[Thatcher Introduction]
Toward the end of the Middle Ages, many of the large cities
of the Netherlands had bought or won charters giving them many rights of freedom, but when
Charles V came to the throne of Spain he disregarded these charters. When Calvinism spread
over the Low Countries he introduced the Inquisition and tried to root it out. Philip II
of Spain increased the persecution. The people rebelled in 1566 and the Duke of Alva was
sent into the country to put down the rebellion. The people elected William of Orange as
their leader, and the Dutch Revolt began. The war lasted for forty years with varied
fortunes. The Prince of Orange was assassinated in 1584, but the struggle went on under
his second son, Prince Maurice, a boy of seventeen. First England and then France came to
their aid. Finally in 1609 a truce was established which ended in the acknowledgment of
the provinces in 1648 as one of the provisions of the Treaty of Westphalia.
The declaration given below -- the first in modern times -- brings forward
prominently the great idea that rulers are responsible to the people and can be deposed by
them. The growth of this idea is center of the development of constitutional and
republican government.
The States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries, to all whom it may
concern, do by these Presents send greeting:
As it is apparent to all that a prince is constituted by God to be ruler of a people,
to defend them from oppression and violence as the shepherd his sheep; and whereas God did
not create the people slaves to their prince, to obey his commands, whether right or
wrong, but rather the prince for the sake of the subjects (without which he could be no
prince), to govern them according to equity, to love and support them as a father his
children or a shepherd his flock, and even at the hazard of life to defend and preserve
them. And when he does not behave thus, but, on the contrary, oppresses them, seeking
opportunities to infringe their ancient customs and privileges, exacting from them slavish
compliance, then he is no longer a prince, but a tyrant, and the subjects are to consider
him in no other view. And particularly when this is done deliberately, unauthorized by the
states, they may not only disallow his authority, but legally proceed to the choice of
another prince for their defense. This is the only method left for subjects whose humble
petitions and remonstrances could never soften their prince or dissuade him from his
tyrannical proceedings; and this is what the law of nature dictates for the defense of
liberty, which we ought to transmit to posterity, even at the hazard of our lives. And
this we have seen done frequently in several countries upon the like occasion, whereof
there are notorious instances, and more justifiable in our land, which has been always
governed according to their ancient privileges, which are expressed in the oath taken by
the prince at his admission to the government; for most of the Provinces receive their
prince upon certain conditions, which he swears to maintain, which, if the prince
violates, he is no longer sovereign.
Now thus it was that the king of Spain after the demise of the emperor, his father,
Charles the Fifth, of the glorious memory (of whom he received all these provinces),
forgetting the services done by the subjects of these countries, both to his father and
himself, by whose valor he got so glorious and memorable victories over his enemies that
his name and power became famous and dreaded over all the world, forgetting also the
advice of his said imperial majesty, made to him before to the contrary, did rather
hearken to the counsel of those Spaniards about him, who had conceived a secret hatred to
this land and to its liberty, because they could not enjoy posts of honor and high
employments here under the states as in Naples, Sicily, Milan and the Indies, and other
countries under the king's dominion. Thus allured by the riches of the said provinces,
wherewith many of them were well acquainted, the said counselors, we say, or the principal
of them, frequently remonstrated to the king that it was more for his Majesty's reputation
and grandeur to subdue the Low Countries a second time, and to make himself absolute (by
which they mean to tyrannize at pleasure), than to govern according to the restrictions he
had accepted, and at his admission sworn to observe. From that time forward the king of
Spain, following these evil counselors, sought by all means possible to reduce this
country (stripping them of their ancient privileges) to slavery, under the government of
Spaniards having first, under the mask of religion, endeavored to settle new bishops in
the largest and principal cities, endowing and incorporating them with the richest abbeys,
assigning to each bishop nine canons to assist him as counselors, three whereof should
superintend the inquisition.
By this incorporation the said bishops (who might be strangers as well as natives)
would have had the first place and vote in the assembly of the states, and always the
prince's creatures at devotion; and by the addition of the said canons he would have
introduced the Spanish inquisition, which has been always as dreadful and detested in
these provinces as the worst of slavery, as is well known, in so much that his imperial
majesty, having once before proposed it to these states, and upon whose remonstrances did
desist, and entirely gave it up, hereby giving proof of the great affection he had for his
subjects. But, notwithstanding the many remonstrances made to the king both by the
provinces and particular towns, in writing as well as by some principal lords by word of
mouth; and, namely, by the Baron of Montigny and Earl of Egmont, who with the approbation
of the Duchess of Parma, then governess of the Low Countries, by the advice of the council
of state were sent several times to Spain upon this affair. And, although the king had by
fair words given them grounds to hope that their request should be complied with, yet by
his letters he ordered the contrary, soon after expressly commanding, upon pain of his
displeasure, to admit the new bishops immediately, and put them in possession of their
bishoprics and incorporated abbeys, to hold the court of the inquisition in the places
where it had been before, to obey and follow the decrees and ordinances of the Council of
Trent, which in many articles are destructive of the privileges of the country.
This being come to the knowledge of the people gave just occasion to great uneasiness
and clamor among them, and lessened that good affection they had always borne toward the
king and his predecessors. And, especially, seeing that he did not only seek to tyrannize
over their persons and estates, but also over their consciences, for which they believed
themselves accountable to God only. Upon this occasion the chief of the nobility in
compassion to the poor people, in the year 1566, exhibited a certain remonstrance in form
of a petition, humbly praying, in order to appease them and prevent public disturbances,
that it would please his majesty (by showing that clemency due from a good prince to his
people) to soften the said points, and especially with regard to the rigorous inquisition,
and capital punishments for matters of religion. And to inform the king of this affair in
a more solemn manner, and to represent to him how necessary it was for the peace and
prosperity of the public to remove the aforesaid innovations, and moderate the severity of
his declarations published concerning divine worship, the Marquis de Berghen, and the
aforesaid Baron of Montigny had been sent, at the request of the said lady regent, council
of state, and of the states-general as ambassadors to Spain, where the king, instead of
giving them audience, and redress the grievances they had complained of (which for want of
a timely remedy did always appear in their evil consequences among the common people),
did, by the advice of Spanish council, declare all those who were concerned in preparing
the said remonstrance to be rebels, and guilty of high treason, and to be punished with
death, and confiscation of their estates; and, what is more (thinking himself well assured
of reducing these countries under absolute tyranny by the army of the Duke of Alva), did
soon after imprison and put to death the said lords the ambassadors, and confiscated their
estates, contrary to the law of nations, which has been always religiously observed even
among the most tyrannic and barbarous princes.
And, although the said disturbances, which in the year 1566 happened on the
aforementioned occasion, were now appeased by the governess and her ministers, and many
friends to liberty were either banished or subdued, in so much that the king had not any
show of reason to use arms and violence, and further oppress this country, yet for these
causes and reasons, long time before sought by the council of Spain (as appears by
intercepted letters from the Spanish ambassador, Alana, then in France, writ to the
Duchess of Parma), to annul all the privileges of this country, and govern it tyrannically
at pleasure as in the Indies; and in their new conquests he has, at the instigation of the
council of Spain, showing the little regard he had for his people, so contrary to the duty
which a good prince owes to his subjects), sent the Duke of Alva with a powerful army to
oppress this land, who for his inhuman cruelties is looked upon as one of its greatest
enemies, accompanied with counselors too like himself. And, although he came in without
the least opposition, and was received by the poor subjects with all marks of honor and
clemency, which the king had often hypocritically promised in his letters, and that
himself intended to come in person to give orders to their general satisfaction, having
since the departure of the Duke of Alva equipped a fleet to carry him from Spain, and
another in Zealand to come to meet him at the great expense of the country, the better to
deceive his subjects, and allure them into the toils, nevertheless the said duke,
immediately after his arrival (though a stranger, and no way related to the royal family),
declared that he had a captain-general's commission, and soon after that of governor of
these provinces, contrary to all its ancient customs and privileges; and, the more to
manifest his designs, he immediately garrisoned the principal towns and castles, and
caused fortresses and citadels to be built in the great cities to awe them into
subjection, and very courteously sent for the chief nobility in the king's name, under
pretense of taking their advice, and to employ them in the service of their country. And
those who believed his letters were seized and carried out of Brabant, contrary to law,
where they were imprisoned and prosecuted as criminals before him who had no right, nor
could be a competent judge; and at last he, without hearing their defense at large,
sentenced them to death, which was publicly and ignominiously executed.
The others, better acquainted with Spanish hypocrisy, residing in foreign countries,
were declared outlawed, and had their estates confiscated, so that the poor subjects could
make no use of their fortresses nor be assisted by their princes in defense of their
liberty against the violence of the pope; besides a great number of other gentlemen and
substantial citizens, some of whom were executed, and others banished that their estates
might be confiscated, plaguing the other honest inhabitants, not only by the injuries done
to their wives, children and estates by the Spanish soldiers lodged in their houses, as
likewise by diverse contributions, which they were forced to pay toward building citadels
and new fortifications of towns even to their own ruin, besides the taxes of the
hundredth, twentieth, and tenth penny, to pay both the foreign and those raised in the
country, to be employed against their fellow-citizens and against those who at the hazard
of their lives defended their liberties. In order to impoverish the subjects, and to
incapacitate them to hinder his design, and that he might with more ease execute the
instructions received in Spain, to treat these countries as new conquests, he began to
alter the course of justice after the Spanish mode, directly contrary to our privileges;
and, imagining at last he had nothing more to fear, he endeavored by main force to settle
a tax called the tenth penny on merchandise and manufacture, to the total ruin of these
countries, the prosperity of which depends upon a flourishing trade, notwithstanding
frequent remonstrances, not by a single province only, but by all of them united, which he
had effected, had it not been for the Prince of Orange with diverse gentlemen and other
inhabitants, who had followed this prince in his exile, most of whom were in his pay, and
banished by the Duke of Alva with others who between him and the states of all the
provinces, on the contrary sought, by all possible promises made to the colonels already
at his devotion, to gain the German troops, who were then garrisoned in the principal
fortresses and the cities, that by their assistance he might master them, as he had gained
many of them already, and held them attached to his interest in order, by their
assistance, to force those who would not join with him in making war against the Prince of
Orange, and the provinces of Holland and Zealand, more cruel and bloody than any war
before. But, as no disguises can long conceal our intentions, this project was discovered
before it could be executed; and he, unable to perform his promises, and instead of that
peace so much boasted of at his arrival a new war kindled, not yet extinguished.
All these considerations give us more than sufficient reason to renounce the King of
Spain, and seek some other powerful and more gracious prince to take us under his
protection; and, more especially, as these countries have been for these twenty years
abandoned to disturbance and oppression by their king, during which time the inhabitants
were not treated as subjects, but enemies, enslaved forcibly by their own governors.
Having also, after the decease of Don Juan, sufficiently declared by the Baron de
Selles that he would not allow the pacification of Ghent, the which Don Juan had in his
majesty's name sworn to maintain, but daily proposing new terms of agreement less
advantageous. Notwithstanding these discouragements we used all possible means, by
petitions in writing, and the good offices of the greatest princes in Christendom, to be
reconciled to our king, having lastly maintained for a long time our deputies at the
Congress of Cologne, hoping that the intercession of his imperial majesty and of the
electors would procure an honorable and lasting peace, and some degree of liberty,
particularly relating to religion (which chiefly concerns God and our own consciences), at
last we found by experience that nothing would be obtained of the king by prayers and
treaties, which latter he made use of to divide and weaken the provinces, that he might
the easier execute his plan rigorously, by subduing them one by one, which afterwards
plainly appeared by certain proclamations and proscriptions published by the king's
orders, by virtue of which we and all officers of the United Provinces with all our
friends are declared rebels and as such to have forfeited our lives and estates. Thus, by
rendering us odious to all, he might interrupt our commerce, likewise reducing us to
despair, offering a great sum to any that would assassinate the Prince of Orange.
So, having no hope of reconciliation, and finding no other remedy, we have, agreeable
to the law of nature in our own defense, and for maintaining the rights, privileges, and
liberties of our countrymen, wives, and children, and latest posterity from being enslaved
by the Spaniards, been constrained to renounce allegiance to the King of Spain, and pursue
such methods as appear to us most likely to secure our ancient liberties and privileges.
Know all men by these presents that being reduced to the last extremity, as above
mentioned, we have unanimously and deliberately declared, and do by these presents
declare, that the King of Spain has forfeited, ipso jure, all hereditary right to the
sovereignty of those countries, and are determined from henceforward not to acknowledge
his sovereignty or jurisdiction, nor any act of his relating to the domains of the Low
Countries, nor make use of his name as prince, nor suffer others to do it. In consequence
whereof we also declare all officers, judges, lords, gentlemen, vassals, and all other the
inhabitants of this country of what condition or quality soever, to be henceforth
discharged from all oaths and obligations whatsoever made to the King of Spain as
sovereign of those countries. And whereas, upon the motives already mentioned, the greater
part of the United Provinces have, by common consent of their members, submitted to the
government and sovereignty of the illustrious Prince and Duke of Anjou, upon certain
conditions stipulated with his highness, and whereas the most serene Archduke Matthias has
resigned the government of these countries with our approbation, we command and order all
justiciaries, officers, and all whom it may concern, not to make use of the name, titles,
great or privy seal of the King of Spain from henceforward; but in lieu of them, as long
as his highness the Duke of Anjou is absent upon urgent affairs relating to the welfare of
these countries, having so agreed with his highness or otherwise, they shall provisionally
use the name and title of the President and Council of the Province.
And, until such a president and counselors shall be nominated, assembled, and act in
that capacity, they shall act in our name, except that in Holland and Zealand where they
shall use the name of the Prince of Orange, and of the states of the said provinces until
the aforesaid council shall legally sit, and then shall conform to the directions of that
council agreeable to the contract made with his highness. And, instead of the king's seal
aforesaid, they shall make use of our great seal, center-seal, and signet, in affairs
relating to the public, according as the said council shall from time to time be
authorized. And in affairs concerning the administration of justice, and transactions
peculiar to each province, the provincial council and other councils of that country shall
use respectively the name, title, and seal of the said province, where the case is to be
tried, and no other, on pain of having all letters, documents, and despatches annulled.
And, for the better and effectual performance hereof, we have ordered and commanded, and
do hereby order and command, that all the seals of the King of Spain which are in these
United Provinces shall immediately, upon the publication of these presents, be delivered
to the estate of each province respectively, or to such persons as by the said estates
shall be authorized and appointed, upon peril of discretionary punishment.
Moreover, we order and command that from henceforth no money coined shall be stamped
with the name, title, or arms of the King of Spain in any of these United Provinces, but
that all new gold and silver pieces, with their halfs and quarters, shall only bear such
impressions as the states shall direct. We order likewise and command the president and
other lords of the privy council, and all other chancellors, presidents,
accountants-general, and to others in all the chambers of accounts respectively in these
said countries, and likewise to all other judges and officers, as we hold them discharged
from henceforth of their oath made to the King of Spain, pursuant to the tenor of their
commission, that they shall take a new oath to the states of that country on whose
jurisdiction they depend, or to commissaries appointed by them, to be true to us against
the King of Spain and all his adherents, according to the formula of words prepared by the
states-general for that purpose. And we shall give to the said counselors, justiciaries,
and officers employed in these provinces, who have contracted in our name with his
highness the Duke of Anjou, an act to continue them in their respective offices, instead
of new commissions, a clause annulling the former provisionally until the arrival of his
highness. Moreover, to all such counselors, accomptants, justiciaries, and officers in
these Provinces, who have not contracted with his highness, aforesaid, we shall grant new
commissions under our hands and seals, unless any of the said officers are accused and
convicted of having acted under their former commissions against the liberties and
privileges of this country or of other the like maladministration.
We farther command of the president and members of the privy council, chancellor of the
Duchy of Brabant, also the chancellor of the Duchy of Guelders, and county of Zutphen, to
the president and members of the council of Holland, to the receivers of great officers of
Beoostersheldt and Bewestersheldt in Zealand, to the president and council of Friese, and
to the Escoulet of Mechelen, to the president and members of the council of Utrecht, and
to all other justiciaries and officers whom it may concern, to the lieutenants all and
every of them, to cause this our ordinance to be published and proclaimed throughout their
respective jurisdictions, in the usual places appointed for that purpose, that none may
plead ignorance. And to cause our said ordinance to be observed inviolably, punishing the
offenders impartially and without delay; for so it is found expedient for the public good.
And, for better maintaining all and every article hereof, we give to all and every one of
you, by express command, full power and authority. In witness whereof we have hereunto set
our hands and seals, dated in our assembly at the Hague, the six and twentieth day of
July, 1581, indorsed by the orders of the states-general, and signed J. De Asseliers.
