Texts concerning the Revolt of the Netherlands

52 Remonstrance of His Excellency at Antwerp to the States, 1 December 1581 ¹

The prince of Orange delivered this discourse to the deputies of the States General at Antwerp where he was again residing. Since Archduke Matthias' departure in the summer of 1581 the States General had governed the country themselves, while awaiting the arrival of the new sovereign Francis of Anjou. As lieutenant-general of the Union the prince of Orange had retained some vague authority shared with the General Council, which had meanwhile been established.

I will not conceal from you, gentlemen, that next year we shall get into even greater trouble for much the same reasons. For two months have passed already, it is now winter, two full months since the States should have assembled in this town and yet to all appearances we shall not see

1 Remonstrance faict par Son Excellence en Anvers ce premier iour de decembre à messieurs les Estatz (Knuttel, no. 579).

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them here soon and they will not establish order in our affairs. They act as if we had no enemy at all! Nevertheless we can hear even in this distant place the cannon which are battering Tournay² and, as it were, visualise the assaults made upon that city. And yet (blind as we are) we take no notice of the surprises which the enemy is preparing for us for the coming year. This negligence, gentlemen, is a tremendous evil. It is caused not so much by lack of understanding or of industry, but by the fact that everyone has his private rather than the public interest at heart. With regard to the people, I am conscious that the cause of this evil is that they do not understand that this war is their war. As if we were not fighting for their freedom and for their freedom of conscience! And this is why they react to requests to provide the financial means without which neither I nor any one else would be able to wage this war, in the same way as they did to requests made by the late emperor.³ They should realise, however, that if the means to carry on the war are absent, it is not me who is without them but they themselves and that if they say: ‘we do not wish to contribute more’, this means: ‘we wish to give up the country and the religion’. I do not say this because I am eager to obtain public money. As you know, I have never taken possession of any of it even though some detractors who really knew better said I did. I say this to make you understand once and for all, gentlemen, that the war being fought in this country is your war, and that during your discussions you should remember that you are discussing only your own business. And, as we have a common cause, we must be united. So far we have never achieved unity. Each province has its own council, almost every town and every province has its own army and its own money, with the result that resources which would in total be considerable, are fragmented. It is true that a council has been established⁴ but it has no power and if it has no authority, how could it supervise military discipline, finances, justice and everything else? And as to authority, people who have not a farthing to spend, like myself and the council, will never possess authority. This, gentlemen, is a short analysis of the mistakes we have made, and in which we continue. To exculpate myself, I tell you these will ruin us, unless God by His grace provides a solution. And yet I pray you to listen to me and to pass on my advice to the whole people, so that they will not blame me for what has gone

2 Tournai was conquered by Parma's troops on 30 November 1581, the day before this meeting.

3 Charles V before 1555.

4 The general executive council that was to govern the country in co-operation with the duke of Anjou.

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wrong. However, if you yourselves are willing to exert yourselves to improve the situation, you will learn by experience that I will spare no effort to help you (as I feel obliged to). The matter is very urgent and you must act quickly for the government, which you and the States have established, will not last longer than the end of January. Then there will be no governor at all in the country, unless you make other provisions.