A TONGVE-COMBAT, LATELY HAPPENING between two English Souldiers in the Tilt-boat of gravesend, THE ONE GOING TO SERVE the King of spain, the other to serve the States general of the united Provinces.  
Wherein the Cause, Course, and Continuance of those Warres, is debated, and declared.  
Pro Aris& Focis.  
Printed at London. 1623.   

To the honourable Sir George holes Knight, sergeant mayor to general VERE.  
honourable SIR:  
MEeting with a little Pamphlet written by way of Dialogue, and entitled A Tongue-combate, professing to contain a true Discourse of these Warres in the Netherlands betwixt the King of spain and the States general, I could not, without injury to Truth, permit so many falshoods( as under colour of sincerity and modesty, were wrapped up in those waste-papers, to bee vented for rich commodities vpon our cost, greedy of novelties) to pass without question or contradiction. The everliving honour of my late sovereign deceased, under whose blessed government I was born, therein traduced: The justice and prudency of my dread sovereign now reigning, therein obliquely and apertly aimed at: The truth of the Reformed Religion, wherein I was educated, therein oppugned: The loyalty and reputation of this Nation whom I serve, and for whose just cause I fight, therein defamed; provoked me to say what I could, and what I knew, in defence of all. And I am fitted and furnished the better to say something to purpose in this point, both by the many yeeres experience I haue had in the service, as also through the manifold discourses I haue often heard, wherein this business haue been diversly debated; but especially by the many books I haue red and translated touching this Subject, for the satisfaction of myself and some honourable friends, who are known to be too religious, to enter into courses doubtful or questionable; at least into warres openly wicked and unwarrantable. Now being thus fully and clearly resolved in mine own conscience, I could not but endeavour to resolve others, who might bee doubtful, and so seek satisfaction. It is my duty( I take it) to do thus; for my means I receive of the States obligeth my tongue, hand, heart, and whole man, to promote their just cause in words, waitings, actions, prayers. He is a traitor( as I judge) to these, to the truth, to his own, and to himself, that doth not thus think, speak, writ, and do, having the same engagements, where occasion is presented. It concerns all Sword-men to stick to me, and to vindicate the honour of our deceased queen, or present sovereign, Religion, the british Nation in general, and our Worthies in particular, who are made, by this blind and bold bayard, abettors of Rebels and traitors; whereby theirs and our honours are stained, our arms defaced, and the memorable works of war which wee haue wrought for these fifty yeeres continuance, cast away in obscurity and contempt; nay, condemned as ignoble crimes of ingratitude and injustice. Assuredly, he that will not exchange a word with an enemy in this case, for this State and the Truth, which they and we profess in common, is not to bee trusted in actual disputations, where blows and bullets are exchanged, and questions of life and death are agitated and controverted.  
If any man think my style too sharp, they must consider I am a soldier, trained up from my youth, to haue my sword also as sharp in this quarrel: besides, I am exceedingly provoked by a crafty adversary, who using mildness and modesty to Tawny-scarfe his own feigned creature, his Puppet, his property, over whom he insults, as vpon a vaulting-horse low enough for his leap, is yet most bitter against the States general, and their instruments, who entertain and employ the true Tawny scarves, that will not be so easily baffeled. These he calls Rebels; and for this I often oppose him with the terms of tyranny and Oppression: The success and Gods blessing vpon these Warres, having given him the lie, and sealed me a public warrant to say more in this case, with authority and evidence of truth.  
This I dedicate to you, who haue been a noble instrument in these just Warres for many yeeres past, and will( I doubt not) deign to protect my Pen, which doth but repeat that which your hands hath written with blood, and carved in large characters vpon the wounded bodies of diuers brave& bold Opposites. It is now a time or never to declare ourselves, and stand together for the truth of Religion herein oppugned: which he that shrinks from, for any worldly or politic respect, or any Antichristian aim, and temporary temptation, shall surely be denied hereafter of Christ Iesus, who will publicly profess to be ashamed of them before God, who are ashamed of him here before men; and to spew those luke warm persons out of his mouth, whom the sudden and unexpected alarum of bold, daring, and desperate opposition for falsehood, will not awaken from that stupid lethargy, or reserved Foxe-sleepe of policy, wherein they lie bed-rid, to be as courageous for Truth, as other men are for lies, in this Age of atheism.  
The Lord by his Spirit kindle this zeal in our hearts for his Cause, and honour the military Profession so far, that as Phineas the Priest, hath heretofore taken his Pike, and lead us by example, to execute vengeance on Gods foes that would corrupt others; so we may now lead Phineas against that Babylonish Strumpet and her Brood, who commits fornication with the greatest Princes of the earth, and would impudently press into our Tents, to do, and cause the like villainy to be openly and universally committed by us and all men. lead you( Sir) like josuah, in the head of the troops against this Whore and her Adherents, and I will follow you as a faithful.  
Seruant to Truth and to you, HENRY HEXAM.   

To the right worshipful Sir Edward PARHAM Knight, sergeant mayor of the Regiment of the right honourable the Lord VAVX, in the service of the King of spain in the Netherlands.  
IN my late passage down from London to gravesend by Tilt-boate, there chanced among others, two Gentlemen at that present also to pass, being both of military profession, but indifferently disposed in their determinations, touching the Sides they went to serve on: for after some course of speech that passed among the company, the one discovered his intention to go over into the Netherlands to serve the King of spain, and the other manifested his purpose to go serve the States of Holland: but because each of them seemed fortified with reason for his determination, and to think himself as well able to defend it, as he seemed willing to follow it, all the company, out of a curiosity, were very desirous to hear what by either side could bee said; but yet with a proviso, that no inconveniency or falling out between them vpon it might ensue; and therfore they desired them, that before they began seriously to argue the matter, they should pass their words to each other vpon their honours, that without injuring one another in particular, each might haue his free speech in defence of his own determined course; and that their arguing being ended, there should no exceptions be taken either by them, or any of the company, for ought that had been spoken; but that both they, and all the rest of the company,( their discourse being ended) should in civil and courteous manner carry themselves, and so take their leaves of each other, when their ways lay to be separated. To this all agreed, and these twain gave each other their hand vpon the conditions: and thereupon began between them a Tongue-combate, wherein neither of both were slain or maimed: and because it may be some recreation unto you, to understand how the matter passed, I thought good now at my soonest leisure, and as well as my memory would permit me, to pen it down, and to present it to your view, to whom I hold my best endeavours obliged. And this kissing your hands, I take my leave, wishing unto you the achieving of all honour, answerable unto your noble valour and courage.  
The devoted honourer of your virtues, D. N.   

Tawnie-scarfe to Red-scarfe.  
I Lately met with that Conference which I had with you in the Tilt-boat, printed; wherein I found myself much injured, in the answer you put out in my name; and that which you say much mended, and delivered to the best advantage. I found also a Dedication fixed to the Front of your Pamphlet, as if you meant to make your best friend sharer of the honour you achieved by the supposed victory over me. In all which regard, I could not but take notice of your falsehood; especially because I saw you did not onely wrong me, by concealing what I said, and affirming what I never said, but laboured also to wrong the cause, through the weakness of my person. Lest therefore any of my countrymen should bee won by your cunning, to think better of your Cause, and worse of ours, then they would, and reason requires; and so bee easily wooed to leave us, to seek and find repentance with you, I haue inserted what I said, or might haue said to your empty allegations; and likewise haue dedicated my endeavours to a worthy Commander; who is not( as yours commonly are) a soldier Swallow-like for a Summer onely, or a siege, but whose very name is famous thorough your army, and his person known to all of yours, that for almost these thirty yeeres past haue seen an English enemy in the Field or Trenches: In either of which place if you dare meet me. I will make good vpon your person with Sword and pistol, what here I subscribe with my Pen, that you haue wronged me, the truth, and yourself, if you had any honour to lose by lying.   

❧ RED-SCARFE, or the Author of the Tongue-Combat to the Reader.  
BEcause the ensuing Discourse is Dialogue-wise, and that some note of distinction must of necessity be used, seeing I know not these Gentlemens names, who interchanged this Conference ensuing, I haue thought good to note them by their scarves; as by calling him that was to go to serve the King of spain by the name of Red-Scarfe, according to the colour of the scarf he wore; and to call the other by the name of Tawney-Scarfe, because he wore a scarf of the colour of Orange-tawney.  
The company after the conditions of quietness at parting were agreed vpon, became all silent to hear them begin. The first then( being Tawney-scarfe) began in such words, as you shall find inserted after this following Preface.   

Tawny-Scarfe, or the Answerer of the Toung-Combat to the Reader.  
impartial Reader, I am to let thee understand by way of Preface, that there was no other conference in the Tilt-boate, then what the author of the Tongue-Combate himself gave life to, by propounding Arguments, and stirring opposition, howsoever now he would hid himself behind a third person, as if he only were the Relater or Repeater, not the first broacher of this Word-warre; but I assure thee the contrary, vpon the faith of a soldier. As for that which he saith concerning the names of the Disputants, that he knew them not, and therefore was forced to call one Red-scarfe, the other Tawny-scarfe, according to the colour of their scarves, must thus be understood; that indeed he knew not my name, and for his own, being a man of many names, he knew not which to assume for that instant, but that some of the company might haue known him by another, worn in some other place, and therefore he did wisely die himself into read; which being in grain, will without blushing warrant any falsehood, and outface any truth. This I let thee know also, that he began the combat, though he gives me the honour to charge; and that he retired somewhat confusedly in the end, though he saith( falsely) that I ran away. This shall be sufficient for a touch, and to give thee warning of the rest, how warily thou art to beleeue him.  Tawny-scarfe. 
It seemeth strange unto me, that any of our countrymen should rather resolve to serve the King of spain, then the States of Holland, considering how long their Cause and quarrel had been by Englishmen supported, and the number of our countrymen that continue to serve on that Side.  read scarf. 
It seemeth as strange unto me, that men of sense and understanding should not rather regard the justness of the Cause and quarrel which they are to defend,( especially when they are not constrained, but that their resolution lieth in their own choice) then to let themselves be blind-folded and lead forward by sinister suggestion, to follow the vn-understanding vulgar Multitude for company or custom sake, because they haue continued so long a time to serve on that Side, without knowing or caring wherein right or wrong consisteth.  Tawny-scarfe. 
What care had those, I pray you, of your Religion, to examine the justness of the Cause in the war of Ireland, when they assisted the King of spain against their own queen and Country? Or those of France in the holy League against their King? were those men without sense or understanding or no? and what care haue you all, in matters of greater moment, even such as concern the salvation of your souls, to inform your understandings in the truth? Are ye not blindly lead on by your forefathers examples, and by the multitudes of men, who walk your broad way leading to perdition? How then can you blame us, if in matters of less consequence, we should by your authorities bee remiss? Of all others it sorts not you to reprove vs. Yet you must not think, that the first resolution taken for the assistance of the Hollanders, was without good consideration of the justness of their cause; and the same being once begun and continued, what needed further doubt or scruple be made thereof by the after-followers of it?  Red-scarfe. 
Because it is no Article of faith, to beleeue that the first resolution taken in England for the assisting of the Hollanders, was not without good consideration of the justness of their cause, diuers haue since penetrated into it, to see whether it were so or not, but could not so find it, and therefore those you speak of, that haue followed it without scruple, haue been people that were not scrupulous at all: for there is no cause be it never so bad, but some will be found, without any scruple, willing to follow it.  Tawny-scarfe. 
Had it been warranted with a Bull from Rome, as the Irish war was, then you durst not haue unsealed that secret to examine the justness of it, but would haue believed it as an article of faith,( for the articles of your faith ate in your Popes bosom) and perhaps obeyed it too, before the Commandements of God. But now you pretend to haue penetrated the bottom, to censure such as are contrary minded, and to find fault with the ground of a council, which you understand not.  Red-scarfe. 
If the Cause of the Hollanders by any vndisprooueable reasons of yours, shall appear unto me to be just, I shall not onely be sorry for mine error, in not apprehending it so to be, but resolve to go along with yourself into their service.  Tawny-scarfe. 
As for your company, assure yourself I seek it not: we haue too many already that we cannot trust. And for persuading you to see and be sorry for your error, it is in vain for me to hope to work such a miracle. I know right well, the bright sun makes Moles the more blind; and such as you, who( I fear) haue scared and perverted consciences, will sooner beleeue lies then truth: so that all the evidence I shall bring to clear this point, will but make you the more obstinate and woeful; and I might hope to draw you farther with a feigned Legend, then with lines drawn from the book of life itself. Yet since you desire to try your strength,( for I know you are armed and studied to oppose) I produce three reasons, inducing queen Elizabeth of happy memory, to assist the States general in these warres against the King of spain.  
1 The first, was the oppression and begging done them by the King of spain, both in violating their ancient and laudable laws, privileges, and Liberties,( even such as were fundamental, vpon which the State stood as vpon a base) as also in tyrannizing over their consciences by a most bloody and barbarous Inquisition.  
2 The second reason was, because they were our old sure friends, and had been so, before they had earls, much more before the Spanish Title in those Parts; and we desired still to keep them our near neighbours, rather then to change them for new friends, more remote both in affection and manners, whose propinquity we desired not, beholding it dangerous to Portugall, Naples, and all other Nations, as aiming at an universal Monarchy. Especially queen Elizabeth saw the peril, so great a neighbour might bring to Her and her State, when shee and her kingdoms onely lay as a block in the way, to break the neck of His intended greatness.  
3 The third motive and the greatest, which outwent matter of State, was the maintenance of the Gospel, and peaceable state of the true reformed Church, which began there to enlarge itself; and whereof as shee was styled, so shee intended to prove herself( and performed what she intended) A true Desendresse of the Faith.  Red-scarfe. 
You haue here alleged sundry reasons to haue caused queen Elizabeth to take the Hollanders parts, it is reason then, that if so be I cannot allow them for sufficient reasons, I prove them not so to bee, which by your patience and permission I shall be able to do.  
The first point is about their being oppressed and wronged by the King of spain, and in danger to bee brought under the severity of a Spanish Inquisition.  
That these people lived in obedience of King Philip the second of spain, as did all other the inhabitants of the seventeen Netherland provinces, acknowledging him as their true and lawful sovereign Lord, as they had acknowledged his Ancestors before him, from whom he successively inherited those Countries, no man can make any doubt or question. The question then is, whether this King, when he came to the possession of those Countries, did impose vpon the people any pressures, more then his former Ancestors had done; but who is able to show that he did? the said King being then in as full and quiet possession of all those Countries, as ever any of his Ancestors had been; and departing from thence into spain in the year 1559. he left none of his Netherland subiects, for any cause of innovation, in any thing any whit disgusted, but in as great tranquilitie as ever they had been. He left behind him in those Countries no Spanish Gouernours nor souldiers, but gave the particular governments to the nobility of the Country itself, and the general government of them all, unto his natural sister the duchess of Parma, being of the same country born: what wrong in any respect was here done them? who complained of any wrong? why was not the good peace and reciprocal love betwixt this King and his Netherland subiects continued? who began the breach? what actions of innovation caused it? proceeded it from this Prince, or from the Netherland people?  
When no thought or cogitation was in this Kings mind of any breach between him and his subiects, in the year of our Lord 1566. certain of the rascalitie being suggested by seditious Preachers, and those Preachers set on by some of the nobility, little better then bankrupt, they began in most rebellious rage, to fall to the robbing and spoiling of Churches. The duchess of Parma being at brussels when the news of this outrageous and general sacrilegious theft was brought unto her, was much amazed thereat, and demanded of the earl of Barlamont,( who then was present) what they were that had done this, fireship he answered her in French, Ceste sont queen de Geus, which as much to say, they are but Rogues or Rascals. The Church-robbers, and those that set them on work, whereof some were Gentlemen,( though much unworthy of that title) having gotten notice how the name of Geus was given them, did forthwith accept of the name, and wore in stead of brooches on their hats, little wooden dishes, to betoken beggars dishes; and some of that sort did afterwards wear fox tails in their Hats in stead of feathers; so as it seemeth they took a glory in this worthy name: for they also caused a print or stamp of a cock to be made, at whose mouth the words vive less Geus par tout le monde were set down, which is as much to say, live, or flourish may the Rogues over all the world: and the paper-prints or pictures taken from this stamp, were set up in all houses, taphouses, and taverns where they frequented: here-hence it cometh, that in all the Low-countries, this kind of people do unto this day, bear the name of Geuses, howbeit they haue since been taught to call themselves the Reformed, but Protestants they neither do, nor ever did call themselves.  
Here haue you the original and beginning of the breach between the King of spain, and these his Netherland subiects; and as touching their being oppressed and wronged by the King of spain, and in danger to be brought under the severity of the Spanish Inquisition, the blame that the King of spain herein deserveth is, that he was so much ouer-shot, that when he heard of their breaking down of Altars and Images in Churches, of their robbing and carrying thence of silver Chalices, patterns, Cruets, candlesticks, lamps, and Reliquaries, with the tapestry, and whatsoever they might make money of, even to the very bells in the Steeples, he had not commended it to be well done, and sent them rewards for their so doing, and so haue let them run on even to the taking of the crucifix out of the Church, and hanging it on the gallows, as they did at Gorcum in Holland; an act, that albeit the divell, Iewes, and Geuses would take pleasure in, yet would very Turkes, and Mahometans bee scandalised to behold it.  
Now because the King of spain had sworn at his being in the Netherlands, to defend the Church and ecclesiastical persons in their ancient and Christian privileges, and that he apprehended Church-robberie to be theft, he so much wronged these people, as to sand the Duke of Alua to punish this theft, which( as I take it) was as little wrong, as to hang a Minister for stealing of a book of Martyrs out of a Parish Church in London.  Tawny-scarfe. 
You haue here said something to no purpose: yet first to answer your falshoods, and then to add that which is true. Your speech consists of two parts: in the one you labour to clear the King of spain from all oppression; in the other, you seek to cast all the fault vpon the people, and especially vpon those of the Reformed Religion, whom by the way, as far as your skill will serve you, you spot with three or four crimes, which I dare say, you count proper to the cause.  
First, I willingly grant the quiet possession of Philip the second King of spain in those provinces, and the general obedience which the people yielded to him, during the time of his stay amongst them, all which augments his obligation of love. But whereas you lay the cause of these ensuing warres, to the rascall multitude, seditious Preachers, and bankrupt nobility( as you style them) you shall find your own glorious and catholic company to be these Rascals, your own Popish clergy to be the seditious Priests, your own bloody nobility, to be these bankrupts of true blood and nobility. For the reproachful name of Geus cast vpon them, which you interpret Rascall, they wore it, and the ensigns and badges of it, as an honour, to let the world see, the King of spain and his council, especially the clergy, accounted no better of them, then of Rogues or beggars, and intended with the utmost speed to make them such, which also they expressed by the wooden dish.  
As for the fox tail, which you say, they wore in their Caps, it was perhaps to put you in mind, that neither they nor their Preachers were such Votaries as your chased Friar Cornelius Adrianson of Bruges; who being a most zealous persecuter of the Geuses, and very devout and obedient to the Church of Rome and the catholic King, invented an Order of humility and innocency, and used to whip the penitent female souls, that he confessed, with a Foxe-tayle stark naked, telling them it became innocency to bee seen so. This must needs bee a sore and severe kind of Penance both to them and to him; yet not so absurd and abhorred, as that sodomitical practise of the Friars of gaunt and Bruges; for which much about that time, many were burnt, and many were whipt, by the sentence of the Court of Flanders, being all men of their own Religion.  
For the hanging up of a crucifix vpon the gallows at Gorcum, commonwealth you charge the people, I must confess I allow not of the fact; nay rather I condemn it as an idle and scandalous action, neither can I suppose it true; yet admit it were so, then doubtless either it was done by some irreligious persons, who mixed themselves with the multitude of rash Reformers; or if by some others, out of blind devotion and indiscreet zeal, they might defend themselves with these reasons, which you can hardly refute.  
1 First, you paint Christ hanged on a cross, who fits in glory at the right hand of God the Father: for this they hang up your forgery; and do no more indeed in the open air, then what you did before by the pencil, under the roof of your own houses, or in the Church.  
2 Secondly, your mass priests every day crucify again the Lord of life, at least they make such as you beleeue they do so, whilst they offer up his body to God the Father for sin, as once he did for all on the cross himself. But these onely did execute the picture, whilst your clergy, like Caiaphas, Annas, Herod, Pilate, and Iudas, betray, accuse, and condemn him every day in person, as they say, if hoc est corpus meum, with a cross or two added, haue power to change a Cake into Christs body.  
3 Thirdly, that Idol robbed God of his glory, and Christ of his worship; whilst, either it had all or part of that respect, which was due to the person. If then a man for mere necessity stealing a Surplice, Chalice, Image, or the like, out of your idolatrous Temples, bee worthy of hanging, though he bee the image of God, what, is not your Idol worthy to bee hanged, who robs God of his glory,& your souls of true felicity? Christ himself whipped theeues out of the Church, and shall that thief be left there? It is your blind devotion to prefer that Idol, before the true, lively, and living Image of Christ, whom you daily hang up for this Idols sake: and so, whilst you think to do God good service, do service to the divell, making your own sons and daughters pass thorough the fire to Molech.  
As for the Minister which you bring in by way of instance, who should steal( as you say) a book of Martyrs out of a Parish Church in London: if there were any such man, he was worthy to be hanged; but suppose he had stolen your god amighty in the silver box,( as he was very like to do it, had it stood in his way) what a pitiful case had you been in, whilst you must haue pursued him as Laban did jacob, saying, 
Gen. 31.30.  why haue you stolen away my god?  
And this for answer to your naked and empty allegations, which must bee credited vpon your bare word. But whereas you cry out, or rather crow like a cock on a dunghill, demanding what wrong in any respect was done the people? who complained of any wrong? why was not the good peace and reciprocal love between this King and his Netherland subiects continued? who began the breach? what actions of innovation caused it? proceeded it from this Prince, or from the Netherland people? I will briefly as I may, satisfy all your demands, showing first the true and natural constitution of that mixed government ab initio, and then proceeding to manifest what new pressures, contrary to the fundamental laws of the State, and what daily encroachments, stolen vpon the peoples Liberties by policy, provoked this war, and produced the dire effects following; as a mirror to warn all Magistrates to beware of tyranny, and to bee content with their own in manly moderation, lest Lucifer-like, seeking to become gods, they prove devilish Tyrants, and so lose their first angelical seats of sovereignty.  
But because it is impossible in so narrow a Discourse as we intend, to speak of all particulars, and to deliver severally, what every province, and every City in every province, holds apart from others, as proper onely to themselves, I will onely show you a few of those Principles( rather then privileges) of State, which these Nations haue preserved entire in general, notwithstanding the many powerful hands they haue in that time past thorough; when, even the most noble and generous Nations, who boast and glory of universal Monarchies, haue endured in less time many violent changes, and a total and final loss of their Liberties.  
The Batanians( for that is the most general name proper to this people) were originally of the Cattens, now called Hessens; they first possessed the Land which they now hold, without injury to any other Nation or person, finding it not inhabited by reason of many wants and inconveniences, which their invincible industries haue since overcome; and much of it also not habitable, in regard of sundry difficulties which their admirable inventions haue since removed, or converted into profitable helps and necessary commodities. Thus originally they are free without foreign tenor for the place, or complaint of any person for elbow-roome or intrusion. Their government also was as free as government could possibly be: they choose their Gouernours themselves, were he one or more, King, general, or earl; and ever had respect that their Liberties and welfares should not rest in the bosom or disposition of one man onely; but so wisely and warily provided, that were he wise or foolish, virtuous or wicked, va●●ant or cowardly, true or false that ruled for the time, he might profit them, but should haue no power to ruin them himself, or betray them to be ruined by the tyranny of others.  
For this end also they choose a certain mixed number of the Nobles and Commons to sit in council, whom they called States general; and in these consisted a great part of the sovereignty, at least power to qualify the ouer-swelling torrent of tyranny in the superior, and to repress and stay the headstrong and disobedient fury of the inferior, and to stand in the midst as a Moderator betwixt Prince and people, as our Parliaments in England use to do.  
In these States united, together with their Prince,( whatsoever title he bore) was the sovereign Power included; yet so, as they had reference in all great affairs to the people also; who were not shut out,( like beasts by Butchers against the day of slaughter) but called to counsel, if the business concerned them, and the general welfare. And to say truth, many of the States were of these Commons, who therefore would carefully look to preserve the common liberty.  
With this council of the States all great affairs past; without it, nothing of moment. And, that you may apprehended this clear truth the better, I will produce some of the Articles containing their freedoms, which their Princes used to confirm by oath in the presence of the States, before they or the people would aclowledge them for Princes, that is, Iudges and Executors of the Lawe.  

The customs and laws fundamental of the Netherland Provinces.  
THat no countess should mary unto any man, but with consent and good liking of the State.  
That the Offices, as of the council, and Rent-masters, and Pretorships, should be conferred vpon no other, but vpon those that were born within the Land.  
That the States shall haue liberty to assemble vpon them, affairs of the State; and that as often as shall please them, without need to haue consent of the earl for that end.  
That no Tolles might be raised or imposed, neither any man freed from those that were formerly ordained, but by consent of the States.  
That the Princes should use the Dutch Language in all their Writings.  
That the coin should be altered and appointed by the Prince, according as the States should find it convenient.  
That the Prince might not make away any part of his principality.  
That the States may not bee warned to assemble vpon any convocation out of the provinces.  
That when as the Prince should haue need of any Impositions, Collections, or Contributions, that he himself personally, and not by mediation of his Lieutenant, shall make intercession unto the States, without exacting any thing, otherwise then by a willing and free consent.  
That he exercise and administer Law and Iustice by the hand of the ordinary Iustices.  
That the ancient laws and customs being sacred, shouldbe inviolably observed; and if the Prince should ordain any thing contrary thereunto, that no man is bound to observe the same.   
These laws having been long maintained by mere custom, were afterwards registered into Articles, and subsigned by the Princes from time to time; to this end, that the natures of the same Princes might not be infected by the evil incitations of flattering Courtiers, unto the hope of unlawful domination. And at last, in regard that the States made complaint of their grievances, that the most of the fundamental points of the ancient government, by innovations were overthrown, even then was there a collection made of all the aforesaid laws; and so by some others, but chiefly by Mary duchess of burgundy, they were sealed up, for an everlasting memory.  
This was the state of these provinces, when they came into the hands of Charles the fift, who being a mighty Prince,( too big for the quiet or benefit of those Countries) sought by policy and power to melt and cast them into a new form of government, and to unite the seventeen provinces in one solid body, making thereof a kingdom, and himself absolute King of that kingdom. But, being hindered by strong opposition at home, and stronger engagements abroad, he was forced to leave that work imperfect, to bee made up by the art and industry of his son Philip the second. He onely had left the rough draft, and first pattern of that monarchy, which the times succeeding should polish and make perfect: to which end he resigned the Netherlands to his son Philip the second, very early, to give him time, and the advantage of active and fortunate youth, to enter vpon this work, and to finish it. All which was done( the Kings secret intent onely reserved to himself and his Chamber-councell) with the consent of the States general, who gave him the Oath, which they administer to all their Princes, to observe the customs of the provinces, and preserve their Liberties entire.  

Ignorance makes desperate onsets both in peace and war: And youth is naturally ignorant: so neither the King by reason of his youth, nor the Spanish council, who altogether governed the King, could tell how to manage this people, being unacquainted with their natures. And there is as great difference betwixt the government of spain and the Netherlands, as betwixt England and Scotland. Great reason they should therefore be governed by natives that knew them, not by strangers, that did not love them, and meant onely to make their profit of them.  The first onset of this young Prince presently vpon his Inauguration, as an overture and omen to that which followed, was an excessive demand of money from the Netherlands, under pretence of paying his debts. But he could not obtain a moiety of that which he sought, neither would that bee granted without a convocation of the general States of the 17. Belgicke provinces. The which was wonderfully ill taken by the Spanish council, and by those that enriched themselves with the treasure of the peoples ruin: so that some Noblemen and Gouernours of some provinces and towns, were not onely in disgrace with the King and his council, but were also judged guilty of high treason; and the Noblemen which had in any sort contradicted this demand, were marked unto death vpon the first opportunity that should be offered, for that they would not instantly yield unto the first demand, without any convocation of the States. Notwithstanding, that which was granted him( being called the Novenall aid) amounted in all, to forty millions of Florins of Brabant money. But this convocation of the States general, was both to the King and his council( as it hath been ever since) most odious; 
Meetings of the Nobles, and councils of the subiects, odious to Tyrants.  as we shall see by the beginning of the troubles which happened in the s●id Netherlands, whereof grew the warres, which haue continued since the year 1566. unto this day.  
A while after this the King departs into spain, and by the means of the cardinal Granvile, 
The worse Clergiman, the b●tter Courtier. ( a gracious Courtier; and the more like to bee so, in that he was known to be a graceless Church-man) Margaret of Austria duchess of Parma bastard daughter to the Emperour Charles the fift, and so the Kings base si●●er, was made governess of the Netherlands. Yet before his departure, the warres with France being finished, and peace concluded, the States having a jealous eye for the public liberty, and seeing the Spanish souldiers g●rrisond in the best towns of the Netherlands, they with the Nobility petitioned to the King, to haue them sent away; and to urge it to bee done with more speed, they presented to the King their fundamental Principles, his Oath to preserve them inviolate, and their farther jealousies and fears were not altogether denied or dissembled, but rather plainly insinuated and avouched.  
This that they desired was at last done, though slowly, and much against hair and heart: Now therefore the Spanish Faction wrought with such of the nobility as sought Office, or were covetous either of favour, wealth, or honour, after a more bold and open maner; showing plainly, that except the Countries were reduced to absolute obedience by foreign Garrisons, 
Religion made the mask of State, as is ●uer used by Tyrants and Atheists.  and the awe of a conquering army, it was an impossible work to punish the heretics, who would otherwise so increase, as the Countries would be wholly lost.  
The wiser and honester sort, of whatsoever opinion in Religion they were, saw this snare and shunned it, and gave others warning also. Notwithstanding some there were( as all hives haue some Drones, and all States haue some slaves bread in them) that were contented to swear setters, so they might be made of gold, and they might help to make them.  
But for the effecting of this, the Inquisition must bee introduced, which had before been relected in the time of Charles the fift. 
No such equal course as is used in the Star-chamber.  Accordingly a Commission was sent May the 11, 1565. by the which, according to the words thereof, ample and full Commission was given to the Inquisitors, to make inquisitions, proceedings, corrections and punishments, degradations, deliverances to the secular Power, to use imprisonment, and apprehension of men, making of Processes without any form of Iustice; choosing onely some one of the Kings council, who should be bound to give sentence as they should require, according to the form and tenor of the apostolic Letters written touching that, without any attendance or requisition of the ordinary judge, or Diocesan of the place; and that against those that are suspected of heresy, or that shall read forbidden books, or shall make Assemblies, dispute or talk of the holy Scriptures.  
Item, to call before them as often as they please, all his majesties subiects, of what authority, power, state, quality or condition whatsoever, be they Presidents, Councelours, Burgomasters, Aldermen or other Officers, to swear them by Oath, against all those they shall name, vpon pain to be punished as suspect and favourers of heresy. In respect whereof, all Magistrates, Gouernours, and Officers, were enjoined to give all aid, assistance and favour unto the said Inquisitors, in the execution of their charge, whensoeuer they should bee required, vpon the same pains, &c. besides many other things directly repugnant to all right, and the ancient privileges and customs of the Country.  
moreover, the most apparent and notable persons, as well among the Nobles, as Merchants and artisans, and especially the richest, were already enrolled in these Inquisitors books to proceed against them, as against men subject to confiscation both of body and goods, at the least in case of repentance, to great pecuniary Fines. Thereupon was heard of all sides the brags and threats of Inquisitors, Priests and monks, daring to prescribe, yea to name in their Sermons the most apparent; whereof not onely the people of antwerp, which heard it, and the Magistrates, which had been daily informed, bear witness, but also the towns of lily, tourney, Valenciennes, and others of the Countries of Flanders, Brabant, Holland, and Arthoys, where as these threats haue been publicly heard from the mouths of the Priests and Preachers.  
Whereupon those of Brabant began first to intimate, that their duchy was fallen to the King of Spaines Predecessors by right of Election, the which depended vpon Conditions sworn of either side: all which Conditions they said were broken, if they brought the Inquisition of spain into that Country. Those of Brabant did also produce six principal Articles, among others of their privileges, whereof the first was:  
1 
This was broken by the introducing of the 14. new Bishops and their Canons.  That the Duke of Brabant might not augment the State of the clergy, more then it had been in old time.  
2 
This by the death of diuers of the nobility, as the earls of horn, Egmond and others.  That the Duke might not pursue civilly or criminally, any of his natural subiects or strangers dwelling there, but by the ordinary course of the Iustice of the country, whereas the accused may defend and justify himself by his council.  
3 
This was infringed by new forms of exaction of the hundreth and twentieth penny, and of the tenth penny vpon merchandise and handiworkes.  That the Duke may not raise any tribute or other imposition, nor attempt any innovation, without the consent of the State of the Country.  
4 
This was infringed by making Spaniards principal Officers in the Netherlands, whereas no Netherlander had Office in spain.  That the Duke may not place any strangers or foreigners in any Offices of Brabant, except in certain petty exceptions; namely, in his Court, where he may haue two strangers of his council, so as they be of the same Language; as also one that is not born in Brabant, having for a time enjoyed some free signory there, may be President in the said Court.  
5 That when as the Duke would assemble all his Estates, were it to demand money, aid, subsidues, or any other thing of his subiects, that those of Brabant, nor the other Estates of the country, should not be bound to go out of the limits of the Country, nor to conclude any thing out of it.  
6 If it should happen that the Duke would restrain and infringe their privileges, were it by force or otherwise, in that case his subiects of Brabant having made a solemn protestation before, should be freed and discharged of their oath and homage, and as freemen may provide for themselves, as they shall think most convenient. Which privileges, most part of the towns and provinces did challenge, and do maintain them to be in like sort proper to them, and ratified by Maximilian king of romans, in the year 1488. the 16. of May; not as if then he gave them any new privileges which they had not before, or which lay in his power to take away at pleasure, but that he onely ratified their old Principles, as a just Prince, who was careful to discharge his duty for their after-safety and liberty.  
Besides all these allegations and propositions, in the end they durst say openly, that by the feodall laws, the Lord loseth the right of his Fee, by the same occasion of felony, that the vassal forfeits his fee unto the Lord: inferring thereby, that by reason of the Inquisition, the which did attempt manifestly against the Lands and Goods of the Kings vassals, they might justly forget their duty of fealty to him that brought it in by force and fraud.  
Notwithstanding, they proceeded by way of Petition both to the King and governess; and after sundry Petitions, at length obtained onely this favourable moderation of all tyrannies and oppressions, that burning should be turned into hanging; whereby we see what Salomon saith verified, 
Pr. 12.10  The mercies of the wicked are cruel. Yet the States continued to petition to the King, but to no purpose; for contrary resolutions were taken in spain,( where the King was in person, where all councils were forged, and from whence they hoped for redress) that all mens Goods and Lands, together with all ancient privileges, should bee forfeited and lost. And the Duke of Alua, a politic governor, and great soldier, was sent to execute all by strong-hand, and reduce the Countries to absolute obedience, as if they had not been places of inheritance, but Countries conquered. Now all these pressures were vpon purpose cast vpon the people to discontent them, and force the people to rebel, whereby he might haue occasion of that general Conquest, which those high-minded Spaniards supposed to be easy to their daring and slaue-subduing spirits, though the issue proves they took their level too low, and their wisedoms were deceived and much mistaken in the main matter.  Red-scarfe. 
But shall I be so simplo as to beleeue you affirming, that the King of spain sought to discontent his people, that they might rebel, and so he find occasion to invade their Liberties farther? Doth not any King rather seek to rule his people in peace, then provoke them to rebellion, whose suppression would both bee chargeable unto him, and also dangerous being uncertain?  Tawny-scarfe. 
You should show yourself very wise if you could disprove it, and very simplo till then not to beleeue it, vpon such pregnant proofs as hath or shall bee produced. The fore-mentioned practise of provoking people to profitable offences, hath been ancient, and is usual with Tyrants, who find no pleasure in commanding, except they may be absolute. And though perhaps they could bee content with obedience to their absolute commands under peaceable terms, yet if they see the least opposition or variation, presently they take new councils to mix all in combustion and confusion, like another Chaos, thereby to raise up the work new according to their own fancies,( which they prefer before reason, Religion, or all lawful delights) by the hand of power or policy.  
Thus the insulting Spaniard thinks it is not enough, or any thing worth, to haue the addition of Countries by access of marriage or any other title, except also he comes in by a kind of Conquest; or, being let in vpon terms of peace, proceed to fasten vpon all by force as a conqueror; otherwise he thinks he cannot lord it enough, and there is some disparagement to his invincible arrogancy. Let Arragon and Portugal at home, and Naples and these parts abroad, be witness of this truth, as also every other place whereupon he sets the print of his feet; let the first conditions of his entry be what they will, the issue is Conquest, and the worst that Conquest can do.  
And to resolve you yet farther of this truth, first, the Letters of Francisco d' Allana, ambassador for the King of spain at the French Court, written to the duchess of Parma governess of the Netherlands, do manifest this amongst many other things; where he shows," That the uproar happening about Images, which you mention as an heinous and capital crime, would cause his majesty to reap so great a benefit, as to see them by that occasion reduced wonderfully to his obedience, and to that estate and government whereunto his predecessors could never attain, and the which he hath so long designed and desired; and withall, to haue the means( the which no good seruant will counsel his majesty to let slip) to subdue 
Thus al men and all States are subjecteth one by another: but we●e they so wise to stand one by another, tyranny could never prevail with all his politic pretences.  one by another whom he pleased, that might hereafter oppose themselves to the good of his affairs in those Countries.  
again, in the same Letter, to effect this the better, he gives the duchess instructions, how shee shall cunningly carry herself to the nobility of the country, who seem to stand for the King, saying:  
" And for that( Madam) the point which to me seems of greatest importance in this action, is to assure more and more the 
That is, the Nobility and States, who petitioned for r●dresse of injuries.  disguised seruants whom you know. Your Highnesse I hope will not take it ill, if I do again advertise you to temporize with them, and to force yourself as much as you can, to assure them as well by yourself, as by others suborned, of the great good opinion and satisfaction which his majesty hath of their actions, and of the love he beareth them; that he believeth and saith, that they haue done him so notable a service, as he thinks himself bound unto them, that the Netherlands are yet under his obedience; and that without their presence and wisedoms, they had either been a prey to strangers, or bathed with the blood of his own subiects. For although( Madam) they be cunning and counterfeit, as we know, yet the time and occasions do require, that for his majesties service they should use these artificial speeches. And I beleeue, that your Highnesse shall find by experience, that they will help something to entertain them, at the least to contain them; as we haue already found, not onely by them, but also by those 
The marquis of Ba●●gen, and the Baron of Montigny, who carried the petition of the States to spain by the Regen●s command, and being of the nobility of the Netherlands, stood notwithstanding wholly for the King. Yet the first of these dyed of poison secretly, as was generally suspected: the other was poisoned by a page., as was notoriously known and confessed. Anno 1567.  two which are gone to his majesty, with whom they haue carried themselves so cunningly giuing thē such entertainment, as they do not now swear, but by the faith they owe unto their Master. And besides, they haue made such practices in their Families, as they cannot do nor say any thing, but it is presently advertised.  
Thus he: and by this we see the general aim, as I haue before laid it down; and all men may perceive, especially Nobles, what account is made of them, even by such as use them to betray their Countries liberties and their own; and what spies are set vpon them at home in their chambers: which may make them careful of Spanish Followers, or of any commended to them by that Faction, though aloof off, and coming much about.  
Besides this Spanish practise, of coming in by Conquest, appears by the Articles of aduise, concluded vpon and pronounced by the Inquisition of spain the 16. of February 1568. and confirmed by the King the 26. following in this manner:  
The most sacred Office of the Inquisition so often attempted in the Netherlands by his majesty, and hindered until this time, shall be instituted and advanced in this manner, which is most expedient.  
They must persuade the 
He was too old, and too wise, and too good, having had long experience of their evil counsel, to be ruled longer by them.  Emperour, being gone astray, and wickedly confederated with heretics, that he resign his kingdoms unto his son, with the whole administration of the Netherlands.  

None of these would serve their turn, growing now old, and beginning to be devout.  That the Emperour with his two sisters, having given over all affairs, leaving the Netherlands, shall retire into spain to us, being assured that they shall never return more to do any harm.  

To divide the Princes love from the people, a principal means to advance tyranny.  These being dispatched, we must also draw the King to us, and keep him for ever that he part not, and not suffer any Flemmings to haue access or conference with him.  

Clergimen made ever instruments and actors to invade the liberties of others, if themselves may be free: and the greater places and immunities they enjoy, the less they care for the public.  That the King writ unto, and command the clergy of the Netherlands, that with the Inquisition they should accept of 15. new Bishops, the which should bee free from all secular jurisdiction, yea in cases of Treason.  

They are made by force vpon purpose, to revolt for the Kings supposed aduan●age.  The subiects of the Netherlands through their malice and waywardness, will revolt and move seditions and tumults, pleasing to all but to our company.  

Old Nobility odious to Tyrants, new Nobility not so: for they are raised vpon purpose to serve the Prince and time.  The Princes and Noblemen, heads and authors of those Factions with the subiects, must be taken away, and the others reduced unto reason.  

The Noblemen had books prohibited proffered unto them underhand by spies of the Inquisition, who accused them assoon as they had bought.  They shall hire at our charge, theeues and spoilers of Churches and Images, whose offences shall be by all the world imputed to Rebels, by some subtle means, and so we shall vanquish them.  

The undoing of trade and impoverishing of the people, a step t●wards tyranny. So natives shall be weeded out, and strangers placed in their steads.  That all Commerce, Negotiation, Liberties, and privileges, shalbe rooted out, and that all be reduced to extreme poverty, whereby the realm shall bee permanent for Vs.  

Silence of laws, confusion of men, office, order, al things, a step towards tyranny.  No man of all those Countries( except he bee of our Faction) shall be held worthy to live; and finally all to be rooted out: and all Goods, Possessions, Arts and Trades, and all Order to be taken away, until there may be a new realm, and a new people.  

Men of authority must be made the bawds and brokers for tyranny. cruel natures fittest for such employment.  In this action the wise and valiant Duke of Alua shall be employed in person; whereas any other, were he of the blood royal, or a Prince, shall bee of no esteem: so as being suspect, yea in the smallest matters, they must be dispatched.  

Where the people can not trust the Prince, how shall the Prince trust the people? Tyrants by being false, learn their people to be so: and whilst they count and call good men Traytors, they make them such to their cost in the issue.  No Contracts, Rights, Promises, Donations, oaths, privileges, and solemn Assertions of the Netherlands shall be of any force for the inhabitants, as being guilty of high Treason.  
Thus you see the general purpose of a Conquest and that deliberately, consulted and laid down by the Spanish council, and accordingly the Emperour removed,( who being born in the Netherlands, bare the people too great and good affection, to press them far enough for the Spanish purpose, nature mitigating his ambition; though otherwise he could haue been contented to see them easily and willingly subiugated without blood) and a new King brought in that knew not joseph, 
exod. 1.8.  nor might be acquainted either with his service, or with any of his stock, who confirmed these cursed Articles before recited, and the Inquisitors bloody sentence thereupon, by his kingly authority and public act. Anno 1568. Feb. 16.  
And while after( to finish and perfect this plot to the full) the Duke of Alua was sent with an army of strangers, to enter like a Conqueror, to lay the yoke vpon them by force, and to humble them so far, as they should not onely afterward endure the Kings own absolute commands, but his seruants also; yea the meanest command of the basest vassal that should be born Spanish, and be there sent to domineete. Yet after the powring forth of so much blood, when d'Alua boasted, that he had caused 18000. persons to pass under the hands of the common Executioners, besides those banished and slain in the warres, or murdered by the Spanish souldiers in peace, he left these Countries more embroil, and farther from the subiection desired, then he found them: having onely wasted his Masters men and money, giuing the people a just cause to disclaim his tyrannous authority, and to brand his beastly and savage domination with these exceptions, and foul aspersions:  
First, they charge him, that he had counseled the King to use all extremities in all causes concerning the Netherlands, and was always the head of such as were worst affencted unto those provinces.  
That he was the onely means of nourishing the dislike and contention between Dom Charles Prince of spain, and Dom John de Austria, and between others and him, by his bad reports. And that having gotten the government and charge of the Netherlands, that he had procured his instructions and commission to bee made according to his own will and desire, conformable to that ancient hatred that he had conceived against that country; adding thereunto, that he had been received more 
He hoped and sought resistance, tha● he might conquer: which opposition because he found not at his entry, he forced afterwards.  peaceably, and more friendly into the Netherlands, then he hoped or desired; which was onely in regard of the honour and duty they owe unto their natural Prince, and vpon the promise made by the Regent, the duchess of Parma, that shee would haue seen all things past forgiven& forgotten, for that every one had done his best endeavour, to the utmost of his power for his majesties service, and the peace of the land. But the Duke being come, he presently declared, that the privileges and freedoms of the country, the institution of the Order of the Golden Fleece, and the privileges of the university of louvain,( which the King had personally sworn to observe) were all forfeited and lost; thereby to hold and account the Land as a strange country, newly won and conquered by the sword, and therein to rule and reign according to his will and pleasure.  
They say further, that his cruelties were so unnatural and ungodly, that neither Nero, Pharaoh, Herod, nor any heathen Tyrant could ever haue devised or invented greater; that he had brought the King into contempt and great dislike of the Netherlands, altho●gh they were his patrimoniall inheritance, contrary to ●he admonition and counsel of Aristotle given to Alexander the Great, That to the Grecians he should show himself a father, and as unto a free Nation; but to the conquered Barbarians and strangers, as a Lord and Commander.  
That he had caused iudgement to be given, and execution to be done vpon Noblemen and great personages, by strangers, defamed persons, and men of base condition and quality, and not without great and particular desire of reuenge; being such personages, without the which the King, nor the Emperour his father, should ever haue attained to so great estate and glory. And that in brussels under pretence of hatted of Religion, he had tied one Anthony Vtenhow a Gentleman, to a stake with a chain, compassing him about with a great fire, but not touching him, for the Spaniards to pass the time withall, turning him round about like a poor beast; who was forced to live in that great pain and extremity, roasting before the fire so long, until that the Hollanders themselves having compassion of him, thrust him thorough, contrary to the will and intent both of the Duke and Spanish Priests.  

mark well these ways of Conquest and Tyranny.  That he had moved the King to help himself by four tyrannicall means; first, to disarm the country, not suffering the inhabitants to exercise arms, but employ strangers in his warres: Secondly, to make and keep them poor by oppressions, and laying great taxes vpon them: Thirdly, by making of Castles and citadels( which some call the dens and nests of Tyrants) to bridle them: and further, by feeding and nourishing of division among his subiects for Religion.  
They object, that he had with holden the King for so many yeeres( notwithstanding those great dangers the Country stood in, and the need of his presence) from coming personally into the Netherlands, as the Emperour his father did, onely for the troubles of the town of Gand.  
That he had incensed the King so much against the Netherlanders, as he would not vouchsafe to hear them, 
If a Prince b●gin once to hate a people, then his ears stand ever op● to all sinister informations. And there can be no better flattery, and so no better Court-seruice then to bring him a f●lse cal● to incense him farther.  but rather to hear flatterers, their enemies; as it appeared by a packet of Letters sent into spain, where they were kept unopened nine moneths together, until the coming of cardinal Granville into spain.  
That he had contemned the general Estates of the Netherlands; persecuting, judging, condemning, and executing the nobility and Gentlemen thereof, as traytors to their country, because they onely presented an humble Petition to the duchess of Parma being Regent, to crave an Assembly of the general Estates.  
That he was not contented to haue destroyed and brought so many Noblemen, Gentlemen, rich▪ and poor people unto their ends, and to haue banished and driven so many out of their country, but had so hardly and badly used those that remained in the country, as they were fallen into despair, and were pitied and lamented in all Kings and Princes Courts: whereby those that were in the Land, had been compelled to join with the banished persons, when as they perceived, that the Pardon made by the Pope and the King, by his onely means and procurement, tended onely to 
Gracious Pardon●, holy Dispensation●  deceit, as being full of double interpretations, exceptions, and restrictions, whereon they might not trust; the 
This was the case betwixt catholic and catholic. mark it, O all ye English catholics, it is not sufficient to be Romish catholics, except ye he Spanish catholics also.  Netherlands for the most part, that are a people that commonly are good, old, and catholic Christians, being esteemed for heretics by the new Spanish Mauritane Christians, for which cause many spiritual persons fearing the rigour and cruelty used, by punishing and banishing of the people, procured attestations, certificates, and testimonials from their Bishops and Pastors, to testify them to be clear, and not to haue offended, whose names he caused to bee written and sent into spain, thereby to bring the Spiritualtie into suspicion of heresy, and so to bereave them of all honour and credit, seeking to bring the spiritual goods and livings of the Countries of the Netherlands into the Kings hands, after the Spanish manner, thereby to bestow them vpon the Spaniards.  
That his cruelty appeared by his ransacking, spoiling, ruining, expelling, destroying, imprisoning, chayning, banishing, and confiscating of mens goods, burning, hanging, beheading, breaking vpon wheeles, hanging men alive by the feet, and with most horrible and incredible tormenting, racking, and murdering of so many noble and unnoble, rich and poor, young and old, widows and orphans, men, women, and young maides, of all estates and conditions: so as he bragged sitting at meate, that he, having done the best he could do to root out all Heresies, had caused eighteen thousand men to be executed and put to death by the ordinary minister of Iustice, within the space of six yeres that he governed the Netherlands, not accounting those that his soldiers in the Netherlands by the warres, by their cruelties, and other tyrannous means had murdered and miserable consumed and brought unto their ends, which without all doubt could not choose but bee an innumerable number: and yet Vergas the President of his bloody council, that went with him into spain, complained and said, that nimia misericordia, too much mercy, spoyled the Netherlands: which too much mercy of his was such, that a man could hardly keep and preserve his own goods from spoil, because of his and his souldiers covetousness; nor his wife and daughter from abuse, because of their lechery, nor his life from violence, because of their bloud-thirstinesse: neither could nobility, riches, honesty, nor yet any fore-passed merit or service, help or avail any man, if he were once fallen into hatred and dislike of him.  
That he used to help himself to effect his will by suborning of false witnesses, at it appeared at Dornicke at the death of Martin Hutten, who was the Kings Officer, executed for the same.  
That without respect of any jurisdictions and ordinary customs of the country, he took all authority from the Iudges, both of criminal and civil causes, which in any wise might concern the Confiscations used and executed by his bloody councils; whereby neither spiritual nor temporal persons, widows nor orphans, poor Hospitals, Lazer-houses, Orphans houses, nor spiritual Hospitals, that had just and due pensions, and yearly Rents coming, proceeding, and to bee yearly payed unto them out of the revenues of the banished and executed persons goods, could be payed; but he to the contrary, dr●w it all into his own hands, without giuing any charge to see the said Rents payed out of the confiscated goods and lands once registered, the list whereof he sent unto the King, amounting( as he set it down) to about eight millions of Guldernes yearly, that so he might cover his cruelty with the profit thereof, and thereby win great commendation in spain.  
That the unreasonable and unspeakable exactions and taxes the one following the other,( besides the confiscations aforesaid) exacted and laid vpon the poor people were exceeding great, as the hundreth penny granted unto him for six yeeres, which amounted unto many millions of Guldernes; the twentieth penny, and also he asked the tenth penny of all goods movable and vnmooueable, yea and of all wears bought and sold, and sought by all the means he could, to raise the same( against the advice of all the Estates and councils of the country) not onely proceeding of the clear gains of the things sold, but the tenth and twentieth penny of the capital and principal value of all things sold: so as they should haue driven all Trade of merchandise, handicrafts, and dealings( whereby the Inhabitants for the most part get their livings) out of the Netherlands; which exaction he thought with all rigour and extremity to haue raised and put in practise, if he had not been impeached and hindered from the same by the warres; whereas before that, the country gave him twenty hundred thousand Guldernes yearly, besides certain extraordinary millions continually payed. To conclude, he caused the King and the Netherlands in six yeeres government to spend at the least fifty two millions of Guldernes, which came for the most part out of the Netherlands purses  
That he caused the English Merchants goods that did traffic in antwerp,( vpon hatred of Religion, and thinking thereby to drive them from thence) amounting to seven hundred thousand Guldernes, 
This money belonged to the Merchants of Genoa, as is afterward shewed.  to be arrested under pretence of money that should bee arrested and withholden from him in England,( which nevertheless appeared to be none of his) writing to the King of spain to do the like, without any consideration, that the Netherlands had more to lose in England; who thereby lost in England twelve hundred thousand Guldernes, wherewith the most worthy and famous queen of ●ngland recompensed her subiects for their losses: But the Duke of Alua, neither yet the King of spain, would not offer, promise, or pay the Netherlands one penny; notwithstanding afterwards, that by the reckoning made by the Merchants on both sides, he( having received in the Merchants names, about two hundred thousand Guldernes of overplus found to be in the English Merchants hands) would not give it unto those persons that had lost it, as the queen of England did; but rather caused many men( by reason of stoping the Trade) to become Bankrupts, to the general hurt and prejudice of the whole country. Besides, for want of paying his souldiers, he suffered them, without all military discipline, to use all riotous, disordered, and forcible actions; as threatening of the people, striking, robbing, ransacking, forcing of women, and such like actions, and to burn and spoil diuers faire Villages, as Catwicke vpon the Sea, Santfort, Alfen, and many others; and ra●sacking diuers towns, to murder the people, thinking to haue entred forcibly into utrecht and other towns, and to haue spoyled and ransacked the same: what they did to Dornicke, Valencia, cypre, Mastricht, deventer, Me●helen, Oudenard, Dermonde, Naerden, and elsewhere, is yet in most fearful remembrance.  
In his time in brussels, there was above one hundred and thirty burghers murdered, and cruelly brought unto their ends by the Spaniards. In Gand in a ce●taine uproar made by the Spaniards, there was sixty or seuentie burghers at one time, and after that an innumerable number of men and women slain and murdered. In cypre likewise at the execution of a Preacher, there was two and twenty burghers shot thorough and killed, besides those that were hurt.  
In Dornicke at a certain uproar between them of the Castle, and the towns Garrison, two Spaniards being slain, they cried Spania, Spania, and therewith wilfully killed fifteen burghers: and there likewise they forcibly entred into the widow Pottiers house in the day time, and killed her daughter and her cousin, thinking to haue found great store of money in her house; for the which there was no other execution done vpon the offenders, but onely they that had done the dead, were sent away from thence, and put into another Garrison.  
In Flessingue was there not a Bill found about Pacieco,( that was kept prisoner by them) wherein was the names of an innumerable number of men both Gentlemen and others of the chiefest burghers, which by the Dukes commandement should haue been murdered in the year 1572. in diuers towns, thereby to compel them to yield to the tenth penny? What horrible murders were done and committed in Naerden and Harlem, contrary to the faithful promises made in Dom Frederickes name, is manifestly known to every man: where he caused all the soldiers( not sparing their young boyes and Pages) to be executed, suffering their dead bodies stark naked to lye a whole day and a night vpon the scaffolds, and in the market place, to the great shane and fear of the women and maids; and some of them that had delivered the town unto him, he determined to sand them into spain to be Galley-slaues, and those that lay in the 
A Sconce so called near Haerlem.  Fuyck by Harlem, he suffered them to die for hunger, saying, That he promised them their lives, but not to give them meate. The good burghers he compelled to be Pioners before the town of Alcmar, that so he might bring them unto their ends.  
There is no honest nor godly Christian, but abhorreth and is ashamed to do any injuries unto the bodies of the dead; and the burial of the dead is thought a fit and an honourable thing amongst the Heathens and Barbarians: but the Duke of Alua caused diuers dead bodies( to spite both God and man) after they had been butted and lain certain dayes in the ground; to be digged up again, and to bee drawn under the gallows, and there to be hanged or burnt; alleging, that they died without receiving the Sacrament, or being confessed: but in truth it was done onely, that according to his Proclamation, he might confiscate their goods.  
The state of marriage( the onely foundation of all society in every place and town, and the bond of love and peace, the right ground of all good life and conversation amongst men, which most consisteth in true and right consent) was by the Duke of Alua broken and disannulled; for that the parties that were married in the reformed Assemblies, were held as heretics unless they married again,( which many did) intending thereby to bestow the rich women vpon his souldiers for a prise.  
To conclude, he did openly break and disannul all honest amity and love, that one man is bound to show unto another, murdering and executing women that holp their husbands, and children that comforted their parents in their uttermost and greatest extremities, and such as did but comfort them with a Letter; as was to be seen in the town of Mastricht, where the father was cruelly put to death because he lodged his son( that he had not seen in a long time before) one night; and another, because he gave a poor widow( whose husband had been put to death for Religion) certain corn for alms; another, for that he sent certain money unto his friend which was then in England, and confiscated the goods of many honest and rich women, because they had lodged their husbands in their houses, whereby they were compelled to beg their bread.  
he likewise profaned the holy Sacrament of baptism, causing the children that had been openly and publicly baptized in the Name of the Father, of the son, and of the holy Ghost, to be baptized again, because they had been baptized( as he said) by heretics, which was against the Decrees of councils, and all the laws both of God and man.  
To show his extreme pride and high mind, in the Castle of antwerp he caused his image to bee made and erected of brass,( like nabuchadnezzar) placing under his feet the nobility and States of the Countries of the Netherlands: and at antwerp in the market-place, where he published a Pardon, he caused a princely Throne to be erected, which is used to be set up, onely therewith to honour Princes and Kings, which he of himself caused to be set up and sate thereon, to the diminishing of the Kings honour, which no Lieutenant to the King before him durst attempt.  
This is part of that commonwealth the Countries of the Netherlands, both of the one and the other Religion do charge your great and glorious Duke of Alua, who went out of his command like a snuff in the nostrils of all the Netherlanders, that loved their Countries liberties, howsoever they varied in points and opinions of Religion.  
After his departure the King sent the great Commander of Castile, not to moderate any thing of his Predecessors tyranny, but to pursue it more covertly and cunningly. In his time, under colour of a mutiny, antwerp, brussels, Mastricht, aloft, with diuers other places,( being then under the peaceable government of the King) were surprised by the Spanish Souldiers, ransacked and burnt, as if they had been towns of enemies, and at last forced to redeem their own liberty, by satisfying the soldier their unreasonable demands; so underhand paying the Kings Army. The captain of these counterfeit Mutineers was one Ieronymo de Rhoda a Priest; who( as it plainly appears) had secret instructions to mutiny, or pretend Rebellion, or do, or counterfeit any other falsehood, which might impoverish the people, make them unable to resist any violence, and so faciliate the Kings main end of Conquest, and absolute subiection of those Countries to tyranny. Accordingly( the great Commander being dead) he took vpon him, by some private instruction from spain, to rule all: whilst notwithstanding by public Decree the King had established the general Estates in the government. But it plainly appeared, the face and heart of these designs and actions was not all one. For howsoever the public countenance stood for the States, the secret intent was that Rhoda should govern; which he knowing, usurped the Kings name, authority, and seal, and returning into spain afterward, in stead of punishment, was well rewarded for it: because, though he crost the public Act of the King, yet he performed the secret intent, and private instruction given him. And this was manifestly discovered at the coming of Dom John of Austria to govern, who was forbidden to speak, or see Rhoda, or give him any countenance, but to demean himself towards him, as if he had been an enemy and rebel, yet underhand to carry himself in the government of those Countries, onely as he should be directed by the instructions of Rhoda.  
Thus Dom John seemed to hold altogether with the Nobles and with the country, to pity their pressures, to promise a speedy redress of all grievances; notwithstanding all this was but feigned to betray them; for he sought and aimed at the same end that all the rest had done before, though after a new manner; labouring to win and conquer one part by another, and to divide the Countries, that he might rule as he list. All this plot was disclosed by the providence of God, who( being no Tyrant, but a father himself) is an enemy to all oppression and tyranny; and being Truth itself, hates all dissimulation and falsehood: for a Letter of the Kings to Dom John was intercepted, wherein all these snares, trains, and plots, were amply laid down and delineated to life, for the better execution of them when time served. Vpon which, the whole State beholding nothing that might move them to hope for reformation, but what might cause them rather to despair of faire dealing, they altogether agreed and resolved to renounce their allegiance to the King of spain, and finally to declare him fallen by tyranny from the tapistry, principality, jurisdiction, and Inheritance of those Countries; which accordingly they did, Anno 1581. by public act.  
And here you see some of the true causes of their final breaking off from their obedience, and many of the new pressures you so earnestly inquire after; all which you must needs justify for reasonable, if you be a reasonable creature, and haue not the eyes of your understanding, as well as of your faith, seeled up with a feather from one of those Romish goose that kept the capitol; or put clean out by the application of Spanish Catholicon tempered with golden drugs of the East and West Indies.  
For is it not reasonable, that he who disclaims his own interest, which is right and just, though not so large as he desires, and flies to another which is answerable to his desire in the extent, though unjust and violent, should lose the just title which he disclaymes, and receive no manner of benefit from it? In case of tenors( I haue heard) that our Common Law( which is for the most part grounded vpon Reason) saith; That if a Tenant for life seeks to the prejudice of another person, to challenge a state of Inheritance, and to plead it; being evicted therein, he loseth his first title, and cannot fall back to assume that Right which before he disavowed. But you will say, The King of spain did not disavow his title of Inheritance by birth. I answer, by words( perhaps) he did not; but it is plain, that by overt acts he did, when he sought to conquer his own Inheritance; and so taught the people to resist him as a common and public enemy, who sought the subversion of their fundamental laws and Liberties, and the bondage of their country. Thus forgetting his own duty first, he taught them to forget theirs afterwards; and seeking to enthrall them unjustly, he gave them a just cause and ground of farther liberty.  Red-scarfe. 
The Duke of Alua had never charge from spain, nor never intention of his own to bring an Inquisition into the Netherlands; this is but a mere calumny which hath been spread abroad, and given out by the seditious, to foster the obstinacy of the people: but had the Inquisition been brought into the Netherlands, it had but returned from whence in long fore-going yeres it came: for you must note, that the Inquisition was never invented or brought up in spain, or there ever intended for Protestants, seeing it was in the world many ages before ever the world was acquainted with the name of the Protestants, or with any such kind of people as Protestants are: for the Emperour Charles the Great, who lived about eight hundred yeeres past, did first promulgate and put it in practise; and the cause was, that after the Saxons in their country of saxony,( Holland, and those annexed provinces being at that time part of the nether saxony) had been brought from paganism to Christianity; this pious Emperour having greatly furthered it, he had no sooner turned his back by reason of his being impeached with warres in other parts, but these Saxons turned from Christianity back again to paganism; and for such apostatas and forsakers of the Faith, he ordained an Inquisition, the memory whereof gave example, that some ages after it was renewed and put in practise in spain, for such Moores and Iewes, as having received the character of Christ, fell back again to mahometism and judaism; and albeit this Inquisition was never intended( as before is said) to haue been renewed in the Netherlands, yet peradventure it might haue proved as necessary, when signs appeared of the good disposition of some there as well to mahometism as to judaism. For diuers that are yet living haue seen written vpon the Targets or Roundasses which some of these Geus-gallants did bear, their resolution thereunto, in these words, Rather Turkish then Popish; which is in effect, Rather Mahomet then Christ: and Hollanders report themselves, that some of their countrymen haue been so edified in the present Synagogue at Amsterdam, that they haue relinquished their christianity, and are become Iewes; and for defect of an Inquisition, had not any thing said unto them for it; nor must they, where profession is made of such conscience-libertie, that every man may choose what he will beleeue, or whether he will beleeue any thing or nothing.  
But this may seem the less wonder, when there haue been found among these Geuses, a company that marched under the ensign of the devill; for so was the ensign called, because there were depicted therein the devils claws, which many that are yet living, haue seen displayed in the town of Leire in Brabant, at such time as it stood out in rebellion against the King: and so may you now see how rebellion against the King, and rebellion against God do concur together; for whereas ancient good Christians having been taught by the example of the most glorious Christian Emperour Constantinus Magnus to fight under the sign of the cross, these new contrary Christians abhorring that sign, haue more devotion to the claws of the devill, a wel-deuised and befiting ensign for such as fought under it.  Tawny-scarfe. 
Whereas you say that the Duke of Alua had never any charge from spain, or intention of his own to bring an Inquisition into the Netherlands, affirming this report to be a mere calumny; I must tell you, he had not onely instructions to bring in the Inquisition, as hath been formerly manifested; but, as if that had not been sufficient to vex and exasperate the people, by violating their privileges or principles of State, he creates a bloody council, or council of troubles, whereof he made some Netherlandish Lords,( who had given aim whilst their Country was brought into bondage, or were used as instruments to captivate it the sooner and safer by their aid) the shadow of this Tyranny, whilst Spaniards onely( who were joined in the same Commission) swayed the whole business; and all other councils, whether provincial, or that of the council of Estate itself, were subjecteth to this; and by this means all things reduced to the sole arbitrement and absolute will of the Duke himself, who had full and sovereign authority from the King; 
The King gave the duke more authority then he himself had, because by that means he hoped to haue it the better himself afterward. So he gave what he sought, to receive back with advantage. An old point of Law-cunning, to gain a title by forged presidents. every wrangling attorney knows this trick.  not tied nor limited to any instructions, but was invested with liberty, freely to give sentence in any thing at pleasure.  
And whereas concerning the original of the Inquisition, you say( like a learned Antiquary) it was begotten by charlemagne the Emperor, who lived 800. yeres since, and brought up in Germany not in spain, but thither carried onely for the use of Moores and Iewes, and might be profitably( as you say) returned into the Netherlands again, to keep them from turning Turkes and Iewes, to which you find them very prove: I answer in a word, that the tyrannies of the Spaniard, and their impure and beastly conversation, with their abominable Idolatries, doth more scandalise the Moores and Iewes, and keep back, and drive more of them from the Faith, then can be revoked by the Inquisition, or any other such bloody course. And me thinks, it is better, amongst evils, to bee a professed turk or jew, then a counterfeit, cruel, proud, covetous, bloody and barbarous Christian; though( as one saith) it were better to be no man, then either of both. wherefore I would haue a general Inquisition in all countries of christendom, onely to find out such as were hispaniolized in the Dominions of other Princes; and such would I haue worthily put to the same torments which they inflict vpon others for their consciences. Those Turks and Iewes you speak of, would I haue converted by prayers, disputations, and good examples of virtue and justice: for no man hath sure hold vpon that conscience, which is retained by force from its own choice and liberty; and therefore you find fault very wisely, for that every man may beleeue what he list in the Netherlands, as if your holy Inquisition had power to make a man beleeue what it list in spain; you may force men to confess, perhaps, but you cannot force them to beleeue; which is an action of the will subject to no violence, but the force of persuasion, or the holy Spirits motion. And therefore considering what a heavy iudgment lies vpon them, and how their eyes, ears, and hearts are seeled and sealed up, that they cannot see, hear, and understand, Rom. 11.9 10, 11, 12. it were rather fit for Christians to pity them, and pray for their conversion, then by cruelties to persecute them, and so to cause them to hate and abhor the Name of Christ, and the profession of Christianity yet more then they do. david in the 59. psalm, vers. 11. doth learn us to make better use of their neighbourhood, then to become their butchers.  
As for that which you charge diuers of the Geuses withall, that they marched under an ensign whereupon was depicted the devils claws, which you oppose against that banner with the sign of the cross vpon it, born by Constantinus Magnus; I answer, they rather thus correspond; Christs cross is carried in token that he hath triumphed vpon the cross, 
Col. ●. 15.  over the cross itself; the Law, Death, and Hell; and now as an ensign of our spiritual liberty, that sign is spread and displayed abroad; so those perhaps carried the devils claws as it were in triumph, to show how they were escaped from the devils claws;( your devilish Inquisition and bloody servitude) and might now serve God with the liberty of conscience, according to that song of Zacharias, Luk. 1.7. That being delivered from the hands of their enemies, they might serve him without fear.  Red-scarfe. 
Where free liberty of Conscience is allowed, why may not every one beleeue as him list? what shall restrain him? if you doubt of the Hollanders making difficulty of turning Turkes, do but inquire what they haue done at Tunis, where they haue fallen to mahometism by whole shipfuls at once; and afterward to mend the matter, haue taught the Mahometans of those parts the laudable science of piracy, for the more affliction of Christians; and as for judaism, such as like thereof, and like no swines flesh, or can be content to forbear the eating thereof, may be circumcised when they will, and then speak as much blasphemy against Christ, as the devill will direct them to do.  
Thus haue I here shewed you what great wrong the King of spain hath done this people, and what great cause they haue to complain of his breach of their privileges, which is always in their mouths, albeit they would never vouchsafe to produce any old privilege for the robbing of Churches. I haue also shewed you where the Inquisition began, and the cause why it was first put in practise in Saxony, and afterwards in spain; the name whereof is now as much put in practise in Holland in continual Pamphlets and Preachings, as is the name of a Bulbegger to make little children afraid.  Tawny-scarfe. 
Still you harp vpon believing, till you make me beleeue, and all this good company who hear us this day, that you know not what it is to beleeue. All the laws of the Land against Romish Recusants, though they were as duly executed as they haue been, could hardly persuade you to beleeue aright as you should do. And all the evidence which your ears haue heard before the Iudges on the Bench, and eyes haue seen vpon the Bridge, and top of the Parliament-house, can hardly persuade you to beleeue, that those Romane-catholike crownes which now perch above, did once plot and practise below, to blow up the State. An Inquisition were fit for you therefore, lest you prove worse to us through your unbelief, then the Turkes of Tunis, or the Mahometists of Amsterdam that you mention, can do.  
You need not in the stern of your Discourse recapitulate the notable pieces which you haue proved: for all th●t you say, doth but prove how little you are able to say for yourself and how you are lead rather by your affection then reason. You haue had evidence enough, that the King of spain sought to plant a tyranny in the Netherlands; and yet lest these should seem in your eyes, or the like, not to be sufficient, I produce an honourable embassage sent from the Archduke Mathias and the general Estates, to a solemn Assembly of the Princes of the Empire, holden at worms in Germany, anno 1578. where the signior of S. Aldegond declared at large, the miserable estate of the Netherlands, the designs and intent of spain, the tyranny of the Duke of Alua, Dom John and others; and withal, what danger the Empire was to expect thereby, whilst those Countries should be made the seat of the war, a place of retreat and ga●rison, and a ready and able Magazine, by reason of their trading by Sea and the navigable Riuers, to reduce all Germany, and so consequently all christendom, under their obedience; if yet their ambitious aims looked no farther.  
This then was thought sufficient to put all christendom vpon their guard; and yet all this is not sufficient to make you beleeue any thing, but the golden Legend of spain.  
Then haue you the resolution of the queen of England to help them, after mature deliberation and consideration of this their cause, and the question betwixt them and the King; and after she had long and in vain interceded for them to the King, and presented both the iustice of their cause, and the danger of his injustice by diuers demonstrations of love to him. Now this her resolution must needs bee grounded vpon the manifest and apparent iustice of the cause, otherwise monarchs, and a timorous woman especially, would haue been wary, even for consequence sake, if not for conscience, 
This Iustu● Lipsius no●●● well in his Letter of advice. 1595.  how they favoured or supported the subiects of another Prince, at least if they judged them Rebels. But it is clear both by the act itself whereby shee undertook their protection, as also by the reasons whereupon shee grounded that resolution, that shee took them for no Rebels, but for distressed people tyrannized over by a cruel, merciless, and bloody enemy, who by strange dealing, had made himself a stranger to his own.  
This also might appear by the Duke of Anjous acceptance of the title of the Duke of Brabant and Flanders; and by the King of France his declaration made for approbation of the cause, and conditioning for the title after the death of his brother the Duke of Anjou; which he would not haue done, being of the Romish Religion also, if he and his wise council had not by pregnant proofs seen, that the King of spain by his tyranny and intrusion, was fallen from his Right, and had manumissed them from all necessary obedience.  
This lastly is confirmed beyond question, by the last accord made betwixt the King of spain and these States, wherein the title he had is wholly relinquished; and he treats and concludes peace with them, as with free States, to whom he pretends no title; and so entertained their ambassadors, as the ambassadors of a Confederacie. Besides, the King of great britain, France, denmark, Sweden, the State of Venice, the german Princes, with other Nations in Christendom& without, haue treated with them vpon the same terms, and haue concluded peace, and made leagues and alliances with them as with free States, acknowledging them to bee invested with sovereign power in the united Body. Now therefore it is injustice for the King of spain to fall back from his former conclusion, made so advisedly, and to revive his title, as an immortal cause of war and bloodshed; yea it is injustice in you, or any other person, to defend that title by tongue, pen, or hand. For it calls both the wisdom and honour of our own King, and of all other Kings, Princes, and States, who haue made peace with that State, into question; yea it censures and condemns them all; it dissolves all those Leagues and Confederacies of trade and commerce, of warres offensive and defensive, concluded with them for the general good; and sets all christendom in combustion, with a Romish squib of reservation, and catholic equivocation. And surely, howsoever you, and such as you, may inconsiderately think meanly, and speak basely of the wisest and worthiest persons employed in that State, because you find them without train, or pomp, or titular vanities; and many of them raised for their experience, fidelity and wisdom, from mean stations, to tread in those high steps of authority and superiority,( as the roman Consuls had cannon-shot, of whom one said, they were all Kings) yet whatsoever is unfit to bee spoken of other Princes, is unfit to bee spoken of them in their places; and the just attributes you give other high Commanders, ought to be given them in their united Body: And that they exact it not, proceeds from their lenity and humility; that you give it not, proceeds from your ignorance, arrogance, malice, and pride. Therefore to conclude this point, the scrupulous soldier, who before either would not see the truth, or could not judge it, may now be resolved of the iustice of the warres, even from the King of Spaines own confession and concession, and from the public acts of his own Prince and State where he lives. Besides, the miraculous blessing and prosperity which God hath given to their warres, shows it is of him; and the policy and power of Princes doth envy it, and oppose it in vain. God blesseth them with peace, and plenty, and riches in the midst of war, and impoverisheth and embroyleth their opposers, in the midst of peace: as Tantalus is thirsty with water at the lip, so these beggar and break at the fountain head of Gold and silver: God by all these means confirming their cause, and showing himself to be their God, if they will be his people. And this( I think) shall serve to satisfy you, at least to silence your further clamour; showing, that the queen of England was moved to take the Netherlands parts out of mere commiseration of their just cause, and the detestation of those Spanish cruelties and tyrannies under which they groaned.  
Now if you be not weary of your task, let us come to speak of the second reason, inducing that good queen to succour them; which was, partly domestic respects, mixed with other important reasons of State; namely, Because of our ancient leagues with that people, our daily commerce and intercourse, the dependency of one State vpon another, the assurance of their good and approved neighbourhood, the fear of Spanish propinquitie, especially as the case stood with the queen, being sole, of a contrary Religion, and obnoxious to the pretences and claims of the next Successor, who might be colourably assisted by the invincible arm of spain, to dismount the true Owner; and then the pretender by the same arm hoisted over the saddle, and so himself easily settled in the seat of sovereignty, by the Popes donation, as hath been accustomend in other places.  read scarf. 
Before I come to discourse about queen Elizabeths reasons for taking the Hollanders parts, give me leave, I pray you, to speak a little of the vulgar multitude here in England, to the end you may consider of the reasons, why they hate the Spaniard, and love the Hollander, to see how well and perfitly this love and hatred is founded.  
That England and spain haue anciently remained in great amity together, Histories and Chronicles will witness, and the diuers alliances and marriages often made between these two Countries, can also give testimony thereof.  
True then it is, that the great breach and hostility between England and spain began but in these our dayes: let us now see and consider, why and how it began; to wit, whether by spain or by England.  
King Philip the second of spain, as all the world knoweth, did vpon the death of queen Mary his wife, give place and quiet entrance unto queen Elizabeth; and for further proof of his desire of continuance of peace and amity with her, he freely gave unto her all queen Maries jewels, they justly belonging unto himself: he also kept his ambassador Lidger in England, as the said queen kept hers also in spain, professing outwardly unto him all love and amity; and yet this notwithstanding shee permitted secretly and underhand, the transport of Artillery and Munition of war to the Moores of Granado, to enable them to rebel, just about the very same time, that the Netherland-rebellion was determined to be begun, that thereby the King of spain might haue his hands full, by being thrust into two whores at once; both which shee underhand furnished, but more the war of the Netherlands, then that of Granado, because of the readier commodity. soon vpon the contriving of this plot, when the King of spain, to appease the Netherland broils in the beginning, had sent the Duke of Alua with Forces into those parts; and after his arrival there, sent him a supply of 600000. crownes; some affirm it to haue been 800000, She ceized vpon his money in the west part of England; and having gotten it under her hands, did therewith assist his Netherland Rebels, whereby this money ordained to haue served himself against his Rebels, came to serve his Rebels against him, and bread besides this a far greater inconvenience: for it was the cause why the Duke of Alua demanded the tenth penny of the country peoples goods, whereby they became the more alienated and apt to Rebellion.  
Some yeeres after this, captain Drake was employed from England to the west-Indies, where he robbed the King of spain of about a million and an half of his treasure. These and sundry other wrongs and detriments were done by the said queen unto the King of spain, at such time as either had their ambassadors, the ministers of peace, in each others country, they professing to each other love and amity: the King of spain doing against the queen of England no act whatsoever to the contrary, whereas shee contrariwise continued to do against him underhand as many wrongs as shee could, besides those great notorious wrongs here mentioned. But when these grew so frequent, that the smart unto the King of spain became intolerable; and so manifested unto the world, that all other Princes and people took notice thereof, how was it possible that it could stand with the honor of a King, and of such a potent King as is a King of spain, still to continue to put up wrongs, as fast as shee continued to do them? he was therefore at the last moved with the preparation of his great Armada naval of the year of our Lord 1588. the memory whereof, by the incessant clamours of puritanical enemies of peace, hath possessed more place in the heads of the inconsiderate vulgar multitude, then the many great wrongs that enforced it.  
But thankes bee to God, our peaceful King james coming to the crown, and well knowing how matters had passed, did( to the great happiness of the Realm) salve up this sore from further festering, fireship he found spain most ready and willing, and well content to let pass and forget all English injuries. For to give the Spaniards their due, certain it is, they are men that are not of vnreconciliable and revengeful natures, nor such long entertainers of desire of reuenge, as some other Nations are said to be: And this appeareth manifestly in this Nation more then in others; for notwithstanding all fore-going hostility between Englishmen and Spaniards both by sea and land, and invasions even in Portugal and spain itself, whereof people may remain more sensible, then of an vneffectuall Armada; yet hath not any English ambassador, nor any other of the English Nation been by Spaniards in spain barbarously abused; but I am ashamed( even for the honor of our Nation) to repeat, how Spanish Ambassadors and other Spaniards haue been used in England.  
As for the sundry benefits which the commerce and traffic between England and spain hath brought unto our Nation, I doubt not but many of our Merchants, sea faring men and others will confess, and far more profit and benefit will no doubt ensue the most honourable and great alliance now expected.  
But let us come to our good neighbours and friends the Hollanders, and consider of the grateful goodness and benefits which we reap by them, that thereby wee may know how well and wisely wee are advised to esteem them for our good neighbours and friends, and so friendly sticking unto them.  
That we haue for above these fifty yeeres taken their parts is sufficiently known; that the people of England haue oftentimes generally smarted by the great pressures and parliamentall payments imposed vpon them by queen Elizabeth, to uphold these friends and neighbours withall, is likewise well enough known; as also that great abundance of English blood hath been  shed in their quarrel, and an infinite number of Englishmens lives lost, whose courage and valour was worthy of more honour, then in their base and dishonourable service could be deserved; and now when all comes to all, they are so far from honest civility, that they will not aclowledge any friendship done them, and therefore can they not entertain any thoughts of obligation or gratitude; nay, they dare plainly tell us, that wee are beholding unto them, which is as much to say, that they expect gratitude at our hands.  Tawny-scarfe. 
You long to break your malice vpon queen Elizabeth, and will go far about, and much out of the way to do it, you should not otherwise show yourself a right roman catholic, or a right Spanish Papist.  
For our ancient Leagues with the Spaniard which you mention, we confess it; but you must consider, then both States were vassals to the Pope, and England was then accounted by that Strumpet the elder brother. Now spain hath got priority, and we haue so much wit as to know the injury offered us, and to aclowledge our heavenly progeny, renouncing that earthly bastardy; and therfore must look for opposition from the Prince of this world, and all that take part with him. Besides, then spain was not so potent, and so not so formidable; the access of so many kingdoms hath since possessed him with a more imperious spirit, and made him terrible to his neighbours and confederates, rather then( as he had cannon-shot to be) helpful unto them.  
The quarrel betwixt England and spain you cast wholly vpon queen Elizabeth; and by the way, blame her for suffering artillery and Munition to bee carried out of her Land to the Moores of Granado, and for ceizing vpon a great sum of money belonging to the King of spain, which fell vpon her cost. Then you huddle up that which Sir Francis Drake did against the King of spain in the Indies, making the King of spain like another Melchisedec, or king of peace and iustice, to stand still all the while in a maiden-like posture, and never lift up his hand to defend himself and annoy her, till in 88. he was constrained to sand that invincible Armado, with a hope and full purpose wonderfully to subvert the State of the kingdom, and possess himself of all.  
Now because you find a sort of people; who thankfully and religiously keep this deliverance in memory, and praise God for it, those you brand with the name of Puritans, and are wonderfully angry, that they will not give the catholic King and the roman catholics his assistants, thankes for his courteous invasion, and his royal, religious, and gracious purpose to rule over them as mildly, as over the Netherlands. For answer to all this, take a view of what the council of England presented to her majesty, whilst shee stood in doubt whether or no shee should aid the united provinces against the King of spain, where they allege:  
The great 
The council of England say, the King of spain hated the Queen& show their reasons for it: you say vpon your bare word, the queen hated the King of spain, but you show no reason for it.  hatred conceived against her by the King of spain, for the altering of his Religion in England, which he not long before had planted therein: which appeared by the treaty of peace made at Chasteau in Can●bresis, holden in anno 1559. wherein he was very slack and careless for procuring the delivery of the town of 
The loss of Calls, was a fruit of the Spanish match: this killed queen mary to behold, when she considered how contrary to the advice of her best Councelors, shee would proceed withi this marriage, though they had warned her of these evils aforehand, and  told her that the Spaniards had no respect but to themselves, which shee would not beleeue, till it was too late to remedy.  Calis unto the English again, the which was lost by means of his warres; and on the other side, he caused the French to deliver many towns over unto the Duke of savoy, and left het in war both against France and Scotland without any resistance.  

You charge her for furnishing the Moores of Granado underhand with munition, which she is forced to buy( as we see) in Germany, for her own use.  They shewed likewise the unkind refusal by him made, of passage thorough the Netherland Countries with Munition, arms, and Powder, which shee as then had caused to be provided and bought by her Factor Sir Thomas Gresham, unto whom it was denied.  

She seeks to make leagues, and you say shee desires to break them.  Further, that when her majesty by her ambassador, the Lord Viscount Montague, desired the King of spain to review and confirm the ancient contracts made between his father the Emperor Charles the fift, and her Predecessors, he would by no means be drawn to yield thereunto.  

You complain of us for the Spaniards and Spanish Ambassadors, but will not hear nor see this injury offered by them to us and ours.  That he had suffered the Inquisitors in spain, to prosecute her poor subiects with all cruelty and extremity, and commanded her Ambassador out of spain, because of his Religion.  

You say, the detaining of the Kings money was the cause of this: but could he haue proved it his, it had not been detained, certain Merchants of Genoa laid claim to the money.  That his governor, the Duke of Alua, in the Netherlands had used all manner of hostility and violence against her subiects, arresting both their bodies and goods, contrary to the ancient contracts between England and the Netherlands.  

All this is nothing in the eyes of the roman catholics, who were themselves parties in the business, and therefore we will hear with your wilful blindness: it concerns your credits to oversee and deny all this.  That he had sent an Army into her majesties Kingdom of Ireland, and with colours flying invaded the said kingdom, vpon a supposed gift thereof, made unto him by the Pope of Rome, which he thereby excused, intending also to enterprise the like against the realm of England, as it manifestly appeared by the jesuit Sanders letters to that end dispersed abroad, and by the jesuit Chreyghton, who was then a prisoner: and many other such like practices also were discovered by the dealings of bis Ambassador Dom Bernardino de Mendoza in England.  
Besides these many forepast injuries, the council laid before her majesty the danger that shee was to expect, if the Spaniard once obtained merum imperium, that is, full and absolute authority in the provinces of the Netherlands; how he would alter their Religion, break their ancient privileges, and subject them wholly to his will and pleasure: which done, out of his malicious heart and intent, he would easily invade England, with the aid of the multitude of shipping and sailors of those Countries, together with his Indian treasure: First, 
Beware and look about you, all true-hearted Englishmen, when you see these practices revived: for they are to the whole kingdom as Beacons fited, to rouse you up to watching and prayer, and all other means to prevent these mischiefs.  depriving England of all trade of merchandise with the Netherlands, and within the Land procuring domestical dissension: and that therefore shee was not then to let slip the present occasion, nor yet to attend until the Netherlands were fully planted with Spaniards and Italians; for that the war was not undertaken against the Netherlands, but with a further intent and meaning to make a greater conquest.  
Concerning that which you say of the good use our Ambassadors haue received in spain, and the injuries the Spanish Ambassadors haue received in England: I answer, first you see the English ambassador was commanded out of spain for his Religion sake; whilst all the Spanish Ambassadors haue had free exercise of their superstitions in England, and liberty to corrupt others; so as none are barred from hearing of their Masses, but all things done as publicly as in spain. Besides, we never had an ambassador that plotted treason in spain, but the King of spain hath had such in England; as namely, Dom Bernardin of Mendoza, who thereupon was chased out of the Land like a spy, and took not leave like an Ambassador. The Chronicles of spain cannot accuse any of our Ambassadors to haue meddled farther, then in the protection of Merchants, or discharge of duties and commands proper to their places: but how far the ambassadors of spain haue intruded themselves in the affairs of England, for the aduancement of the Romish Religion, and disposing Offices for that purpose, is so notorious to the people, as it is no marvell, if they haue suffered some indignities; nay, it is a wonder they haue run no farther hazard. I make no question had the like actions been undertaken in spain against the Romish Religion, by an English ambassador, the very clergy of spain would haue stoned him out, and the people would scarce haue suffered him to pass unpunished, perhaps though the King himself would haue been his protector.  
The benefits of our commerce, especially by this expected alliance you speak of, the success will manifest; and we haue great cause to hope it may be good, at least better then it is, in regard wiser heads haue the handling of it, then either yours or mine: and yet I must tell you, we begin with no good omen hitherto, since by way of prevention, our Clothes, stuffs, and English commodities of wool are excluded, whereby the gains wee get by the alliance, will soon be drawn home again; Princes delighting to out-reach one another in these respects of State. Had wee once been as wise to keep our sheep from thence; or were we now as wary to banish their silks, velvets, Tobacco, and other needless commodities from hence, then wee might hap indeed to gain by the Trading, otherwise we may put the gain in our eyes. But the customs would so bee lessened; nay rather let the Commonwealth sink.  
For the Netherlands ingratitude, I cannot accuse them, neither will I excuse them: I know many old and worthy Commanders, who haue lost their blood and bones in their quarrel, complain of neglect, contempt, and forgetfulness of former good turns; and perhaps there is too much cause of their complaint: but for my particular, as I fight for them, so I haue my means from them, and should be taxed of ingratitude myself, if I should tax them of what I know not, or feel not. Souldiers haue never the happiness to bee well rewarded, or subtilely regarded as they ought in any place; the reason perhaps is, because their employment is burdensome even to those that employ them: and therefore though necessity procure their entertainment, yet that compulsion, together with the person, is alike ungrateful. look into Greece and Rome, and all great States, how they haue used their own, and then you will not so much wonder, that the idle, unexperienced, and most inconsiderate sort of people in these Countries, use strangers no better. Men are apt to bury many benefits under the ruins of one injury: and the West-winde from our cost, blows not so favourable a gale vpon this as it had wont; neither do the stars from our Firmament, cast vpon them so happy an aspect and fruitful influence, as heretofore: they therefore cannot dissemble the alteration, but show it also in the alteration of their looks towards vs.  
Another reason why we receive no better use, may be the buying and selling of Places; of which, when the States haue taken notice, as of Offices valuable at high rates, they haue enquired into the secret ways of that gain, and haue abridged it what they could. Whereas, if preferment might haue proceeded the right way in any reasonable manner, according to the law of arms and Armies, that is, freely to the next successor as heir to his predecessor; or to the best deseruer, as purchaser by personal worth and valour, then neither should the soldier complain of his Officer, or the Officer of the State: whereas now the price is ever in the eye of the Commander, that he may gather up his money speedily by exaction, which he hath disbursed, lest it prove too dear a bargain; and it is also in the eye of the State, causing them to imagine the Commanders profit to be far more then it is, for which he venters so much money, and his life to boot, as if he intended to buy danger.  
Another reason may be, that the State takes the Officer and the soldier to be incorporated into their Body; now when naturally( of all people in the world) they love frugality,( even so far, as often it turns into a 'vice in many) they beholding the contrary prodigality of our people, especially in apparel and diet, above their ranks and abilities, do dis-affect them as unnatural overgrown members to that spare Body; not considering, that brauety is tolerable in Souldiers, if it be so in any profession. I do not mean that courtly and effeminate bravery of perfuming and powdering;( as they use to do, who would keep corrupt flesh from taynting) a soldier never smells sweeter, and looks better, no not in the eye of a Lady, then when he is perfumed with sweat, and powdered with dust, and painted or besmeared with blood: nor yet do I mean that beastly bravery, wherein the golden-spangled ass struts, and thinks himself better then the man that rules him and rides him; but that bravery in action( whilst even the outward show is not affencted nor neglected) which made 
This is recorded for their glory, and others imitation, by the renowned soldier Sir Roger Williams, who was one of those that brought this kind of bravery into fashion.  Sir Francis Vere, and Sir Thomas Baskeruile( to mention no more) so notable in the eye of the Prince of Parma and his Army; when maintaining a breach furiously assaulted, the one was known by the scarlet cassock dyed deeper yet in his own and enemies blood, and the other by his white scarf and feather, worn as marks for his envious and emulous enemies to shoot at in vain, being above their reach. Now this bravery( which is truly their own) may as well bee performed in buff and Broad-cloath, as in all the antic imbroderies, and apish inventions of our idle Age: and this bravery is not contemned, but procures them honour and respect, ushers them into the company of best Princes and peers, makes their ways easy in the greatest press and crowd; attracts all eyes to gaze vpon them, though clad in rust and copwebs; yea the more torn, and rent, and tattered, scarified and mutilated even to deformity, the more faire, and glorious, and admirable they shine both in the eyes of this Nation, and all others, if they be honourable, though they be enemies.  
Besides, that bravery in clothes, as it is ever borrowed of beasts, birds, fishes, and worms, so it is often borrowed, or taken up in trust of poor men; and this must needs move hate and envy, when the soldier passeth by with the Merchants wealth on his back, and he in the mean time, his wife& children must fare hard, go thrid-bare, and at last break for lack of payment, except by complaint he get redress; which nips the prodigal debtor also, and causeth him to fret, rage, and repined, as if the injury were done him, because he is not suffered to do what injury he would, and by his idle excess to undo the industrious Merchant and artisan, of which this Common-wealth principally consisteth. Now this his profuse prodigality makes others( though sober) thought the worse of, and so to receive the harder measure and censure at all hands, as if it were not a personal and special fault, but a general disposition of the Nation, which is a great mistake in this matter.  
Lastly, the censorious Cato's of that Commonwealth, seeing not onely themselves by trust, but also their youth spoiled by the example and conversation of these ouer-reaching Gallants; and that now their sons and daughters begin to revel away their estates; to shackle and manacle, to bridle and saddle themselves in silks and velvets, in gold and silver, and to wax weary of that ancient and commendable frugality, which maintains their liberty, must needs hate those that they behold to be the cause of this vanity, which threateneth and introduceth slavery: especially when they see it proceeds from the imitation of the French, English, and Scottish Nations, who were first called in by their virtue and valour, to be the bulwards and walls of their Commonwealth; but now pull down with the left hand, what they built with the right, laying open by their Lucifrian pride, a breach wide enough for the wrath of God, and politic power of ambitious man, to enter in front for their destruction,  
These or some of these may be the causes, why the modester and better sort( whereof there are many) receive no better use, being mixed with bad deservers; and why( perhaps) they seem to bee hated, or at least disrespected, even of those for whom they fight, and who ought to prosecute them with all honourable attributes, reverent respects, and ample rewards.  
But howsoever, if we compare their use of us, with the use you haue and do find under the King of spain, they will appear most grateful and respectful people. How basely do all the English waite vpon the Spanish Dons, as if all Nations were bound to fight for the Spaniard by a duty of nature? You are promised mountaines at the first entertainment, but are payed with a bit and a knock as Apes deserve. We haue less promised, but that is surely payed, though sometime something slowly. When the King of spain is run far in debt to any troops, the Generals know how( like good husbands for their Masters profit) to put such troops vpon some desperate service, where few may come off: nay, they use to force them on vpon such vnassaultable and impregnable works, as appeared in the siege of Bergen. So the great turk useth to take towns, by filling up ditches with his own men. And this is generally observed as a difference betwixt our Generals and yours; your Generals care not how many men they lose to save money; our general cares not what money he spends in making works for the saving of his souldiers lives vpon approaches. The difference of our accommodation is such, as we never want victual, and you almost ever want it: so that every soldier with us, is, or may be( if his own idleness or riot be not in the fault) better provided, then the Commanders with you. This appeared before Bergen, where 1500. of your side came running to us, driven by meet necessity, for lack of meat or pay; of which number, though most were English, yet there were many of all Nations; as Walloons, Dutch, Italians, and Spaniards. Yea I myself saw at Rees, a seruant of the earl of Gondomare, the late Spanish ambassador, running away in his livery, to the English beef and Brewesse: and if such as he, so commended, fared so hardly, what shall we think of other friendless people?  
And if the Netherlanders should say( as you report) that we took their parts partly for our own sakes, they should say nothing but truth, and it concerns us so to do; yet this diminisheth not the cause of their gratitude; for as in tennis the ball must be tost to and fro; so amongst friends, benefits and gratitudes must be interchanged, or else amity ceaseth, or perhaps death or turneth to enmity. It concerns us both equally therefore to keep this ball up, if we intend to continue gamesters long; for assuredly were these Countries reduced to such terms as the Spaniard desires, we could not be safe, but might certainly expect a present invasion; and so might they expect suddenly to be swallowed up, if ours were enemy. This the wisdom of their State saw, when they fought protection rather from the queen of England, as being more fit, then from the King of France, as being more potent. And this the wisdom of our State then confessed also, when they joined with them for the aptness and opportunity, each State had to help or annoy one the other, as well in commerce and trade, as also in warres offensive and defensive: and I wonder thorough what new Spectacles your wisdom,( the wisdom of the present times) sees the contrary to the wisdom of the ancient, which our experience hath proved& approved prosperous to both States.  Red-scarfe. 
You say England might fear an invasion from spain; but what reason was there, why wee should haue any fear of such an invasion, but only for our taking their parts against their true and lawful sovereign the King of spain?  Tawny-scarfe. 
Great reason; for England stood onely full in the way to hinder his imaginary and intended greatness: and this appears in the Letters of Don John, and Escouedo his secretary, to the King of Spain, discoursing of that point; which were happily intercepted in their passage thorough Gascoigney, to discover that plot and practise, and to warn both the queen and the States, and these times also, if they will bee warned, to beware of that Snaphance. Whereupon the queen sent an ambassador to the King of spain to justify her proceeding, to accuse Don John, to desire his remoouall from that government, and withall, shut up that message with this conclusion, That if the King should not bee induced to like of her proceedings,( wherewith shee plainly made him acquainted) her Majesty should thereby discover, that his intention was, by force of arms to alter and dissolve the ancient form of government in the Netherlands, and by taking away their ancient laws and Liberties, to make it a Land of Conquest, and to people it with Garrisons of men of war; and that the end and scope of his designs should tend to that which was discovered by Escouedo's Letter, wherein he writeth, that the enterprise of England is of more facility, then that of the Islands: whereby her majesty should find the disposition of so bad a neighbour to her and her royal estate. And then her Majesties resolution would be, to employ all the power shee was able to make, for the defence of her neighbors, and preservation of her own estate.  Red-scarfe. 
But I must tell you further concerning the Hollanders, that they do not only deny all gratitude where it is due, and unjustly claim it where they owe it; but passing further beyond the limits of reason and humanity, they discover themselves to be such monsters, as to bear a very devilish hatred both unto our Nation, and to our most gracious sovereign himself: Against our Nation, their actions declare it; against our sovereign, their villainous tongues. Of their most vile and contemptible usage of our Nation in the East Indies, I shall not here need to speak, the Letters written by our Merchants and others from thence, do declare it; their usage of us in Groonland, and the undoing of our long-continued Trade in Moscouie, I will also omit; but we find that they are the very caterpillars and destroyers of our Commonwealth, by all the ways and means they can devise; for they haue not onely by means of their correspondent countrymen, conveyed and drawn by stealth our Gold and silver out of the realm, but they haue brought the whole realm in a general decay of traffic, to the impoverishing and undoing of thousands of the inhabitants, as all that deal in Clothing in all parts of the realm will confess.  
As for their villainous speeches against our sovereign, I could name unto you that Englishman, who passing not long since between Rotterdam and the hague, and hearing some of those varlets speak ill of his majesty, which he( being an Englishman) could not endure but as became him, did in good manner reprehend them for it; when straightways a couple of them drew their knives vpon him to haue stabbed him; and so had they done, had they not been held and kept back by others there present. We haue a proverb, that it is better for some to steal a horse, then some to look on. What detriments endure we by Spaniards? where do they bind us hand and foot, and cast us over Indian rocks like dogs? where undo they our Trade? how impoverish they our country? where rail they vpon our sovereign? are wee in our right wits I wonder? when we resolve to go to  shed our blood for those that suck our blood? when we fight for those at home, that kill us abroad? me thinks purging with Helleborus were fitter nowadays to be taken in use of our countrymen, then the smoake-drinke of driueling Tobacco.  Tawny-scarfe. 
The injuries and abuses offered to our Nation in Moscouy, Groonland, and the east-Indies, were not the acts of the State, but of some wicked persons, who weary of their own welfare, would as gladly haue the King of spain their Master again as you, or any other Spanish pensioner could wish. I know that the base and ignobler sort of these, being sorrel Spaniards in affection, and perhaps in blood, where they get the vpper hand, are as merciless as Moores or Spaniards, and like them( being overcome) are as humble, servile, and dejected.  
But what mean you to mention this? when all the injuries they haue done us, though they be great, incredible, intolerable, unworthy that they should inflict them, or we suffer them, yet they are nothing to that which the Kings children haue suffered by a Spanish army. Here private Merchants, or a society, or company received injury by them, There the Kings children, Religion, the Reformed Church, suffered shipwreck, by the insulting, cruel, and bloody Spaniard; and many thousands of Christians were martyred after a barbarous and butcherly manner; yea vpon all advantages, even under terms of treaty and Peace. And this whilst spain had league with our State, yea whilst the towns were under our Kings protection; whilst the Army was payed by our King, and the Generals hands bound for attempting against them, yea almost from defending himself; and whilst an ambassador lay vpon purpose to make their entrance more easy, and to grant what their ambitious humours could desire, in hope with kind usage to glut their unsatiable gorges, and to force them reciprocally to return some solid and real( besides complemental and verbal) courtesies: yea whilst they were kissing the one cheek of our King, they were smiting the other; kissing the Prince, as if they meant to deify him, and give him all theirs; smiting his royal, loving, and onely Sister, and by force taking away all that was Hers.  
For that which you say concerning the Netherland caterpillars drawing away our Gold, and destroying our traffic, I aclowledge it to be partly true, yet I doubt the Romish locusts, those Babylonish Merchants spoken of revel. 9. and 18. are more in fault in those respects, then the Netherlandish caterpillars. If we consider the pensions, the underhand gatherings, the maintenance given towards schools and Seminaries in all Popish Countries, even out of England; the building of Nunneries, Monasteries, and other irreligious Houses; the he and shee Votaries, that of late dayes( especially since the Proclamation commanded the contrary) haue carried out their plentiful portions thither, you will easily judge, that the caterpillar hath not cropped our blooming fruit of Hesperides, so much as the locust; and so by consequence, spiritual merchandizing in idolatry, hath more hindered our Trade, then the underhand petty thefts( in comparison of the other) committed by a few peddling and pilfering Merchants. And all men know, decay of Trade necessary and naturally follows the decay of coin: so the spiritual traffic of Rome hath more decayed our Trade in all Countries, then the temporal trading of Amsterdam. For I haue credibly heard related from the mouth of a worthy witness, that at one time there hath been payed 200000. pounds in English gold in to one of those spiritual banks, for and toward the building and repairing of certain Monasteries, and payment of portions, and other allowances for such of the English, as haue entred into religious Orders; for they will take none empty-handed; and what they take is with a mort-main, whereas the Merchant yet trades, and returns something again that hath savour. I produce this one payment, not as if it were all, but that by this one notable transportation of English treasure, we may guess at many others unknown. Besides, with what disadvantage our Merchants trade by reason of Religion, and how this also deads their dealings, making them obnoxious to the covetous Spaniards, and so a prey to their pleasures, all the world knows.  
I am glad to hear you so angry with those varlets that betwixt Rotterdam and the hague spake ill of his majesty: The case is either altered with you since father Parsons died, or else perhaps you think it becomes none to rail but men of your Religion; you forget the books printed at louvain, and those published in Flanders, Brabant, and spain, for repressing of which, ambassadors haue been sent from England, and pensions given to some for bastinadoing the Authors, when no other satisfaction could be gotten of the State. You forget also those infinite songs, libels, and obscene discourses made against his majesty heretofore; for writing, or venting, and dispersing whereof, such as you haue gotten Romish pensions. All these are forgotten, or by you past by, though their sweet remembrance remaines still with many, as the snuff of a candle new put out.  
As for the Bores you speak of, they are as wide mouthed as you; their throats open sepulchers, their tongues stretched out vpon the largest Last, and in the midst of their cups and Tobacco, will forget the honour of God and man, caring no more to rail at a Prince being out of his reach, then you do to blaspheme God himself, when a Priest stands at your elbow ready to absolve you; nor to draw their knives vpon you being enraged with drink, then you vpon Kings, made drunk before with the cup of the Whores abomination. But this must not be made a fault of a whole Nation, no more then your personal follies shall be imputed to all roman catholics; nor must wee for a drunken Skippers tongue, leave the protection of our more modest friends and neighbours, with whom these are mixed, as base earth amongst gold-Ore; such a resolution were madness, and would require a purge of Hellebore indeed, as you learnedly aduise; though your advice, if it were perfitly followed, would be to the great hindrance of the Spanish Trade, that we in England should give over Tobacco, being a principal commodity wee fetch from thence, to the undoing of ourselves, and the enriching of him and his State, which I am sure is agreeable to your catholic wish.  
Lastly, where you demand what detriment we endure by the Spaniard, and where they bind us hand and foot, and cast us over Indian rocks like dogs, &c. I am forced for answer to touch vpon two or three strange and stupendious stories, amongst infinite others left behind as ill or worse, thereby to give your blind and wilful partiality some satisfaction.  
I pass by all that incredible cruelty which the Spaniards haue and do exercise towards the Indians; the lion, 
History of the West-Indi●s.  the wolf, dog, Vulture, Kite, or if there bee any other bide or beast more ravenous and ●apacious, are not so cruel to their own kind nor to others,( perhaps as not knowing the ways to do it) as these men,( if we may call them so) who seem to haue reason to no other end, but to exceed these bruits and beasts, in all savage, brutish, or( beyond that) devilish cruelties. Eyes, ears, nose, lips, hands, feet, body, soul, nothing is spared, but all spoyled for their pleasure: as if it were not this or that man, but mankind, that they intended to destroy; and with cursed Cain, would haue the possession of the whole earth alone; and with ishmael, having their hands against every man, would stir every mans hand against them in their own needful defences. Neither will I once mention what they do by Sea or Land to the Netherlandish people, who commonly pay them again in their own coin, having learnt of them to deface Gods images, and to stamp the devils there in blood and reuenge, especially in the East-Indies. Neither yet will I mention what the French haue felt in Florida, 
History of Florida.  where Pedro de Melendes hung up all the Frenchmen under the command of Laudouice, with this inscription over their heads, I do not this as unto Frenchmen, but to Lutherans and heretics. A watch-word and a mirror to ours abroad in Virginia and the bermudas, as also to us at home, to teach us to beware, and behold what courtesy we are to expect from them where they are masters; and how they can hang up some for being heretics, others for being of this or that Nation, and others for being men, and so spare none, but in fine hang up all for their profit. But they will not deal thus by the English; no doubtless, they love their heart bloods too well; look vpon these examples that follow for your learning, and then tell me what you think: for these are known for truths to every sailor in Radcliffe.  
About twelve or fourteen yeeres since, there was a ship sent from London called the Vlysses, to Trinidado to trade for Tobacco; which our Merchants had wont to do, in the time that Berea governed there: but at this time the government was changed, Berea being sent unto Mexico, and those parts governed by the King of Spaines Officers. The Merchants and Owners of this ship thinking they might trade peaceably as they were wont, shot off a piece of Ordinance according to the custom, to signify their arrival, and desire to trade as they used to do; vpon which the Spaniards came to the shores side, showing out their white flags in token of peace: and our Merchants so assured, after the manner of all Nations that beleeue a God, or love men like themselves, came ashore; where presently the Spaniards ceized vpon all that landed, to the number of 27. persons, and kept them, as they pretended, for hostages, but would never deliver them, till they had for their ransom drawn the ship so dry of ammunition, clothes, victuals, and all other necessaries, as shee could spare no more, having left herself scarce enough to bring her home: which when the Spaniards perceived, ●nd saw withall, that they could not by falsehood possess the ship, they took the 27. prisoners; and in stead of setting them free, and sending them home as they promised and conditioned, bound each of them to a several three, and in the sight of the sun, and in the eye of their lamenting friends on shipboard, who could not help them, cut their throats, and left them there and went their ways: so that when their companions came on shore, they beholded the wonderful spectacle, but could do no farther courtesy to them, then cover their bodies with earth, burying them with a peal of cries and imprecations sent to heaven, for just vengeance to bee powred vpon that perfidious place and people.  
About two yeeres after, a ship of tribulation came thither, the Merchant of which name chamberlain, had been there the year before, and there was owing to him an hundred pounds of Tobacco: he, making no question but all had been well, leaped ashore to trade with the Spaniards, and was presently taken, and his throat cut in the sight of them that were in the boat, who hardly scaped.  
In that apology written by Sir Walter Raleigh a little before his death, he shewed, how the Spaniards in America did tie the English( out of a ship wherein M. Hall of London and himself were partners) back to back, and cut their throats after they had traded with them a whole month, and trained them ashore in trust of their fidelities, without so much as a sword or any other weapon amongst them all to defend themselves. And if( saith he) the Spaniards to our complaint made answer, that there was nothing in the treaty against our Trading in the Indies, but that we might trade at our perils, I trust to God( saith he) the word peril shall ever be construed indifferently to both Nations, otherwise wee must for ever abandon the Indies, and close all our knowledge and pilotage in that part of the world. Thus he: And how unreasonable this is, even such as look into the Map of America, may judge at first sight. America is more then the fourth part of the known world, the hundreth part whereof is neither possessed nor known by the Spaniard, who wants men to people what he hath grasped already. Why then should not our King employ his numerous Nations that way, for the strengthening and enriching of his own State; enlarging the bounds of christendom, and spreading of the Gospel with freedom? especially considering, as the Spaniard lacks men for his land, so the King lacks land for his men, who therfore are forced to people Poland, Sweden, denmark, germany, France, and to range in those and other parts, as if th●y had no native habitation: for in all these places there are swarms of our people, who are merely lost and scattered out o● his Majesties Dominions, to the strengthening of other parts, and weakening our own State. Surely God intended not the Indies to be engrossed by the Spanish Nation alone, who cannot people the least part of it; but rather for all Nations that can plant it, and withal plant and spread the Gospel of salvation through Iesus Christ our Lord, which belongs to all Nations as well as to the Spanish; though they, to blind the eyes of ignorant and superstitious Christians, haue styled themselves the onely catholic Christians. Thus much by the way, though I hope I be not out of the way in saying so much: for this engrossing of the earth is a note of their cruelty. I now with your patience, will return to the matter in hand more directly. I hope( saith the same Sir Walter Raleigh a little after) the ambassador doth not esteem us for so wretched and miserable a people, as to offer our throats to their swords without any manner of resistance. The law of the Land, nor any powerful Proclamation, did ever intend to bind our hands and feet, and deliver us like calves to Spanish butcheries,& neuer-before heardof cruelties; amongst which, take this one for conclusion, because it is a pretty one taken out of the school where all kind of extracted tyranny is taught, and performed in imitation of the Spanish Inquisition, which you and so many Romish catholics so much like and allow of, and desire to h●ue transported into these parts, for the profit of the Netherlands, and perhaps of England also. The story is this; a short one, and a sweet one, if honey could make it so: One M. Burch a Factor, being in the west Indies to trade peaceably, was taken by the Spaniards, stripped stark naked, bound to a three, anointed all over with wild honey, in a fenny place subject to Musketoes, and so suffered either to perish by famine, or stung to death by that new-inuented torture of Flies. Was not this a most exact piece of cruelty, which none but the great-witted Spaniards, who daily trade in blood up to the ears, could possible haue found out? These were their crafts-masters in the art of murder; Phalaris himself might here haue been bound prentice. To conclude this point, it is present death for any Nation but the Spanish, to bee found vpon that western Continent, though they commit no other fault; nay, though they bee driven by storms vpon that cost; but they leave the manner of ●he death to the arbitrary sentence of that person, who governs the place where such are taken; because they know them to bee very merciful men, and such as study the easiest way of undoing that great work of humanity which God hath made, and of breaking that knot of civil Commerce and society, which man with man hath found out by Gods direction to Noah.  
And now I hope you will take heed how you ask any more such childish Questions as this, lest you give me occasion to lay more of your Spanish courtesies open to the ear and eye of every hearer and beholder, much against your gorge. howsoever, all that you can say is not available to draw us from this people to a woorse, as you would; or to move us to leave that service wherein we haue been ●rayned up in all military perfection. This change might show out levity, when Souldiers should do actions that onely savour of settled solidity, a virtue proper for the best men.  Red-scarfe. 
Nay Sir, you should by leaving the service of that ungrateful Nation, give a good example to the rest of the English to follow.  Tawny-scarfe. 
I haue served some yeeres already in Holland, and intend to return thither again with more heart then ever before; in regard I haue heard the woorst you can say, and that worst is little or nothing to the purpose, to alter any mans resolution, that is not before a traitor or Turne-coate, but rather may serve to confirm them in the iustice of those Warres.  Red-scarfe. 
I could then wish, if you bee obstinately bent, to return and serve them, that both you and the rest of your English friends would resolve to serve them as they ought to bee served; such tricks I mean, as might reuenge some of the villainies and hallelujahs they haue offered vs.  Tawny scarf. 
I guess at your meaning; for now you discover yourself, and appear in your right colours: but such courses become not the Religion of Christians, but Antichristians; such as were Stakenbroek, Berwoets, Merchant, stanley, york, Patton, and simple, with many others, who may haue Dispensations for their oaths, and Vmbrilloes for their humours, as Philip the second had for his Oath taken to maintain the Netherland Liberties; we that know there is a God who will not bee mocked, know, that Honour cannot bee without honesty. Therefore in answer to this point, I may use the words of the old Prince of Orange in his apology, where he saith:  
If the Spaniards esteem such traitors for Gentlemen, and that men by such means bee advanced to honour in Castile, it is no marvell if all the world believed, that the most parts of the Spaniards( especially those that held themselves Nobles and Gentlemen) descended from the Moores and Iewes, and observe that good quality, as engrafted in them from their Fore-fathers, that betrayed our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ, and gave Iudas money to deliver him unto them, that they might crucify him.  
The true honourable blood of the English know better, except it be tainted by Romish corruptions, then to dishonour themselves, country, and Nation, by such perfidious and treasonable acts: yea if the States should deserve as ill( as Standly, york, and the rest pretended for their own excuses) yet wee know, that there is a precept that willeth us, to do good for evil.  Red-scarfe. 
That is well done where evil is thereby amended, but your doing good where you do, makes evil become worse. But let me now return to speak somewhat of queen Elizabeths reasons to take the Hollanders partes. And first I must tell you, that queen Elizabeth did never take their partes vpon compassion of their cause, in regard of any wrong which she knew the King of spain did them; for she could not but know them to be as very notorious rebels as ever were any in the world, and therefore was her assistance not given, because she loved them, but because she hated the King of spain, and so made use of them as the instruments of her hate.  Tawny-scarfe. 
All this is answered before, yet you must repeat old matter, where you want new. Wee must here take your word, and beleeue you by an implicit faith, without reason or proof, before the manifest reasons of Religion and State, and before the honourable and public protestations of that worthy among women, queen Elizabeth, who never broke her word. She took their part, partly for compassion; she neither knew them Rebels, nor counted them so; but if she hated the King of spain, then must there be cause why she hated him; and hating him, she had reason to favour and foster those that hated him as well as herself, or rather that were hated by him as she herself was.  Reds-carfe. 
I pray, Sir, for the instruction of my ignorance, tell me the cause why she hated him.  Tawny-scarfe. 
You should tell the cause, since you produce the effect, and it were enough for me to say there was no cause, ergo, there could not be such an effect; yet because this will not answer men of your humour, I say farther, that I do not think she hated his person, but rather prosecuted it with all honourable offices of love; yet I may imagine( and wee see it evident) that she feared his encroaching power; and whom wee fear in any kind, wee are said to hate in some sort.  Red-scarfe. 
You know no just cause nor any man else, why she should hate him; but you say, you must imagine there was a cause; but this must is not forcible, unless it were a clear case, that never any man were causelessly hated. But to tell you the true cause why indeed she hated him, it was no other then for doing her good.  Tawny-scarfe. 
That me thinks is impossible.  Red-scarfe. 
Impossible only to good& grateful minds. The King of spain in her sisters queen Maries time, did her no less good then the saving of her life; and experience hath often shewed, that there are some kind of people, that can never abide those that they are very deeply beholding unto; because they think the obligation of gratitude to be a bondage; whereas want of gratitude, when it consisteth in the will, and not in the power, is monstrous and not human.  Tawny-scarfe. 
In laying ingratitude to that blessed queens charge, you show your malice, you vomit your poison, and say all that a devilish adversary can invent against an innocent Lady. never could any of her own obliged men, never could any private person accuse her of this crime; much less would she give just cause to such a potent King, such an able State, apt to take exceptions, so attended by viperous-tongued railers of an other Religion, to publish her ingratitude in this kind to the world. Besides, that the King of spain saved her life, can never be proved, albeit she was imprisoned in her Sisters time, yet she was never brought to any public trial, and so there was no saving of her life needful, she not being by law found guilty.  Red-scarfe. 
If it had come to that it had gone hard with her, but the King of spain prevented it, and thereby not only saved her life, but also her honor.  Tawny-scarfe. 
But how is this proved?  Red-scarfe. 
That there were diuers conspiracies of treason in her sisters time is evident, that she was apprehended, and put in prison vpon them is evident; that she was the only hope and object of the conspirators is evident, and that some of them accused her, is also evident: for Religion her troubles were not, because she made profession of the Religion of her sister, and daily heard mass: some cause there must be of her apprehension, which must also be some great cause: for no 
I return your own interrogation: was never any apprehended and imprisoned without cause to be the queens siiter& next heir to the crown, is cause enough to work iealousy and suspicion amongst Princes, who will take an easy occasion to imprison their Expectant.  small cause can urge the calling in question& apprehension of the sister of a queen Regnant, and her next and apparent heir: but I will leave the belief of this to your own leisure and pleasure, when you shall haue better thought vpon it, or better informed yourself about the matter.  Tawny scarf. 
Now you come to supposition, collection, and presumption, where you want proof, and so colour or cover the hatred of your Popish clergy and their cursed cruelties against queen Elizabeth, with a supposed crime in the clouds. But this is sufficient to clear her innocency, that neither those who then sought the ruin of her body, nor you who now seek the ruin of her famed and honor, could or can produce any thing against her, but imaginary concealments; for if they could, she had not lived to be the object of your envy,& if you could, the whole world had been filled long before this, with your long-tongued Libels, and bellowing bulls against her.  
Therefore I shall not need to think vpon this point long, as if what you said were unanswerable: queen Elizabeth herself hath saved me a labour, where in answer to an infamous libel written against her in Italian, which chargeth her with unthankfulness to the King of spain, who( as the author reporteth, being a man of your mind) in her sisters queen Maries time, had saved her life, she saith, That her faith and fidelity was never in any such question in her sisters time, and much less that ever any sentence of death was pronounced against her, and that therefore he had no cause why to seek to save her life: Confessing and ingeniously acknowledging nevertheless, that she was as then somewhat beholden unto him, and that in all princely and honourable manner she had been thankful unto him for the same.  
Now therefore if you haue any more to say in this matter, produce it; if not, let us come to the third reason of greatest importance moving queen Elizabeth to take the Hollanders part, which was, the cause of Religion: they professing with us one same Gospel.  Red-scarfe. 
I doubt whether they profess with us one same Epistle, but one same gospel I am sure they profess not.  Tawny-scarfe. 
You are wonderfully witty and merry in distinguishing betwixt the Epistle and Gospel, when I am afraid you scarce understand what you say: Perhaps you take nothing for Gospel, but what is contained in those partes or portions of Scripture which are appointed to bee red in the mass,( though in a strange tongue unknown to the vulgar) for the better understanding of the solemnity of certain feasts celebrated to the Memory of saints, or perhaps, though you be not so near of kin to one of Saint Paules idiots, yet you may think nothing Gospel, 
1. Cor. 1●. 16.  but what is expressly contained in the writings of the four evangelists: so that whilst Saint paul, and Saint Peter, Saint james, Saint Iude, and Saint John writ Epistles containing the doctrine of the Gospel or glad-tidings of Christ crucified, this shall not be Gospel but Epistle; nor they Preachers and writers of the Gospel, but Epistlers with you, and your grave understanding: So whilst S. paul saith, Ro. 2.16. In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel, you will alter and correct the Apostles phrase, and for according to my Gospel, put in by your Index expurgatorius, according to my Epistle: leave your witty cenceites if you love your own credit, they do very vilely, and come off against the hair, according to that proverb, inuita Minerva.  
And here I wax weary with following your wandring Discourse,( as he that plays with a child all day, and is tied to tread in his steps) wherefore I intend for that which remaines, not altogether to take it up, as you lay it down, and give occasion of answer, nor yet to insert verbatim what I then said when we discoursed in the Tilt-boate,( though then I made no such idle and airy answers, as you forge for me, but forced you to greater streights then you will aclowledge) but I purpose directly to gather the strength of your Arguments, and lay them down truly, with such answers as I did, or might make to such of them, as seem worthy of any reply.  
You first pretend, our Gospel, and that Gospel which is preached and professed in the Netherlands differ, because there is difference between Protestants and Puritans in England; for so you are pleased to style such true Christians as protest against your falshoods, and would reform your impurities in life and doctrine, Protestants and Puritans. How well this hangs together, the premises and conclusion, you cannot but see, and smile to behold, being a man so merrily disposed by nature as you seem. But you demand, how contention should otherwise arise amongst us? why else should some bee silenced or banished? do the difference betwixt Iesuites and secular Priests in England prove their Gospels differ? doubtless their Portuces are the very same: why do the Thomists and Scotists differ? Is their Gospel diverse? why do the Dominicans and Franciscans pursue each other with deadly quarrels, is it because their Gospel differs? doubtless many of these know not the Gospel; most of them care not for it; nay, let me say boldly, few of them prise it, as they do that which they call their unwritten verities, or traditional Gospel, whereabout yet they fall out with eagerness. And had not the council of Trent cunningly trust up all their trinkets, and taught them what they must hold, none could haue known what it had been to be a Papist: But Antichrist then unsealed the secrets of his mystery; 
Apoc. 13.16 17.  for then it was a time for him to discover himself, that such as took his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands, might be known for counterfeit Christians.  
You demand, if our differences be small, why then are some silenced, some banished. some put to death? injury may be done sometime under the colour of iustice; and Mephibosheth may be forced even by David himself, 
2 Sam. 16.3. 2. Sam. 19.24.  to divide his lawful inheritance with Ziba the tel-tale, the traducer, the traitor. Sometime also many just occasions may provoke such severe punishments to be inflicted vpon persons for circumstantial points, though they differ not in fundamental verities contained in the Gospel. But tell me in good earnest, why were the Iesuites banished France, and a pillar set up to eternize the memory of their banishment, was it for that their Gospel differed from the French Church? Or why were the Iesuites banished out of Venice? or why are the Cardinals jealous to make a Iesuite Pope? Is it for that their Gospel differs from the rest, whilst they hold all one Epistle? I trow not.  
You pursue this discourse( I suppose) to the same end to prove the difference of our Gospel from the Hollanders; for that is the proposition. And such as you term Puritans in England, you call 
We might with as much, or more reason call the Papists, Bellar minists, Parsonists, Garnetists, &c. as your call us Lutherans, Calvenists, Gomarists, or the like, ●. Cor. 3. 5●.  Gomarists in Holland, because that learned and vigilant Minister Gomarus opposed such as would haue brought in the innovations of that subtle D. Arminius, and prepared the tenets of such as imped out and enlarged his doctrine, fit for the Synods inspection, censure, and decision. Now such as these you will haue by no means defended; for then we defend( as you would say) another Gospel. But you see even the Doctors and Bishops who were sent out of England, joined with Gomarus and the rest in that memorable Synod of Dort: so that by that unity, they declared a consent in doctrine, howsoever they might differ in some points of less consequence about ceremonies; so they had all one gospel. All agree, that the Bishop of Rome is Antichrist, and that we should separate from him; the difference is, how far we should do it; some desiring it farther then others judge fit: yet those that judge it not fit to separate so far as others desire, do it not in any other respect, then because they would win the Papists to reformation, by letting them see, how they depart from them in nothing, but where they are forced to do it, by the clear evidence of Scripture, being willing otherwise in things indifferent to descend to their weakness,& rather to give their brethren offence, with whom they join in all fundamental Verities, then these of Rome who haue strong delusions to cause them to beleeue lies, 
2. Thes. 2.11.  and therefore must be won by all strong and gentle inducements to beleeue the truth. You see also in that Synod, how the Gomarists( as you call them) can endure the society of Bishops, though not the superiority;& judge not the government of Bishops simply unlawful, but neither fit for them, 
Al government from God, this or that form from man.  nor to be jure divino. For as they condemn not, but commend Monarchies, though they do not find that government the best for their dispositions, nor to be imposed vpon all Nations jure divino: so they censure not, at least condemn not, episcopal government, but prefer a brotherly communion, where superiority is rather given then exacted; rather shunned, then sought; And all in giuing honour, 
Rom. 12.10.  go one before another: where with you they take, beg, and buy honour, and plot and poison for place and preferment, that they may go one before another.  
2. In the second place you labour to prove, that such as defend the cause of the Netherlanders, defend al the Religions, Sects or schisms there tolerated. But this is drawn out by a constrained consequence; and by the same consequence, he that fights for the Pope of Rome fights for the Iewes there maintained, nay worse, for the maintenance of the male and female slewes, and so by your consequence, for the defence of sodomitry, practised in Rome and all Italy. So he that fights for the Emperour or Venetian, fights for the Iewes, under whom they find toleration: So by consequence, he that fights against the catholic King, fights against Antichrist, whom the catholic King defends and supports, and he that joins with the catholic King joins with Antichrist, by your artificial wire-drawne Argument of evil consequence.  
You produce by the way, a sect of the Persectists there( as you say) professed. Perhaps there may be some such mad-men; for Bedlam contains not all the crackt-braynd creatures in England: you, and many such as you are out: so though there be Dull-houses in the Netherlands, all that deserve to be put there, are not. Yet why should you find fault? This Sect doth suprabound with you; every Order pretends a perfection by itself, onely proper to them and their Founder. Here onely is the d●fference betwixt your mad-men and these; These place perfection in knowledge, yours in practise, whilst both err. These whilst they know something, being ignorant of themselves, suppose they know all things, the first chapter of a fool. Yours, whilst they fast from flesh, pray they know not to whom, and whip themselves they know not why, suppose by these parts of will-worship vnrequired, to deserve heaven for themselves and others too: for from hence is the treasury of the Church, that pooremans box of Merit and supererogation, wherewithal Peters supposed successor is trusted, filled full drop after drop, and emptied again by Pardons and Indulgences more then a good many. Thus yours also not knowing themselves, their own baseness, vileness and unworthiness, seek perfection in themselves, and through spiritual pride shipwreck their own souls, and the souls of such as depend vpon their rotten principles. Amongst the Ethnikes there were diuers Sects of Philosophers, which were their wise men,& supposed themselves more perfect then the rest. The Academickes, such are your Iesuites: the stoics, such are your preaching Friars: the Peripatetickes, such are your begging Friars: the Epicures, such are your Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, and rich Abbots. You haue cynics too amongst you, who rail at all they understand not; Septickes onely are forbidden, an implicit faith is sufficient by which ye beleeue the perfection of Romish dogmatizing. Therefore speak not you of these Perfectists, they are of your own breed, we disclaim them. They err in science, whilst they profess it; you in practise, whilst you laugh at their fooleries, and commit worse yourselves.  
A third Argument you bring to prove our Gospel and theirs differ, and that wee seek to defend a wrong gospel, seeking to defend theirs. The reason, for their Gospel allows of theft.  
If it be so, we disclaim their Gospel and the cause also; mark the solid proof therefore.  
The Netherlands steal whole provinces from the King of spain, whilst they hang theeues for trifles, and that by their Gospels warrant, for so it must be, or you say nothing. Surely I think if they had you, they would scarce hang you, they are so merciful: many that deserve it perhaps as well as you haue done, do yet scape, and enjoy their liberty in hope of amendment, as you do, if you haue grace to make good use of it.  
But if they be theeues and steal provinces from spain; How hath spain gotten superiority over his neighbour-Nations? how hath he made many intrusions vpon Savoy, Nauarre, France, Italy? How vpon the East and West Indies? How vpon Ireland, and how vpon England also, whose purse he would haue taken, whilst you and yours were setters and plotters for the purchase? Is he a thief for this? Is this catholic doctrine? I fear you must pass under the rod of penance for this oversight. Remember what the Pirate said to Alexander the Great: I am a Pirate and a thief robbing with one ship, and taking away a little; and because thou robst the whole world with a navy and an army, thou art styled an Emperour. Indian gold is able to purchase many more able flatterers and supporters, then you are. And what power did ever want praise, though never so wicked, tyrannous, or unjust? He cannot but be defended and commended, who hath Antichrist and the whole roman conclave at his command.  
That which remaines is matter of controversy in Religion, which you haue propounded at pleasure, making me a very simplo fellow fit to be coopled with you for company in the answers annexed by you: Yet that which you propound is such stuff, and so followed, as you need not protest yourself to be no divine; you bewray it sufficiently in your Discourse, though otherwise I might haue doubted a Priest or Iesuite( as they had wont) might haue lurked under a buff jerkin, a read scarf and feather. And indeed though I aclowledge there are many learned men on your side, yet me thinks such kind of knowledge is a matter superfluous, and leading towards heresy, for since that infallible spirit of decision, direction, and exposition is in your Popes breast, what need other Doctors, then such simplo and illiterate persons as Christ first choose to be his Apostles, and to plant his Church, since there remaines in your Church still extraordinary and primary power to dispose of the spirit miraculously, and so to bestow the gifts of tongues and miracles, as it was with Christ himself, and his Apostles after? For which cause your Sea of Rome is called the apostolic Sea, from whence all that supernatural power is derived, as from an ordinary Minister or Vicar appointed by Christ to that end. But to leave this still in doubt, come to your divinity: Two points you insist vpon: The Eucharist,& auricular Confession: In speaking of these, you labour to justify your own doctrine& practise, and disprove ours.  
You first labour to free yourself from idolatry, and say, If Christs body be not truly in the mass, that is, as you understand it, if the bread be not truly transubstantiated into the body of Christ, then you do not intend any worship to it, and so you commit no idolatry.  
But as an oath( which is a special part of Gods worship) is not understood according to the secret intent of the swearer( for then your equivocation and mental reservation might be justified, 
Lingua juro, mentem inju●atam ●●to. Non enim quando inras, tibi iur●s, aut lapidi iuras, said proximo ●●tas, Aug: de verbis S. jacobi. cap. 5. Ser. 30.  and there were no use of an oath at all, the oath being only to bewray and assure the certain inward intent of him that makes it) but according to the plain, open, and direct intent of him to whom the oath is made, and of all others that see the end wherefore it was made, and so can judge of the truth or falsehood: So outward worship of the bread in the Sacrament, is not to be understood according to your inward intent, which hath ifs and ands in it,( if it be Christs body you worship it; and if it be not, then you do not intend to worship it) but according to the understanding of all that behold you( the eye being the judge of bodily worship) and they beholding you give to the bread the same outward worship which they see you give unto God, judge presently and plainly, that you commit gross idolatry: for the same eye that beholds your bodily and exterior worship, beholds withall, that the object of that bodily worship is bread which they see, and not the body of Christ which they see not, to which you say, your intent hath reference.  
again, your worship which wee now speak of being the exterior reverence of the body, must be for the idiots satisfaction as well as for the greatest Clerkes: for it is S. Paules Argument against public use of an unknown tongue in the Church, especially in preaching, or prayer: If when the the whole Church is come together in one, 
1. Cor. 14. 2●  and all speak strange tongues, there come in they that are unlearned, or they which beleeue not, will they not say that ye are out of your wits? and a little after, 
1. Cor. 14, 26.  Let all things be done to edification. Thus wee see the Apostle had a care even in things not simply unlawful, to give no scandal or offence to the unlearned; nay, to give such satisfaction,& to provide, that nothing should be done in the Church, but that which tended to edification, and to the opening of the mouths of babes and sucklings to confess him; at least to the stoping up of their mouths, that would not confess and praise him. And wee see he hath a care to give satisfaction to the unlearned. How then dare you do an act which is directly prohibited,& which doth not only scandalise the Iewes, who hate the apparance of Idotry, but all sober Christians, who are not drunk with the whores cup of fornications, and bewitched with her inchantmentes& devilish incantations, whilst they see you give worship to that which they see and taste to be bread as evidently, as they see you kneel and worship? Must they not needs count this idolatry, and judge you to be out of your wits, practising this publicly, and defending this practise impudently and obstinately? This tends not to edification of the weak, but to the destruction of the strong, even of the strongest samson or Salomon amongst you, though he be able otherwise to carry away all the gates of his enemies, and to resolve all the riddles, doubts, and anigmaticall controversies that haue been, are, 
job. 34.9.  or may be propounded. The ear( saith Elihu in job) trieth words; thats the Apostles argument, to prove the the necessary use of a known tongue in the congregation: The Mouth tasteth meats,( saith Elihu in the same place) thats my inference vpon the Apostles words, who would haue all things done soberly, that men might not judge us mad; 
Es. 44.25.26  but when your knee tells me, that Cake is God, which the Baker tells me is bread; bread that he made, part whereof he eat himself, part whereof he crammed his Capons and Chickings withall, and part whereof he employed in meaner uses; when my eye tells me it is so, and my taste and feeling tells me the same, shall not I think you mad or drunken Idolaters to beleeue the contrary, 
●ap. 14.28.  or to persuade me, or any other person wise or simplo, to beleeue the contrary? This opinion and your Latin liturgy are well coopled together in communion, being direct evidences of antichristianism, and parts of that mystery of Iniquity which began to work even in the Apostles time, and was afterward by inches( as the mass grew by time in greatness to a monstrous mass of superstitions indeed) introduced under the dangerous colour of good intent, to obfuscate truth,& cause men to receive& beleeue lies. 
●. Thef. 1.10.11.12.  The bold attempts, and desperate onsets, together with the evil events and dangerous success of good intents grounded vpon ignorant zeal, you may observe in yourself; who, like an Italian Montbanke or Romish juggler, play fast and loose with your faith, even in the point of worship, the supreme and sovereign service of Christianity; If the Cake be Christ, you worship it; if it be not Christ, you intend no worship to it.  
But thus may the Heathens argue for themselves, That they intend no worship to their Idols, except they be gods, but by them they sand up their worship to the true God; for what they do, they intend to the true God, or to none.  
You build vpon Christs words who cannot deceive, and is sufficient to perform what he speaks: and he hath said, The bread is his body, and were it still bread,( say you) yet he having said, it was his body, and you believing it to be so, he cannot condemn you of mis-beliefe: for if he had never said it, you had never believed it.  
We aclowledge Christs truth and power: but here we look to what he did and said, and do not with you presume to change his words or works: He neither said, the bread was transubstantiated into his body, nor did he will his Apostles, or their successors to worship it, but to take and eat it, and do it in remembrance of him. Christ said, This is my body: 
Luk. 22.19.  we say so too with him and with you: The difference is about the manner of his presence: You say, the bread remaines not, though you see, feel, taste bread: We say, Christs body is taken and eaten by the soul of the faithful, whilst his hand takes,& mouth eats the bread. So it is his body( as he intended) though bread remaines; bread really, his body Sacramentally and Spiritually, both truly. Christ as concerning his bodily presence is in heaven at the right hand of God the Father, so we are taught to beleeue; and from thence as concerning local decession, shall not come, till he comes in glory to judge the quick and dead: this we see confirmed, Act. 3.21. Whom the heauens must receive, until the time of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets, since the world began. And joh. 16. 28. I leave the world, and go unto the Father. Mat. 26.11 Ye haue the poor always with you, that is. You shall not haue me always present in body for I go so unto the Father, but in spirit and power always; for lo, I am with you, so, to the end of the world, Mat, 28.20. What can be more plain and clear? Then look for a figurative understanding of these words, and for a spiritual eating of Christ, or else you deny your Creed, and contradict S. Peter and Christ himself; for the flesh profiteth nothing, joh. 6.63. It is the Spirit that quickeneth; not the literal, but the spiritual understanding and eating nourisheth the Spirit. That which the body eats, cannot benefit the soul, that which the soul eats cannot nourish the body. The body eats bread; the soul, Christ; the one by the teeth, the other, by faith: both are thus nourished according to their several natures and essences. If you will not grant a figure in these words, what say you to those that follow immediately as part of this Sacrament? 
1. Cor. 11.13  drink ye all of this; for this is the new Testament in my blood, &c. You must beleeue the Chalice is the new Testament in Christs blood; that is, transubstantiated into the new Testament in Christs blood; not the wine only, but the Chalice also; or else admit a figure in the speech. And if you grant a figure in this, why not in the former? the same Christ spake both, the same Christ is able alike, the same Christ wils me to do both in remembrance of him, and to beleeue both alike. Nay rather thus I may argue, since you must needs grant a figure in this, by consequence, a figure must be understood necessary& properly in the other, our saviour had else spoken improperly: words must agree with the works. And this being a figurative or sacramental action, must be delivered in a figurative form or phrase of speech, as being most proper and congruous to the occasion. Therefore though this error of Transubstantiation began to be busy betimes in the Church, by reason of diverse carnal ears who understood Christ as Nicodemus did, jo. 3.5.6. and as the Capernaits did, joh. 6.51.52.63. Yet it was held indifferent, and not prest vpon any to beleeue the manner of his presence till the council of Lateran, as Bishop Tonstall, 
De ver●tat● corp.& Sang. p. 46.  though he were one of yours, confesseth; but then this error was confirmed by Antichrist and his associates. Before,  

Christ was the Word and spake it,  
He took the bread and broke it,  
And as his Word doth make it,  
So I receive and take it,   
Was enough to be professed and confessed to make a man a worthy receiver, without farther disquisition into the secret closet of the conscience, to know if men had reason and sense or no, and then to make that a sufficient quarrel to exclude them: For now if we will not beleeue that which contradicts sense, reason, faith and Religion, from the table we must be cast and to the fire we must be haled as heretics. Now therefore this is the note:  

Priests make Christs body and soul, ye need not doubt;  
They eat, they drink, they box him up, and bear about.  
One is too little; Bread and Wine  
Holds him several: so wee dine,  
I with my Christ, thou with thine.   

Is thy mouth the Virgins womb, is bread her seed?  
Are thy words the holy Ghost? Is this the Creed?  
O presumptuous vndertaker,  
never Cake could make his Baker:  
Yet the Priest can make his Maker.   

What becomes of al those Christs that Priests haue made?  
do these hosts of hosts abide? or do they fade?  
One Christ lives, but all these die:  
One Christ bides, when all these fly:  
One is true, the rest a lie.   
You then from the matter, fall to the manner of celebrating; debating whether to do it vpon a table as we do, or on an altar with you, be the truest form.  
Christ instituted it, and celebrated it at a table; this you confess; he is the safest pattern to follow. Before I hear you say; he having said, it was his body, and I believing it so to be, his iustice and goodness is such, that he cannot condemn me of mis-beliefe, himself having been the cause why I so beleeue; for if he had never said it, I had never believed it. So say I, and so ought you to say, he instituted it vpon a table, not vpon an altar; he gave bread and wine, not bread alone; he gave common bread, and broken it, not printed wafers to be swallowed whole; he willed me to eat, not to swallow whole and unbroken; to take it, not to adore it; to do it in remembrance of him, not as if he were present corporally: Till he comes, saith S. Paul, not as if he were come; and if he had never said it, I had never believed it; if he had never commanded it, I had never done it. But now I beleeue, and obey, and will do as he bids me, whatsoever an Angel, much more whatsoever a Shaueling can say to the contrary.  

1. Cor. 11.23  Besides, I see S. paul and the Corinthians celebrating at a table, I neither hear of the bread transubstantiated, nor of the wine withdrawn from the people, nor of invocation or adoration, but all done as we do it, in remembrance of Christs death, by way of thankful acknowledgement of the benefit wrought for mankind thereby. All the rest is of your own invention, superstitious, idolatrous, antichristian.  
look the place and it will confirm you in all these plain and evident truths: for they took the Sacrament at their loue-feastes, so far then from superstitious adorations, as they were irreverend and almost profane in not discerning betwixt that, being a religious action, a spiritual meate, and other civil actions and corporal meats: wherefore the Apostle reduceth them to the primitive institution, far from mad Idolatry and drunken profaneness, in christian sobriety as becomes persons made worthy partakers of so great a Mystery.  
That which you add to avoid your Idolatry, as if the reverence you do to your idol in the mass, were no more then what we in the presence show to the Kings chair of State, is ridiculous. Our reverence is civil, yours is religious: all men, yea the simplest old wife can distinguish ours from a religious act of worship to God; it trouples your greatest Doctors to clear your point in the schools by imaginary distinctions; how then in actions they shall be distinguished, especially when they are to be performed by an old ignorant woman, it will trouble a man no less wise then yourself to imagine, much more to manifest.  
That which S. Augustine saith of Images, being Laymens books, is concerning their historical use; but we see they haue taught the people so many lies, that if Augustine were now alive, he would bar them both from preaching and praying in the Church too. For if a woman be forbidden to be a teacher there, I know not why a dumb idol should be there admitted to teach. 
Zach. 11.15.17.  I presume, both the pretence and intent of the first introducers was good, to banish heathen Idols, to please the new converts with something suitable to their old superstitions; but we see the evil success of this, and of all other points of human policy, of worldly wisdom intermixed with the worship of God, either directly against, or simply without the authority of the word of God itself, how it brings confusion,& helps in the issue to pull down Sion,& build up Babel.  
The last point you handle is auricular confession; for which you bring a proof from Scripture: The proof is Christs general commission given to the Apostles and their successors, receive the Holy Ghost, whose sins you shall forgive, 
joh. 20.20. ●1.  they are forgiven; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained. But here you leave out what Christ spake to them before, namely, As my Father sent me, so sand I you. Christ was sent to forgive sins, not by hearing auricular Confession, but by preaching the Gospel of Repentance, from dead works and faith in Gods promises made in him; and so sent he his Apostles, not to hear private confessions, but to publish the Gospel for remission of sins, and saving poor repenting and believing souls, who made public confession of their sins, as the Apostles did publicly preach repentance and confession.  
You bring in also the example of John Baptist, Mat. 3. 6. Where the people are said to come out to him to be baptized, confessing their sins; which makes nothing for your purpose, to prove auricular Confession, but shows how glad you would be to find shelter to cover your nakedness in the garden of God, when your own figge-leaues will not serve your turn.  
The truth is, they that came to be baptized publicly, were publicly to aclowledge that guilt& sin which they would haue washed away, and remitted by baptism: for before the receipt of cure, they were to know and aclowledge themselves sick; but all this was public and general, not privately and particularly whispered into Saint Iohns ear, as you use and imagine. A monk of your own confesseth this; 
Dionis. Cart. Mat. 3.6.  For then( saith he) was not the Sacrament of auricular confession instituted by Christ.  
We allow confession, and our Preachers do often enforce it, what they may, vpon the bleeding conscience, unable to staunch her own wounds. But herein is the difference betwixt you and us: 1. Yours is of necessity, ours voluntary. 2. Yours requires an exact numeration, ours saith with David, Psal. 19. 12: Who understandeth his faults? Therefore we seek to haue those confessed, which notwithstanding our former confessing to God, we find still to leave a sting behind. 3. Yours is full of superstition, as if the work wrought, that is, the confession of the sinner,& absolution of the Confessor, were sufficient to assure salvation; when with us there is no remission, but by the free grace of God alone. 4. Lastly, yours is horribly abused, to unlock the secrets of Princes, to rule over the consciences of men,( for I am master over that man, whose natural inclination I understand, and know how to rule him by his vices, which are constant and importunate, better then by his virtues, which are no favourites, and are also seldom at home.) Yea, this hath been, and is too often used, to deflower Virgins and Matrons, and to to perpetrate and faciliate other dark and black actions, for which cause it was banished Constantinople by Nectarius the Bishop there, and is worthy to be banished all Christian Common-wealths: for by this alone, having either the Prince himself, or any of his near seruants or his wife, or any of theirs, under your imperious fingers, you know cunningly how to open the closest cabinet of secret counsel; and to make a superstitious and trembling soul your instrument to say, swear, reveal, conceal, whatsoever you command, that may be for the advantage of your catholic cause. And so every Priest is an absolute privy councillor.  
But you haue taken an oath to conceal all secrets delivered sub sigillo confessionis. Indeed this must needs secure all men; I had forgotten this. Yet now I remember me, you may be absolved and dispensed withall, if you should reveal any secret delivered in confession: Besides, you haue taken an oath first, to conceal nothing that may be prejudicial to the roman catholic Religion, but to reveal all that may advance it, or any way concerns it. Now the first oath binds, and assoiles the latter, which is but breviary, and with subordinate respects.  
And for matter of mere conscience, howsoever worldly wisdom would think, and you say, that auricular Confession serves to bridle sin by shane, it is far otherwise; my experience knows, that it makes men and women impudent, so that they care not at last who knows or sees their filthiness. I haue seen the written confessions of some before they were sent to their Confessors, and that without the least touch of modesty, or sense of shane in the impudent penitents, when I haue blushed to read those horrible crimes, which they gloried to iterate, both in confessing and committing interchangeably.  
Thus our new-converted Gallants( who never had a God before, till now that they haue gotten him about their necks, and in their Tobacco-boxes) can go to a Play, and from thence to a baudie-house, and from thence in a morning to confession and mass: and thus make themselves new men, that is, of men, monsters every day. And this is the onely reason, they so easily turn to be yours; because, though your confessing, and penance, and whipping, and haircloth shirts seem strange things, and make a faire show at first blushy; yet they are nothing in comparison of leaving those sweet sins whereunto we haue been accustomend; and betaking ourselves to holy and reformed courses, without which our Preachers say, and show plainly by Scripture, that there is no hope of salvation. And this is the reason our Libertines easily turn Papists;( though you cry out against us, and call us Libertines, because we profess the liberty of the Gospel, from your 
Our soon to the their best soon turn to vs. When you be at the best, you are nearest us, and when we be at the worst, wee are nearest you.  jewish ceremonies and superstitions) and this is the cause your honestest Professors, who are not entangled and kept back by honours, or pleasures, or profit, or human respects, are easily induced to be ours, without which they cannot be Christs and Gods.  
The rest that remaines of yours, is such extravagant stuff, as shall need no other answer then silence and contempt, which I shall still use both towards you, and all others that take your part in this subject, or shall audaciously reply on your behalf. Assuring yourself, that notwithstanding all you can say, many of the English who are yours in Religion, do assist the States in their warres with body and goods, both in regard of the justness of the cause which you impugn, and the necessity they see of upholding them, or falling ourselves with them to Spanish subiection and slavery, which they are not such traitors to permit; howsoever you, and such as you wish it. And for our own, I mean, such as are reformed catholics indeed, they laugh at all that you say, as knowing the truth much better, then to be mis-led by juggling. And therefore you see how easily they are drawn to go over with me to serve the States General, when you haue lain long in London, and spent much money,& promised large means,( much more then you mean ever to perform) yet go over weakly provided; and such as you carry, you haue gotten by feigning yourself to be for us,& now hold by force, or they would now leave you, and come to vs. But the best is, you put the King of spain to booteles cost to carry them over for us at his charge: for within this three moneths we shall haue all that are left alive, come to us, for bread, or means, or their Passes. And for such as are with us already, all that you haue; or can say, doth but rather cause them to bind themselves more close together, for the cunning and industry they see used on all sides to divide and sever them.  
And this( I doubt not) will move the wisdom of the States General, and his excellency, seeing our people at home so well affencted to their Cause and country, and the Commanders and Souldiers so sure and trusty to them,( as persons interested in the same quarrel) to use them not as mere mercenary and salary Souldiers, but nobly, freely, and bountifully as natives; who though they take pay, as their own, for mere necessity,( for who goeth to warfarre at his own charge? 
●. Cor. 9.7. ) yet fight freely, not with respect to the money, but love of the Cause and country; for which they deserve to haue usage as natives, to be payed with advantage, to haue their means advanced without exaction, or grievance. And this I wish for conclusion, and would aduise if they wanted it, or I were wise enough to aduise, that the Lords would carefully foresee, that neither they, nor the colonels prefer young men vpon letters and commends, to places of command; for so th●y may advance enemies,& permit( through covetousness) Indian gold in the hand of a Spanish Ambassador, Agent, or pensioner; he or Shee to stickle in the Camp, as it doth often in the Courts of Princes; but haue an eye to old Souldiers of merit, service and experience, and freely prefer them, and then( God being their help, and still keeping them in concord) they need fear nothing, nor care what you and your associates can say, nor what your Master and all his ministers can do against them: Si Deus nobiscum; quis contra nos? To this Emanuel, this God with us, be all honour and glory by us ascribed, now and ever, Amen.  
FINIS.