WHereas wée haue found to be most behoouefull not onely to our Prouinces of the Low-coun­tries, but also, vnto all Christendome in gene­rall, no longer to delay the marriage of our deere and beloued eldest Daughter th' Infanta, Isabel Clara Eugenia, béeing moued thereunto, as well for the conseruation of our House, as diuers other good respects: as also, for the great good affection, which we beare vnto our beloued Brother, Nephew, and Cosin, th' Archduke Albert, (a [...] this present) Lieuetenant, Gouernour, and Cap­taine generall, for vs in our Netherlands, and Burgundy, we haue cast our eyes on him, and choosing him for the future Husband of our said Eldest Daughter, the whole, aswel with the consent & pleasure of our holy Father the Pope, who con­discendeth, and graunteth the dispensations thereunto belong­ing, as also with the agréement and consent, of the most high, excellent, & puissant Prince, our beloued Brother, Nephew, and Cosin, Rodolph, the second of that name, Emperour of the Romaines, together with our welbeloued Sister the Em­presse his Mother: which beeing considered, and to the ende that our saide Daughter might bée furnished with reasonable means, such as are required for her great calling and merrits. Also to shew and make knowne, the loue which we haue and doe beare, vnto our sayde Netherlands and Burgundie, wee [Page 2] haue resolued (to th' aduanncement of the saide marriage) to giue and transport all those saide Countries, vnto our saide Daughter, and all thereunto belonging, in the manner which shall be specified héere-vnder. The whole, with the consent and good will, of our deere and welbeloued good Sonne, the Prince Phillip, our onely Sonne and heire: according to the aduertisement, which (by vs and our sayd Sonne) hath béene giuen vnto the principall Lords and Knights of our order, Go­uernours and Estates of our said Netherlands, which are in our obeysance, together with those of our Country of Bur­gundie. All the which haue witnessed and declared by theyr aunswer, the ioy & contentment which they receiued at our so kinde resolution, which they knowe and confesse, to be for the rest and tranquilitie of our said Netherlands, and that it is the true and right course to attaine to a good and firme peace, and to bee deliuered from such a troublesome warre: which quiet and tranquilitie, wee haue alwaies wished vnto them. And considering that (which vnto all is most manifest) the greatest felicitie which may happen to a Country, is to be gouerned by the sight and presence of theyr naturall Prince and Lord, God is witnesse of the trouble and care which we haue had, because we haue not beene able in that sort to do it personally, as (tru­lie) we well wished, if other great and important affaires of our Realme of Spaine, had not forced and constrained vs to make a continuall residence therein, without moouing anie thing from thence: as also at this present they constraine vs. And although the age of our said Sonne, seeme more fitte to trauaile then dooth ours, notwithstanding, it hath béene the pleasure of the Almightie, to giue so many other kingdomes and Counteies, for the good gouernment of which, there will neuer want affaires of great importance, for the which also his presence shall heere be needfull. Wee haue then founde most conuenient to take this resolution, to he end that our said Low Countries be not left in the fore-passed inconueniences, together with the reason that we haue to appoynt the portion of our said Daughter th' Infanta according to her merrits, and the greatnes of her birth. As also perticulerly, that next vnto [Page 3] the said Prince our Sonne, (vnto whom God confirme with long yeeres & prosperitie to his seruice) our said eldest Daugh­ter is the first and neerest heyre vnto the said Countries, and therefore, by vertue of the will and pleasure of our said Son, shee may frō this time be constituted in the same. The more because we haue chose these meanes, hoping that thereby our said Netherlands may returne, to their auncient flower, rest, and prosperitie, which heeretofore they haue had.

VVherefore we make knowne, That desiring at this pre­sent to put in execution, that, whereon we haue so ripely con­sidered, and in respect of the voluntarie consent, which our said Sonne the Prince hath so liberallie giuen thereunto, after hee had vnderstood, the submission wherewith our said Countries did confirme our will and intention, wée haue resolued and de­créed, to cede and transport to our said Daughter th'Infanta, and to the aduauncement of the saide marriage, all our saide Prouinces of the Netherlands and Burgundy, in the forme, manner, and conditions heere-vnder expressed.

MY saide Lorde and Father, hauing resolued to espouse my Lady th' Infanta Isabel Clara Euge­nia, our deere and wel beloued Sister, with the Archouke Albert, our beloued Vncle and Cosin, and that according to the same, his Catholique Maiestie hath also determined in our cōmunication and with our consent, béeing there-vnto perswaded through great re­spects of the common good, yea, to the rest and tranquilitie of all Christendome in generall, and perticulerly to the rest and quietnesse of the Netherlands. As also to the end that our said good Sister, be furnished according to her qualities and high­nes of her birth. To make a gift vnto our saide Sister of the Netherlands, and the County of Burgundy, in the forme and manner appearing by the open Letters which my Lorde and Father to that end dispatched: signed with his own hand, and sealed with his great seale, whereof the tenor followeth from word to word.

[Page 13] Phillippus &c. Make knowne, that after hauing perticu­lerly vnderstoode, what is aboue saide, and mentioned euery point of the matter, considering the common good, (which is lyke to proceede thereof,) vnto all Christendome. Yea, the same by reason of the perticuler loue which we owe and beare vnto our beloued Sister th' Infanta, through her great woor­thines: We strengthen, approoue, and confirme, for good by these presents, notwithstanding any preiudice which might belong to vs, our Successours now present or to come: and for the same reasons we consent, and agrée by these presents, that the said Netherlands, and Counties of Burgundy and Charloys shal be ceded, transported, and giuen vnto our belo­ued Sister th' Infanta, in the manner as my aforesaid Lord and Father hath done it, and as it may best continue, and for the more security, coroboration, and assurance of what his Maiesty dooth dispose and ordaine, in the fauour and furthe­rance of our beloued Sister. Euen so doe wee dispose and or­daine there-vnto (if so it be néedefull) by these presents also in fauour of the same, in the same forme and manner in all: the whole, procéeding of our owne free will, without that wee haue any way, there-vnto béene incited, compelled, either by deceite, falshoode, nor any respect of paternall reuerence, nor any feare, or other, but iustly and truly: being our intention that the said Countries shal belong and appertaine to our deere and beloued Sister th' Infanta Isabell Clara Eugenia, and her Successours, in the forme of the saide disposition of the King my Lord and Father. And to the end that all may haue his full enteere effect and perfection, and remaine for euermore fa­ster, and more stabler, we haue renounced, and renounce by these presents (in fauour of our said beloued Sister) for vs and our Successours, all Benefices which may or might be, by right, giuen or assigned vnto vs, or them, which might contra­ry vnto these: nor although it were by right of restitution in Integrum, in the which we haue likewise renounced, and by these presents doe renounce. For our concluded and determi­ned will is, that no manner of things shall haue any force or power against this donation, concession, and transport, which [Page 14] is done of the Netherlands, in the forme and manner before written.

Wherefore we haue done and giuen our oath vpon the ho­ly Euangilan Gospel, which we haue touched with our hands, to hold and obserue, maintaine, and accomplish: and to cause to be held, obserued, maintayned, and accomplished, all what is aforesaid, without euer to bring there against any manner of excuse or exception: nor to suffer that any shall bring them in our name, the which we affirme and promise with prince­ly words, and that we wil giue any ayd & assistance, to the ful­filling of what is said. Such being (as is said) our earnest will and desire: In witnes wherof, we haue dispatched these pre­sent open Letters, the which wee haue subsigned with our owne hands, and caused to be contrasigned by the Secretaries infrascripts of the estates of the King my Lord and Father, in the said matters of the said Lowcountries and Burgundy, and caused them to be sealed with the great Seale of Armes of his said Maiesty, hanging at a golden string, being present (and as witnesses ther-vnto requested) Don Gomes de Auila Mar­ques of Velada, our Gouernour, and great Steward Don L. H. t. a p. de mora Earle of Castel. Rodrigo G tand Comman­der d'Alcantara Gentleman of the Kings Chamber, and Cup­bearer to our owne person, Don Iehan d'Iiaques great Com­maunder of Lean, al thrée of the Counsaile of Estate, and Mes­sire Nicholas d'Amant Knight, likewise Counsailour of Estate and Keeper of the Seale of his Maiesty, in the matters of the afore-said Netherlands, and Burgundy, and Chauncelour of his Countrey and Dukedome of Brabant. Giuen in the Cit­tie of Madrill, the Realme of Castile, the sixt day of the mo­neth of May: in the yeare of grace, 1598. Paraphe N. e. r. t signed Philippus. And more vnder, By order of my Lord the Prince: subsigned A de la Loo, and the saide Letters were sealed with the great Seale of Armes of his Maiesty, in redde waxe, hanging at a golden string.

KNow that, as well for the welfare of Christen­dome ingeneral, as the perticuler of the Nether­lands, and for other good considerations, it hath pleased the King my Lord and Father, for the furtherance of our future marriage (by the dis­pensation of our holy Father the Pope) with our beloued Co­sen the Archduke Albert, and with the consent, agréeation, and agréement of the high and puissant Prince our déere and wel­beloued Brother: to make vs a gift, concession, and transpor­tation of all the Netherlands, and Burgundy, by the open Letters thereof dispatched, and respectiuely subsigned by their [Page 16] owne hands, she sixt day of this present moneth of May, with other open Letters, touching the acceptation of the transport and donation, to the end that the saide Netherlands and Bur­gundy should (by vs) be held and possessed: also our Heires and Successours in forme and manner, and according to the conditions perticulerly expressed by the saide open Letters: And that by the same his Maiesty hath consented, agréed, and promised vs, and giueth absolute and inreuocable power of our owne authority, (without taking any other consent) to seise our selues, (or by sending of procuration to our said future hus­band the Archduke Albert,) the whole and entire possession of the said Netherlands, and County of Burgundy and Charo­loys, and to doe in the said effect all what perticulerly is saide in the said open Letters.

MAke knowne that we for the causes aboue specified, and in euery thing to follow the will and ordinance of his Maie­sty, to the furtherance of the same, all what in regard of the aboue written, is needfull for our voyage to the saide Nether­lands, haue of our owne mind, and absolute power, authorised, and giuen full, and inreuocable power and commission with all faculty, (so generall as perticuler) to our future husband the Archduke Albert, for, and in our name, and in our behalfe, to do, either through himselfe, or through others, which he shal appoint there-vnto, or shal finde lawfull by vertue of these Let­ters, once, or at more times, all and in perticuler the thinges, as much as in our name and behalfe, as in the behalfe of all the Prouinces of the Netherlands, and County of Burgundy and Charoloys in generall, and through the Estates of euery Prouince in perticuler shall be required, and néedfull there to be done: for (respectiuely) to take, seise, to haue and to hold in our name, the whole and entire possession of all the said Coun­tries, and of euery Prouince thereof, with all what thereunto belongeth, to vse them, wholy, quietly, without any contradic­tion, obstract, or hinderance, and to that ende to assemble the Estates of the said Countries, be it in generall or perticuler, to doe (in our name) the requisite oaths: as also to receaue of the [Page 17] aforesaide Estates and others, their vsuall oathes. And ouer and aboue, shal be done by our said future husband the Arch­duke Albert, all what we (to that end) in proper person ought to doe if we were there present: and although that there were any matter which should require more especiall commaunde­ment, then is in the said Letters mentioned. We then suffer, by Princely words, and by our Honours, to finde agréeable, to keepe fast and sure, and to obserue, and cause to be obserued, and inuiolably accomplished, and in good fayth alwaies: all what soeuer by the saide Archduke our future husband, or by those which he shal haue appointed or commit, by vertue of the said Letters, shal be done, or passed in regard of the said entire, full, and accomplished possession, of the saide Netherlands and Burgundy, according to the forme and manner mentioned in the saide open Letters, of the said donation, cession, and tran­sport: to the which we referre our selues without euer, to con­trary the same, or suffer the same to be contraried, directly, or indirectly, in what manner soeuer, for such is our will. In witnes wherof, we haue signed with our hand, and caused to be contresigned by the Secretaries Infrascript, of the Estates of the King my Lord and Father, in matters of the saide Ne­therlands and Burgundy: and sealed with the great Seale at Armes of his Maiesty, hanging at a golden string. Giuen in the Citty of Madrill the Realme of Castile, the xxx. day of May, the yeare of grace, 1598. Paraphed thus N. d. i. t. and subsigned the Lady Isabell, and on the fold, By order of my Lady the Infanta. And more signed A de la Loo. And were the said Letters sealed with the Kings great Seale, in redde waxe, hanging at a golden string.

DEere and welbeloued, the two Letters héere­vnder ioyned, are of the King my Lord, and of the Prince his Sonne, for assurance in our be­halfe: to declare vnto you a resolution which his Maiesty hath taken, to the welfare and con­solation of these Countries, by the accord and consent of the said Lord the Prince. And because wee cannot personally ac­complish, the same being a waighty matter, vnlesse we absent our selues from hence, we are therefore by these to giue you vnderstanding of our great charge, which in effect is: that his Maiesty hath found good, as well for the generall welfare of all Christendome, as especially for these Countries, no longer to prolong the marriage of the woorthy Infanta his Eldest Daughter, as wel for the conseruation of his house, as diuers other respects: he hath (to this effect) cast his eyes on our per­son, and that by the consent of our holy Father the Pope, of the Empresse our honourable Lady and Mother, and of the Em­perour my Lord and Brother: And that moreouer to giue bet­ter commodity vnto his Daughter and vs, to manifest the per­ticuler inclination which hee beareth these Countries, will transport them ouer, as a gift to his Daughter, to the furthe­rance of the said marriage, together with the County of Bur­gundy, without detayning or parting any thing thereof, in any manner whatsoeuer, assuring himselfe, that you and al others will reioyce of this his kinde resolution, being the same, stret­cheth to the common welfare, & rest of the saide Countries, as being the onely way to attaine to a good and sure peace, and to come out of this miserable warre, which is the thing which [Page 19] his Maiesty hath so feruently desired. Wherfore for our parts (since it toucheth vs) we are to esteeme it greatly, as also wee greatly esteeme the great honour and good which (by these) his Maiesty doeth to our person, choosing vs aboue all other per­sons, and onely for this respect, ought we to receaue an incre­dible contentment. And so much the more doe wee reioyce, that (by these occasions) we may shew the effects of our good, and cordiall desires: In following the paths of the Princes of Burgundy and Austria our Predicessours, labouring for the welfare and rest of the said Countries to the which we haue, and doe beare a perticuler inclination, estéeming thereof since our comming hether) to haue made a reasonable proofe, al­though not wholy such as we desired, by reason of diuers trou­bles and mishaps which are befallen vs: We know full well the heauy and burthensome charge, which by this resolution will fall on our necks. But assuring our selues that we shall (through you and others) be counsailed, ayded, and assisted, we hope that (by the grace of God) the matter wil haue a good and prosperous successe: and that we shall see these Countries to returne in their auntient flowre, greatnes, and prosperity, as they were in the dayes of our Predicessours, and they see­ing with what courage the worthy Infanta and I shal employ our selues there-vnto, our persons, mindes, and our meanes, we shal kéepe the same amity, the which their Fathers (vntill now) haue held: This is the summe of that which (by vertue of the said credence) we desired to declare you, and we shal be very glad (with the first) to receaue your Letters of aunswer, as wel to his saide Maiesty as to the saide Prince, to the end they may be sent them, and that therof may be double and tri­ple Coppies, to shun the perils which are abroad, to y^e end that they be not lest by the way. And héere we beseech God (deere and welbeloued) to haue you in his protection. In Brussells the 5. of December, 1597. Paraphed R. i. c. h. V. And subsigned Albert.