Declaration of Independence, Dutch.
The following is the text of the declaration of the States
General of the United Provinces, setting forth that Philip II.
had forfeited his right of sovereignty over the said provinces, promulgated at
The Hague, July 26, 1581:
The States General of the United Provinces of the Low Countries, to all whom it may concern, do by these Presents send greeting:
As 'tis 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 defence.
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 defence 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
[
50]
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 with the
King of
Spain after the demise of the
Emperor, his father, Charles the Fifth, of 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 counsellors, I 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 counsellors, 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 counsellors, 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 shewing 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
[
51]
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's 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 fore-mentioned 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 shew of reason to use arms and violences, 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 (shewing 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 inhumane cruelties is looked upon as one of its greatest enemies, accompanied with counsellors 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 respects, as expecting no less from him than tenderness 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 garrisons 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 pretence 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 defence 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 outlawries, and had their estates confiscated, so that the poor subjects could make no use of their fortresses nor be assisted by their princes in defence 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
[
52]
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 ten the 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 manufactury, 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 espoused the liberty of their country.
Soon after the provinces of
Holland and Zealand for the most part revolted, putting themselves under the protection of the
Prince of
Orange, against which provinces the said duke during his government, and the great commander (whom the
King sent to these countries, not to heal the evil, but to pursue the same tyrannical courses by more secret and cautious methods) who succeeded him, forced the provinces, who by garrisons and citadels were already reduced under the
Spanish yoke, both with their lives and fortunes to conquer them, shewing no more mercy to those they employ to assist them than if they had been enemies, permitting the Spaniards, under pretence of mutiny, to enter the city of
Antwerp forcibly, in the sight of the great commander, and to live there at discretion for the space of six weeks at the expense of the inhabitants, and obliging them (to be free from Spanish violence) to furnish the sum of four hundred thousand florins for the payment of the troops.
After which the said troops, made more insolent by the connivance of their commanders, proceeded to open violence, endeavoring first to surprise the city of
Brussels,
the prince's usual residence, to be the magazine of their plunder; but, not succeeding in that, they took by force the town of
Alost, and after that surprised and forced Maestricht, and soon after the said city of
Antwerp, which they plundered and burnt, and massacred the inhabitants in a most barbarous manner, to the irreparable loss not only of the citizens, but to all nations who had any effects there.
And notwithstanding the said
Spaniards had been, by the council of state (upon which the
King, after the decease of the great commander, had conferred the government of the country) in the presence of
Jeronimo de Rhoda, declared enemies to the States, by reason of their outrageous violences, nevertheless the said
Rhoda, upon his own authority (or as it is imagined) by virtue of certain private instructions which he might possibly have received from
Spain, undertook to head the Spaniards and their accomplices, and to use the
King's name (in defiance of the said council) and authority, to counterfeit the great seal, and act openly as governor and lieutenant-general, which gave occasion to the States at the same time to agree with the aforesaid
Prince of
Orange, in conjunction with the provinces of
Holland and Zealand, which agreement was approved by the said council of state (as the only legal governors of the country), to declare war unanimously against the Spaniards as their common enemy, to drive them out of the country; at the same time, like good subjects, making use of all proper applications, humbly petitioning the
King to have compassion on account of the calamities already suffered, and of the greater expected hourly, unless his majesty would withdraw his troops, and exemplarily punish the authors of the plundering and burning of our principal cities as some small satisfaction to the distressed inhabitants, and to deter others from committing the like violences.
Nevertheless, the
King would have us believe that all this was transacted without his knowledge, and that he intended to punish the authors, and that for the future
[
53]
we might expect all tenderness and clemency, and as a gracious prince would give all necessary orders to procure the public peace.
And yet he not only neglected to do us justice in punishing the offenders; that, on the contrary, it is plain all was done by orders concerted in the council of
Spain; for soon after the letters were intercepted directed to
Rhoda and other captains, who were the authors of all our miseries, under the
King's own hand, in which he not only approves of their proceedings, but even praises and promises them rewards, and particularly to the said
Rhoda as having done him singular services, which he performed to him and to all the rest who were ministers of his tyranny, upon his return to
Spain.
And, the more to blind his subjects, he sent at the same time
Don John, his natural brother, as of his blood, to govern these countries, who under pretence of approving the treaty of
Ghent confirming the promise made to the States of driving out the Spaniards, of punishing the authors of the disturbances, of settling the public peace, and of re-establishing their ancient liberties, endeavored to divide the said estates in order to enslave one after another, which was soon after discovered by the providence of God, who is an enemy to all tyranny, by certain intercepted letters, from which it appeared that he was charged by the
King to follow the instructions of
Rhoda; and, the better to conceal this fraud, they were forbidden to see one another, but that he should converse friendly with the principal lord of the country, that, gaining them over to his party, he might by their assistance reduce
Holland and Zealand, after which the other provinces would be easily subdued.
Whereupon
Don John, notwithstanding his solemn promise and oath, in the presence of all the aforesaid States, to observe the pacification of
Ghent, and other articles stipulated 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 John, sufficiently declared by the
Baron de Selles that he would not allow the pacification of
Ghent, the which
Don John 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 and inhabitants 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
[
54]
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 defence, 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 rights 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 counsellors 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 till 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, contreseal, 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 halves 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, and lords of the provincial council, and all presidents, accountant-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
[
55]
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 counsellors, justiciaries, and officers employed in these provinces, who have contracted in our name with his highness the Serenisme,
Duke of Anjou, an act to continue them in their respective offices, instead of new commissions, a clause annulling the former provisionally till the arrival of his highness.
Moreover to all such counsellors, 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 further command the president and members of the privy council, chancellor of the Duchy of Brabant, also the chancellor of the Duchy of Gueldres, and county of Zutphen, to the president and members of the council of
Holland, to the receivers of great officers of Beoosterscheldt and Bewesterscheldt in Zealand, to the president and council of Frise, 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 'tis found expedient for the public good.
And, for better maintaining all and every article hereof, we give to all and every of you, by express command, full power and authority.
In witness wherof 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.
