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First
Fragment :
Below
is the first fragment of the Act of Abjuration (we start with the
second paragraph of the document.).
To study this text in more detail, click the underlined words or phrases
and an explanation will appear in a new screen - often there will also
be one or more questions for you to answer.
After
the death of the >emperor
Charles V who is remembered with respect and who left
>all these Netherlands
to him, >the king of
Spain forgot the services which these countries and
subjects had rendered his father and himself and which made
it possible for him to achieve such glorious victories over
>his enemies
that his fame and power came to be talked of and respected throughout
the world; similarly he forgot the admonitions made by His Imperial
Majesty in the past and lent his ear to and put his trust in
members of the >Council
of Spain which was at his side. These persons, most
of whom knew of the wealth and the power of these countries,
envied them and their liberty, because they could not be made
governors of them or acquire high office in them as they could
in the kingdoms of Naples and Sicily, in Milan and the Indies
and other places within the king's realm. This Council of Spain
or some of its most prominent members repeatedly remonstrated
with the king, asserting that it would be better for his reputations
and majesty if he conquered these territories again so that
he might >rule them
freely and absolutely (that is, tyrannise over them
at his will) instead of >governing
them according to the conditions and under such restrictions
as he had been bound on oath to agree when he took over the
sovereignty of these countries. Ever since, on their advice
the king had been trying to deprive these countries of their
ancient freedom and to bring them into slavery under Spanish
rule.
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