An Exhortation Concerning the Estate of Christendom

To all Christian Kings, Princes and Potentates, with all other the estates of Christendom.

I F we would in the balance of understanding weye and ponder whatsoever the councils & actions which we conceive in other men's affairs and business, we should no dout build the whole estate of our life upon a more assured foundation, & with all eschew an infinite number of calamities as well public as particular which now we do incur. For the examples of other men's perils and losses, being the moste faithful teachers and expert guides of this present life, would make us more wary and stand us instead of a rule whereby to direct all our enterprises, determinations, & the conduct of all our affairs. This kind of wisdom have the moste circumspect in all ages, accounted to be, not only of the greatest profit, but also most mild and tolerable, and which doth yield greatest contentation to the practitioners of the same.

Howbeit it happeneth for the most part, that in the gouernm̄et & directiō of our affairs we be so altered, either with hope, or fear, or some other human frailty or infirmity, that we cannot comprehend or forsee the mischief which evē at hand hangeth over our heads, until it hath utterly snared and caught us through some sudden & vnloked for fall & ruin, and so we do fully suffer the punishment due to our dullness & negligence: Whereby notwithstanding we do many times wisely enter into the consideration of other men's affairs, yet in case our selves be to eschew the like perilles, it falleth ordinarily out, that either in pondring the weightiness of the matter, either amazed with doubt of the uncertain event thereof, either waiting that others first set to their hands, either hoping time enough to be able to provide therefore, we do so prolōg our business that the commodity & occasiō escaping us, all this goodly wisdom, and wary forecast that we had conceived in the consideration of the examples of other men's mischāces, vanisheth into smoke & so suddenly wereth away, that wecānot thereof reap any fruit or commodity.

Hitherto was there never province, Town, or valeant & virtuous citizen, but did account their safety, liberty & common quiet to depend vpō the moderate & peaceable government of their mightiest borderers: as also that nothing went so nere thē, or was of such importance, as their neighbors to establish their estate in justice, or moderate affection, & in peaceable containing thē selves within their own bounds & limits, as it were within certain strong bulwarks & barriers. And assuredly as ambitiō is ever to be feared & suspected in all manner of persons, so is it most dangerous in those, who being already of great power & strength, cannot nevertheless bridle their covetous assections, how large soever the extent of their bounds & limites be: For since it is impossible that any innovations, or alterations in kingdoms and common wealths, can hapen without perverting, molesting or general confounding of all things, it must necessarily follow that not only the bordering provinces, but also those countries which lie farther off, being tossed & turmoiled with the waves & billows of such their neighbors ambition, shall finally be entangled and swallowed up in the gulf of so horrible calamity.

For as the waves of the Ocean Sea, being tossed with some mighty storm & so swelling out of their banks & ordinary limittes, may at the first with small labor be restrained through some strong wall speedily erected & by the diligence of all the neighbors & borderers, each helping other in so great peril, opposed against thē: but having once pierced & made breach in a bank or two, & thereby dispearsing thenselves & slowing over the whole champion country without restreint, cannot after ward either by power or policy be reduced, or stopped from breeding and working inestimable & inevitable calamity among both men & cattle inhabiting the said Countrye, but also oftentimes against whole towns, countries and Kingdoms lying further off: Even so likewise ambitious Princes endeavoring to enlarge their own bounds and limits, although with other men's losses, may easily in the beginning of their enterprises be repressed, and by a common consent and correspondence of their neighbors, generallye opposinge themselves against their attempts, be so restrained within their own bounds and limittes, that hardly they shall put any to loss or other notable inconvenience: but having once passed their armies into other men's provinces, and being allured by the sweetness of taking some strong hold or place of importance, and so conceiving some hope of further extending the bounds of their empire: and especially knowing their name to be grown terrible amongst their neighbors, there is then no means, power, or force how great so ever, either any other let, that can stop the forcible course of their mad affection and frantic ambition, coveting to rule and command over others. This matter whosoever among the wisest have heretofore considered (as all those have done, which thought it necessary to use discreet moderation in the conduct of their affairs) have ever holden this for a principle, namely that it is the duty of every good countryman, especially of Kings, princes and governors, not only diligently and in time to see that the affairs of their Countries, people and provinces be in good estate, and quietly and peaceably ordered, but also to prevent such Princes and neighbors as are provoked by ambition and allured with desire of rule, from transporting any power, under whatsoever color and pretence, into other men's dominions, also from all ambitious enlargeing of their own bounds & limits.

Upon this ground did the Romans, seeking even in the beginning to suppress the power of the Carthagenians and to set Spain free from the African bondage, think it necessary to aide the Mamertynes whom they had besieged.

For this cause when Antiochus the noble, under title of the protectorship of his nephew, sought to seize upon Egypt, the said Romans commanded him to desist, & content himself with the possession of his predecessors ancient dominions: and that generally they never suffered any prince or common wealth whatsoever to rise into too great power.

Hereupon also the Venetians both now and aforetime obtained the name of wisdom & singular forecast. For as they were never easily induced to new wars, so have they always nevertheless in such manner tempered their determinations and counsels, that if any neighbor, either prince or common wealth, through immoderate desire of government, areared war against his borderers, their armies were still in readiness as a help and safeguard to the weaker party, to the end that thus restraining the forces of the Italian Princes & commonwealths in equal balance, they might keep them from all hope of subduing them by force of arms, which perpetual resolution of theirs is among all other excellent matters noted to be the most certain reason, whereby we see their common wealth not only to have flourished and prospered above a thousand years, but also in all virtue & wisdom to be grown into admiration among other nations. This was that Maxim which Laurence de Medicis, the wisest man in his time in Italy, did so earnestly and with so singular endeavor all his life time both follow and maintain, unto whom that great quietness and tranquility which so long as he lived all Italy did enjoy, was in the opinion of most hystoriographers attributed: For he so bridled the affections of the Italian Princes and souerainties, partly by council and advice, and partly by the power and authority of the Florentine common wealth, whereof himself was chief governor, that if any, ambitiously passing his bounds and limits did enterprise ought against his neighbor, he was immediately reduced into his duty by the mutual power of other Princes and people united together.

To be brief, there is no wise man but seeth, knoweth, and is fully resolved, yea, and grievously accuseth that people, terming them traitors to their Country, who either daunted with fear and cowardliness, or provoked with desire of rest and quietness, either drowned in retchlesnesse, or detained in civil dissensions, have so suffered their ambitious neighbors empire to increase, that afterward being unable to bear the brunt or withstand the power and might thereof, they have been forced with their own eyes to see themselves suppressed, and their Country reduced into extreme misery and calamity. Yea, who is there among us, that is not of opinion that the ancient Gauls might have lived in liberty & been exēpt frō the Romans bondage, if by common counsel & consent they had altogether with stood the power of Julius Caesar? But some standing as idle lookers vpō the subuersiō of their neighbors, & other with their own weapons increasing the power of the Romans, things grew in short space to that extremity that the so mighty & large empire of the Gauls was in the ende restrained into a Roman province, & vtterlyouerwhelmed in most vile bondage.

Howe have the Italians themseleues sped? If at the beginning they had with a common power and army suppressed the rising of the Romans, and not suffered the Antiates, Crustumniens, Centans and Latins each one severally, also soon after the Volsques, Aeques, Sabins, & then the Samnites, Vmbres, Brutians, Hetrurians, and other people by little and little one after another to have stouped under their yoke: had they not first preserved their own liberty, and then freed all other nations in Europe from that infamous bondage whereunto they afterward fell? and yet did there not in manner any of them reap any benefit of all these examples: For notwithstanding they well weighed other men's cases, yet was there none that could accomodate the fruit of such consideration to him self or his own time. So that after Italy, immediately Cicil, thē Africa, & within a while all Asia, & finally in a manner the universal world being come under the power of the Romans, felt the burden of their folly. Through the like giddines & negligence, wherein the harts of Christiā kings & princes have heretofore been drowned, the Sarasens have found opportunity & means most villainously to entrap & entangle the chiefest churches of Asia, Africa & Egypt, under the lamentable yoke & bondage of Mahomet, through the which they be utterly alienated from the true knowledge of the Heauenlye Doctrine: whose succession and tyranny, the cruel Empire of the Ottomanns, which took their beeginning of so contēptible an offspring & is now (evē with a trice) enhanced to such might, as it have penetrated not only into the dominions of Asia & Africa, but also have subverted, overthrown and turned topsy turuy even the inward Provinces of Europe, have seized vpō. Yea it is evident to all men that most Christian kings and nations being either busied in their own civil wars & domestical dissensions, either daunted with dastardlinesse, or swelling in ambition, little weening their neighbors losses to be in ought preiudicial unto their estates, and each one severally supposing himself to have of his own, power sufficient to turn the storm from him and his dominions, have given the Turks more leisure & opportunity to execute their cruel determinations then them selves durst have desired, or so much as once have hoped for. So that had not the policy power of Germany withstood their flame, and thought it expedient, by an Emperial decree, with the conjunction of their whole forces, coin & public revenues to prevent these proceedings of the Ottomanus, long since had the whole Empire of Chirstiandome been subverted and wholly reduced into ashes: yea the very power & strength of Germany was it which alone heretofore withstood the Roman armies: For when all the rest of Europe together with the inhabitants of Africa and Asia, unto the very Persians had universally thorough their aforesaid sloth accepted the yoke of the Roman Empire, the Germans only, assembling their whole forces together, sundry times conquered and overthrew their whole power, & sometimes winning, sometimes loosing did still so supply their armies, that the civil wars ensuing in the Roman Empire, they with great force and in sundry places, made diverse and notable roads & invasions into the said Empire, & finally gathered such courage that they taught those, who before were inured in conquestes and victories, now not only to receive the yoke of the Germane Empire, but also did utterly subvert and in manner root them out, which their so valiant victories & noble valure cannot by the posterity be sufficiently extolled and commended.

Howbeit the more valiant and victorious that our predecessors have been: the more marvelous, & among all honorable persons lamentable may it be, that thus degenerating from the ancient valeantise & victorious virtue of our forefathers, we do peceably behold and quietly suffer the cruel and proud yoke of the Spanish tyranny (already extended almost over the whole world) thus leysurely to encroche upon us, to the end forever to subvert both us and our posterity together.

I will not by comparisons of nations and Princes one with another, make any name more odious then other (for all kind of servitude is heavy and intolerable, and utterly unworthy any that beareth the face of a man) but I doubt whether the yoke of the Spanish nation, (drawing their petigree from the Moors and Sarasens, and of late through force and rigor of the inquisition forced unwillingly to profess Christian Religion) be any whit more tolerable then the Turkish bondage: Of myself I will affirm nothing, only I refer the judgment thereof to the inhabitants of Granado, the Indians, Neopolitains and others: notwithstanding undoubtedly the Roman yoke, although it were through the greedy covetousness of both Emperors and soldiers (who are said to have destroyed more confederate Cities with their garrisons, then enemies towns with their armies) intolerable to all men: yet being compared with the pride, cruelty, and ouetousnes of the Spaniards, may by reason of sundry most excellent virtues, wherewith it was endued, be both termed, and accounted in lieu of bondage, liberty, and instead of a forced obedience, a just and lawful commandment: but howsoever that case standeth all the world doth plainly perceive, that unless in time it be looked unto, and by some general consent and union of the counsel and force of all other Kings & princes, the Spanish purposes be prevented and subverted, it will shortly so come to pass that their strength being grown to perfection thorough the common negligence and want of consideration in all, those men shall over late begin to resist him, which now at pleasure and ease beholding the fire consuming the low countries, do not think that the flame thereof doeth any whit touch them, either consider that through their owe sloth and simple forecast, the coals of Spanish ambition will in short space so kindle and take hold, that they will reduce both their own territories, and the dominions of all other states and Princes into ashes.

Neither are they to suppose that this Fire of Spanish ambition is to be termined with the Provinces of Barbant, Holand, and Zealand, since that already not only the flakes and sparckles, but also the very firy flames thereof are flown into Italy, France, England, Scotland, and Germany: Yea and have taken hold of almost all the habitable lande. And which is more, even the Spaniards themselves do not forbear to rereporte that by a certain celestial constitution, the monarchy of the whole world is due unto them, having as an earnest penny thereof, through their own power and might, conquered a new world to our auncesters heretofore unknown, which they have beautified with laws and customs, polished with manners and discipline, and endued, and instructed in the Romish Catholic religion: thinking it to be their bounden duty: also that they ought, having established their Monarchy, to endeavor them selves to force all other people, and nations unto their Religion and discipline, and thorough the only terror of their armies, and power of their Empire, to determine all controversies in all places & causes concerning Christian religion.

These things do they not only daily in familiar speech give out: but also in deeds, which are the assured tokens, and in all their actions, counsails and enterpises, as well past as present, confirm: for their only study, and the mark whereat they continually leuel, is, how they may, when they have subdued the low countries, in the midst of the same establish an ordinary resort for the wars, from whence they may at all times at their pleasure and ease pass their armies in to England, France, or Germany, and so first with all rigor to entreat these whom they have found most contrary to their enterprises, and afterward to prescribe unto all other Christian Kings, Princes, and nations, whatsoever shall come in their heads, and thus excluding each from all help of other, and compassing them with their armies, to reduce under their yoke all those which willingly will not yield unto them all ready and perfect obedience.

This is the mark whereat they always have shot. To this ende have all their counsels, practices and devises tended, as appeareth in that having with their armies oppressed Italy, they sense not only extended their power into Germany under color of restoring religion, but also have endeavored to subdue the whole estate and monarchy of Christiandome unto their subjection.

And that I may the more plainly open this matter unto you, moste mighty Kings, Princes, and Magistrates. It is expedient orderly to set down a brief and manifest discourse of all the counsayles, dealings and practices of the Spaniards, even from the original of their enterprises unto this time, to the end their purposes, driftes and devises being detected and laid open to the whole world, we may in time apply and minister all convenient and meet medicines to that mischief, which is so known to the whole Christian common wealth. Wherein I will not undoubtedly rehearse anything, but that which have been done in the face of the whole world, and as it were, in so public a theater, that no man can be ignorant thereof, which thing whilst I do discourse and set before your eyes, I beseech you (noble Princes) vouchsafe to be attentive, and turning your affections from all opinions preiuditially conceived, diligently to apply your minds to consider, and understand the assured and lively truth of the whole affairs.

The Spaniarde therefore, through the valiauncy of King Ferdinando, delivered out of the bondage of the Moors, and by continual exercise in Wars, grown so perfect and skillful in arms, that he had conceived a certain opinion of himself, that he had either surmounted all other nations in warlike knowledge and fame, or at the least boorded the moste excellent, did immediately cast his view upon Italy, and in his heart devised to attempt to subdue the same to his obedience, being thereunto especially moved, and allured by reason of the great plenty, and abundance of all things in the said Country, which they had found and tried at such time as the Arragons (by nation Spaniards, and then ruling in Naples ) had craved their help against the French armies: they had before encroched vpō the French the I will of Sicil, being a very cōmodious place for passage of their munition, armyes, & soldiers, and very convenient for the provision of whatsoever were requisite & necessary either to the making of war, or relieving the wants of their men.

Giving over therefore the defense of the posterity of Alfonce, who had craved their help, they entered communication of accord with the French and so agreed to part between them all that province. But perceiving the French to be slack in their business & slow in prosecuting this war: taking occasiō of some controversy arising about their bounds, they renewed the wars against them with all extremity, and yet so, that shortly after, propounding on both sides certain conditions of peace, the same was through the help of Archduke Philip the king of Castiles neuew concluded: By which policy, being in very good time put in use for the staying of the French succor, which being leauied, was ready to march, it fell out that the remaynder of the French Armies, whom Gonsalue surprised near the river of Garillan, was quite overthrown and as it were utterly rooted out: So as the French, being by this means clean expelled out of the Realm of Naples, it was an easy matter for the Spaniards there at their pleasure to build Forts and Castles, and the same to fortefie with strong Garrisons, and so to establish a cōmodious seat, from whence they might afterward easily command over the rest of all Italy.

About the same time also the Bishop of Rome, having by his authority made partition of the Indies between the Porting • les and the Castillians, and by means thereof, as it had been by some heavenly decree, they had with unspeakable cruelty ransacked and wasted an incredible extent of Land, and so subdued to their government all America, together with that great cōpass of the west Indies: also that at the same time they had joined to their Dominion that parte of Gaule which is called Belgica, by means of alliance contracted by the marriage of the said Archduke Philip's: thinking them selves furnished with a sufficient and fit treasure for the conduct of the wars, as well by reason of the Golde and spice, which yearly they brought very plentifully out of the Indies, as also through the great profit that daily did arise of the ordinary nauigations and tranfique of the Flemish Merchants in Spain, (a matter of great increase unto their revenues and ordinary customs) they cast in their minds no longer to forbear the invasion and subduing of the rest of Italy: according to which determination, under pretence to aid the Sforces against the French, they first entered into Lombardia, a very rich and fruitful country: There having first expelled the French, and then subdued and oppressed the Sforces, they strengthened it to their own use with fortresses and strong Garrisons. They altered also the estate of Florence, Siene, Pise, and all Thuscane, in giving them such a Duke as they knew to depend of them selves, and in all things to savor their attempts: and having confirmed the authority of the Doryes in the city of Genes (which being a very commodious Haven, was at that time molested with civil dissensions) they assured & bound it to their own devotions.

Finally under the favor of the provinces of the Lowe Countries, finding opportunity (after that Charles was by the voice of the electors chosen emperor) & making way through the said provinces, they did diversely molest the realm of France: Also under pretence of establishing the popish religion, they gave a notable gird even into the bowels of Germany, yea and that with so good success, that having ouercomen, and in battle taken the protestant princes, they bent their whole minds assuredly to bring the same into subjection and so to appropriate it to their own inheritance, & to that intent placed their spanish garrisons in sundry Fortes, even in the center thereof.

Howbeit seeing that the natural moderation and equitye of Charles could not be alured to satisfy their so ambitious enterprises: Also considering that they were not long able to defend & keep the places where their garrisons were lodged, as well for that they were to far from Spain, as also because they were inuyroned with such warlicke people and nations: And with all seeing them selves by Duke Maurice his armies expelled and so driven out of all high Germany: besides that, not sinding such success as they hoped for in the wars which sundry times they had renewed against the French: being wonderfullye chased and much bewailing the taking of so notable and ritche a pray out of their hands, they did of necessity stay the course of their purposes, and so proceeded no further in the pursuit of their enterprize: Thus refrayned they them selves until such time as the Emperor, being returned into Spain, the ambitious, haughty and mere Spanish mind of King Philip, was found meet to satisfy their desire, and that thereby they took fit occasion to reenter, although another way, into that path which before they were forced to forsake: For they considered that they could not safely at their pleasures conduct any army into France or Germany: Also that if they brought any, yet should they want both munition and all other means wherewith to prosecute the wars, even the first day, unless before they had possession of the Hauens of Holland and Zealand, & withal had established good and sufficient Spanish garrisons, throughout the Provinces of the low Countries: that they had raised new tributes and impostes for their pays: To be brief, that they had chosen a convenient seat from whence they might at ease continue and prosecute the war: But perceiving that they could not well compass any of all these pointes so long as the privileges of the Country (which doth exclude all strangers from the administration of their estate, and admitteth no other then home born parsons therein) continued in force: Also that they might not leauy any subsidy or new tribute: neither put Garrison in any place, without the counsel of the estates, they concluded among them selves, before they prosecuted the enlarging of their limites, that necessarily they must restrain and brydle this the over large liberty of the estates of the Country, and deprive them of their privileges, freedoms and ancient customs: To be brief, that they must debar them from all such means, help, and succor, as time out of mind had stood them in stead, for the maintenance of the dignity and assurance of those Provinces: to the ende that thus wresting and getting into their own hands the commodity to erect Castles & fortresses at their pleasures, and to leauy new tributes & taxes as they list: also to chose within these flourishing provinces such a seat as in their opinions might seem most cōmodious for the wars, & so the whole being throghly brought under their subjection and by spanish legions assured unto thē: they might in time to come use the same for the assaulting of any whomsoever they listed. To this ende have they ever since directed their whole studies, counsels and actions, namely, either by hook or crook to find means to distribute in the provinces of the low countries a garisō of ten thousand soldiers of the old bands: to the end that joining thereto the choice of the footmen of A • tors & Hencult, & strengthening thē with the ordinary bands, whom the king according to the manner of the ancient Lord's of the said countries, doth usually entertain, having also the friendship or alliance of some Germain prince, even by oth bound unto them, or if possibly it might be, getting the possession of some neighbor city of Germany, they may so often̄ as occasiō shall serve, reenforce the said power with a good mumber of Germayn horsemen, & so upon every occurrence have a cōpleat armyredy. For this intent was Duke Eric of Brunswik at the first chosen, whom the king with an annual pentiō retained: the same time also took they counsel to take Coulogue & Munster: but as the estats of the low coūtrys did obstinately refuse all spanish garisōs: & therewith in stātly required the revoking of those out of the country which yet remained of the french wars, utterly refusing (in case this were not performed) the aid of money which was required at their hands, it fell out that by reason of the overthrow taken at Felbes in Africa, wherein the spanish legiōs were almost quit consumed, the king, who very vnpatiētly bare this demād at the hands of the states, & was already resolved to punish it as a treazō, being overcome with the necessity of his own affairs, seemed to find it somewhat reasonable & so suffered the revoking of the said bands out of the countries, to the end with them to keep and defend the passages of Italy & Spain, together with his holds in Africa, against the ordinary incursions of the • urkes and Moors: being nevertheless fully resolved (as himself could not but confess, which also the Spaniaras in their writings have testified) upon the first commodity to return the said garrisons, who with arms & open force should blot out the injury supposed to be wrought against the Spanith name, and with a more strict bond should bridle and restrain the over great liberty and authority of all these provinces.

For the compassing thereof, there fell out nothing more fit and apparent then the Kings constant and perpetual desire, care and zeal, earnestly & strictly to establish the Romish religion in the low Countries, which caused him in all his letters written out of Spain, ordinarily to accuse the Duchesse of Parma, and the chief Lord's and Magistrates of the country, that they were not earnest enough in these causes: saying that he well perceived that unless they used more violent remedies then afore time, the Romish religion would soon be extinguished throughout Flounders, which for his part, he would never permit, but rather to hazarde whatsoever lands and kingdoms he yet possessed: Wherefore that he willed and ordained that the rigor of the edicts and placards of religiō, should be executed without dissimulation, and that they should not upon any, whatsoever occasion be moderated, qualified or in any wise mitigated: but rather that their strictness should be augmented and increased: & to that end that they should create new Bishops whom they should make inquisitours for matters of Faith: that Granuel Archbishop of Mali • es, a little before become a cardinal, who by reason of his intolerable ambition and inordinate desire of government, had incurred the malice of all estates, should be made head and president of that college: that to the end the said bishops might more diligently attend to the said inquisitiō, some of the spoils of diverse Abots & other Prelates of the country, whom they accused to be to negligent in persecuting & punishing of the heretics, should be distributed among them: & with all that the hearing of all causes, if never so smallye they pertained to matter of religion, should be reserved to them: whereupon even at one time, & by one means, all sorts of people of the said cuntries were grievously offended. The princes & great Lord's could not patiently suffer the administratiō of the affairs to be taken from them & committed to one Granuel, a new mā & a stranger. The nobility could not like that authority over their lives & goods should (to the prejudice of their country customs) be committed to unknown, beggarly & base persons, who coveting their goods & tresurs, might easily find means to accuse & betray them. The magistrates & rulers of cities and towns did murmur that the judgments & privileges of the country, contrary to the kings oth so solēnly sworn, should be taken frō them & put into the hands of rascals, & such as besides were by oth bound to a foreign prince, the pope of Rome, and had already given out sufficient testimony & proof of their cruelty & covetousness: To be brief, the whole cominalty generally complained that instead of shepherds they were committed to the custody of ravening wolves continually gaping after their goods, so that sundry merchants determined to seek new habitations in foreign countries, which diverse of thē did indeed: all these things being rehearsed to the king in sundri suplications, petitions, messages & ambassages (the states instātly requiring that by such innouatiōs, so faithfula people to their princes might not be forced any whit to diminish their accustomed obedience) so far was he frō giving audience, or hearkening to their petitions, that contrariwise, obstinately refusing all their demands, he would that evē the decrees of the counsel of Trident (whereby in manner all the laws & customs of the country were infringed) should be published throughout the said provinces.

And in deed by that means he found the commodity of the time so long looked for: For in case his precepts took place, the authority of the inquisitours once established, and the laws and customs of the country infringed, it would be no hard matter to put to death all such as had either authority or countenance among the people, and so also the Spanish garrisons together with a new form of regiment might easily be brought in: but contrariwise, if herein they refused to obey his decrees (as there was no other likelihood, considering how all sortes of people were by these demands oppressed) then necessarily must insue both tumults and disorder, for the pacifiyng whereof, the Spanish garrizons must needs be returned, and so how so ever the world went, the obstinate rejecting of the Kings commandment, should (as a matter of Treason) minister cause sufficient to chastise the people with fire and sword: Neither was he deceived in the event of this counsel.

For some of the chief Nobility having exhibited a certain request into the Court, wherein was proved that the kings commandment concerning Placards was not only pernicious to the common wealth, but also dangerous to them selves, requiring therefore that the publication of the said Placards might cease, until the king were informed of their demāds by such notable persons as to that end should expressly travail to his majesty: the people thereby conceiving hope of greater liberty, took upon them, (and peradventure somewhat more then was requisite) openly to profess the reformed religion, which the king and Spaniards did so greatly detest and abhor: This so honest and aparant occasion ministered unto the king means, first to condemn such of the nobility of treazon as had exhibited the said request, and so to execute the ambassadors which by the governess commandment went unto him, & then under the conduct of the Duke of Alua, to send the old spanish bands into the low countries, to the end, under pretence of religion, to put to death all such of the chief lords & nobles of the country, as could not brook their demeanures: to establish pains of death against all good men▪ to entangle the people with charges, impostes, & grievous bondage: to erect fortress & castles in their towns and finally to deprive the estates and magistrates of all authority: the nobility of all dignity & preeminence: the people of their substance & wealth: the towns of their laws, customs, privileges & freedoms: and finally all the provinces generally of their ancient honor, dignity & power, & so to open a way to the counsel so long before taken, for the establishing of the seat of their premeditated wars in the low countries. Al which things the world knoweth so well: as also how the Duke of Alua hath endeavored to bring thē to effect, that I shall not here need to make any further demōstratiō or repeticiō. Vndoutedly any man that would open the eyes of his understanding & narrowly consider of these counsels & demenures, might plainly perceive that all these drifts tended not to the subduing of the low countries, who refused no kind of obedience, but rather to the laying of a firm foundatiō of the spanish monarchy that they leuel at. And indeed the Duke of Alua immediately upon his ariual in the low cuntries, determined to set upon the City of Coulogne, under pretence that she had admitted into the mumber of Burgeses the king of Spayns pretended rebels, & at the same time sought also to bring into his subiectiō the city of Mūster in Westphaly: both which enterprises had at one time takē place had not the prince of Orenge, who thē had levied a strong power in Germany interrupted his whole devises & utterly subverted the course of his counsel & practices: which notwithstanding, he did not nevertheless forbear to prescribe & command laws to the inhabittants of Coulogne, or with great threts to move the magistrates to his obedience: At the same time also he first dealt with the bishop of Treuers, (who promised all help and favor in the advancement of the Kings affairs) to the great prejudice of the Palatin elector of hapy memory, & after grew to debate with him for the chief town of his country, which he affirmed to be under the King his masters protection. He also limited to the Duke of Cleue, such counsailours as should no otherwise govern his Country then as if it had wholly ben under the absolute command of the king of Spain: he sought to bind the Earl of Embden unto him as his vassal under color of protection and safgard: He commanded the inhabitants of Liege, to furnish him of weapons, furniture & victuals. To be brief, he exccuted upon all borderers all absolute authority, commandment & power. And as for the princes that were farther off: first he quarrelled with the most high and noble Queen of England, under color & pretence of intercourse, and emprisoned such English merchants, as usually trafiqued in the said provinces: he commanded her to banish whō he lift, whiles himself not only harboured and friendly entreated in the low countries sundry lewd persons, which had been attainted of treason against their sovereign, but also enriched them with gifts and yearly pentions. By sundry devises and driftes did they solicit the Queen of Scots (being then prisoner) to work some new treacherous devise: they loded with honor and rewards the murderers of the regent of Scotland, using both thē, their counsels and endeavours in sundry their affairs. And what not? they found means by the Popes bul to pronounce the Queen of England an heretic and unlawful inheritor: They raised troubles against her in the heart of her Realm: They put her in danger of her life: They did by publication habandon her Realm to the first that would or could surprise or seize upon it, and expressly charged Don John of Auctrich particularly, immediately upon the quieting of the low countries to leauy mortal war against her, to marry the Queen of Scots, and with her to appropriate to him self the Realms of England, Scotland, and Ireland: These things when they could not compass to their minds, by reason of the wars revived among the Estates of the low Countries, they sought to bring to pass thorough Ireland, whether they transported, in outward show, in the Popes name, but in truth by the commandment, motion and will of the King of Spain, a number of Italians and Spaniards, that they passing through that ile, (which they hoped to find wholly at their devotion) into the realm of England, might the more commodiously subdue and bring it under their power and authority. And had not the King, at the Duke of Aluaes persuasion (who wondered at the difficulties and lets that happened in this enterprise,) thought it best to refer this matter to a more convenient time, the weight of all this war had longe since been transported into England in hope that that being first gotten, the Spaniard thereby being at quiet on that side of the Sea, might have a more ready way to subdue all the whole low countries.

And as for France, which by reason of the Kings noneage was troubled with domestical dissention, they omitted no manner of inventions, or policies, but employed their whole industry, care and study to wrap and entangle it more and more in civil wars, to the end, that when the same so flourishing, and mighty a Realm were with her own weapons almost subverted and destroyed, they might as their leisure, with more opportunitye, and as convenient time served, with the less a do subdue it: neither need I here much to stand upon those means which they have used to heap more coals upon these civil flames: what helps they have ministered to the nourishing of these discordes, with what affection they have travailed in it, what actions among parties, clokinges, leagues and conspiracies they have invented wherewith to maintain and uphold this miserable kindling: For the most Christian king doth evidently & well know that diverse times they have procured his subjects to rebel, and sought means again to bring them to take arms: yea and least any man should think they did it for zeal to their Catholic religion, they have with promises of great sums of ready monie sought to seduce the hearts of the Princes, defenders of the reformed religion: neither is he ignorant how often he hath ben informed that sundry times they have endeavored to corrupt, seduce, and win from their sworn allegiaunce the particular governors of towns, fortresses, and hauens on the sea costs: how they have with great diligence labored even the King of Nauai, promising him great sums of money in case he would break the peace last concluded: yea howe they have proceeded even to his highness, persuading him to take arms, to the subversion of the King his brother, and the desolation of his whole kingdom: whom when they perceived nothing prone to serve their mischievous tournes, they have sought to make away with poison and sword, having to that ende, hired express murderers, who since have by law ben executed. I will not here speak what number of pentioners the King of Spain hath bound to his devotion, not only in the privy council of the King of France, but also of all other Christian Kings, Princes and potentates, through whom he doth at his pleasure trouble the estates of some, procure the rising of others subjects, overthrow and supplant whatsoever counsails are holden against him, and to be brief, make them determine and like of all that he thinketh commodious to himself: This is manifestly and well known to all Kings and Princes, to whose detriment these things are put in practice: none dare the while speak any word of all these matters or once open his lips against them: so greatly are all men's minds overtaken with fear and astonied at the only name of the Spanish nation.

What shall I say of our Germany? which being in greater danger then any other Province, yea almost already swallowed up in this monstrous gulf of Spanish ambition, doth (as in outward show it were sufficiently warranted) make no account of her own danger, weening that the fire which hath consumed her neighbors houses, & is entered even into her own bowels doth no whit touch her at all: so that this Empire, which aforetime was wont so valiantly to defend, both her own liberty and the liberty of all christiandome, doth now seem to be more cowardly & rechlesse in preventing the establishing of that yoke that threateneth the whole world, then any other nation. It is evident that the King of Spain hath in Germany not only his pēsioners & privy whisprers which reveal to him all their Princes councils, & enterprises, but also a public cousailour in the chamber of the empire, by whō he understandeth the whole affairs of all the country, & determineth all maters as if he wer a prince of the Empire in the degree of the rest. He hath also his place by his Ambassadors in all the assemblies of the Empire: he carefully cōsidereth of all that is done in all their diets, he endevoreth to learn all their secrets, & hath no less intelligence & notice, the seuē electors themselves: and what may be more unworthy, or more contumelious to the Germain natiō, either more dangerous & fit for the surprising of their liberty, then not to cal any Imperial diet: any convocation in the Empire: any counsel: any assembly of estates: yea almost execute any administration of private justice: without the presence, counsel, and (as I may almost say) without the will and commaundenent of the Kinge of Spain? But under what pretence? forsooth by reason of the precinct of Burgundy, which being numbered among the Imperial precinctes, the king of Spain must be accounted among the Princes of the Empire. And what is this, most Noble Princes, other then a manifest mockery and contempt of you, your authority, and ancient glory? Yea and wittingly, before your faces, and with your own consent, a snarling of you in the haulter of Spanish bondage? The emperor Charles having by force oppressed Germany, and being inuyroned with his spanish and Italian legions, called an Imperial diet at Ausburge, as I ween in the year 1548: Wherein he declared that in diverse parts of the low countries there were sundry Towns and provinces which in old time were wont to take their laws and be subject to the Emperial chamber, whereunto they did ordinarilye appeal: To be brief, that they had always been holden and reputed among the precincts of Germany, whereupon sundry and many questions and controversies did oftentimes arise, he would therefore, said he, at once both end their quarrels, and do a great pleasure to all Germany: and therefore purposed to decree, that as well those Provinces which he had in the nether Germany, as also the rest that lay in the Belgique Gaule, being reduced into an Imperial precinct, should from thenceforth be reputed, holden, and termed, The precinct of Burgundy: and that in respect thereof, he and his successors should disburse toward the charges of the Empire, twice so much as every two Electors were to contribute to the wars against the Turk: and so they should hereafter remain exempt and free, not only from all kinds of contributions and collections of money, but also from all jurisdiction of the chamber, and the laws and decrees of the Empire. Here may we behold the price of the spoils of our jurisdiction, authority and power, also the reward of our bondage: This is that small sum of money wherewith the moste sacred dignity and freedom of our Empire is supplanted, & authority given to aforeine prince, (with whom we have no bond of affinity, correspondence of language, neighborhod, or agreement of laws and customs) to enter into our diets: to have a place in our assemblies: to give his voice in our Emperial chamber: to be brief, to peruse and consider of all our counsels, and actions, either public or private.

If to serve a master, notwithstanding he be neither rigorous he haughty, be of it self a misery, who seeth not our Germany in moste miserable estate, where the King of Spain may, if he will, command at pleasure? But what need I say, he might if he would, since all the world doth plainly see that in effect he doth command both far and near? For what is it that the Spaniard hath not gained by the erectiō of this precinct of Burgundy? except that he doth not only rule there at his pleasure, but also useth all absolute authority over the precinct of Westphaly, which time out of mind was accounted one of the chiefest, and mightiest in all Germany: yea he so commandeth there, that there is none which dare in any wise control or gainsay him. As for example. Have not the inhabit antes of Liedge hitherto obeyed his Empire: either the Duchyes of Cleue and Iuliers: and finally the whole territories of Coulogne, and Westphaly, been at his devotion? And yet not content with this kind of commandment, he seeketh after a new sort of obligation to subdue and conquer them, and so to extend his Empire generally over all Germany: Therefore to say nothing of those men, who being in possession almost of all the straightes of Germany, even from the foot of the Alps to the Ocean Sea, are moste ready to obey his commandments, and dare not refuse any of his requests: neither to speak of those who being by blood, alliance, league, and near affinity united and knit unto him, do command over Istria, Carinthia, Croatia, & the most part of Pannonia, yea and bear sovereign authority even in Bavaria, possessing all the heads and springs of the Rivers of Licus, Aenus, and Danow, and are pearched over the heads of Augusta, Ratispone, and other mighty Emperial cities: to hold my peace, also of those, who holding as it were the rudder of the Empire, (in hope hereafter to attain to the succession of the kingdom of Spain ) will not once oppose them selves against his rising and might: who seeth not whereunto this unquenchable thirst & ambition of the young Duke of Banaria, Bishop of Frifinguen doeth tend? who being egged on by the King of Spain's industry, armed with his authority, and kindeled with his commandments, is so inflamed and burneth in so wonderful ambition, that he cannot be satisfied with any Bishoplike dignities or princely authorities whatsoever? he hath almost in a moment attained unto so great and mighty power, that in strength he may compare with sundry Kings of Europe, and is justly to be doubted of, and feared among all the Princes of Germany: And in truth there be sundry noble Realms in Europe, which neither in greatenesse and extent: in multitude of people: in strength of soldiers: or in abundance of all things necessary, are to be compared with the principalities that pertain to his jurisdiction and are under his obedience: all which notwithstanding, he cannot yet be quiet, but frying and flaming in the ambitious fury of the Spanish nation, he coveteth and aspireth daily to greater matters: For he hath already by the King of Spain's help and suite obtained, besides the Bishoppricks of Frisinguen, and Hildesheim, the principaltye over the country of Liedge, which in situation, extent and power of people is nothing inferior to any other Province: hereunto endeuoreth he also to join the Electorship of Coulogne: for notwithstanding hitherto the Country of Liedge hath openly enough, and unfeignedly aided and succoured the Spaniards with armor, artillery, victuals, and all other necessary provision for the wars, yet so long as the Bishop was any whit restrained in the awe of the Bishop of Coulogne, he thought it not good plainly to show his mind, but although in effect he had submitted his whole estate to the Spanish obedience, yet did he still in words bear himself a newter: howbe it now to the end the Spaniard might without controlment command at pleasure he seeketh partly by force, partly by threatenings, and partly by the Popes authority to inuest him (or rather in his name and person him self) with the electorall dignity, and Archebishoppricke of Coulogne, by whose means he may not only prosecute his wars in the low countries, and nether Germany, even with the weapons and power of Germany it self: but also prepare the way to subdue to his dominions all the upper Germany also, and take into his hands the disposition of the toules and tributes due to the Electors, and other Princes, which have always (most noble Princes) been accounted, and that justly, the sinews and preservation of the dignity and authority of your Empire: but being once lost, and through this new election of the Archebishop of Coulogne, reduced into the power of a foreign Prince will be unto you in stead of fetters and stocks, to keep you from leauying war in your necessities, and to force you to bow down your necks to the Spanish yoke, so often or whensoever he shall think good.

For hereafter shall not King Philipp need to trouble him self with making a bridge over the Rhyne as did Julius Caesar, since the chief city of the Empire, the Electoral sea of Coulogne, & the Archbishops whole diocese shall with the twinkling of his eye be as ready to obey him as there Prince, and so stand him instead of a bridge, gate, and passage: what else shall the Spaniarde need whereby absolutely to command over all Germany? to prescribe laws, and ordinances at his pleasure? and to leauy wars against whom so ever he shall think good? unless peradventure he wanteth yet some haven in the mouth of the German sea whereby he may upon every, necessity transporte his soldiers out of Spain: But for that he hath provided, yea so well that he cannot stand in need of anymore: for under color of raising war in Friesland, and transporting victuals into the low Countries, he earnestly craveth possession of the river of Ems: for the attaining whereof, he hath given commission to Billy the Portingale so to deal with Ertsart Earl of East Friseland his vassal, that he would as it were in loan and for a time grant him the use of the Town of Embden: Offering in recompense and reward for so great a benefit, the propriety of the Town of Groening, (which being enuyroned with the spanish forces, and secluded from all commodity of victuals, he may recover when he list) also the government of Burgundy with the revenues, demaynes, and other the commodities thereunto belonging, retaining nevertheless his ordinary garrisons in the same. If he may obtayn this, then shall he get into his power all the principal rivers of Germany, namely Danowe, Rhine, Like, Aene, Meuse, Moselle, and Ems: And as by his kindered, alyes & vassals he hath all the lande passages open unto him, so now shall there be nothing by sea able either to break his power, or slack the course of his enterprises. Finally also calling to mind the difficulties and lets which the invincible force of neither Saxony ministered in the affairs of the Emperor Charlemaine: Also remembering how the one only town of Maydenburge being abandoned of all her neighbors and alyes, did neuerthe • esse keep footing against the victorious army of the invincible Emperor Charles the fifth his father: stopped the course of his victories, yea & wholly brake his power, he hath found means to minister a medicine and provide a salve for this soar, to the end there might be no stop to let the advancement of his Empire in Germany. For he hath by his endeavours so dealt with the Pope and the Emperor, that besides all the prefermentes before mentioned, they have by faithful promise bound them selves to confer to the Bauarian, the Byshoprick of Maidenborow, that is to say, the whole power of Saxony.

And for his part, he accounteth it no difference, whether by him self, or by his deputy, vassal, kinsman or confederate wholly affected to the furtherance of his enterprises, he get the possession of anything: Besides that he is particularly and assuredly persuaded, that by this bishop he may have authority to command what he please: All which notwithstanding, he is not yet content, but to remove all manner of stumbling blocks out of his way he endeuoreth by all diligent means and practizes to create him Primate of all Germany, and so to deal, that by his will and only authority all ecclesiastical Prebends and promotions through out Germany may be conferred and given to whom he list.

And do you not yet feel (most noble German princes) that the king of Spain (I will not say only soliciteth earnestly) but already possesseth and keepeth in his hands the state of the whole Empire? That it is he who having forcibly supplanted the low countries, shall be Lord of all the ports and hauens of the Occean sea, & the mouths of all rivers in Germany? That it is he that at his pleasure shall exclude you from all benefit and use of trafique: That seeketh the dominion over the river Ems? That seazeth upon and disposeth all your tributes, toules and revenues? That prescribeth Laws and ordinances to the inhabitauntes of Cleeue lande, Iuliers, Liedge, and Westphalye? that would bring the state of Coulogne to his obedience? that it is he whose Kinsmen confederates and reteyners do command over great nations and large provinces in Germany? that it is he who personally being in Spain, hath nevertheless his seat and voice in all your assemblies and imperial dyets? that it is he that spieth, considereth of and noteth all your counsails, actions and most secret affairs? that it is he that doth not only command, forbid, establish, and confirm what so ever he listeth, but also giveth & appointeth unto you the bishops of Trisinghem Heldesheim & that establisheth princes & electours of the Empire at Coulogne, Liege, & Maydenburg? and to be brief, that it is he who seeking dominion over the mighty ecclesiastical state of our nation, nominateth a Primate in Germany at his deuotiō? and to supply all these rooms, presenteth unto you one only persō, one only man, and him such a one as is very near unto him in blood, affinity and confederacy, and bound unto him by the law of protection: also for a number of benefits received at his hand, wholly subject to his ordinances: Yea such a one as he is assured, will not speak, do, or attempt anything without his will and commandment. And finally that man who he knoweth will through infinite controversies that he hath with many of the Germain princes, kindle such a fire of division and discord throughout the whole Empire as can never be quenched, but by the utter subversion of all Germany. For who knoweth not that great and old quarrel that is between him and the noble Dukes of the house of Brunswik for the title of a thousand and one villages that he requireth of them, Which vndoutedlye he will not forget, ne suffer so to sleep: Or who is ignorant of the envious emulation that is between this family of Bauier and the County Palatins for the preeminence of the electorate of the Empire? Or how they do complain that it was taken from their name, stock and family? Which quarrel if this bishop (when he is through your silence and at the king of Spain's pursuit grown to such authority) doth renew, as undoubtedly he will: how many woeful tragedies will it breed in Germany? what a gap will it open to the spanish tyranny and our bondage? and finally what overthrow, sorrows and desolation will it bring upon our miserable, foolish & unadvised country? & yet most (noble princes & excellent estates of the empire) you do not only bear with these things & say nothing, but also taking your sound rest, and careless of all, you are become idle gazers (as it were for pleasure, upon the overthrow & calamities of your next neighbors) yea, notwithstanding this so dangerous a fire hath burned their houses almost to the ground, & be kindled at your gats, & is even come so near, as to scortch your very beds, yet do you not think the matter to touch yourselves either that it is time for you to withstand the practices of so ambitious and haughty a Prince.

And what is to be said to all other kings, princes, and estates of Christendom? Even that the like sloth and slugishnes detaineth them everyone: For while the only low countries do oppose them selves against the king of Spain's tyranny, and do give all other kings, princes and Christian common wealths time, leisure, and opportunity to turn away this bondage, & by their example do show how easy a matter it is not only to shake, but also even utterly to undermine & subvert these foundations of tyranny, there is none of thē all that will once seem to mislike of a matter of so great importance? But as if purposedly each one endeavored to augment & increase the spanierds power to their own destruction, sitting with their arms a cross or leaning on their elbows they do permit & suffer the low countries (already wasted and consumed with the force & long continuance of this war) in such wise to quail & diminish, that being at their wits ende, they know not what counsel to take, either what other course they may best follow.

The King of France being daunted with his brother the Duke of Anieowes rash and unadvised attempts, gazeth upon the fire which kindleth far and near among his neighbors: thinking him self peradventure of force sufficient to keep and defend both him and his estate. The Duke of Anieow not knowing what to do, can neither determine nor perceive what is good for him self. Others likewise, wondering at the Realm of Portingale which the the Spaniard hath newly conquered, do sit still, as not resolved what counsel to take. The Spaniard in the mean time, over aweth all the low country with his whole power, and finding none to withstand him, layeth firm & assured foundations of his so long coveted Monarchy: So that through the only terror of his name, strength and power, his fame is blown all over, even into the uttermost partes of the East and West, and so in effect he apporpriateth to himself only, the name of Universal, which aforetime the Byshopps of Rome have entitled him withal. Which prediction doeth in truth (most noble Kings, princes and Christian Magistrates) threaten unto you a miserable bondage, and through your negligence promiseth unto him a Catholic power, that is to say, an universal dominion and tyranny over all nations and provinces, unless in time yourselves do seek some remedy.

King Phillip of Macedon, was justly suspected of the Greciās, because that subduing certain people of Thracia, their neighbors, they feared that he pryed into the liberties of the rest of all their countries: and therefore the Athenians doubting lest the fire of ambition that consumed his bowels would brast out, and not only kindle in Grecia, but even consume all Asia, thought it requisite with the common power and strength of Greece to suppress and break his might: neither was their suspicion in vain as the event shown: for notwithstanding king Philip being prevented by death could not compass and bring to effect the imaginations of his mind, yet did he leave to his son Alexander such a choice number of soldiers & warriors, that the young man being ambitious, did through their force and valiancy subdue not only all Greece, but also Asia, Siria, Babylon, Persia and Egypt: and having scoured all over even to the ends of India, and Scithia, did in a small time erect and establish the third and chief monarchy of the world after the Persians. All which notwithstanding, we do not yet fear the ambitious power of the King of Spain, neither think it necessary to suppres his unreasonable forces, who not in one place only, but in many and diverse, hath his whole armies of old bands, and practiced soldiers, whom he still doth maintain in ordinary garrisons: & hath ready at all assays above 30000. men of war: who hath extēded the limits of his Empire into Africa, Asia, Europe, and America, even to the East, and West Indies: who by Sea hath overthrown the poer of the Ottomans: who hath joined to his kingdom all Portingale with innumerable other Ilandes, and moste flourishing kingdoms: who ruleth Italy, which was wont to command over all the world, as it please him: who is Lord of sundry ports and hauens in Africa: who everywhere possesseth the Ocean Sea: who hath in his power the chiefest Ilandes and hauens of the mediterranean sea: & to be brief who through the only terror of his name, decreeth, commandeth and effectually fulfilleth what he list among all Princes and Christian nations.

Howbeit if any man ween that cō. tenting himself with so large an Empire, he will not hereafter attempt anything but what equity & law shall permit: undoubtedly the same is willingly deceived, & flattring himself, hath no care of his own honor, liberty, or life. For first the desire of government is vn satiable, & like to a flaming fire, which the more stuf & mater that it findeth, the further it doth stretch and extend it self, wasting all as it goeth. Again who seeth not that by this manifest usurping of Portingale, evē in the face of the whole world, the king of Spain meaneth not to submit himself to any laws, rites, or capitulations whatsoever. For if he had thought himself to have had any right in the said succession, why did he by force prevent the laws? or by fire and sword the holy decree of the ludges? wherefor hath he abused King Antony, the Queen, mother to the most Christian King, the Duke of Bragrance, & even the Prince of Parmats son: and to be brief, all those that pretended any title to the said kingdom?

Shall we then yet think that either conscience, justice, or equity can take place in him, who so evidently hath declared that in matter of government he will not take or measure his right, other then with the power and force of his armies? that he, who with his money hath armed the Turk against the Venetians, & so turned that storm from himself unto his confederates in Ciprus, can think himself bound unto any covenants, treaties, or agreements whatsoever? That that man's fiery ambition, who hath not kept any covenants with the inhabitaunts of Grenado, the Indians, or Flemings any longer then he found them profitable to himself, cā be stayed by any bond of league or confederacy of alliance? Either what conscience, right or law can bind him, who by the principles or precepts of his religion, together with the Bishop of Rome's authority, thinketh himself released from all bonds of faith or promise? shall we hope that he, who could not by any bonds of marriage be restrained frō Incest: for any love or duty of matrimony abstain frō adultery: for any natural love forbear parricide: or for any sworn faith refrain from perjury: being besides so ambitious as all men know: so desirous to enlarge the bounds of his Empire, & so far transported with pursuit of revenge, may by any proposition of equity, right, law, or Justice be cooled and brought to reasonable order in whatsoever matter? As if it were not as lawful for the Bis. of Rome to dispēse, by his Bul, as well with the laws, bounds and limits of kingdoms and Provinces, as with the bands of matrimony, and faith so solemnly sworn. But to what purpose is it for us to think under pretence of law & justice to moderate that man's ambitiō, who hath been long resolved, that he hath lawful and just title, to invade other men's kingdoms, and if he may to bring the same into his subjection?

For among all princes, potentates, and Christian common wealths, who is there against whō he thinketh not him self long since to have had sufficient and just cause to move wars? He will accuse the King of France, that he did not only not hinder his brothers attempts in Flanders, but also aided him with men, money, and Weapons, and so began the wars: That in the behoove of the Queen his mother, he hath in warlike manner assaulted the Ilandes appertaining to his obedience, fought with his nauie: and not only received & harboured Don Anthony his enemy & supposed rebel in his kingdom, but also aided and assisted him both with men and money: also that he succoured the low countries as much as possibly he could.

To the Queen of England he will allege, that first by the Popes Bulls she is denounced an heretic, and thereupon excommunicated: then, that in diverse dealings both by Sea and by land she hath shown herself to be his enemy: that in her dominions she hath harboured and aided his enemies, with men, munition, money and ships: that she hath favored Don Anthony in all his enterprises: and that upon every opportunity she hath intercepted his nauie and treasure coming from the Indyes.

Amongest the German Princes, some he will accuse for succouring the Prince of Orenge, and others for their parsonal presence in the Flemish wars Against some he will raise controversies in respect of their territories by means of the Bishop of Frisenguen, & against others for the preeminence of the electorate: & generally he will accuse all to be either heretics, or to be confederate with those that have shaken of the Bishop of Rome's obedience whom altogether the Pope will (as heretofore he hath done) command to be by force reduced to their duties. And I pray you, is not all this sufficient to serve for a very good color to make him, who accounteth of all the Popes precepts, as of heavenly revelations: And of his excommunications, as of celestial thunderboltes, to assail them? Who of him self is a sworn enemy to religion, abhorring it as the plague of the world: who in all his counsels, purposes, practices, and leagues that ever he made, hath no other meaning but to root it out and quight to suppress it? and who being the most ambitious prince alive doth yet protest that he had rather lose all his dominions and dignities, then leave any spark of this religion vnquēched? And to be brief, who maketh no more account of the Germans, then if they were Turks, Sarazens or Moors. Yea, will not the Pone think himself to have as full power after his thunderbolts of excommunication, to exhibit Germany as a pray to king Philip, as had his predecessors to give it to his Father the Emperor Charles? Pope Paul the third and his predecessor Clement the feuenth did threaten Charles the fifth with excommunications, because he thought it requisite to pacify the trouble (arising in Germany for matter of religion) rather by the authority of a general council, then by proceedinge by force of arms: yea in the ende with their thonderboltes of excommunication they drove that good prince (for still he relented to them) to such an exigent, that as an extreme remedy, he was forced to make wars with all extremity. And shall we now think that the Pope do want means to persuade the king of Spain (who of himself is sufficiently inclined that way) that he hath just cause by mere strength to reduce them to the faith of the Romish Church? If any man think that the fear hereof toucheth no more but the protestant princes, also that they which still have persevered in Popery need not doubt or mistrust anything: Let him call to mind that the Henries, Ottoes, Frederickes and other most mighty, and in all commendable virtues, most excellent Emperors your predecessors (most noble princes) did in their days profess the same faith & religion with the popes, and yet could not escape their thonderbolts and most wrongful excommunications: But that some of them see their Empyres translated and given to foreign princes: Others came bare footed and bare headed to ask them forgyuenesse, and submitting them selves to be trodden under the Popes feet could not nevertheless mollify their minds without suffering great injuries & tolerating notable abuses: Let him suppose that the Pope wanteth no occasions to arm the Spaniard to the destruction of the Germans, seeing that they which be of his own religion, do not only not oppose them selves against the protestants, but also daily enter a legue, amity, and firm alyaunce with them: Let him conjecture that the spanierds not being able to subdue Germany to their own dominiō, neither to reduce it to the Popes obedience, unless to that end, they contract amity with the rest, either in respect of ancient allance, or by right of protection, or for fear of their armies: it is necessary for the Germains to stand to one of these conditions, namely, either to join with the spaniardes in the conquest of their fellow country me, or else uniting their whole forces together, to take arms against thē for the delivery of an Germany out of their bondage: This unless they do speedily take in hand, & so using the occasiō of the affairs of the low countries do cut off the increase of the Spanish power, they shall hereafter in vain each after other, endeavor to turn away the force of their tyranny.

Certainly most noble princes, the King of Spain's power is great: and yet is it such, that as by your sufferance, (I had almost said sloth) the foundations thereof have sprong and grown forward, so may it again by your union as easily be shaken, and finally with small labor by your power and concord be brought to utter subversion. For all the Provinces of his obedience do lie separate a great way each from other, whereby their victuals may easily be cut off, their forces debarred, and their strength utterly overthrown, in case you will but of yourselves help yourselves, and not suffer Italy: by a list running thorough the midst of Germany to be joined with Flaunders. A matter so much the easier for you to compass, for that you see evidently how all nations do abhor their great tyranny, and attend no other but opportunity to free themselves out of their bondage. Neithe are you ignorant with how weak a power, and with what a handful of men, or small beginnings, the Prince of Orenge hath wasted & brought to naught their great enterprises, & consumed their mighty armies: what a while the low countries (destitute of all aide and bereaved of succor) have borne the brunt of so mighty a Prince: also in what danger within these few years Don John of Austrich, & of late days the Prince of Parma were of being driven out of all the said low countries with their whole power: yea & that at that time, had not sundry provinces by reason of civil dissention departed from the general union: & the Duke of Aniow through perverse counsel let slip his good fortune which he possessed, they had not only abādoned Flanders, but also peradventure limited their dominions with the Pirinean mountains. So that as you are not to cōtēne their might & suffer it thus to grow on, so have you no cause most noble Princes to fear the greatness thereof, or to dant you frō valiant defense of yourselves or revenge of the common liberty.

The king of Spain's power cannot greatly hurt you, if in time you see to your business: If you neglect not the wars of the low countries: if through your authority you undermine all Billies purposes concerning the river of Ems: if you repress the fiery ambitiō of the Duke of Bauier together with his exceeding affection to the king of Spain: if with the most christiā king, if with the right excellent Queen of England, & all other Christian princes and potentats you do earnestly consider of some necessary means to suppress this their over great power and authority. But if contrariwise you suffer the inhabitauntes of the low cuntries, your next neighbors (through the spanish power almost wasted) yet to be consumed with the strēgh of Germany: if you hold your peaces when you see the inhabitants of Cleueland, Iuliers, & Coulogn evē quake for fear at the precepts of the king of Spain: if you force not the inhabitants of liedge to aid the cōmō enemy with money, munition & wepons, as hitherto they have openlie don: If you bridle not the vile ambition of the Duke of Bauier, but suffer him to join the Archbishopric of Coulogn & electorial dignity to his authority: If you restrain him not from joining his forces with the spanish to the destruction of Flanders, and exclude not the spaniard frō all the hauens of the Ocean sea: doubt not but Flāders being brought under the yoke. Germany divided into factions: France consumed in civil wars, or with drawn into sundry opinions & diverse affections: the terror of the spanish name, & weight of his empire will become a mighty tempest & inevitable inundation, which having piersed the causies, ditches & bāks, will shortly be sufficient through the fury of his ambitiō to incroch all Christiandō together. Against which proceedings if any man will thē oppose himself, either by force or otherwise, he shall (though to late) find that which in the beginning of our discourse we have set down, namely, that fit opportunity to do well being once escaped us (which will never be recovered either by entreaty or compulsion) will cry vengeance against us, and bring upon us that plague which our rechlesnes and negligence doth deserve.

This prognostication I beseech God to turn from all Christendom, especially from Germany, my sweet country: most earnestly desiring him in the name of our Savior JESUS CHRIST, that he will vouchsafe in his holy spirit to assist all your counsails (most noble princes of thempire, & you all other Christian Kings, Princes and magistrates) and therewith so govern, conduct and frame all your enterprises and determinations, that you may conclude upon, and put in execution whatsoever shall seem most just, profitable, requisite, and necessary for the benefit of all Christendom, the glory of his holy name, and the wealth and salvation of his people.