IF we would in the ballance of vnderstanding weye and ponder what soeuer the councels & actions which we conceaue in other mens affaires and busines , we should no dout builde the whole estate of our life vpon a more assured foundation , & with al eschue an infinite number of calamities aswell publique as perticuler which now we do incurre . For the examples of other mens perils and losses , being the moste faithfull teachers and expert guids of this present life , would make vs more warie and stand vs in stead of a rule whereby to direct al our enterprises , determinations , & the conduct of al our affairs . This kind of wisedome haue the moste circumspect in all ages , accounted to be , not onely of the greatest profite , but also most milde and tollerable , and which doth yeelde greatest contentation to the practitioners of the same .

Howbeit it happeneth for the most part , that in the gouernm̄et & direction of our affaires we be so altered , either with hope , or feare , or some other humane frailty or infirmity , that we can not comprehend or forsee the mischief which euen at hand hangeth ouer our heads , vntil it hath vtterly snared and caught vs through some sudden & vnloked for fall & ruine , and so we doe fully suffer the punishment due to our dulnes & negligence : Whereby notwithstanding we do many times wisely enter into the consideration of other mens affairs , yet in case our selues be to eschue the like perilles , it falleth ordinarily out , that either in pondring the waightines of the matter , either amazed with doubt of the vncertain euent therof , either waiting that others first set to their handes , either hoping time enough to be able to prouide therfore , we do so prolong our busines that the commodity & occasion escaping vs , al this goodly wisdome , and wary forecast that we had conceiued in the consideration of the examples of other mens mischances , vanisheth into smoke & so sodenly wereth away , that wecannot thereof reape any fruit or commodity .

Hitherto was there neuer prouince , Towne , or valeant & vertuous citizen , but did account their safety , libertye & common quiet to depend vpon the moderat & peaceable gouernment of their mightiest borderers : as also that nothing went so nere them , or was of such importance , as their neighbors to establish their estate in iustice , or moderat affection , & in peaceable conteining them selues within their owne bounds & limits , as it were within certaine strong bulwarks & barriers . And assuredly as ambition is euer to be feared & suspected in all maner of persons , so is it most dangerous in those , who being alredy of great power & strength , cannot neuerthelesse bridle their couetous affections , how large soeuer the extent of their boundes & limites be : For sith it is vnpossible that any innouations , or alterations in kingdomes and common wealths , can hapen without peruerting , molesting or general confounding of al things , it must necessarily folow that not only the bordering prouinces , but also those countries which lie farther off , being tossed & turmoiled with the waues & billowes of such their neighbours ambition , shal finally bee entangled and swallowed vp in the gulfe of so horrible calamitie .

For as the waues of the Ocean Sea , being tossed with some mighty storm & so swelling out of their banks & ordinary limittes , may at the first with smal labor be restrained through some strong wall speedily erected & by the diligence of al the neighbours & borderers , each helping other in so great peril , opposed against them : but hauing once pierced & made breach in a bank or two , & therby dispearsing themselues & slowing ouer the whole champion country without restreint , cannot after ward either by power or policie be reduced , or stopped from breeding and working inestimable & ineuitable calamity among both men & cattell inhabiting the saide Countrye , but also oftentimes against whole towns , countries and Kingdoms lying further off : Euen so likewise ambitious Princes endeuouring to enlarge their owne boundes and limits , although with other mens losses , may easily in the beginning of their enterprises bee repressed , and by a common consent and correspondence of their neighboures , generallye opposinge themselues against their attempts , be so restreined within their own bounds and limittes , that hardlye they shall put any to losse or other notable inconuenience : but hauing once passed their armies into other mens prouinces , and beeing allured by the sweetenesse of taking some strong holde or place of importance , and so conceiuing some hope of further extending the boundes of their empire : and especially knowing their name to bee growne terrible amongst their neighboures , there is then no meanes , power , or force how great so euer , either any other let , that can stop the forcible course of their madde affection and franticke ambition , coueting to rule and command ouer others . This matter whosoeuer among the wisest haue heretofore considered ( as all those haue done , which thought it necessarye to vse discreet moderation in the conduct of their affaires ) haue euer holden this for a principle , namely that it is the duety of euerye good countriman , especially of Kings , princes and gouernours , not onely diligently and in time to see that the affayres of their Countryes , people and prouinces be in good estate , and quietly and peaceably ordered , but also to preuent such Princes and neighboures as are prouoked by ambition and allured with desire of rule , from transporting any power , vnder whatsoeuer colour and pretence , into other mens dominions , also from all ambitious enlargeing of their own bounds & limits .

Vpon this grounde did the Romans , seeking euen in the beginning to suppresse the power of the Carthagenians and to set Spayne free from the Africane bondage , thinke it necessary to aide the Mamertynes whom they had besieged .

For this cause when Antiochus the noble , vnder title of the protectorship of his nephew , sought to seaze vppon Aegypt , the said Romans commaunded him to desist , & content himself with the possession of his predecessors ancient dominions : and that generally they neuer suffred any prince or common wealth whatsoeuer to rise into too great power .

Hereupon also the Venetians both now and aforetime obtayned the name of wisdome & singuler forecast . For as they were neuer easily induced to new warres , so haue they alwais neuerthelesse in such manner tempered their determinations and counsailes , that if any neighbour , either prince or common wealth , through immoderat desire of gouernment , areared warre agaynst his borderers , their armies were still in readinesse as a helpe and safegard to the weaker party , to the end that thus restraining the forces of the Italian Princes & common-wealths in equall balance , they might kepe them from all hope of subduing them by force of armes , which perpetuall resolution of theirs is among all other excellent matters noted to bee the most certaine reason , whereby we see their common wealth not onely to haue flourished and prospered aboue a thousand years , but also in al vertue & wisdome to be growne into admiration among other nations . This was that Maxime which Laurence de Medicis , the wisest man in his time in Italie , did so earnestly and with so singular endeuour all his life time both followe and maintaine , vnto whome that great quietnesse and tranquility which so long as he liued all Italie did enioy , was in the opinion of most hystoriographers attributed : For he so brideled the affections of the Italian Princes and souerainties , partly by councell and aduice , and partly by the power and authority of the Florentine common wealth , wherof himselfe was chiefe gouernour , that if any , ambitiously passing his boundes and limits did enterprise ought against his neighbour , he was immediatly reduced into his duety by the mutuall power of other Princes and people vnited together .

To be briefe , there is no wise man but seeth , knoweth , and is fully resolued , yea , and grieuously accuseth that people , tearming them traytours to their Country , who eyther daunted with feare and cowardlinesse , or prouoked with desire of rest and quietnesse , either drowned in retchlesnesse , or deteined in ciuill dissentions , haue so suffered their ambitious neighbors empire to encrease , that afterward being vnable to bear the brunt or withstand the power and might thereof , they haue beene forced with their owne eyes to see themselues suppressed , and their Country reduced into extreame misery and calamity . Yea , who is there among vs , that is not of opinion that the ancient Gaules might haue liued in liberty & bin exempt from the Romans bondage , if by common counsel & consent they had altogether with stoode the power of Iulius Caesar ? But some standing as idle lookers vpon the subuersion of their neighbors , & other with their owne weapons encreasing the power of the Romaynes , thinges grew in short space to that extremitie that the so mighty & large empire of the Gaules was in the ende restrained into a Roman prouince , & vtterlyouerwhelmed in most vile bondage .

Howe haue the Italians themseleues sped ? If at the beginning they had with a common power and army suppressed the rising of the Romans , and not suffered the Antiates , Crustumniens , Centans and Latins each one seuerally , also soon after the Volsques , Aeques , Sabins , & then the Samnites , Vmbres , Brutians , Hetrurians , and other people by little and little one after another to haue stouped vnder their yoake : had they not first preserued their owne liberty , and then freed al other nations in Europe from that infamous bondage wherunto they afterward fel ? and yet did there not in manner any of them reap any benefit of al these examples : For notwithstanding they well weyed other mens cases , yet was there none that coulde accomodate the fruite of such consideration to him selfe or his own time . So that after Italie , immediatly Cicil , then Affrica , & within a while al Asia , & finally in a manner the vniuersal worlde being come vnder the power of the Romans , felt the burden of their folly . Through the like giddines & negligence , wherin the harts of Christian kings & princes haue heretofore bene drowned , the Sarasens haue found oportunity & means most villanously to entrap & entangle the chiefest churches of Asia , Affrica & Aegypt , vnder the lamentable yoke & bondage of Mahomet , through the which they bee vtterly alienated from the true knoweledge of the Heauenlye Doctrine : whose succession and tiranny , the cruell Empire of the Ottomanns , which tooke their beeginning of so contemptible an ofspring & is now ( euen with a trice ) enhanced to such might , as it haue penetrated not onely into the dominions of Asia & Affrica , but also haue subuerted , ouerthrown and turned topsy turuy euen the inwarde Prouinces of Europe , haue seazed vpon . Yea it is euident to all men that most Christian kings and nations being either busied in their owne ciuil warres & domestical dissentions , either daunted with dastardlinesse , or swelling in ambition , little weening their neighbours losses to be in ought preiudicial vnto their estates , and each one seuerally supposing himselfe to haue of his own , power sufficient to turn the storm from him and his dominions , haue giuen the Turkes more leisure & oportunitie to execute their cruell determinations then them selues durste haue desired , or so much as once haue hoped for . So that had not the pollicy power of Germany withstoode their flame , and thought it expedient , by an Emperial decree , with the coniunction of their whole forces , coine & publique reuenues to preuent these proceedinges of the Ottomanus , long since had the whole Empire of Chirstiandome bene subuerted and wholy reduced into ashes : yea the very power & strength of Germany was it which alone heretofore withstoode the Romane armies : For when all the rest of Europe together with the inhabitants of Affrica and Asia , vnto the very Persians had vniuersally thorough their aforesaid slouth accepted the yoke of the Romane Empire , the Germaines only , assembling their whole forces togither , sundry times conquered and ouerthrewe their whole power , & some times winning , sometimes loosing did still so supply their armies , that the ciuil warres ensuing in the Romane Empire , they with great force and in sundry places , made diuers and notable roades & inuasions into the said Empire , & finally gathered such courage that they taught those , who before were inured in conquestes and victories , now not only to receiue the yoke of the Germane Empire , but also did vtterly subuert and in manner roote them out , which their so valiaunt victories & noble valure can not by the posterity be sufficiently extolled and commended .

Howbeit the more valiant and victorious that our predecessours haue bene : the more maruelous , & among al honorable persons lamentable may it be , that thus degenerating from the auncient valeantise & victorious vertue of our forefathers , we do peceably beholde and quietly suffer the cruell and proud yoke of the Spanish tyranny ( already extended almost ouer the whole worlde ) thus leysurely to encroche vpon vs , to the end for euer to subuert both vs and our posterity together .

I wil not by comparisons of nations and Princes one with an other , make any name more odious then other ( for al kind of seruitude is heauy and intollerable , and vtterly vnworthy any that beareth the face of a man ) but I doubt whether the yoke of the Spanish nation , ( drawing their petigree from the Moores and Sarasens , and of late through force and rigour of the inquisition forced vnwillingly to professe Christian Religion ) be any whit more tolerable then the Turkish bondage : Of my selfe I will affirme nothing , onely I referre the iudgement thereof to the inhabitants of Granado , the Indians , Neopolitains and others : notwithstanding vndoutedly the Romane yoke , although it were through the greedy coueteousnes of both Emperours and souldiours ( who are saide to haue destroyed more confederate Cities with their garisons , then enemies townes with their armies ) intollerable to all men : yet beeing compared with the pride , cruelty , and ouetousnes of the Spaniards , may by reason of sundry most excellent vertues , wherewith it was endewed , be both termed , and accounted in liew of bondage , liberty , and in stead of a forced obedience , a iust and lawful commandement : but howsoeuer that case standeth al the world doth plainely perceaue , that vnlesse in time it be looked vnto , and by some general consent and vnion of the counsail and force of al other Kings & princes , the Spanish purposes be preuented and subuerted , it wil shortly so come to passe that their strength being growne to perfection thorough the common negligence and want of consideration in all , those men shall ouer late begin to resist him , which now at pleasure and ease beholding the fire consuming the lowe countries , doe not thinke that the flame thereof doeth anye whit touch them , either consider that through their owe slouth and simple forecast , the coales of Spanishe ambition will in shorte space so kindle and take holde , that they will reduce both their owne territories , and the dominions of al other states and Princes into ashes .

Neither are they to suppose that this Fire of Spanish ambition is to bee termined with the Prouinces of Barbant , Holand , and Zealand , sith that already not onely the flakes and sparckles , but also the very firy flames thereof are flowen into Italy , France , England , Scotland , and Germanie : Yea and haue taken holde of almost al the habitable lande . And which is more , euen the Spaniards themselues do not forbeare to rereporte that by a certaine celestiall constitution , the monarchie of the whole worlde is due vnto them , hauing as an earnest peny thereof , through their owne power and might , conquered a new world to our auncesters heretofore vnknowen , which they haue beautified with lawes and customes , polished with maners and discipline , and indued , and instructed in the Romish Catholique religion : thinking it to be their bounden duetie : also that they ought , hauing established their Monarchie , to endeuour them selues to force all other people , and nations vnto their Religion and discipline , and thorough the onely terrour of their armies , and power of their Empire , to determine all controuersies in al places & causes concerning Christian religion .

These thinges doe they not onely dayly in familiar speech giue out : but also in deedes , whiche are the assured tokens , and in al their actions , counsails and enterprises , aswel past as present , confirme : for their onely study , and the marke wherat they continually leuel , is , how they may , when they haue subdued the low countries , in the middest of the same establish an ordinary resorte for the warres , from whence they may at al times at their pleasure and ease passe their armies in to England , France , or Germany , and so first with al rigour to entreate these whom they haue found most contrary to their enterprises , and afterward to prescribe vnto all other Christian Kings , Princes , and nations , whatsoeuer shal come in their heads , and thus excluding each from al help of other , and compassing them with their armies , to reduce vnder their yoke all those which willingly wil not yeelde vnto them al ready and perfect obedience .

This is the marke whereat they alwaies haue shot . To this ende haue al their counsailes , practises and deuises tended , as appeareth in that hauing with their armies oppressed Italy , they sence not only extended their power into Germanie vnder colour of restoring religion , but also haue endeuoured to subdue the whole estate and monarchie of Christiandome vnto their subiection .

And that I may the more plainely open this matter vnto you , moste mighty Kinges , Princes , and Magistrates . It is expedient orderly to set downe a briefe and manifest discourse of all the counsayles , dealinges and practises of the Spaniards , euen from the original of their enterprises vnto this time , to the end their purposes , driftes and deuises beeing detected and layde open to the whole worlde , we may in time apply and minister al conuenient and meete medicines to that mischiefe , which is so knowen to the whole christian common wealth . Wherein I will not vndoubtedly rehearse any thing , but that which haue bene done in the face of the whole worlde , and as it were , in so publique a theatre , that no man can be ignorant thereof , which thing whilest I do discourse and set before your eyes , I beseech you ( noble Princes ) vouchsafe to be attentiue , and turning your affections from all opinions preiuditially conceaued , diligently to apply your mindes to consider , and vnderstand the assured and liuely truth of the whole affaires .

The Spaniarde therefore , through the valiauncy of King Ferdinando , deliuered out of the bondage of the Moores , and by continuall exercise in Warres , growne so perfect and skilfull in armes , that he had conceiued a certaine opinion of himselfe , that he had either surmounted all other nations in warlike knowledge and fame , or at the least boorded the moste excellent , did immediatly cast his view vpon Italy , and in his heart deuised to attempt to subdue the same to his obedience , being thereunto especially moued , and allured by reason of the great plenty , and aboundance of all thinges in the saide Countrie , which they had found and tried at such time as the Arragons ( by nation Spaniards , and then ruling in Naples ) had craued their helpe against the French armies : they had before encroched vpon the French the Ile of Sicil , being a very commodious place for passage of their munition , armyes , & souldiours , and very conuenient for the prouision of whatsoeuer were requisite & necessary either to the making of warre , or relieuing the wantes of their men .

Giuing ouer therefore the defence of the posterity of Alfonce , who had craued their helpe , they entred communication of accord with the French and so agreed to part betweene them al that prouince . But perceiuing the French to be slacke in their busines & slow in prosecuting this warre : taking occasion of some controuersie arising about their bounds , they renued the warres against them with all extremitie , and yet so , that shortly after , propounding on bothe sides certaine conditions of peace , the same was through the helpe of Archduke Philip the king of Castiles neuew concluded : By which policie , being in very good time put in vse for the staying of the French succour , which being leauied , was ready to march , it fel out that the remaynder of the French Armies , whom Gonsalue surprised neere the riuer of Garillan , was quite ouerthrown and as it were vtterly rooted out : So as the French , beeing by this meanes cleane expelled out of the Realme of Naples , it was an easie matter for the Spaniardes there at their pleasure to build Forts and Castles , and the same to fortefie with strong Garrisons , and so to establish a commodious seat , from whence they might afterwarde easely commaund ouer the rest of all Italy .

About the same time also the Bishop of Rome , hauing by his aucthoritie made partition of the Indies between the Porting●les and the Castillians , and by meanes thereof , as it had beene by some heauenly decree , they had with vnspeakable cruelty ransacked and wasted an incredible extent of Land , and so subdued to their gouernment all America , togeather with that great compasse of the west Indies : also that at the same tyme they had ioyned to their Dominion that parte of Gaule which is called Belgica , by meanes of aliance contracted by the mariage of the sayde Archduke Philips : thinking them selues furnished with a sufficient and fit treasure for the conduct of the warres , as well by reason of the Golde and spice , which yearely they brought verye plentifully out of the Indies , as also through the great profit that dayly did arise of the ordinarie nauigations and tranfique of the Flemish Marchants in Spaine , ( a matter of great encrease vnto their reuenues and ordinarie customes ) they cast in their mindes no longer to forbeare the inuasion and subduing of the rest of Italy : according to which determination , vnder pretence to ayde the Sforces against the French , they firste entred into Lombardia , a very ritch and fruitfull countrie : There hauing first expelled the French , and then subdued and oppressed the Sforces , they strengthened it to their owne vse with fortresses and strong Garrisons . They altred also the estate of Florence , Siene , Pise , and all Thuscane , in giuing them such a Duke as they knew to depend of them selues , and in all things to sauour their attempts : and hauing confirmed the aucthority of the Doryes in the city of Genes ( which beeing a verye commodious Hauen , was at that time molested with ciuil dissentions ) they assured & bound it to their owne deuotions .

Finally vnder the fauour of the prouinces of the Lowe Countries , finding oportunity ( after that Charles was by the voyce of the electors chosen emperor ) & making way through the sayde prouinces , they did diuersly molest the realme of France : Also vnder pretence of establishing the popish religion , they gaue a notable gird euen into the bowels of Germany , yea and that with so good successe , that hauing ouercomen , and in battail taken the protestant princes , they bent their whole minds assuredly to bring the same into subiection and so to appropriate it to their own inheritance , & to that intent placed their spanish garisons in sundry Fortes , euen in the centre thereof .

Howbeit seeing that the naturall moderation and equitye of Charles coulde not be alured to satisfie their so ambitious interprises : Also considering that they were not long able to defend & keepe the places where their garrisons were lodged , as well for that they were to far from Spaine , as also because they were inuyroned with such warlicke people and nations : And with all seeing them selues by Duke Maurice his armies expelled and so dryuen oute of all high Germany : besides that , not sinding such successe as they hoped for in the wars which sundry times they had renewed against the French : beeing wonderfullye chased and much bewayling the taking of so notable and ritche a praye oute of theire handes , they did of necessitye stay the course of their purposes , and so proceeded no further in the pursuite of their enterprize : Thus refrayned they them selues vntill such tyme as the Emperour , being returned into Spaine , the ambitious , haughty and meere Spanish mind of King Philip , was found meete to satisfie their desire , and that thereby they tooke fit occasion to reenter , althogh an other way , into that path which before they were forced to forsake : For they considered that they could not safely at their pleasures conduct any army into France or Germany : Also that if they brought any , yet shoulde they want both munition and all other meanes wherewith to prosecute the warres , euen the first day , vnlesse before they had possession of the Hauens of Holland and Zealand , & withall had established good and sufficient Spanish garrisons , throughout the Prouinces of the low Countries : that they had raysed new tributes and impostes for their payes : To be briefe , that they had chosen a conuenient seate from whence they might at ease continue and prosecute the war : But perceiuing that they coulde not well compasse any of all these pointes so long as the priuiledges of the Countrie ( which doth exclude all straungers from the administration of their estate , and admitteth no other then home born parsons therein ) continued in force : Also that they might not leauy any subsidy or new tribute : neither put Garrison in any place , without the counsell of the estates , they concluded among them selues , before they prosecuted the inlarging of their limites , that necessarily they must restrayne and brydle this the ouer large liberty of the estates of the Country , and depriue them of their priuiledges , freedomes and ancient customes : To be breefe , that they must debarre them from all such meanes , help , and succour , as time out of minde had stoode them in steade , for the maintenaunce of the dignity and assuraunce of those Prouinces : to the ende that thus wresting and getting into their owne hands the commoditie to erect Castles & fortresses at their pleasures , and to leauy new tributes & taxes as they liste : also to chose within these florishing prouinces such a seate as in their opinions might seem most commodious for the wars , & so the whole being throghly brought vnder their subiection and by spanish legions assured vnto them : they might in time to come vse the same for the assaulting of any whomsoeuer they listed . To this ende haue they euer since directed their whole studies , counsailes and actions , namely , either by hooke or crooke to find means to distribute in the prouinces of the low countries a garison of ten thousand souldiers of the old bands : to the end that ioining therto the choice of the footmen of A●tors & Hencult , & strengthning them with the ordinary bands , whome the king according to the maner of the ancient Lords of the sayd countries , doth vsually intertain , hauing also the frendship or aliance of some Germain prince , euen by oth bounde vnto them , or if possibly it might bee , getting the possession of some neighbour city of Germany , they may so often as occasion shal serue , reenforce the said power with a good number of Germayn horsemen , & so vpon euery occurrence haue a compleat armyredy . For this intent was Duke Eric of Brunswik at the first chosen , whom the king with an annual pention reteined : the same time also took they counsel to take Coulogue & Munster : but as the estats of the low countrys did obstinatly refuse al spanish garisons : & therwith in stantly required the reuoking of those out of the country which yet remained of the french wars , vtterly refusing ( in case this were not performed ) the aid of money which was required at their hands , it fell out that by reason of the ouerthrow taken at Felbes in Affrica , wherin the spanish legions were almost quit consumed , the king , who very vnpatiently bare this demand at the hands of the states , & was alredy resolued to punish it as a treazon , being ouercome with the necessity of his own affaires , seemed to find it somwhat reasonable & so suffered the reuoking of the said bandes out of the countries , to the end with them to keepe and defende the passages of Italy & Spaine , togither with his houlds in Affrica , against the ordinary incursions of the ●urkes and Moores : being neuerthelesse fully resolued ( as himselfe could not but confesse , which also the Spaniaras in their writings haue testified ) vpon the first commodity to returne the saide garrisons , who with armes & open force should blot out the iniury supposed to be wrought againste the Spanith name , and with a more stricte bonde should bridle and restraine the ouer great liberty and authority of al these prouinces .

For the compassing thereof , there fel out nothing more fitte and apparant then the Kinges constant and perpetual desire , care and zeale , earnestly & strictly to establish the Romish religion in the lowe Countries , which caused him in all his letters written out of Spaine , ordinarily to accuse the Duchesse of Parma , and the chiefe Lords and Magistrates of the country , that they were not earnest enough in these causes : saying that he well perceaued that vnlesse they vsed more violent remedies then afore tyme , the Romish religion woulde soone be extinguished throughout Flounders , which for his part , he woulde neuer permit , but rather to hazarde whatsoeuer lands and kingdoms he yet possessed : Wherefore that he willed and ordeyned that the rigour of the edicts and placards of religion , shuld be executed without dissimulation , and that they should not vpon any , whatsoeuer occasion be moderated , qualified or in anye wise mitigated : but rather that their strictnes shoulde be augmented and increased : & to that end that they shuld create new Bishops whom they should make inquisitours for matters of Faith : that Granuel Archbishop of Mali●es , a little before become a cardinal , who by reason of his intollerable ambition and inordinate desire of gouernment , had incurred the malice of al estates , should be made head and president of that colledge : that to the end the sayd bishops might more diligently attend to the said inquisition , some of the spoiles of diuers Abots & other Prelates of the countrey , whom they accused to be to negligent in persecuting & punishing of the heretiks , shuld be distributed among them : & with al that the hearing of all causes , if neuer so smallye they pertained to matter of religion , should be reserued to them : whervpon euen at one time , & by one means , al sorts of people of the said cuntries were greuously offended . The princes & great Lords could not patiently suffer the administration of the affaires to be taken from them & committed to one Granuel , a new man & a stranger . The nobility coulde not like that authority ouer their liues & goods shuld ( to the preiudice of their country customes ) be committed to vnknown , beggerly & base persons , who coueting their goods & tresurs , might easely find means to accuse & betraye them . The magistrates & rulers of cities and towns did murmure that the iudgments & priuiledges of the cuntry , contrary to the kings oth so solemnly sworn , shold be taken from them & put into the hands of rascals , & such as besids were by oth bound to a forraine prince , the pope of Rome , and had already giuen out sufficient testimony & proofe of their cruelty & couetousnes : To be briefe , the whole cominalty generally complained that in stead of sheepheards they were committed to the custody of rauening wolues continually gaping after their goods , so that sundry merchants determined to seek new habitations in forrain countries , which diuers of them did indeed : al these things being rehearsed to the king in sundri suplications , peticions , messages & ambassages ( the states instantly requiring that by such innouations , so faithfula people to their princes might not be forced any whit to deminish their accustomed obedience ) so far was he from giuing audience , or harkning to their peticions , that contrariwise , obstinatly refusing all their demands , he would that euen the decrees of the counsel of Trident ( whereby in maner al the lawes & customes of the cuntry were infringed ) should be published throughout the said prouinces .