Historical Context
Manifesto written in response to the royal ban of outlawry published by the Spanish king, Felipe II, against the Prince of Orange, which promised a reward of 25,000 crowns and a nobility title to any man who would succeed in capturing or killing him. It is commonly accepted that the author of the Apology's text was the French huguenote Pierre Loyseleur, Lord of Villiers. Written in first person, the text justified Willem van Oranje's course of actions and defended himself of the accusations published by the Spanish monarch.