GOOD Hope there was, & not a little, that through the pacification of Gaunt, and the vnitye of y ^e Prouinces there adioyning, this great and long turmoyle, or rather miserable calamitie of these Low-Countries should haue bene ceased, and so consequently publique peace and tranquility, aswell in Religion as otherwise, should haue bene esta­blished in the same indifferently, es­pecially in Antwerpe, for the full re­storing thereof to her olde florishing estate in trafique, marchandise, han­dicraftes, nauigation, martial feates and all other good, and vertuous practise or pollicy, wherein sometime she farre exceeded any other of the Prouinces whichsoeuer.

But sith it falleth out so, that the aforesayd Pacification of Gaunt, (what with y ^e intermedling of Spa­niards and their adherentes, being professed enemies to the coūtry, and what with other occasions therhēce [Page 4] procéeding) hath bene at the first plunge, and is at this present viola­ted and infringed in diuers poyntes: and sith that newe suspicions, and hartburninges kindle againe a fresh betweene them of the Romishe Ca­tholique Religion, and them of the Reformed, and so farre foorth that some townes and places of the Pro­uinces, so pacified, doe inflame and burne againe, as it is most manifest, with such great rācor, grudging, and dissention as herafter without great slaughter and bloudshed can not bee extinguished: Therefore to preuent all such dissention, discord, diuisions, and effusi on of bloud, his HIGH­NES and his EXCELLENCY by the aduice of the coūcell of the E­states assisting him, hath deuised, and made certayne Ordinances, contay­tayning diuerse poyntes, seruing to the peace of the Religions, and main tenance of publicke pollicy.

All which poyntes so aduised & cō ­cluded were by his Highnes letters [Page 5] dated the 14. of Iuly last past sent to all vnited Prouinces, crauing vpon the sight and receit therof their assēt, and consent therein.

After the same manner also were the sayd Articles of this Religious peace sēt to the Iustices of the town of Antwerpe, who labouring in the same, as to such a waighty matter appertayneth, haue to that end assē ­bled the whole body of the sayd City then and there opening and commu­nicating vnto them the intent of the foresayd letters, as also reading and examining the sayd Articles deuised for the Religious peace. Where, af­ter long and good deliberation had, together with the aduise of the Colo nels, Deacōs of the Companies and Captaines of the towne, it was ful­ly resolued and concluded, that the sayd Accord for the Religions should be presently proclaymed in y ^e towne, and wel, and straightly executed, and on the Iustices and Magistrates of the sayd townes part from them cō ­manded [Page 6] and ordayned, that all and euery inhabitant thereof should hēce forth frame hymselfe to this rule onely, and keepe the sayd Accord of Religiō in such order and maner as followeth.

FIrst, sith that Religion neyther oght nor can be vpheld▪ or beatē into mens hartes, by force or violēce, but is a speciall gift of God, and at hys handes to be sought for, and re­ceued: and for that it becommeth all Christian people of what Religion soeuer, to liue mutually in peace, & quietnes, ruling themselues accor­ding to the lowable and politique or­dinaunces of their Gouernours: it is thought good that they of the afore­sayd Romish Catholique Religion, and they of y ^e Reformed, as also they of the Confession of Ausbourg, shall frely euery one remain at their own choyce and libertie as they will, and are minded, according to their vnder­standing, to aunswere before God for [Page 7] the saluation of their owne soules, at the latter day.

Item, because there is such diuer­sitie of Religions, none shall be suffe­red to disturbe or hinder, or any way be a let to the other in their Ceremo nies, Sermons, Readings, or other Exercises whatsoeuer: or otherwise attempt any other thing the one a­gaynst the other, whither it be with­in or without the accustomed or as­signed places of their Religion, in a­ny kind of maner, but suffer one an­other to vse their Religion freely in peace and quietnes: And likewise to let them possesse, holde, and inioy all their goodes so long, and til such time as by the aduice of the Generall Estates, or at least by a prouinciall or nationall Assembly (echone beyng fréely heard) it be otherwise determi­ned and concluded: vppon payne of punishment of body and goods, with­out delay, as disturbers of the commō peace, and tranquillitie.

And in the meane while to set [Page 8] good politique order, after some méet and reasonable manner, for the secu­ritie, and quietnes of ech part, it is ordayned that each of the aforesayd Religions shall holde them content with the Churches whiche they pre­sētly possesse: except y ^e the Churches of two of them, to weet, of the Refor­med Religiō, and of the Aus bourgs Confession beyng to little for their vse, that then by the Magistrates of this Citie there shalbe assigned, and appoynted vnto thē any other church or place for their commoditie, there openly and freely to exercise their re­ligion. And as touching Burialles, the professors, or maintainers of ech Religion shall vse thereto the Chur­ches and Churchyardes where they do exercise their Religion, eache one following their owne Ceremonies: except that for want of room, distāce, or other necessitye, any one of the a­foresayd Religions require to vse ech others Churchyarded, whiche then they shall be suffered to do, prouided [Page 9] that no Sermon be there made or a­ny singing, or other Ceremonye there vsed.

And for to auoyde such inconueni­ces as are most commonly occurrent through the wilfull wantonnesse of seditious and quarreling mates, which hunt after nothyng but the o­uerthrow of all good ordinaunces: It is ordained that echone shal for beare and refrayne themselues to come or to be found in place, whereas other Religion is exercised than that they professe themselues, except that they so guyde, and rule themselues, accor­ding to the vse and exercise of that church or Temple, wherin they shal so happen to be found, vppon payne as is aforesayd.

Likewise to auoyd al iarring, ran­cor, and debate, and to represse the inordinate libertie of some, spurning agaynst diuers commaundementes, and orders oftentimes taken, and published by vs, we enioyne, and pro hibite any song to be made, printed, [Page 10] sould, or to bring to light anye dif­daynefull or iniurious song, ballade, rymes, inuectiues, writinges, Pic­tures, or Payntinges whereby one or other of the religions, or any of thē in particular, or generall should be disgraced, or defamed thereby, on the paine or punishment aforesayd.

Moreouer they of the aforesayd Religions shalbe bound to present their Preachers and Ministers personally before the Gouernors, and Iu­stices of this Citie, that their seueral names beyng regestred, they may with great deliberation by the fore­sayd Gouernours, and Iustices be admitted, and receiued, and before them take an othe of their loyaltie and obedience in these politique ca­ses, without doyng any further act of iurisdiction, or medling with the aucthoritie of the Magistrate directly or indirectly, in what manner soeuer the same might be.

The sayd Preachers, and Mini­sters so presented, and admitted, and [Page 11] sworne; shall also be bound, as also al other persōs, not to speake or preach or otherwise to vse speaches, or wordes, eyther publiquely, or secret­ly, tending to discord, tumult, and se­dition, but to teach, and exhort the commons to peace, loue, and qui­etnesse.

Item none shalbe suffered to carry any marke or token, through which occasion might be geuen to another of offence, discord, and contention.

Item, the maintayners of each of y ^e aforesayd Religions (till that other­wise it be prouided by them, or the vnited Prouinces) may contract mariages each according to the vse of hys Religion, and the Children so borne, and begot shal lawfully suc­céed, yea & inioy the goods fallen vnto them by the death of any Person of a contrary Religion.

And to kéep indifferencie ouer al, so it is, that because of the foresayd Religions, there shalbe had good re­gard, and discretion in the recei­uing [Page 12] of any Schollers, sick Parsons, or Poore men, into Schooles, Hospi­talles, or Almes houses. Also all the the Almes, and deuotions of good people shalbe gathered collected, and distributed according to the order al­ready therein taken, and as it is vsed at this present.

Item, that echone shalbe bound to keepe the accustomed Holy dayes, hereafter specified, namely, the Son­day, Christmas-day, Thapostels­dayes, The Annūciatiō of our Lady Ascention day, and Candelmas, and not be suffered vppon the same dayes to open their shoppes, or to worke, or sell openly.

Item, vpon such dayes as of aun­cient time serued for the fast, no man shall sell or eate fleshe: and all fleshe markets, or shambles shalbe shut vp, and each one shall behaue himselfe modestly, according to the ordinance or vse of the towne.

Item, in election of any Officer, or Magistrate, and other politique [Page 13] callyng there shalbe no speciall re­gard of any mans religion, but such a one to be nominated, and chosē, as shalbe thought and found meetest for the same, and likeliest to execute such an office, with this condition, that such a one so nominated, & cho­sen shalbe bound to fulfill the othe, which of olde tyme appertayned to his office: and shall moreouer fayth­fully and solemnely sweare this Ac­cord of Religion, without vsing, or ioyning any other Ceremonies. And if so be that in taking of any the sayd othes, whether it be of Magistrates, or any other publique seruice, any clause be comprised therin repugnāt to the obseruation, or conseruation of any the sayd Religions, that then the same clause in taking & geuing y ^e oth shalbe omitted.

Furthermore ech one shalbe boūd to beare dutifull obedience, and re­uerence to the heads, & Magistrates of this Citie, and to assist the same in all places to apprehend, and punish [Page 14] all manner of mutinies and seditiōs, especially of the trāsgressors of these ordinances now enacted.

And if so be it happen (which god defend) that any man doe contrarye to these ordinances, or do oppose him selfe agaynst the same, in all or in part, or do disturbe, offend, or abuse any manner of person by any iniu­rous meane, it is ordayned as afore­sayd, that imediately they shall pro­ceed to the apprehending of the offen dor, according to y ^e auncient custome. And because that the examination, and information shall be done with­out suspition, or misdoubt, it shall be lawfull for them of the Religions a bouesaid ioyntly to chuse and assigne two worthy discreet men, louers of the common peace and tranquility, that in their presence the aforesayd information may be taken by the go­uernor, & suche as by the law are ap­poynted to that purpose, to the intēt that what is done may proceede and be ordayned as it ought to be.

[Page 15] Under was written:

This ordinaunce being read in the Counsel Chamber of the Iustices of Antwerpe, was by them ordayned to bee proclaymed, and published, dated the 12. of Iune. Anno. 1579.

BEcause that the 28. of May last past certayne ill motions, and with no small inconuenience did be­ginne to rage, whereby more heaui­nes, and greater mischiefe might haue risen too the great hindraunce or hurt of the Citie, and the whole Countreyes, and to the aduantage and incouraging of the common ene­my: So it is, that after diuers com­munications had for to make and mayntayne peace and vnitie among the Burgeses, and inhabitaunts of the sayd Citie, and to remedy the a­foresayd mischiefs, as much as is pos­sible at this present, hys Highnes with the aduice of hys Excellencie, and y ^e Coūsel of the Estates, but not without the conference, and agree­ment of the Bourgmasters, Sheriffes, Deputies, and Deacons of their mi­steries, and the adherentes, or confe­derates [Page 17] of y ^e sayd Sheriffes, Colonels, Deacons, and Captaynes of the sayd towne, not onely in forme and man­ner of a generall counsell called (Bréeden-Raedt, or bread Coun­sell) but also with the particuler mē ­bers of euery Colledge, hath conclu­ded and ratified these Articles fol­lowing.

WHereas by the second Ar­ticle of this ordinaunce, it is ordered by his Highnes and Excellency to publish this Union, or peace in the same [Page 24] forme as it was done at Utrecht, re­seruing the moderatiō of the poynts beyng different, betweene the con­cept of the Estates present, and the aforesaid Union, to be decided by the Estates generall of the vnited Pro­uinces, and by the rest of the Prouin­ces and Townes whiche are to be v­nited, in their first assembly: So it is that wee geue to vnderstande to euery one, that the Burgmaisters and Sheriffes according to the reso­lution of the Members of this Citie do cōforme themselues to the sayd vnion had, made, and concluded at Utrecht, on the 23. of Ianuary last past.