He reminded the magistrates of that city that these peaceful burghers were always perfectly willing to bear their part in all the common burthens, that their word was as good as their oath, and that as to the matter of military service, although their principles forbade them to bear arms, they had ever been ready to provide and pay for substitutes.

"We declare to you therefore," said he, "that you have no right to trouble yourselves with any man's conscience, so long as nothing is done to cause private harm or public scandal.

We therefore expressly ordain that you desist from molesting these Baptists, from offering hindrance to their handicraft and daily trade, by which they can earn bread for their wives and children, and that you permit them henceforth to open their shops and to do their work, according to the custom of former days.

Beware, therefore, of disobedience and of resistance to the ordinance which we now establish." Meantime, the armies on both sides had been assembled, and had been moving towards each other.

Don John was at the head of nearly thirty thousand troops, including a large proportion of Spanish and Italian veterans.