given them fuch Light of the Matter, the Lord de S. Aldegonde refolved to go ftraight to the Town Houfe, and paffing by the Gard, to affure them that it was done by Spaniards, whiche he did hope to verifie: and would carrie with him the Writing Tables and the moft Parte of the Writings: appointing others to go to his Highnes with the other Part, to advertise him, and not to depart from his Perfon: which was done. In paffing by, the faid Lorde of Saint Aldegonde went alfo in to his Highneffe, and fhewed him the fayde Papers. In the mean time was the first dreffing. And the Prince was layde in his Bedde, and afterward fuch as were next about him and most fkilfull, began to conceive fome Sparke of Hope, by reafon he had his Sight and fpake well, efpecially because his Understanding and Judgement was very certaine, alfo that being forbidden much Speech, he wrote ftedfast and quicke. While thefe Things were in doing, there came in one of the Captaines of the Towne, named Lion Petit, demaunding whether he were alive or deade, who, when the faid Servant requested him to let the fayde L. Prince take his reft for that Time, affirming that he hoped of his Recoverie, answered that the People would never be content unleffe he affured them that hee had feene him: Whereupon he was caufed to enter in : Then after some Speeches, demaunding what it pleafed the L. Prince to commaund him, he faide: Commend me hartily to the People, and will them not to trouble themselves, and if it please God to take me to him felfe, that they obey and faithfully ferve this Prince, for I know none in the Worlde better or more meete for them. His Highneffe having feen the Letters of Exchaunge and other the Writings brought unto him, commended them to Martini the Recorder of the Town, who then was with him, to cary them to the Magiftrate of the Towne, and to examine those to whome the Letters of Exchaunge were directed: In the meane Time having affembled the Counsel of Eftate, he difpatched a Commiffion directed unto the general Eftates, the Counfell of Eftate, the Magiftrates of the Towne, the Coronells, Captaines, and Wardens of Occupations, with all Diligence to procede, commaunding all Men under Paine of Death to declare what they knewe concerning the fayd Murderer. Nowe had the Magiftrate in the meane Time (who already had begun to proceede herein, and by the fayd Papers and writing Tables had found that the Murtherer was of the Houfe of a Spaniard, named Jasper d'Anaftro) taken Order that all that were in the fayd Houfe fhould be committed to Prifon, which was done. But they found that the fayd Anaftro himfelfe departed the Tuesday before toward Bruges. Then were the Ccronels and Captaines advertised by the Magiftrate, as alfo all the Inhabitants by their Governours, that all this Webbe was woven by the Spanyards : wherupon the whole Towne grew to Quietneffe, remainyng nevertheleffe in Armes, for the Affiftance of Juftice. At the firft Examination of Antony Venero they could not finde any great Matter, but this onely, that they knewe the Murtherers Perfon: Howbeit for that he confeffed that the fame Day Maffe had bene celebrated fecretly in the fayd Anaftro his House, at all Adventures upon Sufpition they apprehended one Antony Timmerman, of the Order of the white Friers. Nevertheleffe it was decreed, that the Mur

derers

derers Body should be fet upon a Scaffold in the Towne to fhew it to the People, to the End to know it, which Thing was done: but fo foone as he was feene in the great Market Place, every one knew it presently to be the Body of John Jauregui a Spaniard, the Servant of Jasper Anaftro: yea the fayde Venero feeing him dead, knew him. The next Morning the xix. of March, as all the Gates of the Towne of Antwerp were diligently kept, in the Morning the Poft of Bruges arrived, who having fhewed his Letters to the Garde of the River Gate, there were found Letters of the fayd Anastro directed to Venero, which were caried to his Highneffe and to the Magiftrate of the Towne. Further, the Magiftrate appointed, that the fame Day the Murtherers. Body fhould be quartered, and his Head fet upon the Bulwarke toward Ril, and his Quarters upon the foure principall Gates, which was done. The next Day his Highneffe and the Counfell of Eftate decreed, that throughout all the Churches there fhould be extraordinarie Prayers unto God for the Health of the fayde L. Prince. Alfo by the Magiftrate of the Towne his Apointment, the next Wednesday being the 21. of the fayd Moneth, was by Trumpet proclaimed throughout the Towne a generall Fast, with Common Prayers: alfo Commaundement was given that every Man should that Day leave all Worke, to the Ende to attend Fafting and Prayer. Annaftro his Letters were fhewed to Venero, who seeing himselfe thereby confounded and convicted, and being, as by his Confeffion it appeareth, admonished by one of the Coronels and others, required Paper and Inke, and with his owne Hand wrote and figned his fecond Confeffion. The Prince thinking the Houre of his Decease to drawe neare, difpatched the L. S. Aldegonde with Letters directed to the generall Eftates, wherein, as his last Counsel, he wifhed them to perfift in his Highneffe Obedience declaring unto them that he judged him to be the onely Prince that was most fit for them, according to the Tenure whereof, the fayde Lordes fent their Deputies to his Highneffe, to advertise him of their faithfull Affection. Upon Wednesday following was the Faft with extraordinary Prayers celebrated, and that with fuch Multitude and Concourfe of People, in all the Churches of both Languages, as Time out of Mind the like Numbers of People have not bene feene in the Churches of Antwerp neither fo many weeping Eyes. Howbeit for that the Phifitions and Surgeons began to conceive fome Hope of the Recoverie of the fayde Prince, the Prayers were partely mixed with Thankefgivings for this good beginning, with humble Supplication, that it might please God to accomplish his Health. Now began the fayde L. Princes Perfon to drawe to amendment, and dayly did his Highneffe carefully vifit him, who seemed, and indeede did take great Care for him, as likewife the L. Prince did for him, uppon everye Occafion commending his Service. On the other Side, the Magiftrate was as diligent in proceeding against the Offendors: fo as finally he atteyned to the Truth of the whole Matter, as it wil appeare in the Depofitions of the fayd Offendors. But the L. Prince hearing that they purposed to proceede to definitive Sentence, did by writing expreflye commaund the L. of S. Aldegonde, to request the Magiftrate to punish them with the easiest Death that might be: which was done: for by the Magiftrates Sentence the VOL. I. Wed

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Wednesday 28 of the fayd Moneth they were fet at a Stake upon a Scaffold in the middeft of the great Market, over against the Towne House, and by the Hangman ftrangled, their Bodies quartered, and hanged over the chiefe Gates of the Towne, and their Heades pitched upon two of the great Bulwarkes which heretofore were part of the Caftle. Antony Timmerman the white Frier the fame Day exhibited his fecond Confeffion, wherein he acknowledged that he had bene of Opinion that the fayd Jaregui might with a fafe Confcience execute the fayd Enterprife; but that nowe being better inftructed by fuch good Admonitions as had bene given him, he confeffed that he had erred, and therefore befought the Lords of Juftice not to forget his fayd Proteftation, if ever this Proceffe were published.

Within few Dayes after the fayd Execution, his Highneffe received from fundry Places Letters which the Prince of Parma had written to the Townes, wherein he endevored to perfwade them to withdraw themfelves from his Obedience, laying his Foundation uppon the Death of the fayd L. Prince, whereupon the fayde Townes befought his Highneffe of Counfaile. Thefe were the Townes: Bruffels, Gaunt, Bridges, Malines, Ipres, Audernarde, Dunkirk, Berghe, and fundry others. Finally the Towne of Antwerpe alfo received the like Letters. Annaftro alfo fent Letters to the Towne of Gaunt, tending to the fame Ende, which Venero his Depofition doth containe: fo that he wrote to all Places where he had any Acceffe. All the fayd Letters, as well from the Prince of Parma as from Annaftro were grounded upon the Affurance which they had conceived of the Death of the fayd L. Prince, whom God hath hitherto nevertheleffe preferved, and will ftill of his Mercie keepe and preferve, if he please.

Hereafter followe:

The Copies of the Writings found about the Murderer.

The Depofitions of the Offendors.

The Letters of Annaftro and the Prince of Parma.

The Copies of the Writings founde about the Murtherer.

JESU CHRISTO Nueftro Sennor, y la Virgen fancta Maria nueftra Sennora fean en mi ayuda en efta refolucion hecha para fu fanctiffimo fervicio.

QUE UE fu Magiftad tiene dada efta orden por el amor que tiene à eftos Flamencos, y por librarlos de las oppreffions en que eftan.

Si esto se baze, recibira el Sennor à efte pueblo en mifericordia, y bara con el las capitulaciones en toda ventaja d'ellos.

Offrefcer les be, que dentro de ocho dias que fe haga, los vendra a tomar a mifericordia, mediante que al que hiziere efte hecho, le traten bien que fera ganancia della villa hazerlo affi, y perdonarle la vida, pues la ha empleada tan en fervicio de Dios, y de fu Yglefia, y de fu Rey, y en bonera de toda fu nacion: el que me regalare y tratare bien, fe lo pagara fu Mageftad fu muy cumplida

y

Mente.

mente. Perfuader los que fe fuffran, y tengan paciencia quatra o feys dias, hafta que fe le paffe la alteracion, que despues todo fe bara tan a contento de la Villa, como nunca ellos pudieren deffear. Yo ruego a eftos fennores, que miren lo que bazen en tratarme bien porque en bazar lo que he hecho, todas las naciones lo attribuyran a virtud, y nobleza de my nacion. Y pues a qui fon todos tan virtuofos, tengan attencion a tratarme bien, hafta tomar mis confeffiones muy d'efpacio, y por fu orden. Y fobre todo, yo me encomiendo en la mifericordia de Dios.

JESUS CHRIST Our Lorde, and the holie Virgin S. Marie our Ladie, affift mee in this my Determination, which I have undertaken for his most bolie Service.

H'S

IS Royall Majeftie hathe fette downe this Order for the Love he beareth to these Flemings, and to deliver them from the Oppreffions wherein they are.

This being accomplished, the Lorde wil receive thefe People to mercie, and he will graunt them Articles tending to their uttermoft Advantage.

I will promise them, that within eighte Dayes after the Deede, they fhal. be received into Favour, conditionally, that they do wel entreate him that fhall have done this Deed. That the Towne fhall reape Commoditie by fo doing, alfo to pardon him his Life, confidering he hath fo employed it in the Service of God, of the Church, and of his King, and to the Honour of his whole Nation and hys Majeftie will moft liberally rewarde anye that fhall furnishe him of Things requifite, and well entreate him.

They mufte bee perfwaded patiently to beare for foure or fixe Dayes, until thys Alteration be over : whiche being paste, all Thinges fhall be ordered to as great Contentation of the Towne, as themfelves could ever wifhe.

I beseeche these Lordes well to weigh what they doe in wel ufing of mee: because that, accomplishing this Deede that I have done, all Nations will attribute it to the Vertue and Nobilitie of my Countrey.

In fo muche therefore, as all Men here bee fo vertuous, they mufte determine, wel to entreate mee, yea, fo farre forth, as at Leyfure, and as Order requyreth, to take my Confeffions. And above all, Thinges, I commend me to the Mercie of God.

A

JESUS MARIA.

Vos Redemptor y Salvado del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra, Sennor Dios Jefus Chrifto, fiendo fervido concederme esta victoria a mi todo misero, muy infelice peccador, y vueftro fiervo, por a quellas preciofiffimas cinco ilagas y la preciociffima corona de fpinas y los vueftros preciofiffimos grandiffimos trabaios, anguftias, arrastradas, bofetadas, maldezires: e biely vinagre fobre aquello beuiftes, vos todo poderofo Sennor Dios Jefu Chrifto Redemptor y Salvador del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra, todo por falvar a los peccadores del mundo, y a mi todo muy infelice peccador: y como a tal os fupplico muy bumilmente

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bumilmente feays fervido concederme efta victoria contra efte Pagano, Violador de vueftro Templo divino, Ruina de vueftra religion, fan&ta catholica y Romana y el que es occafion de tanto deffaffoffiego a la vueftra Chriftiandad, y pestilencia que no attiende fino en fuftentar maldades, vellaquertas y ruynas. Ŏ todo poderofo Sennor Dios Jefu Chrifto Redemptor y Salvador del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra a vos os fupplico muy humilmente feays fervido no permitir que efte malvado ufe de mas ruinas, y conceder a mi muy indigno peccador la gracia, animo y valor, paraque defpues de las vueftras preciofiffimas manos pueda Jer acabado por mi. De manera que ninguno de quien yo voy vencerle, defpues de vos Sennor Dios Jefu Chrifto Redemptor y Salvador del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra pueda aver poder contra mi. Pero defpues fiendo vos altif fimo Sennor Dios Jefu Chrifto Redemptor y Salvador del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra fiendo fervido de que yo dexe aqui efta miferable vida, foy muy contento fe a affi, y fiempre como vos Sennor Dios Dios fuere des fervido. Y affi as fuplico de todo coraçon todo poderofo Sennor Dios Jefu Chrifto, por a quella vueftra preciofiffima paffion feays fervido concederme conftancia y paciencia, paraque yo mifero muy infelice peccador pueda fobrellevar y fuffrir qualquier genero de pena que me dieren, que a todo (como foy obligado) preftare muy humilde cora on, fiendo vos todo poderofo Redemptor y Salvador del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra fervido.

JESUS MARIA.

MO the Redeemer and Saviour of the Worlde, Creator of Heaven and Earth, Lord God, Jefus Chrifte: If it please thee to graunte this Victorie unto me mofte miferable wretched Sinner, and thy Servaunt, for the Love of thy five most pretious Woundes, and thy mofte pretious Crowne of Thorns, and thy moft pretious grevous Labours, Anguishes, Torments, Stripes, and Injuries, and the Gall and Vineger, which befides all thys thou diddeft drinke, even thou the Almightie Lord God, Jefus Chrifte, the Redeemer and Saviour of the World, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, and al to fave the Sinners of this World, and among the reft, me, the moft unhappie Sinner: and as fuche a one I doe mofte humbly befeeche thee, that it maye please thee, to grant me this Victory against this Heathen, Defiler of thy holy Temple, and Subverter of thy holy Catholik Romane Religion, who is the Caufe of fo many Difquiets throughout thy Christendome, and fuche a Peftilence as is bufied only in upholding Wickedneffe, Villanies, and Diffolations. O moft mightie Lorde God Jefus Chrift, Redeemer and Saviour of the World, Creator of Heaven and Earth, I do moft humbly befeech thee, that it maye please thee no longer to fuffer this Wretch to worke farther Defolations: Farther, that thou wilte graunte unto me an unworthye. Sinner, fuche Favour, Courage and Valiancie, as by thy mofte pretious Handes I maye accomplishe this Thing, in fuche wife, as none of those that doe belong to him, whom, (with thy Helpe, Lorde God, Jefus Chrifte, Redeemer and Saviour of the World, Creator of Heaven and Earth) I Howbeit in as purpose to overcome, may have any Power against me. much as thou arte the Supreme Lord God Jefus Chrift, Redeemer and Sa- .