IT is now nere a hundred yeres agoe sins the most no­ble Ferdinand and Isabell Kyng and Quene of Ca­stile,The be­gynnyng of the Spa­nish In­quisition, and of the Inquisi­tors power in Spaine. hauyng ended theyr great and long warre a­gaynst the Mahumetanes which had in­uaded inhabited and trobled the kingdome of Spayne by the space of almost viij. hun­dred yeres, and hauyng chaced the sayd enemies out of all Spayne and recouered the kyngdome of Granada, gaue theyr mynde to stablish relligion, and to roote out all the remnantes of the wicked Ma­humetane and Iewish sectes. The charge hereof was committed to the Freres of Dominikes sect, whoe had wholly posses­sed the Kynges and Quenes hart, & eares with a great estimation of holinesse and wisedome: and therewith was also geuen them full authoritie in all thynges that might seme requisite to so great a mater. They supposing them selues to haue so obteined a most commodious occasion to aduance their owne power and dignitie, persuaded the Kyng and Quene that for atcheuyng therof a most extreme and vn­mouable seneritie was necessarie. And as [Page] though the dealing with religion perteined not to the ciuile magistrate, but proper­ly belonged to Friers whoe as it were by a peculiar name called them selues reli­gious men and to prestes, they sayd it was necessarie that a new court of In­quisitors should be erected, to whom not only the hearyng and determinyng of such maters, but also the whole iugement of all religion whatsoeuer it were, shold with full power be committed. The well mea­nyng Princes, which onely directed their intention, by any way howsoeuer it were, to auance the Christian fayth light­ly gaue credit to those whom they thought to excell other men in purenesse of life and holynesse, and therewith committed to those them selues that were the inuenters therof the whole power of the Inquisitors office to vse accordyng to their owne dis­cretion. Thereto was added the confirma­cion of pope Sixtus the fowerth then by­shop of Rome. For he labored with all his endeuour and earnest affection not onely to stablish but also to aduance and magni­fie the fower orders of Freres then lately sprong vp.

To which his purpose he saw the zele [Page] of the Kyng and Quene of Spayne to be a very fitt meane. Wherfore by his autho­ritie, which then was at the greatest that euer it was sins the world began, and by his Bull he confirmed and ratified this new iudiciall throne, and new kyngdome of Inquisitors. So this power vpholden both by the Royall and papall authoritie, in short tyme maruellously encreased. And sithe there is no man whom the right order of religion concerneth not, by this pretense they easily got to them selues the iurisdiction and iugement ouer all men of all estates and degrées And by this meane within short while after, they began to be Lordes ouer all mens goodes, possessions, lyues and consciences, till of vnmeasura­ble power arose in them pride and coue­tousnesse, and consequently therof grew the hatred of all men agaynst them, so as now woman thought them any longer to­lerable. Therefore by the counsell and meanes of certaine bishops and other of the clergie that were in great estimation and credit in Spayne, which repined to be subiect to the dominion of the Freres, it was procured that by the kynges autho­ritie the power of Inquisition was taken [Page] from the Dominicanes and geuen to the clergie, and it was ordered that out of the byshops and other prestes shold be chosen the maisters of the Inquisition, which shold in dede vse the trauaile and aduise of the Dominicanes, but yet shold still re­serue to them selues the soueraigne power of the Inquisitors office. These, either for that they had some feruent zele of religion, or for that they cunnyngly cloked their ambitious pride, partly with wonderfull opinion of holinesse, partly by the fauor and power of Princes and men of great authoritie to whom they were ioyned in frendshyp, kinne or alliance, partly also by corrupt and secret deuises, in short tyme auaunced this their new raised empire to so great a heigth, that now they not one­ly vsed dominion at their pleasure ouer the commonaltie, but also brought into subie­ction to the holy Inquisition all the liber­ty of all the people, & estates of the realme, they brake priuileges and immunities, they abated the dignitie of the Nobilitie whom they call The grand counsell with out whoes authoritie in time past nothing was decréed in Spayne: finally vnder pre­tense of religion and seruice of God they [Page] vsurped to them selues soueraigne power ouer the kyng hym selfe, and ouer the maiestie of the royall scepter: all noble men and persones of any credit whom they thought in any wise able to hynder their enterprises, they caused to be accused of heresie and cruelly killed them, or defa­ced them with most reprochefull note of open shame, such as shold remaine vpon al their posteritie, and so made them infa­mous and of odious memorie for euer.

These deuises though to many men they semed strange and intolerable, yet both bicause they were principally proui­ded agaynst the most hatefull enemies of Spayne and of Christian religion, name­ly the Mores, Mahumetanes and Iewes, and also for that they bleared most mens eyes with the pretense of Gods seruice and opinion of holinesse, and finally for that they not a litle auailed to the enrichyng of the kynges treasurie now greatly wa­sted with many warres, to whoes vse the one moitie of the goodes of all persones condemned was employed, they were dai­ly more and more stablished by the earnest fauors, authoritie and power of the most part of the mightiest persones and special­ly [Page] of the Kyng and Quéene them selues, vntill the Arragonoyes whoe are the prin­cipall prouince of Spayne both in right of auncient libertie, in nobilitie, and large­nesse of dominion, openly resisted. They, when they nothyng preuailed with kyng Ferdinand by humble and lowly petition, attempted by force and armes to kepe out this pestilence from their contrey, for that they plainely saw that their libertie which they had receiued most large and incredi­ble from their auncesters, and hetherto kept inuiolate shold by this meane be de­stroyed, and that themselues and all theirs shold be made subiect to the most dishono­rable tyrannie of the clergie. But they preuailed not. For after many trobles, much destruction and bloodshed, they were compelled mawgre their willes and per­force, as the residue of Spayne dyd, to yeld their neckes to stoope vnder this yoke of Inquisition so that the same prouince, than which in tyme past there was none of more fréedome, is now in such case as at this day there is none to be found in more seruitude & subiection. By terror of which example, and by great opinion of holinesse which the Inquisitors had gotten by the [Page] good successe in this case, it came to passe that they subdued all Spayne vnto them without any further resistance.

But as the gredy desires of men are naturally vnmeasurable and vnsatiable,The enlar­gyng of the Inquisi­tors domi­nion. this lust of dominion could not long be conteined within the boundes of Spayne though they be full large, but, still forsoth with the same plausible pretense of stabli­shyng religion they bent their mynde to enlarge their empire, and promised them selues the rule of the whole world. For there is scarcely any contrey which in short space folowyng they attempted not to make subiect to them, euen by the same suttle meanes wherby they had daunted Spaine. For they compelled both the chefe part of Italie and many islandes both of the Middland and Oceane seas, and Eng­land it selfe (though not for long tyme to yeld their neckes to this halter of Inqui­sition. Yea they not onely ranged ouer to the vttermost Indians, and to the farre di­stantes landes seuered from vs by the huge streame of the Ocean but also vnder pretense of orderyng religion they spoyled the poore and simple inhabitantes of those contreyes of all their goods and possessions, [Page] and of their wiues, children and liues, yea and cruelly lyke butchers tearyng them with all kinde of tormentes they slew them by heapes, and brought them to such miserie and wretched plight, that a great number of them chose rather to slay them selues, than to come vnder such cruell sub­iection of vnnaturall men. Yea not long agoe they employed all their counselles & all their practises, and left no way vnas­sayed, to bryng whole Germanie in slaue­rie vnder the same yoke. And so farre with the authoritie and threateninges of the bi­shops of Rome dyd they driue on the Em­perour Charles the fift of famous memo­rie euen in a maner agaynst his will and long witholding himselfe, that the best and most noble princes he proclaimed trai­tors, and made most deadly warre vpon them as vpon sworne enemies, and vnder the pretended cloke of rebellion armed the protestant princes the one agaynst the o­ther, he brought the frée cities into most dishonorable slauerie of the Spanish sol­diar, and made the maiestie of the most noble and sacred empire, subiect to the lust and vntolerable desires of most villanous persones. Which most cruell yoke, if part­ly [Page] the valeancie of the Germaine princes, and partly the equitie and gentle fauor of the Emperour him selfe at length percei­uing the mater as truth was, had not sha­ken of or taken away, whole Germanie might long ago haue ben in such case as now is that parcell thereof from whense are now most vniustly banished and for­ced to sue for and pleade, the cause of our afflicted contrey, oppressed not onely with most greuous tyranny, but also with most vnworthy sclanders: and to protest before almightie God and all mankynde, that there is no other cause of our calamitie but euen the same which had nere ouer­whelmed whole Germanie, namely the gredy ambition of these men that vnder pretense of stablishyng religion, labour to enlarge their dominion throughout the whole by right or wrong. And so much the more earnestly they endeuour to bryng it into the low contrey of Germanie, bicause it is by allyance of the princes, by the com­munitie of one kyng, and by auncient en­tercourse of merchandise and conuersa­tion somewhat nerely conioyned vnto them, & therfore of long tyme they thinke that they may lawfully enforce vpon vs [Page] the Spanish lawes and ordinances, Spa­nish maners and the Spanish yoke of In­quisition, abrogatyng all our contrey lawes, abolishing all memorie of the Ger­mane name, destroyeng our priuileges and oppressing our libertie.

The suttle meanes and deuises of the Inqui­sitors.When they long sins espied, that the contrey though it be not great, yet flori­sheth in wealth and power, and is so fen­sed agaynst foreine force not onely with strong townes and castelles, but also with good lawes and ordinances, & with large priuileges prerogatiues immunities and other liberties, that so long as it hath her owne princes fauor, it is easily able to de­fend her auncient fréedome: they haue these many yeres euidently purposed and practised diuerse wayes to bryng the inha­bitantes into suspicion and displeasure both with the Emperour Charles the fift and with kyng Philip his sonne, to accuse them for heretikes and rebelles, and so to persuade to haue them estemed as ene­mies and traitors: that by this meane, the contrey which for many respectes they ac­compted most commodious for their pur­pose, might be spoyled of all right of liber­tie, subdued, and added to their dominion.

[Page]Sometyme they pretended this color, that the seignories were to many and too seuerall, sometime that in respect of the number of seignories, the lawes, cu­stomes, and ordinances were too diuerse: sometyme they alleged that the people were to wilde and proude by reason of their priuileges immunities and liberties, sometime they brought the kyng in ialou­sie of the too great wealth and power of his subiectes: sometyme they informed that the entercourse & trafiques of foreine nations were suspicious. Finally, they left nothyng vntryed that might any way seme to serue to agreue his minde toward them. Principally they vrged this one thyng that the auncient libertie of assem­blie of the estates in parlamentes that hath continued in all ages greatly abateth the power of the prince, for that their both by most auncient vsage of their forefa­thers it was so prouided, and by the pro­mises and couenantes of the princes them selues cōfirmed with their othes it was so ordeined, that the princes should not de­crée or do any thyng to the preiudice of the peoples libertie or of the authoritie of their lawes without the will and assent of [Page] the estates of the whole contrey: and that therefore they more regarded the actes of the Estates than the kings proclamations that they estemed the kyng not as a kyng but as some cōmon Duke or Earle, or ra­ther gardian of their right & lawes, to go­uerne the common weale not by his owne authoritie but after a prescribed forme of lawes and the ordinances of the estates: moreouer that as it is in most frée commō weales, so they yerely create of them sel­ues magistrates,Burrow-maisters. & burrowmasters with soueraine power of negatiue voyce: that strangers are deharred from bearyng of­fice in the common weale: & ecclesiasticall men by the lawes and statutes of the land are excluded from power of iurisdiction, & so the way stopped vp for the princes ne­rest & faithfullest seruantes to atteine any gouernement. These and such like things (say they) in tymes past haue often euen occasion to the commonaltie proudely to disobey the commaundement of theyr princes, yea & to burden their Lordes and princes to lawes and conditions, yea and if their Princes attempted any thyng a­gaynst the vsage and will of the estates, they haue presumed to chasten them some [Page] tyme with penalties, sometyme with em­prisonment, and sometyme with deposing them.This appea­reth by the Spaniardes owne histo­rie, writtē by Alfōs. Vloa, and printed in Dutch at Dilling. For there they confesse that this was their pur­pose to re­duce the whole con­trey to a kyngdome like Sicile & Naples. These thyngs (sayd they) are not to be suffred of Princes. Therfore they long most earnestly trauailed with Charles the Emperour, and with Philip his sonne, that the whole contrey might be reduced into one bodie, and made subiect to one forme of lawes and iurisdiction, & brought to the name and title of a kyngdome, and that, abrogating the power of popular magistrates and lawes, it might be gouer­ned with new lawes by discretion as the kyngdomes of Sicile and Naples be, that haue bene atcheued by conquest. Wher­in when they saw that they labored in vayne, both bicause the states of all the townes most strifly withstode it, and per­happes also for that the Emperour hym selfe beganne to smell their sinister pur­poses and vntrue meanyng, they differed that mater to a more commodious sea­son, and this yet by the way with their importunate sclanderous cauillynges they obteined, that afterward he wold neuer in any wise suffer the solemne parla­mentes, or generall assemblies of the e­states of all the prouinces to be kept as it [Page] had ben vsed in his progenitors tymes, and that he placed in gouernance Ecclesiasti­call men and such as not only by the law of God, the ciuile and canon lawes, but al­so by the auncient custome of the contrey & by sondry decrées of the Dukes of Bur­gundie were excluded from iudiciall of­fices and from bearyng ciuile rule in the common weale.

The occa­sion & ma­ner of the Inquisitiō and the e­dictes in the low cōtrey.Finally to make them selues in easier way to that dominion that they had con­ceiued, vnder pretense of stablishyng reli­gion, they with importunacie procured such rigorousnesse of edictes agaynst those that professed the doctrine of the Gospell, as neuer any contrey, neuer any citie, ne­uer any common weale had sene before. For they had fully persuaded hym,The very wordes of the Edict, dated at wormes the 8. of May. 1521 as is al­so conteined in the expresse wordes of the edict that Luther, whoes doctrine those dyd follow, professed the Pelagian error, set naught by all the holy fathers and do­ctors of the Church abolished all Magi­strates, ouerthrew all ciuile gouernance and politike order, stirred vp the people to take armure, made them apt to murder, steale, wast and destroy with fire, and fi­nally gaue euery one leaue to lyue as he [Page] lysted.

In the which Peter a Soto a Spaniard hys confessor, & one of the maisters of the Spanishe Inquisition not of the meanest sorte dyd further them verie much. By the whiche persuasion they easilie inforced the Emperour Charles a prince otherwise by nature gentle and mercifull, to decrée, andThat the assent of the e­states was not taken, it is manifest by the verie words of the Edictes, by the which the estates, gouerners, and magistrates of the prouinces were cōmaunded with most greuous punishmentes to e­stablish those Edictes, and to see them executed, and it is declared that in the behalf of the byshop of Rome they were made onely by the ar­trement of the kyng. without the assent of the e­states to publishe, and from tyme to tyme to renew most cruell Edictes, and such as séeme rather to be written with bloud, then with inke, not that he ment to haue them executed with extremi­tie, but that he hoped by the terror of this vnaccustomed crueltie to call the peoples myndes from the studie of of that religion, which he in conscience ac­compted wicked of the which his hope and meanyng he gaue no smale profe in thatThat ex­posicion was made and sealed in the yeare 1550. the moneth of Septēber. exposition of the Edictes, which he after­wardes set out, wherin it was appoincted, that the Magistrates should by all meanes possible somewhat mitigate the extreme & immoderate crueltie of the former edictes, but the good masters of the Spanish Inqui­sition [Page] did sone by their craft & subtiltie sup­presse that exposition, and it came at length to that tyranie that they dyd not onelie exe­cute the full rigour of the Edictes, but they obserued also a new kynde of Inquisition, not much vnlyke to the Inquisition of Spayne, that thereby they might atteyne vnto the full authoritie of that office & fun­ction, which they had long before obteyned of the byshops of Rome. Therfore in the yeare of our Lord God. 1550. when the kyng of Spayne was auctorised in Belgie, with great and importunate sutes they ob­teined an Edict as concerning their Inqui­sition, whereby they dyd vsurpe & take vp­pon them so much auctoritie, and power of the Citizens, and inhabitans of the whole prouince, as they thought sufficient for the subuertyng of the auncient liberties, & for the disanullyng of all their accustomed pri­uileges, but the senators and the estates of Brabant with long & ernest sute first stop­ped this their wicked enterprise, and after­ward the most noble princes Marie of fa­mous memorie Quene of Hungarie with great fayth, singular pietie, & with no lesse wisedome suppessed it. For both when the Emperour Charles was at the counsels holden at Augusta, she went vnto him, and [Page] obteyned that the crueltie of the Edictes should be somewhat mitigated, and that the whole name & purpose of the Inquisition should be omitted, and also many tymes af­ter she stoutlie set her selfe agaynst the de­ceytfull dealynges, and rashe attemptes of the Inquisitors and diuines, in so much that at the length by their letters sent into Spayne she was accused of heresie before the Emperour. But she alwayes bent her whole intent, and purpose to kepe the peo­ple of Belgie in the Emperours good grace and fauour, & to her power to take awaie all the enuie and hatred wherewith they were oppressed of their aduersaries. With the which her most mercifull and wise dea­lyng she so faythfully ioyned the hartes of the subiectes towardes their prince, that they for her sake thought no burden to be refused, in so much that in many thynges they dyd most willinglie preferre her gra­cious fauor and good wil before the right of their auncient liberties graunted by the lawes & statutes of their progenitors. For in all restraintes, taskes, tributes, or leuies they shewed them selues at the first com­maundement so obedient, that the princes could desire nothyng, which was not deli­uered them with ful consent of al their good [Page] willes, and that with spede. So that almost for the space of ten yeares, they dyd gladlie mainteyne that great, doubtfull, and most daungerous warre, whiche was made a­gainst the most mighty kings of France, & they most willinglie bestowed the greatest part of the charges thereof, the which by common bookes of accompt maie be proued to surmount the somme of xl. thousand mil­lions of Florence: neither dyd they geue at any tyme so much, as a smale suspicion of rebellion.

Although in the meane tyme neuerthe­lesse these good maisters of the Inquisition (whyle Charles reigned by the coulered shew of the foresayd Edictes, andIn the yere 1555. 1. of December. in the begynnyng of kyng Philips reigne by the graunt of a new Edict bearyng with it the kinges auctoritie, which they purchased by their subtell wiles, & craftie persuasions) raiged most furiouslie in the most part of Belgie, but especiallie in Flaunders, Han­nonie, Artesia, Turnete, and Insule, & in many places of Holland, robbyng spoiling, and most butcherly murderyng, the people with furious violence and extreme tyran­ny.In the yere 1556. 17. Ianua. From the which they absteyned, least that their deceypt, and subtiltye beyng de­tected, this foresayd commaundement wre­sted [Page] out by craft, should by the kynges new letters pattentes be called in agayne. Nei­ther yet were they without their frendes in the Court, which beyng daylie conuer­sant with the kyng dyd alwaies cloake and couer their crueltie and insatiable auarice with the vayle of godlie Religion. At the length the kyng hauing ended his warre a­gaynst the French men, and preparyng to take his iorney into Spayne, his subiectes for their singular obedience, and their most faythfull redynes in all affaires, thought they might iustlie hope for some relesse frō their other burdens, but cheflie and especi­allie they perswaded them selues, that they should haue the yoke of the Inquisition ta­ken from theyr shoulders. But the kyng was so farre from satisfiyng their expecta­tion, that he did not onelie not remit, or mitigate the crueltie vsed to them before, but also encreased, and augmented the ty­ranny, euen as though their peace & other matters had bene for none other cause con­cluded, but that they might the frelyer spoile poore men of their goodes, and most cruellie torment their consciences,This may be proued by the let­ters & pa­tentes sent to the Ci­ties, in the yeare. 1559 in August. For at that time especiallie the Inquisitors by their old accustomed deceyptes, and by the fayned shew of settyng forward religion, obteined [Page] of the kyng newe letters patentes to all princes, and magistrates of euery Citie, by the whiche the rigouresnes of the former Edictes was not onelie openlie confirmed, but also by the graunt of many thyngs con­trary to the right, and priuileges of their auncient liberties verie much encreased. With these letters the Inquisitors beyng armed after the kynges departure, spoyled the poore people beyng cleane beggered be­fore of the remnaunt of their riches, they depriued cities and townes of their priui­leges, they most cruelly murdered the chefe of the Citizens, hauyng first spoyled them of theyr goodes destroying some with the burden of rheynes, & long emprisonment, some by most cruell tormentes, some by the gallowes, some by sword, some by fire, bu­rying some quicke, and drownyng other: yee & that before their cause was pleaded, and many tymes at midnight contrary to the accustomed maner of executing iustice.

A new cre­ation of bysshops.And that nothyng should be wantyng vnto them wherby they might bring in this their holy Inquisition, too the vtter aban­donyng, and subuertyng the liberties and priuileges of the whole prouinces, & com­mit the chefe auctoritie to straungers, yea to those onelie whiche were Priestes and [Page] church men, contrary to all the orders and decrées of the former princes, and contrary to the kings couenaunt confirmed by othe: & whereby they might chalenge vnto them selues not onelie full power & iurisdiction of all matters, but also the soueraigne au­ctoritie ouer all mens goods, riches, wiues, children, yea ouer their lyues also, & might captiuate and make subiect vnto them sel­ues the full power of all magistrates, and set the same foorth to open sale at their pleasure, they begyn with a new pollicie the old web of their Inquisition, which they had compassed in their mindes, but not as yet throughlie finished.Not long before the kynges de­parture, on­ly Grand­uellanus & Viglius, & three or iiij. more onelie knowyng therof. For when all the kynges nobles and counsellours were de­parted from him, they perswaded him that it was necessarie for the maintenaunce of the catholike religion to appoinct new by­shops, which should be the Inquisitors of fayth. The charge hereof was committed to Somnus a deuine of Louine, he goyng to Rome with great diligence brought his matter to passe in short space as he desired, he deuided the prouinces as he was com­maunded by Granduellanus, in the which he left not the power & iurisdictiō of theAs the byshops of Leodia, Monasteria, Cameracensia, and Traiectia. princes of the empire vn­touched, so farre was he from let­tyng [Page] the other byshops, & nobles to escape, heAs Gra­nuellanus Viglius, Cancella­rius Niger. made certein men byshops, whiche had spent their whole studie and trauayle all their lyfe tyme in the administration of ciuill affaires, whereofThese may be proued by the pu­blike testi­monie of the pro­uince, & by the bishops sermons, & by all theyr doynges. some of them for their wit and learnyng were accompted as fooles, and others for their vnchast lyfe and odious crimes were famous with most no­table infamie. He assigned vnto Granduel­lanus the Archbyshopricke of Meclenia with the Abbacie of Afflegamensia, the ri­chest & most wealthyest of all Belgie, that is to say, he gaue him the soueraigne aucto­ritie of all thyngs, he appoincted to Viglius the Byshopricke of Gandauia, but to hym selfe he reserued the byshopricke of Busco­ducia, and adioyned therunto many of the most wealthyest Abbayes, the which were euident signes and tokens of the emynent calamities & publike bondage, he imparted to the rest as their office and chardge requi­red,This is proued by the Cardi­nals decree made at Rome by the Popes cōmaunde­ment. but to euery one he obteined licence to appoint new prebendes in his cathedral Church, they which should be bounde al­wayes to serue and helpe the bishop in hys Inquisition throughout his Diocese, wher­of two of them were alwayes Inquisitors by office, the rest should seaze vppon the goodes confiscate, and serue for proctures [Page] to accuse the giltie, and euery magistrate was bounde to aide euery one of these with his full power and force. It was lawfull for straungers to attayne to these bysho­prickes, vnder whiche pretence the whole prouince might easelie, and in short tyme be made subiect to the Spanyardes inuen­ters and maisters of this Inquisition.

And thus this straunger and vp starte Granduellanus borne of a base degrée, and most obscure parentage, with that slauishe secte of the Spanishe Inquisitors dothFor by all the lawes and priui­ledges of Brabant and theyr other prouinces all ecclesiasticall persōs were excluded from all function of iudgemēts, and iurisdiction, and all straungers are remo­ued from takyng of of­fices, and auctoritie, & the diuisions of bysho­prickes, and Abbayes are before appoynted, & the accustomed maner of geuyng iudgement for euer ratified, and all power is denyed to the princes to chaunge any thyng therein without the assent of the estates. contrary to the whole libertie of the people, contrary to the lawes of the Citie, contrary to the pri­uileges of the prouince graunted & confirmed by the kynges othe, contrary to all former promises, contrary to all rightes and custo­mes of our progenitors, contra­rie to the makyng of lawes, the foundations of olde Abbayes, the iurisdiction of byshoprickes, the priuileges and immunities of townes, by force thrust vpon the prouinces of Belgie this newe creation of byshops. He goeth a­bout partlie with flatteryng pro­mises, partlie with fearefull threatnynges [Page] to induce many cities & magistrates to ap­plie them selues to his censure and iudge­ment, and to some Cities he causeth by­shops to be giuen them will they nill they. The rest of the Cities a greate many in number do openly resist, and thinke that the innouation of all these thynges so ma­nifest contrary to the lawes of all antiqui­ties, & to their old & accustomed priuileges is not to be suffered. Likewise many Ab­bayes, but especiallie in Brabant, because their Abbates beyng dead none was ap­pointed to succede, do resiste, and greuously complaine to the rest of the byshops, and e­states of Brabant, of so great, and so mani­fest iniury. But when they saw their do­ynges to be in vayne, because Granduel­lanus did with great force withstand them, they takyng vnto them the rest of the e­states, put vp a Supplication vnto theyr gouernesse for the abrogatyng of thys dis­ordered order of byshops. She denyeth her auctoritie to reach so far, and referreth the matter to the kyng. Therfore by & by they send their Embassadours to the kyng into Spayne, which with humble petition shuld require, that his maiestie would not suffer their state and condition to be altered, con­trary to their old & accustomed priuileges, [Page] and to the lawes of their progenitors. But with1562. 27. Februa. open denyall they haue the repulse. Not long after doe the estates of Brabant vrge the gouernesse agayne, and craue that their cause might be heard, and iudgement giuen with equitie,1562. 5. Maij. but there suite was all in vayne for she aunswered that it dyd nothyng belong vnto her. The Magistrate of Antwarpe withOne bill was put vp and subscribed vnto, in the yeare. 1562. 23. Ianua. an other. 1562. 18. of Marche. And an other. 1562. 23. Marche. many bils, & diuerse peticions dyd go about to stay this innouation of things. He openly refuseth the byshops, and besides that1562. In Iune they put vp many Supplications. sendeth Em­bassadours into Spayne to the kyng. They after much ado, and long sollicityng of the matter, ob­teined at the length1562. 20. of De­cember, and 3. August. 1563. licence to be exempted from the bondage of the new Byshops.

In the meane tyme Grand­uellanus neuer ceased by most subtill and craftye meanes, and that openlye to at­chieue and wynne vnto hym selfe the full power of gouernyng the common wealth, & couertly toThis is knowen by the testimonie of the gouernesse geuen in the assembly of the nobles. remoue from all authoritie the gouernesse of Par­menia, as one not expert inough in the Belgians affaires, toThe dede it selfe proueth it. or­deine, and appointe Magistrates [Page] in euery Citie at his pleasure,This is proued by the nobles complaints geuen to the kyng. to breake of and disturbe the great Senate, not long before appointed by the kyng, and was cal­led the noble counsell, beyng the solemne assembly of the princes & gouernors of the whole prouince (whicheThat was Grāduella­nus his studie. he a litle before, had with false persuasions vnto the kyng very much blemished, and made subiect to to the counsell & Senate house of Spayne, as it were to their guide) to cut in péeces all their decrées,All Belgie can testifie this. and to rule and appoynte all thynges alone, accordyng to his owne will and pleasure, and by a new forme of indulgences, (as they terme them) to bring in the Spanishe maner of distributyng of benefices, and offices, both Ciuill and Ec­clesiasticall the whiche he abused accordyng to his pleasure, he challenged the whole power of indulgences to him selfe, leauing notwithstanding some of them to Viglius, by this meanes, when offices or benefices were vacant, he some tymes stayed the gift of them for a long space, and some tymes agayne vpon the first day of their vacation set them out to open sayle, and sometymes he twise solde them. The price he deuided openly with his brokers, and proctours, he accompted himselfe the Archbishop of Me­clynia, & Metropolitane not onely of Bra­bant, [Page] but also of the whole prouince of Belgie. And when he had receaued from the Pope his Cardinals batte, he disdayned all princes in respect of him selfe. He mightely threatened those Cities, whiche refused to submitte them selues to the Byshops bon­dage, he openly did bost and say, that the kyng could not mainteyne his honor, and auctoritie in Belgie, without the Spanishe power, & foreine ayde. He sayd it was alto­gether necessary, that the king should be re­leased by the bishop of Rome from his oth, wherwith he bound himself by couenaunt, to mainteine the priuileges of his subiects, & that he should conuert this his lawful in­heritaunce into a prouince, makyng it cap­tiue which before was frée, as if it had bene wonne by force of armes, or conquered by battell, & not enioyed by succession of aun­cient patrimonie, and briefly that he should make them new lawes, and inuent some new kynde of regiment for them like cap­tiues taken in warre.This hys saying was heard of many and sig­nified to the nobles, and confirmed by the kinges le­gates let­ters. He sayd moreouer that it was necessary for the performaunce hereof, that 4. or 5. of the noble men should lese their heades, in whose auctoritie and carefull prudence, the health and safetie of the people, and the onely hope of their li­berties was thought to consiste. To con­clude [Page] he openlye contemnyng the whole company of the primates and nobles, and the gouernesse of Permenia her selfe, be­hauing him selfe both as King and Bishop, by force and violence, maketh his frendes and clyentes, some of them Byshops, and some of them Inquisitors.

The resi­stance of the noble men. When as the Princes and noble men of the prouince saw no end of his madnes, they thought it most expedient for them­selues, and for the state of the whole com­mon weale, wholy to withstande his rash­nes, perceiuing indéede manifestly, that if by some meanes or other he were not stayd or repressed, the people (though most paci­ent & louing subiectes towardes the king) could not long be reteyned in their duetye of obedience: neither yet did they attempt then any thing by force or violence, or by any crafty and wicked enterprise, but they withstoode him onely by making humble supplication to the King, fully certifying hys Maiestie, that if those rigorous iudge­mentes were executed still with such cruel­ty, and that worthy Citezens were oppres­sed wyth such great tyranny, in so great a corruption and common pollution of all e­states, it was impossible to retayne the people any longer in theyr accustomed due­ty, [Page] and faythfull obedience, but that doubt­lesse the publique slaughter and common destruction of the whole prouince, was wyth spéed to be looked for, vnlesse his pru­dence, forséeing the mischief dyd séeke some remedy for it with all expedition.1562. the moneth of August. Baron of Montignie one of the order of the gol­den fléece was sent embassador for the per­formance herof. But not long after he re­turned, not spéeding of hys purpose. And no maruaile why, for in Spayne all things were no lesse gouerned by the Inquisitors authoritie, then they were ruled in Belgye by the Cardinals will and pleasure.

But in the meane space whilest the liberty of religion was appointed in France, and published with full consent, the Cities of Belgie, bordering vpon the Frenchmen, began openly in publique assemblies, and common preachings to profes the religion of the Gospell, which for the space of fortie yeares before, they kept close in theyr pri­uate houses. Which thing they did partly, because otherwise they sée they coulde not auoyd the slaunders and reprochfull oppro­bries, wherwith theyr priuate méetinges and secret conference were openly and cō ­monly defamed amongest the people: and partly because they saw the daily encrease [Page] of those which professed the gospell to be so great, that priuate houses could not longer contayne them: So that it was necessarie either to let the citezens leauing their cities voyd of men, flie to their olde enemies the Frenchmen, or els to satisfy the earnest de­sire of the people in that one poynt, which in all other thinges was most obedient. But by and by the extreme tyranny of the Inquisition, and the barbarous cruelty of the punishments, somwhat repressed them, though (God be praysed) it could not alto­gether extinguish them. The more openly they professed their fayth, the more vehe­mētly did Granduellanus séeke to encrease the number of the new bishops, insomuch that contrary to the will of the nobles, he attempted to depriue the citizens of Ant­werpe of the kinges beneuolence towards them, wherby they obtayned their liberty, and were made frée from that extreme bon­dage. He styrred so long in this matter, that there had bene lyke to haue bene a great sedition, if Armenter the Spayniard had not bene sent againe to the king, by the consent and counsell of the gouernesse and nobles, who plainly should certefie the king that the people coulde not any longer be kept in subiection, & that the princes them­selues [Page] would renounce their authority, and leaue of the ruling of the common wealth, vnlesse it would please the kinges maiestie to plucke in the raynes of thys vntamed Cardynall, to represse and withstande hys vnbrydeled madnesse, to deliuer hys poore subiectes from the yoke of hys tyranny, to make frustrate his purpose of new altera­tions, and finally indéede to confirme and establishe hys liberalitye and benefite be­stowed and graunted to the Citezens of Antwarpe.

Thys pytifull complaynt so moued the kyng, that he shewed hymselfe very angry,The departure of Granduel­lanus. 1564. & heauely displeased with Granduellanus, and therupon depryuing him of all hys au­thoritye, called hym home presently from Belgye. By whose departure al the whole prouince of low Germany breathed vpon, as it were wyth a more pleasaunt and fresh ayre, dyd séeme somewhat to rest and com­fort it selfe, vntill such tyme as those good bysshops of Spayne dyd put the kyng in re­membraunce, and caused hym (accordyng to theyr pleasure) to lay the heauy yoke of the Inquisition vpon the prouinces of Bel­gye agayne: and to wyll the byshops to exe­cute the crueltye of the Edictes: and that they should morouer diligently vrge againe [Page] the due reuerence of the counsell of Try­dent. The Cardinalles ministers (whych as hys chief frendes and succourers Gran­uellanus had left in great authority at hys departure) do set this matter abroch to the vttermost of their power, and therwythall (accordyng to that state of gouernemente which he left when he departed) they ease­ly wrong into their owne hands the whole rule and authoritie of the common weale. They do gouerne thrée courts of the coun­sellors at theyr pleasure: they spoile the no­ble men of all their authoritye: finally they determine and appoynt all thinges accor­ding to theyr lewd appetite euen as though Granuellanus himselfe were there present among them in authority: nothing lesse sée­king to set vp their Inquisition, and to esta­blish theyr bysshops, then they dyd before. They exercised all kinde of cruelty against those that professed Christes Gospell, sée­king to extirpate and roote them out wyth the gallowes, fire, and sword, in such sort, that at the same time at Antwarpe, which is an Erldome of the holy Empyre, besides an infinite number whom they did destroy some by day, and some by night, most cruel­ly, openly, and in the middest of the mar­ketstead, they stroke one to the hart with a [Page] dagger as they were a burning of hym vn­der a Iubbet, because they saw that both the cruelty of the punishment, and the ho­nesty and godlinesse of the man being well knowne vnto all men did stir vp the people to pitifull complaynt and bewayling of hys case. There was also an other man taken wyth him, whose pardone the noble prince Elector of Palentine (because for his hone­sty he loued him, & because he was teacher & maister of the schole at Hedelberge) dyd most earnestly sue for. But they wicked ty­rauntes would not dismisse him, before he was almost consumed to death wyth a sick­nes taken with long imprisonment and by the filthy smell and sauour therof.

But to what purpose shoulde I recyte their extreame tyranny, wherwith they op­pressed those cities in the which they might do what they list, with more auctoritie and lesse daunger? seyng their boldnes was so notable, that in Cameracis a Citie, by all auncient and vndoubted right of the Em­perours, without controuersie, obeying his lawes and statutes, they were not a­feard to apprehend an honest & godly man, because he preferred vppe vnto the Magi­strates a bill of supplication in the name of no lesse then a M. Citizens, by whom he [Page] was chosen and appointed to execute that charge, whose request was nothyng els, but that they might fréely, & with the good leaue of the Magistrate reteyne the confes­sion made at Augusta, which they confesse them selues to folow, yet notwithstandyng they I say, were bold to apprehend hym, & within lesse then 4. houres after, to behead him, though he did appeale from them to the Emperours Maiestie, infinite is the number of such thyngs, which the commit­ted contrary to all order of law, equitie, or right, they caused euery wise man with feare to looke for some open rebellion of the people, or rather the vtter subuersion of the prouince, if there were not with spede some remedy taken. Therfore at the length in the name of the gouernesse, & the nobles1565. Egmundanus was sent vnto the kyng with commission to declare vnto his Maie­stie, that vnlesse it would please him, to stay the rash enterprises of certeine men, to mi­tigate the seueritie of the Edictes, and vt­terly to abolishe the Inquisition, he should looke for the emynent destruction of the whole prouince, the kyng aunswered hym very gently, and promised to pleasure hys prouince of Belgie, in any thing, they could reasonably request so that in shorte space, [Page] they should haue all thynges well ordered, according to their hartes desire, he likewise gaue them in charge, that they should take counsell together, and deuise some meanes whereby they might, without any hynde­raunce to the Catholicke Religion, preuent & withstand such emynent daungers, pro­mising faythfully to allow, & confirme that which they should lawfully deuise. For the spedie performaunce hereof, at the returne of Egmundanus to Belgie, there was ap­poynted a counsell of thrée Byshops, thrée Diuines, thrée Canonicall Lawyers, and thrée Ciuilians, to whom the whole charge of findyng this good order was committed.

Not long after beyng moued thereto by the importunate suyte of the Spanish In­quisitors and Byshops, and by the letters of Grāduellanus, but especially compelled by the fearefull threatninges of the Popes Legates, thunderyng out not onely excom­munication, but also eternall damnation, except he dyd by all maner of meanes, yea though it were to the vtter subuertion of the whole prouince of Belgie, establish, and set vp the Inquisition, and cleane roote out the leaft reliques of the new religion, he chaūged his minde, & vtterly refused the order of gouernement deuised in Belgie, not [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] bycause it dyd not appointe most greuous tormentes for the Gospellers, or bicause it was farre different from the rigorousnes of the former Edictes, but bicause it semed somewhat more remisse and mercyfull in certeine pointes,The kings decree, by the which y^e tumultes of Belgye began. 1565. December. lastly by his letters he streightly commaundeth that the Inquisi­tion should be established and set vp, tho­roughout all Belgie, and that to the Inqui­sitors of euery prouince, and the chief coun­sellours thereof, should adioyne them sel­ues, and ayde, and helpe them, with their counsell and force to the vttermost of their power, that all old Edictes should be execu­ted in euery pointe, the Byshops should be admitted and installed in euery Citie, the decrées of the councell of Trident should be published euery where. And briefly that nothyng should be omitted whiche serueth to the rootyng out of those, whiche professe the Gospell. Moreouer he very much bla­med the Iudges and Magistrates of euery prouince that they did not with more seue­ritie execute the popes edicts & his decrées, attributing the cause of all heresies to their dissolute negligence and foolish pitie.

When these letters were receiued con­trary to all mens expectation, & were sent to the Magistrates of euery prouince, and [Page] that the kings last wil was openly knowen and published, great heauynes, great trou­ble of mynde, finally great feare and ter­rour came vpon them all. The estates of Brabantie put a bill to the gouernesse, de­claryng that it neither could, nor ought to be brought to passe in that wise, in their prouince, yet they could get no certein aun­swere, but one very darke & doubtfull, and that a great while after, the same was done of the Flaundrians, the Namurcensians, the Geldrians, and of the other prouinces next adioynyng, yea and that the Church men and Abbottes, to be brief there was so great amase & terrour amongest all men, that they all of what degrée or estate so euer they were of, feared their owne safetie: they sée all their hope & confidence, whiche they were wont to put in their innocencie and honest lyfe, cleane taken away. They sée it impossible for any man to escape the rash attemptes, the troublesome cauils, & malicious sclaunders of the wicked. For by this meanes, any mā might conuey into euery good mans house, chamber, or chests, some of the forbydden bookes, of the which there was an innumerable company. And so cause them to be suspected, and accused of heresie: they dyd sée also that no man [Page] could escape or a voyde the tyranny of the Edictes, bicause by them not onely they which were found gilty, but all their neigh­bours frendes kinsmen, & acquaintaunce were lykewise punished by most horrible death, vnlesse they of them selues would be­tray their most deare and familiar frendes. To conclude they did lykewise sée, that if they should cease & leaue of from their pur­pose, all hope of forgeuenes to be taken a­way, and that for their great benefites, and good will, they should be rewarded not one­ly with great & infamous ignominie with bondage and troubles of conscience, but al­so with most extreme and cruell death. The whiche truly the barbarous crueltie of the Spanishe Inquisition could neuer abyde for they thus thought, and perswaded them selues, that if they, when for want of fauor & auctoritie they could scarce execute theyr office of Inquisition, dyd not omitte any kynde of crueltie, would now become in­tollerable frée men seyng as that they haue for their defence and safegard the manifest and vnmoueable will of the kyng, the au­ctoritie of the publike Edites, the helpe, & industrie of counsellers a great increase of new bishops, the glorious title of the coun­cell of Trident, the power of Magistrates, [Page] the violence, and force of Sergeauntes and souldiers redy to defend them in the execu­tyng of their tyranny, and therfore euery man was in most desperate feare. Neither did any perswade him selfe (except he were of the number of those Catchepoles and théeues, to auoyde or put from his goodes and substaunce, his wife and children, yea from his owne head, so great calamitie. If there were any, who for the great fauour they were in, or for their great power and auctoritie, might in this point haue persua­ded them selues securitie, as there were ve­ry few, yet bicause they dyd playnly foresée, that this tyranny continued would cause some tumultes or open rebellion, they fea­red no lesse, then the rest dyd, the spoyle of their goodes and possessions, with losse of their lyues. In this great astonishment of all men, & heauines of the whole prouince? Many of the chiefest and wealthyest mar­chauntes, who perswaded them selues that their matter was in handlyng, and that the wicked dyd séeke for their throtes, or ra­ther, by their throtes their golden coffers, bagges and iewels, preparyng to flye, It came to passe that many of the nobilitie be­yng moued with the publike daunger, and their owne perill, both bicause the conti­nuall [Page] complaintes, and murmurynges of the people were dayly brought vnto them, and bicause their houses, and gorgeous pal­laces, beyng in the fieldes, were subiect to the praye and spoyle of euery seditious tu­multe, thought it necessary with one con­sent to goe vnto the gouernesse, and to make playne and open vnto her, the mise­rable destruction and calamities which are incident and lyke to ensue to the kyng hym self, to his louyng subiectes, to his Cities, and to his whole prouince, if this his Edict should haue his full force and power, ther­fore when they had made a league or agrée­ment amongest them selues as concerning this matter, and had promised that euery one of them, (kepyng their fayth and loyal­tie to their kyng vnuiolated, should séeke to the vttermost of their power the subuer­sion, and ouerthrowe of this Inquisition, and to cause the seueritie of the Edictes to be mitigated,1566. A cōming together of the nobles. A supplica­tion. came together at Bruxels the v. of Aprill very neare thrée hundreth no­bles, & Brederodes beyng their captaine. They put vp vnto the gouernesse, a bill of supplication in the which they required no libertie for them selues, or the people, no alteration of Religion, neither did they by their auctoritie take vpon them to prescribe [Page] any thyng to the kinges Maiestie, but brief­ly rehearsing the daungerous perils & mi­serable calamities, which dyd then hang ouer their heades, they most humbly desi­red that the office of the Inquisitors, so manifestly agaynst the kynges honour, and the safety of the countrey might be taken a­way & abrogated. And that it would please the kyng and his counsell to deuise some o­ther Edict for the mainteynaunce of Reli­gion, to the which al the inhabiters of Bel­gie, of what state or condition so euer they were of, should be bound to obey, and that the execution of the Edictes might be so long stayed, til such time as that the nobles and estates of the countrey, after the ma­ner of their auncetours, & accordyng to the custome of all well ruled cōmon wealthes, might come together to the establishyng of them by the kynges auctoritie. Moreouer they protested that if by the contempt and neglectyng of this theyr request, the com­mon weale hereafter should fall into any daunger, they them selues were by any right, not to be accused for it, seyng they had satisfied their duety in forwarnyng the same, this humble sute of the nobilitie was accompted iust and godly, not onely, of the rest of nobles, but also of the gouernesse [Page] her selfe, of all the Senate, & of the whole concourse of people, so that by their com­mon consent and open suffragies the Go­uernesse agréed, and promised to the vtter­most of her power to get their request satis­fied, and that she would send her Embassa­dours to the kyng, who should declare the whole matter vnto him, and bring to passe, (if it were possible) that their request should be graunted, and there withall they ap­pointed the Baron of Montygay, and Marques Bergye to performe that legasie, and in the meane tyme, she promised, that their should be a vacation and respite from the execution of the cruell Edictes, and from the blouddy butchery of the Inquisition, which she would faythfully performe, com­maundyng the same by her auctoritie, set forth by writyng. This chaunged all theyr sorow and heauy chere into an inspeakea­ble gladnes, & made them all to hope well, In so much that not onely they which had determined to flye before, dyd not onely chaunge their mindes, but they which were gone all redy, tooke counsell how to come home agayne.

These matters sore troubled the Cardi­nals substitutes, the maisters of the Spay­nish inquisition, and the whole company of [Page] the byshops, and catchpoles, which had in their mindes already deuoured and swalo­wed vp the goodes and bloud of the noblest and richest men in the countrey. And ther­fore they tryed all manner of wayes, how they might recouer so rich a spoyle, and so fat a pray, which was by thys meanes by force pluckt out from betwéene their grée­dy iawes, they accused with most slaunde­rous cauilles, the force of the noble men, they go about to proue that it should be ta­ken for a manifest signe of a rebellion to­warde, they affirme that the noble men séeke onely to rayse a tumult, that thereby they might rushe in by force vppon other mens goodes, that they might pay theyr deb­tes with other mens riches, so craftely at­tayned, yea that they did séeke the death of all priestes and sacrificers, and the subuer­sion of churches, and the ouerthrow of ci­ties: They fayned much more, the whych they so cunningly perswaded the Gouer­nesse, that she leauing Bruxill the most auncient demeane and mansion of the Duke of Brabant, neuer determined to flye to a­ny defected city, the which truely she would haue done, if being perswaded by the noble men which they well knew the state of the countrey, she had not comforted her selfe, & [Page] pluckt vp her courage. But when they sée theyr manifold and shamefull slaunders di­sproued by the déed it selfe,Slaun­ders of the aduersaries and by the mo­dest behauiour of the noble men to take no place, they merueylously dyd cry out, and inuey before the Gouernesse agaynst the solemne and great assembly of the nobles, against theyr league and society which they had made, and when they did sée that al this could litle preuayle agaynst them, they beat most vpon thys one poynt, and they made thys the chiefe cause of theyr accusation, that they dyd manifestly shew them selues seditious rebels, when they required a frée & lawfull assembly of noble men, or graund parlament to be sommoned, affirming that nothing doth more diminish the power and authoritie of a prince, then the solemne me­tyng of the estates, wherewith most migh­ty kinges and princes haue bene compel­led to yelde to theyr order. And truely all men do know, that Granuellanus and Vi­glius were wont oftentimes to say that the king aboue all thynges had néede to take héed, least the estates of the prouince be ly­censed to make assemblies and general me­tinges according to the accustomed maner of their Auncytors, the which kinde of go­uernment Charles the fifte dyd dyligently [Page] obserue, contrary to the custome of the for­mer princes and dukes, whereby he deter­mined all thinges according to hys will and pleasure: and therfore he cleane put down the generall méetinges and lawfull assem­blies of all the estates holden at their graūd counsels, and appoynted all thynges to be done and determined after hys and theyr arbitriment whome he would vouchsafe to take vnto hym. They sayd the king should take the same order, if he would haue hys dignity maytayned safely wythout appay­ring, and that he shoulde hate nothing so much as the very mention of those frée as­semblyes. But when they perceyued them selues to profite nothing by thys meanes, because all of them wyth one voyce did de­sire to haue a parliament, and euery man (vnlesse he were wythout sence or reason) did easely perceaue, the royall dignity could be mayntayned by nothyng so well, as by these general and frée assemblies: and they all knew that their care was for themselues and for theyr riches, and not for the defence of the kinges honor: for at the time of the parliament, they should render vp theyr ac­comptes of the common treasurye, what they had receyued and spent since the time they haue bene in theyr office: and then [Page] were the actions of extortions and of the robberies of the common treasurye to be pleaded: they thought it therefore best co­uertly by guile and crafty meanes to worke some sleight, whereby they might vnder­mine the godly endeuour of the nobles and chief citizens whatsoeuer, and cleare kéepe backe the appoyntment of these solemne counsels, therfore subtelly they perswaded the Gouernesse that she shoulde call the e­states of euery prouince seuerally, and that she should suffer none to be of the counsell, but such as she should chuse and call ther­unto. And therfore as they gaue her coun­sell,In the yere 1566. in the moneth of May. she caused most hasty and troublesome assemblies to be made of euery prouince se­uerally by thēselues: vnto the whych were sommoned to appeare onely they whych were chosen: but they whom to haue bene there it had bene most requisite, and they which by auncient right, and of a long con­tinuance were wont to be present, were now cleane omitted. Many were cōmaun­ded openly to depart, and many to kéepe si­lence: the time of deliberating the matter, and taking counsell with theyr frends, and wyth the rest of the estates of the prouince and gouernors of the people (as the most auncient and certayne custome of such as­semblyes [Page] hath euer before graūted, is now from all of them indifferently taken away. Moreouer the chiefest prouinces of all Belgie, whose cause especially was then in handlyng, as Brabantia, Hollandia, Phri­sia, Geldria, Zelandia, and the countreys of Lymburgye, beyng made vnlawfull for any of them to come thether, and thus the maner of mitigatyng these Edictes was re­ferred to a very small company. Wherof it is manifest that the most part were subor­ned, and hyred for that purpose, whose de­termination in outward shew semed to be much gētler, but in the right meanyng and true vnderstandyng of it was crueller a great deale then the former Edictes, In this one pointe, it séemed to be more mercyfull, bicause in stede of burnyng of them, it appointed them to be trust vp vpon a gib­bet or gallowes, tormented with a racke & chaynes. And for the Inquisition substitu­ted a visitatiō, it did not confiscat the goodes of these whiche were fled, but it so fetcht thē, so circumuented them, that a very foole might easely perceiue, they sought nothing els, but a more priuy entraunce to their old prescriptions and accustomed crueltie, especially seyng the gouernesse did manifestly write vnto the gouernours, and chief Iu­stices [Page] of euery prouince, that as concer­nyng the kynges Edictes for religion they should well vnderstand, that they ought nothyng to remitte or mitigate the seueri­tie of them, no not although she her selfe should commaunde to the contrary. And seyng the fury and madnes of the Inqui­sitors did no lesse outragiouslye robbe and spoyle, then they were wont to doe, and that without punishment or prohibition, & seyng as that the Monkes and preachyng Friers dyd not onely with most bytyng tauntes and spitefull reproches defame the chief and noble estates,This was opēly heard in the chur­ches at Antwerpe and in ma­ny other places. anymatyng & har­nising the rude people agaynst those Prin­ces which put vp the bill of supplication & also out of their pulpites did by name open­ly accuse them of disobedience, disloyaltie, and seditious treason, and threaten them that the kyng would vtterly destroy them, and put them to death. And to conclude se­ing euery man dyd by most euident tokens perceiue, and seyng they had it proued by many mens letters, and talke, that they sought nothyng els, but by some meanes to delude and deceiue the people, that from them gettyng ayde, they might execute their tyranny not onely vppon the commi­naltie, but euen also vppon the chiefest of [Page] the Princes whosoeuer, as if they were their deadly enemies. At the lēgth notwith­standyng when they had determined what should be done, they offer vp to the estates of Brabant, the maner of their gouerne­ment, but in all the hast, not lookyng for any aunswere, they caused it to be published. But whilest those thynges were a doyng, the professors of the Gospell, which had he­therto kept them selues in their priuate houses, vpō hope, that at length their muse beyng heard, and the slaunderous cauilles, wherewith they were defamed, fully aun­swered, they should haue libertie for their religion, which they were ready to defend, with the worde of God, in as ample sorte graunted them, as it was to the frenchmen by theyr king and the whole assent of hys noble estates, perceyuing theyr hope and expectation frustrate, and themselues to be dayly more and more slaundred, and that there was no more hope left, eyther in the kinges clemency, or in the expectation for the parlament, of hauing their cause heard, much lesse of equall iudgement. And yet notwithstanding all of them euery where dyd not cease to call for the preaching of the gospell, insomuch that the multitude could not be contayned in any priuate houses. [Page] Many of them began in the vttermost bor­ders of Flaunders, where the tyranny of the Inquisition had most extreamly perse­cuted them, and by and by in Brabant, in Holland, and also the rest of the prouinces, to come together into the fields to the prea­ching of Gods word, and openly to set forth theyr doctrine, that at the length they might cleare themselues from the slaunderous ca­uils of theyr owne aduersaries, being their Iudges, and that all men might know who they were, what kinde of men they were, what number was of them, and of what e­stimation or worship they were of, first they came to all assemblies without weapons.

The aduersaries pra­ctises to oppresse the Gospellers.But when theyr aduersaries began opē ­ly to threaten vnto them most extreme cru­elty, many of them got theyr wepons, some a sword, some a speare, some a club, as men vse them, when they prepare to take ar­mour, but a very few brought dagges: but within a whyle after theyr number began to encrease to many thousandes of people. When the Cardinalles Vicegerentes per­ceiued they could not be oppressed without open violence, because by reason of theyr great number, of theyr fauour and power, of the equitie of theyr cause, of the honesty of theyr lyfe, of the integritie of theyr acti­ons, [Page] they were becom maruelously strong. But especialy when they saw the most part of the nobilitie openly fauoryng theyr cause (whose desire of publike peace which they of late had shewed foorth in theyr bill of sup­plication, and all theyr actions were slaun­dered very much wyth sundry slaunderous cauils) they flye vnto theyr crafts & guiles. They by sundry and many wayes deceiued the nobilitie, which came together in a so­lemne assembly at Sainttrudo to take coun­sell for the sauegard of themselues, and for the aunswering of the most reprochfull ca­uils, and the auoyding of theyr violent rash­nes. First, they go about to perswade them to become the open enemies of the publike preaching, and to dispatch them by force of armes. But perceiuing themselues to la­bour therin in vayne, because many of the nobles dyd resist them, which were profes­sors of that religion, they compassed theyr matter about an other way, fayning them­selues to require theyr helpe for to pacifie the tumults of the people. Therefore pro­pounding many commaundementes, they obtayned that Embassitors should be sent from among them vnto the Gouernesse of Permence, the which should determine vp­pon all matters according to equitie and [Page] right, as best should be thought for y^e profite of the common wealth: The Embassadors mening simply,This com­position, or determina­tion began first at Bruxels the 24. 25. and 26. of August. an. 1566. went w^t them vnto Bruxell. The gouernesse desireth thē the tumultes of the people with all theyr power, and to obey the king and his magistrates with all obedi­ence, not once minding to take vpon thē ar­mour, but leauing all fond & sinister suspici­ons, & to perswade themselues that the king would very well allow of their doings, & ac­compt it a full satisfaction of their duties: she likewise graunteth at theyr request, that it shalbe lawfull for thē to kéepe theyr publike sermons in their accustomed places as they haue done heretofore. It was solemply also decréed on both parties, that by the auctority of the magistrates there should be appointed common places in euery citie & town, wher­in they might make their sermons, and fréely without all feare exercise their preachings, & that the professing of religion should be hurtfull to none, so that he obserued his duty in all other matters without inuading of chur­ches, or mouing any tumults herafter: they promised faythfully on both parties, but the Cardinals men bound themselues by oth, & by theyr holy deuotion, to be faithfull in per­forming their promise. The gouernesse for her part, to make it more sure calleth a counsell of y^e nobles, who likewise promised their [Page] fidelity in performing the same & she geueth forth letters patents auctorised w^t the kings broad seale. Not lōg after she sendyng these letters to the gouernours andThe proue hereof appeareth both by the co­pie of y^e letters patētes, & by the Edicte of the Magistrates first pro­claimed, & after publi­shed in Print. The Edictes for cea­sing from raylyng was proclaymed at Ant­werpe, y^e last of August. an. 1566. at Bruxelles. 24. of Aug. y^e Earle of Māsfeld beyng presēt. Free libertie of prea­chyng came from the gouernesse. 25. of Aug. Magistrates of euery prouince geueth in commaūdement that this agréement should bee promulga­ted, and that the whole common wealth should be gouerned accordyng to the comētes therof, & af­terward byAn other publicke Edict concernyng ray­lyng & reuilyng on both partes to cease was proclaimed at Antwerpe 3. Septemb. at Bruxels, 6. Septēb. And so afterward in other Cities. publicke Edicts she forbiddeth that any mā should re­uile or speake euil of others, for religion sake, seyng she dyd pro­nounce that all men of both reli­gions were in the kyngs safe go­uernement and good protection.

It happened in the meane tyme, whiles those thynges were a doyng at Bruxels, it first in the Weast partes ofThe 11. 12. 13. of Au­gust. 1566. Fraunders, and afterwardes in many otherAt Antwerpe. 20. August. At Brede, at Buscodice. 22. 23. In Holland and Zeland. 25. 26. &c. Cities almost at the same tyme Images, pictures, & aulters were ouerthrowen in the Churches, whether by craft of the aduersa­ryes, which euen now dyd séeke all occasiōs to accuse the people, that hauyng some fayre shew, they might [Page] gather an army, or by the fonde zeale of many, which thought they could not earnestly repent them of their sinnes, vnles they had ouerthrowen the instrumentes of idolatry, it is as yet vncerteine. But this is most ap­paraunt that in manyAs in Ant­werpe, is Brede, in Brabant, & in many places of Hol­land. Cities the sacrifi­sing Priestes them selues began first to ca­ry out of their Churches, their most preci­ous reliques and vessels, & that then boyes, & rascall people followyng them, dyd ouer­throwe the rest, and in many Cities. It is knowen also that the byshops them selues, and they which were the greatest aduersa­ryes of the Gospel, dyd by publikeAt Gaunt, in Flaun­ders: At Hago, in Hollād. At Lire in Brabant: Also at Meklyne this was done most certeinely by the com­maundemēt of the magistrates. 5. 25. 28. of Aug. and o­ther dayes folowyng. autho­thoritie ouerthrow the Images, pictures, and the rest of the ceremonyes, and that by their authoritie and example, many good & godly Citizens dyd the same likewise, sup­posing this their doyng, to be commaun­ded by the authoritie of the Magistrate.

But how soeuer it came to passe, the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors tooke a very fitte occasion hereby to execute their purpose, for by and by they in all hast ga­theryng souldiours together, apprehended many of those, whiche ouerthrew the Ima­ges, and cast them into prison, and hanged them, neither could they by any questions, or kinde of tormentes, enforce them to con­fesse, [Page] (the which thyng they most gréedely desired) that any of the Ministers of the Churches, or any of the confederate prin­ces, which were at the foresayd assembly, or any of the professors of the Gospel, were authors of this enterprise. But rather they did all with one voyce confesse that (as it was most manifest by their preachynges and endeuours, wherewith they did disa­low that enterprise) it was done contrary to all their willes, and not without their great grief and sorow. Therfore the gouernesse dyd notAs appea­reth by the forme of y^e latter E­dictes made & set forth touchyng y^e stay of reuilyng words & of Chur­ches graunted, vpō the former pro­mise & con­uention be­twene the gouernes & the people. ceasse to sée the former con­tract of gouernyng the common wealth ex­ecuted, in so much that she gaue by publike auctoritie vnto many of the nobles and of the confederate princes charge ouer cities, in the whiche they should set all thynges in order, accordyng to the due prescript of the former decrée, that they should assigne pla­ces out for the buildyng of Churches, and for the peoples assembly to heare Sermōs, and that they should with open protestation will all men to be secure and voyde from all feare and daunger, and certeinly to per­suade them selues, that the garisons of souldiours should nothyng endammage them. With the whiche thyng, all the people be­gan excedyngly to reioyce, and to lay a part [Page] all feare, as though out of a most boyste­rous tempeste they were already arriued in a most quiet hauen, & stayeng them sel­ues vpon the publike promise thus made & taken and confirmed by writyng. They be­gan to builde their Churches, and fréely & quietly to set forth their religion. But yet notwithstandyng the furious madnes of their aduersaries was not pacified, al­though they had already punished the ouerthrowers of their Images with greuous punishementes, and did sée the innocencie of these Churches most manifestly witnes­sed by their open confessions. But rather most proudly auauntyng them selues, as though they had gotten a iust occasiō to pu­nish the rebelles, and that they should no­thyng feare hereafter the nobilitie, the whiche did manifestly shew them selues to be heauely displeased with the insolency of of the Imagebreakers, they began by litle and litle but openly to encrease the nomber of their garrisons, and to set them in their Cities, with this pretence onely to with­stand the insolencie of the Imagebreakers, and thus they armed them selues, with all thynges necessary, vntill such tyme, that they had brought their matters to as good effect, as they desired perceiuyng the peo­ple [Page] quietly to rest them selues vppon the faythful promise of the nobilitie and gouer­nesse, set forth in the kinges name vnder hys seale and letters patentes, and that the noble men also were quiet, not once mys­doubting that they should haue bene so wic­kedly and vnfaythfully deceaued, they be­gan openly to shew foorth what theyr mea­ning was: for in such places where as they might be most bolde, and in the which the magistrate was appliable vnto their desire, first with new commaundementes, obscure and doubtfull edictes, and with scoffing in­terpretation, they began to disanull the auc­tority of the published commaundement as concerning the late contract, and in many places to delay from day to day, the sealing of the writings of the publike promise, and with sundry cauils to deceaue the miserable citizens, and in many places to put those magistrats whose dealing they knew wold be alwayes with iustice, out of their offices, and contrary to the orders of the cities, in their roomes to substitute most wicked men prompt and redy to all kinde of impietie: and then at the length (as though all hin­draunces had bene taken away) they be­gan with great insolency by force of armes to disturbe the companies assembled at ser­mons [Page] tauntingly to reuile the ministers and citizens, to worne them with wepons, and lastly, with open tyranny to oppresse them, imprisoning many, hanging many, banyshing many, and appointing new kind of othes, wherby men should binde them to the popish religion, contrary to the former decrée, couenaunted and established before, and to accompt those which denied to obey, for enemies and traytors to the kinges ma­iestie. Morouer they did rebaptize infantes which were baptized before: they spoyled all the professors of the Gospell, of theyr weapons and armour: they armed and stir­red vp the rest of the comminaltie agaynst them, as agaynst the enemies of the com­mon wealth. Neyther onely did the sacri­ficing priestes or preachers out of their pul­pits, as it were with an open outcry stir vp the people to take armour agaynst them, but also in many places the Magistrates themselues, which were appoynted by the Cardinals officers and Inquisitors, soun­ding allarum, gaue open licence vnto the sedition and tumultes of the people against the miserable Gospellers, the which were then lately called Gwesians, that is to say, Beggers and rascals. And hereupon began the most dolefull and late calamitie of the [Page] noble prouince. For euen then first of all was that famous citie of the Valentians beséeged in enemies wise of hys owne fa­miliar frendes and citizens, because for­sooth they refused vppon the sodaine to re­ceaue within theyr walles the cruell souldi­ers in that number that was commaunded them, that is to say, foure bandes of horse­men and fiue ensignes of footmen, but tooke vnto them a day to deliberate, in alleaging many causes that it would not be commo­dious vnto them to receaue them, séeing they had as yet before theyr eyes amongs theyr neighbours a most cruell and doleful president of the souldiers rashnes, for not long before in the countrey and towne of Sancto Amandus nexte adioyning vnto them, the very same (which were thrust in contrary to theyr lawes and priuiledges, & contrary to the fidelitie of the promise be­fore geuen) violently robbed and spoyled the poore miserable people that professed the Gospell, of all they had, in so much that from the very yong infantes they pulled theyr hose from theyr legges, they deflou­red by course one after an other (after the most horrible example of the Beniauntes) the chaste matrones and virgines, and at length in most cruell wise, set them to open [Page] sale, at the sounde of the drome, they put to death many, burnyng them by litle and litle with small flames, and with theyr swordes opened the wombes of matrones great with childe. The remembraunce of which horrible thynges, iustly terrifieng the Valentenentians, they humbly desired that they should not be cōpelled to receaue within their walles and houses such kynde of souldiers, vnto whose auarice, lust, and crueltie, they perceiued them selues, their lyues, wiues, children, and consciences, should be at lēgth in most seruile bondage, seyng that for foure yeares space before, they had payed of their own proper costes and charges, vnto the garrisons of souldi­ers, their wages, vpon this condition, that they should neuer hereafter bee vexed or burdened any more with souldiours. Nei­ther yet dyd they so manifestly refuse it, but that they dyd openly in most humble wise signifie vnto the gouernesse, and to the rest of the primates, & rulers of the prouince, that they were ready to receaue the souldi­ours of what nomber soeuer, if they had a capitaine appointed thē, for that they shuld not hinder the libertie of Religion, whiche they had graunted & confirmed vnto them, not long before, by the Edict of the gouer­nesse, [Page] by the authoritie of the kynges let­ters patentes, by the nobilities constant confirmation, and with assent of all the Ma­gistrates. But they nothyng at all preuay­led, by this their modestie and equitie of their cause, but forthwith they were open­ly proclaimed as traytors and rebelles, the Citie was besieged, vntill that at the lēgth when they (beyng persuaded therto by the letters of the gouernesse promising all kind of clemency) had yelded them selues vnto the fidelitie of the Norcarmyans, whiche dyd besiege them, many were stroken with the sword, many were hanged, many were burned, and an infinite number of them by the insolencie of the souldiers shot through with dagges, neither was there any thyng pretermitted agaynst them, the whiche the furious rage of the souldiours vse to exe­cute in the sackyng and subuertyng of Ci­ties. Many beyng terrified with these hor­rible examples of crueltie, and perceiuyng them selues so deceiued to be defended frō the furie and rashnes of the souldiours, nei­ther by the publike promise, agréements co­uenauntes or othes, nor by the kynges ma­iestie Edictes or patentes, and perceauyng their aduersaries to attempt and put in practise all kynde of hostilitie agaynst them, [Page] with great power and warlyke force, and that all the hope of remedy or helpe was cleane taken away, for their aduersaries dyd now accompt them not onely as here­tikes, but also as seditious rebelles, as per­turbers of the common of the quiet, ouer­throwers of churches and traytours to the kinges maiestie, and although they by most manifest proues, and by the open confessi­ons of those, which were giltie, had proued their innocencie, & had of their own accord offered them selues to be tryed by the cen­sures of equall iudges, they did vnderstand neuerthelesse that they were accused vnto the king of these most horrible crimes, they thought it best therfore to betake them sel­ues to prayer, to vowes, to teares and sup­plications, hopyng by their humble suyte & iust purgation to pacifie the anger of the kyng, vehemently builded agaynst them, by the false cauils of their aduersaries. They therfore put vp a bill of supplication wher­by they might request the kynges clemen­cie testifieng their owne innocencie and the sclaunderous accusations, of their aduersa­ries, and especially cleare them selues of the destroying of the Churches, prouyng them selues to be in no faulte, and that no suspition of rebellion cā iustly be gathered [Page] vpon them, most humbly protestyng also their fidelitie, obedience, & due reuerence, to be alwayes ready vnto the kynges maie­stie, in what things soeuer? thus much one­ly crauyng at the kynges handes that they may haue frée libertie graūted them, to pro­fesse their religion, which they make sub­iect onely to the triall of the word of God, & that they may not haue their consciences greued, or burdened with any kynde of au­thoritie, for the whiche benefite in token of their thankefulnes, and for due profe of their faithful obedience to his maiestie, be­sides their ordinary giftes, their accusto­med tributes, and all their other burdens, they promise to pay vnto the kings Exchec­ker iij. hūdreth thousād Florences within a certeine time, & that they wil disturbe or de­stroy no churches, but they will put in good sureties for the same, that they will diligēt­ly and carefully shew forth their obedience, fidelitie, and due reuerence in all poyntes.

All the Cities well neare doe geue vp to their Magistrates a bill of supplicatiō,Nouember. 1566. most humbly desiryng to shew foorth their dili­gence and fidelitie towardes their poore & miserable Citizens in the furtheryng ther­of.December. They do moreouer earnestly request the same thyng of the gouernesse & nobles, [Page] and bicause they would trye all maner of meanes, whereby they might make mani­fest to all the world their true fidelitie, to­wardes their kyng, they sent also their let­ters, and Embassadors to many of the prin­ces of Germanie, whom they iudged alto­gether not to abhorre from their religion, most earnestly desiryng them, that they would vouchsafe to entreate the kyng to be mercyfull to their innocencie, & if there were any place frée from the false accusati­ons of their aduersaries, and left vnto the kynges maiestie for equitie and mercy, that they would with their humble suyte deli­uer them from their heauy calamitie, han­gyng ouer their heades. But when they perceiued that all these thynges dyd litle preuaile, and that their aduersaries were more kyndled and cruell agaynst them, in­terpretyng all thynges into the worst part, as though by the great somme of money offred, they had bostyngly auaunted their riches and power, and that they went a­bout to threaten the kynges maiestie, myn­dyng to abuse the princes of Germany, for to disturbe and withstand his will and pleasure, and seyng also no place to be left for their purgation or humble supplication be­fore their Magistrates, that their eares, [Page] their eyes, thoughtes, and cogitatiōs were made subiect to the accusations of theyr ad­uersaries, they did at the length wyth most dolefull lamentation complayne vnto Bre­derodius & other of the nobles (the which by the commaundement of the Gouernesse had promised theyr fayth and fidelity to the perfourmance of the former contract) that they were so iniustly and vnfaithfully dealt withal, contrary to theyr publicke promise, to theyr couenaunts graunted and perfor­med by oth, and they entreat them to per­forme that which they so faythfully promi­sed by the commaundement of the Gouer­nesse, and also the nobles. Brederodius in the name of the other princes,Februar. 8. 1567. sending hys letters to the gouernesse desireth licence to speake with her: but hauing the repulse, he sent vnto her the complaintes of the peo­ple, adding therewyth a byll of supplica­tion of the nobles, whereby they dyd complayne of so great and open iniurye, and requested therewyth, that they might performe theyr promise of defending the late agréement which they had so solemnly vowed vnto the people, that no man be en­damaged or hurt for hys religion, or for the administration therof, that the promised li­berty of religion be graunted, that the soul­diours [Page] oures gathered contrary to theyr former promise and oth, should be discharged and dismissed: & lastly, that the common wealth should be gouerned according to equity and right, and to the couenauntes whereunto they were sworne. She in her aunswer maketh many doubtes,Febru. 16. and séeketh the fal­lacie of wordes, saying that there was no­thing graunted as concerning the admini­stration of religion, but only licence geuen for theyr preachinges and sermons, but as for baptizing of children, and the Lordes supper, there was no mention made: ad­ding therfore that the people had first brokē theyr couenauntes. Briefly she manifestly declareth, that shee would no longer be bound vnto these couenaunts: but (for she perceaued her selfe to be of greater force) that she would gouerne all things after her owne arbitriment: and therwithall signi­fied, that Brederodius, and the rest of the nobles (which put vp that bill of supplicati­on) were the auctors of the sedition, and therfore, that she dyd accompt them as re­bels and traytors to the kinges maiestie, & as enemies of the countrey: and that the king would execute iust and condigne pu­nishment vpon them as giltie of those hay­nous crimes: and in the meane time she [Page] would vse her aucthoritie, according as it should best please her.

These letters sent to Brederodius, and the other confederate princes, it can not be tolde how greatly they were astonished, for they saw themselues most openly mocked and deceaued: theyr fidelitie promised by oth to the people, nothing estéemed: them­selues on the one part to be taken for rebel­lious traytors to the kinges maiestie: and on the other side for periured persons, which w^t their vaine promises had brought the people into a fooles paradise, and made them subiect to the slaughter, and butcherly fury of theyr aduersaries: theyr confirmed couenauntes, the kinges name, seale, and letters patentes, to be of no force: their for­mer agréement (by the which as by a bayte they were drawne into the net) to be most manifestly deluded: and that they were so far from hauing licence to cleare and purge them selues, that they might not be suffred once to entreat, or to make supplication for mercy: and that they were openly taken for enemies, enuironed about with souldi­ers, so that there was no place for them lefte whereby they might escape by flying. They being thus at their wittes ende, not knowing which way to take, were compel­led [Page] at the length in all hast to muster theyr souldiers, not that they ment to attempt a­ny thing as enemies, but that they might so long defend thēselues from the violence & iniuries of theyr aduersaries, vntill that they might either get equity for their cause, or oportunitie to flie. For if they would o­therwise haue inuaded the kinges Cities, there is no man so great a straunger, or ig­noraunt of the matters done in Belgie, which doth not know that many cities sen­ding theyr Embassadors, did require theyr ayde, and desired that it might be lawfull onely by the graunt and authority of Bre­derodius, which was the captayne of the confederate princes, to defend themselues by force of armes against the insolency and violence of theyr aduersaries. The Valen­cenentians required to haue one of the no­bilitie for theyr captayne. Many other ci­ties also being the chiefe amongest all the rest, both for theyr power and authoritie, and also for the number of theyr Citizens, made the same request: and many other also, if they had so desired, would haue sub­mitted themselues to theyr auctority. And yet notwithstanding they graunted not to any of them, so much as by theyr woorde to yéeld to that they required, except vnto the [Page] Buscoducentians there was one graunted the which should defende the Citie in the kinges name, and of the confederate prin­ces agaynst the insolency of the forreyne souldiers, and should make the nobilitie a way if it fortuned to be shut vp, all the rest wer refused, not because it was a hard matter for them to kéepe those cities beyng already furnished with munition of warre, especially if the prince of Aurice (whome now the aduersaries do most shamefully be lye, calling him the auctor of the whole se­dition) would but once but haue imagined so great an enterprise contrary to the wyll of the King and Gouernesse, séeing that at hys féete almost the whole prouince did cast themselues downe, with teares beséeching him to ayd thē against these violent théeues and murderers, & most periured tyraunts, and that they might commit themselues, & all theyres into his power and iurisdiction, He also might with a becke easely haue re­tayned in hys power, not onely Hollande, Zelande, and the countrey of Truceland, all which places he had in hys gouernment beyng of themselues (as all men knoweth) of hability to conquer the whole prouince, but also Antwarpe, Machlym, Bustoduse, and many other of the chéefest cities. But [Page] that most godly Prince would not desire a­ny thyng that shoulde séeme to impeache the Kinges authoritie: but he gaue such godly counsels to the Gouernesse, and to the other Cities, the which if they might haue taken place, would haue somewhat brideled the furious rage and couetous ty­ranny of the Spanish substitutes, & would haue retayned the whole prouince quietly and peaceably in theyr loyaltie towarde the king: but he could neuer be perswaded to take armour himselfe, or to geue license to the citizens to do the same. The other con­federate princes, as neare as they could did obey hys auctority, and folow his modesty, but that they were compelled many times by violence and necessitie to take armes, not to inuade or set vpon any cities, or to do any violence, but onely to withstand the violence, and to defend themselues from the insolency of theyr aduersaries, and to make themselues a way to escape by force,The thin­ges done a­fore the Duke of Alua hys cōming de­clare who were the authors of these tu­mults in Belgye. if néede should require.

And these thynges truly which we haue reported, were onely done, before the duke of Aluaye hys commyng, the whiche truly we haue thought it necessary more largely to expresse, that all men may know how vn­iustly our aduersaries do deale with vs. Al­though [Page] at their lust and pleasure, they haue gouerned all thynges and oppressed vs full xl. yeares, with most extreme tyranny, and the which at length by their crafty and sub­till deuises, haue styrred vp such greuous tempestes, that therby, they not onely man­cypated and made bonde our selues, our wiues, and children, but haue brought also the most florishyng prouince of Belgie, in­to most doulfull calamities and beastly ser­uitude. They do not yet for all this ceasse to accuse vs euery where vnto all Princes and people of Europe of most horrible crimes, and to lay the faulte and occasions of all their couetous and mischieuous do­ynges vppon our neckes, complainyng be­lyke, because we would not with open bo­dyes, and stretched out throates, submitte our selues to their glaues and swoordes. They are gréeued that we are safely esca­ped their handes, and that we haue lost one­ly our riches & possessions to be deuoured of their gréedy auarice, & that we haue not committed our lyues, our wiues, and chil­dren, our soules and consciences,Of the con­federacy of the nobles & of the supplication. to theyr lust tyranny and impietie. Otherwise what is there that they can most especially lay a­gaynst vs, can they obiect vnto vs the con­federate societie of the princes? let therfore [Page] the writynges of the conspiracie be read, they truly (though we should holde our peace) would declare, that they attempted nothing, did nothyng, nor once thought v­pon any other thyng but onely, whereby they might shew forth their loyaltie, fideli­tie and due obedience to their kyng, & one­ly that they might by the power and autho­ritie of the kyng withstād, and suppresse the crueltie, auarice, and outragious couetous­nes of many of the wicked. But if their let­ters sealed and confirmed with their owne handes & seales be of no credite, yet let the effect of their doings be beleued, for whilest all thyngs were as yet in safetie, what was it, which they went about? dyd they not by supplication desire the kyng to disanull the vnbridled power of the Inquisition? to mi­tigate the cruelty of the Edictes? and other Edictes for the orderyng of Religion to be established by the kynges authoritie, and decrée of the estates. But verely here is the chief poynte of our aduersaries accusatiōs, bycause forsooth they beyng frée men, no­bles, louers of their countrey, and desirous of peace, faythfully addicted to the kynges maiestie, durst be so bold by humbled suppli­cation to require, that the Edictes, whiche were contrary to all equitie, much impea­chyng [Page] the kynges dignitie, and disturbyng the common wealth brought in by errour and by false perswasion should be made voyde, and that there might be some law­full assembly of the estates or Parliament holden for the good gouernement of the cō ­mon wealth. Heare we appeale to you, (you most mightye Emperour of the Ro­maines, and to ye all the famous Princes of the Christian Religion) and by that one­ly and immortall God, and by his sonne Iesus Christ in whose name we pleade our cause we humbly desire you, to geue iudge­ment in this poynte, whether we in this poynte so greuously offended, or rather whether they doe not accompt our iust and wholy obedience of duetie in stede of great impietie. Truly when the kyng was au­thorised Duke of Brabant, he by solemne othe and faithfull couenaunt promised that he would paciently suffer & most willyngly heare all their complaintes, requestes or demaundes what soeuer the which should be put vp of the Byshops, Barones, No­bles, Cities, or Townes, subiect vnto him, either seuerally by them selues, or ioyntly of them altogether, and as often as they would shewe forth their burdens or great oppressions, that it should be lawfull for [Page] them to do it, without any daunger or of­fence, and without doubting that he would be angry therewith, and that he would ne­uer suffer any to be troubled for so doyng, the which if it should chaunce to happen he promised to punish seuerely all those which may be founde giltie of that offence, and at length after many other thynges he conclu­deth that if he shall doe or suffer to be done any thyng cōtrary to this oth and promise, he desired forthwith his subiectes to be frée from their othe & loyaltie, vntill such tyme that he shall fully make them satisfaction in that poynte and in all other matters accor­dyng to this his promise . Iudge ye therfore (ye most renoumed and puysaunt Princes whether the nobles by puttyng vp of this their supplication haue iustly deserued to haue the kyngs so great and heauy displea­sure agaynst them and their poor Citizens and frendes. Although who is so voyde of all sence and reason and so ignoraunt of the affaires of Princes, which doth not know, that it is most profitable for kynges & prin­ces that their subiectes should moue them by humble supplication to prouide for the weale publike, and the some ready and fit way should be taken for the good appointe­ment and safe preseruyng of the common [Page] tranquilitie.

Who also is ignoraunt that these frée & solemne assemblyes be not vsed in all pro­uinces, and amongest all people,Of the no­bles request but also accompted as the onely stay and remedy of all mischiefes and publike calamities, and that no man hath at any tyme heretofore gone about, to hynder such solemne mée­tynges, but they which would robbe and spoyle the poore people of the right of their liberties of all their auncient lawes & cu­stomes & fréedome of their priuileges and dyd desire to rule all alone, accordyng to their lewde lust and appetite, and by right or by wrong to execute tyranny vpon their poore subiectes soules & bodyes. This truly is most manifest that in Germany all the whole maiestie and honor of their Empire is mainteyned by the due orderyng of their solemne parliamentes. Niether hath there any wise man doubted but that in all the o­ther prouinces of all Europe all the safety of the people and the dignitie of the prince, hath onely bene preserued by these general assemblyes? But in especially in low Ger­many. It is most manifest, that the case so standeth, for in it the princes haue in all ages from tyme to tyme bene subiect to the power of the generall Parliamentes, haue [Page] bene elected by them, & confirmed of them, without whose assent and authoritie they neuer would decrée any thing, and it is ma­nifestly prouided and established by the pri­uileges of Brabant and customes of Flaū ­ders, that they neuer haue authoritie to do it hereafter. But seyng by their mutuall as­sent and contract, they be in force of coue­nauntes agréed vppon, and hereafter to be taken for their cōmon law of the countrey, It is of vndoubted credite that the kyng cā not violate or breake them without the as­sent and cōsent of the other parties. Admit it be so, the nobles haue offēded in this one pointe, let it be accompted as wickednesse vnto them by humble supplication to shew the way how the common destruction of theyr countrey might easely haue bene a­uoyded. Wherin I pray you dyd the poore comminaltie offended, or without crime haue they deserued such great and accusto­med crueltie? vnlesse you will say it was, bycause they gaue credite to the publike E­dictes published in the kynges name, con­firmed with his broad seale, and dyd thinke they might safely without all fraude or de­ceit (hauyng for their defence this licence graunted by publike promise) hauyng re­course to the hearyng of the Gospell prea­ched: [Page] for wheras they do accuse the people of takyng armes, agaynst their kyng, of o­uerthrowyng of the images of Churches, of bryngyng a new Religion, their accusa­tion is most vayne and slaunderous?

For as concernyng their takyng of ar­more,Of taking of armour. there was no man which dyd abuse them agaynst the kyng or his dignitie, but truly before the publike promise and othe was neglected, before the kynges Edictes (wherby the libertie of religion was graū ­ted) where violated, before the couenauntes agréed vpō, and the leage of their common tranquilitie was broken, there was no mā went armed, except it were for defence of him selfe agaynst the impudent violence of théeues and murtherers, & the open threat­nynges of most wicked persons, and that also was when they went out of the Cities to the sermons some of them tooke a sword, some a staffe, some a speare, very few ca­ryng dagges, euen as one takyng his ior­ney into a farre countrey armeth him selfe to withstand the inuasions of théeues & cut­throtes. But afterwardes when in this pointe they were commaūded to be secure, and that the gouernesse had geuē in charge that should hurt or indammage them, as long as they kept them selues quiet, by and [Page] by, they at the commaundement of their Magistrates layd aside their weapons most willyngly, committyng thē selues into their to the lawes of God & man, and to all their tuition & safegard. But at length whē con­trary to the promised made, & contrary both priuileges, they perceiued them selues to be ouercome of the souldiours, the which had obteyned full licence to destroy them (although they had committed them selues to the publicke fayth) and with robberyes, murders, wastings, rapes, adulteries, & all kynde of wickednes, to rage agaynst them, as if they were enemies and traytors, then at the length many of them begā to defend them selues with gates and walles frō the violent fury of their aduersaries. Last of all when they perceiued neither publike liber­tie, nor their wiues chastitie, nor their con­sciences tranquilitie, nor their owne lyues safely defended, from their violēce, by their gates and walles. Many we confesse tooke vpon them armore, not agaynst the kynges maiestie, or any Magistrates, but rather that they might defend their libertie graun­ted them by the kyngs Edict from the rash­nes of théeues and wicked souldiours, nei­ther was this done of all men, but of a very few, the whiche when they perceiued no [Page] there hope to escape, but onely exile, and se­ing the same also by the wickednes of their aduersaries to be shut vp from them, they thought it best by force of armes to make them selues some way to escape by, the which truly if they had not done, and also if that the terror of Brerodius souldiours had not made theyr aduersaryes a litle doubtfull, doubtlesse not one of them from so great a slaughter had escaped safe from the gredy iawes of their aduersaries. They can neuer proue that any other, or that these for any other cause dyd take vpō them armore before the commyng of the Duke of Alba: although they had many and sun­dry oportunities and occasiōs offred them, both to possesse many much and well fen­ced Cities and also to inuade and spoyle the kynges treasure and Excheker. But they would commit nothyng wherof they might not with a safe conscience make rehearsall before God, and all good men. But if any in solent persons either haue gone about or done any other thyng, or for some other purpose, seyng their doinges were neither commaunded nor alowed by those whiche were the chief of the congregation, let not so great a multitude of innocēt persons be punished for the insolencie of a few, for it [Page] doth nothyng apperteine vnto vs, what a few priuate men haue committed for to re­uenge their iniuries taken before either of the Inquisitors, or of the sacrificyng priests or of any other person.Of the o­uerthrow­yng of I­mages. Much lesse doth the ouerthrowyng of Images & Idols apper­teyne vnto vs, for we will easely proue that it was done without the commaundement or consent of our Minister Elders or con­gregations, vnlesse a few of ours (percey­uyng the Magistrate to agrée therunto) did thinke it likewyse lawfull for them to do the same, although truly who soeuer they were that committed it, they haue bene more then sufficiently punished for their offence, for in place of one dead and bloc­kish Image, their hath bene aboue xxx. liue­ly Images of God (for whom the sonne of God dyd shed hys bloud) murthered de­stroyed and burnt and in stede of one rot­ten blocke, more then ten liuely bodyes, & yet the Images restored and renewed by their common charges. As concernyng the new Religion wherof they accuse vs to bée authours euery man knoweth how farre our religion which we professe is from that kynde of newnes.Of new re­ligion. For besides that this re­ligiō was deliuered vnto vs by Christ, the antiquitie of all thyngs, the eternall sonne [Page] of God, by his profites Apostles and Mar­tyrs from many ages, it is manifest that a­boue whole fifty yeares it hath florished in Belgie, and bene set foorth in priuate mée­tynges and Sermons. Neither was it at any tyme, either by any lawfull iudgement or Edict rightly made cōdemned. For what so euer iudgementes hath bene geuen a­gaynst the professours of this Religion, the iudges them selues and Magistrates were compelled by the seueritie of the Edictes to confesse agaynst their will and with great strife of conscience to pronounce the same. Yea they which were found gilty, were not suffred lawfully to defend them selues, but they had their mouthes stopped with a ball, and theyr tounges cut out of their heades contrary to the true order of Iustice. It is manifest also that all the Edictes whiche were made by Charles the Emperour and kyng Phillip are voyde and of none effect, bycause they were made contrary to the lawes and statutes of the coūtrey, without the counsel and consent of the estates of the prouince required in solemne assembly (as they were bound by othe thereunto) with­out whose assent nothyng accordyng vnto the custome and maner of their auncestors could be established, and were also thrust [Page] vpō many of the Magistrates agaynst their will, staiyng them selues vpon most vayne foūdations, full of friuolous cauils by false vnderstādyng, as we haue before declared by the euident playne wordes of y^e Edictes. Therfore this religion can not by any ma­ner of meanes be counted a new religion, nor they the professors of the same, seyng they were vncōdemned as yet by any law­full iudgement accused of any cryme, much lesse should they be estemed as the authors of sedition and tumultes of the people, and causers of this great & greuous calamitie.

But what néede we in so playne a mat­ter to vse so many wordes? séeing the case doth euidently shew it self, and euery man perceyueth who ought to be accused as au­ctors of these turmoyles & calamities. We haue hertofore declared what was the meaning and intent of the spanish Inquisitors, and priestes, what counsell they haue ta­ken, what helpe and ministers they haue vsed, by what meanes they haue espyred vnto thys tyrannicall gouernment, and so­ueraigne authority in Belgye without any law,Of thinges done after the Duke of Albas commyng. or prescript. Though these thinges peraduenture (because of theyr great mo­destie and equitie, which they vse in other prouinces) may séeme to some not probable [Page] (although truely they be dayly song in eue­ry childes mouth) yet if he way these pre­sent tymes, if he sée the effectes of matters, these theyr doinges and affayres, and note this the vncredible tyranny of the Duke of Alba, all which are most apparant to all mē, he shall nothing doubt therein.

All they whom they did call rebels, haue forsaken they countrey, and although they might haue had good occasions and oppor­tunities to kéepe some stirre, yet they chose rather voluntary exile, banishment, and most extreame pouertie, then that they would vexe theyr countrey with most dole­full warre. But what? haue they any thing for all thys mitigated theyr cruelty? Haue they not after all these thinges brought to passe in Spayne by theyr deuises, that the king (which in a solemne assembly at Ma­dride had sworne, that he woulde in hys owne person reuenge the iniury, which he thought himselfe to haue taken of hys sub­iectes at Belgye, and for that cause made all thinges ready for hys iorney, and had fully determined to take his sonne, and the Quéene hys wyfe wyth hym) should alter hys purpose agaynst his will, and (because they knewe hym by nature to be a Prince prone to all kinde of mercy and gentlenes) [Page] to continue still in Spayne? Haue they not substituted or sent an Embassador in hys stead (the kings sonne, and many of the no­bles were vnwilling thereunto) the Duke of Alba, whom by hys nature and maners they well knew to be very fit for theyr pur­pose, both by those thinges which he did in Germany, by the order of hys whose lyfe, but especially also by the deadly hatred, and rancored grudge which he had of long time layd vp in hys stomake agaynst the Prin­ces of Belgye, for theyr valiaunt actes at­chieued in the warres of Fraunce agaynst his will and meaning. Haue they not com­mitted vnto him the full power and aucto­ritie, yea haue they no caused the kynges onely sonne, lawfull heyre and Lord of the prouince of Belgye, to end hys lyfe shut vp in a most horrible prison, because he was a­gaynst the sending of the Albane, and dyd abhorre from the cruelty of the edictes sette out agaynst the religion, bearing singuler fauour and grace towards the lower Ger­manes, bruting abroad most vayne and di­uers rumors of the cause of hys death. What they haue done vnto the Quéene, I had rather other men should imagine, then that we should report.

This truely all men do behold, how this [Page] theyr faythfull champion the duke of Alba doth behaue himselfe. He commeth into a quiet prouince, all those beyng thrown out or volūtaryly gone into exile, whom he loo­ked to haue had as hys aduersaries. He is receaued most honourably of all men, ney­ther was there any one found, which with hys most redy obedience to the kinges le­gate, dyd not testifie hys faythfull hart to­wardes the king.The Duke of Albas doynges since his cō myng to Belgye. But he out of hand or­dereth them not as the kinges louing sub­iectes, but as enemies and traytors, equal­ly raging and extending hys cruelty both v­pon the professors of the Gospell, and pa­pistes, compelling, he constrayned the chéef Princes contrary to the aucthoritye of the lawes, to the liberty of theyr priuiledges, and chiefly contrary to the decrees and ap­pointmentes of the sacred and famous or­der of the golden fléece, of the brotherhoode of Burgundye, to plead theyr cause in chai­nes, and when they refused that kinde of iudgement as vnméete and to be suspected, profering themselues redy to stand before equall Iudges he chopt of theyr heads: the rest which by their godly and holsome coun­sels had defended the peace of theyr coun­trey, and by theyr wisedome stayd the tu­multes of the people, and effusion of bloud, [Page] he pronounceth as enemies and traytors to theyr king and their contrey, and so com­pelleth them (will they, nill they) by taking vpon them armour, to try themselues vn­giltie of so great treason. The which theyr taking of armour (done by them for neces­sities sake, as godly men may iudge) he hath since that time not only made as a iust occasion of slaundring vs with hys cauils, but also as a goodly title of Iustice in execu­ting hys tyranny: and therupon forthwith he putteth in practise that which he had be­fore determined. Therfore he first put all the magistrates (which were thought once to fauour iustice) out of theyr auctority and place, wyth great ignominy and reproch: he substituted in theyr roomes, contrary to theyr lawes and orders, naughty packes a­bounding in all sinne and wickednes: and he appoynted as be thought good, a new se­nate house of Spaniardes, before whome matters of lyfe and death should be plea­ded, the which for that cause should be cal­led the bloudy senate, and by that meanes he did depriued all the lawfull and ordinary magistrates of theyr iurisdiction and hea­ring of matters graunted to them by the lawes: he filled the gallowes and the Iub­bits full of the poore people conuicted of no [Page] other crime, but of geuing credite to the kinges letters patentes, to the gouernesse edicte, and theyr graunted licences, and to the magistrates consenting therunto: and thereupon of hearing of sermons: he de­stroyed many with the sworde, he burned many aliue wyth a small fire, he beheaded many before theyr causes we pleaded, many he spoyled of all theyr goodes and pos­sessions, poysoned to death with the filthye stincke of the continuall prison. But the vngodly persons, whose whole lyfe had bene stayned wyth infamy, being before (as it is manifest) bought out with money, haue gaue them license to plead wyth theyr witnesses, he cut out many of theyr tonges (whome he put to death after) least they should testifie of so great iniustice, he burnt many of theyr tongues with a whot payre of tonges, & to some he tyed theyr lippes to­gether through with an iron, sharp on both sides: others hauing theyr mouthes most beastly set awry with terror and anguish, the matter and bloud dropping downe to­gether, he cruelly drewe to most pytifull slaughter. He pretermitted nothing of Phalaris his tyranny, neyther did he only wyth tormentes thus vexe the professors of the gospell, but those also which most fauoured [Page] the popish religion, and they which had en­deuored with all theyr power, that nothing should be moued agaynst the king. As for those which could not behold the calamitie of theyr countrey, but had for the auoyding of the present daūger conueyed themselues away, he appoynted them a day of appea­raunce, and therwithall scarce staying for the day appoynted, he rushed in vpon theyr goodes, adiudging them confiscate to the kinges Exchequer: not only spoyling poore widowes, innocent orphauntes, and very papistes of their dowry and patrimony, but also deceyuing the creditors of all their iust debtes and lawful titles. He conuerted the inheritaunce of innocentes from their kins­men and alians (to whom for the beheding or ciuill death of the right and next heyres they by law and right did appertayne) most wickedly to hys owne vse and commoditie. He tooke from cities and townes, all theyr liberties, lawes, statutes, & priuiledges, he ouerthrew all order of humanitie, he clearely tooke away all duties of Christian chari­tye, chiefly commaunded by the lawes of God. For by edict he forbad that no kinde of mā, whether he were their father, sonne kinsman, or whatsoeuer, should shew any kinde of charitie to those that professed the [Page] Gospell, or were banished for default of ap­pearaunce at the day appoynted: and thus he alienated and withdrew the mindes of children from theyr parentes, of parentes from theyr children, and of wiues from theyr husbandes.

In the towne of Traciet of Mosa, he put a father to death, because he had for one night lodged in hys house his owne sonne, which had bene for a space absent before. And likewyse, he murthered an other well known citizen, because he gaue the sixt part of a bꝪ. of corne vnto a poore widow, burde­ned with the kéeping of iiij. children, whose husband was before put to death for reli­gions sake. He bereaued also an other of hys lyfe, because he sent hys fréend a little money ouer into England. He compelled honest and chast matrones borne of wor­shipfull stockes, by flight and voluntary ex­ile to saue themselues, and by begging to prouide meat for themselues and theyr chil­dren, only because they receaued their hus­bandes into theyr houses. He threw down many mens houses, because they had recei­ued letters from theyr frends of their helth and welfare. But what? did spare the dead? By hys Edict he straightly charged, that whosoeuer dyed without shrift and au­ricular [Page] confession, his goodes should be con­fiscate, and hys body hanged on a Iubbit, then the which what can be thought or in­uented more cruell, more contrary to all humanitie and Iustice? séeing it hapeneth daily that many sodenly that haue no time to bethinke them of theyr former sinnes. He placed ouer cities not souldiers, but e­nemies and theues, which might violently abuse the riches, wiues, children, and liues of the citizens according to theyr euill lust: and he graunted them licence to do what should please them fréely without punish­ment: for was there any wickednes so hai­nous, the which the fury of the spanish sol­diours hath not committed in Belgye, and doth dayly commit vnpunished. In Iperis a famous towne in Flaunders, when a mi­nister of Gods woord was suffring death, the souldiers wythout any other occasion turned theyr weapons vpon the miserable and vnarmed people standing about them, and besides an infinite number whom they wounded vnto death, there were xiij. citi­zens shot through with pellettes of leade, which they left dead in the streates.

At Turnace a dissention happenyng be­twene the Spanish souldiers, & those other souldiers which were there for the defence [Page] of the Castle, and two of the Spanyardes beyng slayne, the rest cryed out, Spayne, Spayne, at the which voyce, the other Spanish souldiers beyng called did runne most furiously lyke madde men through the Ci­tie, and kylled all whom they met in num­ber about xv. of godly and honest Citizens. In the same night some of the Spanishe souldiers, beyng persuaded that a certaine widow called by the name of her husband, widow Potier had a great somme of mo­ney in her house, brake into her house opē ­ly by violēce at noone dayes, & most cruelly murtheryng her, her daughter & néece, they caryed out of her house all thynges they could finde. At Insull one of the chiefest ci­ties of all Flaunders, which hath bene al­wayes most addicted to the popish religion, when a Spanyard going about by violence to rauish an honest citizēs wife, was let of his purpose by her husbād & ij. of his neigh­bours, he cryed out Spayne, (a cōmon by word amōgest thē for the auoydyng of pre­sent daunger in their wicked enterprises,) the other souldiers warned with that out­cry, came runnyng and by force & violēce, apprehēded the Citizen and his two neigh­bours, and deliuered them vnto the Magi­strate to be punished lyke rebels and sediti­ous [Page] persons, with his threatnyng, that vn­lesse they did execute their commaundemēt spedely they would set the whole Citie on fire, wherwith the Iudges beyng terrified, caused two of them to be hanged, and the thyrd to be whipped. But what auayleth it to recken vp particularly all the wickednes which the Spanishe souldiers haue com­mitted, seing their can not be imagined any offence so haynous, the which they do not day by day commit fréely, without any pu­nishment, and yet the Duke of Alba com­pelleth them to mainteine these souldiers at their owne proper costes and charges. Belyke that they might spoyle and robbe their coffers, rauish their wiues, kill their children and families at their pleasure, and leauyng nothyng frée from their crueltie, a­uarice and horrible wickednes, then the whiche what can be imagined more vn­iust? although truly there is no iniustice so great, from the which the Alba Duke doth abhorre, for least he should leaue any thyng holy & vnpoluted, with his beastly boldnes he dareth prophane the most holy rightes of matrimony: he hath dissolued (vnder the vayne pretence of heresie) the lawfull ma­riages of many, and made their children be gotten in iust mariage, to be taken for ba­stardes [Page] & as illegittimate, to be excluded frō the succession of their patrimony: he ioyned other mens wiues, (which were maryed before in the open assembly of the Church) to other men by a new mariage, or rather, by most infamous adultery, because they had omitted a masse, of that the Priest was not curteously enterteyned at his comming to them: & therwith by his publike Edictes he made manifest adultery and open biga­my to be accompted lawfull. He hath com­pelled widowes agaynst their willes and o­penly denyeng and withstādyng the same, by force and violēce to be maryed vnto his souldiers & cutthrotes, in somuch that ma­ny of thē chose rather to forsake their countreys, with the losse of all their riches, then once to consent vnto such haynous villany. But what? hath he left the most holy Reli­gion of Baptisme vnuiolated? he hath com­maunded with great impiety, contrary to all the Popes decretals, that all they, which were baptised after the maner of the Apo­stles in the primitiue Church & accordyng to the iust prescript of the woorde of God should be baptised agayne. For what auay­leth it to speake of the most reuerent order and religious kéepyng of the sepulchers & graues of those which be buried, the which [Page] from the begynnyng of the world hath ben amongest the most barbarous & fierce peo­ple most religiously kept, seyng he hath no­thyng feared with most brutish crueltie to breake vp the graues of those godly and ho­nest Citizens, which had bene buryed in the ground aboue xiiij. dayes before, and to take out their bodyes scarse cleauyng to the bones, hangyng some on gybbets and burning the rest with fire, neither suffered he the cities of the noble Empire to escape frée from this his odious kynde of cruelty, for who doth not know that euen at Har­deruicke in Geldria, (which is the Empe­rours lawfull inheritaunce) there was the body of an honest Citizen which had bene buryed long before, drawen out of hys graue, and cruelly pluckt in péeces vnder a gybbet with great and bitter triumphyng before the doore, and euen in the very sight of the miserable widow. But what is there holy amongest the lyuyng, or religious a­mongest the dead, the which he hath feared openly to violate and polute, the which af­ter his owne lust & appetite hath made pro­phane thynges holy, and holy thynges pro­phane, hath made & abrogated lawes, hath spoiled the wealthiest of all their substaūce, hath reprochfully slaundered the chiefest of [Page] the nobilitie, hath put to death those which were most innocent, hath destroyed féeble old men, younge men, and tender virgines with most horrible tormentes, hath oppres­sed the Cities and the whole prouince with vncredible exactions and vnaccustomed tri­butes, which hath wrong into his handes with his threatnynges an infinite masse of gold and siluer, and now exacteth ouer all marchaundizes and vsuryes the x. penny, and by that meanes hath diminished the trade of Marchauntes and taken away all licēces of trafique with other natiōs. Was there euer any tyranny since the first age of man so cruell and so couetous as this is? The wicked extorcions, new and vnaccu­stomed tributes wherewith Caligula dyd oppresse his subiectes are recorded in hysto­ryes, yet notwithstandyng he appoynted a meane and measure of his couetousnes, for he assigned to euery kynde of mā by name their seuerall tributes, but his felow, least any thyng should escape hym be it neuer so litle, besides the hundredes, which he hath alredy taken away, and the new hundredes which he hath of late commaunded to be le­uyed of all their landes, farmes, and other immoueables, he doth exact the x. in all kind of faculties, & besides all this, he requireth [Page] xx. hundreth thousand crownes of gold, to be payd him yearely of the whole prouince. What néede we any more, is there any mā so cruelly woode or outragious of mynde, that he doth not tremble and quake at the foden remembraunce of this vnaccustomed crueltie, auarice, vnfaythfulnes, and impie­tie? or can there any man be found so voyde of sense and reason, whose vnderstandyng is so blynded, that he beleueth that these good and well disposed persons, doth séeke nothyng els, but to kéepe the prouince of Belgie vnder the kynges authoritie, to de­fend religion, and mainteyne lawes? seyng all their actions and doinges do openly pre­tend & shew, that they haue no other kyng, no law, or religion, but their onely auarice, and most beastly couetousnes, they make a glorious pretence, as though all the Belgi­ans were Lutherans, rebelles, and tray­tors to the kyngs maiesty, bycause forsooth, they would not submit their neckes to the yocke of the Inquisition, that is to say they would not willyngly and of their owne ac­cord yeld vp them selues, to the beastly lust, and vniust tyranny of most pernicious per­sons. But truly if they had their kyng for theyr enemy, they would neuer haue so faythfully obserued their loyalty towardes [Page] him, neyther would they so carefully haue retained all their cities, townes, and castels in hys fidelitie & tuitiō: neyther would they so faithfully haue geuē credite to the kyngs edictes, the kynges name, the kinges brode seale, & to the Gouernesse, and in so doyng should neuer haue runne into so many & so great calamities by their so light credulity: neither should the Duke of Alba once haue set foote into these countryes: for they had infinite occasions and oportunities offered them of dissanulling the kinges authoritie, of alienating hys cities, of striking league with other nations adioyning vnto them, and of kéeping backe the Alban duke from the borders of theyr prouince: And yet for all thys dare not the aduersaries affirme (vnlesse they be most impudent) that thys was once mentioned amongst them or spo­ken of. But let it be so that they were re­bels, is it lawfull therfore for the King to violate hys faithfull promise, to peruert the lawes both of God and man, and to pollute all thinges both holy, and prophane, wyth thys vnaccustomed tyranny?

We read that in the time of our aunci­tors, many of the cities of Flaunders dyd rebell agaynst Maximilian the most mighty king of the Romanes, and the citizens dyd [Page] not onely openly refuse hys gouernement, and deteyned wyth them for the space of eight yeares his sonne Philippe against his will, but also did most cōtumeliously throw Maximilian himselfe into prison, but after­wardes beyng ouercome by the helpe of Frederike the Emperour, and other the princes of Germany, they yelded thēselues agayne to hys authoritie: then thys good prince Maximilian in thys so odious rebel­lion, and hauing bene so iniuriously hand­led, was so farre from doing any thing lyke vnto the Albane Duke, that he not onely with great gentlenes receaued hys subiects agayne into his graces fauor, but also with great clemency worthy of so great a prince restored vnto them agayne all theyr priui­ledges and auncient immunities. By the which hys vncredible lenitye, he made the hole prouince most obedient in all pointes to hym, and hys posteritie for euer. But these men neuer remitted any tribute, any subsedy, or burden, layd vppon the kinges most faythfull subiectes, whose loyaltie to­wardes the King, coulde neuer wyth any crime be attayned, beyng alwayes obedi­ent to the kinges commaundement, who had offered vp by humble supplication all theyr riches and substaunce vnto the kings [Page] good will and pleasure, desiring to haue no­thing frée from the Kinges commaunde­ment, but onely a cleare conscience in reli­gion, the which they ought to kéepe vnpol­luted vnto God alone. And they humbly desired to redéeme the libertie of religion with an extraordinary and farre more grée­uous tribute, then the Christians redéeme theyr religion of the Turke, or the Iewes obtayne theyrs of the pope. Yet notwith­standing these men (I say) spoyling those faythfull subiectes of all theyr riches, forbid them the vse of fyre and water, ayre & land, as if they were the most deadly enemies of all mankinde: & yet haue they (God know­eth) committed no offence, but only geuen to light credite to the kings edicts, which in manner were established as firme lawes, & neuer to be reuoked, and so they simply be­leuing the kinges letters and name, kept diligently their sermons, in the which there was nothing preached but the pure woorde of God, and they dayly admonished to shew theyr obedience to the prince and his magi­strates. Yet these tyrantes doth with most horrible cruelty oppresse the hole prouince without respect either of the innocent or of­fenders, and wyth most insatiable auarice spoyling them, torment them wyth most [Page] barbarous tyranny.

Can any man now doubt, what it is that these men haue hertofore laboured to bring to passe, or whereunto they haue bended theyr mindes, set theyr eyes, and applyed theyr most reuening handes? Or is there any man so blind that can not sée what hath bene the cause & originall of these foresayd tumultes in Belgye, or so blockish that he can not perceiue that these honest men, I meane the good maisters and byshops of the spanish inquisition, haue from the begin­ning, onely gone about to alienate the kin­ges minde from hys subiectes, and by eue­ry small or none occasion to accuse them of rebellion, that as they haue most furiously executed theyr tyranny in the kingdome of Naples, Cycell, and the countrey of Mil­len, in new India, and in the chiefest par­tes of Spayne: so they might by some ma­ner of meanes furiouslye rage in the lowe Germany, and by litle and litle when occa­sion shall bee offered, in highe Germany: and that vnder the colour of defending the Popes religion, they might oppresse the hole libertie of the citizens in Belgie, take away theyr magistrates authoritie, and vi­olate the hole power of theyr lawes, bring the kinges maiestie subiect to theyr autho­ritye, [Page] and that they themselues might with­out law or order at their pleasure cōmaund what they wyll, take what they lyste, kyll whatsoeuer should offend them, empty the rich mens coffers, and make themselues lordes and gouernors of all thinges.

But if any man shall thinke that these thynges, because they be present,Of thinges done in Germany and in other places heretofore. & not yet throughly finished, can not easily be iudged vpon, let hym coniecture, and take iudge­ment of thynges alredy past. In the which we appeale vnto your maiesties, most mighty Emperour, and ye renowmed prin­ces of Germany, call to remembraunce, what they haue heretofore done in Ger­many, what with what fetches and coun­selles they haue wrought, you shall per­ceaue truly theyr old artes, you shall know these old Spaniardes you shall know these old Inquisitors, for euē these be they which with their greuous cauils and sclaunders, & with the terror of the Popes name haue oppressed the most famous princes of Ger­many before Charles the v. which kyndled a most dolefull firebrand of ciuill dissention in the very bowels of hygh Germany, and vnder the cloake of rebellion, dyd set the Protestant Princes together by the eares, beyng altogether ignoraunt of their treche­ry, [Page] the which haue defiled all things in Germany with their wicked & flagitious actes, the whiche haue gone about to ouerthrow the liberties of Germany and lawes of the Empire, and euen these be they at this day whiche do vexe and trouble the inhabiters of low Germany with the very same ca­uils, before the foresayd Charles his sonne kyng of Spayne, they haue deceiued them with the same artes and subtilties, and op­pressed with the same enterprises, these be the authors & inuentors of so great vnfaythfulnes, these also be giltie of their crueltie & auarice, these were the ministers and wor­kers of all their mischieuous boldnes. For to whō is Granduellanus the Cardinall of the Germaynes vnknowen, or who know­eth not the Duke of Alba? both the which haue emprisoned the most noble princes of Germany, ouercommyng them partly by violence, and partly by their fraude and de­ceyte, and haue slaundered them with most reprochful contumelyes. These be the fire­brandes of the whole world, with the which the greatest part of Europe, will most dole­fully be set a fire, vnlesse your authoritie wisedome and power, do with spéede fore­sée so great a mischief, these men therfore are onely to be accompted as the authors [Page] of all the tempestuous broyles seditions tu­multes & miserable calamities which haue happened in Belgye. But if there be any man that doth not as yet vnderstand, let hym remember the saying of Cassianus (to whom these thynges shall profite) & let hym diligently consider not onely to whom this publicke calamitie of Belgy is now profita­ble, but also if there be any hope, that these thyngs will be profitable to hym hereafter. Seyng we could not but perceiue that this daunger was iminent either by losse of our religion or by woundyng of our consciēce, or by the greuous anger of our kyng, or by the dolefull destruction of our countrey, whiche way soeuer it would haue happe­ned. For they haue long ago hunted after their triumphes, theyr ruledome and Em­pyre by any these occasions. So that they neuer haue ceased by theyr subtill deuises to cause the subiectes to hate theyr kyng, & the kyng likewise to hate his subiectes, and with gréedy mouthes & stretched out eares they haue takē the lest suspition of tumults and rebellion, and haue filled the kynges eares and mynde wyth theyr false tales, odiously amplifying their receiued newes, the which though it be so manifestly to all men that it néede no longer proufe yet it is [Page] most manifestly confirmed by the kynges Embassadors which was sent into Fraūce,A copye of this Epi­stle worde for word is to be seene in the end of the duke of Au [...]ces Apologye confirmed with all their hādes for he in his letters sent to the gouernours writeth on this wise, their will aryse vnto the king great frute and commoditie by the incommodious tumultes of Belgy, because by this occasion, the kyng will bryng them to full obedience and subiection, and reduce the state into that forme and order of gouerment vnto the which hys auncetors could neuer atteyne, the which to bryng to passe, the kyng hath vehemently desired of longe tyme, and therein hath alwayes hetherto spent hys whole study and endeuour, and that there was no man, (fauouryng the kynges maiesty,) would counsell him to let passe so noble occasion of the performaūce of this his woorthy enterprise, &c. By the which wordes it is manifestly declared that the Spanishe Inquisitors (whiche in the name of the kyng doe cloake and couer all their desires) haue sought and gone about heretofore to get any occasion, whereby they might inuade Belgy spoyle it of all his riches and goodes, and rule all thynges as should best be thought to their lust and pleasure. So that no man can longer doubt frō whence these haue had theyr begynnyng, seyng it is manifest who they are that haue [Page] long ago desired to reape the frutes of these our troubles, & it is also manifest that the Cardinall hym selfe in a great assembly of many men, when it was obiected vnto hym that it was to be feared lest if the people should be any more oppressed they would make some sedition, was not ashamed to aunswere, that the kyng had no cause to feare, But rather to wish for the seditious tumultes of his subiectes: for by them the kynges power and maiestie was much en­creased, and the priuileges of the Cities & liberties of the people very much restray­ned and diminished. Otherwise, what is it that they should seeke for by so many exam­ples of such vnaccustomed auarice & rare crueltie: would they make the people sub­iect to the kynges authoritie? euery wise man séeth, that then they take not the iust and right way to obteyne they purpose. For the subiectes hartes are wonne and re­conciled to their prince by gentilnes, huma­nitie, and Iustice, not by terror, feare, or tyranny: and euery man knoweth, that the prince of Egmonde and an infinite num­ber of others which haue bene alwayes & euer were most earnest fauourers of the kynges name and authoritie, & they which neuer spared the sweate of their browes or [Page] bloud of their bodyes for to kéepe the whole prouince safe in the kynges subiection, and whom the king for this cause hath alwayes very much regarded, were notwithstan­dyng destroyed of them for an old hatred conceyued thorough an old enuie of theyr noble actes so worthely atchiued in theyr warres: But peraduenture they séeke by this meanes vtterly to roote out the religiō of the gospell, which they (though the most part of them be of no religion) fayne them selues so vtterly to deteste & abhorre. Tru­ly they meane nothyng lesse, for then what cause had they with such infamy & reproch cruelly to put to death the foresayd Prince of Egmonde, the Earle Hornam, and ma­ny others, which were both ignoraunt of this Religion, and haue bene alwayes ad­uersaryes of the same: why do they still exe­cute such tyranny, vpon those which be al­together of the Popes religion: but (most noble Princes) they desire nothyng lesse: their onely fetch is to establishe their kyng­dome in Belgy, that they may rule therein all thynges accordyng to their lewde lust & pleasure, and contrary to all equitie and right, as they haue done, heretofore in Ci­cell and in the kyngdome of Naples, that they beyng loden with the riche spoyles of [Page] so wealthy a prouince, may returne home, and send others in their steade, they which should draw them dry of all their iuyce and bloud, there is one onely way to attayne to this purpose, and that is their holy Inqui­sition, the which by good right is termed af­ter the name of Inquisitiō, for by this they doe dayly inquyre and make search in the chéestes, bagges & coffers of the riche men, in the bewty and bosomes of the virgynes and matrones, in the throtes, bowels and bloud, and lastly in the soules & consciences of all men, by this they make them selues Lordes and Monarches of all thynges they make all the princes and the kyng him selfe subiect and obedient vnot them, they haue vsed this meanes first in Spayne, in the which by this arte of Inquisition they haue disanulled all priuileges and libertyes, the which where before very great in Spayne, they haue made subiect vnto them selues, all the authoritie of lawes and the maiestie of the regall scepter, they haue left onely a bare name and title to the Kyng with part of the taskes and subsides, they challenge vnto them selues soueraigne rule and au­thoritie, and in causes capitall they appoint vnto the giltie either lyfe or death at theyr owne arbitrement, whom they determine [Page] to destroy, no man is able to saue, no not the kyng hym selfe though he most earnest­ly desire it, whom they take vpon them to defend, neither the seueritie of the lawes, nor Iudgement sincerely geuen nor the kynges commaundement is hable once to hurt hys litle finger, therfore it is no mar­uayle, if all estates, yea and the kynges them selues be very much afrayde of them; After­wardes they folowed the same way in Na­ples, Cicell, Myllen, and in the great coun­trey of Indya, & they openly (but in vayne) put the same practise for to make subiect to them selues all Germany, for they were withstode and preuēted by your wisedome (most mighty princes) and by the wisdome power, and vertue of your auncetors: but yet they cease not at thys time by theyr craf­tye wiles & deceites, to peforme that which they haue so long desired.

For that I may pretermit the Gronyn­gans, the wise Phrisians, the Transiselli­ans, Geldrians, Remanicensians, and ma­ny other of the empyre, the which alwayes haue obayed to the iurisdiction of the Ro­mane Emperor, haue vsed hys lawes and statutes, and haue appealed to the court of the Emperor, and submitted themselues into the gouernment of the Duke of Bra­bant, [Page] onely vpon thys condition, that they might retayne theyr lawes, customes, and statutes fastly without any appearing of the same, all which the Duke of Alba hath de­priued of all theyr liberties and priuileges, and (as though they had bene ouercomme by battell) appoynted them new lawes, cre­ated new magistrates contrary to theyr aū ­cient maner and constitution, hath exacted vnaccustomed tributes, hath built castelles in theyr cities, hath banished the chiefe of theyr citiezens, seased vp theyr goodes: that I may (I say) pretermit all these thinges, and infinite more of like sort, in the which although he hath no right or title, yet he pretendeth to haue some kinde of interest. For what ende (I pray you) doth he séke openly to enlarge the bondes of hys go­uernment without any iust or shadowed ti­tle therunto, euen into the very middest of the empyre? What causeth him to séeke, or rather by force to take vppon hym the go­uernment of the countrey of Cleueland, & threatningly to commaund them to banish out of theyr countrey, all the Belgians? What causeth hym by prescript to com­maund Collyn, and the other frée cities of the Empier, what they should do vnto the low Germaynes? It is impossible that it [Page] should not be reuealed vnto you (most wor­thy princes) what crueltie he hath commit­ted, what fieldes he hath destroyed, what droues of beasts he hath caried away, what matrones and virgins he hath defloured, how many inhabitauntes he hath murdred in the East contrey of Phrisia, and the con­trey of Emdon? What should we thinke moreouer, séeing he doubteth not by hys e­dicte to call home all the studentes of low Germany, which were gone abroad to for­ren vniuersities, whatsoeuer (onely Rome excepted:) and all the young men which were departed to other places for the lear­ning of some arte or manuell occupation, threatning perpetuall banishment and losse of all theyr goodes if they do not returne, in­somuch that he hath spoyled the poore yong men trauelling abroad for the knowledge of tongues, and getting of wisedome, of the fruite of all theyr studies and labourers, ma­king them vnfit hereafter to take office vp­pon them in the common wealth, and hath vtterly beggered and vndone many which trauayled abroad to gette theyr lyuing by theyr arte and occupation. In the whych he sheweth hymselfe vtterly to denounce all humanitie: for if all humanitie be main­tayned by the mutuall societie and compa­ny [Page] of men, must he not néedes be the ene­my therof, which by violence seketh to take away that one gift, wherby man only shew­eth himself to differ from the brute beastes. For the knowledge of tonuges, and vse of reason, althought it be peculiarly geuen vn­to man, yet the fruit therof is not fully rea­ped, but in the company and society of mē, & especially in our affayres which we haue with other nations. Therfore séeing he go­eth about to bereue vs therof, what séeketh he els but to destroy the toung, & the whole vse of reason: the which truely (so great is hys inhumanity) he would do, if he could bring it by any meanes to passe. For what other thing doth he séeke by this his Inqui­sition? Why doth he forbid the people the vse of holy Scripture? Why doth he refuse onely the knowledge of Gods holy wil and Testament to the deuines, that is forsooth, to his Inquisitors and byshops? Why doth he forbidde the people to pray in a knowne tongue? but that he desireth rather to rule brutish beastes, then reasonable men. For he feareth, lest if they should vnderstand a­ny thing, they would at the length detest so great & vnaccustomed barbarousnes, and therfore he will haue no cities or countries gone vnto, but those vnto whom he prescri­beth [Page] lawes and ordinaunces. It hath bene very well by the wyse iudgement & doyngs of our aūcetors brought to passe, that yoūg men studious in good literature, and liberal artes, should trauel vnto other vniuersities to sée their cities and maners, and to learne their toungues, and for thys cause, by the liberality and costes of kynges & Princes, frée Vniuersities were founded, and great libertyes & priuiledges graunted to them, that thether the young men of other coun­tryes might more often resort, and that by thys meanes the fayth, frendship, and so­cietie of men among themselues might the better be retayned: the which truely is no new custome, but hath bene vsed hertofore in all ages. For we read that Platoe, and the other philosphers dyd wyth long & di­uers trauellinges learne their wisedomes, whereof we all stand now in admiration, & from straunge peoples and far nations car­ry the knowledge therof into Grece. The Romanes before times vsed to sende theyr children into Gréece and Asia for learnings sake, and that I may not onely stay in those olde examples, not much before the imma­nitie of the Turke had ouerrun all Gréece, the Germaynes, Frenchmen, Italians, & the Spanyardes them selues were wont [Page] earnestly to go to Athenes for study sake. The which libertie or custome who soeuer taketh away, he taketh truly away all hu­manitie and professeth him selfe the deadly enemy of all other nations. For it is wont to be forbydden that any Citizen should in­habite or dwell amongest those, agaynst whō our Haroldes haue denounced warre, the whiche for this cause is done, because we thinke it not lawfull for our Citizens & young men to resorte to those people, whō we accompt as enemyes, seyng therefore (right noble Princes) that he doth forbyd his Citizens & frée yong men to be brought vp amongest you, & all other nations, one­ly Rome excepted, what cā otherwise be ga­thered, but that he misdoubteth your faith, and suspecteth your meanyng, & desireth to deale with you, as with his open enemyes. Let therfore all méetynges of marchants & chaunge of marchaundises be taken away, let all your Vniuersities be destroyed, abrogate all their priuileges, suffer no hosopitali­tie to be kept, let euery mā sit idle at home, in his owne house, take hede lest any thyng be brought in from farre coūtreys, lest like­wise ye bryng in somewhat which may at length hynder the barbarous trade of the Duke of Alba.

[Page]But we hope (most worthy princes) that you playnly sée what mē are chiefly to be ac­cused of this our iniury, the Spanyard will not suffer our yoūg men to come vnto your Vniuersities, your solemne martes or fayres, or to any of your prouinces, least peraduenture they should returne infected of some spot of heresie. By the which hys iudgement he openly condemneth you and all your people of heresie, and impietie. Al­though in this his doyng, he hath besides this an other fetch and purpose: for this is a new inuention for to spoile the poore peo­ple of their substaūce, for when he séeth thē to haue escaped the gréedy iawes of his In­quisition, and it is not easie for hym to ac­cuse them, beyng absent, although many of them, in his iudgement, woorthely be accu­sed of such haynous crymes, and had deser­ued to haue their goodes confiscate, bycause they were very rich & wealthy, he thought best to deuise some way whereby he mgyht lykewise draw them into his net. And ther fore he stretcheth out the vale of his Reli­gion, the which he abuseth to the full satis­fieng of all his appetites, as Gigas dyd hys ryng. By this he driueth some out of theyr countrey, and maketh some returne home agaynst their wils. By this he taketh from [Page] some all their liberties, riches, and life, to o­thers he geueth full lycence to praye vpon other mens goodes, and with all wicked­nes to shed the innocent bloud, to be brefe, vnder this pretence of Religion, he doth what soeuer pleaseth him, though it be con­trary to the lawes of God and man. By this also, with most extreme and vnaccusto­med tyrāny, he goeth about to establish & to geue all soueraigne power in low Germa­ny vnto the Bishops of the Spanish Inquisitiō, that from thence, if it be possible: they might stretch the same, by their deceytes & priuy practises, throughout all Europe.

Do not you thinke,These thinges pertain as well to the Ger­mans as to y^e Belgiās. (most noble Prin­ces) that these thynges nothyng perteine vnto you: for they do most especially bende theyr force agaynst you, and your Germa­ny. For their remayneth as yet, yea there is norished (I say) in the Spanyardes harts and bowels the great grief, which they of late conceyued, when they saw the gouern­ment of Germany, (wherof they thought them selues in full possession) to be pluckt out from betweene theyr iawes. They do as yet trye their old counselles, where­by they may make subiect all the world to theyr holy Inquisition, and reteine vnto thē selues the full superioritie of all things, [Page] they haue not as yet buryed their old artes and craftie pollicies, they haue not as yet abolished their leages, societyes, and con­spiracies: wherby they bounde them selues vtterly to subuerte all those, whom they thought would withstand the encrease of theyr tyranny. Who doth not know the conditions of peace betwene the kynges of Fraunce and Spayne? Who knoweth not the confederacie made with the Bayo­niandes? who knoweth not what fire­brandes hath from thence bene brought in­to Fraunce, low Germany, Italye, Eng­land, Scotland, and into the furthest coun­trey of all the lande Thule. Truely that longe and deadly ciuill warre in Fraunce was first moued and made by these authors contrary to the Edictes made by the estates of the whole Realme, and contrary to the will of the Kyng and Quéene, and by these also, the peace beyng broken, the leages violated, and the fidelitie of their othes and agréementes beyng troden vnder féete. It was begon agayne the second and the thyrd time, & by these men it hath bene continued almost ten yeares, to the great calamitie of that noble prouince, & the great slaughter of worthy men and noble princes. Neither do they now at this tyme ceasse with theyr [Page] pestiferous coūsels & most wicked practises by all their power to breake & make voyde the peace appointed and cōcluded with the full good will of the kyng & all good men. It is more manifest then that it néedes rehear­sall what persecutions they haue done in I­taly, what conspiracies they made in Eng­land, what seditious tumultes & murthers they haue caused in Scotland, & what rebellions they haue raised in Irelād, for what, haue they doubted euen in Englād, settyng vp their Popes buls conuiciously to call the most noble gratious and vertuous Quéene of England, the seruaunt of all wickednes, the mainteyner of most wicked persons an hereticke & fauourer of all heretickes, & do pronounce her cursed by the Popes curse, to depriue her of the right of her kingdome, and iurisdiction to absolue her subiectes & people from the bonde of their loyaltie and othe towardes her, and generally to forbid that any man should obey her authoritie, by the which their iudgement they haue open­ly and playnly declared what other kynges and princes, professyng the Gospell should looke for at their hands. But what, hath this seditious flame conteined it selfe within the boundes and limites of Europe. Hath it not burst out & ouer retched the pillers of [Page] Hercules, hath it not filled the shores of A­phricke with the dead mens bodyes: hath it not styrred vp the Mores to armour, and the Turke to battaile: hath it not shaken the scaffold of the whole world with a most terrible tempest and doth it not also now (most noble Princes) prepare it selfe to burst out amongest you, to arme your sel­ues agaynst your owne bowelles if ye take not hede: notwithstāding we do not doubt, but that the Lord for his mercy sake wil in­due your honors with such wisedome and courage that you shall stand and withstand their mischieuous practises.

But we (most mighty Cesar, and ye re­nowmed princes of Germany) besech your your honors not to neglect vs the most mi­serable of all men,An earnest petition to the Empe­ror, and to the princes of germany banished our countrey, spoyled of our riches, sclaūdered with igno­my, oppressed with pouerty, through theyr great and vnspeakable tyrāny. Remember that Belgy is a part of Germany, wherof a great part is conteyned within the riuer of Rhene, & a great part also by most auncient right obeyng to the Emperors lawes, & sta­tutes. Remember that Brabant hath bene alwayes in most auncient inheritaunces of the Empire, and the Dukes therof hath in all ages heretofore bounde them selues to [Page] the Emperours, to be in theyr retinue and protection. And that Antwerpe is accomp­ted the chief: Marquesdome of the Empyre, and that Gueldria, Phrisia, and the coun­trey Gormingen, Transiselan, and Came­racensis, are all vnder the iurisdiction of the Empire: and that Hollande, Zelande, Hannony, and other Townes of Belgy haue apperteyned to the dukes of Barrey, as theyr auncetors goodes & inheritaunce. Do not you despise the frendshyppe that is betwene vs, by name, toung, and continu­all societie, and that we let passe all ambi­guyties. Remember most (mighty Cesar) that Charles the fifth your fathers brother was lately chosē out of the middes of Flaū ders to the gouernement of the Empire, as though he had bene by nation a Ger­mane, and that Maximilian also your great graundfather, did ioyne in alyaunce by ma­riage all the countrey of Belgy, to the most noble and auncient house of Austrice. And that Charles the Emperour not long be­fore caused that whole prouince to bee ac­compted as one of the estates and limites of the Empire in the Parlament holden at Auguste, all the estates and princes of Germany assentyng thereunto,1548. and that they might be in the sauegarde and defence of [Page] the Empire agaynst all violence and iniu­ries. And that they by name haue bene sent as Embassadors to all the assemblyes of the Empire from the prouince of Belgye, and that they haue payde tribute requi­red of them for the repeilyng of the great Turke, and that it is vntill this day contro­uersie whether the Duke of Brabant or the Byshop of Magdeburge should sit in hygher roomes at the assemblyes, so that without all doubte the prouince of lowe Germany should not be accompted as A­thenes from the Empire. Do not you ther­fore contēne (most mighty Emperour, and ye noble Princes of Germany) the humble suyte of vs your frendes requestyng your trust and ayde agaynst the outragious cru­elty of those most proude and abhominable men. We do not deny to be obedient to our kyng, to obey hys commaundementes paye our tributes, taskes, and subsidies, whatsoeuer to shewe our fayth and loyal­tie towardes hym in all poyntes. But in we most humble wise do desire that we may haue our conscience and Religion left vs fréely, lest in that last iudgement we be found giltie of violatyng the fayth of Ie­sus Christ with an vngodly conscience, and that we may by the good licence of the kyng [Page] defend and kepe the health of our soules.

And we by the Immortall God, and by his onely sonne Iesus Christ, whose name we professe in our publike religion, pray, & beséech your Maiesties highnesses, that we may defend our selues, our wiues, childrē & riches, but aboue all our conscience frō the pride of the Inquisitors, frō the auarice of the new bishops, & frō the outragious lust of the most mischeuous ministers of the in­quisition, and rascall souldiers. And if the frendly name of the Gorgnames can no­thing moue you, yet let that most straight bond wherwith we ar knit together in Ie­sus Christ whose members we boast our selues to be, moue you: let the duety you owe to all mankinde, moue you: let the doubtfull & incertayne condition of mans estate, moue you: let crooked old men now wrapt in sorow, moue you: let miserable wydowes, vnfortunate orphanes, mour­nyng virgines, let so greate and so huge a company of miserable men, moue you: who altogether driuen out of their houses, throwne from their possessions, depriued of the commodities of theyr countrey, spoyled of al estimation, violently plucked from the bosomes of their iust carefull parentes, lo­uing wiues, and tender childrē, wandring [Page] and scattred abroad in straunge countries, not knowing what shal become of them, do séeke wast resting places, small cheare, and libertie of theyr conscience. But if no occa­sion shall be offered you, to restore vs vnto our countrey agayne, yet geue no eare to our aduersaries accusations, nor place to theyr vnsatiable crueltie.

We know for a certainty, that they will neuer cease to vrge you to depriue vs of all the humanitie and gentlenes, wherewith you entertayned and cherished vs in your countries: so that there be neyther ayre left to the liuing, nor earth to the dead, nor re­fuge to poore exiles. But we pray you most noble Princes, to regarde more the com­maundement of God (who commaundeth you to receyue straungers and poore bani­shed men, not onely wythin your gates or walles but euen in your houses, and to che­rish them wyth all humanitie:) then the commaundementes of a few spanish prie­stes, which with the duke of Alba, contend and labour to haue vs the throwne out of your Empyre. Suffer not the feare and terror of the spanish name to be of more force wyth you, then the name and frendship of the Germane. For what should we speake of the agréement of our religion? the which [Page] truely shoulde moue you not to suffer vs which be ioyned wyth you in the body of Christ, in one profession of fayth, in one ba­ptisme, to be by the lust of a few (which haue no religion but theyr gréedy auarice) banished lyke straungers and enemies, lest that Christ the King of all kinges in that last day of iudgement, take that done vnto hymself, which is cruelly exercised agaynst vs, being by hys frée grace and mercy vni­ted to his body and made his members: for though they do pretende the difference of our religion, there is no cause (most noble princes) why you should be moued. For we which do with you acknowledge one God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, true God and very man, one holy Ghost: and we which do rest our selues in the onely sa­tisfaction of Iesus Christ, and for hys sake are banish [...] [...] [...]ar countrey, spoyled of our goodes, a [...] appoynted as shéepe vnto the slaughter: which acknowledge one church, one woorde of God, for the foundation of our health: and lastly, with you do looke for one resurrection from the dead, and lyfe e­uerlasting, geuen by the frée grace and mer­cy of God, do not you thinke that we pro­fesse any other religion then that which you do. But if we shall by the exposition of [Page] some woordes séeme to differ, remember that the Apostles themselues, and theyr di­sciples did neuer so fully agree, but there was in some thinges a litle dissention. Re­menber that euen the auncient fathers of the primitiue church haue not onely left in theyr writinges errors, but also in many places open contrarieties: the which true­ly by the déepe prouidence and wisedome of God, is not without great profite ap­poynted: that we knowing the infirmitie of our owne wit may learne to forsake the iudgement of man, and cleaue onely to the authority of the woord of God: and not to peefer the auctority of man, and our owne iudgment, before the auctority of the word of God: but to beare one an others bur­dens, and with christian charity to couer and wisely to beare one an others errors, and infirmities. And yet notwithstandyng what discorde of Religion can there be a­monst vs, which do not onely embrace the onely word of God, but also out of that worde take the forme of our fayth, and all thinges which we vse in our religion. For we truely do wyth most ioyfull hartes re­ceaue and embrace the confession which our Auncytors deliuered vp to Charles the Emperour at Augusta. And if we may [Page] geue our iudgement in any thing, we sub­scribe in all pointes to the doctrine of those Diuines, by whose labour that forme of theyr fayth was drawne out: we accompt them not onely as our brethren, but euen for the most deuine and excellent prophets of God. And they likewise do embrace vs with great and incredible charity, and with all brotherly loue and piety. It is therfore ye Princes a more cauell fayned of our ad­uersaries, which say, that we professe a reli­gion, diuerse from the Germanes: for they study nothing els, but that when they haue sette vs together by the eares, they might teare the members of Christ in pée­ces, and so oppresse vs seperated and disse­uered, whome they were not able to ouer­throw, fast ioyned in amitie.

But ye men and Princes, whiche haue knowen long agoe their craftes and subtel­ties, be ye not therewith moued, neither suffer ye the false cauels of our aduersaryes to haue more power, to teare and dismem­ber the members of the body of Christ, then the word and commaundement of the same Iesus Christ, then the sincere iudge­ment of your Princes and Diuines hath power and force to vnite and knitte vp the same. Neither let the diuerse interpreta­tion [Page] of one word preuayle more with you, then the most sure and vndoubted consent of the whole Scripture and fayth. By the whiche fayth and by the most holy body of the sonne Iesus Christ, into the whiche he hath ioyned vs to hym selfe with a knot in­dissoluble, We ones agayne in most hum­ble wise besech and intreate you, that your charitable mercy, which hath bene alwayes prest and ready to helpe all poore and op­pressed innocentes, benyngly to receaue vs also with some tuition and safegard, which for the name Iesus Christ do not onely suf­fer all cruell tormentes, but also are ouer­whelmed with most false and vniust repro­ches, and that you would onely as long as it shall please God to chasten vs thus with exile beyng spoyled of all our goodes and commodities of our countrey, with your gentlenesse somewhat to ease vs, whom Gods correction doth kéepe low and in po­uertie, so shall you do an acceptable worke vnto God hym selfe the iust iudge of all thinges, and styrre vs vp diligent­ly to call vpon his mercy and gra­cious fauour for you and your people. Amen.