1

That notwithstanding, it is not lawfull for any man, to breake or violate the vnitie, and fundamentall lawes, whereupon the gouernment of the vnited Netherlands is grounded, and whereby the said Countries (by Gods speciall blessing, notwithstanding all the forces, practises and deuices of their enemies and euill willers) hath bin hitherto preserued and defended: he the said prisoner had taken vpon him, to trouble the state of the Religion, and thereby to bring the Church of God into great trouble and ex­tremitie. To that end had maintained and put in practise, most exorbitant and pernici­ous maximes against the state of the Land, and among them, with great boldnes, of himselfe and by his complices inserted, that [Page] some of the Prouinces of the said vnited Ne­therlands, had power & authoritie of them­selues, to order and dispose of religion at their wills and pleasures, and that the rest of the Prouinces had nothing to doe there­with.

2

That without commission or authoritie, he had in his owne house made certaine protestations in the name of the Prouinces of Holland, Vtrecht, and Ouerissell, whereby they togither, by manner of complot (against all order vsed in the assemblies of the gene­rall States) protested, that the Deputies of the Prouinces which were appointed for the furthering of the Nationall Synode, would be the authors and causers of great troubles and inconueniences.

3

That he contemning the good and whol­some counsels of diuers Princes, Lords, and [Page] noble Personages both in and without the land, as much as in him lay, had sought to withstand and hinder the remedies procu­red for the ceasing of controuersie in Re­ligion.

4

That to further and maintaine his de­signes aforesaid, he had abused certaine of the mightiest Potentates with vnseemely and sinister practises, and to that end by his owne authoritie instructed, and caused to be instructed, the Ambassadors for the States with vntrue propositions.

5

That he also had taken vpon him to write to the States Ambassador resident in Great Britannie, that if any thing should be writ­ten by the said King concerning the state of Religion, that it should be sent to the States of Holland; and that he should procure the staying thereof, vntill he had sent the copie [Page] vnto him to consider of it, and to stay his answer thereupon, before he sent the same, and that the letters should be directed vnto him, that he might deliuer them, for the good and seruice of the land (assuming to himselfe all the authoritie and gouernment thereof.)

6

That he tooke vpon him, in the name of the States of Holland and West-Friesland, to write to the King of France, that those States Generall that proclaimed a nationall Synod, vsurped the names of the Generall States, wishing his Maiestie not to send any of his subiects vnto the said Synod, but rather to aid and assist those of Holland against the fa­ctions of the States.

7.

That by indirect meanes he had sought for and procured letters from the King of England, which he himselfe had first drawne [Page] and corrected, and then sent them ouer to the Ambassador, tending to the furthering of his owne designes, which he himselfe de­liuered to the generall States, but made them not acquainted in what manner he had pro­cured them, writing to the said Ambassa­dor, that he should not by any means make the Ambassadors at that time in England for the generall States, acquainted therewith.

8.

That for the better furtherance of his de­signes and pretences, by the said Ambassa­dors meanes he sought to procure the like letters againe from the King of England, which when he could not get, he did not sticke to presume to tax the said King, with being the cause of the troubles that were then risen in the vnited Prouinces.

9

That, to procure the more and greater trouble in religion, hee had placed and [Page] brought into the Churches diuers hereticall Diuines and Teachers, and in the mannage­ing of the State had put in such men, as he thought to be fit instruments for the effect­ing and furtherance of his faction.

10

That he likewise had brought to passe, that his said creatures and instruments at di­uers and seuerall times, and sundry places, contrary to all good order of gouernment, had holden diuers conuenticles and secret assemblies, where, by him and his complices it was determined how they might proceed in their bad pretence: and to the end the same might be authorized vnder the names of the States of Holland and West-Freisland, he had so plotted, that by multitude of voi­ces (contrary to the will and desire of some of the chiefest members of Holland) they might resolue vpon that which they desired and intended: and yet he himselfe confes­seth, that such priuate assemblies are not to be permitted in a well-gouerned Common-wealth.

11

That he did not seeke to hinder the rigo­rous commissions in some places sent forth against the true professors of religion, whereby they were vpon strict penalties forbidden the exercise of the true religion, making them hatefull in all places both within and without the Land, by the names of strangers, and Puritans, who there Flan­derising, caused the subiects to contend with their Gouernors. Notwithstanding that all the vnited Prouinces together, by many and sundry treaties, agreements, and resolutions, (whereof he himselfe, as one of the States, had beene the author and inuen­tor) had promised and bound themselues one vnto another, with body, life, and goods, to maintaine, preserue and vphold, the reformed euangelicall religion, receiued and preached in euery place of those Coun­tries, without any alteration thereof what­soeuer. And that for confirmation thereof, in Anno 1588. the oathes of all the Gouer­nors, [Page] Generals, Captaines, and souldiers, in one point specially mentioned the same, which was that they should sweare to bee true and faithfull to the generall States, who by the vnitie and faithfull combination of promise, should vphold and maintaine the true reformed religion: and that in all the treaties and compositions made with such townes as they either won, or that yeelded themselues to them, one speciall Article was, that they should yeeld to the preaching of the aforesaid religion, which by all their adherents and allies had beene receiued, al­lowed of, and accepted.

12

That he esteeming all this not to be suffi­cient to effect his bad and erroneous de­signes, sought by the meanes of his compli­ces and adherents, to perturbe and trouble the politique State, deuising to inuent and finde the meanes to reduce and bring the gouernment thereof into disorder and con­fusion, by meanes thereof the better to ef­fect [Page] his mischieuous pretence against the securitie and prosperitie of the same.

13

That to the same end, and for a founda­tion of his faction, vnder diuers speciall pre­tences, hee had kindled the fire of dissen­tion, and procured all manner of distrusts betweene the Prouinces, and making him­selfe head of the faction, had caused the Deputies of eight townes in Holland to hold diuers secret assemblies, vpon cer­taine points by them agreed vpon, to pre­uent the rest of the townes, (and so by plu­ralitie of voices, hauing formerly complot­ted together) in the assemblie of the States of Holland, to bring them in, and to make such resolutions thereupon as they had formerly determined. In which priuate as­semblies, the Deputies of the said eight townes, among other things, first complot­ted and agreed vpon diuers points, (which at seuerall times were by them debated) and concluded to bring to effect.

14

That he himselfe had therein inserted the sharpe and seuere resolution made the 18. of August 1617. and against the wills and con­sents of diuers chiefe members of the said assemblie, caused the same to be ratified and confirmed. By which resolution, the pro­hibitions of ordinary Iustice made against their pretences, were declared and pronoun­ced to be void and of none effect: and the Magistrates of the townes, warranted, not to obey the same; and such as were thereun­to incited and consenting, authorised and allowed, of their owne authorities, for their defences, to raise new companies of souldi­ers, and to giue them another oath (contra­rie to their oath of allegeance made to the States Generall) by the which also all Offi­cers, Iustices, and those that were by oath bound vnto the particular Prouinces of Holland and West-Freisland, were sworne to maintaine and further the said resoluti­on: And further ordained, that all Generals, Captaines and souldiers of the ordinary [Page] companies, should earnestly be charged and commanded, vpon paine of losing of their places, to be obedient to the States, their pay-masters, and the Magistrates of the townes where they lay in garrison, notwith­standing any other prohibition or com­mandement made to the contrary: where­by it followed, that diuers townes in Hol­land (whereof some before that by his ad­uice and counsell had begunne to take vp souldiers) vpon the same resolution (and his secret instigation that they should looke vn­to themselues and their securities) began to raise a great number of souldiers, giuing them a particular oath, as aforesaid, with speciall charge to be obedient only to their commandements, against all men whatso­euer, and particularly against the generali­tie, and his Excellencie, in such cases, where­in the said townes (so strengthning them­selues with new souldiers) should iudge and vnderstand the proceedings of the said generalitie and his Excellencie to tend vnto the ouerthrow of their particular rights and priuiledges.

15

That he by force of the said resolution, was a meanes to procure Commissioners to be sent vnto the Brill, who (without the knowledge of his Excellencie being State­holder and Captaine generall) going thither, caused the ordinary garrisons therein to take their oathes in manner aforesaid, and such as would not, were threatned to bee cashierd.

16

That he, within few dayes after the said resolution was made, went to Vtrecht, and counselled some of the States there likewise, to raise new companies of souldiers, con­trary to the accustomed manner, and the common oath of the generalitie and his Ex­cellencie, as Captaine generall, which they accordingly raised, with a particular oath as aforesaid.

17

And when the Generall States, perceiuing the said raising of souldiers to be contrary to order and generall custome, thought it fit to aduertise them by letter, to surcease from the same, that he was the author and cause, that the said States of Vtrecht, tooke vpon them by letters of the 5. of September 1617. to excuse their said proceeding vnto the Ge­nerall States, with vaine and idle pretences, as that they were raised for the diuerting of popular commotion, and yet he knew well, that the defence and preseruation of the Prouinces, townes, and forts thereof, in ge­nerall, by the vnion is referred to the dispo­sition of the generalitie of our vnited States in generall: as also, that by the counsell of State holden in Vtrecht anno 1610. it was likewise ordered, that whatsoeuer belonged vnto the securitie, peace and tranquilitie of the towne and territories of Vtrecht in all respects should be referred to the said States Generall. And that then a great garrison, [Page] belonging vnto the said Generall States, lay therein, which while the Armies were in Gelders and Cleaueland, was not dimini­shed: And besides, that by the said States, it was expresly ordered, not to diminish the said garrison, but rather (if it were found necessary) to increase the same.

18

That by the consent and knowledge of him, this instruction was inserted, and the new souldiers were raised in Vtrecht, by the which, cleane contrary to the al­legations and reasons in the letter afore­said pretended, the said new souldiers were bound, to serue both without and within the said Prouince, against all and euery person, both by water and by land, onely vnder the commandement or com­mission of the states of Vtrecht, and that they should not onely be ready at the com­mandement of the said States of Vtrecht, but also aide and assist their good neigh­bours, frends, and allies.

19

And as in Vtrecht newes was brought [Page] that his Excellencie the Prince of Orange, was to come into, and passe through the said towne, a letter was by the said States of Vtrecht (not without the said prisoners knowledge, as then being in Vtrecht) sent vnto the said Prince, to desire him, not to passe, nor come through that towne, with earnest aduice to follow their counsel there­in: he not many dayes before, aduer­tised the Secretarie Ledenberch by priuate let­ters, that it was fit and expedient for them, to keepe a strong watch at their gates, and also that both from aboue and beneath the riuer of Leck, they should be aduertised by the next townes, whether any souldiers were comming vp or downe the said riuer, as also that the like was to be done vpon the way that entred into the towne by Amersfort gate, desiring Ledenberch when he had read the letters to burne them.

20

That he, by his instructions and counsels brought to passe, that by the Deputies of the [Page] aforesaid eight townes, first in priuate mee­tings, in vnaccustomed places, and vndue times, a certaine procuration, or an act of vnion, was drawne, which afterward also, was in some of the said townes by the con­sent of the Common Councell, and in some of them without their knowledge, concluded and agreed vpon, the 14. of May 1618. whereby they authorized their Deputies, to consult, aduise and resolue with the States and Deputies of the other townes, vpon a meanes of present resistance; as also, all togi­ther to prouide for, and to assure, all such promises of assistance, helpe, and indemni­ties, as they should finde to be necessarie, needfull and conuenient.

21

That he caused a copie of the same act to be giuen vnto Mons: Modesberghen by Hoo­gherbet the pentionarie, and withall desired him to consider thereof, who thereupon pre­sently went to Vtrecht, and procured the like act there also to be propounded, con­tayning [Page] likewise an authoritie to bee giuen vnto their Deputies touching the two former points of stricter vnion, and certaine and present meanes of resistance: and for that the towne, togither with some other of the members of the States, would not grant nor consent thereunto, he desired the Borghomaster van Pol (then being in the Hage) by his letters to moue them there­unto, or purposely to goe thither about it: which to effect, the said Borghomaster went personally thither; but the Magistrate of Vtrecht perceiuing whereunto the force of the said procuration or authoritie tended, would not consent thereunto, but with an expresse limitation, that the Committies, should not extend their authoritie to the furtherance or procuring of present or new extremities, or to the making of new vnitie with any seuerall Prouinces, townes or members thereof.

22

That when the States of Vtrecht, to ease [Page] themselues of the burthen and charge of maintayning the new companies of soul­diers, and to let and withstand the decrea­sing of their treasure and reuenues, vpon the 19. of Iune 1618. Stilo vet: found it con­uenient to send a competent number of their Deputies to the Hage, togither with Monsieur Modesberghen and others, at the as­sembly of the Generall States, to be holden there, and with his Excellencie the Prince of Orange, as Gouernor and Captaine Generall of the Prouince of Vtrecht, to agree vpon the discharging of the said new souldiers, he counselled Ledenbergh (as then one of the De­puties) in his owne house (hauing intelli­gence of their said commission by the said Ledenbergh) not to discouer the same vnto the Prince of Orange, but to keepe it secret, and to follow other aduice by him giuen vnto the said Ledenbergh; not remembring that he himselfe confesseth that he knew full well, the great charge and burthen of the Land, and the vnfitnes thereof for the maintay­ning of new companies of souldiers, especi­ally so great a number.

23

That he had intelligence giuen him, that the said Ledenbergh, togither with the pentio­narie Hoogherbet, and Grotius, in the house of Iohn Vtenbogaet did consult vpon the reasons, and motiues, that should be obserued with the aforesaid Deputie of the States of V­trecht, to diuert, and disswade them not to put their commission in effect; as also, that the same deliberation holden, and required by Ledenbergh, should be kept secret: where­vpon it followed that the said Hoogerbets and his complices, in the house of Daniel Tresel Clarke to the generall Sates, meeting toge­ther, with many very sharpe and pernicious speeches, and motions vsed by Grotius, dis­swaded the Deputies of Vtrecht to shew their authoritie; whereof also the said pri­soner was aduertised, and whereby also the said Deputies were compelled to goe backe againe to Vtrecht, without shewing their commission, notwithstanding, that by the States of Vtrecht, they were reiteratiuely willed and required to doe it.

24

That he earnestly aduised the said Depu­ties at their departure, to stand against the assembly of a Nationall Synode, and to vrge the continuance of their new companies of souldiers, as also, to keepe good and strong watch both at their gates and in their townes, adding thereunto, that if it fell out, that at the first the businesse were not found out, and that the said new souldiers should thereby, be longer held in pay, that then they should haue cause togither with the inte­ressed townes in Holland to enter into fur­ther communication, vpon the increasing, and assuring of the number of the new soul­diers, which they togither should thinke fit for their necessarie assurance, and to finde out meanes for the maintenance of them, by reciprocall assistance among them: he also aduertised diuers Deputies of the afore­said eight townes thereof.

25

That he also perswaded the towne of [Page] Schonehouen, besides the ordinary and common contributions by them to be dis­bursed for the necessarie defence of the land, and payment of the garrisons, to agree vnto the raising and payment of the new compa­nies then raised. And also that he thought it conuenient, and winked thereat, that di­uers townes (to the eminent danger of the land) gaue their consents with strange and vnaccustomed exceptions.

26

That to make the seruice and counsell of his Excellencie in all places vnprofitable and of no force, he sought to disgrace and scan­dalize his said Excellencie by diuers calum­niations, and vtterly to dishonour him, ma­king men beleeue that hee sought to haue the soueraigntie of the Land in his owne power, and that he had practised the same by premeditated counsell, at the very same time and houre, that the necessitie of the Common-wealth (in the highest degree) re­quired his said Excellencies aduice, in secret [Page] assemblies of certaine Deputies for the go­uernment, being his confederates: with other such like imputations; and that there­upon he also had conference with other Countries, by letters written in ciphers, and by him sent abroad.

27

That he by certaine persons expresly sent out in the night time, aduertised the Magi­strate of Leyden, that his Excellencie was to goe from the Hage, and that apparantly he would goe thither, that they therfore should stand vpon their guard, and aduertise other their neighbour townes thereof, that they also should looke vnto themselues. Vpon which his aduice it followed, that the watch-bell being rung, the new souldiers and shot ran to armes at midnight, and some townes in Holland by them were aduertised with all speed to looke vnto themselues as afore­said: as also that the gates of the said towne were kept shut the next day after, vntill hee gaue them other aduice, that his Excellencie [Page] was gone another way; although he had no intent of harme against that, nor any other towne.

28

That hee confessed, that hee was much grieued and discontented, when he vnder­stood that the towne of Brill, to preuent the sending of new companies of souldiers thi­ther, was guarded by the ordinary garrison of the Generall States, therein placed by his Excellencie, and that he wrought from Vtrecht to the ordinary counsels of Hol­land and West-Freisland, to aduertise and forewarne all the townes of the said Prouin­ces, to looke well vnto themselues.

29

That also to withdraw the ordinary soul­diers from the obedience of the Generall States and of his Excellencie, he had labou­red by all the meanes he could to make them to vnderstand, that they were by oath [Page] bound, before all others to obey the States of the particular Prouinces, (their pay-ma­sters) though it were against the generall States and his Excellencie; as also that they ought and were bound expresly to resist their commandements, whensoeuer they should vndertake any thing contrary to the wills or resolutions of the States of the Pro­uinces, and the Magistrates of the townes wherein they should lie in garrison.

30

And when the Generall States, perceiuing that they could not by any serious aduer­tisements or instances attaine to the dischar­ging of the new companies of souldiers, thought it conuenient to send other com­mitties with his Excellencie to Vtrecht, he practised and found meanes, that by very few Gentlemen, three townes, and some counsell of State, which had no commission so to doe, Hoogerbeets, Grotius, and some o­thers were appointed Committies to goe to Vtrecht, and there in the name of the States [Page] of Holland and West-Freesland, to profer all aide and counsell to the States and Magi­strates of Vtrecht, for the staying and let­ting of the discharge of the new companies, giuing letters also to the commanders of the souldiers there, that were likely to be discharged, (drawne by him the said priso­ner) and yet not read in the assembly then holden; whereby they were aduertised that they were bound and obliged, to be true and obedient to their pay-masters, togither with the States of the respectiue Prouinces, wherein they lay in garrison, or were other­wise imployed: and to aide and assist them in vpholding of all their resolutions, with­out doing or attempting any thing, or suf­fering to be done or attempted to the con­trary.

31

That he also affirmed, that the commis­sion giuen to his Excellencie, and other their Committies of the Generall States, touching the discharging of the new Companies, if it [Page] were done without the consent of the States of Vtrecht, was contrary to the vnion, and would be a cause of force which might be vsed to expell force, as well as they did and were compelled to doe against the King of Spaine and his Gouernors; whereas he him­selfe by his remonstrances giuen out in wri­ting sheweth, that all violent courses are co­rosiue and ruinous for the state of the Land, and a right Spanish counsell, tending to the subuersion and vtter ruine of these famous Prouinces. Whereupon it followed, that the aforesaid Hoogerbeets, Grotius, and other Deputies comming to Vtrecht, to the intent aforesaid, secretly and in priuate assemblies, aduised with some of the States of Vtrecht, and the Secretary Ledenberch, made proposi­tion touching present resistance, and how to moue the new companies thereunto, as also to procure the ordinary souldiers, by vertue of the letter aforesaid, not to be obedient to the commandements of his Excellencie, and the Committies for the Generall States, and to second them by the Artillerie men of the towne; to appoint places for the said new [Page] souldiers to assemble in; to haue diuers peeces of ordinance ready, and that Monsieur Modesberghen and Ledenberch had told them, that if they could finde a meanes to keep the souldiers that were then in ordinarie pay of Holland, from stirring, that they had taken such order among their new souldiers, that they would easily obtaine their wills: and that also the said Hoogerbeets with his com­plices, the day before the discharging of the aforesaid new companies of souldiers, had deliuered their letters to the aforesaid ordi­narie souldiers.

32

That he had reuealed the secrets of the Land, and contrary to the acts of soueraign­tie, of his owne authoritie, without the knowledge or consent of any of the Pro­uinces, refused and denied to accept of cer­taine notable vnexpected alliance, which in the highest degree concerned the Common wealth.

33

That he procured diuers Courts of Iustice (in the administration of their offices) by di­uers wayes, and in seuerall matters, contra­rie to the lawes, priuiledges, freedomes, and statutes of the Land, to vse vntrue dealing in the administration of iustice.

34

And that he, contrary to his oath, and by the instructions of some forraine Princes, Lords, and others, receiued diuers great summes of money, and presents, without making any that had to doe therewith ac­quainted therewithall. All which his pro­ceedings, tending to the end not only to make the towne of Vtrecht a slaughter-house, but also to bring the state of the Land, and the person of the Prince of Orange into vtter subuersion, whereby, and by meanes of all other his machinations and conspiracies, it is so fallen out, that States [Page] against States, gouernment against gouern­ment, and new contracts in and against the vnitie, and generall perturbations in the state of the Land, as well spirituall as tem­porall, are risen vp, the treasure consumed, and the Country compelled to an expence of many millions of crownes, generall dis­trusts and dissentions moued and brought in among the vnited Prouinces, and the in­habitants of the Land, the vnion broken, the Country made vnfit and vnapt to de­fend it selfe, and brought into danger, to en­dure and suffer some scandalous wrong, or vtterly to be ouerthrowne and subuerted: which are matters of such consequence, that they are not to be suffered in any gouern­ment, but rather ought to be punished, for an example to all others.

Therefore the Iudges aforesaid, with deli­beration of the counsell of the States gene­rall, hauing well considered vpon and weighed all the articles aforesaid, wherein they concerned, or in any wise might tend to the matter in question; doing iustice, in [Page] the names and behalfes of the Generall States of the vnited Prouinces, haue con­demned, and by these presents condemne the said prisoner, to be brought to the Inner Court, to the place thereunto appointed, there to haue his head stricken off, and all his goods, lands, and reuenues to be confis­cated. Giuen in the assembly of the Iudges aforesaid in the Grauen-Hage, and executed the 13. of May 1619.