Further Observation, in the Year 1619

When the mandate just mentioned had been drawn up, and properly delivered by order of their High Mightinesses, there was hope that it would be obeyed, and that the peace desired would thereby be accomplished; but through the meddling of envious and spiteful persons this hope was frustrated. For in spite of that mandate, men sought grounds on which the liberty of the people just named might be annulled, as if justly, and their peace disturbed.

This purpose was served, or at least used, by a certain ordinance decreed in July of the year 1619, by order of their Excellencies, the lords in power, against certain individuals. Though this ordinance had no reference whatever to the Anabaptists, their assembling and their religious worship were prohibited. So they again turned with humble petitions to the High Mightinesses of the United Netherlands, asking to be delivered from this disturbance of their peace, and freely permitted (as had been ordained before) to practice their religion. Another mandate followed, to the governor of Sluys and to the bailiff and magistrates of Aerdenborgh. It read as follows:

The States, and so on, to the Lord of Haultain, Governor of Sluys and the adjacent parts, and also to the Bailiff and Magistrates of the city of Aerdenborgh.

Noble, august, honorable, dear, particular: We send you here the enclosed request presented to us on behalf of the members of the community called Mennonites or Anabaptists, living in Aerdenborgh, who complain that they are disturbed in the free exercise of their religion, which we have granted them in that city, and that you do this under the pretext of the decree issued by us on the 3rd of July last. We have therefore deemed it necessary to inform you and explain to you that it is not our intention that the petitioners be included in that decree of the 3rd of July, but that the petitioners shall retain, enjoy, and continue in that freedom in the exercise of their religion in Aerdenborgh, just as they have had and enjoyed it before. We therefore charge you to govern yourselves accordingly, without troubling the petitioners any further, since they are to follow our previous concession and resolution. On this we shall rely, and we commend you to the high protection of the Almighty. From the Hague, the 16th of November, 1619.

This agrees with the minutes kept in the rolls of their High Mightinesses. Signed,

N. RUYSCH.