THE PRESENT state of Spain.  
Translated out of French.   printer's or publisher's device ET VSQVE AD NUBES VERITAS TVA 
Imprinted at London by P. S. for Richard Serger. 1594.   

THE STATE OF SPAIN.  
IT is a thing noted from all antiquity; that God hath appointed in this world the certain continuance of Monarchies, estates, and families, hath limited the prosperity and thraledome of nations, and bounded the very lives of all men living: nevertheless as well in matters of state as private those are found most durable which retain and keep the greatest perfection and excellency from their creator: Some being ordained to serve for ministers of his fury, othersome for examples of his divine bounty and grace. For we see many men and sundry estates whom God hath from most base foundations and petty beginnings raised and advanced to the most supreme degree of power and dignity, investing them with mighty Empires and boundless kingdoms. With whose power as of men little virtuous, it hath pleased the almighty to serve himself, but as with a scourge to punish the Enormous sins of his people, others have been ratified from God above in this most sovereign degree of all humane majesty in recompense of their holiness of life and unreprovable dealing among men. But so soon as the one or the other, began to forget the occasion for which they were placed in this world, which was to set forth the kingdom, honour and glory of God only: whom they together with all men ought to confess to be their general Lord and father; and that they have gone a bout by false pretextes, and sinister means to advance their own private honour and glory, and not that of their great Lord and master. Then God who alone reigneth whom only we ought to serve, casteth them down headlong, destroyeth their monarchies, desolateth their kingdoms, and rooteth out their posterity from off the face of the earth.  
For example the crown of Castille, anciently, a little country governed by judges, afterwards by Earls, in the end by Kings, created through the beneficence of Samson, the fourth of that name King of Navarre, surnamed, Samson the Great, was by Jsabel usurped from the daughter of henry last of that name, King of Castille: the said Jsabell matched in marriage with Ferdinando, son to king john of Arragon whose kingdoms increased almost in our memory into a mighty puissance and state. But for that the possessors thereof not resting content with those blessings which God hath given them here on earth, have in hostile manner invaded the Countries and possessions of other Princes, they seem at this present to menace their own ruin, as I hope to dilate more at large.  
This Prince then, ambitious, if ever were any in this world, amongst other his famous feats of Arms, to the end to inveigle the earl of Roussillon, from Charles the eight king of France, made no bones to abandon his own Cousin German, and brother in law Ferdinando, king of Naples to the fury of those Armies whom Charles the eight marched against him for the recovery of the said kingdom. Then during the reign of Lewes, the twelfth breaking all conditions of League and amity, forcing the degree of kindred and alliance, which he had with Frederick then king of Naples, he confederated with king Lewes to dispossess Frederick of his kingdom of Naples, and to share it between them two (as in effect they did.) afterward under a colour of supporting Pope Julius the second, his quarrel against the Emperor Maximilian and the king of France, but of a troth for very fear he had of the greatness of our king, who then might have chased him easily out of his unjust possessions, which he held in Italy: he entertained the Pope in deadly grudge against him, and stirred up the king of England and the Swissers to war upon his jack. Invaded likewise from his own niece Catherine (under pretext that her husband was adherente to the French King) the kingdom of Navarre her own proper inheritance; which when he had conquested, he could find no better devise to assure it unto himself then by a false pretence protesting how he was ready to make restitution thereof to his niece: conditionally that lest he should be too much over seen, a truce should be accorded him for a year with the king of France during which in lieu of restoring it, he fortified all places thereof as much as he porsibly could, razed all the rest of the cities, so tresses and Citadels: making express inhibition, that there should not be any tillage of the earth at all, to the end he might take away all mean of recovering the places by him usurped and fortified in the said kingdom. Yet this was not all: For with his force he could finely sow his subtlety, and help himself with the cloak of religion, to make his matters the better, causing to excommunicate the king of Navarre, husband to his said niece, for that he had taken the part of king Lewes, the twelfth a Prince so good and so holy, that as yet of us all he is called by none other name, than a saint, and a very father of the people, and upon this excommunication he sent very many preachers into the kingdom to turn the people's hearts from the obedience of their true king and Queen their lawful Princes. And what with this matter succeeding so well unto him, and what with the death of the said king and Queen of Navarre which he saw fell out soon after within eight months together, he suffered his young nephew Henry their son to be trained up by certain ministers in the opinion of Martin Luther and for the same effect sent unto him some expressly himself, who drawing the Pope into hatred, for the wrong done unto their father, to excommunicate him at the instance of his uncle Ferdinando, who long before had gaped for that kingdom, it was no hard matter for them to transport the heart of these young Princes especially that of Margaret his wives sister to the great king Francis from the hatred of the Pope to the hatred of his very religion itself.  
This is then the just and true mean by which the Crown of Castille hath received her ample increase, by annexing to it so goodly a kingdom as is that of Navar. But what fell out afterwards? Ferdinando enjoyed it a small time, no more than he did the rest of all his other Kingdoms, God permitting them to pass unto another family, & that his children, both male & femile, who were many in number should die before him, except only Joan who was married to Philip Archduke of Austria, a generous Prince, but of a very short life; after whose decease she fell beside herself, leaving notwithstanding behind her the two great Princes Charles & Ferdinando sons begotten by the Archduke of her own body.  
This Prince Charles being come to the Crown by the death of the said Ferdinando (for he ruled King, notwithstanding his mother Joan was alive detained as prisoner by him) sought by all means possible the alliance of France promised by infinite Treaties (especially in that of Noyon) to be accountable for the kingdom of Navarre, which for all than the never was. And tasting more and more the sweetness of commanding, he got unto him, & made speedy provision for himself of the two military Orders: of that of Saint james and of that of Calatrava in Spain, to the prejudice of his brother, to whom they were resigned: opened his eyes also to the Empire, obtained it, & enjoyed all the Kingdoms and signiories both left him by Ferdinando of Arragon and these which his mother the fool held: likewise the Estates of Flanders and the provinces there unto annexed, leaving his said brother only some corner of a country towards Austria, wherewith after some wrangling between them he did as a moderate prince content himself being never afterwards much moved against his brother new created Emperor, but because he was still egging him to resign to his son Philip now at this present reigning, the estate of King of Romans, whereof he was possessed, to the end Philip might to the prejudice of the said Ferdinando his uncle succeed in the empire.  
Ambition most assuredly is a thing greatly detestable before God, who will have men to content themselves with the lot which he giveth them in the earth, but the pretexts which are taken of the pure service of God, for an other subject, are worst of all, and cry for vengeance before his holy face.  
I will not say this prince Charles the first, under colour of defending the catholic religion in Germany went about (as some have said) to invade the estate and liberty of the princes of Germany: but this I will avouch that he and Philip king of Spain his son have employed themselves (by confession of his own men, and none of his meanest servants, the one of them yet living, as I think, the Seigneur de Champigny, not long since high Treasurer in Flaunders, brother to the Cardinal Granduel) towards the protestants of Germany, following the steps of the abovesaid Ferdinando of Arragon their predecessor, to cause the deceased king of Navarre to be instructed in the opinion of Luther, to the end to make him the further from the crown of France, from the alliance of the French, & from the recovery of his kingdom of Navar. But if he who seduceth but a little simple child be pronounced by Gods own mouth to be of worse state than if he were cast into the bottom of the sea, with a millstone tied about his neck, what shall his judgement be towards him, who seduceth not only a child, but causeth others to seducea king & a whole kingdom? but this not sorting so good effect as they could wish, there were 50000. crowns sent to the king of Navarre then, besides some horses in gift to move the war in France, the which 50000. crowns for all that were refused witnesses good enough of this most wicked inclination & vile affection of the King of Spain, may be the Marquessat of Saluces, upon the which he hath caused 2. several enterprises to be made by his son in law the Duke of Savoy (at the first it was recovered by the sage conduct of Mounseur de Rhets Marshal of France) and the pernicious league made for the ruin of all France, nay rather of all the Estates of Europe, we need no other testimony of his good nature and disposition towards every one of us, the places borrowed in Germany from the Archbishop of Liege and Colonia, there to foist in his garrisons when he list, and to level right from thence at the empire, to the prejudice of his coosens, the children of Ferdinando of Austria, under show of making rampire against the Protestants of Germany, for the good of the Catholic religion forsooth his practices past, and every day put in ure in Italy, his agents sent into Poland, Denmark, England, Scotland, and other corners of the world say the same: and well may we liken the king of Spain to those, who detaining an inheritance wrongfully, seek by greater wrongs and outrages to drive the true heirs farther from the recovery of their own. But the judgements of God are great, his counsels wonderful, and the effects of his justice inestimable. He suffereth, according to the Apostles saying, that we be common lie punished by those against whom we have trespassed. The king of Spain's fathers, and he himself have sought by all means to ruin the kings of France, and particularly Henry the fourth, reigning at this present: and by abusing the muffler of religion to recoil this lawful successor from the crown of France, whom they see full of valour, and fed (as they say) with the blood and marrow of the Lion, ready priest one day to challenge his just inheritance. But God who hateth him more who abuseth the holy name of religion than him who having been seduced by purposed malice (as our king hath) hath turned from it: would that this king should be new borne, who being delivered from so many snares laid to entrap and snare him, hath received the Crown of France, presented unto him by a puissant Army, who hath submitted itself unto him, with all the greatest States and honestest people of France. And when? Even then when all the world judged him by the malicious carriages and practised death of the deceased king Henry the third the farthest from the diadem thereof.  
Germany for her part she openeth her eyes to defend herself against this king of Spain, who as an eagle supposeth to hold already in his talents the empire of the whole world: The like doth Italy: and already this building of kingdoms patched together of so many usurpations beginneth to dissolve and shake in sunder. Already the states of Holland and Zeeland, knowing by the just judgement of God how wrongfully they were forced and distracted from the obedience of laqueline of Henald their Countess and lawful Princess (who for to save her own self was constrained to forsake her estate) have pulled their necks out of the yoke, and made themselves free, choosing rather to die then to be subject to a Domination so intolerable as is that of the proud Spaniard.  
The provinces of Zutphen and Gueldres taken away from their lawful Signior by the deed of gifts which the last Duke Charles of Bourgundie who died before Nancie sought to get at the hands of Duke Arnald then his prisoner, to the prejudice of Adolf his son, have slipped the collar also of his obedience and the Country of Frizelande hath done no less.  
The best advised inhabitants of the low Countries of Flaunders Henald and Artois held out their arms to the king of France, (nor only for the excessive impositions (as of paying two shinllings for the grinding of a quarter of wheat, four shillings for a cow which is the slaughter, or kept to give milk, and other such like petty taxes, for which they pay full dear in Flaunders) but for that they know that they are of the ancient Demaines of the crown of France, Flanders, making one of the members of the kingdom and being one of the principal seats of the twelve Peers. They cry with a loud voice that it was not in the power of king Francis the first (than prisoner) so to abandon and give them away: and that in this case there ought to be restitution made seeing the law is held currant of all, that a prisoner locked up fast in prison (as was then the said king) he is not bound to perform any promise made, but remaineth afterward in liberty of his faith.  
Those of Lille, Dovay and Orchies, principal cities of the low Countries, do know and confess how by right they appertain to the king of France: for Philip the Hardy having promised Charles the fift king of France, (who let him have them at his marriage with the inheritrix of Flaunders) to return again them unto his right so soon as God should have called unto him Lewes de Mail Earl of Flaunders his father in law: and bound himself by contract paste at Peronn the twenty of September 1368. under obligation, of himself, his heirs and successors, and upon pain of the Apostolical censures, whereunto the king of Spain stands answerable upon peril of his own soul.  
And as for Milan, Sicily & Naples, all the world knoweth what rights France hath in them all.  
And as for the kingdom of Maiorica, the Earldoms of Sardinia and of Roussillon out of which are as yet owing to the Crown of France, the 300. thousand crowns which Lewes the eleventh disbursed, when they were engaged to him for that sum: Lewes of. Anjou had the gift thereof, which the Lady marquess of Montferrat, sister and lawful heir to james the last king of Maiorica presented him.  
As for Biscay, it appertained to the Duke d'Alenzou of France by the right of his mother Maria de Lara, Lady of the said country: but she could never recover her prerogative from Henry second of that name king of Castille, earl of Tristemara, invested seignieur thereof by the aid & only arms of Charles 5. king of France, who sent thither Bertrand de Guesclin his Constable to cease it for Henry's right, who installed him therein. And by this king, albeit a bastard, cometh all the title that king Philip at this present reigning hath in Spain: as in like manner from the side of Bastards cometh all the rights and titles which he pretendeth to Milan, Naples, Sicilia, which are not as yet in too great assurance to him.  
As for Arragon, beside the quarrel of the donation made by Pope Martin successor of Nicholas, to Philip the third king of France, or to Charles his second son to the prejudice of Peter king of Arragon, husband of Constance, the daughter of Manfroy of Naples, and bastard to Frederick the second Emperor and king of Naples: & the rights of Matthew of Castelbon, Earl of Foix and Bearne, on the behalf of Joan the daughter of john son to king Peter of Arragon: saving also the deeds of gift paste by Rene d' Anjou king of Sicilia to Lewes the eleventh king of France; by whose only aid he was crowned king of Arragon in the city of Barcelona: the house of Lorraine may pretend herein also some right, because of Yolant daughter to the Duke of Bar married to Lewes of Anjou, who was forced to compound for alrights for one hundred sixty thousand Florins.  
And as for Portugal, it is a thing as yet of very slender assurance in the house of Spain, as well by reason of the ancient enmity and an old quarrel which is between these two provinces, as for the rights which may be pretended therein amongst other by the successors either having right from the house of Boloing from which the country of Boulenois in Picardy is at this present annexed to the crown of France. For Alfonso king of Portugal marrying with Mahault or Mathilda countess of Boloing, had by her two children & it fell out as she was in the country of Boulenois to set order in the affairs of her husband the Earl, the K· of Portugal being ravished with the beauty of Beatrix; bastard daughter to Alfonso surnamed the sage, or Astrologian, King of Castille, Leon and Toledo, where all things were so well agreed upon between them two, that this Castilian king without other ceremony married her, leaving Mathilda, who lived twelve years, during this dishonest marriage or rather concubinage: and being returned into Portugal, was forced to return into France to make her complaints to the king, and afterwards to Pope Alexander the fourth, who soon excommunicated the Portugal king and his new married wife. Nevertheless the children of this his illigetimat wife did not forbear to usurp the kingdom from those who were lawfully begotten on his first, Raynucio the D. of Parma at this present hath also most apparent right on the part of Maria his mother daughter to Edward, son to king Emanuel of Portugal: the king of Spain who hath usurped it being issued but of one of Emanuels' daughters, & Rainucio being descended of the son: there cometh also a third challenger, Don Antonio K. of Portugal, who is the son pretended bastard of Lewes the elder brother of Edward: but legitimated by the Pope & by sentence of the of the holy Sea, who after the full scanning of his title was elected king of portugal by the people, according to the mental law of that kingdom.  
The king of France Henry the fourth demandeth the kingdom of Navarre as to him appertaining by the right of his mother, heir to that Catherine above said, the niece of Ferdinando of Arragon: whose proper inheritance which was that kingdom, cannot be thus lost to her damage, when her husband should have fallen into some enormous fault. To him appertain the places of Sosierra depending from all antiquity of that kingdom which Queen Isabella the first wife of Ferdinando by her testament, and for discharge of her conscience gave order that they should be restored, as having been usurped by those of Castille from Naverre. To him appertains moreover the Duchies of Gandia Mount-blanc in Arragon, and Pegnafiel: the Earldom of Ribargorcea, the Infantasgo of Castille, the city of Balaguer, and the Towns of Castrocheris, Harao, Villalon, Cuellar, the which king John father to Ferdinando of Arragon gave to the kingdom of Navarre: upon condition that in recompense thereof; he might enjoy the said kingdom during his life, whether he had issue or not by his marriage with Blanch daughter to Charles king of Navarre third of that name, being the little son of Philip d'Eureux of the house of France: and there are also due unto his Majesty four hundred twenty thousand one hundred and twelve Florins of gold, six shillings eight deniers; money of Arragon, as well can witness the marriage of the said Blanch to the restitution of all which territories and to the payment of every penny of these sums the king of Spain stands bounden yet at this day.  
This is not all, the very kingdom of Castille may lawfully be called in question for the king of France, as being the true successor of Saint Lewes: and herein can be no prescription alleged. For it is never admitted in matters concerning kingdoms, and things purchased by fraudulent dealing. His majesties right is this, Henry the first of the name king of Castille and Toledo, son to Alphonso the 4. of Castille, and to Leonora, daughter to Henry the second, king of England, and to that Leonora, whom Lewes the young king of France put away, and dying without issue by the fall of a tilestone upon his head, left his sisters: the elder called Blanch, mother of S. Lewes: the second, Berenguere, wife of the king Don Alfonso of Leon, and the third, Leonora wife to the king of ragon.  
Now when the said Berenguere by ordinanuce of Pope Jnnocent the third of that name, had been separated from the King of Leon her husband, for that they were near in Consanguinity together: she retired herself after that towards Henry her brother, with her son Ferdinando, which she had by the King of Leon, and having gotten infinite favourites in the court of Castille, seeing the King Saint Lewes far distant from her, and much busied in other wars, she handled her matters so cunningly to the prejudice of this S. Lewes, she caused her son Ferdinando to be elected King of Castille and Toledo, upon the confident hope which she gave the Castilians, that in the person of her son should the kingdom of Leon be reunited to that of Castille, & that they should avoid by this mean the domination of a French Prince being but a stranger amongst them. S. Lewers began quickly to look & to make instance for his Kingdoms again: but whilst they did finely hold him play with fair promises, to restore him all again: he being not able to transport himself thither by reason of his wars in hand, the whole remained amongst them ever since.  
I know well the Spaniards allege, that S. Lewes compounded afterwards by means of the marriage of his daughter Blanch with Ferdinando of Leon, son to Alfonso the wise Astrologian, elected in favour of the French to be Emperor of Germany, against Richard son to King john of England: But grant we that it were so, which notwithstanding, can never be accorded them, the K. of France remaineth not without a second right to the said Kingdoms. For afterwards God permitting not, that any so unjust usurpation should take place, Alfonso the sage was deposed and deprived of the Empire by Rodulfe, elected and placed in his room, in his own life time: was also bereaved by Sancio his second son of part of his kingdoms through the aid of a Moore-king, named Mahomet Myr of Granado, with whom this Sancio made league to war upon his father: whereupon Alfonso growing into great indignation, and fearing lest he should dispossess the little infants issued of his second son Ferdinando de la Cerda, but then lately dead, to whom the kingdoms did of right appertain: he gave him his curse and disinherited him, declaring by his Testament for heir in his kingdoms the eldest borne son of his elder son, and in case he might not possess them did substitute to the prejudice of his two other sons john and james, Philip son to S. Lewes, unto whom (pricked with the testimony of his own conscience) he confessed these kingdoms of Castille and Toledo to appertain. And in case the rights of Saint Lewes should come to cease and fail, that then these realms should come to the children of the said Ferdinando de la Cerda, whereof there is as yet some remainder in Spain, which possible will not be content to be tongue tied for ever. And one of the descendants of this Ferdinando de la Cerde, Alfonsus who was father to John d'Espagne Constable of France, behaving himself as a king of Castille and Toledo made a present to Philip d'Eureux king of Navarre of the country of Guipuscoa, Alava, and Rioia, which had been territories and appurtenances of Navarre: all which the king of France who is at this present, may as yet as king of Navarre reclaim and justly challenge for his own right.  
I will not stay myself at infinite other rights, which not only France but the Empire, and other particular Princes may pretend in the dominion & countries which the king of Spain holdeth (who by allusion to the house of Ostrich may be called rich of other men's goods.) I will not touch the share which the king of Spain's daughters may pretend with his son, as well in the kingdom of Leon, as in other goods partable from all times between sons and daughters. Little will I also speak of the signal damage of the division of lands and goods pretended by the defuncte Emperor Ferdinando of Austria, against Charles the first his brother, father to this king of Spain Philip raining at this present.  
What should I count the revoults which are daily practised in the indies by reason of the intolerable imposts, which the king of Spain maketh them endure, who constraineth them to pay every year (as in Spain likewise) their part for the obtaining of the Pope's Bull, that they may eat flesh, eggs, and cheese upon fish days, both the men and women, poor and rich, of cities and villages, all without difference from seven years of age upwards. And urgeth them to this inconsideration of the expenses he is at in obtaining the said Bull, which none may refuse to take, albeit he would never eat butter and cheese in all his life. And that which is taken for a head in Spain, is two Reals which is twelve pence sterling, and in the Indies is taken for every paul eighteen or twenty Reales: Count you after the rate what it doth amount unto in such a world of people: and without the foresaid Bull, none may nor ought not (as say these good hirelings preachers of pardons) be buried in hallowed ground, nor once come within the Church door. O abominable abuse! O sin against the holy-ghost! of those who terming themselves defenders of religion, sell unto their own subjects, the help & secure which they say to obtain for the health of their souls! See what a goodly revenue this is, and like to be be long time favoured of God. But in the mean time it is the greatest of all Spain. O miserable and unnatural French men, who closing your eyes to so many iniquities, do suffer yourselves to be seduced by this GOLD so ill gotten.  
There remaineth their inquisition which serveth their turn rather to rob the goods of the innocent and miserable, then to contain men in any religion, whereof they were but as it were a mask an muffler.  
Thus Spain groweth to be dispeopled by these cruelties intolerable and by the Alcavalle, which they call the tenthpenny of every thing bought and sold, yea of the very habit which you shall carry new in your cloak bags. Who shall then be the man so miserable that will admit in our France such people, whose very name is so ill received and odious, that to name them only skarreth the little children, and maketh them afraid? Alas: Take heed, Frenchmen, it be not reproached you before God, how ye have chased away your own brethren to lodge among you, barbarous people, take heed that this curse fall not upon your heads, to be called justly Vipers who tears out the entrails of your own mother, that is to say, of your own native country: & believe that every one that would ruin the building of France, shall remain buried in the ruins. But if the laws do punish a man for having slain a man who is his like, by how much more strong reason shall those be punished, who do not only kill a man, but procure the entire death and destruction of a kingdom?  
The king of Spain, who here tofore said, that we must come to no treaty of peace with our king being swerved from the faith, ceased not in the mean time, and giveth not yet over to assay by all means to make peace with his subjects of Holland and Zealand, who are Lutheriens, Caluinists or Anabaptistes. He offereth to leave them their free exercise of religion, to let them have their cities and governments in the same estate wherein they possess them, demandeth only at their hands that they would but acknowledge him for their king. But those States full well know to whom they appertain, and what manner a thing the Spanish domination is, & that this nation doth applaud, as doth the Crocodile when she will cast forth her venom or bite: witness be the poor Earls of Aignemont & of Horn put cruelly to death, notwithstanding their services done, for the reducing of countries into his obedience, & the faith to them promised. The death also procured by poison, as is said to the poor Lord of Montigny the end of the poor marquess of Bergues, and of all the Nobility which by one or other mean they race and root clean out.  
King Henry the fourth can well tell how to defy all their false drifts, & he mistrusteth their cunning carriages, for all their sending him the portrait of the infant: He may too well know, how when Ferdinando of Arragon the last, & Philip Archduk of Austria, were in treaty of the marriage of Madam Claudi of France with Charles the fifth, the father of this Philip now raining, and after the marriage concluded, sworn and confirmed at Blois, the king of France Lewes the twelfth his Lieutenants mistrusting nothing the Spaniards ran upon them defeating two French Armies the one in Calabria under the Conduct of the Lord d'Anbigny the other at Cirignolla lead by the Duke of Nemours the Lord Lewes d'Armignac: the chief commanders of the Spaniards alleging for all excuses that they had heard of no prohibition given them from their master, to make wars.  
At this present the king of Spain being of the age of sixty 7. years and above unlustly of his person (as he is doubtless) seethe himself at the period of his subtleties, cannot tell by what means to keep that which he hath purloined from others; his fair promises vapour away to nothing, his mind is bewrayed and his counsels discovered. He seeketh to help himself with the feebler side in France, to the end to keep us still in war, for fear lest the weaker part through want of means should abandonn the war, he would make us knock one another on the heads, that he may make his prey on us afterward. He goeth about to cut our throats with our own knives, and to overthrow us with our own weapons, because by his he knoweth he cannot do it. He entertaineth the war in our country, for fear lest we set upon him in his own: And if that part which he taketh should become the stronger, he would incontinent war upon it. He is not yet come to solicit (as they call them) the Huguenotes of France to rebel against King Henry the fourth, and to wage war upon him.  
Let then all Princes and Potentates take heed of the enterprises and counsels of so charitable a neighbour: And you Frenchmen, learn to be wise by your own harms: I adjure you all by the honour and respect you bear unto God, by the faith, love and loyalty you own to King Henry the fourth, given by God unto France, son to your predecessor Kings, issued from the loins of S. Lewes, and by the charity ye own to your country, and to the safety of yourselves, of your wives and of your children, and to the conservation of our religion, Temples and Fortunes, cease among yourselves this peevish rebellion (if as yet it have place in any of you) and reduce it to a due obedience, which only can make next after the grace of God spring again upon us the bliss of our fathers and the peace and tranquillity of their golden ages.  
Some preach that religion is in great ieopar die, & that many of the fathers in the primitive Church are dead for the catholic faith, and that we must die for the same: I grant it, but they must give us the Scriptures as they are understood. We are already to die when they shall force us to renounce our Saviour jesus Christ, & to sacrifice unto Idols. Then and no otherwise aught death to be endured in this case, so have those fathers received it, & we will die before we will be other than followers of the true Catholic and Apostolic religion. Our fathers in the church fled in time of persecution & none of them have resisted kings in arms, finding it better to suffer then to revolt. Our Lord also counseled his Apostles to fly in time of persecution from one city to an other, and not to make any resistance by arms.  
And ye the Lords of the Clergy, know ye that the doctrine which God hath given us (to you principally as a pledge of his grace) hall never get his perfect and resplendent brightness, as long as these bloody wars shall trouble the sweet streams flowing from so goodly a fountain. O how the league doth well show itself to be come from the lowest caverns of hell, sith it putteth division namely among the Catholics, who being united together might lively have set upon the Heretics and by fair war cut off many thousands of them. Know that you have need of the material sword, which is that of the king, to make you live in safety, rest, and justice, and to maintain this our religion which is the true soul of the body of our estate. And sure, needful it is to conserve the kingdom in his entire body without dividing it into his members, for fear least by the cutting off of some one principal, this soul take his flight away. Behold I pray you the fruit of the preachings of some amongst you, and possible (albeit not all) moved with a good zeal but not ruled as saith the Apostle according to knowledge but what have you done? truly you have furnished bellows and straw to kindle the coals of our quarrel. O fury: O madness: unbeseeming your Priesthood. So is it come to pass, that millions of your flocks are perished with out confession, without sacraments, without sepulture: Of a hundred Churches scarce shall ye find one standing whole, nor in ten parishes hardly one parish-priest, if it be not in the countries reduced to the kings obedience. This was the matter that moved Mounsieur Vigour, one of the most famous Doctors of divinity in France, & for his singular learning made by the holy Father Archbishop of Narbona to say in his sermons upon the feast of Trinity and S. Martin: If God would so much afflict us as to give us a King who were a Turk or an Heretic, yet must not we levy Arms against him, nor war upon him, for the great mischiefs which ensue thereupon. These very words are contained in the books imprinted before the troubles, but are maliciously put out in the new imprinted by the League, for fear lest this knife of truth should cut the throat of these supposts of 1easing, who could not abide so good a lesson in so good an author.  
But now our King is, God be thanked, most Catholic, and when he were not so, God who caused himself to be enregistered in the records of the Emperor Augustus, when he caused the whole world to be taxed: & the commandment to pay the tribute unto Caesar, albeit he were a profane Pagan: the example also of Saint Paul who appealed unto Nero a most wicked Emperor, show that the King being such as God sendeth to take the royal place, is to be obeyed. The examples likewise of the thirty three Popes being all martyrs, & died consecutivelie one after another have showed us the same, who never caused sword to be unsheathed against the persecuting emperors or any other heretics.  
The same did S. Gregory the Pope, dedicating his dialogues to Theodolinda wife to Agilulphus King of Lombard's, holding as yet then his paganism that thorough the sweet persuasion of his wife, he might be brought to christianisme & purchase peace unto the church. Did not Pope Leo the like prostrating himself at the feet of the wicked Attilas. No less did Pope john the first of that name, going from Rome to Constantinople to the Emperor justin, to pray him to set open the Temples of the Arrians, which he had caused to be shut up fearing least the Arrians, which might consume of themselves, would disturb and trouble the peaceable estate & tranquillity of the Church.  
Doubt ye not also but that our holy father the Pope moved by these examples will seek to repair the wrong done unto our king, by some misinformed of his justice, or possibly carried headlong away with the Spanish passion. He shall find him to be such a one that he is the eldest son of the Church: he will call to mind how our king is descended from those, who have consecrated and given in alms to the Church, the fairest flowers of their garland, and the best of their good. Alas! His holiness cannot do less for our king Henry the fourth, then by one of his predecessors hath been done within these few years to the Queen of Sweden being excommunicated and in relapse, receiving her with all joy and gladness in the person of her ambassadors into the bosom of the church.  
The holy fathers have never refused the penitent princes, witness be the peace of Constance and other decrees, whereof the histories and holy Counsels are fully replenished. His Holiness may see how much is envied the share, which god hath given our king in the earth: But he shall say to the king of Spain, the greatest spiter thereof, that which Pope Boniface the 8 told most wisely Albertus of Austria, who by his cunning working caused himself to be elected Emperor, to the prejudice of William Earl of Nassau, than Emperor of Germany, whom he slew in battle, he shall tell him, I say, that he who hath slain the Emperor with his own hand is unworthy to be invested and confirmed in the Empire. For it is by his only hand and handling that this death and slaughter is purchased in our kingdom of France, wherein he went about and was willing to cause himself to be called king, but God be thanked, he hath lost his labour therein.  
The holy father who was in the time of Emanuel Emperor of the East, would not once hearken to the offers he made him to cause the Greek Church to be reunited with the Latin upon condition that the Empire of the West, being vacant by reason of the deprivation of Frederick, should be reunited with that of the East: foreseeing also that it was a matter greatly to be suspected whereby to make the universal Church, to depend but of one only power among men: and should his Holiness so much weaken a King or a kingdom, of France, which is the true arm of the church to suffer all the world to be overflown with a king and a province mere mixed with races of Moors, Saracens and Goths, than with true Christians, having more holiness and respect to sacred things, than is borne to the least village in France?  
His Holiness shall know that the kings of France & their peoples have bend their forces & made good for the Church, then when Asia, Africa, Spain, Italy, and almost all the world were full of Arrianisme and heresies, let him remember also (and his successors may for ever call happily to remembrance in their holy sea) how that in the year of the birth of king Philip of Spain at this present was fatal and dismal to the holy Sea, having therein the Army of Charles the fifth his father, surprised and sacked Rome, ransommed the holy father Clement and his cardinals ruined & profaned the temples & churches of Rome which Attilas being named for his inhuman cruelties, the scourge of God, refused, to do.  
King Henry the fourth of France, knoweth right well, that he must one day give account of his charge, & that God will cause him to be obeyed, honoured and served of his subjects, as he will obey, honour and serve God: He knoweth how the first marshal, king and father of the whole world Adam, before his fall, was respected of all living creatures, as Lord thereof, but after his revolt the very beasts rebelled against him, the Lion began to dismember & tear him in pieces, the horse to kick and winch at him, the dog to snarl and bite at him, and so all the rest in their kinds began to bend all the vigour of their furies against him and that God hath possibly permitted the same to be done to him by some of his subjects (albeit if they turn not again to their allegiance, they can never escape the divine vengeance, because their king hath by the suggestion of his enemies wandered astray in Religion. His Majesty knoweth too well that he cannot purchase the grace of God if being advanced by him into a more eminent than they in all manner of virtuous actions. He showeth already by the diligence which he useth in feats of arms, that as he is far gone in the journey of his age; and there remaining for him so many things to be done in the world (the honour and labour whereof it seemeth that God hath reserved for him) he will imitate the birds of the more northern nations, where the day having but one hour of length, they fly more courageously & more swiftly than any other of the air. For he hath in a small time reduced into his obedience the most of the people of his kingdom, and showeth them by the mild dealing he useth towards them, that he hath conquered them not for his own particular good, but to bring them into their greater ease and security.  
Already his Majesty doth meditate nothing else but to make of his court the cabinet of the most excellent & rarest things of the earth, and that therein shall be found the most virtuous, honest, and best accomplished men of this world. Virtue shall be in esteem if ever it were: he pretendeth so soon as he shall have satisfied those unto whom his people (miserable as it is) hath for their follies passed constrained to promise recompenses, quite to abolish, or so to moderate the taxes that his poor subjects shall have cause for ever to pray unto the Almighty for him, and his memory therefore may be sacred to all posterity. He is not ignorant how by the too great excess of the said taxes his people remaineth in languishing sort, & the nobility who followeth him is made poor because the Peasant cannot nor dare not till the lands of the nobility & of others for fear of the said taxes, by means whereof the ground should lie barren, without tillage, & the Nobility, which hath no other riches but of the glebe & soil can no longer follow and serve him, nor the people of the country, or husbandman the very forge of all commodities of the kingdom, secure him any longer.  
Ye then of the Nobility (if there be any of this quality who will against the devoir of his profession wear the scarf of the League in steed of our white colour of the flowers de Luce of France) what honour think you to leave to your children, to say that you have fostered and nourished this mostrous Hydra the league, which hath brought forth unto us & our children so many mischiefs and miseries. See you that you stop up the light and brightness of your races under the cinders of your rebellion? Take ye, take ye the colour of your brethren, and permit not that your noble race remain vilanized, stained and spotted with treason towads yourselves, and towards you country.  
And you good people whose prosperity is so much different from that in which our deceased kings and fathers left you, behold the surface of our poor country anciently adorned with your goodly buildings (I cannot speak this without tears) now desert, rugged and without tillage. Where is this liberty promised you by the league? Alas! (As said, I think Theophrastus ' to the Greeks'.) (They have put in too much vinegar,) where is this abolition of taxes? Alas; they are six fold as many as they were before. Where is this restablishment of religion? Alas they have beaten down to the ground and profaned your churches; the priests themselves taking arms have run into a thousand villainies. Consider that there is in France neither justice nor public force, but from your king, which may safeguard ye from injury. Perceive ye not how you impoverish yourselves daily, and that these hunger-starved governors whose rebellion ye nourish, will stifle you one of these days to have your blood, will slay you to have your skins, seeing that amongst them the richest hath nought to live upon, if it be not upon your substance, nor any commodity, which they forge not already upon your battered anvil. Live, live under your king, and under his laws, chase far from you these hireling-preachers of sedition, this miserable fierers and destroyers of our country: it is not religion but rebellion they preach: away with them. The Duke de Maine acknowledgeth already that he hath been deceived and abused by them. All the world knoweth it: and there is hope, seeing that the Crown (as said Titus Vespasian's son, called for his virtue and goodness the delight and darling of the world) is a gift of God, bestowed on him whom he pleaseth by his only hand and pure will, that the said Duke of Maine will reknowledge his Majesty for his King, and will repose more confidence in him than in any other prince living. Well he knoweth that the Maximees of Spain are first to make a hand of them, who aid them in the Conquest of their provinces, saying justly that they cannot credit the faith of them who have failed in that which they own to their own country: and when all that were not so, never was there man who followed them but is dead miserably. The said Duke of Maine, hath done but too much for his part, when he had had place but to revenge the death of his brethren whereunto K. Henry the 4. was never consenting. If he pass further, he remaineth for ever most culpable and blameworthy. Let him not then let slip this good occasion, whilst the time is that he may come in and yield himself to his king with honour, making show of the common pretext of religion, & of no other thing to have moved him to take arms, and let him call to mind how he hath to deal with a king of France who shall never be without successor to revenge all injuries: that his majesty may one day come to an accord with the K. of Spain, and so then by that mean this Duke may remain oppressed and of small esteem. Let him confess that every Christian ought to level only at the salvation of his soul, the which he can never obtain at God's hands, nor any good for his children, but in restoring unto his king that which he detained unjustly from his kingdom, against the duty of a subtect, a vassal and an officer to the crown.  
FINIS.   

A COPY OF SPECIAL RECORD, OF THE Homage done by Philip Archduke of Austria, Earl of Flanders, etc. to the most Christian King of France, Lewes the twelft of that name, in the year 1499.  
john Amiss, Notary, and Secretary to the King our Sovereign. For somuch as it hath pleased the Noble and puissant L. Monsieur Guy of Rochefort Knight, Lord of Plewot, and of Labergemant, Chancellor of France, as well of his favour to prefer me, as to command and enjoin me to take a copy of the receit of an Homage done to the King our gracious Lord, in his person, by the most high & most puissant Prince, the Lord Philip, son to the King of Romans, Archduke of Austria, Earl of Flanders, of Artois, and of Charrolois, the fift at day of july, 1499. the said Lord Chancellor being then in the City of Arras, in the bishops palace: And for that such great acts, and ceremonies, which have been used and observed therein to the honour, exaltation, profit, and advantage of the King and his Crown, are worthy of perpetual memory: I have been so bold at his instance, to couch in writing, all that I could see and understand, touching this present act and business, and especially since the nine and twenty of june last passed, until the fift of july, next ensuing. And to come to the matter, certain and true it is, that the Lord Chancellor departed the same day, at after dinner, from Dourlent in the country of Picardy, to go for the City of Arras, where he arrived before night, being all the way accompanied with the Lords de Ravestain, and de la Gruture, with Charles de la Vernada, Knight of the same place, Master Christopher de Cremona, Counsellors of state and ordinary Masters of Requests of the King's house, Master Ralph de Launoy Bailie of Amiens, Master Francis d'Estain, Hugh de Baigel, Almaury de Quinqui ville, Nicholas de Foix, Philip d'Estas, Richard Nepueu, Peter de la Vernada, common Counsellors: Macé Toustain, the King's Proctor general in his Privy Counsel, John Bourdelot, the King's Proctor general in his Court of Parliament at Paris: Antony le Viste, Register of the Chancery of France: Dreux Budé, John de Villebresme, Ralph Guyot, Philip Maillart, Notaries and Secretaries to his Majesty and to me. And as the Lord Chancellor came with this train within a mile and half of the City of Arras, riding in gallant order, having before him the Gentleman Usher of the privy Council, carrying upon his shoulder in open sight his mace, graven and embossed with the King's Arms: after the Gentleman Usher followed next the Clerk of the Signet, who carried the Scale, as the use is, when the Lord Chancellor rideth his circuits into the Country: on either side of this Clerk of the Signet, marched one of the two kings of Arms of our Lord the King, enrobed with their coats of Arms, to wit, Mont-ioye, the chief king of Arms of France, and Normandy: here came to meet the Lord Chancellor, the Bishop of Cambray, Thomas de Pleures, Knight, Chancellor to the Archduke, the Lord Earl of Nassau, the Lord of Fiennes, and divers others both Knights and Squires, most of them of the Archdukes Council. The Bishop addressing himself towards the Chancellor, signified unto him; that the Lords of his company were sent by the Archduke his Master, to inform him, that the said Lord Archduke was most joyful of his arrival, and likewise of that, of all the other Lords in train with him, & that they were all the welcomest men that might be, with other fair speeches, gentle greetings, & sweet salutations: all this nobility doing great reverence and honour to the L. Chancellor, and giving princely entertainment to all the Nobles of his troop: for the which the L. Chancellor returned most honourable thanks to the Archduke, and to the other Lords, who were come thither in his behalf. And soon after they on both sides took their way to go unto the City. As the whole company arrived at the entrance of the Suburbs, the Chancellor was met by the Archduke himself, who to receive him the more honourably, and to meet him by the way, was departed on horseback from the Abbey of Saint Vas, in the City of Arras, and had passed clean through the greatest street thereof. And so soon as the Archduke, accompanied with a great number both of Knights of his order, with Squires and other officers of his household, who were marshaled on every side, to make way and place for the Chancellor, and those of his train to pass, perceived the Chancellor, he put his hand to his hat, and uncovering his head, hastened on his Mule to march towards the Lord Chancellor, whom he embraced, holding still his hat in hand, and there gave him the gentle welcome: demanding him in this manner, How doth my Lord the King? To whom the Chancellor answered, very well God be thanked, as he intended to declare unto him more amply. The like great entertainment gave this Archduke to the Lords of Ravestain and la Gruture, saluting graciously the Masters of Requests, and the other of the King's Counsel, who were there present. After many friendly speeches and countenances past, between the Archduke, the Chancellor, and the Lord Ravestain, the Archduke holding still his hat in his hand, and would not be covered, except the Chancellor would also put on: the Archduke and the Chancellor road on their way, to enter into the City, the Chancellor still holding the right hand, and the Gentleman Usher to the King's Council, bearing up his mace in open sight, and the Clerk of the Signet, having the kings seal upon his back, as the custom is, when the Chancellor rideth through the Kingdom, and the two Kings of Arms in their order, nor was there any other there, on the behalf of the Archduke or Chancellor: which thing was, and hath been greatly noted, as well by the Archdukes people and officers, as by the other Citizen's and Country, whereof there was no small number, both within the City and without, thither flocked to behold this their magnificent entrance. Thus the Archduke conducted along the Lord Chancellor still parling unto him, uncovering his head oftentimes, and by no means would not put on again, except the Chancellor were covered as soon as he: and thus did he bring him along, unto the very porch of the cloister of the great Church: whence the Archduke would by all force carry him into the Bishop's Palace, in the which the Lord Chancellor hath always been lodged, nor could the entreaties and requests which the Chancellor made unto him to content himself, that he had done so much unto him for the honour of his King prevail any thing at all. Upon these enterparlies, the Archduke departing from the Chancellor, withdrew himself into the City of Arras, to his lodging in Saint Vas his Abbey: and the Lord Chancellor into the Bishop's palace, accompanied with the Earl of Nassau, and other great personages of the Archdukes house: and afterward every one of the Chancellor's train retired themselves into such lodgings as the harbingers had appointed for them. After many doings and come to and fro, which by the Lord Bishop Thomas de Pleures, the County Nassau, the Lord of Mont-labais, and other of the Archdukes officers; during all the days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following, being the first, second, third, and fourth, of july, were made to the Chancellor into his lodging, to treat and conclude upon some points and articles propounded by the kings Proctor general in his Court of Parliament. The said matters coming to an issue, upon thursday request was made by the Archdukes officers to the Lord Chancellor, that he would prepare himself to receive the Homage which the said Archduke was bound to do to the King, by reason of his Peere-dome and Earldom of Flanders, and likewise for his Countries of Artois and Charrolois, and other territories held of the King our Sovereign because of his Crown: and for this purpose to assign a day and hour to the Archduke, to the end he might come to him to do his Homage. To whom the Chancellor gave this answer: that upon the morrow which was Friday, and the fift day of the month, were it about nine or ten a clock in the morning he should be ready to take it: the which both day and hour were accepted by those the Archdukes officers. For this purpose the Lord Chancellor gave commandment to provide and set in order a place in the second great hall of his lodging, the which should be hanged round about with rich Tapestries, and therein another little place to be mounted higher than the rest by two steps, where should be set a chair of estate, costly trimmed, and covered with flower de luces every where embroidered in gold, on the which he would be seated, during the doing of this Homage: and gave them the words which were to be pronounced touching this Homage, which was all done accordingly. Friday being come, about the hour of ten a clock in the morning, the Chancellor being in his chamber accompanied with the Masters of Requests of the King's house, those of his Counsel, the bailie of Amiens, and all the rest above named, word was brought him by Master Thomas de Pleures, and by others the Archdukes officers, how the Archduke was departed from his lodging, and was coming towards him to do his Homage, and that he should dispose and seat himself in place convenient, to receive the same. To whom the Chancellor replied, that so soon as he should appear in the place appointed for the receipt thereof, he was and would be ready. Two several times beside this, came there other his officers, both of his Chamberlains and Secretaries, to tell him the first time how the Archduke was arrived, in the first hall, which joined to the second, albeit the Chancellor moved not a whit therefore. And at the second time, for that those officers affirmed their Lord the Archduke was entered into the second hall, as true it was, and also for that the Lord de la Gruture, and Master Robert de Framezelles the King's Chamberlain, who with the Lord de Ravestain, had accompanied the Archduke from his lodging into the said second great hall, came to certify the Chancellor how the Archduke was already in the proper place, appointed and provided for the said Homage: then the Chancellor attired in a rob of Crimson Velvet, and with his hat on his head came only forth of his chamber, which joined close to the great hall, in manner as followeth: You must then know, the Lord Chancellor had before him the Gentleman Usher of the privy Counsel, carrying his Mace aloft in open sight, who so soon as he was come forth of the Chamber, and entered into the second great hall, because therein was already so great a number of people thronging one on another, as well of the Archdukes officers as of others, that a man could hardly turn himself, began with a loud voice to cry out in these words three or four times: Room, Room, make Room my masters, give place there before. After the said Usher marched the two kings of Arms of our King, enrobed with our kings coats of Arms: then followed the Chancellor, and after him the Masters of Requests of the privy Counsel, and then the Notaries and Secretaries of the King our Lord with whom I was. And for that the Lord Chancellor gave me command before his departure out of his chamber, that I should take up some place fit to behold the said Homage, and to hear as well the words of him, as of the Archduke, which should be uttered and spoken by them both, and to set down the same in writing, as I might best devise, I was not negligent to do it. And you must know as the Chancellor approached the chair, wherein he was to sit down, the Archduke, who stood hard by it, attending the coming of the said Lord Chancellor, put off his bonnet incontinent, and thus bespoke the Chancellor: My Lord, GOD give you good morrow, and with that bowed his head very low: but the Chancellor without speaking any word at all, put only his hand to his hat he had on his head, not doing it off at all, then sat him down in his chair, and forthwith one of the kings of Arms, as order was given him b the Chancellor, cried with a loud voice three times: Peace, Silence, keep Silence there. After this, the Archduke bore headed presented himself to the Lord Chancellor to do his Homage, saying: My Lord, I am come to you to do the Homage which I am bound to do to my Lord the King, touching my Peere-dome and Countries of Flanders, Artois, and Charrolois, the which I hold of my Lord the King, by the right of his Crown. Then the Lord Chancellor sitting in his chair, his hat upon his head, demanded him whether he had any girdle, dagger, or other weapon: to whom the Archduke lifting up the laps of his cote, which was ungirded, replied, he had none. So soon as he had so said, the Chancellor put both his two hands between his own, and holding them so fast joined together, the Archduke would have bowed himself down, making show to fall on his knees, which the Chancellor would not permit him to do: but in lifting him up again by his two hands, which he held fast as we said before, spoke these words: Your good will sufficeth. Then the Chancellor began with him in this manner, holding still his hands fast closed within his, the said Archduke standing all this while bore headed, and forcing himself to fall upon his knees: You become the vassal of the King your Sovereign Lord, and you do him faith and liege Homage, by reason of your Peere-dome and Earldom of Flanders, and also of the Earldoms of Arthois, and of Charrolois, and of all other the lands which you hold, which are of his demesnes and held of the King in right of his Crown: you promise to serve him until death inclusively towards and against all those who may live and die, excepting none: to procure his good, and to avoid his hurt, and to carry and acquire yourself towards him, as towards your Sovereign Lord. Whereunto the Archduke made this answer: By my faith so I promise, and so will I perform it. This done and said, the Lord Chancellor used these words unto him: And I receive you, excepting the right of the King in other things, and others in all. Afterward he turned his cheek to him, on the which the Lord Chancellor kissed him. When the Archduke requested and demanded at the Chancellor's hands letters testimonial of the receipt of the said homage, which the Chancellor commanded me to dispatch and give him. Then the Chancellor rose up from his chair, and uncovering his head, did his reverence to the Archduke with these terms. My Lord I did even now supply the office of a King, representing his person, and at this present I am but Guy of Rochefort, your most humble servant, always ready to serve you, towards the King my Sovereign Lord and Master, in whatsoever it shall please you to command me: whereof the Archduke gave him many hearty thanks, with these courteous words: my Lord Chancellor I thank you, and beseech you evermore that you will in all mine affairs towards my Lord the King, think upon me and have me in remembrance.  
Witness my manual seal put hereunto the first day of August. 1499. Sic Signatum. AMISS.  
A true Copy taken forth of the Royal Records, registered in the Court of Parliament of Paris, thus signed: DV TJLLEL.   

TO THE WORTHY, AND FAVOROR OF ALL virtues, MASTER RICHARD SONDS, SON and heir to the right Worshipful, Michael Sondes' Esquire.  
SIr the duty I own unto you, proceeding of so many & infinite curtisies, in all bountiful measure received, as well in your foreign travails, as in your home abode, have of long time been a continual spur to my weak forces; to find some defence against that threatening monster ingratitude; & finding wayward fortune still waspish in her wont manner, even loath to afford me a good look: am constrained, lest I should be of you and the world condemned, to take this poor occasion to show mine affectionate mind, not meaning thereby to make this a show of a satisfaction for so great a debt, but only in part in cut off the consuming interest, and to confess unto you in the witness of the world a further duty to be accomplished. And knowing in part the earnest desire you have always had; to see into foreign States, and acquaint yourself with the divers manners of nations. I finding here a wandering stranger by chance, whom I perceived fit to inform you of somewhat worthy the inquiry: having now procured him a poor English weed, I am bold to commend him unto you, hoping you will not deny him your friendly patronage, nor me your wont favour.  
Yours wholly devoted, Richard Sergier.