WHereas frō my Lord the Arche­duke Mat­thias, Gouernour general of these lowe Countries, likewise, my Lord the Prince of Orange his Liefete­nant General, The Councel of the states, and the Generall States, at diuers times haue proposed and haue ben aduised by di­uers meanes for to voyde all the diffidence & mistrustings, which are daily perceiued and found to growe and augment among [Page] the people, especiallie because of the diuer­sitie of Religion, and therefore shewed vn­to them of al the Prouinces certaine ordi­nances of peaceable Religion, which (tho­rough subtill abusing) could not be conclu­ded & resolued in this Citie of Ghaunt, as the quietnes of this Citie did well require: So it is, that by the mouth of the Excel­lencie of my aforesaid Lord the Prince of Orange, the good intention of his high­nesse, by my Lords of the Counsell of state General, being wel vnderstanded, is for to set the common Burgeses and inhabitants of the said citie of Ghaunt in good and sure peace, vnitie, & quietnes, and them there­in to maintaine: Also for to auoide and cut off all discordes, quarelles and variances betweene the said Burgesses, during the which no Citie or Prouince is able to take a fast and sure standing.

My Lords, Bailifes & Schepens of both the Benches, & both the Wardens of the a­foresaid citie of Ghaunt, by aduisemēt, de­liberation, and communication kept with the aforesaid Lord the Prince of Orange, [Page] also by sight, consent, and true resolution & conclusion of communication of the three members of the same Citie, being there­vppon orderlie assembled, haue statuted & ordeined these points & articles folowing.

First, that within this citie of Ghaunt shalbe admitted the liber and free exercise of both the Religions, aswell of the Refor­med as of the Catholike Romish, and that following the same, they of the reformed Religion to and for the exercise & vsing of their said Religion, shal keepe, and shal by these presents to them bee graunted the Churches & Temples, whereas the afore­said religion presently is exercised, to wit, the Churches of S. Iohns, S. Saluators, & our Ladies church, & likewise the Tem­ples of the Dominicans, Carmelits, Ful­ling house, and Weauers Chappel, where shall continue the libertie and freedome of their said Religion.

And likewise, on the other part to giue full contentement to them of the Catholike Romish religion, shalbe graunted and ad­mitted [Page] the churches hereafter specified, to wit, S. Michaels. S. Pharahilden, Saint Iames, S. Katherines chappell vpon the sand, for the exercising of the same religiō, after the old custome: well vnderstoode, by day, & with reasonable ringing of Belles, without any processions to go without the church: neither also to go and carrie their sacraments openly and pompeously about the streetes. And if neede bee, there shalbe assigned vnto them of the Catholike Ro­mish Religion one of the other Churches or Temples, whereas presentlie is no Re­ligion exercised.

And as concerning the Chappels not before mentioned, standing in diuers di­stinct places of the Citie, they shall (for diuers considerations) bee kept locked & shutte vp, without any seruice or exercising of the reformed Religion, or of the Ro­mish Religion therein to bee done, except it were by ordinance of the Magistrates.

As concerning the closed Cloisters, as well of men as women, they may keepe [Page] them selues all together assembled in their respectiue Cloisters or Couents, and there continue, maintaining their religion and order with closed doores, and without ring­ing at nightes, and nothing els. But they of the vnclosed, or open Cloisters, as well of the Friers vppon the Walles, as the blacke Nonnes, Baginnes, and all other, shall or maye not exercise the Romishe Religion in the same their open Cloisters and Couents, but they shall therevnto vse the Parishe churches vnto the Catholikes here before resigned & appointed as other pastors. Well vnderstanding neuertheles, that al those that wil depart out of the said Cloisters, & leaue their habits and orders, or giue thēselues to another state, that then shalbe giuen to them reasonable & compent maintenance to the discretion & ordinance of the Magistrates, after that they shal find and haue knowledge of the matter: with­out that herein shalbe comprehended anie of the begging orders, as well men as wo­men, which do remaine without the Citie, for the lesser charges and subleuation of the poore commonaltie.

[Page] Item, there is agreed, that they of the reformed Religion, for the mainteining of their publike schooles, shal haue & kepe the Cloisters of the Augustines, Templehouse and Friers. As likewise on the otherside, they of the Catholike and Romish Reli­gion, if they likewise desire anie Schooles, shall haue and enioye for the mainteining of their schooles, the Cloister of the grey Sisters by S. Iames church, likewise the Cloister of the gray sisters by the Domini­canes and Merhem.

Item, for to assure sufficiently al the said statutes, as well for them of the one as for the other Religion, the one is straightlie bound to the other for doing anie hurt, let, trouble, hinderance, slaūder or harme, nei­ther to the seruices and execution of them, aswell by the Catholikes Romish, as by the reformed Religion in anie wise.

Moreouer, it is likewise defended, for the diuersitie of the religiō, for any man to hurt, hinder, trouble, or molest by words or works, in body or goods: neither to sell, [Page] set forth, or cause to be solde and set forth a­nie enuious or spiteful pictures, songs, ba­lades, proses or bookes, neither weare any markes or tokens, wherewith they might prouoke one another to anger, differences, or questions.

Item, euery man shall keepe him selfe from the places whereas his religion is not exercised, except he keepe himself there quietlie & honestlie, keeping him self from scandall, & rule him selfe according to the order of the church or temples where hee goeth in.

Item, that as well the Ministers & Con­sistorians as they of the Catholike Romish religion, shalbe bound for to keepe and be­haue them selues in all modestie, quietnes, faithfulnesse and obedience, in all poli­tike matters, without medling themselues in anie wise, in any matters of Iurisdicti­on, or anie matters concerning the autho­ritie of the Magistrates, directly or indi­rectly.

Defending the aforesaide Preachers, Ministers, & Consistorians, & likewise thē [Page] of the Catholike Romish religion, openlie or secretlie to speake, preach, or otherways vse anie words or talkings tending to cō ­motion, strife, discord, or sedition.

But that euerie one of them keepe him self modestly & manerly, saying, preaching nor teaching any thing, but that which is good and conuenient to the instruction of the commonaltie, and mainteining of the peaceable vnion, concord and tranquillitie of the Citie and Countrie, which they and euerie one of them seuerally do so promise, & shall affirme by oth so to doe, & likewise to maintaine & obserue: vpon paine to them which shall transgresse therein, to forfet & be defended of their preachings, and fur­ther to be corrected and punished to the ex­ample of others.

Item, that no man shall or may worke, nor open his shops vpon these holy dayes following, to wit, All the Sundayes, two Christmasse dayes, New yeres day, the se­cond Easter day, the second Whitsunday, our Lady dayin midde August, S. Mathi­as day in Febru. S. Iohns day in Mid­sommer, [Page] S. Peter & Paul in Iune, Saint Iames day in Iuli, S. Bartholomew day in August, S. Andrewes day in Nouemb. And as concerning the selling of fleshe in the Butchers hall, the old custome & com­mon vse of this Citie shalbe obserued.

And those of both the said Religions are bounde to shewe to the Magistrates and Superioritie of the Citie, all dewe obedi­dience and reuerence: them also to assist as well in apprehending and punishing of all maner of seditious persons, & other offen­dours (being therevnto required:) & espe­cially of the offendours and transgressours of this ordinance, as perturbatours of the common quietnes & peace, & otherways.

Item, no man of whatsoeuer religion he be, shall aduance him selfe to attempt anie thing or practise directly or indirectly a­gainst the common quietnes, welfare, and peace of the citie, but contrariwise shall e­uerie one with their body & goods, helpe to keepe & obserue in such state the said citie, as by this ordinance, and Edict is writen [Page] aswell against them, as also against stran­gers, or others which would enter, inuade, ouerthrow, or do hinder in any wise therto.

And if it did come to passe, (which God forbid) that anie doe enterprise or attempt any such like matters to the hinderance of the same citie, so shal euery man (hauing the knowledge thereof) be bound to giue it to vnderstande to the Magistrates, vppon paine to be punished as forsworne, or other wayes, according to the fact: And to the contrarie, they that shall giue knowe­ledge thereof orderly, though they were culpable of the matter, shall not bee puni­shed or corrected.

For to assure all this aboue written, shall be ordeined by the Schepens of both the benches, & both the Wardens of this Citie eight notable, honest & quiet men, vz. foure of the owne, and foure of the other Religi­on, the which shalbe authorised for to cause this ordinance to be obserued & kept: Like­wise, to heare all the differences, questions, complaints on both sides, and to take order [Page] and moderate them, or if need be, to report the same to the Bailiefes, Schepens, or Councell of the Citie.

For the true and sure obseruation of all which pointes, & full assurance thereof to all men, shal the Bailiefes, Schepens and Councel, and the aforesaid eight deputed Gentlemen appointed as Commissioners for the sure fortification thereof, Like­wise the Colonelles, Captains, & all other officers hauing cōmission, & do now serue, or hereafter shalbe constituted into seruice, take & receiue in their true sauegard, pro­tection, defence and custodie, aswel the one as the other Religion: Promising wel and expreslie vpon faith and othe, them to de­fend against all them of whatsoeuer religi­on or condition they bee, that would resist, attempt or claime the one anothers right, or hinder them, or offer them iniurie in bo­die or goods, by anie meanes whatsoeuer.

Promising further vpon like faith and othe, that the transgressours of this Ordi­nance, or of anie point therof, shall straght­lie [Page] be caused to be punished and corrected as commotioners and perturbatours of the commom quietnes and prosperitie of the Citie, or Coūtrie, or otherwayes accor­ding to the matter, shalbe punished with­out fauour, to the example of others.

For the obseruation of al which ordinan­ces, shall also assist the said eight commis­sioners, all they of the Citie, the common Wardens and sworne of the occupations, of the Weauers. Likewise the Preachers, Ministers, and assistants of the said refor­med Religion, which respectiuelie euerie one in his degree, shalbe bound to that in­tent, and to the effectual obseruation & per­forming of this ordinance, and euery point thereof, shalbe sworne by their othes in the hands of the denominated Magistrates: as likewise shalbe sworne all Spirituall per­sons, Capittels, Colledges & Couents of the Catholike Romish religion, with al the other Schepens of both the benches, and both the Wardens, as it shalbe most cōue­nient for the obseruation thereof: All being to the end of good peace & quietnes of this [Page] Citie, and also for the assurance of the one Religion against the other. And conse­quently, to a true defence and rooting out of all doubtfulnes, mistrustings, feare and and diffidence, being the spoyle and ruine of all Cities.

Thus ordained by forme of Edict sta­tuted by the Bailifes, Scepens of both benches, and both the Wardens of the Citie of Ghaunt, The xxvii. of Decem­ber, 1578.