A DEFENCE and true declaration of the things lately done in the low country, whereby may easily be seen to whom all the beginning and cause of the late troubles and calamities is to be imputed.  
And therewith also the slanders wherewith the adversaries do burden the Churches of the low country are plainly confuted.  Psal. XLIII. 
give sentence with me (O God) and defend my cause against the ungodly people: O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man. For thou art the God of my strength.  
AT LONDON. Printed by john day dwelling over Aldersgate.  
¶ Cum gratia & Privilegio Regio Maiestatie   

❧ To the right honourable and my singular good Lord and patron the Lord chain.  
MY singular good Lord. The doings of Papists standing wholly, as their religion doth, upon falsehood and cruelty, and taking to themselves by use a licence of untrue speaking & working, plainly showeth what faith is to be given to such as think themselves bound to keep no faith. Such hath ever been their manner, not only in dissimulation & practising before things be brought to pass, but all so in shameless lying and misreporting them after they be ended. For what else is to be looked for of that unfaithful faith that is grounded wholly upon falsehood and blasphemy, is pursued wholly with malice and treason, is advanced wholly by cruelty and tyranny, and having no respect of prosperity beyond this life, hath by confidence in man destroyed the fear of God?  
What marvel is it then if such kind of men, Monks, Friars, and other Parasites, having been writers of histories heretofore, have filled the world with feigned miracles and with intolerable absurdities, to flatter Popes and deceive the people have slandered emperors Kings and Princes, and as ordinarily laid up in their Libraries false treatises and Chronicles to beguile posterity, as in their coffers forged evidences which they daily made to rob true owners of their inheritance. In these falsities they so far proceeded, that their impudency falling with want of shame by use of lying into so great imprudence as that manifest contradictions and inconveniences convinced them, they then resorted to justify their untruths & seducing the world with pretence of a profitable deceiving men with godly error. Surely whose conscience can serve them to do murders, to tumble up kingdoms, and raise all kind of horrible and tragical examples, will not much stick to tell lies in excusing or reporting the doings of them selves, and their adversaries. For Ex ijsdem sunt & nutriuntur mixta, a sect patched up of lies must be fed and maintained with the same. Much like it is to the doing of king Richard & Catesby to blear the worlds eyes with the proclamation of treason supposed to have been intended by the Lord Hastings and Shore's wife, and showing out his own withered arm, after the example of Antoninus Caracalla concerning his brother Geta, and such like. So did that honest man Boner immediately upon the death of the excellent Martyr the archbishop of Caunterbury openly cause to be published in Print a report of the archbishop's death and his words before his death, directly contrary to that which was spoken, and all in favour of Papistry. Thence came it that all foreign histories are at this day so stuffed with slanders against our estates people and Princes, specially sins that king Henry the viii. resumed his lawful jurisdiction from usurping Popes. Our kings be villainously termed tyrants, virtuous Queens and Ladies defamed, Nobility disgraced, parliaments despised, the people reproachfully taunted, thieves, whoremongers, sodomites, murderers, and traitors sainted, victories pinched, facts and successes falsely uttered, and that so plainly even while living witnesses present and parties to the matters them selves are able truly to disprove them. And all this they do upon trust that though it be some shame a while, yet their books shall overlyve men's persons, and so at length deceive posterity: and so think they it reason now that other papists hereafter should enjoy the fruit of their falsehood at this time, as they have the fruit of other Papists false head heretofore. So doth fabulous iovius, So doth prating Paradine, so doth the whole heap of Popish Pamphleteers, without reverence of Prince's estates or of other men's ears, of their own outworn honesties. This hath made common liars to show advises of news from beyond seas so freshly arrived that the very ink blotted when the letters were showed in Paul's, men surely worthy of their card cousin to hung on their backs to warn them, and F. cudgel better to advise them. This doing of theirs hath of late years continually enforced noble Princes and good men to publish Apologies and set forth books to yield true account of their facts against this poisonous kind of Parasites and rumour spreaders. This, my Lord, hath caused the noble men and other of base Germany to publish in Supplication by them exhibited to the Emperor the Electors and other Princes assembled at Spires, the report of their doings and sufferings, with request of good interpretation and charitable aid. Because the same containeth a great deal of matter of good historical knowledge, and because the daily rumours of Papists do amplify evils to kindle uncharitableness against poor men, I have thought good to turn the same into English, and to set it out to the world to behold, without prejudicing the credit of any, but leaving every man to believe so far with them or against them as evident truth & apparent proves shall lead them. Only this by the way remembered, that the public ministers, ambassadors, messengers & agentes for those against whom these do complain, have not sticked against common faith to be certifiers and avouchers of untruths and partners of treasons against our noble Queen, as in public arrainementes and other open places and doings, beside secret knowledges, hath lately appeared.  
Having performed this work of translation for credit of truth, and for raising of good affections in just and indifferent persons, and for a good monument of knowledge to such as lack help of the Latin tongue, wherein & in the dutch tongue it hath been before printed, I thought it my duty to offer the same to your good Lordship. Whereunto many reasonable respects hath moved me. First your zeal to true Religion, your virtuous governance of your household therein, your noble and sincere administration of justice, without using the Queen service to private malice and affections, and your severe looking to dangerous carriers of untrue rumours and seditious speeches in your country, all which virtues become a parsonage fit to receive a work intended for declaration of truth and confutation of slanders. Beside that I being sustained in study by your lordship's liberality, do own you that duty that under your name should pass to the worlds commodity such fruits of learning as I have been able to yield, humbly praying your Lordship to accept the same, and most humbly beseeching God long to bless your Lordship and my good Lady, long in honour and prosperity to serve our most gracious Queen, whom God long defend to his honour and the succour of his Church, and comfort of her own conscience in not omitting any thing to the help of God's flock, and sure removing of God's enemies dangerous practisers, that as her present government ministereth abundance of good fruits, so the times imminent and posterity may found no lack, but for her good provisions yield her eternal thankful memory, when God shall have received her as his faithful servant to eternal blessed kingdom.  
Your L. most humble Elias Newcomen.   

THe same tempest, most victorious Emperor and most noble Princes, which now almost a whole hundred years hath troubled sundry parts of Europe, hath now also at this time by most cruel tyranny enforced us being spoiled of our goods, chased out of our native countries, oppressed with slanders of our adversaries, and tossed with all kind of calamities, to flee as most humble suitors to your clemency for succour.  
For we suppose there is no man ignorant, that long ago Spain, and since also by little and little a great part of all Europe not only hath flamed with inward contentions and tumults, but also hath in manner been overwhelmed with most grievous storm of persecutions and tyranny. Whereby certain idle men which in only name and outward gesture professed a solitary life severed from all governance of common weals, and only addicted to the preaching of the word of God or quiet study of holy scriptures, have begun to creep into courts of Kings and Princes, and covering their greedy affections with cloak of religion, to minister such counsels whereby they might by their new devised mean of Inquisition against heresy, draw to themselves from the civil magistrate the hearing and judgement of the controversies of greatest weight and importance. And so by little and little they have attained not only by searching and enquiring to become Lords of every private persons goods, possessions, houses and most secret places, yea and their wives and children, but also to bring the magistrates and Princes themselves in subjection to their authority. In what places they perceived their desires to be hindered either by the ancient liberty of the people, or by the discretion of the Rulers and Princes, straightway they charged such with forged slander of heresy and rebellion, and so grievously inflamed the hearts of Kings and Emperors against their subjects. And by this crafty mean they have stirred up civil dissensions, tumults of commonalties, and oftentimes grievous wars, whereby they have brought most flourishing countries into great displeasure and hatred of all kings, princes, and nations, and so drawn them to extreme calamity.  
This, if any province in Europe hath ever felt, surely our country, namely that part of base Germany that is subject to the most mighty king of Spain, hath and specially at this time to their great destruction most miserably suffered. For since that by the most false slanders and other corrupt crafty means of the Spanish Inquisitors, this country hath under pretence of heresy and impiety, been brought in grievous displeasure with the Emperor Charles the fifth of happy memory, and his son Philippe King of Spain and Lord of base Germany, and oppressed with most heinous Edicts about religion procured by guile and slanderoous report, and so hath of their great truth and obedience to their sovereign Lords now more than fifty years with incredible patience borne the Inquisitors most cruel yoke, and now at length after matters in other countries adjoining well settled to peace and quietness, and the truth of the cause commonly disclosed, hoped to find some release of so great calamity: it is now come to pass that the adversaries being grieved to see them aspire to such liberty of religion as by this time flourished not only in Germany but also in France and many other places, have in strange manner and with most earnest endeavour travailed, not only to frustrate the hope of the inhabitants, but also by bringing in a far more grievous tyranny, to pull from them all the residue of their right and liberty that they had remaining: and so to spoil such wealth ones of their goods, and such noble and mighty ones of their lives as they saw to be of ability to withstand their attempts.  
Therefore adjoining to them the Bishop of Rome, and having obtained his Bull, they did by sundry slanders and with extreme importunacy wrest from the King an edict against all the Privileges of the country, against their laws, ordinances, and ancient liberties, namely, for the precise observing of the decrees of the Counsel of Trent, and for bringing in of new Bishops, that should put in execution throughout the whole land a new form of Inquisition, far more cruel than the very Spanish Inquisition which was first invented against jews and Mahometan Apostates, and so in short time should openly bring a most flourishing and free Province into the most dishonourable servage of strangers, and those most villainous and abominable persons, to torment at their pleasure the honestest and best men upon suborning of any infamous informer, or most corrupt witness, with bonds, with rack, with gallows and with fire, to thrust the wealth out of their possessions, to subdue the magistrates themselves to their jurisdiction, and to make themselves Lords of all, & specially to destroy utterly and with most exquisite torments to murder and root up all those that refused to obey the Bishop of Rome's power, and would have their consciences subject to the only word of God contained in the books of the old and new Testament.  
This matter giving just occasion to the Nobility that they exhibited supplication for stay thereof to the Duchess of Parma Regent there for the King, and in the same declared what calamity would thereof undoubtedly ensue: and likewise when the commonalty having heretofore used their religion within their private houses, and seeing the same thereby subject to slanders and envy, did now by laying it open in public preachings and assemblies to the indifferent judgement and examination of all good men, deliver it from false and cavillous reports: it came to pass that the adversaries hereupon took occasion by raising of sundry tumults most hatefully to incense the King against the whole people, as guilty of the most heinous crimes of heresy, rebellion, sedition, and treason against God and the King. And where his majesty was fully determined to come into the low conteyr and him self in person to hear the cause, and to end the whole matter according to right and equity, they partly by subtle crafty means and very traitorous practices purposely devised for the destruction of the people of that country, and partly by the importunate labour and impudent greedy endeavour of certain persons, and partly also by advises and threatenings procured from forene parts, even in manner against his will brought him to this that being grievously incensed against his subjects, suddenly altering his former purpose, he sent thither in his stead with most large Commission to hear the cause and dispose of the state of the common weal, the Duke of Alva a man both a most assured minister of their Inquisition, and for old grudges a most bitter enemy to the Princes and state of the low country.  
He coloring his own malicious affections with the glorious pretence of zeal to restore the romish religion and to chastise Rebels, it is incredible to tell how great and how outrageous cruelty he hath each-where executed upon the poor inhabitants of the low country, without respect or difference: by how many and how strange devices he hath rob all men's goods: how he hath spoiled the whole Province of all their ornaments, disarmed them of their defences, deprived them of their liberties, and stripped them out of their laws and privileges: how every honest man he hath condemned by private warrant without judicial order, every the most innocent man's blood he hath shed, every most virtuous person he hath put to most vile shame, all laws of God and man he hath violated, the bands of marriage he hath broken, the Sacrament of Baptism he hath polluted, all order of charity and friendly society he hath overthrown; finally no part of most extreme cruelty and such as never was heard of before hath he omitted. And yet in the mean time he ceaseth not to throw upon us the blame of his heinous facts, and by proclamations published & by infamous libels printed openly to all princes and states to accuse us of most grievous crimes, for this only cause forsooth that in fleeing we gave place to his fury, and by the help of God's protection have escaped his sword most thirsty of our bloods.  
All which things, forasmuch as almighty God hath so determined that we should for a time be here afflicted by the tyranny of the wicked, we would have thought it best for us to pass over in silence and in patience, and to wait for the time which the great judge hath appointed, either for bringing our innocency to knowledge, or for opening the eyes and ears of our King to understand our unjust misery and just complaint, were it not that we do plainly see that such our silence, specially in this so sacred and so full assembly of your majesty most victorious Emperor, and of your highnesses most noble Princes, might hereafter bring no small prejudice to us and our innocency before such to whom the truth shall not be sufficiently known. For by such mean the son of God jesus Christ himself, and his doctrine which we profess according to his word, should become subject to the most heinous slanders of the adversaries, as if the professors thereof before this so reverend judgement seat of Christendom, before so upright and uncorrupt judges, before this theatre so furnished with so great assembly of sundry nations, were by silent confession found guilty, not only of heresy and pestilent ungodly error, but also of shameful rebellion, of wicked sedition and disturbance of common peace.  
Wherefore we have utterly determined, that we can not with good peace of conscience longer keep silence. But for as much as we know that the order of these usual assemblies of the states of the sacred Empire have their chief respect to this end, that such as be oppressed by force and injury may hear present their compleintes as to the chief throne of justice in Christendom: we thought it our duty to declare our whole estate to your majesty most mighty Emperor and to your highnesses most noble Princes, and to open unto you the very original fountains of this our most grievous calamity, that if the mercy of God have decreed to make an end of our so great miseries we may by your goodness and liberality begin to take breath again after this most heavy weight of oppression: If not, yet the cause being more thoroughly heard, we shall before indifferent judges deliver our innocency from the most unjust slanders of our adversaries. Whereby, if nothing else, yet this we shall obtain that from henceforth our religion and the profession of the Gospel shall not bear the infamy of so grievous crimes with them that heretofore being filled with the accusations of the adversaries have not understood the truth: and that jesus Christ the son of God whose name we profess shall not be wounded through us, and finally that we shall not as enemies of public peace and quietness be expelled from common society by forrene Princes and peoples which is the chief things that our enemies do seek, but that the whole truth being thoroughly understood, the whole original of the mischiefs shall be justly laid upon them that inflamed with their own greedy malices do tumble up all things, and such good and innocent men as they have by wrong and tyranny spoiled of their goods and can not yet bereave of their lives, they labour to oppress with most vile slanderous reports to your majesty O Emperor, and your highnesses O noble Princes, that so they may draw you into the fellowship of their cruelty, and by your help they may either satisfy their unsatiable thirst with our blood, or glut their most bitter hatred that they have conceived against us with our destruction.  
Which thing that they shall not obtain, your equity, truth, and uprightness, and our innocency, do assure us. In confidence whereof we prostrate us at your feet, we flee to your protection and mercy, & crave help of your religiousness justice & uprightness: and we most humbly beseech you, that preserving the justice of law, ye will vouchsafe most mercifully to defend our miserable and afflicted innocency against the outrageous power and unbridled boldness of our enemies.  
That ye may understand how justly ye may do it, & that ye may clearly perceive in whom the fault of the whole mischief resteth, we beseech your majesty most invincible Emperor, & your highnesses most noble Princes, that at leisure ye will gently and diligently read this book annexed to this our supplication, wherein with the truth of the whole history, we declare our innocency to all men: and that with the same patience and equity of mind that you use to receive the complaints of all miserable and innocent persons, it may please you also to understand our cause, and to your power deliver us out of these calamities. So shall ye show yourselves worthy ministers to the sovereign king of kings & supreme judge, and shall stir up our hearts to be continual suitors to his grace and mercy for you.   

IT is now near a hundred years ago sins the most noble Ferdinand and Isabella King and Queen of Castille, 
The beginning of the Spanish Inquisition, and of the Inquisitors power in Spain.  having ended their great and long war against the Mahometans which had invaded inhabited and troubled the kingdom of Spain by the space of almost viii. hundred years, and having chased the said enemies out of all Spain and recovered the kingdom of Granada, gave their mind to establish religion, and to root out all the remnants of the wicked Mahumetane and jewish sects. The charge hereof was committed to the Freres of Dominikes sect, who had wholly possessed the Kings and queens heart, & ears with a great estimation of holiness and wisdom: and therewith was also given them full authority in all things that might seem requisite to so great a matter. They supposing themselves to have so obtained a most commodious occasion to advance their own power and dignity, persuaded the King and Queen that for atcheving thereof a most extreme and unmovable seneritie was necessary. And as though the dealing with religion pertained not to the civil magistrate, but properly belonged to Friars who as it were by a peculiar name called themselves religious men and to priests, they said it was necessary that a new court of Inquisitors should be erected, to whom not only the hearing and determining of such matters, but also the whole judgement of all religion whatsoever it were, should with full power be committed. The well meaning Princes, which only directed their intention, by any way howsoever it were, to advance the Christian faith lightly gave credit to those whom they thought to excel other men in pureness of life and holiness, and therewith committed to those themselves that were the inventors thereof the whole power of the Inquisitors office to use according to their own discretion. Thereto was added the confirmation of pope Sixtus the fourth then bishop of Rome. For he laboured with all his endeavour and earnest affection not only to establish but also to advance and magnify the four orders of Freres then lately sprung up.  
To which his purpose he saw the zeal of the King and Queen of Spain to be a very fit mean. Wherefore by his authority, which then was at the greatest that ever it was sins the world began, and by his Bull he confirmed and ratified this new judicial throne, and new kingdom of Inquisitors. So this power upholden both by the Royal and papal authority, in short time marvelously increased. And sith there is no man whom the right order of religion concerneth not, by this pretence they easily got to themselves the jurisdiction and judgement over all men of all estates and degrees And by this mean within short while after, they began to be Lords over all men's goods, possessions, lives and consciences, till of unmeasurable power arose in them pride and covetousness, and consequently thereof grew the hatred of all men against them, so as now woman thought them any longer tolerable. Therefore by the counsel and means of certain bishops and other of the clergy that were in great estimation and credit in Spain, which repined to be subject to the dominion of the Freres, it was procured that by the kings authority the power of Inquisition was taken from the dominicans and given to the clergy, and it was ordered that out of the bishops and other priests should be chosen the masters of the Inquisition, which should in deed use the travail and advise of the dominicans, but yet should still reserve to themselves the sovereign power of the Inquisitors office. These, either for that they had some fervent zeal of religion, or for that they cunningly cloaked their ambitious pride, partly with wonderful opinion of holiness, partly by the favour and power of Princes and men of great authority to whom they were joined in friendship, kin or alliance, partly also by corrupt and secret devices, in short time advanced this their new raised empire to so great a height, that now they not only used dominion at their pleasure over the commonalty, but also brought into subjection to the holy Inquisition all the liberty of all the people, & estates of the realm, they broke privileges and immunities, they abated the dignity of the Nobility whom they call The grand counsel with out whose authority in time past nothing was decreed in Spain: finally under pretence of religion and service of God they usurped to themselves sovereign power over the king himself, and over the majesty of the royal sceptre: all noble men and persons of any credit whom they thought in any wise able to hinder their enterprises, they caused to be accused of heresy and cruelly killed them, or defaced them with most reproachful note of open shame, such as should remain upon all their posterity, and so made them infamous and of odious memory for ever.  
These devices though to many men they seemed strange and intolerable, yet both because they were principally provided against the most hateful enemies of Spain and of Christian religion, namely the Moors, Mahometans and jews, and also for that they bleared most men's eyes with the pretence of God's service and opinion of holiness, and finally for that they not a little availed to the enriching of the kings treasury now greatly wasted with many wars, to whose use the one moiety of the goods of all persons condemned was employed, they were daily more and more established by the earnest favours, authority and power of the most part of the mightiest persons and specially of the King and Queen themselves, until the Arragonoyes who are the principal province of Spain both in right of ancient liberty, in nobility, and largeness of dominion, openly resisted. They, when they nothing prevailed with king Ferdinand by humble and lowly petition, attempted by force and arms to keep out this pestilence from their country, for that they plainly saw that their liberty which they had received most large and incredible from their ancestors, and hitherto kept inviolate should by this mean be destroyed, and that themselves and all theirs should be made subject to the most dishonourable tyranny of the clergy. But they prevailed not. For after many troubles, much destruction and bloodshed, they were compelled maugre their wills and perforce, as the residue of Spain did, to yield their necks to stoop under this yoke of Inquisition so that the same province, than which in time passed there was none of more freedom, is now in such case as at this day there is none to be found in more servitude & subjection. By terror of which example, and by great opinion of holiness which the Inquisitors had gotten by the good success in this case, it came to pass that they subdued all Spain unto them without any further resistance.  
But as the greedy desires of men are naturally unmeasurable and unsatiable, 
The enlarging of the Inquisitors dominion.  this lust of dominion could not long be contained within the bounds of Spain though they be full large, but, still forsooth with the same plausible pretence of stablishing religion they bent their mind to enlarge their empire, and promised themselves the rule of the whole world. For there is scarcely any country which in short space following they attempted not to make subject to them, even by the same subtle means whereby they had daunted Spain. For they compelled both the chief part of Italy and many islands both of the Middland and ocean seas, and England itself (though not for long time to yield their necks to this halter of Inquisition. Yea they not only ranged over to the uttermost Indians, and to the far distantes lands severed from us by the huge stream of the Ocean but also under pretence of ordering religion they spoiled the poor and simple inhabitants of those countries of all their goods and possessions, and of their wives, children and lives, yea and cruelly like butchers tearing them with all kind of torments they slew them by heaps, and brought them to such misery and wretched plight, that a great number of them chose rather to slay themselves, than to come under such cruel subjection of unnatural men. Yea not long ago they employed all their counsels & all their practices, and left no way unassayed, to bring whole Germany in slavery under the same yoke. And so far with the authority and threatenings of the bishops of Rome did they drive on the Emperor Charles the fift of famous memory even in a manner against his will and long withholding himself, that the best and most noble princes he proclaimed traitors, and made most deadly war upon them as upon sworn enemies, and under the pretended cloak of rebellion armed the protestant princes the one against the other, he brought the free cities into most dishonourable slavery of the Spanish soldier, and made the majesty of the most noble and sacred empire, subject to the lust and untolerable desires of most villainous persons. Which most cruel yoke, if partly the valeancie of the German princes, and partly the equity and gentle favour of the Emperor himself at length perceiving the matter as truth was, had not shaken of or taken away, whole Germany might long ago have been in such case as now is that parcel thereof from whence are now most unjustly banished and forced to sue for and plead, the cause of our afflicted country, oppressed not only with most grievous tyranny, but also with most unworthy slanders: and to protest before almighty God and all mankind, that there is no other cause of our calamity but even the same which had near overwhelmed whole Germany, namely the greedy ambition of these men that under pretence of stablishing religion, labour to enlarge their dominion throughout the whole by right or wrong. And so much the more earnestly they endeavour to bring it into the low country of Germany, because it is by alliance of the princes, by the community of one king, and by ancient intercourse of merchandise and conversation somewhat nearly conjoined unto them, & therefore of long time they think that they may lawfully enforce upon us the Spanish laws and ordinances, Spanish manners and the Spanish yoke of Inquisition, abrogating all our country laws, abolishing all memory of the German name, destroying our privileges and oppressing our liberty.  

The subtle means and devices of the Inquisitors.  When they long sins espied, that the country though it be not great, yet flourisheth in wealth and power, and is so fenced against foreign force not only with strong towns and castles, but also with good laws and ordinances, & with large privileges prerogatives immunities and other liberties, that so long as it hath her own prince's favour, it is easily able to defend her ancient freedom: they have these many years evidently purposed and practised diverse ways to bring the inhabitants into suspicion and displeasure both with the Emperor Charles the fift and with king Philip his son, to accuse them for heretics and rebels, and so to persuade to have them esteemed as enemies and traitors: that by this mean, the country which for many respects they accounted most commodious for their purpose, might be spoiled of all right of liberty, subdued, and added to their dominion.  
Sometime they pretended this colour, that the signiories were to many and too several, sometime that in respect of the number of signiories, the laws, customs, and ordinances were too diverse: sometime they alleged that the people were to wild and proud by reason of their privileges immunities and liberties, sometime they brought the king in controversy of the too great wealth and power of his subjects: sometime they informed that the intercourse & trafiques of foreign nations were suspicious. Finally, they left nothing untried that might any way seem to serve to aggrieve his mind toward them. Principally they urged this one thing that the ancient liberty of assembly of the estates in parliaments that hath continued in all ages greatly abateth the power of the prince, for that their both by most ancient usage of their forefathers it was so provided, and by the promises and covenants of the princes themselves confirmed with their oaths it was so ordained, that the princes should not decree or do any thing to the prejudice of the people's liberty or of the authority of their laws without the will and assent of the estates of the whole country: and that therefore they more regarded the acts of the Estates than the king's proclamations that they esteemed the king not as a king but as some common Duke or Earl, or rather guardian of their right & laws, to govern the common weal not by his own authority but after a prescribed form of laws and the ordinances of the estates: moreover that as it is in most free common weals, so they yearly created of them selves magistrates, 
Burrow-maisters.  & burrowmasters with sovereign power of negative voice: that strangers are deharred from bearing office in the common weal: & ecclesiastical men by the laws and statutes of the land are excluded from power of jurisdiction, & so the way stopped up for the princes nearest & faithfullest servants to attain any government. These and such like things (say they) in times past have often even occasion to the commonalty proudly to disobey the commandment of their princes, yea & to burden their Lords and princes to laws and conditions, yea and if their Princes attempted any thing against the usage and will of the estates, they have presumed to chasten them some time with penalties, sometime with imprisonment, and sometime with deposing them. 
This appeareth by the Spaniards own history, written by Alfons. Vloa, and printed in Dutch at Dilling. For there they confess that this was their purpose to reduce the whole country to a kingdom like Sicily & Naples.  These things (said they) are not to be suffered of Princes. Therefore they long most earnestly travailed with Charles the Emperor, and with Philip his son, that the whole country might be reduced into one body, and made subject to one form of laws and jurisdiction, & brought to the name and title of a kingdom, and that, abrogating the power of popular magistrates and laws, it might be governed with new laws by discretion as the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples be, that have been achieved by conquest. Wherein when they saw that they laboured in vain, both because the states of all the towns most strifly withstood it, and perhaps also for that the Emperor himself began to smell their sinister purposes and untrue meaning, they differed that matter to a more commodious season, and this yet by the way with their importunate slanderoous cavilings they obtained, that afterward he would never in any wise suffer the solemn parliaments, or general assemblies of the estates of all the provinces to be kept as it had been used in his progenitors times, and that he placed in governance Ecclesiastical men and such as not only by the law of God, the civil and canon laws, but also by the ancient custom of the country & by sundry decrees of the Dukes of Burgundy were excluded from judicial offices and from bearing civil rule in the common weal.  

The occasion & manner of the Inquisition and the edicts in the low country.  Finally to make themselves in easier way to that dominion that they had conceived, under pretence of stablishing religion, they with importunacy procured such rigorousness of edicts against those that professed the doctrine of the Gospel, as never any country, never any city, never any common weal had seen before. For they had fully persuaded him, 
The very words of the Edict, dated at worms the 8. of May. 1521  as is also contained in the express words of the edict that Luther, whose doctrine those did follow, professed the Pelagian error, set nought by all the holy fathers and doctors of the Church abolished all Magistrates, overthrew all civil governance and politic order, stirred up the people to take armure, made them apt to murder, steal, waist and destroy with fire, and finally gave every one leave to live as he listed.  
In the which Peter a Soto a Spaniard his confessor, & one of the masters of the Spanish Inquisition not of the meanest sort did further them very much. By the which persuasion they easily enforced the Emperor Charles a prince otherwise by nature gentle and merciful, to decree, and 
1 That the assent of the estates was not taken, it is manifest by the very words of the Edicts, by the which the estates, governors, and magistrates of the provinces were commanded with most grievous punishments to establish those Edicts, and to see them executed, and it is declared that in the behalf of the bishop of Rome they were made only by the artrement of the king.  without the assent of the estates to publish, and from time to time to renew most cruel Edicts, and such as seem rather to be written with blood, then with ink, not that he meant to have them executed with extremity, but that he hoped by the terror of this unaccustomed cruelty to call the people's minds from the study of of that religion, which he in conscience accounted wicked of the which his hope and meaning he gave no small proof in that 
2 That exposition was made and sealed in the year 1550. the month of September.  exposition of the Edicts, which he afterwards set out, wherein it was appointed, that the Magistrates should by all means possible somewhat mitigate the extreme & immoderate cruelty of the former edicts, but the good masters of the Spanish Inquisition did soon by their craft & subtlety suppress that exposition, and it came at length to that tyranny that they did not only execute the full rigour of the Edicts, but they observed also a new kind of Inquisition, not much unlike to the Inquisition of Spain, that thereby they might attain unto the full authority of that office & function, which they had long before obtained of the bishops of Rome. Therefore in the year of our Lord God. 1550. when the king of Spain was authorized in Belgie, with great and importunate suits they obtained an Edict as concerning their Inquisition, whereby they did usurp & take upon them so much authority, and power of the Citizens, and inhabitans of the whole province, as they thought sufficient for the subverting of the ancient liberties, & for the disannulling of all their accustomed privileges, but the senators and the estates of Brabant with long & earnest suit first stopped this their wicked enterprise, and afterward the most noble princes Marie of famous memory Queen of Hungary with great faith, singular piety, & with no less wisdom suppessed it. For both when the Emperor Charles was at the counsels holden at Augusta, she went unto him, and obtained that the cruelty of the Edicts should be somewhat mitigated, and that the whole name & purpose of the Inquisition should be omitted, and also many times after she stoutly set herself against the deceitful dealings, and rash attempts of the Inquisitors and divines, in so much that at the length by their letters sent into Spain she was accused of heresy before the Emperor. But she always bend her whole intent, and purpose to keep the people of Belgie in the emperors good grace and favour, & to her power to take away all the envy and hatred wherewith they were oppressed of their adversaries. With the which her most merciful and wise dealing she so faithfully joined the hearts of the subjects towards their prince, that they for her sake thought no burden to be refused, in so much that in many things they did most willingly prefer her gracious favour and good will before the right of their ancient liberties granted by the laws & statutes of their progenitors. For in all restraints, tasks, tributes, or levies they showed themselves at the first commandment so obedient, that the princes could desire nothing, which was not delivered them with full consent of all their good wills, and that with speed. So that almost for the space of ten years, they did gladly maintain that great, doubtful, and most dangerous war, which was made against the most mighty kings of France, & they most willingly bestowed the greatest part of the charges thereof, the which by common books of account may be proved to surmount the some of xl. thousand millions of Florence: neither did they give at any time so much, as a small suspicion of rebellion.  
Although in the mean time nevertheless these good masters of the Inquisition (while Charles reigned by the coloured show of the foresaid Edicts, and 
1 In the year 1555. 1. of December.  in the beginning of king Philip's reign by the grant of a new Edict bearing with it the kings authority, which they purchased by their subtle wiles, & crafty persuasions) raiged most furiously in the most part of Belgie, but especially in Flaunders, Hannonie, Artesia, Turnete, and Insule, & in many places of Holland, robbing spoiling, and most butcherly murdering, the people with furious violence and extreme tyranny. 
2 In the year 1556. 17. janua.  From the which they abstained, lest that their deceit, and subtlety being detected, this foresaid commandment wrested out by craft, should by the kings new letters patents be called in again. Neither yet were they without their friends in the Court, which being daily conversant with the king did always cloak and cover their cruelty and insatiable avarice with the veil of godly Religion. At the length the king having ended his war against the French men, and preparing to take his journey into Spain, his subjects for their singular obedience, and their most faithful readiness in all affairs, thought they might justly hope for some release from their other burdens, but chiefly and especially they persuaded themselves, that they should have the yoke of the Inquisition taken from their shoulders. But the king was so far from satisfying their expectation, that he did not only not remit, or mitigate the cruelty used to them before, but also increased, and augmented the tyranny, even as though their peace & other matters had been for none other cause concluded, but that they might the frelyer spoil poor men of their goods, and most cruelly torment their consciences, 
1 This may be proved by the letters & patents sent to the Cities, in the year. 1559 in August.  For at that time especially the Inquisitors by their old accustomed deceits, and by the feigned show of setting forward religion, obtained of the king new letters patents to all princes, and magistrates of every City, by the which the rigouresnes of the former Edicts was not only openly confirmed, but also by the grant of many things contrary to the right, and privileges of their ancient liberties very much increased. With these letters the Inquisitors being armed after the kings departure, spoiled the poor people being clean beggared before of the remnant of their riches, they deprived cities and towns of their privileges, they most cruelly murdered the chief of the Citizens, having first spoiled them of their goods destroying some with the burden of rheynes, & long imprisonment, some by most cruel torments, some by the gallows, some by sword, some by fire, burying some quick, and drowning other: ye & that before their cause was pleaded, and many times at midnight contrary to the accustomed manner of executing justice.  

A new creation of bishops.  And that nothing should be wanting unto them whereby they might bring in this their holy Inquisition, too the utter abandoning, and subverting the liberties and privileges of the whole provinces, & commit the chief authority to strangers, yea to those only which were Priests and church men, contrary to all the orders and decrees of the former princes, and contrary to the king's covenant confirmed by oath: & whereby they might challenge unto themselves not only full power & jurisdiction of all matters, but also the sovereign authority over all men's goods, riches, wives, children, yea over their lives also, & might captivate and make subject unto them selves the full power of all magistrates, and set the same forth to open sale at their pleasure, they begin with a new policy the old web of their Inquisition, which they had compassed in their minds, but not as yet throughly finished. 
1 Not long before the kings departure, only Granduellanus & Viglius, & three or iiij. more only knowing thereof.  For when all the kings nobles and counsellors were departed from him, they persuaded him that it was necessary for the maintenance of the catholic religion to appoint new bishops, which should be the Inquisitors of faith. The charge hereof was committed to Somnus a divine of Lovine, he going to Rome with great diligence brought his matter to pass in short space as he desired, he divided the provinces as he was commanded by Granduellanus, in the which he left not the power & jurisdiction of the 
2 As the bishops of Leodia, Monasteria, Cameracensia, and Traiectia.  princes of the empire untouched, so far was he from letting the other bishops, & nobles to escape, he 
1 As Granuellanus Viglius, Cancellarius Niger.  made certain men bishops, which had spent their whole study and travail all their life time in the administration of civil affairs, whereof 
2 These may be proved by the public testimony of the province, & by the bishop's sermons, & by all their doings.  some of them for their wit and learning were accounted as fools, and others for their unchaste life and odious crimes were famous with most notable infamy. He assigned unto Granduellanus the archbishopric of Meclenia with the abbacy of Afflegamensia, the richest & most wealthiest of all Belgie, that is to say, he gave him the sovereign authority of all things, he appointed to Viglius the Bishopric of Gandavia, but to himself he reserved the bishopric of Buscoducia, and adjoined thereunto many of the most wealthiest abbeys, the which were evident signs and tokens of the eminent calamities & public bondage, he imparted to the rest as their office and charged required, 
3 This is proved by the Cardinals decree made at Rome by the Pope's commandment.  but to every one he obtained licence to appoint new prebends in his cathedral Church, they which should be bound always to serve and help the bishop in his Inquisition throughout his Diocese, whereof two of them were always Inquisitors by office, the rest should seize upon the goods confiscate, and serve for proctures to accuse the guilty, and every magistrate was bound to aid every one of these with his full power and force. It was lawful for strangers to attain to these bishoprics, under which pretence the whole province might easily, and in short time be made subject to the spaniards inventors and masters of this Inquisition.  
And thus this stranger and up start Granduellanus borne of a base degree, and most obscure parentage, with that slavish sect of the Spanish Inquisitors doth 
1 For by all the laws and privileges of Brabant and their other provinces all ecclesiastical persons were excluded from all function of judgements, and jurisdiction, and all strangers are removed from taking of offices, and authority, & the divisions of bishoprics, and abbeys are before appointed, & the accustomed manner of giving judgement for ever ratified, and all power is denied to the princes to change any thing therein without the assent of the estates.  contrary to the whole liberty of the people, contrary to the laws of the City, contrary to the privileges of the province granted & confirmed by the kings oath, contrary to all former promises, contrary to all rights and customs of our progenitors, contrary to the making of laws, the foundations of old abbeys, the jurisdiction of bishoprics, the privileges and immunities of towns, by force thrust upon the provinces of Belgie this new creation of bishops. He goeth about partly with flattering promises, partly with fearful threatenings to induce many cities & magistrates to apply themselves to his censure and judgement, and to some Cities he causeth bishops to be given them will they nill they. The rest of the Cities a great many in number do openly resist, and think that the innovation of all these things so manifest contrary to the laws of all antiquities, & to their old & accustomed privileges is not to be suffered. Likewise many abbeys, but especially in Brabant, because their Abbates being dead none was appointed to succeed, do resist, and grievously complain to the rest of the bishops, and estates of Brabant, of so great, and so manifest injury. But when they saw their doings to be in vain, because Granduellanus did with great force withstand them, they taking unto them the rest of the estates, put up a Supplication unto their governess for the abrogating of this disordered order of bishops. She denieth her authority to reach so far, and referreth the matter to the king. Therefore by & by they sand their Ambassadors to the king into Spain, which with humble petition should require, that his majesty would not suffer their state and condition to be altered, contrary to their old & accustomed privileges, and to the laws of their progenitors. But with 
1 1562. 27. Februa.  open denial they have the repulse. Not long after do the estates of Brabant urge the governess again, and crave that their cause might be heard, and judgement given with equity, 
2 1562. 5. Maij.  but there suit was all in vain for she answered that it did nothing belong unto her. The Magistrate of Antwerp with 
3 One bill was put up and subscribed unto, in the year. 1562. 23. janua. an other. 1562. 18. of March. And an other. 1562. 23. March.  many bills, & diverse petitions did go about to stay this innovation of things. He openly refuseth the bishops, and besides that 
4 1562. In june they put up many Supplications.  sendeth Ambassadors into Spain to the king. They after much ado, and long soliciting of the matter, obtained at the length 
5 1562. 20. of December, and 3. August. 1563.  licence to be exempted from the bondage of the new Bishops.  
In the mean time Granduellanus never ceased by most subtle and crafty means, and that openly to achieve and win unto himself the full power of governing the common wealth, & covertly to 
6 This is known by the testimony of the governess given in the assembly of the nobles.  remove from all authority the governess of Parmenia, as one not expert enough in the Belgians affairs, to 
7 The deed itself proveth it.  ordain, and appoint Magistrates in every City at his pleasure, 
1 This is proved by the nobles complaints given to the king.  to break of and disturb the great Senate, not long before appointed by the king, and was called the noble counsel, being the solemn assembly of the princes & governors of the whole province (which 
2 That was Granduellanus his study.  he a little before, had with false persuasions unto the king very much blemished, and made subject to to the counsel & Senate house of Spain, as it were to their guide) to cut in pieces all their decrees, 
All Belgie can testify this.  and to rule and appoint all things alone, according to his own will and pleasure, and by a new form of indulgences, (as they term them) to bring in the Spanish manner of distributing of benefices, and offices, both Civil and Ecclesiastical the which he abused according to his pleasure, he challenged the whole power of indulgences to himself, leaving notwithstanding some of them to Viglius, by this means, when offices or benefices were vacant, he some times stayed the gift of them for a long space, and some times again upon the first day of their vacation set them out to open sail, and sometimes he twice sold them. The price he divided openly with his brokers, and proctors, he accounted himself the Archbishop of Meclynia, & Metropolitan not only of Brabant, but also of the whole province of Belgie. And when he had received from the Pope his Cardinals bat, he disdained all princes in respect of himself. He mightily threatened those Cities, which refused to submit themselves to the bishops bondage, he openly did boast and say, that the king could not maintain his honour, and authority in Belgie, without the Spanish power, & foreign aid. He said it was altogether necessary, that the king should be released by the bishop of Rome from his oath, wherewith he bond himself by covenant, to maintain the privileges of his subjects, & that he should convert this his lawful inheritance into a province, making it captive which before was free, as if it had been won by force of arms, or conquered by battle, & not enjoyed by succession of ancient patrimony, and briefly that he should make them new laws, and invent some new kind of regiment for them like captives taken in war. 
1 This his saying was heard of many and signified to the nobles, and confirmed by the kings legates letters.  He said moreover that it was necessary for the performance hereof, that 4. or 5. of the noble men should lose their heads, in whose authority and careful prudence, the health and safety of the people, and the only hope of their liberties was thought to consist. To conclude he openly contemning the whole company of the primates and nobles, and the governess of Permenia herself, behaving himself both as King and Bishop, by force and violence, maketh his friends and clients, some of them Bishops, and some of them Inquisitors.  

1 The resistance of the noble men.  When as the Princes and noble men of the province saw no end of his madness, they thought it most expedient for themselves, and for the state of the whole common weal, wholly to withstand his rashness, perceiving indeed manifestly, that if by some means or other he were not stayed or repressed, the people (though most patient & loving subjects towards the king) could not long be retained in their duty of obedience: neither yet did they attempt then any thing by force or violence, or by any crafty and wicked enterprise, but they withstood him only by making humble supplication to the King, fully certifying his Majesty, that if those rigorous judgements were executed still with such cruelty, and that worthy Citizens were oppressed with such great tyranny, in so great a corruption and common pollution of all estates, it was impossible to retain the people any longer in their accustomed duty, and faithful obedience, but that doubtless the public slaughter and common destruction of the whole province, was with speed to be looked for, unless his prudence, foreseing the mischief did seek some remedy for it with all expedition. 
1 1562. the month of August.  Baron of Montignie one of the order of the golden fleece was sent ambassador for the performance hereof. But not long after he returned, not speeding of his purpose. And no marvel why, for in Spain all things were no less governed by the Inquisitors authority, than they were ruled in Belgye by the Cardinals will and pleasure.  
But in the mean space whilst the liberty of religion was appointed in France, and published with full consent, the Cities of Belgie, bordering upon the Frenchmen, began openly in public assemblies, and common preachings to profess the religion of the Gospel, which for the space of forty years before, they kept close in their private houses. Which thing they did partly, because otherwise they see they could not avoid the slanders and reproachful opprobries, wherewith their private meetings and secret conference were openly and commonly defamed amongst the people: and partly because they saw the daily increase of those which professed the gospel to be so great, that private houses could not longer contain them: So that it was necessary either to let the citizens leaving their cities void of men, fly to their old enemies the Frenchmen, or else to satisfy the earnest desire of the people in that one point, which in all other things was most obedient. But by and by the extreme tyranny of the Inquisition, and the barbarous cruelty of the punishments, somewhat repressed them, though (God be praised) it could not altogether extinguish them. The more openly they professed their faith, the more vehemently did Granduellanus seek to increase the number of the new bishops, insomuch that contrary to the will of the nobles, he attempted to deprive the citizens of Antwerp of the kings benevolence towards them, whereby they obtained their liberty, and were made free from that extreme bondage. He stirred so long in this matter, that there had been like to have been a great sedition, if Armenter the Spayniard had not been sent again to the king, by the consent and counsel of the governess and nobles, who plainly should certify the king that the people could not any longer be kept in subjection, & that the princes themselves would renounce their authority, and leave of the ruling of the common wealth, unless it would please the kings majesty to pluck in the reins of this untamed cardinal, to repress and withstand his unbridled madness, to deliver his poor subjects from the yoke of his tyranny, to make frustrate his purpose of new alterations, and finally indeed to confirm and establish his liberality and benefit bestowed and granted to the Citizens of Antwerp.  
This pitiful complaint so moved the king, that he showed himself very angry, 
The departure of Granduellanus. 1564.  & heavily displeased with Granduellanus, and thereupon depriving him of all his authority, called him home presently from Belgye. By whose departure all the whole province of low Germany breathed upon, as it were with a more pleasant and fresh air, did seem somewhat to rest and comfort itself, until such time as those good bishops of Spain did put the king in remembrance, and caused him (according to their pleasure) to lay the heavy yoke of the Inquisition upon the provinces of Belgye again: and to will the bishops to execute the cruelty of the Edicts: and that they should moreover diligently urge again the due reverence of the counsel of trident. The cardinals ministers (which as his chief friends and succourers Granuellanus had left in great authority at his departure) do set this matter abroach to the uttermost of their power, and therewithal (according to that state of government which he left when he departed) they easily wrong into their own hands the whole rule and authority of the common weal. They do govern three courts of the counsellors at their pleasure: they spoil the noble men of all their authority: finally they determine and appoint all things according to their lewd appetite even as though Granuellanus himself were there present among them in authority: nothing less seeking to set up their Inquisition, and to establish their bishops, than they did before. They exercised all kind of cruelty against those that professed Christ's Gospel, seeking to extirpate and root them out with the gallows, fire, and sword, in such sort, that at the same time at Antwerp, which is an earldom of the holy Empire, besides an infinite number whom they did destroy some by day, and some by night, most cruelly, openly, and in the midst of the marketstead, they struck one to the heart with a dagger as they were a burning of him under a jubbet, because they saw that both the cruelty of the punishment, and the honesty and godliness of the man being well known unto all men did stir up the people to pitiful complaint and bewailing of his case. There was also an other man taken with him, whose pardon the noble prince Elector of Palentine (because for his honesty he loved him, & because he was teacher & master of the school at Hedelberge) did most earnestly sue for. But they wicked tyrants would not dismiss him, before he was almost consumed to death with a sickness taken with long imprisonment and by the filthy smell and savour thereof.  
But to what purpose should I recite their extreme tyranny, wherewith they oppressed those cities in the which they might do what they list, with more authority and less danger? seeing their boldness was so notable, that in Cameraces a City, by all ancient and undoubted right of the Emperors, without controversy, obeying his laws and statutes, they were not afeard to apprehended an honest & godly man, because he preferred up unto the Magistrates a bill of supplication in the name of no less than a M. Citizens, by whom he was chosen and appointed to execute that charge, whose request was nothing else, but that they might freely, & with the good leave of the Magistrate retain the confession made at Augusta, which they confess themselves to follow, yet notwithstanding they I say, were bold to apprehended him, & within less than 4. hours after, to behead him, though he did appeal from them to the emperors Majesty, infinite is the number of such things, which the committed contrary to all order of law, equity, or right, they caused every wise man with fear to look for some open rebellion of the people, or rather the utter subversion of the province, if there were not with speed some remedy taken. Therefore at the length in the name of the governess, & the nobles 
1 1565.  Egmundanus was sent unto the king with commission to declare unto his Majesty, that unless it would please him, to stay the rash enterprises of certain men, to mitigate the severity of the Edicts, and utterly to abolish the Inquisition, he should look for the eminent destruction of the whole province, the king answered him very gently, and promised to pleasure his province of Belgie, in any thing, they could reasonably request so that in short space, they should have all things well ordered, according to their hearts desire, he likewise gave them in charge, that they should take counsel together, and devise some means whereby they might, without any hindrance to the Catholic Religion, prevent & withstand such eminent dangers, promising faithfully to allow, & confirm that which they should lawfully devise. For the speedy performance hereof, at the return of Egmundanus to Belgie, there was appointed a counsel of three Bishops, three Divines, three Canonical Lawyers, and three Civilians, to whom the whole charge of finding this good order was committed.  
Not long after being moved thereto by the importunate suit of the Spanish Inquisitors and Bishops, and by the letters of Granduellanus, but especially compelled by the fearful threatenings of the Pope's Legates, thundering out not only excommunication, but also eternal damnation, except he did by all manner of means, yea though it were to the utter subversion of the whole province of Belgie, establish, and set up the Inquisition, and clean root out the left relics of the new religion, he changed his mind, & utterly refused the order of government devised in Belgie, not because it did not appoint most grievous torments for the Gospelers, or because it was far different from the rigorousness of the former Edicts, but because it seemed somewhat more remiss and merciful in certain points, 
1 The king's decree, by the which the tumults of Belgye began. 1565. December.  lastly by his letters he straightly commandeth that the Inquisition should be established and set up, throughout all Belgie, and that to the Inquisitors of every province, and the chief counsellors thereof, should adjoin them selves, and aid, and help them, with their counsel and force to the uttermost of their power, that all old Edicts should be executed in every point, the Bishops should be admitted and installed in every City, the decrees of the council of Trident should be published every where. And briefly that nothing should be omitted which serveth to the rooting out of those, which profess the Gospel. Moreover he very much blamed the judges and Magistrates of every province that they did not with more severity execute the pope's edicts & his decrees, attributing the cause of all heresies to their dissolute negligence and foolish pity.  
When these letters were received contrary to all men's expectation, & were sent to the Magistrates of every province, and that the kings last will was openly known and published, great heaviness, great trouble of mind, finally great fear and terror came upon them all. The estates of Brabantie put a bill to the governess, declaring that it neither could, nor aught to be brought to pass in that wise, in their province, yet they could get no certain answer, but one very dark & doubtful, and that a great while after, the same was done of the Flaundrians, the Namurcensians, the Geldrians, and of the other provinces next adjoining, yea and that the Church men and abbots, to be brief there was so great amaze & terror amongst all men, that they all of what degree or estate so ever they were of, feared their own safety: they see all their hope & confidence, which they were wont to put in their innocency and honest life, clean taken away. They see it impossible for any man to escape the rash attempts, the troublesome cavils, & malicious slanders of the wicked. For by this means, any man might convey into every good man's house, chamber, or chests, some of the forbidden books, of the which there was an innumerable company. And so 'cause them to be suspected, and accused of heresy: they did see also that no man could escape or a void the tyranny of the Edicts, because by them not only they which were found guilty, but all their neighbour's friends kinsmen, & acquaintance were likewise punished by most horrible death, unless they of themselves would betray their most dear and familiar friends. To conclude they did likewise see, that if they should cease & leave of from their purpose, all hope of forgiveness to be taken away, and that for their great benefits, and good will, they should be rewarded not only with great & infamous ignominy with bondage and troubles of conscience, but also with most extreme and cruel death. The which truly the barbarous cruelty of the Spanish Inquisition could never abide for they thus thought, and persuaded themselves, that if they, when for want of favour & authority they could scarce execute their office of Inquisition, did not omit any kind of cruelty, would now become intolerable free men seeing as that they have for their defence and safeguard the manifest and unmovable will of the king, the authority of the public Edites, the help, & industry of counsellors a great increase of new bishops, the glorious title of the council of Trident, the power of Magistrates, the violence, and force of sergeants and soldiers ready to defend them in the executing of their tyranny, and therefore every man was in most desperate fear. Neither did any persuade himself (except he were of the number of those Catchepoles and thieves, to avoid or put from his goods and substance, his wife and children, yea from his own head, so great calamity. If there were any, who for the great favour they were in, or for their great power and authority, might in this point have persuaded themselves security, as there were very few, yet because they did plainly foresee, that this tyranny continued would 'cause some tumults or open rebellion, they feared no less, than the rest did, the spoil of their goods and possessions, with loss of their lives. In this great astonishment of all men, & heaviness of the whole province? Many of the chiefest and wealthiest merchants, who persuaded themselves that their matter was in handling, and that the wicked did seek for their throats, or rather, by their throats their golden coffers, bags and jewels, preparing to fly, It came to pass that many of the nobility being moved with the public danger, and their own peril, both because the continual complaints, and murmurings of the people were daily brought unto them, and because their houses, and gorgeous palaces, being in the fields, were subject to the pray and spoil of every seditious tumult, thought it necessary with one consent to go unto the governess, and to make plain and open unto her, the miserable destruction and calamities which are incident and like to ensue to the king himself, to his loving subjects, to his Cities, and to his whole province, if this his Edict should have his full force and power, therefore when they had made a league or agreement amongst themselves as concerning this matter, and had promised that every one of them, (keeping their faith and loyalty to their king unviolated, should seek to the uttermost of their power the subversion, and overthrow of this Inquisition, and to 'cause the severity of the Edicts to be mitigated, 
1566. A coming together of the nobles. A supplication.  came together at Brussels the u of April very near three hundredth nobles, & Brederodes being their captain. They put up unto the governess, a bill of supplication in the which they required no liberty for themselves, or the people, no alteration of Religion, neither did they by their authority take upon them to prescribe any thing to the kings Majesty, but briefly rehearsing the dangerous perils & miserable calamities, which did then hung over their heads, they most humbly desired that the office of the Inquisitors, so manifestly against the kings honour, and the safety of the country might be taken away & abrogated. And that it would please the king and his counsel to devise some other Edict for the maintenance of Religion, to the which all the inhabiters of Belgie, of what state or condition so ever they were of, should be bound to obey, and that the execution of the Edicts might be so long stayed, till such time as that the nobles and estates of the country, after the manner of their ancestors, & according to the custom of all well ruled common wealths, might come together to the establishing of them by the kings authority. Moreover they protested that if by the contempt and neglecting of this their request, the common weal hereafter should fall into any danger, they themselves were by any right, not to be accused for it, seeing they had satisfied their duty in forwarning the same, this humble suit of the nobility was accounted just and godly, not only, of the rest of nobles, but also of the governess herself, of all the Senate, & of the whole concourse of people, so that by their common consent and open suffragies the Governess agreed, and promised to the uttermost of her power to get their request satisfied, and that she would sand her Ambassadors to the king, who should declare the whole matter unto him, and bring to pass, (if it were possible) that their request should be granted, and there withal they appointed the Baron of Montygay, and Marks Bergye to perform that legasie, and in the mean time, she promised, that their should be a vacation and respite from the execution of the cruel Edicts, and from the bloody butchery of the Inquisition, which she would faithfully perform, commanding the same by her authority, set forth by writing. This changed all their sorrow and heavy cheer into an inspeakable gladness, & made them all to hope well, In so much that not only they which had determined to fly before, did not only change their minds, but they which were gone all ready, took counsel how to come home again.  
These matters sore troubled the Cardinal's substitutes, the masters of the Spaynish inquisition, and the whole company of the bishops, and catchpoles, which had in their minds already devoured and swallowed up the goods and blood of the noblest and richest men in the country. And therefore they tried all manner of ways, how they might recover so rich a spoil, and so fat a prey, which was by this means by force plucked out from between their greedy jaws, they accused with most slanderous cavils, the force of the noble men, they go about to prove that it should be taken for a manifest sign of a rebellion toward, they affirm that the noble men seek only to raise a tumult, that thereby they might rush in by force upon other men's goods, that they might pay their debts with other men's riches, so craftily attained, yea that they did seek the death of all priests and sacrificers, and the subversion of churches, and the overthrow of cities: They feigned much more, the which they so cunningly persuaded the Governess, that she leaving Bruxill the most ancient demean and mansion of the Duke of Brabant, never determined to fly to any defected city, the which truly she would have done, if being persuaded by the noble men which they well knew the state of the country, she had not comforted herself, & plucked up her courage. But when they see their manifold and shameful slanders disproved by the deed itself, 
Slanders of the adversaries  and by the modest behaviour of the noble men to take no place, they marvelously did cry out, and inveigh before the Governess against the solemn and great assembly of the nobles, against their league and society which they had made, and when they did see that all this could little prevail against them, they beaten most upon this one point, and they made this the chief cause of their accusation, that they did manifestly show themselves seditious rebels, when they required a free & lawful assembly of noble men, or grand parliament to be summoned, affirming that nothing doth more diminish the power and authority of a prince, than the solemn meeting of the estates, wherewith most mighty kings and princes have been compelled to yield to their order. And truly all men do know, that Granuellanus and Viglius were wont oftentimes to say that the king above all things had need to take heed, lest the estates of the province be licensed to make assemblies and general meetings according to the accustomed manner of their Auncytors, the which kind of government Charles the fift did diligently observe, contrary to the custom of the former princes and dukes, whereby he determined all things according to his will and pleasure: and therefore he clean put down the general meetings and lawful assemblies of all the estates holden at their grand counsels, and appointed all things to be done and determined after his and their arbitrament whom he would vouchsafe to take unto him. They said the king should take the same order, if he would have his dignity maytayned safely without appairing, and that he should hate nothing so much as the very mention of those free assemblies. But when they perceived themselves to profit nothing by this means, because all of them with one voice did desire to have a parliament, and every man (unless he were without sense or reason) did easily perceive, the royal dignity could be maintained by nothing so well, as by these general and free assemblies: and they all knew that their care was for themselves and for their riches, and not for the defence of the kings honour: for at the time of the parliament, they should tender up their accounts of the common treasury, what they had received and spent since the time they have been in their office: and then were the actions of extortions and of the robberies of the common treasury to be pleaded: they thought it therefore best covertly by guile and crafty means to work some sleight, whereby they might undermine the godly endeavour of the nobles and chief citizens whatsoever, and clear keep back the appointment of these solemn counsels, therefore subtly they persuaded the Governess that she should call the estates of every province severally, and that she should suffer none to be of the counsel, but such as she should choose and call thereunto. And therefore as they gave her counsel, 
In the year 1566. in the month of May.  she caused most hasty and troublesome assemblies to be made of every province severally by themselves: unto the which were summoned to appear only they which were chosen: but they whom to have been there it had been most requisite, and they which by ancient right, and of a long continuance were wont to be present, were now clean omitted. Many were commanded openly to departed, and many to keep silence: the time of deliberating the matter, and taking counsel with their friends, and with the rest of the estates of the province and governors of the people (as the most ancient and certain custom of such assemblies hath ever before granted, is now from all of them indifferently taken away. Moreover the chiefest provinces of all Belgie, whose cause especially was then in handling, as Brabantia, Hollandia, Phrisia, Geldria, Zelandia, and the countries of Lymburgye, being made unlawful for any of them to come thither, and thus the manner of mitigating these Edicts was referred to a very small company. Whereof it is manifest that the most part were suborned, and hired for that purpose, whose determination in outward show seemed to be much gentler, but in the right meaning and true understanding of it was crueler a great deal then the former Edicts, In this one point, it seemed to be more merciful, because in stead of burning of them, it appointed them to be trust up upon a gibbet or gallows, tormented with a rack & chains. And for the Inquisition substituted a visitation, it did not confiscate the goods of these which were fled, but it so fetched them, so circumvented them, that a very fool might easily perceive, they sought nothing else, but a more privy entrance to their old prescriptions and accustomed cruelty, especially seeing the governess did manifestly writ unto the governors, and chief justices of every province, that as concerning the kings Edicts for religion they should well understand, that they aught nothing to remit or mitigate the severity of them, not not although she herself should command to the contrary. And seeing the fury and madness of the Inquisitors did no less outrageously rob and spoil, than they were wont to do, and that without punishment or prohibition, & seeing as that the Monks and preaching Friars did not only with most biting taunts and spiteful reproaches defame the chief and noble estates, 
This was openly heard in the churches at Antwerp and in many other places.  animating & harnising the rude people against those Princes which put up the bill of supplication & also out of their pulpits did by name openly accuse them of disobedience, disloyalty, and seditious treason, and threaten them that the king would utterly destroy them, and put them to death. And to conclude seeing every man did by most evident tokens perceive, and seeing they had it proved by many men's letters, and talk, that they sought nothing else, but by some means to delude and deceive the people, that from them getting aid, they might execute their tyranny not only upon the commonalty, but even also upon the chiefest of the Princes whosoever, as if they were their deadly enemies. At the length notwithstanding when they had determined what should be done, they offer up to the estates of Brabant, the manner of their government, but in all the haste, not looking for any answer, they caused it to be published. But whilst those things were a doing, the professors of the Gospel, which had hitherto kept themselves in their private houses, upon hope, that at length their muse being heard, and the slanderous cavils, wherewith they were defamed, fully answered, they should have liberty for their religion, which they were ready to defend, with the word of God, in as ample sort granted them, as it was to the frenchmen by their king and the whole assent of his noble estates, perceiving their hope and expectation frustrate, and themselves to be daily more and more slandered, and that there was no more hope left, either in the kings clemency, or in the expectation for the parliament, of having their cause heard, much less of equal judgement. And yet notwithstanding all of them every where did not cease to call for the preaching of the gospel, insomuch that the multitude could not be contained in any private houses. Many of them began in the uttermost borders of Flaunders, where the tyranny of the Inquisition had most extremely persecuted them, and by and by in Brabant, in Holland, and also the rest of the provinces, to come together into the fields to the preaching of God's word, and openly to set forth their doctrine, that at the length they might clear themselves from the slanderous cavils of their own adversaries, being their judges, and that all men might know who they were, what kind of men they were, what number was of them, and of what estimation or worship they were of, first they came to all assemblies without weapons.  

The adversaries practices to oppress the Gospelers.  But when their adversaries began openly to threaten unto them most extreme cruelty, many of them got their weapons, some a sword, some a spear, some a club, as men use them, when they prepare to take armour, but a very few brought dags: but within a while after their number began to increase to many thousands of people. When the Cardinals Vicegerentes perceived they could not be oppressed without open violence, because by reason of their great number, of their favour and power, of the equity of their cause, of the honesty of their life, of the integrity of their actions, they were become marvelously strong. But especially when they saw the most part of the nobility openly favouring their cause (whose desire of public peace which they of late had showed forth in their bill of supplication, and all their actions were slandered very much with sundry slanderous cavils) they fly unto their crafts & guiles. They by sundry and many ways deceived the nobility, which came together in a solemn assembly at Sainttrudo to take counsel for the safeguard of themselves, and for the answering of the most reproachful cavils, and the avoiding of their violent rashness. First, they go about to persuade them to become the open enemies of the public preaching, and to dispatch them by force of arms. But perceiving themselves to labour therein in vain, because many of the nobles did resist them, which were professors of that religion, they compassed their matter about an other way, feigning themselves to require their help for to pacify the tumults of the people. Therefore propounding many commandments, they obtained that Embassitors should be sent from among them unto the Governess of Permence, the which should determine upon all matters according to equity and right, as best should be thought for the profit of the common wealth: The Ambassadors meaning simply, 
This composition, or determination began first at Brussels the 24. 25. and 26. of August. an. 1566.  went with them unto Bruxell. The governess desireth them the tumults of the people with all their power, and to obey the king and his magistrates with all obedience, not once minding to take upon them armour, but leaving all fond & sinister suspicions, & to persuade themselves that the king would very well allow of their doings, & account it a full satisfaction of their duties: she likewise granteth at their request, that it shallbe lawful for them to keep their public sermons in their accustomed places as they have done heretofore. It was solemnly also decreed on both parties, that by the authority of the magistrates there should be appointed common places in every city & town, wherein they might make their sermons, and freely without all fear exercise their preachings, & that the professing of religion should be hurtful to none, so that he observed his duty in all other matters without invading of churches, or moving any tumults hereafter: they promised faithfully on both parties, but the Cardinal's men bound themselves by oath, & by their holy devotion, to be faithful in performing their promise. The governess for her part, to make it more sure calleth a counsel of the nobles, who likewise promised their fidelity in performing the same & she giveth forth letters patents authorized with the king's broad seal. Not long after she sending these letters to the governors and 
1 
The prove hereof appeareth both by the copy of the letters patentes, & by the edict of the Magistrates first proclaimed, & after published in Print.  
The Edicts for ceasing from railing was proclaimed at Antwerp, the last of August. an. 1566. at Bruxelles. 24. of Aug. the Earl of Mansfeld being present. Free liberty of preaching came from the governess. 25. of Aug.   Magistrates of every province giveth in commandment that this agreement should be promulgated, and that the whole common wealth should be governed according to the comentes thereof, & afterward by 
2 another public Edict concerning railing & reviling on both parts to cease was proclaimed at Antwerp 3 Septemb. at Brussels, 6. Septemb. And so afterward in other Cities.  public Edicts she forbiddeth that any man should revile or speak evil of others, for religion sake, seeing she did pronounce that all men of both religions were in the kings safe government and good protection.  
It happened in the mean time, whiles those things were a doing at Brussels, it first in the West parts of 
3 The 11. 12. 13. of August. 1566.  Fraunders, and afterwards in many other 
4 At Antwerp. 20. August. At Brede, at Buscodice. 22. 23. In Holland and Zealand. 25. 26. etc.  Cities almost at the same time Images, pictures, & altars were overthrown in the Churches, whether by craft of the adversaries, which even now did seek all occasions to accuse the people, that having some fair show, they might gather an army, or by the fond zeal of many, which thought they could not earnestly repent them of their sins, unless they had overthrown the instruments of idolatry, it is as yet uncertain. But this is most apparent that in many 
1 As in Antwerp, is Brede, in Brabant, & in many places of Holland.  Cities the sacrificing Priests themselves began first to carry out of their Churches, their most precious relics and vessels, & that then boys, & rascal people following them, did overthrow the rest, and in many Cities. It is known also that the bishops themselves, and they which were the greatest adversaries of the Gospel, did by public 
2 At Gaunt, in Flaunders: At Hago, in Holland. At Lire in Brabant: Also at Meklyne this was done most certainly by the commandment of the magistrates. 5. 25. 28. of Aug. and other days following.  authothoritie overthrow the Images, pictures, and the rest of the ceremonies, and that by their authority and example, many good & godly Citizens did the same likewise, supposing this their doing, to be commanded by the authority of the Magistrate.  
But how soever it came to pass, the Cardinal's officers and Inquisitors took a very fit occasion hereby to execute their purpose, for by and by they in all haste gathering soldiers together, apprehended many of those, which overthrew the Images, and cast them into prison, and hanged them, neither could they by any questions, or kind of torments, enforce them to confess, (the which thing they most greedily desired) that any of the Ministers of the Churches, or any of the confederate princes, which were at the foresaid assembly, or any of the professors of the Gospel, were authors of this enterprise. But rather they did all with one voice confess that (as it was most manifest by their preachings and endeavours, wherewith they did disallow that enterprise) it was done contrary to all their wills, and not without their great grief and sorrow. Therefore the governess did not 
1 As appeareth by the form of the latter Edicts made & set forth touching the stay of reviling words & of Churches granted, upon the former promise & convention between the governs & the people.  cease to see the former contract of governing the common wealth executed, in so much that she gave by public authority unto many of the nobles and of the confederate princes charge over cities, in the which they should set all things in order, according to the due prescript of the former decree, that they should assign places out for the building of Churches, and for the people's assembly to hear Sermons, and that they should with open protestation will all men to be secure and void from all fear and danger, and certainly to persuade themselves, that the garrisons of soldiers should nothing endamage them. With the which thing, all the people began exceedingly to rejoice, and to lay a part all fear, as though out of a most boisterous tempest they were already arrived in a most quiet haven, & staying them selves upon the public promise thus made & taken and confirmed by writing. They began to build their Churches, and freely & quietly to set forth their religion. But yet notwithstanding the furious madness of their adversaries was not pacified, although they had already punished the overthrowers of their Images with grievous punishments, and did see the innocency of these Churches most manifestly witnessed by their open confessions. But rather most proudly avaunting themselves, as though they had gotten a just occasion to punish the rebels, and that they should nothing fear hereafter the nobility, the which did manifestly show themselves to be heavily displeased with the insolency of of the image-breakers, they began by little and little but openly to increase the number of their garrisons, and to set them in their Cities, with this pretence only to withstand the insolency of the image-breakers, and thus they armed themselves, with all things necessary, until such time, that they had brought their matters to as good effect, as they desired perceiving the people quietly to rest themselves upon the faithful promise of the nobility and governess, set forth in the kings name under his seal and letters patents, and that the noble men also were quiet, not once misdoubting that they should have been so wickedly and unfaithfully deceived, they began openly to show forth what their meaning was: for in such places where as they might be most bold, and in the which the magistrate was appliable unto their desire, first with new commandments, obscure and doubtful edicts, and with scoffing interpretation, they began to disannul the authority of the published commandment as concerning the late contract, and in many places to delay from day to day, the sealing of the writings of the public promise, and with sundry cavils to deceive the miserable citizens, and in many places to put those magistrates whose dealing they knew would be always with justice, out of their offices, and contrary to the orders of the cities, in their rooms to substitute most wicked men prompt and ready to all kind of impiety: and then at the length (as though all hindraunces had been taken away) they began with great insolency by force of arms to disturb the companies assembled at sermons tauntingly to revile the ministers and citizens, to worn them with weapons, and lastly, with open tyranny to oppress them, imprisoning many, hanging many, banishing many, and appointing new kind of oaths, whereby men should bind them to the popish religion, contrary to the former decree, covenanted and established before, and to account those which denied to obey, for enemies and traitors to the kings majesty. moreover they did rebaptize infants which were baptised before: they spoiled all the professors of the Gospel, of their weapons and armour: they armed and stirred up the rest of the commonalty against them, as against the enemies of the common wealth. Neither only did the sacrificing priests or preachers out of their pulpits, as it were with an open outcry stir up the people to take armour against them, but also in many places the Magistrates themselves, which were appointed by the Cardinal's officers and Inquisitors, sounding alarum, gave open licence unto the sedition and tumults of the people against the miserable Gospelers, the which were then lately called Gwesians, that is to say, Beggars and rascals. And hereupon began the most doleful and late calamity of the noble province. For even then first of all was that famous city of the Valentians besieged in enemies wise of his own familiar friends and citizens, because forsooth they refused upon the sudden to receive within their walls the cruel soldiers in that number that was commanded them, that is to say, four bands of horsemen and five ensigns of footmen, but took unto them a day to deliberate, in alleging many causes that it would not be commodious unto them to receive them, seeing they had as yet before their eyes amongs their neighbours a most cruel and doleful precedent of the soldiers rashness, for not long before in the country and town of Sancto Amandus next adjoining unto them, the very same (which were thrust in contrary to their laws and privileges, & contrary to the fidelity of the promise before given) violently rob and spoiled the poor miserable people that professed the Gospel, of all they had, in so much that from the very young infants they pulled their hose from their legs, they deflowered by course one after an other (after the most horrible example of the Beniauntes) the chaste matrons and virgins, and at length in most cruel wise, set them to open sale, at the sound of the drum, they put to death many, burning them by little and little with small flames, and with their sword opened the wombs of matrons great with child. The remembrance of which horrible things, justly terrifying the Valentenentians, they humbly desired that they should not be compelled to receive within their walls and houses such kind of soldiers, unto whose avarice, lust, and cruelty, they perceived themselves, their lives, wives, children, and consciences, should be at length in most servile bondage, seeing that for four years space before, they had paid of their own proper costs and charges, unto the garrisons of soldiers, their wages, upon this condition, that they should never hereafter be vexed or burdened any more with soldiers. Neither yet did they so manifestly refuse it, but that they did openly in most humble wise signify unto the governess, and to the rest of the primates, & rulers of the province, that they were ready to receive the soldiers of what number soever, if they had a captain appointed them, for that they should not hinder the liberty of Religion, which they had granted & confirmed unto them, not long before, by the Edict of the governess, by the authority of the kings letters patents, by the nobilities constant confirmation, and with assent of all the Magistrates. But they nothing at all prevailed, by this their modesty and equity of their cause, but forthwith they were openly proclaimed as traitors and rebels, the City was besieged, until that at the length when they (being persuaded thereto by the letters of the governess promising all kind of clemency) had yielded themselves unto the fidelity of the Norcarmyans, which did besiege them, many were strooken with the sword, many were hanged, many were burned, and an infinite number of them by the insolency of the soldiers shot through with dags, neither was there any thing pretermitted against them, the which the furious rage of the soldiers use to execute in the sacking and subverting of Cities. Many being terrified with these horrible examples of cruelty, and perceiving themselves so deceived to be defended from the fury and rashness of the soldiers, neither by the public promise, agreements covenants or oaths, nor by the kings majesty Edicts or patents, and perceiving their adversaries to attempt and put in practise all kind of hostility against them, with great power and warlike force, and that all the hope of remedy or help was clean taken away, for their adversaries did now account them not only as heretics, but also as seditious rebels, as perturbers of the common of the quiet, overthrowers of churches and traitors to the kings majesty, and although they by most manifest proves, and by the open confessions of those, which were guilty, had proved their innocency, & had of their own accord offered themselves to be tried by the censures of equal judges, they did understand nevertheless that they were accused unto the king of these most horrible crimes, they thought it best therefore to betake them selves to prayer, to vows, to tears and supplications, hoping by their humble suit & just purgation to pacify the anger of the king, vehemently builded against them, by the false cavils of their adversaries. They therefore put up a bill of supplication whereby they might request the kings clemency testifying their own innocency and the slanderous accusations, of their adversaries, and especially clear themselves of the destroying of the Churches, proving themselves to be in no fault, and that no suspicion of rebellion can justly be gathered upon them, most humbly protesting also their fidelity, obedience, & due reverence, to be always ready unto the kings majesty, in what things soever? thus much only craving at the kings hands that they may have free liberty granted them, to profess their religion, which they make subject only to the trial of the word of God, & that they may not have their consciences grieved, or burdened with any kind of authority, for the which benefit in token of their thankfulness, and for due proof of their faithful obedience to his majesty, besides their ordinary gifts, their accustomed tributes, and all their other burdens, they promise' to pay unto the king's Exchequer iij. hundredth thousand Florence's within a certain time, & that they will disturb or destroy no churches, but they will put in good sureties for the same, that they will diligently and carefully show forth their obedience, fidelity, and due reverence in all points.  
All the Cities well near do give up to their Magistrates a bill of supplication, 
November. 1566.  most humbly desiring to show forth their diligence and fidelity towards their poor & miserable Citizens in the furthering thereof. 
December.  They do moreover earnestly request the same thing of the governess & nobles, and because they would try all manner of means, whereby they might make manifest to all the world their true fidelity, towards their king, they sent also their letters, and Ambassadors to many of the princes of Germany, whom they judged altogether not to abhor from their religion, most earnestly desiring them, that they would vouchsafe to entreat the king to be merciful to their innocency, & if there were any place free from the false accusations of their adversaries, and left unto the kings majesty for equity and mercy, that they would with their humble suit deliver them from their heavy calamity, hanging over their heads. But when they perceived that all these things did little prevail, and that their adversaries were more kindled and cruel against them, interpreting all things into the worst part, as though by the great sum of money offered, they had bostyngly avaunted their riches and power, and that they went about to threaten the kings majesty, minding to abuse the princes of Germany, for to disturb and withstand his will and pleasure, and seeing also no place to be left for their purgation or humble supplication before their Magistrates, that their ears, their eyes, thoughts, and cogitations were made subject to the accusations of their adversaries, they did at the length with most doleful lamentation complain unto Brederodius & other of the nobles (the which by the commandment of the Governess had promised their faith and fidelity to the performance of the former contract) that they were so injustly and unfaithfully dealt withal, contrary to their public promise, to their covenants granted and performed by oath, and they entreat them to perform that which they so faithfully promised by the commandment of the Governess, and also the nobles. Brederodius in the name of the other princes, 
Februar. 8. 1567.  sending his letters to the governess desireth licence to speak with her: but having the repulse, he sent unto her the complaints of the people, adding therewith a bill of supplication of the nobles, whereby they did complain of so great and open injury, and requested therewith, that they might perform their promise of defending the late agreement which they had so solemnly vowed unto the people, that no man be endamaged or hurt for his religion, or for the administration thereof, that the promised liberty of religion be granted, that the soldiers ours gathered contrary to their former promise and oath, should be discharged and dismissed: & lastly, that the common wealth should be governed according to equity and right, and to the covenants whereunto they were sworn. She in her answer maketh many doubts, 
Febru. 16.  and seeketh the fallacy of words, saying that there was nothing granted as concerning the administration of religion, but only licence given for their preachings and sermons, but as for baptizing of children, and the lords supper, there was no mention made: adding therefore that the people had first broken their covenants. Briefly she manifestly declareth, that she would no longer be bound unto these covenants: but (for she perceived herself to be of greater force) that she would govern all things after her own arbitrament: and therewithal signified, that Brederodius, and the rest of the nobles (which put up that bill of supplication) were the authors of the sedition, and therefore, that she did account them as rebels and traitors to the kings majesty, & as enemies of the country: and that the king would execute just and condign punishment upon them as guilty of those heinous crimes: and in the mean time she would use her authority, according as it should best please her.  
These letters sent to Brederodius, and the other confederate princes, it can not be told how greatly they were astonished, for they saw themselves most openly mocked and deceived: their fidelity promised by oath to the people, nothing esteemed: themselves on the one part to be taken for rebellious traitors to the kings majesty: and on the other side for perjured persons, which with their vain promises had brought the people into a fools paradise, and made them subject to the slaughter, and butcherly fury of their adversaries: their confirmed covenants, the kings name, seal, and letters patents, to be of no force: their former agreement (by the which as by a bait they were drawn into the net) to be most manifestly deluded: and that they were so far from having licence to clear and purge themselves, that they might not be suffered once to entreat, or to make supplication for mercy: and that they were openly taken for enemies, environed about with soldiers, so that there was no place for them left whereby they might escape by flying. They being thus at their wits end, not knowing which way to take, were compelled at the length in all haste to muster their soldiers, not that they meant to attempt any thing as enemies, but that they might so long defend themselves from the violence & injuries of their adversaries, until that they might either get equity for their cause, or opportunity to fly. For if they would otherwise have invaded the kings Cities, there is no man so great a stranger, or ignorant of the matters done in Belgie, which doth not know that many cities sending their Ambassadors, did require their aid, and desired that it might be lawful only by the grant and authority of Brederodius, which was the captain of the confederate princes, to defend themselves by force of arms against the insolency and violence of their adversaries. The Valencenentians required to have one of the nobility for their captain. Many other cities also being the chief amongst all the rest, both for their power and authority, and also for the number of their Citizens, made the same request: and many other also, if they had so desired, would have submitted themselves to their authority. And yet notwithstanding they granted not to any of them, so much as by their word to yield to that they required, except unto the Buscoducentians there was one granted the which should defend the City in the kings name, and of the confederate princes against the insolency of the foreign soldiers, and should make the nobility a way if it fortuned to be shut up, all the rest were refused, not because it was a hard matter for them to keep those cities being already furnished with munition of war, especially if the prince of Aurice (whom now the adversaries do most shamefully be lie, calling him the auctor of the whole sedition) would but once but have imagined so great an enterprise contrary to the will of the King and Governess, seeing that at his feet almost the whole province did cast themselves down, with tears beseeching him to aid them against these violent thieves and murderers, & most perjured tyrants, and that they might commit themselves, & all theirs into his power and jurisdiction, He also might with a beck easily have retained in his power, not only Holland, Zelande, and the country of Truceland, all which places he had in his government being of themselves (as all men knoweth) of ability to conquer the whole province, but also Antwerp, Machlym, Bustoduse, and many other of the chiefest cities. But that most godly Prince would not desire any thing that should seem to impeach the kings authority: but he gave such godly counsels to the Governess, and to the other Cities, the which if they might have taken place, would have somewhat bridled the furious rage and covetous tyranny of the Spanish substitutes, & would have retained the whole province quietly and peaceably in their loyalty toward the king: but he could never be persuaded to take armour himself, or to give licence to the citizens to do the same. The other confederate princes, as near as they could did obey his authority, and follow his modesty, but that they were compelled many times by violence and necessity to take arms, not to invade or set upon any cities, or to do any violence, but only to withstand the violence, and to defend themselves from the insolency of their adversaries, and to make themselves a way to escape by force, 
The things done afore the Duke of Alva his coming declare who were the authors of these tumults in Belgye.  if need should require.  
And these things truly which we have reported, were only done, before the duke Alva his coming, the which truly we have thought it necessary more largely to express, that all men may know how unjustly our adversaries do deal with us. Although at their lust and pleasure, they have governed all things and oppressed us full xl. years, with most extreme tyranny, and the which at length by their crafty and subtle devices, have stirred up such grievous tempests, that thereby, they not only mancipated and made bond ourselves, our wives, and children, but have brought also the most flourishing province of Belgie, into most doleful calamities and beastly servitude. They do not yet for all this cease to accuse us every where unto all Princes and people of Europe of most horrible crimes, and to lay the fault and occasions of all their covetous and mischievous doings upon our necks, complaining belike, because we would not with open bodies, and stretched out throats, submit ourselves to their glaives and swords. They are grieved that we are safely escaped their hands, and that we have lost only our riches & possessions to be devoured of their greedy avarice, & that we have not committed our lives, our wives, and children, our souls and consciences, 
Of the confederacy of the nobles & of the supplication.  to their lust tyranny and impiety. Otherwise what is there that they can most especially lay against us, can they object unto us the confederate society of the princes? let therefore the writings of the conspiracy be read, they truly (though we should hold our peace) would declare, that they attempted nothing, did nothing, nor once thought upon any other thing but only, whereby they might show forth their loyalty, fidelity and due obedience to their king, & only that they might by the power and authority of the king withstand, and suppress the cruelty, avarice, and outrageous covetousness of many of the wicked. But if their letters sealed and confirmed with their own hands & seals be of no credit, yet let the effect of their doings be believed, for whilst all things were as yet in safety, what was it, which they went about? did they not by supplication desire the king to disannul the unbridled power of the Inquisition? to mitigate the cruelty of the Edicts? and other Edicts for the ordering of Religion to be established by the kings authority, and decree of the estates. But verily here is the chief point of our adversaries accusations, because forsooth they being free men, nobles, lovers of their country, and desirous of peace, faithfully addicted to the kings majesty, durst be so bold by humbled supplication to require, that the Edicts, which were contrary to all equity, much impeaching the kings dignity, and disturbing the common wealth brought in by error and by false persuasion should be made void, and that there might be some lawful assembly of the estates or Parliament holden for the good government of the common wealth. Hear we appeal to you, (you most mighty Emperor of the romans, and to ye all the famous Princes of the Christian Religion) and by that only and immortal God, and by his son jesus Christ in whose name we plead our cause we humbly desire you, to give judgement in this point, whether we in this point so grievously offended, or rather whether they do not account our just and wholly obedience of duty in stead of great impiety. Truly when the king was authorized Duke of Brabant, he by solemn oath and faithful covenant promised that he would patiently suffer & most willingly hear all their complaints, requests or demands what soever the which should be put up of the Bishops, Barones', Nobles, Cities, or Towns, subject unto him, either severally by themselves, or jointly of them altogether, and as often as they would show forth their burdens or great oppressions, that it should be lawful for them to do it, without any danger or offence, and without doubting that he would be angry therewith, and that he would never suffer any to be troubled for so doing, the which if it should chance to happen he promised to punish severely all those which may be found guilty of that offence, and at length after many other things he concludeth that if he shall do or suffer to be done any thing contrary to this oath and promise, he desired forthwith his subjects to be free from their oath & loyalty, until such time that he shall fully make them satisfaction in that point and in all other matters according to this his promise. judge ye therefore (ye most renowned and puissant Princes whether the nobles by putting up of this their supplication have justly deserved to have the kings so great and heavy displeasure against them and their poor Citizens and friends. Although who is so void of all sense and reason and so ignorant of the affairs of Princes, which doth not know, that it is most profitable for kings & princes that their subjects should move them by humble supplication to provide for the weal public, and the some ready and fit way should be taken for the good appointment and safe preserving of the common tranquillity.  
Who also is ignorant that these free & solemn assemblies be not used in all provinces, and amongst all people, 
Of the nobles request  but also accounted as the only stay and remedy of all mischiefs and public calamities, and that no man hath at any time heretofore gone about, to hinder such solemn méetynges, but they which would rob and spoil the poor people of the right of their liberties of all their ancient laws & customs & freedom of their privileges and did desire to rule all alone, according to their lewd lust and appetite, and by right or by wrong to execute tyranny upon their poor subjects souls & bodies. This truly is most manifest that in Germany all the whole majesty and honour of their Empire is maintained by the due ordering of their solemn parliaments. Niether hath there any wise man doubted but that in all the other provinces of all Europe all the safety of the people and the dignity of the prince, hath only been preserved by these general assemblies? But in especially in low Germany. It is most manifest, that the case so standeth, for in it the princes have in all ages from time to time been subject to the power of the general parliaments, have been elected by them, & confirmed of them, without whose assent and authority they never would decree any thing, and it is manifestly provided and established by the privileges of Brabant and customs of Flaunders, that they never have authority to do it hereafter. But seeing by their mutual assent and contract, they be in force of covenants agreed upon, and hereafter to be taken for their common law of the country, It is of undoubted credit that the king cannot violate or break them without the assent and consent of the other parties. Admit it be so, the nobles have offended in this one point, let it be accounted as wickedness unto them by humble supplication to show the way how the common destruction of their country might easily have been avoided. Wherein I pray you did the poor commonalty offended, or without crime have they deserved such great and accustomed cruelty? unless you will say it was, because they gave credit to the public Edicts published in the kings name, confirmed with his broad seal, and did think they might safely without all fraud or deceit (having for their defence this licence granted by public promise) having recourse to the hearing of the Gospel preached: for whereas they do accuse the people of taking arms, against their king, of overthrowing of the images of Churches, of bringing a new Religion, their accusation is most vain and slanderous?  
For as concerning their taking of armour, 
Of taking of armour.  there was no man which did abuse them against the king or his dignity, but truly before the public promise and oath was neglected, before the kings Edicts (whereby the liberty of religion was granted) where violated, before the covenants agreed upon, and the league of their common tranquillity was broken, there was no man went armed, except it were for defence of himself against the impudent violence of thieves and murderers, & the open threatenings of most wicked persons, and that also was when they went out of the Cities to the sermons some of them took a sword, some a staff, some a spear, very few caring dags, even as one taking his journey into a far country armeth himself to withstand the invasions of thieves & cutthroats. But afterwards when in this point they were commanded to be secure, and that the governess had given in charge that should hurt or endamage them, as long as they kept themselves quiet, by and by, they at the commandment of their Magistrates laid aside their weapons most willingly, committing themselves into their to the laws of God & man, and to all their tuition & safeguard. But at length when contrary to the promised made, & contrary both privileges, they perceived themselves to be overcome of the soldiers, the which had obtained full licence to destroy them (although they had committed themselves to the public faith) and with robberies, murders, wastings, rapes, adulteries, & all kind of wickedness, to rage's against them, as if they were enemies and traitors, then at the length many of them began to defend themselves with gates and walls from the violent fury of their adversaries. Last of all when they perceived neither public liberty, nor their wives chastity, nor their consciences tranquillity, nor their own lives safely defended, from their violence, by their gates and walls. Many we confess took upon them armour, not against the kings majesty, or any Magistrates, but rather that they might defend their liberty granted them by the kings Edict from the rashness of thieves and wicked soldiers, neither was this done of all men, but of a very few, the which when they perceived no there hope to escape, but only exile, and seeing the same also by the wickedness of their adversaries to be shut up from them, they thought it best by force of arms to make themselves some way to escape by, the which truly if they had not done, and also if that the terror of Brerodius soldiers had not made their adversaries a little doubtful, doubtless not one of them from so great a slaughter had escaped safe from the greedy jaws of their adversaries. They can never prove that any other, or that these for any other cause did take upon them armour before the coming of the Duke of Alba: although they had many and sundry opportunities and occasions offered them, both to possess many much and well fenced Cities and also to invade and spoil the kings treasure and Excheker. But they would commit nothing whereof they might not with a safe conscience make rehearsal before God, and all good men. But if any in solent persons either have gone about or done any other thing, or for some other purpose, seeing their doings were neither commanded nor allowed by those which were the chief of the congregation, let not so great a multitude of innocent persons be punished for the insolency of a few, for it doth nothing appertain unto us, what a few private men have committed for to revenge their injuries taken before either of the Inquisitors, or of the sacrificing priests or of any other person. 
Of the overthrowing of Images.  Much less doth the overthrowing of Images & Idols appertain unto us, for we will easily prove that it was done without the commandment or consent of our Minister Elders or congregations, unless a few of ours (perceiving the Magistrate to agree thereunto) did think it likewise lawful for them to do the same, although truly who soever they were that committed it, they have been more then sufficiently punished for their offence, for in place of one dead and blockish Image, their hath been above thirty. lively Images of God (for whom the son of God did shed his blood) murdered destroyed and burnt and in stead of one rotten block, more than ten lively bodies, & yet the Images restored and renewed by their common charges. As concerning the new Religion whereof they accuse us to be authors every man knoweth how far our religion which we profess is from that kind of newness. 
Of new religion.  For besides that this religion was delivered unto us by Christ, the antiquity of all things, the eternal son of God, by his profits Apostles and Martyrs from many ages, it is manifest that above whole fifty years it hath flourished in Belgie, and been set forth in private méetynges and Sermons. Neither was it at any time, either by any lawful judgement or Edict rightly made condemned. For what so ever judgements hath been given against the professors of this Religion, the judges themselves and Magistrates were compelled by the severity of the Edicts to confess against their will and with great strife of conscience to pronounce the same. Yea they which were found guilty, were not suffered lawfully to defend themselves, but they had their mouths stopped with a ball, and their tongues cut out of their heads contrary to the true order of justice. It is manifest also that all the Edicts which were made by Charles the Emperor and king Philip are void and of none effect, because they were made contrary to the laws and statutes of the country, without the counsel and consent of the estates of the province required in solemn assembly (as they were bound by oath thereunto) without whose assent nothing according unto the custom and manner of their ancestors could be established, and were also thrust upon many of the Magistrates against their will, staying themselves upon most vain foundations, full of frivolous cavils by false understanding, as we have before declared by the evident plain words of the Edicts. Therefore this religion can not by any manner of means be counted a new religion, nor they the professors of the same, seeing they were uncondemned as yet by any lawful judgement accused of any crime, much less should they be esteemed as the authors of sedition and tumults of the people, and causers of this great & grievous calamity.  
But what need we in so plain a matter to use so many words? seeing the case doth evidently show itself, and every man perceiveth who aught to be accused as authors of these turmoils & calamities. We have heretofore declared what was the meaning and intent of the spanish Inquisitors, and priests, what counsel they have taken, what help and ministers they have used, by what means they have espyred unto this tyrannical government, and sovereign authority in Belgye without any law, 
Of things done after the Duke of Albas' coming.  or prescript. Though these things peradventure (because of their great modesty and equity, which they use in other provinces) may seem to some not probable (although truly they be daily song in every child's mouth) yet if he way these present times, if he see the effects of matters, these their doings and affairs, and note this the uncredible tyranny of the Duke of Alba, all which are most apparent to all men, he shall nothing doubt therein.  
All they whom they did call rebels, have forsaken they country, and although they might have had good occasions and opportunities to keep some stir, yet they chose rather voluntary exile, banishment, and most extreme poverty, then that they would vex their country with most doleful war. But what? have they any thing for all this mitigated their cruelty? Have they not after all these things brought to pass in Spain by their devices, that the king (which in a solemn assembly at Madride had sworn, that he would in his own person revenge the injury, which he thought himself to have taken of his subjects at Belgye, and for that cause made all things ready for his journey, and had fully determined to take his son, and the Queen his wife with him) should altar his purpose against his will, and (because they knew him by nature to be a Prince prove to all kind of mercy and gentleness) to continued still in Spain? Have they not substituted or sent an Ambassador in his stead (the king's son, and many of the nobles were unwilling thereunto) the Duke of Alba, whom by his nature and manners they well knew to be very fit for their purpose, both by those things which he did in Germany, by the order of his whose life, but especially also by the deadly hatred, and rancored grudge which he had of long time laid up in his stomach against the Princes of Belgye, for their valiant acts achieved in the wars of France against his will and meaning. Have they not committed unto him the full power and authority, yea have they no caused the kings only son, lawful heir and Lord of the province of Belgye, to end his life shut up in a most horrible prison, because he was against the sending of the Alban, and did abhor from the cruelty of the edicts set out against the religion, bearing singular favour and grace towards the lower Germans, bruiting abroad most vain and divers rumours of the cause of his death. What they have done unto the Queen, I had rather other men should imagine, then that we should report.  
This truly all men do behold, how this their faithful champion the duke of Alba doth behave himself. He cometh into a quiet province, all those being thrown out or voluntarily gone into exile, whom he looked to have had as his adversaries. He is received most honourably of all men, neither was there any one found, which with his most ready obedience to the kings legate, did not testify his faithful heart towards the king. 
The Duke of Albas' doings since his coming to Belgye.  But he out of hand ordereth them not as the kings loving subjects, but as enemies and traitors, equally raging and extending his cruelty both upon the professors of the Gospel, and papists, compelling, he constrained the chief Princes contrary to the authority of the laws, to the liberty of their privileges, and chief contrary to the decrees and appointments of the sacred and famous order of the golden fleece, of the brotherhood of Burgundye, to pled their cause in chains, and when they refused that kind of judgement as unmeet and to be suspected, proffering themselves ready to stand before equal judges he chopped of their heads: the rest which by their godly and wholesome counsels had defended the peace of their country, and by their wisdom stayd the tumults of the people, and effusion of blood, he pronounceth as enemies and traitors to their king and their country, and so compelleth them (will they, nill they) by taking upon them armour, to try themselves unguilty of so great treason. The which their taking of armour (done by them for necessity's sake, as godly men may judge) he hath since that time not only made as a just occasion of slandering us with his cavils, but also as a goodly title of justice in executing his tyranny: and thereupon forthwith he putteth in practice that which he had before determined. Therefore he first put all the magistrates (which were thought once to favour justice) out of their authority and place, with great ignominy and reproach: he substituted in their rooms, contrary to their laws and orders, naughty packs abounding in all sin and wickedness: and he appointed as be thought good, a new senate house of Spaniards, before whom matters of life and death should be pleaded, the which for that cause should be called the bloody senate, and by that means he did deprived all the lawful and ordinary magistrates of their jurisdiction and hearing of matters granted to them by the laws: he filled the gallows and the jubbits full of the poor people convicted of no other crime, but of giving credit to the kings letters patents, to the governess edict, and their granted licences, and to the magistrates consenting thereunto: and thereupon of hearing of sermons: he destroyed many with the sword, he burned many alive with a small fire, he beheaded many before their causes we pleaded, many he spoiled of all their goods and possessions, poisoned to death with the filthy stink of the continual prison. But the ungodly persons, whose whole life had been stained with infamy, being before (as it is manifest) bought out with money, have gave them licence to pled with their witnesses, he cut out many of their tongues (whom he put to death after) lest they should testify of so great injustice, he burned many of their tongues with a hot pair of tongues, & to some he tied their lips together through with an iron, sharp on both sides: others having their mouths most beastly set awry with terror and anguish, the matter and blood dropping down together, he cruelly drew to most pitiful slaughter. He pretermitted nothing of Phalaris his tyranny, neither did he only with torments thus vex the professors of the gospel, but those also which most favoured the popish religion, and they which had endeavoured with all their power, that nothing should be moved against the king. As for those which could not behold the calamity of their country, but had for the avoiding of the present danger conveyed themselves away, he appointed them a day of appearance, and therewithal scarce staying for the day appointed, he rushed in upon their goods, adjudging them confiscate to the kings Exchequer: not only spoiling poor widows, innocent orphauntes, and very papists of their dowry and patrimony, but also deceiving the creditors of all their just debts and lawful titles. He converted the inheritance of innocentes from their kinsmen and aliens (to whom for the beheding or civil death of the right and next heirs they by law and right did appertain) most wickedly to his own use and commodity. He took from cities and towns, all their liberties, laws, statutes, & privileges, he overthrew all order of humanity, he clearly took away all duties of Christian charity, chief commanded by the laws of God. For by edict he forbade that no kind of man, whether he were their father, son kinsman, or whatsoever, should show any kind of charity to those that professed the Gospel, or were banished for default of appearance at the day appointed: and thus he alienated and withdrew the minds of children from their parents, of parents from their children, and of wives from their husbands.  
In the town of Traciet of Mosa, he put a father to death, because he had for one night lodged in his house his own son, which had been for a space absent before. And likewise, he murdered an other well known citizen, because he gave the sixth part of a bꝪ. of corn unto a poor widow, burdened with the keeping of iiij. children, whose husband was before put to death for religions sake. He bereaved also an other of his life, because he sent his friend a little money over into England. He compelled honest and chaste matrons borne of worshipful stocks, by flight and voluntary exile to save themselves, and by begging to provide meat for themselves and their children, only because they received their husbands into their houses. He threw down many men's houses, because they had received letters from their friends of their health and welfare. But what? did spare the dead? By his Edict he straightly charged, that whosoever died without shrift and auricular confession, his goods should be confiscate, and his body hanged on a jubbit, than the which what can be thought or invented more cruel, more contrary to all humanity and justice? seeing it happeneth daily that many suddenly that have no time to bethink them of their former sins. He placed over cities not soldiers, but enemies and thieves, which might violently abuse the riches, wives, children, and lives of the citizens according to their evil lust: and he granted them licence to do what should please them freely without punishment: for was there any wickedness so heinous, the which the fury of the spanish soldiers hath not committed in Belgye, and doth daily commit unpunished. In Iperis a famous town in Flaunders, when a minister of God's word was suffering death, the soldiers without any other occasion turned their weapons upon the miserable and unarmed people standing about them, and besides an infinite number whom they wounded unto death, there were xiii. citizens shot through with pellets of lead, which they left dead in the streets.  
At Turnace a dissension happening between the Spanish soldiers, & those other soldiers which were there for the defence of the Castle, and two of the spaniards being slain, the rest cried out, Spain, Spain, at the which voice, the other Spanish soldiers being called did run most furiously like mad men through the City, and killed all whom they met in number about xv. of godly and honest Citizens. In the same night some of the Spanish soldiers, being persuaded that a certain widow called by the name of her husband, widow Potier had a great sum of money in her house, broke into her house openly by violence at noon days, & most cruelly murdering her, her daughter & niece, they carried out of her house all things they could find. At Insull one of the chiefest cities of all Flaunders, which hath been always most addicted to the popish religion, when a Spaniard going about by violence to ravish an honest citizen's wife, was let of his purpose by her husband & ij. of his neighbours, he cried out Spain, (a common by word amongst them for the avoiding of present danger in their wicked enterprises,) the other soldiers warned with that outcry, came running and by force & violence, apprehended the Citizen and his two neighbours, and delivered them unto the Magistrate to be punished like rebels and seditious persons, with his threatening, that unless they did execute their commandment speedily they would set the whole City on fire, wherewith the judges being terrified, caused two of them to be hanged, and the third to be whipped. But what availeth it to reckon up particularly all the wickedness which the Spanish soldiers have committed, seeing their can not be imagined any offence so heinous, the which they do not day by day commit freely, without any punishment, and yet the Duke of Alba compelleth them to maintain these soldiers at their own proper costs and charges. Belike that they might spoil and rob their coffers, ravish their wives, kill their children and families at their pleasure, and leaving nothing free from their cruelty, avarice and horrible wickedness, than the which what can be imagined more unjust? although truly there is no injustice so great, from the which the Alba Duke doth abhor, for lest he should leave any thing holy & unpoluted, with his beastly boldness he dareth profane the most holy rights of matrimony: he hath dissolved (under the vain pretence of heresy) the lawful marriages of many, and made their children be gotten in just marriage, to be taken for bastards & as illegitimate, to be excluded from the succession of their patrimony: he joined other men's wives, (which were married before in the open assembly of the Church) to other men by a new marriage, or rather, by most infamous adultery, because they had omitted a mass, of that the Priest was not courteously entertained at his coming to them: & therewith by his public Edicts he made manifest adultery and open bigamy to be accounted lawful. He hath compelled widows against their wills and openly denying and withstanding the same, by force and violence to be married unto his soldiers & cutthroats, in somuch that many of them chose rather to forsake their countries, with the loss of all their riches, than once to consent unto such heinous villainy. But what? hath he left the most holy Religion of Baptism unviolated? he hath commanded with great impiety, contrary to all the Pope's decretals, that all they, which were baptized after the manner of the Apostles in the primitive Church & according to the just prescript of the word of God should be baptized again. For what availeth it to speak of the most reverent order and religious keeping of the sepulchres & graves of those which be buried, the which from the beginning of the world hath been amongst the most barbarous & fierce people most religiously kept, seeing he hath nothing feared with most brutish cruelty to break up the graves of those godly and honest Citizens, which had been buried in the ground above xiv. days before, and to take out their bodies scarce cleaving to the bones, hanging some on gibbets and burning the rest with fire, neither suffered he the cities of the noble Empire to escape free from this his odious kind of cruelty, for who doth not know that even at Harderuicke in Geldria, (which is the emperors lawful inheritance) there was the body of an honest Citizen which had been buried long before, drawn out of his grave, and cruelly plucked in pieces under a gibbet with great and bitter triumphing before the door, and even in the very sight of the miserable widow. But what is there holy amongst the living, or religious amongst the dead, the which he hath feared openly to violate and pollute, the which after his own lust & appetite hath made profane things holy, and holy things profane, hath made & abrogated laws, hath spoiled the wealthiest of all their substance, hath reproachfully slandered the chiefest of the nobility, hath put to death those which were most innocent, hath destroyed feeble old men, young men, and tender virgins with most horrible torments, hath oppressed the Cities and the whole province with uncredible exactions and unaccustomed tributes, which hath wrong into his hands with his threatenings an infinite mass of gold and silver, and now exacteth over all merchandises and usuries the x. penny, and by that means hath diminished the trade of Merchants and taken away all licences of traffic with other nations. Was there ever any tyranny since the first age of man so cruel and so covetous as this is? The wicked extortions, new and unaccustomed tributes wherewith Caligula did oppress his subjects are recorded in histories, yet notwithstanding he appointed a mean and measure of his covetousness, for he assigned to every kind of man by name their several tributes, but his fellow, lest any thing should escape him be it never so little, besides the hundreds, which he hath already taken away, and the new hundreds which he hath of late commanded to be levied of all their lands, farms, and other immovables, he doth exact the x. in all kind of faculties, & besides all this, he requireth xx. hundredth thousand crowns of gold, to be paid him yearly of the whole province. What need we any more, is there any man so cruelly wood or outrageous of mind, that he doth not tremble and quake at the foden remembrance of this unaccustomed cruelty, avarice, unfaithfulness, and impiety? or can there any man be found so void of sense and reason, whose understanding is so blinded, that he believeth that these good and well disposed persons, doth seek nothing else, but to keep the province of Belgie under the kings authority, to defend religion, and maintain laws? seeing all their actions and doings do openly pretend & show, that they have no other king, no law, or religion, but their only avarice, and most beastly covetousness, they make a glorious pretence, as though all the Belgians were Lutherans, rebels, and traitors to the kings majesty, because forsooth, they would not submit their necks to the yoke of the Inquisition, that is to say they would not willingly and of their own accord yield up themselves, to the beastly lust, and unjust tyranny of most pernicious persons. But truly if they had their king for their enemy, they would never have so faithfully observed their loyalty towards him, neither would they so carefully have retained all their cities, towns, and castles in his fidelity & tuition: neither would they so faithfully have given credit to the kings edicts, the kings name, the kings broad seal, & to the Governess, and in so doing should never have run into so many & so great calamities by their so light credulity: neither should the Duke of Alba once have set foot into these countries: for they had infinite occasions and opportunities offered them of dissanulling the kings authority, of alienating his cities, of striking league with other nations adjoining unto them, and of keeping back the Alban duke from the borders of their province: And yet for all this dare not the adversaries affirm (unless they be most impudent) that this was once mentioned amongst them or spoken of. But let it be so that they were rebels, is it lawful therefore for the King to violate his faithful promise, to pervert the laws both of God and man, and to pollute all things both holy, and profane, with this unaccustomed tyranny?  
We read that in the time of our auncitors, many of the cities of Flaunders did rebel against Maximilian the most mighty king of the Romans, and the citizens did not only openly refuse his government, and detained with them for the space of eight years his son Philippe against his will, but also did most contumeliously throw Maximilian himself into prison, but afterwards being overcome by the help of Fredrick the Emperor, and other the princes of Germany, they yielded themselves again to his authority: then this good prince Maximilian in this so odious rebellion, and having been so injuriously handled, was so far from doing any thing like unto the Alban Duke, that he not only with great gentleness received his subjects again into his grace's favour, but also with great clemency worthy of so great a prince restored unto them again all their privileges and ancient immunities. By the which his uncredible lenity, he made the hole province most obedient in all points to him, and his posterity for ever. But these men never remitted any tribute, any subsidy, or burden, laid upon the kings most faithful subjects, whose loyalty towards the King, could never with any crime be attained, being always obedient to the kings commandment, who had offered up by humble supplication all their riches and substance unto the king's good will and pleasure, desiring to have nothing free from the kings commandment, but only a clear conscience in religion, the which they aught to keep unpolluted unto God alone. And they humbly desired to redeem the liberty of religion with an extraordinary and far more grievous tribute, than the Christians redeem their religion of the Turk, or the jews obtain theirs of the pope. Yet notwithstanding these men (I say) spoiling those faithful subjects of all their riches, forbidden them the use of fire and water, air & land, as if they were the most deadly enemies of all mankind: & yet have they (God knoweth) committed no offence, but only given to light credit to the king's edicts, which in manner were established as firm laws, & never to be revoked, and so they simply believing the kings letters and name, kept diligently their sermons, in the which there was nothing preached but the pure word of God, and they daily admonished to show their obedience to the prince and his magistrates. Yet these tyrants doth with most horrible cruelty oppress the hole province without respect either of the innocent or offenders, and with most insatiable avarice spoiling them, torment them with most barbarous tyranny.  
Can any man now doubt, what it is that these men have heretofore laboured to bring to pass, or whereunto they have bended their minds, set their eyes, and applied their most revening hands? Or is there any man so blind that can not see what hath been the cause & original of these foresaid tumults in Belgye, or so blockish that he can not perceive that these honest men, I mean the good masters and bishops of the spanish inquisition, have from the beginning, only gone about to alienate the kings mind from his subjects, and by every small or none occasion to accuse them of rebellion, that as they have most furiously executed their tyranny in the kingdom of Naples, Cycell, and the country of Millen, in new India, and in the chiefest parts of Spain: so they might by some manner of means furiously rage in the low Germany, and by little and little when occasion shall be offered, in high Germany: and that under the colour of defending the Pope's religion, they might oppress the hole liberty of the citizens in Belgie, take away their magistrates authority, and violate the hole power of their laws, bring the kings majesty subject to their authority, and that they themselves might without law or order at their pleasure command what they will, take what they list, kill whatsoever should offend them, empty the rich men's coffers, and make themselves lords and governors of all things.  
But if any man shall think that these things, because they be present, 
Of things done in Germany and in other places heretofore.  & not yet thoroughly finished, can not easily be judged upon, let him conjecture, and take judgement of things already past. In the which we appeal unto your majesties, most mighty Emperor, and ye renowned princes of Germany, call to remembrance, what they have heretofore done in Germany, what with what fetches and counsels they have wrought, you shall perceive truly their old arts, you shall know these old Spaniards you shall know these old Inquisitors, for even these be they which with their grievous cavils and slanders, & with the terror of the Pope's name have oppressed the most famous princes of Germany before Charles the u which kindled a most doleful firebrand of civil dissension in the very bowels of high Germany, and under the cloak of rebellion, did set the Protestant Princes together by the ears, being altogether ignorant of their treachery, the which have defiled all things in Germany with their wicked & flagitious acts, the which have gone about to overthrow the liberties of Germany and laws of the Empire, and even these be they at this day which do vex and trouble the inhabiters of low Germany with the very same cavils, before the foresaid Charles his son king of Spain, they have deceived them with the same arts and subtleties, and oppressed with the same enterprises, these be the authors & inventors of so great unfaithfulness, these also be guilty of their cruelty & avarice, these were the ministers and workers of all their mischievous boldness. For to whom is Granduellanus the Cardinal of the germans unknown, or who knoweth not the Duke of Alba? both the which have imprisoned the most noble princes of Germany, overcoming them partly by violence, and partly by their fraud and deceit, and have slandered them with most reproachful contumelies. These be the firebrands of the whole world, with the which the greatest part of Europe, will most dolefully be set a fire, unless your authority wisdom and power, do with speed foresee so great a mischief, these men therefore are only to be accounted as the authors of all the tempestuous broils seditions tumults & miserable calamities which have happened in Belgye. But if there be any man that doth not as yet understand, let him remember the saying of Cassianus (to whom these things shall profit) & let him diligently consider not only to whom this public calamity of Belgy is now profitable, but also if there be any hope, that these things will be profitable to him hereafter. Seeing we could not but perceive that this danger was imminent either by loss of our religion or by wounding of our conscience, or by the grievous anger of our king, or by the doleful destruction of our country, which way soever it would have happened. For they have long ago hunted after their triumphs, their ruledome and Empire by any these occasions. So that they never have ceased by their subtle devices to 'cause the subjects to hate their king, & the king likewise to hate his subjects, and with greedy mouths & stretched out ears they have taken the least suspicion of tumults and rebellion, and have filled the kings ears and mind with their false tales, odiously amplifying their received news, the which though it be so manifestly to all men that it need no longer proof yet it is most manifestly confirmed by the kings Ambassadors which was sent into France, 
A copy of this Epistle word for word is to be seen in the end of the duke of Au●●ces Apologye confirmed with all their hands  for he in his letters sent to the governors writeth on this wise, their will arise unto the king great fruit and commodity by the incommodious tumults of Belgy, because by this occasion, the king will bring them to full obedience and subjection, and reduce the state into that form and order of government unto the which his ancestors could never attain, the which to bring to pass, the king hath vehemently desired of long time, and therein hath always hitherto spent his whole study and endeavour, and that there was no man, (favouring the kings majesty,) would counsel him to let pass so noble occasion of the performance of this his worthy enterprise, etc. By the which words it is manifestly declared that the Spanish Inquisitors (which in the name of the king do cloak and cover all their desires) have sought and gone about heretofore to get any occasion, whereby they might invade Belgy spoil it of all his riches and goods, and rule all things as should best be thought to their lust and pleasure. So that no man can longer doubt from whence these have had their beginning, seeing it is manifest who they are that have long ago desired to reap the fruits of these our troubles, & it is also manifest that the Cardinal himself in a great assembly of many men, when it was objected unto him that it was to be feared jest if the people should be any more oppressed they would make some sedition, was not ashamed to answer, that the king had no cause to fear, But rather to wish for the seditious tumults of his subjects: for by them the kings power and majesty was much increased, and the privileges of the Cities & liberties of the people very much restrained and diminished. Otherwise, what is it that they should seek for by so many examples of such unaccustomed avarice & rare cruelty: would they make the people subject to the kings authority? every wise man seeth, that then they take not the just and right way to obtain they purpose. For the subjects hearts are won and reconciled to their prince by gentleness, humanity, and justice, not by terror, fear, or tyranny: and every man knoweth, that the prince of Egmonde and an infinite number of others which have been always & ever were most earnest favourers of the kings name and authority, & they which never spared the sweat of their brows or blood of their bodies for to keep the whole province safe in the kings subjection, and whom the king for this cause hath always very much regarded, were notwithstanding destroyed of them for an old hatred conceived through an old envy of their noble acts so worthily achieved in their wars: But peradventure they seek by this means utterly to root out the religion of the gospel, which they (though the most part of them be of no religion) fain themselves so utterly to detest & abhor. Truly they mean nothing less, for than what cause had they with such infamy & reproach cruelly to put to death the foresaid Prince of Egmonde, the Earl Hornam, and many others, which were both ignorant of this Religion, and have been always adversaries of the same: why do they still execute such tyranny, upon those which be altogether of the Pope's religion: but (most noble Princes) they desire nothing less: their only fetch is to establish their kingdom in Belgy, that they may rule therein all things according to their lewd lust & pleasure, and contrary to all equity and right, as they have done, heretofore in Cicell and in the kingdom of Naples, that they being laden with the rich spoils of so wealth a province, may return home, and sand others in their stead, they which should draw them dry of all their juice and blood, there is one only way to attain to this purpose, and that is their holy Inquisition, the which by good right is termed after the name of Inquisition, for by this they do daily inquire and make search in the chéestes, bags & coffers of the rich men, in the beauty and bosoms of the virgins and matrons, in the throats, bowels and blood, and lastly in the souls & consciences of all men, by this they make themselves Lords and monarchs of all things they make all the princes and the king himself subject and obedient unto them, they have used this means first in Spain, in the which by this art of Inquisition they have disannulled all privileges and liberties, the which where before very great in Spain, they have made subject unto themselves, all the authority of laws and the majesty of the regal sceptre, they have left only a bore name and title to the King with part of the tasks and subsides, they challenge unto themselves sovereign rule and authority, and in causes capital they appoint unto the guilty either life or death at their own arbitrement, whom they determine to destroy, no man is able to save, not not the king himself though he most earnestly desire it, whom they take upon them to defend, neither the severity of the laws, nor judgement sincerely given nor the kings commandment is able once to hurt his little finger, therefore it is no marvel, if all estates, yea and the kings themselves be very much afraid of them; Afterwards they followed the same way in Naples, Cicell, Myllen, and in the great country of Indya, & they openly (but in vain) put the same practice for to make subject to themselves all Germany, for they were withstood and prevented by your wisdom (most mighty princes) and by the wisdom power, and virtue of your ancestors: but yet they cease not at this time by their crafty wiles & deceits, to peforme that which they have so long desired.  
For that I may pretermit the Gronyngans, the wise Phrisians, the Transisellians, Geldrians, Remanicensians, and many other of the empire, the which always have obeyed to the jurisdiction of the Roman Emperor, have used his laws and statutes, and have appealed to the court of the Emperor, and submitted themselves into the government of the Duke of Brabant, only upon this condition, that they might retain their laws, customs, and statutes fastly without any appearing of the same, all which the Duke of Alba hath deprived of all their liberties and privileges, and (as though they had been overcome by battle) appointed them new laws, created new magistrates contrary to their ancient manner and constitution, hath exacted unaccustomed tributes, hath built castles in their cities, hath banished the chief of their citizens, seized up their goods: that I may (I say) pretermit all these things, and infinite more of like sort, in the which although he hath no right or title, yet he pretendeth to have some kind of interest. For what end (I pray you) doth he séke openly to enlarge the bonds of his government without any just or shadowed title thereunto, even into the very midst of the empire? What causeth him to seek, or rather by force to take upon him the government of the country of Cleveland, & threateningly to command them to banish out of their country, all the Belgians? What causeth him by prescript to command Collyn, and the other free cities of the Empire, what they should do unto the low Germans? It is impossible that it should not be revealed unto you (most worthy princes) what cruelty he hath committed, what fields he hath destroyed, what droves of beasts he hath carried away, what matrons and virgins he hath deflowered, how many inhabitants he hath murdered in the East country of Phrisia, and the country of Emdon? What should we think moreover, seeing he doubteth not by his edict to call home all the students of low Germany, which were gone abroad to foreign universities, whatsoever (only Rome excepted:) and all the young men which were departed to other places for the learning of some art or manuel occupation, threatening perpetual banishment and loss of all their goods if they do not return, insomuch that he hath spoiled the poor young men traveling abroad for the knowledge of tongues, and getting of wisdom, of the fruit of all their studies and labourers, making them unfit hereafter to take office upon them in the common wealth, and hath utterly beggared and undone many which travailed abroad to get their living by their art and occupation. In the which he showeth himself utterly to denounce all humanity: for if all humanity be maintained by the mutual society and company of men, must he not needs be the enemy thereof, which by violence seeketh to take away that one gift, whereby man only showeth himself to differ from the brute beasts. For the knowledge of tonuges, and use of reason, althought it be peculiarly given unto man, yet the fruit thereof is not fully reaped, but in the company and society of men, & especially in our affairs which we have with other nations. Therefore seeing he goeth about to bereave us thereof, what seeketh he else but to destroy the tongue, & the whole use of reason: the which truly (so great is his inhumanity) he would do, if he could bring it by any means to pass. For what other thing doth he seek by this his Inquisition? Why doth he forbidden the people the use of holy Scripture? Why doth he refuse only the knowledge of God's holy will and Testament to the divines, that is forsooth, to his Inquisitors and bishops? Why doth he forbid the people to pray in a known tongue? but that he desireth rather to rule brutish beasts, then reasonable men. For he feareth, jest if they should understand any thing, they would at the length detest so great & unaccustomed barbarousness, and therefore he will have no cities or countries gone unto, but those unto whom he prescribeth laws and ordinances. It hath been very well by the wise judgement & doings of our ancestors brought to pass, that young men studious in good literature, and liberal arts, should travel unto other universities to see their cities and manners, and to learn their tongues, and for this cause, by the liberality and costs of kings & Princes, free Universities were founded, and great liberties & privileges granted to them, that thither the young men of other countries might more often resort, and that by this means the faith, friendship, and society of men among themselves might the better be retained: the which truly is no new custom, but hath been used heretofore in all ages. For we read that Platoe, and the other philosophers did with long & divers travailings learn their wisdoms, whereof we all stand now in admiration, & from strange peoples and far nations carry the knowledge thereof into Grece. The Romans before times used to send their children into Gréece and Asia for learning's sake, and that I may not only stay in those old examples, not much before the immanity of the Turk had overrun all Gréece, the germans, Frenchmen, Italians, & the spaniards themselves were wont earnestly to go to Athenes for study sake. The which liberty or custom who soever taketh away, he taketh truly away all humanity and professeth himself the deadly enemy of all other nations. For it is wont to be forbidden that any Citizen should inhabit or devil amongst those, against whom our harold have denounced war, the which for this cause is done, because we think it not lawful for our Citizens & young men to resort to those people, whom we account as enemies, seeing therefore (right noble Princes) that he doth forbid his Citizens & free young men to be brought up amongst you, & all other nations, only Rome excepted, what can otherwise be gathered, but that he misdoubteth your faith, and suspecteth your meaning, & desireth to deal with you, as with his open enemies. Let therefore all méetynges of merchants & change of merchandises be taken away, let all your Universities be destroyed, abrogate all their privileges, suffer no hosopitalitie to be kept, let every man sit idle at home, in his own house, take heed jest any thing be brought in from far countries, jest likewise ye bring in somewhat which may at length hinder the barbarous trade of the Duke of Alba.  
But we hope (most worthy princes) that you plainly see what men are chief to be accused of this our injury, the Spaniard will not suffer our young men to come unto your Universities, your solemn martes or fairs, or to any of your provinces, lest peradventure they should return infected of some spot of heresy. By the which his judgement he openly condemneth you and all your people of heresy, and impiety. Although in this his doing, he hath beside this an other fetch and purpose: for this is a new invention for to spoil the poor people of their substance, for when he seeth them to have escaped the greedy jaws of his Inquisition, and it is not easy for him to accuse them, being absent, although many of them, in his judgement, worthily be accused of such heinous crimes, and had deserved to have their goods confiscate, because they were very rich & wealth, he thought best to devise some way whereby he mgyht likewise draw them into his net. And there fore he stretcheth out the vale of his Religion, the which he abuseth to the full satisfying of all his appetites, as Gigas did his ring. By this he driveth some out of their country, and maketh some return home against their wills. By this he taketh from some all their liberties, riches, and life, to others he giveth full licence to pray upon other men's goods, and with all wickedness to shed the innocent blood, to be brief, under this pretence of Religion, he doth what soever pleaseth him, though it be contrary to the laws of God and man. By this also, with most extreme and unaccustomed tyranny, he goeth about to establish & to give all sovereign power in low Germany unto the Bishops of the Spanish Inquisition, that from thence, if it be possible: they might stretch the same, by their deceits & privy practices, throughout all Europe.  
Do not you think, 
These things pertain as well to the Germans as to the Belgians.  (most noble Princes) that these things nothing pertain unto you: for they do most especially bend their force against you, and your Germany. For their remaineth as yet, yea there is nourished (I say) in the spaniards hearts and bowels the great grief, which they of late conceived, when they saw the government of Germany, (whereof they thought themselves in full possession) to be plucked out from between their jaws. They do as yet try their old counsels, whereby they may make subject all the world to their holy Inquisition, and retain unto themselves the full superiority of all things, they have not as yet buried their old arts and crafty policies, they have not as yet abolished their leagues, societies, and conspiracies: whereby they bound themselves utterly to subvert all those, whom they thought would withstand the increase of their tyranny. Who doth not know the conditions of peace between the kings of France and Spain? Who knoweth not the confederacy made with the Bayoniandes? who knoweth not what firebrands hath from thence been brought into France, low Germany, italy, England, Scotland, and into the furthest country of all the land Thule. Truly that long and deadly civil war in France was first moved and made by these authors contrary to the Edicts made by the estates of the whole Realm, and contrary to the will of the King and Queen, and by these also, the peace being broken, the leagues violated, and the fidelity of their oaths and agreements being trodden under feet. It was begun again the second and the third time, & by these men it hath been continued almost ten years, to the great calamity of that noble province, & the great slaughter of worthy men and noble princes. Neither do they now at this time cease with their pestiferous counsels & most wicked practices by all their power to break & make void the peace appointed and concluded with the full good will of the king & all good men. It is more manifest than that it needs rehearsal what persecutions they have done in Italy, what conspiracies they made in England, what seditious tumults & murders they have caused in Scotland, & what rebellions they have raised in Ireland, for what, have they doubted even in England, setting up their Pope's bulls conviciously to call the most noble gracious and virtuous Queen of England, the servant of all wickedness, the maintainer of most wicked persons an heretic & favourer of all heretics, & do pronounce her cursed by the Pope's curse, to deprive her of the right of her kingdom, and jurisdiction to absolve her subjects & people from the bond of their loyalty and oath towards her, and generally to forbidden that any man should obey her authority, by the which their judgement they have openly and plainly declared what other kings and princes, professing the Gospel should look for at their hands. But what, hath this seditious flame contained itself within the bounds and limits of Europe. Hath it not burst out & over wretched the pillars of Hercules, hath it not filled the shores of africa with the dead men's bodies: hath it not stirred up the Moors to armour, and the Turk to battle: hath it not shaken the scaffold of the whole world with a most terrible tempest and doth it not also now (most noble Princes) prepare itself to burst out amongst you, to arm your selves against your own bowels if ye take not heed: notwithstanding we do not doubt, but that the Lord for his mercy sake will endue your honours with such wisdom and courage that you shall stand and withstand their mischievous practices.  
But we (most mighty Cesar, and ye renowned princes of Germany) beseech your your honours not to neglect us the most miserable of all men, 
An earnest petition to the Emperor, and to the princes of germany  banished our country, spoiled of our riches, slandered with ignomy, oppressed with poverty, through their great and unspeakable tyranny. Remember that Belgy is a part of Germany, whereof a great part is contained within the river of Rhine, & a great part also by most ancient right obeying to the Emperor's laws, & statutes. Remember that Brabant hath been always in most ancient inheritances of the Empire, and the Dukes thereof hath in all ages heretofore bound themselves to the Emperors, to be in their retinue and protection. And that Antwerp is accounted the chief: marquisdom of the Empire, and that Gueldria, Phrisia, and the country Gormingen, Transiselan, and Cameracensis, are all under the jurisdiction of the Empire: and that Holland, Zelande, Hannony, and other Towns of Belgy have appertained to the dukes of Barrey, as their ancestors goods & inheritance. Do not you despise the friendship that is between us, by name, tongue, and continual society, and that we let pass all ambiguities. Remember most (mighty Cesar) that Charles the fifth your father's brother was lately choose out of the mids of Flaunders to the government of the Empire, as though he had been by nation a German, and that Maximilian also your great grandfather, did join in alliance by marriage all the country of Belgy, to the most noble and ancient house of Austrice. And that Charles the Emperor not long before caused that whole province to be accounted as one of the estates and limits of the Empire in the Parliament holden at August, all the estates and princes of Germany assenting thereunto, 
1548.  and that they might be in the safeguard and defence of the Empire against all violence and injuries. And that they by name have been sent as Ambassadors to all the assemblies of the Empire from the province of Belgye, and that they have paid tribute required of them for the repeiling of the great Turk, and that it is until this day controversy whether the Duke of Brabant or the Bishop of Magdeburge should sit in higher rooms at the assemblies, so that without all doubt the province of low Germany should not be accounted as Athenes from the Empire. Do not you therefore contemn (most mighty Emperor, and ye noble Princes of Germany) the humble suit of us your friends requesting your trust and aid against the outrageous cruelty of those most proud and abominable men. We do not deny to be obedient to our king, to obey his commandments pay our tributes, tasks, and subsidies, whatsoever to show our faith and loyalty towards him in all points. But in we most humble wise do desire that we may have our conscience and Religion left us freely, jest in that last judgement we be found guilty of violating the faith of jesus Christ with an ungodly conscience, and that we may by the good licence of the king defend and keep the health of our souls.  
And we by the Immortal God, and by his only son jesus Christ, whose name we profess in our public religion, pray, & beseech your majesties highnesses, that we may defend ourselves, our wives, children & riches, but above all our conscience from the pride of the Inquisitors, from the avarice of the new bishops, & from the outrageous lust of the most mischievous ministers of the inquisition, and rascal soldiers. And if the friendly name of the Gorgnames can nothing move you, yet let that most strait bond wherewith we are knit together in jesus Christ whose members we boast ourselves to be, move you: let the duty you own to all mankind, move you: let the doubtful & incertain condition of man's estate, move you: let crooked old men now wrapped in sorrow, move you: let miserable widows, unfortunate orphans, mourning virgins, let so great and so huge a company of miserable men, move you: who altogether driven out of their houses, thrown from their possessions, deprived of the commodities of their country, spoiled of all estimation, violently plucked from the bosoms of their just careful parents, loving wives, and tender children, wandering and scattered abroad in strange countries, not knowing what shall become of them, do seek waist resting places, small cheer, and liberty of their conscience. But if no occasion shall be offered you, to restore us unto our country again, yet give no ear to our adversaries accusations, nor place to their unsatiable cruelty.  
We know for a certainty, that they will never cease to urge you to deprive us of all the humanity and gentleness, wherewith you entertained and cherished us in your countries: so that there be neither air left to the living, nor earth to the dead, nor refuge to poor exiles. But we pray you most noble Princes, to regard more the commandment of God (who commandeth you to receive strangers and poor banished men, not only within your gates or walls but even in your houses, and to cherish them with all humanity:) then the commandments of a few spanish priests, which with the duke of Alba, contend and labour to have us the thrown out of your Empire. Suffer not the fear and terror of the spanish name to be of more force with you, than the name and friendship of the German. For what should we speak of the agreement of our religion? the which truly should move you not to suffer us which be joined with you in the body of Christ, in one profession of faith, in one baptism, to be by the lust of a few (which have no religion but their greedy avarice) banished like strangers and enemies, jest that Christ the King of all kings in that last day of judgement, take that done unto himself, which is cruelly exercised against us, being by his free grace and mercy united to his body and made his members: for though they do pretend the difference of our religion, there is no cause (most noble princes) why you should be moved. For we which do with you acknowledge one God the Father of our Lord jesus Christ, true God and very man, one holy Ghost: and we which do rest ourselves in the only satisfaction of jesus Christ, and for his sake are banished 〈◊〉 ●ar country, spoiled of our goods, a●● appointed as sheep unto the slaughter: which acknowledge one church, one word of God, for the foundation of our health: and lastly, with you do look for one resurrection from the dead, and life everlasting, given by the free grace and mercy of God, do not you think that we profess any other religion then that which you do. But if we shall by the exposition of some words seem to differ, remember that the Apostles themselves, and their disciples did never so fully agreed, but there was in some things a little dissension. Remember that even the ancient fathers of the primitive church have not only left in their writings errors, but also in many places open contrarieties: the which truly by the deep providence and wisdom of God, is not without great profit appointed: that we knowing the infirmity of our own wit may learn to forsake the judgement of man, and cleave only to the authority of the word of God: and not to peefer the authority of man, and our own judgement, before the authority of the word of God: but to bear one an others burdens, and with christian charity to cover and wisely to bear one an others errors, and infirmities. And yet notwithstanding what discord of Religion can there be amongst us, which do not only embrace the only word of God, but also out of that word take the form of our faith, and all things which we use in our religion. For we truly do with most joyful hearts receive and embrace the confession which our Auncytors delivered up to Charles the Emperor at Augusta. And if we may give our judgement in any thing, we subscribe in all points to the doctrine of those Divines, by whose labour that form of their faith was drawn out: we account them not only as our brethren, but even for the most divine and excellent prophets of God. And they likewise do embrace us with great and incredible charity, and with all brotherly love and piety. It is therefore ye Princes a more cavil feigned of our adversaries, which say, that we profess a religion, diverse from the Germans: for they study nothing else, but that when they have set us together by the ears, they might tear the members of Christ in pieces, and so oppress us separated and dissevered, whom they were not able to overthrow, fast joined in amity.  
But ye men and Princes, which have known long ago their crafts and subtleties, be ye not therewith moved, neither suffer ye the false cavels of our adversaries to have more power, to tear and dismember the members of the body of Christ, than the word and commandment of the same jesus Christ, than the sincere judgement of your Princes and Divines hath power and force to unite and knit up the same. Neither let the diverse interpretation of one word prevail more with you, than the most sure and undoubted consent of the whole Scripture and faith. By the which faith and by the most holy body of the son jesus Christ, into the which he hath joined us to himself with a knot indissoluble, We once again in most humble wise beseech and entreat you, that your charitable mercy, which hath been always priest and ready to help all poor and oppressed innocentes, benignly to receive us also with some tuition and safeguard, which for the name jesus Christ do not only suffer all cruel torments, but also are overwhelmed with most false and unjust reproaches, and that you would only as long as it shall please God to chasten us thus with exile being spoiled of all our goods and commodities of our country, with your gentleness somewhat to ease us, whom God's correction doth keep low and in poverty, so shall you do an acceptable work unto God himself the just judge of all things, and stir us up diligently to call upon his mercy and gracious favour for you and your people. Amen.