THis is the thing which I haue alwaies praied vnto God for ( my Lords ) & desired withal my hart , that he would graunt it me , from the time that I vowed my person , & all the meanes that I haue in the worlde , for the recouering of your libertie , & the safetie of your persons , goods , and consciences : if I saie , I should at any time haue preferred , that which respecteth my self particularly , before your health & wealth generally , that I niight in this behalf , beare an eternal punishment , which I shuld haue drawen vpon my self , by myne own good wil and accord : But on the other side , if that which I haue done heretofore , hath bin by me attempted & taken in hand , only for the preseruation of your estate : and that I haue borne , a great parte of the burthen of this present warre , onely for the common safegarde of the countrey : and that the hatred conceaued by certeine wicked persons , against the countrey , against godly people & honorable personages , hauing bin for a certaine time dissembled and couered in their hartes , commeth wholly and that at once , to vomit and cast vp it selfe vpon me only , rather then vpon so many good people , & specially vpon the general estate of the common wealth : then I saye this hath bin the thing that I haue greatly desired , that , if my good will had bin such towardes you ( my Lordes ) your chilrden , your townes and communalties , as in deede it hath bin , I might one day carie awaye , a solemne testimonie thereof , as wel for the peace of myne owne conscience , as for the defence of myne owne honor , before all the people of the earth , and before al posteritie . And nowe I do greatly reioyce my selfe , and yeelde immoatal thankes vnto our good God , & I haue great occasion of contentement and quietnes , seeing that he suffereth me to be made so rare , and so noble , and so excellent a marke thereof , by this cruell and barbarous Proscription , yea such a one , as the like hath not bin heard in these countries , commended amongest all people & nations , for their singular and incredible courtesie . For albeit that nothing be more to be wished of a man , than the race and course of his life , to be sound , blessed , prosperous , and vpright , without any dashe , blowe , stumbling , or any wicked incountring notwithstanding if all things had fallen out vnto me , as I would haue wished , and that I had not incountred , with the hatred of the Spanishe nation and his adherentes , I should haue lost the gaine of this testimonie , which my very enemies haue yeelded me , & which I take to be the most excellent flowre of glorie , that I had bin able to haue desired , to haue bin crowned with , before my death . For what in this worlde can be more acceptable , and that specially to him , who hath enterprised so great and excellent a work , as is the libertie of so good a people , oppressed by so wicked people , than to be deadly hated of his enimies , yea such enimies , as are withal the enimies of the countrey , & by their owne verie mouth and confession , to receaue a sure testimonie , of his faithfulnes towardes his owne people , and of constancie , against tyraunts & disturbers of common peace ? in so much , that the Spaniards and their adherents , thinking in deede to do me displeasure , haue done me many pleasures , as by this infamous Proscription , they haue thought to hurt me more than before , and yet they haue made me more reioyce , and giuen me more contentednes of minde . For I haue not only thereby receaued that profit , but they haue opened vnto me a more large field to defend my selfe , than I durst euer be bolde to desire , that so I might cause all the world to know , the equitie and iustice of my enterprises , & by it leaue vnto my posteritie , an example of vertue meete to be followed by all those , that would not dishonour the nobilitie of their auncesters , from whence we are descended , & of whom , not so much as one onely , hath at any time fauoured tyrannie , but all they haue loued the libertie of the people , amongest whom they haue borne office and had authoritie . I haue no occasion to complaine , that I haue not had heretofore , matter large ynough to speake of my selfe , and to reproue the foule and hayuous , faultes of myne enemies : but neither would shamefastnes suffer me my selfe to sing and set out myne owne prayses , which surely is a hard matter not to do , whatsoeuer modestie a man pretend in such a matter : neither would publike honestie permit me , to enlarge my selfe to rehearse the faultes of mine enimies , liking much better to burie some part of their greeuous enterprises vnder silence , than in publishing them ( albeit in trueth ) to cast my selfe into daunger , to incurre the suspition to be a slaunderer . Seeing than ( my Lords ) that in this Proscription , the question is not onely to taxe any person , and barbarously to make it a pray , but also it is knowen to euerie one , that by my woundes , they minde to wound the common wealth and the state of all these countreis : as also this is no more now performed , by small diffamatorie libelles , made by people of no account , and whose iniuries done against me , should no more moue me , than the tounge of some litle serpent , which a man must rather breake in peeces with his foote , than indeuour to fight against it with weapons : but that men of so great countenan e , should so farre and so vilely debase their greatnes , as to busie them selues , faslie to backbite and to slaunder , it hath seemed vnto me altogither necessarie to speak , to the end that our common countrie ( for which I am readie to giue vp my lyfe , as I haue alreadie lost my goods ) may not feele her self damnified or hurt by my silence , & that on the other side , these famous titles , of so many Countries & Kingdomes , stretching them selues so farre as ouer Africa and Asia , may not dasell the eyes of many , who iudge the affaires & matters of this world , rather by shadowes , appearaunces , and outward shewes , than by strength and soundnes of reason . I knowe notwithstanding all this , that those which persecute me , haue in many pointes aduantage against me , and principally in two pointes : the one is , that they make a shewe and boasting , of their great qualities and estates , which do infinitely exceede my condition : the other ( which is also a naturall thing to al men ) willingly to open their eares to euil speaches & slaunders : for I haue oftentimes heard , the most elegant of all the Poets , to haue very well said , that there is not in any feast any sawce so sweete , to the pallet of the mouth , as euill speache and backbyting is to the eare : and on the other side , that nothing is hearde so much against the heart , and with so great griefe , as the speache of him that prayseth him selfe . Of these two pointes , that which bringeth pleasure is giuen to myne enimie , and I haue for my share , that which is harde and vupleasaunt almost to the whole worlde . But I hope , that by the meane of your fauour and vsuall good will , that neither the one nor the other , shall bring me any losse or hurt , seeing that so it is , that this long time sithence you haue tried , that these great and famous States , if they be spotted and tainted with tyrannie , can not gaine much of free heartes and noble courages . And on the other side , knowing the ordinarie trade and course of my life , who loue not more to blame an other man , than to prayse my selfe , yet if it so fall out that I do , either the one or the other , as it is a very harde thing not to do so ( albeit that it shal be with the greatest modestie that I can ) and if there be any thing that may seeme not very seemely , it shal be long to you ( my Lordes ) to attribute the same , rather to the necessitie so to do ( which mine enemies haue layde vpon me ) than to my nature , & by that meanes to vnburthen me , and to laye the faulte wholly , vpon their owne shamelesnes & importunitie . And I wil praye you ( my Lords ) to remember , that I am falsly accused to be vnthankefull , vnfaithfull , an heretike , an hypocrite , like vnto Iudas and Cain , the disturber of the countrey , rebellious , a straunger , an enimie of mankind , the publike plague of the christian common wealth , a traytour , and a wicked person , that I am set out to be slaine as a beast , with rewarde to all murtherers , and to all poysoners which will attempt the same , leauing you to iudge ( my Lordes ) whether it be possible to purge my selfe from such slaunders , without ripping vp in some matters , the ordinarie course of my life , & without exceeding my custome , in speaking of my selfe and other men . In the meane whyle , I am so assured of the iustice of my cause , and of my soundnes and faithfulnes towardes you , and on the other side , of your equitie and roundnes , and of the knowledge that you haue , howe & after what sorte all things haue passed , that I demaunde no other thing of you , but onely that you would iudge , and take notice of this matter , and determine thereof for your owne good , health , and preseruation , that which the lawes , freedomes , liberties , and priuiledges of the countrey , commaunde you , according to the hope that thé people hath of your wisdome and vprightnes : which thing also I pray you to do , yea I earnestly beseeche you , by all holy & sacred things , and that by the othe and band which you beare to the countrey , certainly assuring my selfe , that as in many other matters I am lesse than mine enemies , so that I shal be in this behalfe so much the more their superiour , as that by all meanes & craftes they haue purposed , to violate , breake , & suppresse your lawes , your priuiledges , and liberties : whereas on the other side , I haue with a good heart and all faithfulnes , imployed my selfe to maintaine & preserue the same . And albeit ( my Lords ) that I am not in such sorte an enemie , to my renowne & owne good name , but that I take delight and pleasure ( as also I hope my actions and deedes deserue the same ) to be in good account among all the Princes , Potentates , and common weales of the world ( excepting onely amongest the Spaniards & their adherents , who perseuering in the pursuit of their tyrannie , I desire not either grace or fauor , or any freendship at their handes ) not withstanding , seeing that you are the men only in this matter , to whom I haue taken an othe , to whom alone I count my self bound who alone also haue power to approue or improue my actes & deedes : I shall hold my selfe very well satisfied , when on your parte I shall haue receaued a testimonie conformable & agreeable to my intentes and purposes , which haue alwayes bin ioyned with your good , profit , and seruice : and I shall patiently suffer other people and nations , to iudge thereof according to their passions and affections , or rather ( which thing also I more desire ) according to equitie , right , & iustice , hauing first put of all preiudice , and freed their own vnderstandings from the thick cloudes of these greatnesses and glorie , which might heretofore haue somewhat dazeled them .

Nowe if mine enemies ( my Lordes ) had come directly , to the point and matter of the Proscription , setting out the reasons , vpon which is grounded , this barbarous sentence ( which sentence in deede doth ouermuch declare their minde verie base and much degenerating from the vertue and courage of their auncestors ) I had not vsed likewise any circuites or compassinges of wordes , but had at the verie entrie declared , both what myne owne innocencie is , and howe weake and ruinous their foundations and groundworkes are . But seeing that to make me odious , they haue better liked , to set , euen at the entraunce , before the eyes of all the worlde , a heape of iniuries , and in the course of this speache , without purpose to interlace them , speaking so shamelessely of me : I suppose , that it is necessary , yea in deed most iust , that I aunswere to such slaunders , to the ende that some being mooued or perswaded by such words , may not yet receiue this my defence , with a harte more estraunged from me , than the lawe allowed amongest people , and iustice it selfe requireth .

As concerning then this heape of iniuries , by which I am so shamelesly rent in peeces , and which being taken out of this Proscription , nothing shall remaine therein but a smoke : you see ( my Lordes ) howe plaine and without painting coulours the defence is that I vse . If you knome me to be such a one , as myne enemies publishe me to be : if I carrie either in my bodie or in my soule , such coulours as the forger of this writing saith , that he hath painted me out withall ( for my Lordes ye haue knowne me from my youth , and I haue not spent my age els where , but with you ) shut immediatly your eares , and refuse to heare or vnderstande , so much as one worde comming out of my mouth . But if on the other side , I haue all my lyfe thorowe , bin more honest , more sounde , more continent , and lesse couetous , than the authors of this slaunderous writing , and then he , which hath published the same , to witt , the Prince of Parma and his predecessors , whose factes are ouerwell knowne by histories : if I saie , you haue knowne me and mine auncestors , more vertuous people than these ( for I speake not as yet of the King ) and their auncestors , then beleeue , that as they falsely slaunder at the verie entrance , so they shal be no more meete to be beleeued , in all the rest of their shamelesse accusations . For , to what ende I pray you , serueth this recitall of so many iniuries , but onely to shewe vnto the worlde , that my enemies are skilfull to slaunder and backbite , and that he , whom yet thorowe Gods goodnes , they haue not bin able to murther , neither by poyson , nor sword , nor yet to deceaue by promises , nor yet busie him with vaine and vncertaine hopes , they do assay at the least to wound him , with the venim of their tongue , accustomed euen from their youth to so infamous an occupation ?

Of the good turnes which som say , the lord Prince hath receaued of the Emperor Charles . They at the beginning make a recitall , of many good turnes which I haue receyued fro the Emperour , in respect of the succession , of my late Lorde the Prince of Orange my cosen , that the King made me of his order , Lieutenaunt generall in the gouernement of Hollande , Zeelande , Vtrecht , and Burgundie , and one of the counsell of Estate . To what ende are these things alleadged ? to declare that I am greatly bounde to the house of Spaine , and that I can not shunne this , but that I must be condemned of ingratitude : and moreouer , Accusation of ingratitude . that by reason of the othe that I had taken , and of the landes and Lordshippes , that I holde in homage of the saide Lorde , I am bound to procure , the profitt and aduancement of his affaires and matters , thinking to make me likewise culpable and faultie of vnfaithfulnes . Accusation of vnthankfulnes . Verely I confesse and agree , with the King and the whole house of Spaine , that nothing is so much to be condemned in this world , as a man defiled with these two spottes & staines , to wit , of vnthankfulnes & vnfaithfulnes , and he that hath spoken these two iniuries to a man , he hath said as much to him & against him , as if he had charged him with all the accusations & slaunders , that wyse people and fooles , discreete and vndiscreete , could rake togither : and specially looke , by how much a Lord is of a more noble and famous house , by so much the more shall he be dishonored , if he can be conuinced of these or such faultes : and I refuse not to be hated of all the worlde , to be rooted out of the earth , and that the memorie of me & myne should be withered for euer , if I may be founde such a one . But that shall be with this condition also , that if I declare , that there is no Prince in the worlde , more vngratefull and vnkind towardes a poore Lorde , than he that accused me and would condemne me , is against me and mine : that the vnfaithfulnes also which he hath vsed in respect of me ( for I wil not yet speak of the open violating of his faith towards the countries ) is incredible , that then ( I say ) he also may be subiect to the like condition and state , and may be holden for such a one as he is , amongest all liuing people , and all posteritie to come : and I shall thinke the punishment more great in his behalfe , than he thinketh any in myne , as may appeare by that , which he maketh shewe to seeke for by this tragical Proscription , the which thorowe Gods grace and goodnes , doeth no more astonishe me than a vaine vision or dreame . First ( my Lords ) I protest , that the remembraunce and memorie of the Emperour Charles , shall alwayes be in an honorable account with me , as well because of his actes , as that it pleased him , to shew me so much honor , as to haue nourished me in his chamber , by the space of nine yeeres , to whom also I yeelded & performed , most faithfull and most willing seruice . But if he , who by reason is most bounde of all men to maintaine his renowne , come to accuse me of ingratitude and vnthankfulnes , as , that I haue not acknowledged the good turnes , which he saieth , that I haue receaued of the Emperour : I beseeche you to holde me excused , if being constrayned for the defence of myne innocencie , I declare , in respect of good turnes alleadged , that I haue not receaued any at all from him , but that in doing him seruice , I haue receaued most great losses , as you shall plainely vnderstande , if it please you to heare me patienly .

Nowe then he saith , that in respect of the succession of the late Lord , the Prince Rene my cosen , An aunswer to the accusation of ingratitude . the Emperour handled me fauourably . But wherein ? First , there was neuer any Lorde as yet founde so euil aduised , that would pretend right against me for succession in so much that if the Emperour hath not hindered me in that , what hath he done for me , that a iudge , the greatest enemie I could haue , would not haue done likewise ? Was there yet anie partie founde so rashe , that durst offer him self to speak against it ? And though I had had aduerse parties , if my right were so cleare and so well grounded , that nothing was euer yet hetherto able to be alleadged against it , which was able to darcken it , or to shake it : and that herevppon the Emperour had giuen forth a decree for my profitt , what hath he done for me , but administred me iustice , and would not take from me that , which the lawes , reason , and verie nature it selfe did giue me ? But if it please you ( my Lords ) to consider the nature and qualitie of this succession , you shall finde my right and title to haue bin such , that the Emperour could not haue depriued me of it , or taken it from me , without an extreame iniurie , and a most manifest wrong .

There were in the succession , two principall members or braunches : The firste was , The succession of Nassau & Challon . that which came by our house of Nassau , which my Lordes my predecessors , the graundfather and great graundfathers , vncles by the fathers side , and cosen germaine by the fathers side , enioyed : that is to saye , the goods which at this day belong vnto me , in Brabant , Flaunders , Hollande and Luxenburgh : the other was , the succession of the house of Challon . As concerning the succession of Nassau , which men commonly call Breda , because it was the principall place of my Lordshippes , and where I and my predecessours had helde our chambers of accountes , counsell , & principall instructions pertayning to vs and ours , who was he that might molest me in that , vnlesse it were my Lorde my father , who was the vncle , and I the cousin germain , of my Lord the Prince Rene , the onely sonne of my Lord Henrie , Countie of Nassau , my vncle , and the brother of my Lorde my father ? But so farre of is it , that I was hindered in that succession , by my said Lord and father , that he him selfe tooke paines to come & sollicite the matter , that I might be put in possession thereof : neither was there euer founde man so shamelesse , that would set him selfe against it , but Schoore the President or iudge , who in the counsell saide , that the sonne of an heretike ought not to succeede , because that my Lorde my father , following the examples of good Kings , as of Dauid , Iosias & others , had refourmed the Churches of his countries , which he helde & had in Germanie , and had purged them from abuses , according to the worde of God , and that by the permission and sufferaunce of the Emperour . And notwithstanding all this , the counsell ceasseth not to giue aduise , & to determine the matter according to reason and equitie , as in deede it could not otherwise do , seeing that they had mainteined my Lord the Countie of Kingstain myne vncle in the succession of the Countie of Rocheforte , although that he him selfe were a protestaunt . Seeing then that this was in question ( if that may be called a question , which was in our owne house , as whether that the succession aforesaid , were adiudged to the father or to the sonne , pronounced notwithstanding always according to the lawes ) none beside could iustly pretend any right thereto .

As concerning the house of Challon , first it cannot be saide in respect of the Barronies which I peaceablie holde and possesse in the Dutchie of Burgundie , The Barronies of Burgundie & of Daulphine . and in Daulphine of Vienna , that I am therefore bound to the Emperor , for he had not anie more power therein than I , all being vnder the power of the Frenche King , who alike seased , the Countie of Charrollois , apparteyning to the Emperour , and my Barronries , when warre was mooued betweene them two , in so much that I can not be otherwise bounde vnto him therefore , but in this , that I was conteyned in the treatie of peace made at Sessons , which was the last duetie that he could yeelde , to the memorie of my Lorde my cousin , who but a little while before died , in the same expedition , and that on foote , at the siege of Saint Disier , after so manie deedes of armes done for his seruice . And lesse hath he bin able to fauour me in my Princedome of Orange , where he had nothing to see too nor to do , no neither he , nor anie Prince , whatsoeuer , Princedom of Orange . I my selfe holding the same in a naked , bare , and absolute Soueraigntie : which thing fewe other Lordes are able to saie . And there is no Prince , in respect of my saide Princedome , whose amitie and good grace I stande in neede of , but of the French Kings , who I hope will not touche that , that belongeth to a poore Prince , who is his most humble seruaunt , because reason suffereth not that , beyonde which reason he will not go , and also because of the loyall and faithfull seruices , that my predecessours haue done to the Crowne of Fraunce , and the Dutchie of Brytannie ( whereof he is descended and is the heire ) with great daungers of their liues , great expenses , and infinite trauailes .