# Renewal Of The Previous Bloody Decrees Of Emperor Charles V., Against The Baptists Or So-Called Anabaptists, By Philip Ii., King Of Spain, A. D. 1556. · Page 1 of 2

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Up to this time, Emperor Charles V. was alone,
or at least chiefly responsible for the shedding of
the blood of the saints in the Netherlands, as also
for the most cruel tyrannies which, through the instrumentality
531of the Inquisition, and through what
followed afterwards, were inflicted upon them, by
fire, water, sword, and otherwise; but in this year,
his son, Philip II., King of Spain, following in his
father’s footsteps (instead of lightening the constraint
of conscience) caused all the previous bloody
and cruel decrees which his father had issued against
the so-called heretics, to be renewed and confirmed,
especially the most cruel decree published on the
25th of September, 1550, the contents of which we
have reserved until the present time, but will now,
as renewed A. D. 1556, adduce here, however not
with all its particulars, but only so far as it was directed
(principally) against the Anabaptists and
their doctrine.

In the book in which the prince of Orange, William
I., defends himself against the false charges,
which his adversaries sought unjustly to bring
against him, printed 1569, mention of this is made
(p. 165, letter L. VI.), in the following words.

Of the ordinances and decrees made for all times,
and for general observance, and proclaimed
everywhere, from the 25th of September,
1550, and renewed and confirmed by
his Royal Majesty in the year 1556.

We likewise forbid all lay persons, and others, to
converse or dispute concerning the holy Scriptures,
whether openly or secretly, especially in doubtful
and difficult matters; or to teach, expound or interpret
the holy Scriptures to others, unless they [who
do so] be theologians and versed in divinity and
spiritual law, and approved by some notable university,
or others authorized thereto by the ordinary
of the place; be it well understood, however, that
this is not to be regarded as relating to those who
simply and exclusively converse together on the
aforesaid holy Scriptures, adducing thereto the expositions
of holy and approved doctors; but to
those who, in order to seduce others, or to teach
and instruct them in that which is forbidden, maintain
and teach, contrary to the ordinances of our
mother, the holy church, evil and false propositions
and doctrines, who are notoriously considered heretics;
or to preach, defend, allege or maintain,
openly or secretly, any doctrines of the aforementioned
authors.

On pain, that if any be found to have acted contrary
to any of the above stated points, they shall
be punished as seditious persons, and disturbers of
our realm and the common peace, and be executed
as such:

Namely, the men with the sword, and the women
buried alive; that is, if they will not maintain or defend
their errors; but if they persist in their errors,
opinions, or heresies, they are to be executed with
fire; and in every case all their property is declared
confiscated, and forfeited for our benefit.

And as regards what we had ordained in our
previous decrees and our last ordinances, that from
the day they had acted contrary thereto, or had
fallen into the aforesaid errors, they should be disqualified
from disposing of their property, and that
all alienations, gifts, cessions, sales, conveyances,
transfers, testaments, or last wills, made and executed
by them from said day on, should be null,
invalid and void.

Again (page 168): Since many, from our aforesaid
countries, suspected of heresy, especially of the
sect of the Anabaptists, change their place of abode,
to infect the simple in places where their character
is not known; we, in order to guard against this,
will, ordain, and decree, that none of the inhabitants
of our aforesaid Netherlands, of whatever state,
quality or condition he be, shall be admitted or received
into any city or village, of said countries,
there to live, except he bring with him a certificate
from the parish-priest of the place where he last
resided.

Which certificate he shall be obliged to show and
deliver into the hands of the principal officer of the
city or village where he intends to live; on pain that
those who do not bring such certificates shall not be
admitted there to live.

And we charge the officers diligently to inform
themselves with regard to them, and to proceed
therein as shall be proper, without our aforesaid
officers, or the particular lords, and their officers,
being permitted to grant such persons any pass or
safe conduct.

Again (page 171): That all who have knowledge
of any that are tainted with heresy, shall be bound,
immediately and without delay to accuse, report,
and indicate them to all spiritual judges, deputies of
the bishops, and other proper persons.



## Original source

[Read this passage on Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/65855/pg65855-images.html#Page_531)

[Edition details](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65855)

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