We doubt not but your Excellen . Lordsh , worsh . & beloued are : yet mindefull of the manifolde amiable exhortations done vnto you by vs at seuerall times , tending to prouoke your Excellencies , Lordships , worships &c. onely once with a ripe and settled sence , to consider the wicked pretences of the Spaniards & their adherents : enemies to the welfare , rights , preuiledges , goods , and persons of the Netherlands : namely , vtterly to destroy & ruinate ( generallie ) all the inhabitants of the Netherlandes , of what estate , quallitie , or condition so euer : which indeede hath been their originall , & deep noted mischieuous and shamefull pretence .

It is not also vnknowne to vs ( although the said pretence be nothing lesse beleeued , & helde for most vnreplicable amongst you then with vs ) that yet notwithstanding some of your Excellencies , Worships &c. Partly through the naturall instinct of their Noble kindenes , and partly by perswasions , are reduced to a selfe feeling knowledge &c. & that through the Archdukes meanes , and their highnesses presences , these matters might be righted and brought to a better point . But considering that we haue a perfect knowledge of the continuance of this Spanish pretence which ceaseth not , but with their adherents ( by all meanes ) endeuour to procure the ruine & ouerthrow of these Netherlands , thereby for euer to reduce them to the thral-dome of the Spanish yoake , and according to their owne appetites & pleasures to rule ▪ not onely ouer the good inhabiatantes of the same , but also ouer their consciences , bodies , rights & goods , which the Archduke himselfe shall not be able to preuent nor remedie . Wee haue not been able to conforme our selues to any such liking but to the ende your Excellencies Lordships , worships &c. nor our selues , be not throwne downe headlong into an eminent , Infallible , continuall , & vnrecouerable ouerthrowe and seruitude , we hauing compassionatly found it better ( with a stedfast courage ) to continue & persist inour laudable resolution , originally , sprung from the chiefest & notablest Persons & members of the generall Netherlandish Prouinces of all estates & conditions . Trusting assuredly vpon the mercifull helpe of the Almightie God : vpon the fauours , aides , & assistaunces of the Kings , Princes , and common wealthes , with which we are in league , & friendship , together with the iustnes of our cause : & with all patience to expect ( especially by meanes of your Excellencies , Lorships , Worships &c. good furtherance , direction , & inward wise gouerment in your states ) a godlie & most wished issue thereof . And to that ende most willinglie to beare all the burthens , perrils , charges , & paynes : which in so holly , laudable , honourable , seruiceable , & needfull a resolution shal be requisite : without that at any time we haue , or euer shall be mooued to any kinde of alteration , by meanes of that vnworthy transportation , done of these Netherlands , by the late king of Spaine vnto their Highnesses : we hauing in regard of the same ( after the said transportation ) by our letters & verball communications , held with your Exe Lo. Mo. &c. Commissioners : earnestly admonished , that good care might be taken vpon the matters of war on your sides , aswel within & without the land : & we trust that if the same were censured with an vnpassionate & vnpartial mind , & with cleare eyes wel looked into , none were able vprighly to iudge , but that the said deceiptful transportation was vnceplicable tending to the assured and eminent ouerthrow & suppression of the general Netherlands , & of all estates and persons therein . Your Excellenties , Lordships , Worships , &c. manifestly see , heare , vnderstand & feele , what passeth among you , & you are able easily to coniecture what else is apparant to follow : in so much that we esteeme it needles to write any tedious circumstance therof . Onely , as yet we will most friendly wish , exhort & pray your Excellen . Lord . Morsh . &c. earnestly to consider the worthy & laudable reputation , which by your Exc. Lor. Mor &c. and our fore-fathers , hath bin purchased so many hundred yeeres a goe : & vntill this present is left vs a leuelled lyne , for vs to follow therby , & to be come true Champions & defendors of the free Netherlandish rights & priuiledges in generall : and perticularly of the countries , members , citties , & the inhabitants thereof . And to examine if the contents of the said anullated and vnworthy transportation , and the dealings which sithence haue followed ( & yet dayly are continuing ) do agree together , with the duties wherwith your Excel . Lord . Wor. &c. their worthy housen , estates , posterities ( but especially our beloued naturall country ) is bound vnto : if yee , ( which we by no meanes can perswade our selues vnto ) wee must beseech God Almighty of his mercy to illuminate & endue your Excel . Lor. Wor. &c. with a more sounder iudgement and vnderstanding : But if in case your Exc. Lo. Wo doiudge the said pretended vnworthy transportation ( although it hath bin accepted through necessity , d to shun a further or greater mischiefe ) to be dishonorable , deceiptful , & a shameful spot & blemish vnto al worthy Netherlanders : Considered moreouer , that the proceedinges of the Spaniards & their adherents follow theron , & vntil this present , do continue from bad to worse , aswel in matters of State as in war , are ( as we assure our selues , that most of your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. well know ) are altogether ruinous & intollerable : And consequently your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. are not bound nor beholden vnto them , as those which warre and striue against the generall good , and the Netherlandish Lawes , Rights , and Priuiledges . If likewise your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. consider how all the extremitie of Forces , Interdictors of trade and commerce , con●piracies and plots , to intrap her princel● Maiestie of England , and th' united Prou●nces , dayly appeare and are discouered : and not only their pretences are vaine and forcelesse , but allo haue a quite contrarie operation . That the treacherous enterprises vpon Citties and Forts of the French Kings , giue great occasion , that some day or other , a sodaine & tirrible reuenge may be vndertaken . That the Bookes , and famous Libels and odious Ballades , whereby they seeke to make the French King and his proceedinges , hatefull in the Commons hartes , and to make the Rights of Succession of the Crownes of Fraunce and England doubtfull , are nothing e●●e but idle prepositions , onely tending to the iritation and prouoking of their Maiesties : And that in vaine it is attempted , to rayse tumultes and dissentions among the Communaltie of th' united Prouinces , since that the● ( prayse vnto Go● ) their Condition considered , are in estate a hundred times better , and more assured , then the Communaltie on the Spanish , or their Highnesses side : and that they not hauing any reason of mistrust in their lawfull Magistrates , nor of their actions , do beare themselues most quiet and obedient . But that to the contrarie , the Commons of the Spanish or Archdukes side beeing that all matters do dayly ware worse and worse , ) That the authoritie of the States , Prelats , Princes , Lordes , Nobles , and Citties , of the Counties both generally and perticulerly , more then euer tosore , is troden vnder foote and reduced to no regard nor respect . Yea , that a●l matters haue their foundation and ground vpon Straungers , with a deiection of all worthie Inhabitants and home-borne Nobilitie , not only in the gouernement of the pricipall Citties and Fortes , but ●ufficiently in generall in euery thing : except that sometime heere and there Proforma , in some matters they seeme to doe some thing to the purpose , the which also ( they once beeing Maisters ) would soone leaue aside .

That the Countries and Inhabitants are robbed , disrobed , and disfurnished , not onely of a●l trafficke , negotiation , nauigation , welfare , and dealings ; but also the very three fourth partes of the good Inhabitantes , are vtterly destitute of all meanes of maintenaunce . The principall Citties conu●rted to Doue-cots , the Villages and Countrie groundes euen brought to the extreamest poynt of pouertie , eaten vp and ransackt by the men of Warre : and ●et the Soul●iers themselues to ill payde , that the mutenie o● one partie cannot be appea●ed , but there are two l●ke , or worse , to be expected . And that in brie●e , it is most euident , that all ●ill fall into a most apparant dangerous desperation .

This then all considered , we pray your Excellencies , Lordships , Worships , &c. that in effect , the nee●efull remedies heereto may be taken in hand and ministred . And namely , that it may please you to effect thus much , as that their Highnesse will vouchsafe to depart out of the Netherlandes , to purchase a more quieter and securer partage or portion : At which time , it wi●l be little difficult for your Excellencies , Lordships , Worships , &c. and vs together , to make the Spaniards & other Strangers to follow them : and for the best part of their adherentes , to make and conuert vnto good and worthy Netherlanders .

If now by any one this were helde for an Impossibilitie , & that your Excel●encies , Lordships , Worships , &c. could not securely take , nor vse this courte ; that it may please them then to the contrarie to beleeue : that if in case your Excellen●es , Lor●sh●ps , Worships , &c. will furnish vs with so much Money and meanes for sixe Monethes , as importes the halfe of the oulde or●inarie Taxe of Brabant , Flaunders , Artois , Haynolt , Valencinen , Lylle , Douay , Orchies , Namen , Tournez●e , Tourrage , and Mechelen , to the same : which through Gods gracious permission , we inten●e this ▪ ●eere to performe in maner of Warre : And in respect of their Highnesses , keepe themselues quiet , or tall to vs ▪ ( which we put to your Excellencies , Lordships , Worships , &c choyce and good lyking , that the matter by Go●s helpe ) shall be brought to that passe , that your Excellencies , Lo●dships , Worships , &c. themselues , shal iu●ge therein to be most apparant lignes of good successe .

And touching th' assurance , whereon diuers kinde harted and well enclyned persons trouble themselues , are kept backe and stand reselute , your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. shall them selues set or hold such orders , as well of the Gouernement as of Religon , as themselues shall thinke most meete and conuenient : neither neede to put any doubt therein , but may be assured that therein by vs nothing shal be done nor attempted . Assuring moreouer your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. that in so laudable , honorable , seruiceable , and needefull a cause , neither your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. nor wee , shall want any backing , support , or succour , from the neighbour Kinges , Princes , Common-weales , our neighbours and allyes . Wher●vpon , once more most friendly wee require your Excellences , Lordships , Worships , &c. that you will commit to obliuion all passions , suspitions , and former mistakinges : and with this good oportunitie and occasion , to accept and imbrace this ground , as beeing the right and onely way to bring the Netherlands into their auncient rightes , welfare , peace , tranquilitie ; and to her most famous and flourishing former estate : without giuing any eare vnto the new pretended Forces , which are nought else ▪ but such as will cause a greater destruction & miserie . Otherwise , and in default hereof , wee foresee that the damages , calamities , and miseris , are destined this yeere to fall more greater , then euer heretofore : whereof , before all the worlde , we will be helde guiltlesse . Heerewith , wee beseeche th' Almightie GOD , most high and well Reuerent , Noble , Right Worshipfull , Worthie , Learned , Wise , Prudent , and most discreete Lords , Friends , and Neighbours , to inspire your Excellences Lordships , Worships &c. with that which may stretch to the good an● Welfare of the Netherlandes , and the good ●nhabi●a●ts thereof .