I send herewith to your Higli Mightinesses the Di-fence of mine office, likewise the behavior of the Director, also proofs of the godless, forsworn Cornelia van Tienhoven who brags here that your High Mig^.tinesses had forbidden him to leave, and even has gone so far as to despise your High Mightinesses' authority. 1 should have gone over in person, but am burdened with a wife and four children, and advised even by the public not to depart; I have resolved to remain until further order praying your High Mightinesses to be pleased to pay attention to my Defence. Should no provision be made for the government here, many of the most excellent citizens will have to go away. Should the Director remain, and the perjured Tienhoven who is a second Grandvelle' to the Director, 'tis to be feared that the country will at once be ruined; which God forbid. Referring further to the annexed Defence aforesaid, I remain, Your High Mightinesses' Most Obedient Servant, ( Signed ) H. van Dvck, Fiscal. I pray God Almighty to be pleased to continue your High Mightinesses in a long and blessed government. Manathans, IS'" 7"" A" lG-52. ' Antoisk Pereenot, Cardinal de Granvelle, was Minister to Charles V., and afterwards to Philip II., Kin? of Spain; also, Prime Minister of Margaret of Parma, Regent of the Low Countries. So great was liis influence over Phi ip, that the King could do nothing without him. Divers autliors accuse him unju.stly of being partly the cause of the trouhles in the Low Countries. He died at Madrid, 21 September, 1586, aged 70 years. Moreri. Gravde Dictionnaire HUtmique, V., 137. His connection with the historj of the United Netherlands, and his influence over Philip, will explain tlie familiar use of his name in the text. -- Ed.