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History of Protestantism in the Netherlands - James Aitken Wylie

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and make him a mark for all <strong>the</strong> murderers <strong>in</strong><br />

Christendom. But <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dignation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> virtuous<br />

k<strong>in</strong>g call be adequately understood only by<br />

perus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> words <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ban itself. "For <strong>the</strong>se<br />

causes," said <strong>the</strong> document, "we declare him traitor<br />

and miscreant, enemy <strong>of</strong> ourselves and <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

country. As such we banish him perpetually from<br />

all our realms, forbidd<strong>in</strong>g all our subjects..... to<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>ister to him victuals, dr<strong>in</strong>k, fire, or o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

necessaries......We expose <strong>the</strong> said William as an<br />

enemy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> human race, giv<strong>in</strong>g his property to all<br />

who may seize it. And if any one <strong>of</strong> our subjects, or<br />

any stranger, should be found sufficiently generous<br />

<strong>of</strong> heart to rid us <strong>of</strong> this pest, deliver<strong>in</strong>g him to us,<br />

dead or alive, or tak<strong>in</strong>g his life, we will cause to be<br />

furnished to him, immediately after <strong>the</strong> deed shall<br />

have been done, <strong>the</strong> sum <strong>of</strong> twenty-five thousand<br />

crowns <strong>of</strong> gold. If he have committed any crime,<br />

however he<strong>in</strong>ous, we promise to pardon him; and if<br />

he be not already noble we will ennoble him for his<br />

valor."<br />

The dark, revengeful, cowardly, and<br />

bloodthirsty nature <strong>of</strong> Philip II. appears <strong>in</strong> every<br />

487

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