¶ The advise and answer of my Lord the Prince of Orange, County Nassau etc. and of the States of Holland and Zealand, made by the Estates general on thisside, upon the Articles conceived and and after concluded and accorded▪ ●n form of a pertual Edict between Lord Don john Duke of Ostrich, Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece of the part and in the name of the Catholic king of Spain of the one party/ and the said general Estates of the other.  
Translated out of Dutch into English,  
Imprinted at London by john jug and john Allde.   

MY Lord the Prince of Orange and the states of Holland and Zealand, having seen the credible letterꝭ sent from my Lords the general states of the low countries, by my Lord of Willersall, and Master Paul Bays Advocate of Holland, In company of my Lord the Ambassador from the Emperor, and thereunto being earnestly requested, to be brought over unto the aforesaid Lord and Prince, and having understood there by that the aforesaid Lords and states desired to have their advice upon any Article concluded on, by manner of an everlasting Edict, in the name of the King, and confirmation of the peace, being between the lands over and on this side, and Don john of Eastenrick. The which Articles having been wholly showed unto them, having answered, and do answer the same which hereafter followeth.  
That is to say. At the sight of the aforesaid Articles, they cannot leave but commend the earnest zeal and great desire which the aforesaid Lordis & states, do show to have, in setting again our poor distressed native Country, in his perfect quietness, and peace which hath long time been wished and desired. And they understand firmly, that the aforesaid Lord and states, have had none other regard or meaning in the same, then that once they might deliver these poor oporessed people from so may miseries and calamities, wherewith well-nigh they already have been destroyed and overwhelmed, through the cruel and unsufferable tyranny of the proud Spanish nation, and their unlawful government, by them brought in. And in the time to come, good order and sure remedy as may be appointed, that heed after we fall not in the like danger, with one firm and unviolable maintnance of the old privileges, laws and liberties of the lands, and that specially hath been their purpose, with the aforesaid Articles to defend, in all and over all, the last pacification made and concludes in the city o● Gaunt, the 8. of November last passed. Such as in all their letters, 〈◊〉 and protestations they have always promised and assured, the same being surely worthy of praise and commendations by all our posterity. But notwithstanding, after that the aforesaid Lord and Prince and states of Holland & Zealand had perused the aforesaid Articles from point to point, according to the present opportunity of the cause, and necessity of the same, the which forceth them to overlook and way all the circumstances, like as in the time of our forefathers, the which in the like occasions, never have left to approve and obtain of their Princes, new and commendable Privileges. So then they have thought that with the aforesaid Articles, the good zeal and desire of the aforesaid Lord and states before mentionned: is not in all things, wholly and perfectly accomplished. For first it seemeth that the aforesaid old privileges of the lane, the which they by all kind of ways desired to have established: certain byewayes are found, which tend greatly to the abridging of the same, so that the power and liberty of gathering the general states together in them to whom of old time and right it did appertain: covertly taken away, as also that the states of the land are bound unto new bonds, and oaths heretofore never used. Beside the which men may evidently see, the manifest inviolating of the said privileges, in the unjust withholding of the County of Buren, who as all the world knoweth, was taken and carried away against all law, reason, and that privileges of the aforesaid lands, the which aught more to have been considered of, in that at the beginning, the said privileges were so infringed, and a matter which manifestly and specially, aught to have served to the erecting and establishing of the same, especially in seeing of one particular person the which in no one cause could have offended, which giveth small heap that the same hereafter shallbe kept, unto the whose people and Cities in general.  
Against that which there shall lack no matter for to accuse them of crimes & rebellion. Adding thereto, that in this dealing is handled manifestly, against the aforesaid pacificacie of Gaunt, and for that it is against the same, it tendeth to the subversion of the whole, whereto the aforesaid Articles seem to extend, the which more plainly appeareth, in that th'approbation and agreeing of the same, in no part is so plain and simple, as the reason and weight of such a ●ace well requireth, but wholly depending on certain denialis, limited and submitted to an unnumerable of deceitful delays, & in all being like the same which in the time of madame of Pa … which hath caused this great and terrible bloodshed, against the which also was recovered by the Deputy of the aforesaid Lord, Prince and states of Holland and zealand protestations and acts, belonging to the agreement well ●eer in like effect done by the consent of the states.  
Moreover the aforesaid Lords, Prince and states of Holland and zealand, do find as they understand, some points being so cumbersome unto their native country, that they suppose the remembrance of the same for ever, as also unto their posterit●e, should be imprinted an everlasting shame and slain unto them, in that that we not only should have rewarded them their wages that evercharged, and unworthily used us: but also should tread in composition and agreement with those which we by open proclamation, and the authority of the King, and of the states have declared and particularly by ●n instruction before t●e states of the holy Empire, have caused to be accused for accent Villayves & Rebels, the which had made any covenants or conspirasies with the Spaniards. And that which is more, we wittingly have consented and suffered them to carry out of our native country all kind of bag and baggage, out jewels, money, goods, merchandise, and assessments, without any gainsaying. Moreover the aforesaid Lords, Prince and states of Holland and zealand do think, that there is not sufficiently seen and never wa●ed the respect, honour and thankfulness that we own to the right noble and most mighty Queen of England, as also unto my Lord the Duke, and brother to the King of France, the which have showed their readiness with their whole good will in helping us with their goods, in pulling us out from the oppressions and slavery, wherein we found ourselves as then aggrieved. Therefore reason would have required, that they should have been therein comprehended with plain and honourable speeches. And lastly we do not find in the afforesaid Articles, that the inhabitants of Holland & zealand, were provided for with any assurance, although in the last handling of the peace at Breda, many necessary and reasonable a●●●●ances were presented, & as should have been also done the last time when they handled of the peace at Gaunt. If so be that their deputeds, so well with their mouths as with their writings, did declare, that they in no manner of ways, understood to handle with any other then with the states themselves: they would have showed, how they on their side, walked in good truth, protesting if their meaning had been to have received Don john, & that they must have tractated with him in that sort as they now do: they would have required other assurances, such as reason & the occasion of the cause should have required. And in these Articles is not only one assurance, but also no mention made of the particulars, by substituting them wholly in to their own again, touching their gods, states, and governments, the which they have in divers plates over on this side, as also in the country of Bourgoingen, the which nevertheless following the ●oo● of the pacificacie, the which at that some time was not handled there with the general states of the lands over on this side, and over these with express words might not be specified, accerding to all reason aught well to have been provided for, and that is more they can perceive none assurance in the aforesaid Articles. Also for the other provinces, and all the poor common people over on this side, seeing that neither of the ●a●●ng of holds or Castles (out of the which as it is well known unto every one, much evil is chanced) as is not once touched or expressed, neither also pronounced any particulars, nor declarings of the ob●●n●usnes therein once mentioned, the which unto the common people cannot be otherwise but suspicion, the which openly, and now in the last departure unto this present hath been threatened, be●●●ing therefore truly good assurance for the time to come when as the land shalbée unweaponed, and Don john established in the authority, and government if it were but the view of the'ramples of the times past. But it seemeth to the contrary that the states shallbe joined with such governors, as shallbe to their contentation for this time, as if they meant hereafter to take from them all means whereby they might hold themselves assured against the evil intent of such as they appoint to b● their governors.  
To make short, there were many other such Articles, which after they thought of the aforesaid Lord Prince and states of Holland and zealand aught ●el to have been overseen and marked, it was therefore their purpose, to put in writing all the same, and to sand it ever to the aforesaid Lord and states, and only to declare unto them that it was now the time, following the footsteps of our progenitors, to request, follow and obtain the increasing and multiplying of the privileges, laws and liberties, left unto us by them. And specially having thereunto so good an occasion and opportunity, that we fall not again in to the like calamity. But when as they were busy in drawing the aforesaid, points and articles and to put them in writing, to the end as before, there is come to their bands the copy of the missive which the aforesaid Lord and states, had written unto the aforesaid Don john, out of the which they have understood, that the foresaid Lord and states, have promised, without any tarrying for answer upon the said Articles, to conclude with the said Don john, and to require him to subscribe the same Articles, with promise to 'cause them to be published, and to receive him in to the country whereof the aforesaid Lord, Prince and states of Holland and zealand have wundred much, seeing such a change, perceiving that the date of them aforesaid missive well-nigh was of the same time (so as they shortly after came unto their hands) that the aforesaid Lord of Willeruall, was come unto them, for above the contrarieties which they found in this dealing, they also thought that the hastiness of a cause of so great a consequence whereon the whole welfare, or destruction of all these low countries doth hung: was much abridged, though notwithstanding, forasmuch as they hold and firmly believe the same to be chanced, to deliver their native countries the sooner from th● Spaniards, and other strange oppressors, so than they can do none other but wish (as they do from the bottom of their hearts, and pray unto the Lord God) that the event and end may be such as all those which are true sooners of their native countries do desire. And somuch as appertaineth unto them, forasmuch as it were now in vain to use many reasons to the contrary, or to debate or gainsay a cause or matter being done. They do promise and assure the aforesaid Lords and states, that they will maintain the peace of Gaunt by all manner of ways, hoping that the meaning of the said Lord and states is sure also, beseeching them, that they in all mishaps will show themselves in their déedꝭ to be such, as they on their side at all times are ready to do. Nevertheless, that men may plainly see with their deeds, that they desire naught else▪ but to further the departure of the Spaniards, and other strangers, and confirm the peace and quietness, with their old privileges, laws and liberties of the lands, they are contented to commend and subscribe unto the aforesaid Articles confirmably and with condition, that the said Lords and states, first and before all others it may please them, firmly and unconstantly to conclude, and to deliver to them sufficient and fourmable acts and obligatory, subscribed by the Lords, states, and governors, heads and coloneled of the provinces, that if sobee that the Spaniards, according to the order taken and appointed with Don john, be not departed out of the land● over on this side, in deed and truth, and that in such time as to them is appointed. For to beware once of such lingering and delays, the which continually unto this time, have been so hurtful unto us, the foresaid Lords & states shall break and cut of all former comunication with them, and pursu them with weapon in their former departure, without any more hereafter to stand or deal with them by way of communication, howsoever the same might be, and also that it may please them again, to deliver acts and bonds, that after the aforesaid departure, neither they nor the aforesaid governors, heads and colonels, shall receive, suffer or acknowledge that said Don john, nor any other for governor of the land, before that he shall have erected and wholly satisfied again, in all points which strive any ways or are contrary to the aforesaid privileges, laws and liberties of the land, or any ways prejudice unto the pacificacie of Gaunt, following all this and that every one shallbe set and appointed in their goods again, aswell in Burgonyen as over on this side & that all the aforesaid privileges, & liberties, shallbe confirmed, ratified & established, following the same: with the aforesaid L. & estates, in the time of the handling of the peace at Gaunt: solemnly did promise' by their writings, to their Deputed● from the Date of the 24. of October. 1576.  
Doon at Middelborough the 19 of February. 1577.