no Meanes to use a Dagger, which they found naked in his Breeches. In the meane Seafon the Earle of Hobenlo, for Feare of further Inconvenience, caufing the fayd Princes Gard and diverfe Gentlemen to follow him, feafed upon the Doores of the House, fo to keepe all fuche as were not verye well knowne, from comming in or going forth. The dead Corps being further fearched, they found about him certaine Papers and Pamphlets which were delivered to the faid Erle Maurice, the which at that Inftant finding one of the Servants of my Lord his Father fhewed him the faid Papers, and weeping faide, behold what the wicked Wretch had about him: who answered him, my Lord be not difcomforted, God is mightie and able to preserve my Lord your Father, but keepe thefe Papers wel, for we are greatly troubled about difcovering fomewhat of this curfed Wretche: for otherwife in this Town we fhal incur great Peril. To the which he did replie, alas I am afrayde leaft here be fome Villaine that may take them from me, this yong Lord being the rather moved to fay fo, because there went a Speeche through the Hall, given foorth by fome, that thofe which had killed the Murderer, were Partakers of the Fact, and that Men might be affured of it, so that the Daunger beganne to fall likewife upon the beft Friendes of the faid Lord Prince, and uppon his Houfhold. Upon this Talke of the fayd yong Erle, the faid Servaunt tooke him under his Cloke, and faid unto him, my Lord go with me, and I will lay your Papers in Safetie, whiche hee did, bringing him into the Rooffe of the Houfe, where committing the faid Papers to fafe Cuftody, he perceived that they were written in Spanish, wherefore he faid to the Earle, My Lord, there is no Danger to be feared on your Part, returne and caufe further Searche to bee made: as for me I go to my Lord: which was done. Then the faid Servant began to certifie every one, that it was a Spaniarde, and that Men should leave the miffconceived Sufpition which they had. A while after returned the fayd yong Earl, bringing mo Papers, Croffes, and an Agnus Dei, with a greene wax Candle, and two Pieces of Skin, like unto a Beavers: which occafioned many to be of Opinion that he had about him fome Toades and Enchantments. The faide Servant began to reade the first Papers: whiche he founde to be, partlye Praiers, and partly Vowes, and then he brake the Cover of a Packet of Letters, and found that it was written. in Spanish, by one Spaniard to another, of the whiche he did certifie everie Man, but would not open the reft alone. A little after came the Lord de S. Aldegonde, who had alreadie bene with his Highneffe, and being returned, faide to the fame Servant, we must take Advise what is to be done, for there is great Trouble in the Town: wherunto he answered, my Lord, if it please you, let us withdraw our felves for a while to communicate therof, I thinke you fhal finde Counfell readie: and then they wente by themfelves because of the great Preaffe of People that was about them, and the faide Lord did open the rest of the faide Packet, in which were founde two Letters of Exchaunge, the one of 2000 Crownes, and the other of 877, with Letters of Advice, all in Spanish, and by Spaniards: the Bookes were of Services to be performed at certain fet Hours: alfo one Jefuits Catechifme and a Paire of Tables written from one Ende to the other. Then praifing God, that had

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 also in to his Highneffe, and fhewed him the fayde Papers. In the mean time was the firft 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 becaufe 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, anfwered that the People would never be content unleffe he affured them that hee had seene him: Whereupon he was caufed to enter in : Then after some Speeches, demaunding what it pleased 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 thofe to whome the Letters of Exchaunge were directed: In the meane Time having affembled the Counsel of Eftate, he dispatched 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'Anastro) taken Order that all that were in the fayd House fhould be committed to Prifon, which was done. But they found that the fayd Anastro himfelfe departed the Tuesday before toward Bruges. Then were the Coronels 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 first 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 Houfe, 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 prefently to be the Body of John Jauregui a Spaniard, the Servant of Jasper Anaftro: yea the fayde Venero seeing 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 Magistrate 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 Estates, wherein, as his laft Counsel, he wifhed them to perfift in his Highneffe Obedience declaring unto them that he judged him to be the onely Prince that was moft 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 Fast 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 Thankesgivings 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 requeft 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 themselves from his Obedience, laying his Foundation uppon the Death of the fayd L. Prince, whereupon the fayde Townes befought his Highneffe of Counfaile. These were the Townes: Bruffels, Gaunt, Bridges, Malines, Ipres, Audernarde, Dunkirk, Bergbe, and fundry others. Finally the Towne of Antwerpe also received the like Letters. Annastro 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 preserve, 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.

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 efto fe baze, recibira el Sennor à este 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 bazerlo affi, y perdonarle la vida, pues la ha empleada tan en fervicio de Dios, y de fu Yglesia, y de fu Rey, y en bonera de toda fu nacion: y el que me regalare y tratare bien, fe lo pagara fu Mageftad fu muy cumplida

menté.

mente. Perfuader los que fe fuffran, y tengan paciencia quatra o feys dias, hafta que fe le paffe la alteracion, que defpues 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 at ́tribuyran 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 bolie Virgin S. Marie our Ladie, affift mee in this my Determination, which I have undertaken for his most bolie Service.

H'

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 shal 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, also 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 shall 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 pafte, all Thinges fhall be ordered to as great Contentation of the Towne, as themselves could ever wishe.

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.

JESUS MARIA.

A Vos Redemptor y Salvado del mundo, Criador del cielo y de la tierra, Sennor Dios Jefus Chrifto, fiendo fervido concederme esta vittoria a mi todo mifero, 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 biel y 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 cómo a tal os fupplico muy bumilmente

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