William of Orange was one of the prominent leaders of the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule in the sixteenth century. In March 1580, following the union of the rebellious provinces the previous year, Philip II of Spain declared William an outlaw and placed a bounty on his head for 25,000 crowns. In response, William issued an Apology in 1581, in which he defended his actions and made personal attacks on the character of the Spanish king. Although purporting to be by William, it was probably written by his political advisor Pierre Loyseleur de Villiers (c. 1530-90). The original text was likely used by Loyseleur to gain the support of François, Duke of Anjou, the brother of the French king, Henri III, to give military support to the Dutch. Anjou attempted to capture Antwerp from the Spanish in 1583 but his forces were massacred by the local militia, and he was forced to flee. Anjou had little popular support among the Dutch, so his defeat was not lamented. However, William’s attempts to court French favour made him very unpopular in the Netherlands and he was assassinated the following year.

This English translation of the Apology was printed in 1584, following William’s assassination. It bears a false imprint of Delft but was likely printed in London. Elizabeth I would go on to offer her support to the Dutch efforts from 1585.