even in that also satisfied, by the goodness and gentleness of our said estates, who had not yet thē sufficiently known his deceits and perjuries yet so notwithstanding, that he should swear that he would change nothing at al, of the form of the said ancient, catholic and roman religion, and that for this purpose, he should give such assurances & satisfactions, as the magistrates, Burgesses and inhabitants of every town, might justly demand. whereupon they, having reasoned a long while, touching the assurances, which every town did demand, to the end that that which the said Orange promised them, might be observed and kept, they were subjecteth under his government, after that he had sworn to perform the points aforesaid, and other articles contained in the instruments and writings of the said satisfactions and assuraunces. But, so far of was it, that he hath kept and observed his foresaid promises & oaths, that, on the contrary side, he immediately brought into the said countries and towns, his ministers and calvinists preachers, he hath caused the heretics, that were banished, to return, he hath there practised liberty of conscience, and hath caused to be committed, some offences in some churches joining himself, first to the poorer sort, and afterwards to the magistrates, and hath by little and little, persecuted the good pastors, and caused them to fly away: finally, he hath expelled and banished the whole catholic religion, and forbidden the exercise and use thereof. In doing of which, he used his ordinary hipocrisies, and accustomend counterfeiting, saying that those things displeased him, and that he was not able to remedy the same. And yet notwithstanding he did, both by himself, and by his Officers secretly, and as it were under hand provoke, all the seditious and heretical persons, to use & practise the mischief he had conceived: and for this cause he did( by the aid and assistance of those of his side) place by little and little, garrisons within the towns, against his covenants and promises sworn, and in the mean while ceased not, to accuse our said Brother Don John, that he privily practised many mischiefs against the Estates, which thing notwithstanding, our said Brother hath always assured us not to be true. But rather that seing the obstinacy and malices of the said Orange, he might be able to impart the same matter with others, and to devise how, they might bring him to reason, and hinder him, from again troubling the whole public quietness, of the said countries, as afterwards he did indeed.  
All this notwithstanding, the foresaid Orange left not of, until that by his practices and subtle sleights( which are very proper to him) he had set such great diffidence & distrust, between our said brother, & the estates of our said countreys, that there appeared nothing, but a most great, evident, and apparent murder. In so much that, for the avoiding of that disorder, or at the least to escape the imprisonment of his own person, the said Don John, placed himself safely, in our town & Castle of Namure. whereunto he was so much the more moved, by how much he was not any whit at all armed, and on the other side, because it was manifest & certain, that the said Orange, by al his posting messengers and officers, did not cease to provoke the factious persons, to practise the like thing, upon his own person, as he had the same year caused to bee practised, vpon those of our council of estate, appointed to the general government, of our said countries: as also, because that then the said Orange, thinking that he had gotten all, did begin to shoot out all his arrows, and to discover his sleights and weapons, that he might draw our people into open war, against our said brother and lieutenant general. Notwithstanding, by occasion of some good men, being nigh about his person, and of other virtuous people, on the estates side, the matters came so far, that all was well agreed, and that for the avoiding of all occasion and distrust, it was both on the one side, and on the other concluded, that he should withdraw himself from his government, and go into Italy, which thing also we ourselves wished and willed: And there were with him, the Deputies of the Estates, mutually to accept and to sign, the offers made on both sides, one of them to an other. But in ill time, this enemy, the common disturber of public quietness( who knowing that from the place of Holland where he was, he could not with all his devices any more hinder this peace and reconciliation) made hast to come at that very time to Bruxelles, and feigning that he would haue peace, he procured war, setting down new conditions, not yet talked nor conferred of, nor opened, in so much that he obtained his purpose, breaking the whole agreement, as every one very well knoweth. afterwards, the matter being come to a breaking out, of open and most cruel war, he by force and tumult of the people, caused himself, against the good will of the Estates, to be declared, Rewart, that is, the protector or defendor of our country of Brabant, and afterwards the second lieutenant of all our low countries, and also in fine he caused himself by the tumults of Gaunt and of some other places, to be chosen governor of flanders: having also caused to come thither, his brother, and brother in law, being strangers, to take vpon them, some other gouernmentes, of our provinces, and yet notwithstanding, he and his partakers, burden our people, withall sorts of impositions, exactions, demands, levies and taxes, so hard, barbarous and tyrannous, that the like hath never been heard of, which he hath executed, by a strong hand and force of arms, without the consent of our people, and without yielding any account thereof: and if any man speak of these things, he layeth hand vpon them, or causeth them to be spoyled, evil entreated, imprisoned, or slain.  
On the other side it is manifest, what wee haue continually done, to pacify and quiet( so soon as we understood thereof) the evil that fell out, as hath been said, between our said lieutenant general and the estates. But all the good that we haue done, or our said brother, hath been suppressed and hide, in stead whereof the said Orange and his partakers, haue devised a thousand slanders, the more to abuse our said subiects. even as in the obtaining of the victory of Gembloux, when we sent the Baron of Seelles, with most reasonable conditions, that he might receive into favour our said Subiectes, and accord the whole matter, nothing for all that followed thereupon, by means of the hindrance and let, which he knew to cast in the way, albeit, that all this while, our said subiects, writing both to us, and to our good brother and nephew the Emperour, and other Potentates, to justify the controversies, which they had against our said lieutenant general, did openly protest, that they ment not to change any thing, in the ancient, catholic, and roman religion, such as it had always been observed, in our said countries, and with all, that under the practise thereof, they would yield us that obedience which by Gods law and mans law, was due unto us, which were the only two points which we always demanded, and demanded then of them, and whereof also we were agreed. Notwithstanding the said Orange, fearing the reconciliation of our subiects with us, came so far, that he laid again new devises, not only for to hinder that matter, but also to make( if he could) for ever, the thing past hope of recovery, and altogether remediless, by going about to corrupt all with heresy, whereunto he attained in diuers places, both by subtleties, crafts, mischiefs, and perjuries, well known to him and all heretics, and also by mere force, using the famed that he had practised before, to wast and destroy the provinces of Holland and zealand, casting all into the fire of popular tumult, and of the sacking of churches, profanations of sacramentes, murder, or imprisonment of Bishops, Pastors, Iesuites, religious men, religious women, and of sundry secular parsons, of quality and honour, breaking against all order of lawe the privileges, usages, and ancient observations, depriving the presidents, Councellors, gouernours of places, bailiffs, Prouostes, Sheriues, and other catholic officers, well affencted to us, and the good and quiet of the country, placing in their steede, and that extraordinarily and by his own authority, and oftentimes by the tumult of the people provoked by him( amongst whom he reigneth and triumpheth) all sectaries, seditious men and turbulent persons, living of pray and spoil, and others like unto himself, in so much that he hath brought all to the most tyrannous, barbarous and bloody confusion, that ever yet was heard of. Wherewith certain catholic provinces being displeased, even to see the consciences of the good so oppressed, and violently enforced, and the churches, cloisters, abbeys, Castles, and houses of Noble men and great personages, laid flat with the earth, and their goods given for a pray to all wicked men, at the discretion and pleasure of this stranger, and the whole estate of the country subverted by him, yea so far that he meant to constrain whole provinces, and that against their oath and good will, they did willingly reconcile themselves to us, which thing he endeavoured on all sides, to gainsaye and hinder, but they were more strong and constant then he, yea, which is worse, albeit that the said lord Emperour at the earnest request of the said Estates( who besought him to bee an intercessor, and to make a mean for a pacification between us and them) was content to take the whole matter into his own hands, and to determine it, if he could: whereunto for the desire that we haue, to see our people delivered from these calamities, we did willingly condiscende and agree. And indeed, his imperial majesty, sent to this purpose, his Commissioners to Colen, as well Princes Electors, as others very principal persons of the holy Empire, to understand the points in controversy and dispute between us, yet that hath no whit at all turned him aside, nor with-held him, from his wicked & perverse purposes. And indeed, the said Commissioners, having heard the whole matter, & debated a good while together vpon the demands of the said estates and our offers made thereto, resolved & concluded, the points & articles which they caused to be published and imprinted, that they might be accepted both of the one side and the other. nevertheless, the whole matter was without any effect or fruit, notwithstanding that the articles themselves were so gracious, favourable, just, & reasonable, that there is no man of good iudgement, but he confesseth, that they are more then sufficient, and that we haue offered more, then by any reason our subiects ought to demand at our hands.  
whilst this conference and communication endured and lasted, the said Orange, to the end that he might countermine & work against the Emperour and us, and so by that means, make all the matter desperate and past hope, caused to bee made in utrecht, a certain assembly of the deputies of sundry towns and countries, which he keepeth under his own power, there to practise a new league, or a manifest and notorious conspiracy, against the said religion and us, with execrable and detestable both words and oaths, not abstaining to injury the commissioners of the said lord emperor. For which purpose he was assisted, by his said brother, and brother in law, and other helpers, which thing also he hath wrested and wrong from sundry quarters, by great provocation, practices, slanders, and importunate promises, yea, almost by force. And notwithstanding all the duties performed by the said commissioners, to cause the provinces to understand their said good and holy resolution, so profitable for our subiectes, he by his adherents, and certain supposed persons, which he useth for instruments, hath brought to pass that the said articles, were a long while suppressed and kept close, and when they could not any longer be hidden, he hath not only hindered, that they should not be accepted, but hath procured, that certain pernicious books, stuffed with all lies and sklaunders should be written against them. And moreover at the last, the deputies that he hath in Antwerp, nigh about him, being of the same profession, haue demanded articles more grievous, impertinent, hurtful, offensive, and full of impiety against God and us, their sovereign Lord and natural Prince, yea such articles, as a man cannot speak to much against them. Besides, when he perceived, that as yet he could not by all his cunning, persuasions and labours wholly obtain the same, he determined with himself at the length to depart out of Antwerp( from whence he had not stirred by more then two yeares space) & went into our said town of utrecht, to the end he might accomplish the execution of the said damnable league, and make for ever all the matters vnremediable. And generally, he hath so behaved himself in all manner of tyranny, that he hath driven from thence and rooted out al the people of the church, yea he hath so handled the lords, and the whole principal nobility of our countries, that they haue been enforced to withdraw themselves and to forsake their countries, to the end that he may reign and rule there, most absolutely, amongst the furies and tumults of the people the good being chased away. And because that all this confusion and curse, that our countries suffer, is confessed to proceed from the counsel, exhortation, provocation, and doing of this wicked hypocrite, by means of his unquiet spirit, which also placeth the whole felicity thereof, in the trouble of our subiectes: and withall seeing that it is manifest, that so long as he is in our countries, there cannot be peace, rest, nor any quietness, establishing all vpon a perpetual distrust which he hath ever in his mouth( a very ordinary and common thing to wicked men, who haue their consciences vexed and troubled, as had cain, Iudas and such like) moreover, seing that notwithstanding the entreaties and offers, that hath been made him, even by the Emperors Commissioners, offering him most great profits, to the end that he would return to his native country( where every one naturally ought to desire to live most) he would not accept thereof, and being a stranger, delighteth rather to destroy our countries, then to yield to that, which is reasonable and good, for the benefit of our natural subiectes the inhabitants thereof.  
For these causes which are so just, reasonable and lawful, using in this behalf the authority that we haue over him, as well by virtue of the oaths of fidelity and obedience, which he hath sundry times taken unto us, as also being the absolute and sovereign Prince of the said low countries, for al his perverse and wicked deeds, and because he alone hath been the head, author and promoter of these troubles, and the principal disturber of our whole estate: to be short, because he hath been the public plague of christendom, we publish him for a traitor, and a wicked man, the enemy of us and of our countries, and as such a one haue proscribed him, and do perpetually and for ever proscribe him, out of the said countries, al other our Estates, kingdoms and Seignuries, interdicting and forbidding all our subiectes, of what estate, condition or quality soever they be, not to haunt, live, bee conversant, speak, or communicate with him, openly or secretly, nor to receive him or lodge him in their houses, nor to minister unto him meate, drink, fire, nor any other necessaries, in any sort whatsoever, vpon pain to incur our indignation and displeasure, as hereafter shall be said. And so we permit all, whether they be our subiectes or others, for the execution of our said declaration and edict, to stay him, let him, and safely to keep his person, and to hurt him both in his goods, and also in his person and life, giuing the said William of Nassau over unto all men, as the enemy of mankind, granting unto ouery one, al his goods movable and vnmoueable, that can take, occupy, or conquer the same, wheresoever they be, except those goods, which are at this present, in our power and possession. And to the end in deed, that this matter may be the more effectually and readily performed, & so by that means our said people the sooner delivered, from this tyranny and oppression, we willing to reward virtue, and to punish 'vice, do promise in the word of a king, and as the minister of God, that if there be any found, either among our own subiectes, or amongst strangers, so noble of courage, and desirous of our service, and the public good, that knoweth any mean howe to execute our said Decree, and to set us and himself free, from the aforesaid plague, delivering him unto us quick or dead, or at the least taking his life from him, we will cause, to be given and provided, for him and his heires, in good land or ready money, choose him whether, immediately after the thing shalbe accomplished, the sum of xxv. thousand crownes of gold, and if he haue committed any offence or fault, how great and grievous soever it bee, wee promise to pardon him the same, and from henceforth do pardon it, yea and if he were not before noble, we do make him noble, for his courage and valiant act: and if the principal doer, take with him for his aid, in the accomplishment of this enterprise, or execution of this his fact, other persons beside himself, we will bestow vpon them benefits and a reward, and will give to every one of them, according to their degree, and according to that service which they shall yield unto us in this behalf: pardoning thē also whatsoever they haue ill done, and making them likewise noble. And because, that the receivers, favourers and adherents of such tyrants, are they which cause them to continue, and do nourish & uphold them, in their naughtiness, without the which, the wicked could not rule any long time, we declare all them likewise for rebels against us, and enemies of the common quiet, and as such, do deprive them of al their goods, nobility, honours, & favours, present or to come, who, within a month, after the publication of this present edict, shall not withdraw themselves from taking parte with him, but shall continue to show him favour, and to give him aid, or otherwise shal haunt, frequent, follow, assist, counsel or favour him, directly or indirectly, or from this time forward, shall deliver him any money, giuing, all the goods and bodies of such men, wheresoever they may be found, either in our kingdoms or countries, or out of them, to those that shall occupy the same, whether they be marchaundizes, money, debts, actions, lands, Lordships, and other things whatsoever, except that the said goods, be already seized in our power, as hath been beforesaid. And that they may the more speedily come to haue sentence, against their said person or goods, it shall be proof sufficient enough to declare, that they haue seen them, after the time expressed in this proscription, communicate, speak, treat, haunt openly or secretly with the said Orange, or haue shewed him particular favor, assistance or aid, directly or indirectlie howsoever, pardoning notwithstanding all men, whatsoever, even unto the said time they shall haue done to the contrary, if returning back, and submitting themselves again, under the due and lawful obedience which they owe unto us, they haue accepted or shall accept the said treaty of Arras, concluded at Monts, or the articles of the deputies of the Emperor determined at Colen.  
Thus wee give in charge and command, our most dear and faithful, the heads, presidents and persons of our privy and great councils, the chancellor and persons of our counsel in Brabant, the governor, President and persons of our counsel at Luxembourg, the governor, chancellor, and persons of our counsel in Gelderlande, the governor of Lembourg, Faulquemont, Daelhem, and of others our countries of Oultremeuze, the governor, presidents, and persons of our counsels in flanders and Artois, the great Bailie of Haynault, and persons of our counsel at Monts, the governor, President, and persons of our counsel in Holland, the governor, President and persons, of our counsel at Namure, the governor, presidents and persons of our counsel in Frieseland, the governor, chancellor and persons, of our counsel in Oueryssell, the lieutenant of Groningen, the governor, President, and persons of our counsel at utrecht, the governor of Lile, dovay, and Orchies, the provost and county of Vallanchiennes, the Baylie of tourney and of Tournesses, the Rentmasters of Bewest and Beoisterschelt in zealand, the judge of Malines, and all other our Iustices and officers, and those of our vassals and Subiects, whom it shall concern, their Lieuetenantes and every one of them, in respect of himself, and as though it did appertain unto him, that they cause this our present declaration, edict and decree, to bee published, every one in his government, and in the places and bounds, of his or their jurisdiction, where they are accustomend, to make cries and proclamations, to the end that none may pretend any cause of the ignorance thereof: and moreover that they keep observe, and maintain, and cause inviolably to be kept, observed, and maintained, all the poyntes and articles therein contained, according to their form and tenor, proceeding, & causing to be proceeded therein respectively, to the recompense, reward, pain and punishment of the persons above mentioned, without any favour, love or dissimulation, and for this purpose, and all things appertaining thereto, we give them, and every one of them, full power, authority, & special commandment, and we charge & command all, that they obey thē, commanding the same and that they understand it diligently. And nevertheless, seeing that at this present the said publications cannot be made, in the towns, countries and territories, occupied by the rebellion of the said Orange, wee will that the publications which shal be made, in the towns completest thereunto, being under our obeisance, shall be wholly and all together of such force and effect, as if they had been utterly done in the circuits and places accustomend, and for such we haue authorized, and by these presentes do authorize them, yea we will and command, that immediately they be printed in two sundry languages, by the sworn printers of our universities of louvain or dovay, to the end that it may more easily come, to al mens knowledge, and this is our pleasure, appointment, and good will. In witness whereof we haue caused our great seal to bee put to these presentes, which were made in our town of Maestricht, the xv. day of the month of March, and in the year of grace 1580. and of our kingdoms, to wit, of spain, Sicilia. &c. the xxv. and of Naples the xxvii.  
By the express appointment of his majesty. Verreiken.  
And the said Letters are sealed with the great seal of his majesty in red wax, and a double lase hanging thereat.   

¶ The Letters of the Prince of Parma to the governors, and counsellors of the provinces commanding the publishing of this proclamation. ALEXANDER Prince of PARMA, and of PLAIS ANCE, &c. governor and captain general.  
MY cousin, MOST dear AND well-beloved friends,  
seeing the K. my Lord hath by 2. several letters of his, very plainly commanded us to cause incontinently to be published, in these his countreyes, the proscription and proclamation annexed hereto, against W. of Nassau Prince of Orange, for the causes contained in the said Proclamation, we could not cease to obey his majesties commandment, and to sand the same unto you, requiring you, and nevertheless, in the name, and on the behalf of his majesty, appointing you, that immediately, after ye haue seen the same, you publish it, and cause it to bee published thorough out all the towns and places of your government and jurisdiction, after the accustomend manner, to the end, that none may pretend any cause of the ignorance thereof, and fail ye not herein, and thus my cousin, most dear and well-beloved friends, our Lord haue you in his keeping.  
From MONTS, the 15. day of june. 1580, underneath was written ALEXANDER. And signed over against it VERREYKEN.  
This was the Superscription of it.  
To the Gouernours and counsellors of the provinces.   

THE PRINCE OF Orange, his letters to the ESTATES.  
To my lords, the Estates general.  
you HAVE known( MY lords) BY my life past, and by my behaviours; that I never minded to answer to any libels of defamation, which certain sclaunderers had published against me, in so much as if the quality & greatness of the wrong, which hath been done against me by the proscription that the king of spain, hath caused to be published, I had not as yet proceeded so far, especially had it not been that the maintenance of mine honour, had requested the same of me, as I haue more largely laid out the same in my defence, which I haue presented unto you. Since which time, there is come into my hands a letter very false and counterfeit by mine enemy, which they say they intercepted, and I sent to my lord the Duke of Aniou, or( as they say) to the Duke of Alançon, whereof some personages amongst them, and that of great quality also haue sent copies, as well to certain towns of our side, and amongst us, as to sundry strange & foreign princes. This letter my lords is so fond written( whether a man regard the style thereof or will respect the matter there in contained, which by the bare reading therof sufficiently bewrayeth, that there is not in it any show of truth) that such an impudent devise deserveth no answer: as also God bee praised, there is not found a man amongst us, which is any whit at al moved therwith. On the other side, every man hath known, that they had no other meaning hereby, but by such mists & smokes, to darken the brightness, by which their miserable & pernicious intent against this country, hath been discovered by the letters of Cardinal Granduell and others which you haue commanded to be printed, after that you knew their hands, their signs, and their seals, and withall thereby, to take unto themselves an occasion and matter, to cast up and spew out( according to the manner of shameless women) slanderous, and wicked speeches, full of lying. But so far of is it, that by this means, they haue( in respect of me) obtained that which they pretended, that on the other side, they haue done me great pleasure, in publishing such follies because that thereby they do more and more justify and verify my defence, sufficiently proving themselves to be shameless liars, most impudent slanderers, and most fond falsifiers, which serveth more & more to justify( as I haue said) mine innocency, and to give approbation to all my actions. For, seeing that all men know, that this should be the best news, that they could receive or hear of, that I would forsake the country, and leave it to them, I offered them( my lords) and you under my honour, do promise them to accomplish it, if they bee able to prove in your presences, that I haue at any time written, or commanded to be written, or sent such a letter, that presently I will depart the country, and withdraw myself from it, without ever setting myself against them: and I promise them, even vpon a simplo or bare request to sand thē such passeportes and safeconducts, and they also penned in such order, as either they can or will demand But yet this shal be with this condition, that if they will not accept this so reasonable an offer, all they which haue been the authors of such a writing, or which haue published it, or which haue sent it, into the towns amongst us, or to foreign Princes, and strange countreyes, shalbe held for liars, slanderers, and wicked speakers, as indeed such they are.  
given at Delft the 25. of january. 1581.( ∵)   
FINIS.