A DECLARATION OF THE CAVSES moving THE queen OF ENGLAND to give aid to the Defence of the People afflicted and oppressed in the low Countries.  
 printer's device, or a decoration? (not found in McKerrow)  
Imprinted at London by Christopher Barker, Printer to the queens most excellent majesty.  
 royal blazon or coat of arms HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE dieu ET MON DROIT   

A DECLARATION OF THE CAVSES MOVING THE queen OF ENGLAND to give aid to the Defence of the People afflicted and oppressed in the low Countries.  
ALthough kings and Princes Soueraignes, 
kings and Princes Soueraignes, are to yield account of their actions onely to almighty God, the King of Kings.  owing their homage and service onely unto the almighty God the king of al kings, are in that respect not bound to yield account or render the reasons of their actions to any others but to God their only sovereign lord: and that amongst the most ancient and Christian monarchs the same lord GOD hath committed to us the sovereignty of this realm of england and other our dominions, which we hold immediately of the same Almighty Lord, and so thereby accountable onely to his divine majesty: yet we are notwithstanding this our prerogative at this time specially moved, for diuers reasons hereafter briefly remembered, to publish not onely to our own natural loving Subiectes, but also to all others our neighbours, specially to such Princes and States as are our Confederates, or haue for their Subiectes cause of commerce with our countries and people, what our intention is at this time, and vpon what just and reasonable grounds we are moved to give aid to our next Neighbours the natural people of the low Countries, being by long warres and persecutions of strange Nations there, lamentably afflicted, and in present danger to bee brought into a perpetual servitude.  
First it is to be understood( which percase is not perfectly known to a great number of persons) that there hath been, 
natural causes of the Ancient continual traffic betwixt the people of England and them of the low countries.  time out of mind, even by the natural situation of those low countries and our realm of england, one directly opposite to the other, and by reason of the ready crossing of the Seas, and multitude of large and commodious havens respectively on both sides, a continual traffic and commerce betwixt the people of england, and the natural people of these know Countries, and so continued in all ancient times when the several provinces thereof, as Flanders, Holland, and zealand, and other Countries to them adjoining, were ruled and possessed by several lords, and not united together, as of late yeeres they haue been by entermariages, 
Confederations both betwixt the Kings of England and lords of the low Countries, and also the subiects of both Countries.  and at length by concurrences of many and sundry titles haue also been reduced to be under the government of their lords that succeeded to the dukedom of burgundy, whereby there hath been in former ages many special alliances and confederations, not onely betwixt the kings of England our progenitors and the lords of the said countries of Flanders, Holland, zealand, and their adherents: but also betwixt the very natural subiectes of both Countries, as the Prelates, Noblemen, Citizens, Burgesses, and other Comminalties of the great Cities and port towns of either country reciproquelie by special Obligations and Stipulations under their seals interchangeablie, 
The people of both the Countries bound by special obligations enterchangeablie, for mutual favours& friëdly offices.  for maintenance both of commerce and intercourse of merchants, and also of special mutual amity to bee observed betwixt the people and inhabitants of both parties as well ecclesiastical as Secular: and very express provision in such Treaties contained for mutual favours, affections, and all other friendly offices to bee used and prosecuted by the people of the one Nation towards the other. By which mutual bonds, there hath continued perpetual unions of the peoples heartes together, and so by way of continual intercourses, from age to age the same mutual love hath been inviolably kept and exercised, as it had been by the work of nature, and never utterly dissolved, nor yet for any long time discontinued, howsoever the kings, and the lords of the countries sometimes( though very rarely) haue been at difference by sinister means of some other Princes their Neighbours, envying the felicity of these two Countries.  
And for maintenance and testimony of these natural unions of the peoples of these kingdoms and countries in perpetual amity, there are extant sundry autentique Treaties and Transactions for mutual commerce, 
Treaties extant of ancient time, betwixt the kings of England and the Dukes of burgundy, for the commerce betwixt their Countries.  intercourse and strait amity of ancient times: as for example, some very solemnly accorded in the times of King henry the sixth our progenitor, and Philip the second Duke of burgundy, and inheritor to the county of Flanders by the lady Margaret his Grandmother, which was above one hundred and forty yeeres past, and the same also renewed by the noble Duke Charles his son, Father to the King of Spaynes Grandmother, and husband to the lady Margaret sister to our great Grandfather King Edward the fourth: and after that, of new oftentimes renewed by our most Noble and sage Grandfather King henry the seventh, and the Archduke Philip Grandfather to the King of spain now being: and in later times, often renewed betwixt our Father of Noble memory King henry the eight, and Charles the fifth Emperour of Almaigne, Father also to the present King of spain.  
In all which Treaties, 
conventions for the subiectes of either side, to show mutual favours one to the other.  Transactions, and Confederations of amity and mutual commerce, it was also at all times specially and principally contained in express words, by conventions, concords and conclusions, that the natural people and subiects of either side, should show mutual favours and dueties one to the other, and should safely, freely and securely commerce together in every their countries,& so hath the same mutual and natural concourse and commerce been without interruption continued in many ages, far above the like example of any other countries in christendom, to the honour and strength of the Princes, and to the singular great benefit and enriching of their people, until of late yeeres that the King of spain departing out of his know countries into spain, hath been( as it is to be thought) counseled by his counsellors of spain, to appoint spaniards, 
Spanyards and strangers lately appoynted governors in the low Countries, to the violation of the liberties of the country.  foreigners and strangers of strange blood, men more exercised in wars then in peaceable government,& some of thē notably delighted in blood, as hath appeared by their actions, to be the chiefest gouernours of all his said know countries, contrary to the ancient laws& customs thereof, having great plenty of noble, valiant and faithful persons naturally born, and such as the Emperour Charles, and the King himself had to their great honours used in their service, able to haue been employed in the rule of those countries. But these spaniards, being mere strangers, having no natural regard in their government to the maintenance of those countries and people in their ancient and natural maner of peaceable living, as the most noble and wise Emperour Charles, yea,& as his son king Philip himself had, subtilest he remained in those countries, and used the counsels of the States& natural of the countries, not violating the ancient liberties of the countries: but contrarywise, these spaniards being exalted to absolute government, by ambition, and for private lucre haue violently broken the ancient laws and liberties of all the countries, 
The destruction of the nobility, and the people of the Countries by the Spanish gouetnment.  and in a tyrannous sort haue banished, killed and destroyed without order of lawe within the space of a few months, many of the most ancient and principal persons of the natural nobility that were most worthy of government. And howe so ever in the beginning of these cruel persecutions, the pretence thereof was for maintenance of the Romish religion, yet they spared not to deprive very many catholics and ecclesiastical persons of their franchises and privileges: and of the chiefest that were executed of the nobility, none was in the whole country more affencted to that religion then was the noble and valiant county of Egmond, 
The lamentable violent death of the county of Egmond, the glory of those Countries.  the very glory of that country, who neither for his singular victories in the service of the king of spain can be forgotten in the true histories, nor yet for the cruelty used for his destruction, to bee but for ever lamented in the heartes of the natural people of that country. And furthermore, to bring these whole countries in servitude to spain, these foreign gouernours haue by long intestine war, with multitude of spaniards, and with some few Italians and Almains, made the greater part of the said countries( which with their riches by common estimation, answered the Emperour Charles equally to his Indias) in a maner desolate, and haue also lamentably destroyed by sword, 
The rich towns and strengths with the wealth thereof possessed by the spaniards.  famine, and other cruel manners of death, a great part of the natural people, and now the rich towns and strong places being desolate of their natural inhabitants, are held& kept chiefly with force by the spaniards.  
All which pitiful miseries and horrible calamities of these most rich countries and people, are of all their neighbours at this day, even of such as in ancient time haue been at frequent discord with them, thorough natural compassion very greatly pitied, which appeared specially this present year, when the french king pretended to haue received them to his protection, had not( as the States of the country and their deputies were answered) that certain untimely and unlooked for complottes of the house of guise, stirred and maintained by money out of spain, disturbed the good and general peace of france, and thereby urged the king to forbear from the resolution he had made, not onely to aid the oppressed people of the low countries against the spaniards, 
The French kings offers to haue aided& received to his subiection the oppressed people of the low Countries.  but also to haue accepted them as his own subiectes. But in very truth, howsoever they were pitied, and in a sort for a time comforted and kept in hope in france by the french king, who also hath oftentimes earnestly solicited us as queen of england, both by message and writing to bee careful of their defence: yet in respect that they were otherwise more straightly knit in ancient friendship to this realm then to any other country, wee are sure that they could bee pitied of none for this long time with more cause and grief generally, then of our subiects of this our realm of England, being their most ancient allies and familiar neighbours, and that in such maner, as this our realm of England and those countries haue been by common language of long time resembled and termed as man and wife. 
The queen of Englandes continual friendly advices to the king of spain for restraining of the tyranny of his gouernours.  And for these urgent causes and many others, we haue by many friendly messages and ambassadors, by many letters and writings to the said king of spain our brother and ally, declared our compassion of this so evil and cruel usage of his natural and loyal people by sundry his martiall governors and other his men of war, all strangers to these his countries. And furthermore, as a good loving sister to him, and a natural good neighbour to his low countries and people, wee haue often, and often again most friendly warned him, that if he did not otherwise by his wisdom and princely clemency restrain the tyranny of his gouernours and cruelty of his men of war, wee feared that the people of his countries should bee forced for safety of their lives, and for continuance of their native country in their former state of their liberties, to seek the protection of some other foreign Lord, or rather to yield themselves wholly to the sovereignty of some mighty Prince, as by the ancient laws of their countries, and by special privileges granted by some of the lords and Dukes of the countries to the people, they do pretend and affirm, that in such cases of general injustice, and vpon such violent breaking of their privileges they are free from their former homages, and at liberty to make choice of any other prince to bee their prince& Head. The proof whereof, by examples past is to be seen& red in the ancient histories of diuers alterations, of the lords and ladies of the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and zealand, and other countries to them united by the States& people of the countries, and that by some such alterations, as the stories do testify, Philip the Duke of Burgundy came to his title, from which the king of Spaynes interest is derived: but the further discussion hereof, we leave to the view of the monuments and records of the countries. 
The queen of Englandes means used to stay the States of the low countries from yielding their subiection to any other foreign Prince.  And now for the purposes to stay them from yielding themselves in any like sort to the sovereignty of any other strange Prince, certain yeeres past, vpon the earnest request of sundry of the greatest persons of degree in those countries, and most obedient subiects to the King, such as were the Duke of Ascot, and the Marques of Hauery yet living, and of such others as had principal offices in those countries in the time of the Emperour Charles, wee yielded at their importunate requests, to grant them prests of money, onely to continue them as his subiects, and to maintain themselves in their just defence against the violence and cruelties of the Spaniards their oppressors, thereby staying them from yielding their subiection to any other Prince from the said king of spain: and during the time of that our aid given to them, and their stay in their obedience to the king of spain, wee did freely acquaint the same king with our actions, and did still continue our friendly advices to him, to move him to command his gouernours and men of war, not to use such insolent cruelties against his people, as might make them to despair of his favours, and seek some other lord.  
And in these kind of persuasions and actions wee continued many yeeres, not onely for compassion of the miserable state of the countries, but of a natural disposition to haue the ancient conditions of strait amity and commerce for our kingdoms and people to continue with the States& the people of the said dukedom of burgundy and the appendents, and namely with our next neighbours the countries of Flanders, Holland and zealand. For wee did manifestly see, if the nation of spain should make a conquest of those countries, as was and yet is apparently intended, and plant themselves there as they haue done in Naples and other countries, adding thereto the late examples of the violent hostile enterprise of a power of spaniards, 
The enterprise of the spaniards in Ireland sent by the king of spain and the Pope.  being sent within these few yeeres by the king of spain and the Pope into our realm of Ireland, with an intent manifestly confessed by the captaines, that those numbers were sent aforehand to seize vpon some strength there, to the intent with other greater forces to pursue a conquest thereof: wee did we say again, manifestly see in what danger ourself, our countries and people might shortly bee, if in convenient time wee did not speedily otherwise regard to prevent or stay the same. And yet notwithstanding our said often requests and advises given to the King of spain, manifestly for his own weal& honour, wee found him by his counsel of spain so unwilling in any sort to incline to our friendly counsel, that his gouernours and chieftains in his low countries increased their cruelties towards his own afflicted people, and his officers in spain offered daily greater injuries to ours, resorting thither for traffic: yea, 
The refusal of the queens messenger, and her letters to the King of spain.  they of his counsel in spain, would not permit our express messenger with our letters to come to the King their masters presence: a matter very strange, and against the lawe of nations.  
And the cause of this our writing and sending to the King, 
The just causes of dismissing of Bernardin Mendoza out of England.  proceeded of matter that was worthy to be known to the King, and not unmeet now also to be declared to the world, to show both our good disposition towards the King in imparting to him our grieves, and to let it appear howe evil we haue been used by his ministers, as in some part may appear by this that followeth. Although wee could not haue these many yeeres past any of our servants whom we sent at sundry times as our ambassadors to the King our good brother as was meet, suffered to continue there without many injuries and indignities offered to their families, and diuers times to their own persons by the greatest of his counsellors, so as they were constrained to leave their places, and some expelled and in a sort banished the country, without cause given by them, or notified to us: yet we, minding to continue very good friendship with the king, as his good Sister, did of long time and many yeeres give favourable allowance to all that came as his ambassadors to us, saving onely vpon manifest daungerous practices attempted by two of them to trouble our estate, whereof the one was Girald Despes, a very turbulent spirited person, and altogether vnskilfull& unapt to deal in Princes affairs being in amity, as at his return into spain he was so there also reputed: The other and last was Bernardin de Mendoza, one whom we did accept and use with great favour a long time, as was manifestly seen in our Court, and we think cannot be denied by himself, but yet of late yeeres( we know not by what direction) we found him to be a secret great favourer to sundry our evil disposed and seditious subiectes, not onely to such as lurked in our realm, but also to such as fled the same being notoriously condemned as open Rebelles and traitors, with whom by his letters, messages and secret counsels he did in the end devise howe with a power of men, partly to come out of spain, partly out of the low Countries, whereof he gave them great comfort in the kings name, an invasion might bee made into our realm, setting down in writing the manner howe the same should be done, with what numbers of men and ships, and vpon what coasts, ports& places of our realm by special name, and who the persons should be in our realm of no small account, that should favour this invasion and take part with the Inuadours, with many other circumstances declaring his full set purpose and labours taken, to trouble us and our realm very dangerously, as hath been most clearly proved and confessed by such as were in that confederacie with him, whereof some are fled& now do frequent his company in France, and some were taken, who confessed at great length by writing the whole course herein held by the said ambassador, as was manifestly of late time published to the world upon Francis Throgmortons a principal traitors examination. And when we found manifestly this ambassador so dangerous an instrument, or rather a Head to a rebellion and invasion, and that for a year or more together he never brought to us any letter from the King his Master, notwithstanding our often request made to him that he would by some letter from the King to us, let it appear that it was the Kings will that he should deal with us in his Masters name in sundry things that he propounded to us as his ambassador, which we did judge to be contrary to the king his Masters will: we did finally cause him to be charged with these damgerous practices,& made it patent to him how,& by whom, with many other circumstances we knew it,& therfore caused him in very gentle sort to be content within some reasonable time to depart out of our realm, the rather for his own safety, as one in very dead mortally hated of our people: for the which, we granted him favourable conduct, 
Barnardin Mendoza favourably licenced to depart the realm.  both to the sea& over the sea:& thereupon we did speedily sand a seruant of ours into spain with our letters to the king, only to certify him of this accident,& to make the whole matter apparent unto him:& this was the messenger afore mentioned, that might not be suffered to deliver our message or our letters to the king.  
And beside these indignities, it is most manifest how his ministers also haue both heretofore many times,& now lately practised here in England by means of certain rebelles, to haue procured sundry invasions of our realm, by their forces out of spain& the low Countries: very hard recompenses( we may say) for so many our good offices. Hereupon we hope no reasonable person can blame us, if we haue disposed ourselves to change this our former course,& more carefully to look to the safety of ourself& our people:& finding our own dangers in dead very great& imminent, we haue been the more urgently provoked to attempt& accelerate some good remedy, for that besides many other advices given us both at home and from abroad, in due time to withstand these dangers, we haue found the general disposition of al our own faithful people very ready in this case,& earnest in offering to us both in Parliaments& otherwise, their services with their bodies& blood,& their aids with their lands& goods, to withstand& prevent this present common danger to our realm& themselves, evidently seen& feared by the subverting& rooting up of the ancient nation of these low countries,& by planting the Spanish nation& men of war, enemies to our countries, there so nere unto vs. And besides these occasions& considerations, we did also call to our remembrance our former fortunate proceeding by Gods special favor, in the beginning of our reign, 
The queen of Englandes proceeding for the delivery of Scotland from the servitude wherein the House of guise meant to haue brought it.  in remedying of a like mischief that was intended against us in Scotland by certain French men, who then were directed only by the house of Guise, by colour of the marriage of their niece the queen of Scots with the Dolphin of France, in like maner as the ofsprings of the said house haue even now lately sought to attain to the like unordinate power in France: a matter of some consequence for ourselves to consider, although we hope the king our good brother professing sincere friendship towards us, as we profess the like to him, will moderate this aspiring greatness of that house, that neither himself nor the Princes of his blood be overruled, nor wee( minding to continue perfect friendship with the king& his blood) be by the said house of Guise and their faction disquieted or disturbed in our Countries. But now to return to this like example of Scotlande aforesaid, when the French had in like maner( as the spaniards haue now of long time attempted in the low Countries) sought by force to haue subdued the people there, and brought them into a servitude to the crown of France, and also by the ambitious desires of the said house of Guise, to haue proceeded to a war by way of Scotland, for the conquest of our crown for their niece the queen of Scottes( a matter most manifest to the common knowledge of the worlde:) it pleased almighty God, as it remaineth in good memory to our honour and comfort, to further our intention and honourable and just actions at that time in such sort, as by our aiding then of the nation of Scotland being sore oppressed with the French, and universally requiring our aid, wee procured to that realm( though to our great cost) a full deliverance of the force of strangers and danger of feruitude,& restored peace to the whole country, which hath continued there ever since many yeeres, saving that at some time of parcialities of certain of the Noble men, as hath been usual in that country, in the mynoritie of the young King there hath risen some inward troubles, 
The realm of Scotlande restored to the ancient freedom, and so possessed by the present King by the means onely of the queen of England.  which for the most part we haue in favour of the King and his Gouernours used means to pacify: so as at this day such is the quietness in Scotland, as the King our dear brother and cousin, by name, james the sixth, a Prince of great hope for many good Princely respects, reigneth there in honour and love of his people, and in very good and perfect amity with us and our country. And so our actions at that time came to so good success by the goodness of God, as both our own realm, and that of Scotland, hath ever since remained in better amity and peace then can bee remembered these many hundred yeeres before, and yet nothing hereby done by us, nor any cause justly given, but that also the French kings that haue since succeeded, which haue been three in number, and all brethren, haue made and concluded diuers treaties for good peace with us, which presently continue in force on both parties, notwithstanding our foresaid actions attempted for removing out of Scotland of the said French forces, so transported by the onely direction of the house of guise.  
And therefore, 
The conclusion of the causes of sending of certain companies of english souldiers to the defence of the oppressed people of the low countries, and to withstand the attempts against this realm.  to conclude for the declaration of our present intention at this time, wee hope it shall of all persons abroad be well interpnted, as wee know it will be of such as are not led by parciallitie, that vpon the often& continual lamentable requests made to us by the universal States of the countries of Holland, zealand, Guelders& other provinces with them united( being desperate of the king of Spaynes favours) for our succours to bee yielded to them, onely for their defence against the Spaniards and other strangers, and therewith finding manifestly by our often and importunate requests and advices given to the king of spain, no hope of relief of these their miseries, but rather an increase therof by daily conquests of their towns and slaughter of their people,( though in very truth wee cannot impute the increase of any late cruelties to the person of him that now hath the title of general governor, showing his natural disposition more inclynable to mercy and clemency, then it seemeth he can direct the heartes of the spaniards under him, that haue been so long trained in shedding of blood under the former Spanish governors:) And joining thereunto our own danger at hand, by the overthrow& destruction of our neighbours, and access& planting of the great forces of the Spanyards so near to our countries, with precedent arguments of many troublesone attempts against our realm: we did therfore by good advice and after long deliberation determine, to send certain companies of souldiers to aid the natural people of those countries, 
English power sent onely to defend.  onely to defend them and their towns from sacking and desolation, and thereby to procure them safety, to the honour of God, whom they desire to serve sincerely as christian people according to his holy word, and to enjoy their ancient liberties for them and their posterity, and so consequently to preserve and continue the lawful and ancient commerce betwixt our people and those countries and ours.  
And so, we hope our intention herein,& our subsequent actions will be by Gods favour both honourably and charitably interpnted of all persons( saving of the oppressors themselves,& their partisans) in that wee mean not hereby, either for ambition or malice,( the two roots of al injustice) to make any particular profit hereof to ourself or to our people, 

Three special things reasonably desired by the queen of England.  
1. The end of wars with Restitution of the low Countries to their ancient liberties.  
2. surety from invasion of her own realm.  
3. And renewing of the mutual traffic between the Countries.   onely desiring at this time to obtain by Gods favour for the countries, A deliverance of thē from war by the spaniards and Forraines, with a restitution of their ancient liberties& government by some christian peace, And thereby, a surety for ourselves and our realm to be free from invading neighbours, And our people to enioyin those countries their lawful commerce& intercourse of friendship& merchandise, according to the ancient usage and treaties of intercourse, made betwixt our Progenitors and the lords and earls of those countries, and betwixt our people and the people of those countries.  
And though our further intention also is or may be to take into our guard, 
The causes of taking some towns into her majesties custody.  some few towns vpon the sea side next opposite to our realm, which otherwise might be in danger to be taken by the strangers, enemies of the country: yet therein considering we haue no meaning at this time to take and retain the same to our own proper use, we hope that al persons will think it agreeable with good reason& princely policy, that we should haue the gard& use of some such places for sure access& recess of our people& soldiers in safety,& for furniture of them with victuals& other things requisite and necessary, whilst it shall be needful for them to continue in those countries for the aiding therof in these their great calamities, miseries, and imminent danger, and until the countries may be delivered of such strange forces as do now oppress them, and recover their ancient lawful liberties and maner of government to live in peace as they haue heretofore done, and do now most earnestly in lamentable manner desire to do, which are the very onely true ends of all our actions now intended, howsoever malicious tongues may utter their cankered conceits to the contrary, as at this day the world aboundeth with such blasphemous reports in writings and infamous libels, as in no age the devill hath more abounded with notable spirites replenished with all wickedness to utter his rage against professors of Christian Religion. But thereof we leave the reuenge to God the searcher of hearts, hoping that he beholding the sincerity of our heart, will grant good success to our intentions, whereby a Christian peace may ensue to his divine honour, and comfort to al them that love peace truly, and will seek it sincerely.   

AN ADDITION TO THE DECLARATION: touching THE SLAVNders published of her majesty.  
AFter we had finished our declaration, there came to our hands a Pamphlet written in Italian, printed at Milan, entitled Nuouo aduiso, directed to the Archbishop of Milan, containing a report of the expugnation of antwerp by the Prince of Parma: by the which we found ourself most maliciously charged with two notable crimes, no less hateful to the world, then most repugnant and contrary to our own natural inclination. The one, with ingratitude towards the King of spain, who( as the author saith) saved our life being justly by sentence adiudged to death in our sisters time: The other, that there were some persons procured to be corrupted with great promises, and that with our intelligence as the reporter addeth in a parenthesis in these words ( as it was said) that the life of the Prince of Parma should be taken away: and for the better proving and countenancing of this horrible lye, it is further added in the said Pamphlet, that it pleased the lord God to discover this, and bring two of the wicked persons to iustice. Now, knowing howe men are maliciously bent in this declining age of the world, both to judge, speak and writ maliciously, falsely and vnreuerently of Princes: and holding nothing so dear unto us, as the conservation of our reputation and honour to be blameless: we found it very expedient, not to suffer two such horrible imputations to pass under silence, least for lack of answer, it might argue a kind of guiltiness, and did therefore think, that what might be alleged by us for our justification in that behalf, might most aptly be joined unto this former Declaration now to be published, to lay open before the world the maner and ground of our proceeding in the causes of the low Countreyes.  
And for answer of the first point wherewith wee are charged touching our ingratitude towards the King of spain, as we do most willingly aclowledge that we were beholding unto him in the time of our late sister, which we then did aclowledge very thankfully, and haue sought many ways since in like sort to requited, as in our former Declaration by our actions may appear: so do wee utterly deny as a most manifest untruth, that ever he was the cause of the saving of our life as a person by course of Iustice sentenced unto death, who ever carried ourself towards our said sister in dutiful sort, as our loyalty was never called in question, much less any sentence of death pronounced against us: a matter such, as in respect of the ordinary course of proceeding, as by process in Lawe, by place of trial, by the judge that should pronounce such sentence, and other necessary circumstances in like cases usual, especially against one of our quality, as it could not but haue been publicly known, if any such thing had been put in execution. This then being true, wee leave to the world to judge howe maliciously and injuriously the author of the said Pamphlet dealeth with us, in charging us by so notable an untruth with a 'vice that of all others we do most hate and abhor. And therefore by the manifest untruth of this imputation, men not transported with passion may easily discern what untruth is contained in the second, by the which wee are charged to haue been acquainted with an intended attempt against the life of the said Prince: a matter if any such thing should haue been by us intended, must haue proceeded either of a mislyking wee had of his person, or that the prosecution of the warres in the low Countreyes was so committed unto him, as no other might prosecute the same but he.  
And first for his person, we could never learn that he hath at any time, by act or speech, done any thing that might justly breed a mislike in us towards him, much less a hatred against his person in so high a degree, as to bee either privy or assenting to the taking away of his life: Besides, he is one of whom we haue ever had an honourable conceit, in respect of those singular rare partes we always haue noted in him, which hath won unto him as great reputation, as any man this day living carrieth of his degree and quality: and so haue we always delivered out by speech unto the world, when any occasion hath been offered to make mention of him. now, touching the prosecution committed unto him of the warres in the low Countreys, as all men of iudgement know that the taking away of his life carrieth no likelihood that the same shall work any end of the said prosecution: so is it manifestly known, that no man hath dealt more honourably then the said Prince, either in duly observing of his promise, or extending grace and mercy where merit and desert hath craved the same: and therefore no greater impiety by any could bee wrought, nor nothing more prejudicial to ourself,( so long as the King shall continue the prosecution of the cause in that forcible sort he now doth) then to be an instrument to take him away from thence by such violent means, that hath dealt in a more honourable and gracious sort in the charge committed unto him, then any other that hath ever gone before him, or is likely to succeed after him.  
now therefore how unlikely it is, that we having neither cause to mislike of his person, nor that the prosecution of the warres should cease by loss of him, should be either author, or any way assenting to so horrible a fact, wee refer to the iudgement of such as look into causes, nor with the eyes of their affection, but do measure and weigh things according to honour and reason. Besides, it is likely if it had been true that we had been any way chargeable,( as the author reporteth) the confessions of the parties executed,( importing such matter, as by him is alleged) would haue been both produced and published: for malice leaveth nothing unsearched, that may nourish the venom of that humour.  
The best course therefore that both we and all other Princes can hold in this unfortunate age that overfloweth with numbers of malignant spirits, is through the grace and goodness of almighty God, to direct our course in such sort, as they may rather show their wills through malice, then with just cause by desert, to say ill, or deface Princes either by speech or writing: assuring ourselves, that besides the punishment that such wicked and infamous libellours shall receive at the hands of the almighty for depraving of Princes and lawful Magistrates who are Gods ministers, they both are and always shall be thought by all good men, unworthy to live vpon the face of the earth.  
given at Richmount the first of October, 1585. and the 27. year of the reign of our sovereign Lady the queen, to be published.