The representatives of the parties to the Union of Arras already on 8 December 1578 (so before the Declaration of 6 January 1579 was sworn to) agreed on a first draft of the treaty. This was followed by a second draft of 9 January 1579 and a third draft of 6 April 1579. Then on 17 May 1579 the Treaty was signed between the representatives of Parma and the members of the Union of Arras. But still the negotiations had not ended and Parma succeeded to wrest a number of further concessions from the treaty partners, which resulted in the version of 12 September 1579, which was ratified by king Philip and promulgated in Mons. This differs on appreciable and important points from the treaty as signed on 17 May.[Note 1]
Main provisions of the treaty, as signed on 17 May 1579
The provisions of the Pacification of Ghent, the Perpetual Edict and the Union of Brussels were reaffirmed, both by the Spanish Crown and the members of the Union of Arras (art. I)
Roman Catholicism was to be maintained by all holders of public office (art. II, XI, XII, XV)
There should be no more garrisons of foreign or mercenary troops, either paid by Spain or by the States General (art. V)
All prisoners of war would be released (art. IX)[Note 2]
The Council of State should be organized as in the time of Charles V
Two thirds of the council members should be installed by all States of the member provinces consenting (art. XVI)
All privileges that were in force at the time of the reign of Charles V should be reinstated
Taxes imposed after the reign of Charles V were to be abolished (art. XX)
^See for a table of all articles of all drafts and versions of the treaty (in the original French text) Bussemaker, Tweede Deel, pp. 471-497
^Special mention was made in this article of the eldest son of Orange, Philip William, Prince of Orange as the "Count of Buren" for whom the governor of Lille, Adrien d'Ognies would plead with the king to have him returned to the Netherlands after his abduction to Spain in 1568. But the young man was not released. The provision is not part of art IX of the treaty as ratified by Philip II on 12 September 1579; Cf. Paix d'Arras