WHereas wee haue found to be most be hooue­full not onely to our Prouinces of the Low-countries, but also, vntoI wish that this Preface were shor­ter, and with words more pleasing to the Hollan­ders, & tou­ching that which the K of Spaine saieth of the great desire and care hee hath for all Christendō, I doubt that our aduersa­rie will la­bour but too much by the former and present actes, to shewe the contra­rie. all Christendome in generall,The reasons of no longer to deferre or delay the marriage (beeing now well neere come to that age, that there is little appearance of hauing children, falleth also not well, not yet the Popes holinesse dispensation, to giue the high aboue named Infanta, to his Brother, Nephewe, or Cosin, cannot be very pleasing. no longer to delay the marri­age of our deare and eldest daughter the In­fanta, Isabell Clara Eugenia, being mooued therevnto, as well for the conseruation of our house, as di­uers other good respects: as also, for the great gogd affecti­on, which we beare vnto our beloued Brother, Nephewe, and Cosine, the Archouke Albert, (at this present) Liefte­nant, Gouernour, and Captaine generall, for vs in our Ne­therlands and Burgondie: we haue cast our eyes on him, and chusing him for the future husband of our saide Eldest Daughter, the whole, as well with the consent and pleasure of our holy father the Pope, who condiscendeth, and graun­teth the dispensations therevnto belonging, as also with the agreement and consent, of the most high, excellent, and puis­sant Prince, our beloued Brother, Nephew, and Cosin, Ro­dolph, the second of that name, Emperour of the Romains, [Page] togither with our welbeloued sister the Empres his [...]other, which being considered, and to the end that our said daugh­ter might bee furnished with reasonable meanes, such as are required for her great calling and merits. Also to shewe and make known,I feare that against this singular and especial loue will be obiected the deaths of the knights of the fleece, many No­blemen and Gentlemen and Inhabi­tants of the Netherlāds, by thousāds which haue by violent means, and against the rights and priuiledges of the countries. the loue which we haue and doo beer [...], vnto our saide Netherlands and Burgundie, we haue resolued (to the aduancement of the said marriage) toI foresee, That it will be saide that this griefe doth not agree with the generall and particular fights of the Netherlands, in such sort to giue them in Spaine, but that the one ought first to haue beene lawfully assembled, the States general and particular of the Prouinces of the Netherlands, to consider duly all the members, if the same ought for the good of the countries to bee permitted, or no: also I feare that it will be assuredly supposed and beleeued, that by this gift the Netherlands shall seeme not by vsurpation, but quasi by their own consent, to be made subiect to the Spanish counsels disposition. A matter at times highly detested by the Netherlanders, and this opinion, shall apparantly be confirmed by sundrie conditions and restraints, contained in this gift, many whereof seeme to assubiect the Netherlands to Spaine, the which I beleeue will not be so vnderstood nor taken to be either honourable or lawfull to the Netherlanders, not only by the States and Communaltie of the aduersarie, nor yet by theirs of Brabant, Flaunders, Haynolt, Artoyes, and other countries. giue and trans­port all those said countries, vnto our said Daughter, and all therevnto belonging, in the manner which shall be specified here vnder. The whole, with the content and good will, of our deare and welbeloued good sonne, the Prince Phillip, our onely sonne and heire: according to the aduertisement, which (by vs and our said sonne) hath beene giuen vnto the principall Lordes and Knights of our order, Gouernours and Estates of our said Netherlands, which are in our obey­sance, togither with those of our countrie of Burgundie. All the which haue witnessed and declared by their answere, the ioy and contentment which they receiued at our so kinde re­solution, which they know and confesse to bee for the rest and tranquilitie of our said Netherlands, and that it is the true and right course to attaine to a goodI wish moreouer, that this designe of the kings to see the Netherlands in a su [...]e peace and tranquilitie had been soberly rehearsed since that the present and former proceedinges will bee obiected against the same, out of which this desires can hardly be iudged, especially being that fire and sword, not onely in the Netherlands, but also vpon the neutrall neighbors is yet daily as much vsed as euer before. I will not rehearse the great [...]oades and other disorders committed in the Netherlands on that side in this yeare, nor the neuer-to-fore heard mutenies and vnworthie proceedings vpon the castle of Antwerpe, to the charge and against the same good Cittie and Cittizens of the Spaniards, also the dealings with the Citties of the Empire, Accken and Wesell, the horrible tyrannie of the land of Collen, Cleue, Berge, VVestphalie, Munster, Marcke, and against Earles and other persons, onely I consider vp­pon the aunswere of the Admirant D'arragon, who being shewed and tolde of the Archbishops promises, saith, that Gods seruice and the kings, permit him not to his faith, which will bee esteemed farre woorse then the former, to wit, That no faith neede be held to Heretickes: and I am sorrie that with so small consideration, by the abouenamed Lord Admirant, is spoken and writ­ten to the Empires members, that he onely desireth to haue the Romish reli­gion, by them maintained and excercised, with the deposing as well with the Lutherian as the Caluian doctrine, fearing that same wil breed a great scandal to the Kings, Electors, Princes, and other not vsing the Romish religion. and a firme peace, and [Page]and to be deliuered from such a troublesome warre: which quiet and tranquilitie, we haue alwaies wished vnto them.It beeing true, that the greatest felicitie which maye happen to a countrie, is to haue a good & wise Prince, and to be gouer­ned of him in person, vndoubtedly by the aduerse partie herevpon will be alleaged, that the deceased king desired not the felicitie of the Netherlandes, as not vouch­safed, in the space of fortie yeares once to see them, but chuse rather by the Duke of Alba, and other his Tyrants, with outlandish meane of warre, enemy­like to inuade the same, to holde the Netherlands as a new conquested land, to put to death the chiefe Lords, Nobles, and principall Cittizens louers of the lands, rights and priuiledges, or to bannish them out of the countrie, and to confiscate their goods, to vse the rest as slaues to their tyrannie, to builde castles in their chiefe citties, to fill them with Spanish souldiers, to set vp and erect new and neuer to sore heard counsels, against the wils of the States of the land, to appoynt and raise such contributions as they thought good, vn­der the pretence of treating of peace, to set abroach newe treasons, and re­uenge in great powers: and in briefe, to reduce the Nethetlandes to such a poynt, that therein they might plant Sedum belli, thereby with the countries opportunitie, and good commodities of the riuers, hauens, and sea holds, the multitude of sea-faring men and Shippes, togither with the aboundance of all prouision needfull to a mightie armie by water and land, to further the in­satiable Spanish ambition, in the incorporating and establishing laws to all Realmes, Countries, and Commonweales, (as they say) with the proceeding against Germanie, England, France, Ireland, and other Realmes and countries manifestly shew. That the king hath been this fortie yeare so busied with mat­ters of such importance, that he hath not beene able once to see the Nether­lands, (being such worthie, faire, and important countries, which by his Lord and Father, Grandfather, and other his predecessors, haue bene helde in so high esteeme) will by many but passe for a sleight excuse, especially it be­ing answered that his Lord and father the Emperour Charles, only to set order in a cause of the Cittie of Gaunt, not without perill to his person, came our of Spaine through France into the Netherlands. And considering that (which vnto all is most manifest) the greatest felicitie which may happen to a countrie, to bee gouerned by the sight and presence of their naturall Prince and Lord, God is witnesse of the trouble and care which we haue had, because we haue not bene able in that sort to doo it personally, as (truly) wee well wished, if other great & im­portant affaires of our Realme of Spaine, had not forced and constrained vs to make a continuall residence therein, with­out moouing any thing from thence, as also at this present they constraine vs.

[Page] And although the age of our said sonne, seeme more fitte to trauell then doth ours, notwithstanding it hath beene the pleasure of the Almightie, to giue so many other kingdomes and Countries, for the good gouernment of which, there wil neuer want offaires of great importance, for the which also his pretence shall here be néedful. We haue then found most conuenient to take this resolution to the ende that our saide Low countries be not left in the forepassed inconueniences, togither with the reason that we haue to appoynt the porti­on of our said daughter the Infanta according to her merits, and theIf the highnes of the birth of y^e illustrious Infanta, or her great merits oght to giue her the Nether­lands: wher­fore then (might be said), Haue they not beene furthered vnto the states, being lawful [...]y assembled, pure, cleare and without any conditions side commissions, or [...]e­strainctions, for all the conditions and restraints, will be adiudged to be traps and deceites, therby (according to the doctrine of [...]he doctors of Tyr [...]o) [...] b [...]ng that to passe vnder the vaile of a Foxes skinne, which could not be [...]l with Lyons cl [...]wes. greatnesse of her birth.

As also perticularly, that next vnto the said Prince [...] [Page](vnto whom God confirme with long yeares and prosperitie to his seruice) our said eldest daughter is the first and neerest heire vnto the said Countries, and therefore, by vertue of the will and pleasure of our said Sonne, she may from this time be constituted in the same. The more because wee haue chose these meanes, hoping that thereby our said Netherlands may returne, to their auncient flower, rest, and prosperitie, which heretofore they haue had.

Wherefore 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 liberally giuen therevnto, after her had vnderstood, theIt is wō ­der that herein they haue vsed the woorde submission since that vndoubted­ly it will bee saved not to bee straunge, though the states of the Prouinces sything and panting vnder the Spanish tyrannie, seeing the Citties enuiro­ned, their countries suppressed with Spaniards, and other outlandish soul­diers, and the whole and entire gouernment of countries and citties, com­poūded according to the Spanish wil: of many mischiefs, were sain to chuse y^e least, a& that they therfore theron haue bin compelled to submit & yeald thē ­selues to the Spanish Councels will and pleasure, and to accept the propoun­ded conditions. how vnreasonable burthensome and vnworthie soeuer they seemd, but it will neuer bee beleeued, that neither the States nor the Com­munaltie, which by the staes are represented, beeing in libertie, will keepe those forced conditions. submission where with our said coun­tries, did confirme our will and intention, wee haue re­solued and decréed, to cede and transport to our said Daughter the Infanta, and to the aduancement of the said marriage, all our said Prouinces of the Netherlands & Burgundie, in the forme, manner, and conditions here vnder expressed.

Vpon the first condition. BY this first and many other articles, the intent of the Spanish king is but too cleare, and the Spanish counsaile manifest, to wit, that by all meanes they will not onely haue the Netherlands ioyned to Spaine, but especially, that by this gift and transport, as with the consent of the lands, they shall be assubiected to the Spanish gouernment, in stéed that vntill now they haue destred to vsurpe the same by vniust and false titles.

Vpon the third condition. I haue considered vpon the contents of this third article, to wit, that the Archeduke dying without leauing childe or children, procreated by the high borne Infanta: in such case this gift shall be nothing, and of no worth, and that she instéed of these Netherlands, shall haue her lawfull portion. Héere­vpon will be said, that it is a fit meanes to holde the Nether­lands combustion, being that no bodie should be able to make the legitimate portion of all the realmes and countries pos­sessed by the King of Spaine, aswell in Europe, as the East and West Indies, that this catch bringeth with it the a­fore said Spanish enterprise, to get the Netherlands in their clawes.

Vpon the fourth condition. That word, returne to the king of Spaine, set in this fourth Article, manifesteth likewise the selfe same intent.

Vpon the fift condition. By this fift Article appeareth vnreplicably, that at least the Princes of the Netherlands, should for euer remaine subiects to the king of Spaine and the Spanish counsaile, a matter al­together vnworthy not only for the Netherlands, but also for [Page]the Princes thereof, and truely, the vertue of the states of the Netherlands prouinces of aboue certaine 100. yeares past was so great, that such indignitie durst not haue béene offe­red them.

Vpon the sixt condition. By this sixt Article, is giuen full power to the king of Spaine and the Spanish counsaile, that when as the Nether­lands should by succession fall in a womans hands, to drawe the same to Spaine againe, by marriage with the King or Prince of Spaine, or by hinderance thereof, the Spaniards turning ouer the leafe, and instéede that Spaine is now by marriage come to the hands of the Princes of the Nether­lands, they will alwayes make the Netherlands fall into the king of Spaine, thereby with a better title of the same to rule them to their pleasure.

Vpon the seuenth condition. The conditions contained in this seuenth Article, in more manifest sort explaineth the intent of the Spaniard, willing that the Princes of the Netherlands, neither their sonnes nor daughters shall marry, without the aduise and licence from the king of Spaine: In what plainer and manifester sorte might we set the Princes and the Netherlands (against the right of all peoples and nations) in the Spaniards protecti­on or wardship.

Vpon the eight condition. In this eight Article, I haue considered the arrogancie of the Spaniards, in forbidding the Inhabitants of the Nether­lands, the traffick and Nauigation of the East and West In­dies, a matter neuer to fore heard of, and against the right of all nations. How much differeth this from the furtherance of the welfare, prosperitie, and auncient flourish of the Ne­therlands. The greater part of the East and West Indies, knowne the king of Spaine. What right (I pray you) haue she Spaniards to forbid the Netherlanders, the traffick & na­uightion in those parts? What reason hath a Prince of the Netherlands (who is bound to his power to further his sub­iects, in trade and welfare) to propose such vnméete and vn­reasonable [Page]conditions against himselfe and his subiects, and to take vpō him to set penalties, that the Netherlands in such case should be confiscated and deuolued to the Spaniards: by what title, foundation, or colour, haue the Spaniards [...]ot such right in the Netherlands? Truly I am of opinion that many thousands, aswell Prelates, Lords, Nobles, as vertue us citi­zens in Brabant, Flaunders, & other countries (as now sigh­ing vnder the Spaniard) would rather dye for the countries libertie; then for their successors, to accept such dishonorable and vnlawfull conditions, and it is not apparant that any of the other Prouinces would once thinke vpon such intollera­ble and dishonest propositions.

Vpon the ninth condition. It will be said, that by this ninth article, the right of the States of the land, is contaminated & deminished, vnto whom during the nonage of their Prince or Princesse, the gouerne­ment of them and the lands (according to their rights) dooth belong. Which rights may not be acquitted and laide aside, according to the Spanish counsels appetite.

Vpon the tenth condition. Vpon this tenth article I am to say nothing as touching the Catholick faith, but I doubt that this precise condition of taking such an oath as the text sheweth, & the penaltie of dis­possession of the proprietie of the lands, shalbe thought to tend but little to a peace and quietnes of the Netherlands (for those of Holland & Zealand, & other vnited Prouinces, will esteeme the said condition such, as therby is meant, that it is not desi­red y^t any time they should be conioyned with the other lands, which notwithstanding (in my opinion) is the onely waye, to bring Netherland out of these broiles of the Spanish tiranie, & in her olde flourish.

Vpon the oath. Nor yet vpon the forme of this Oath, am I to say any thing, but I feare, that the Hollanders wil expound the same, that not onely the Prince bindeth himselfe and his successors to the Romish religion, without considering that the faith is a gift of God, but also that he must maintaine his subiects therein, and therevnto will bring foorth the Spanish Inquisition.

[Page] Vpon the 12. condition. Vpon this. 12. article I say (according to my iudgement) that no sure peace, loue, nor correspondence, can be had between the Spaniards and the Princes of the Netherlands, mor no hope thereof, as long while as the said, Spaniards, sick (in the least) to vsurpe any thing ouer the Netherlanders, which notwith­standing by this guift seemeth to be all their pretence.

Vpon the 13. condition. I am & haue bene offended in the highest degree, [...] [...]stan­ding by this 13. article, that these Netherlands should be held as a feoffe o [...] [...]feoffe to Spaine, and do not thinke that any Netherlander, (not ouer Hispaniolized) would finde it good: for that the Princes of the Netherlands which [...] certaine hundred yéeres past haue alwaies béen souer [...] and absolute Princes, should henceforward [...] to the king of Spaine, which wil never [...] in any true vertuous Netherlanders heart, but vndoubtedly wil be a cause that the Hollanders & their associates, will with these vndecent & vn­reasonable conditions, more iustifie their causes before all the world, then euer to fore, especially with this oportunity by the kings decease, whose decease hath discharged euery one of all bonds, & their bonds may not be renued, according to rights, priuileges, and customes of the countrye, without their con­sent, which they will neuer yéelde to such conditions.

By this my briefe annotation, your honor may vnderstād, what (in my opinion) vpon each point may apparantly be said by the catholikes themselues, I haue therein roundly and in good meaning executed your honors charge, vpon hope that my writing shall not be shewed to any, & vpon the same hope, I cannot hide from your honor, (that in my minde) this con­ditioned gift will not prooue the right means to reduce the Netherlād in rest, peace, & prosperitie, but would estéeme it more conuenient, that in this oportunitie, & by the kings decease, y^e States of all the Netherlands should take armes against the Spaniard & his adherents, therby to compell the said Spani­ards, & other strangers to depart the Netherlands, leauing by prouision, euery one in his owne in such order touching the religion as otherwise, as they are: to the end that the Spani­ards & strangers being driuen out of the said lands, & the same land, being so reduced in their rights, freedomes, & securitie, [Page]that as then the Generall States of all the Netherlands, might assemble, and by good meanes take aduise and resolue, vpon the points which should tend to a right and true wel­fare, a during and assured peace, rest and vnion of the Nether­lands, which would be a good and conuenient meanes, not onely for the seruice of the Netherlands, but also for the high aboue named Infanta, and the illustrious Archeduke her lord and husband, which otherwise, by this conditioned guifte would holde them in a perpetuall slauerie and seruitude of the Spaniards. I know that many honest persons of all quali­ties amongst you, and also amongst the aduersaries of the Spaniards vnto which these meanes would be hartely plea­sing, and trust that if the same were in earnest and effec­tually by your honor and others, taken in hand, the Almightie God would yeeld his blessing thereto.