old, to give to his country what help is in his power in such a crisis, and not to withhold anything that in his conscience he believes to be vital to the welfare of the land and the good name of its Master.
There is no reason to be amazed, much less to fly to arms, because a large part of the inhabitants of this country embrace and profess opinions contrary to those of their rulers; for history shows us that this has arisen in all kingdoms, and especially in such as combine many monarchies, different countries and states under one sovereign, as are those of His Majesty. These Netherland States are so surrounded by others which have changed their religion, that, even if they had never till now heard of any but the Catholic, they could not be long without change, seeing how much frequented by foreigners is this land. To forbid aliens access is impossible, for they make the prosperity of the country; and, together with wars, camps, garrisons, and public preachings, to say nothing of the actual doings of churchmen, there is nothing surprising in the spread of the new views. But we ought to reflect on the warnings given us, when we look round on other countries that have changed their religion and endured religious wars, how they have suffered extreme desolation, and have passed through all kinds of calamities and horrors, to the ruin of the land and the loss of authoriiy to the Prince.
The first thing to be done is to induce the King to confirm the concessions made by the Regent to the Confederates. They have served to allay the agitation, and have caused the people to lay down their arms; and the result would have been greater, but for the fear that the King intends to revoke these concessions, and is levying horse and foot, here and abroad, to enable him to undo all that has been gained. It is useless to patch up the peace of one district whilst disturbances break out in another. We must have a general and final settlement. Our country cannot form a world of its own, isolated from its neighbours. There is no land in Christendom more completely dependent on a friendly understanding with the nations around us. Our interests point to connection with the Empire, rather than with any other state, and we should assimilate our institutions to those of the Empire, saving the rights and privileges of His Majesty in Spain. If the Emperor Maximilian were to mediate between the two religions, and were to obtain a general amnesty for the past, a complete pacification might result. And this might became the basis of a perpetual League for guaranteeing the neutralisation of this country, the common
