On 15 March 1579 Phillip II of Spain offered generous rewards to potential assassins of William of Orange, who had initiated in 1572 the Dutch War of Independence against Spain. The fanatic Catholic Balthazar Gerard, on 10 July 1584, succeeded in carrying out the order by shooting and mortally wounding William.

It is well known to all how favorably the late emperor, Charles V, . . . treated William of Nassau. . . Nevertheless, as everyone knows, we had scarcely turned our back on the Netherlands before the said William (who had become . . . prince of Orange) began . . . by sinister arts, plots, and intrigues . . . to gain [control] . over those whom he believed to be malcontents, or haters of justice, or anxious for innovations,(and . . . Above all, those who were suspected in the matter of religion . . . With the knowledge, advice and encouragement of the said Orange, the heretics commenced to destroy the images...