I haue receiued your letters, dated in Bruſſels the xvi. of Nouember laſt, with the incloſed copie of the gift of the deceaſed king of Spaine, to the noble princeſſe Iſabella Clara Eugenia, his eldeſt daughter: of the Netherlands, and the Countrie of Burgundie, in reſpect of the marriage betweene the aboue named illuſtrious princeſſe, and the illuſtrious Prince Albertus, Archeduke of Auſtria, hir coſin, with your requeſt, that I should ſincerely wright vnto you my opinion thereof: to wit, vvhether according to my iudgement and feeling, the ſame be a meete meanes to quenche the Netherlandish warres, and to reduce them to a quiet and peaceable eſtate: wherevpon I haue at diuers times conſidered, and notwithſtanding that I haue been in great ſuſpence, in vvhat ſorte and what imported, to giue my iudgement and aduiſe in ſo weighty a matter: yet in reſpect of the reuerence I owe to your honor, I haue been forced to reſolue & to accomplish your wil vpō a ſure truſt, that this my advice should remaine betvveene vs, and not to bewled to the hinderance and ſcandall of other I cannot bide from your honor, but that vpon this matter in the laſt moneth, diuers aduiſes haue bin ſent me, aſwell out of England, France, & Germany, as out of ſome quarters of the Netherlands, vvherof ſome are of this opinion, and other of other, that the deceaſed king conſide ring his great age and deſiring to leaue his ſonne, the new •… ing a peaceable eſtate, should haue faithfully and in good meaning proceeded herein: other that it is without any apperanne that the Spanish coū ſell should as any time find good indue meaning to ſeuer the Netherlands from Spaine, as hauing more commodities requiſite to the greatneſſe of a Prince, then all the realines of Spaine, & that therfore the ſaid dealings did onlie tend and ſtretche to attaine and being that to paſſe, vvhich by armes or other means can hardly be done. Beſides that, a certaine perſon of no ſmaſcredit vvith the great, writeth, in confirmation of this laſt opinion, to knovv certainly, that by the high borne Princeſſe & Prince, counter letters should haue been giuen. And alſo that for ſecuritie of their promiſes therof, of it is agreed, that foure of the cheefeſt places of the Netherlands should remaine in the poſſeſsion of the Spaniards. But without, to build vppon any foundations of theſe deuiſes, I will onely by manner of a gloſe, coate what I finde to be conſiderable, and finallie to ſet downe my feeling, to vnderſtand the true ground thereof, hoping that your honour the better will conſider in what ſort ought to be dealed for the common quietneſſe & tranquillitie, vnion and wel fare of the Netherlands, and to bring and maintaine them in their olde right ſplender, reſpect and proſperitie, beſeeching your honor, according to your wiſdom and bountifull diſcretion, to vnderſtand and interpret the whole to the beſt: and the Lord God Almightie preſerue your honour able, noble, high learned, wiſe, prouident, and moſt diſcreet Lordship, in a long and proſperous gouernement.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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