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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 February 2012
Elbertus Leoninus, born in Gelderland, was a professor of law at Louvain and one of the delegates of the States General at the negotiations for the Pacification of Ghent (Document 23). He was a member of the Council of State under Matthias in 1578 and delivered in April 1579 the following address to the States General. His thinking was so exclusively political that he did not even mention the religious issue.
From His Highness's proposition Your Honours have sufficiently realised that the need of the country has come to such an unhappy pass that in none of your previous meetings so much distress or such great difficulties have been represented to you as at this time. In former times the general assemblies of the country gathered to bid a new lord or prince a joyous welcome or to see the late emperor, Charles V, blessed be his memory, resign the provinces to his son and heir, their prince or for similar purposes. At that time the provinces were at peace with each other and were flourishing. But nowadays the States assemble in very dangerous and alarming times when the provinces are disarrayed, harassed, ruined, engaged in war and oppressed by the Spaniards and other enemies. This present meeting has been called to give advice and take measures to protect our lives, possessions, wives and children from the danger which is threatening us and to avert eternal, unbearable slavery and the complete ruin of the provinces.
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