apart But though I read the other almost in all writers yet what the words of the Charter should be whereby the King obliged himself so as that he could not augment the number of Bishops I find in no Historian For what some write that the King swears at his Coronation not to encrease the State Ecclesiasticall is not an ingenuous allegation because the Prince onely swears to that kind of encrease whereby he promises not to suffer the Clergy to receive the goods of Laymen which they call Mortmains but upon certain conditions This is far from the point in controversie therefore I held it fit to march further into their records where I found one Clause that seems to make against the increasing the number of Bishops Which condition of their priviledges unless I had resolved to be a faithful Historian I might safely have concealed because they themselvs do not mention it that have I am sure written many things in mere malice to the Spaniard For King Philip being created Duke of Brabant by his father Charles the fifth among divers Priviledges which in the Act of the Ioyfull Entry he bestowed upon that Province inserts this clause That hereafter he will not suffer any to entrench upon the Offices Lands or Goods of Abbots Bishops or other religious persons within the Dukedome of Brabant under the name of a Commendum But whilst by the Kings procurement Bishops were entituled to the reversions of Monasteries after the Abbots deceases the Brabanters seemed to have their Priviledges broken and the people had occasions offered that the proceedings which every one hated for his private benefit they might all in publick fairly declaim against by the name of Breach of Priviledge Some therefore wondered what was in the Kings mind or counsel to bring in new Bishops make a thing displeasing of it self far more distastfull and odious by taking their estates from the Monasteries And therefore they further said That if the King proceeded to violate the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject the Brahanters had cause to defend themselves and that the Prince ought to remember that when he made their Charter he articled They should pay him no subjection or obedience if he entirely performed not to them his Oath and Protestations Yet some there were of a contrary opinion and by how much they saw the King endeavour it with lesse benefit and greater danger to himself so much the more they commended his sincere religion who in this business looked upon nothing but the good of his people And indeed What was there apparent that men could justly blame the encrease of the number of the Bishops or of their maintenance As if the Bishop of Rome might not do that in the Low-countreys which he had done in Germany and in France between which two Nations in the middle lieth the Netherlands Did not Boniface Bishop of Mentz Legate for the See Apostolick in Germany when the multitude of Christians abounded in some places by the authority of the Popes Cregory the third and Zachary adde three new Bishops to the former The very like cause there was among other reasons for doing the same in the Low-countreys But what motive was in France the sacred jurisdiction of the Bishop of Tholouse was so large that one Pastor could not possible see the faces of all his Diocese and therefore it was divided into five Episcopall Sees by Iohn the 22 not onely no care taken of the Bishops of Narbon Bourges or Cahors out of whose estates both the Church of Tholouse and some of these new ones were endowed but the Bishop of Tholouse must of necessity loose much of his revenues by the division of his then rich Diocese That the neighbour Bishops ought not to have been called to Rome and heard in a business of this nature their reasons for it being onely their own profit and power is sufficiently apparent Nor were the grievances of the Lords built upon a much better ground that is they were discontented that they should be limited in their bold disputes about Religion and Monarchy by the unwelcome presence of the Prelates whom they ought to honour as Fathers and Princes of the Church and to fear them as Revengers of Sacriledge For when they alledged that they doubted the Bishops would be evil Counsellours and bandy against the King it was a pretence to cozen children with they doubted themselves that if they should appear against the King they should have these men for witnesses and adversaries that had received and hoped for more from his Majesty then ever the Abbors did Then the complaints of the Abbots and Monks were somewhat more then became them It was not without precedent that a Bishop should succeed in the place of an Abbot Let them look upon France they shall find that Iohn the xxii indowed the Bishops of Condom Vabrince and Lâ—mbere to name no more with Monastery lands And if there should want an example yet when it was granted to a Prince by the Pope that may command the Monks they might have been so modest as to teach others obedience to his Holiness They might have remembred most of their Mannors and Lordships were the bounty of the Belgick Princes which made it seem more just so as the King not making his own use or advantage of the profits thereof but onely employing them for the good and benefit of those Provinces the Abbots themselves ought to have been as willing as the Prince and contributed to the necessity of the people by so much more freely by how much that Care is more proper to a religious life and not with unseasonable exclamations have corrupted a good designe stirred up the people and alienated the Popes and the Kings mind from their patronage For the great grievance that the King had broke their Priviledges First they did not sufficiently understand the difference between a Commendum and the Annexion of Church-livings A Commendum being in the nature of a thing deposited the other given as to an absolute Lord. And therefore Commendums if the possessour die revert to the depositor as the Lord Paramount unless they be passed over to another by a new Commendum but such as are annexed do not revert but remain for ever to the Successour in that Office to which they are appendent For which reasons there is no more taken from Monasteries by annexing then was by giving them in Commendum because that which is annexed doth no more revert to Monasteries then that which was commended forasmuch as what was once commended is conferred again from one to another by the Pope to whom it reverts Nay whereas Church-livings may be commended to non-residents that cannot which is annexed to a Bishoprick For herein Religion requires the Bishops presence farre more then a Commendum so as what might have come by a Commendum to a forreiner by Annexion was retained in the
attemps as I conceive moved the Governess to consult how the Decrees of the Councell of Trent against Hereticks lately brought into the Low-countreys some of which were not yet clearly expounded might be there observed For the King having many times wrote letters to her wherein he shewed himself displeased with the Hereticks boldnesse and the connivence of the Bishops and having commanded his fathers Edict to be revived which had long lyen dormant the judgement being translated to Ecclesiasticall persons The Governess replyed that although it would be very seasonable in regard that many of the new judges and inquisitours had not been more ambitious of their places then timerous in them yet she said the Edict could not possibly be executed if the Councell of Trent were received by authority whereof the cognizance of these causes was transferred to the Ecclesiasticall Tribunall Besides that when Pope Pius had spent the most part of this year one thousand five hundred sixty four in proposing and bringing in the decrees of the Councel earnestly commending their use and patronage to Christian Princes it pleased the King of Spain to be the first that gave his assent not onely out of his Majesties native piety but likewise because that Councell was called at the request of his father Charles the fifth when he was at Rome and therefore he conceived the maintenance thereof descended upon him by inheritance But whilst his Majestie first took order to establish the Councel in Spain and then wrote to his sister to do the like in the Low-countreys something happened at Rome which it was thought would alienate the Kings mind from the Pope and consequently that no farther regard would be had of the Councel either in Spain or the Low-countreys For there was an accidentall Dispute in the Councel of Trent whether the French or Spanish Embassadour should take place this would not indure the other should precede him nor would he suffer this to his equall The controversie was for that present time composed the Spanish Embassadour being honourably seated apart from all the rest But when the Councel was ended upon the desire of Lodwick Requesenes King Philips Resident at Rome that the precedencie might be determined Pope Pius it being in re odiosa first began to put it off and then advised Requesenes to give over the contest finally he perswaded them severally and in private to referre the cause wholly to the sacred Colledge of Cardinals in the mean time they were to forbear the ceremonie of coming to the Popes Chappell his Holinesse supposing the contrary factions of the Cardinals would be a means to make the suit depend for a long time and free him of the necessitie and so of the envie of giving sentence For as he said very handsomely a Prince should imitate Iupiter who according to the old tradition of the Thuscan Soothsayers hath two kinds of thunder-bolts the prosperous he himself useth to shoot but for the unfortunate he calls a Councel of the Gods Notwithstanding when mens minds are inflamed they are like horses at full speed hard to be stopped and both the Embassadours took it ill that the Pope so delayed them especially Henry Ossellie King Charles his Resident who thought himself by this means in a manner equalized especially fearing least the contention might be ended now as formerly it had been in Ferdinand the Emperours Court where it was resolved the French and Spanish Embassadours should take place of each other by turns which caused the French Embassadour to leave the Emperours Court and this perhaps might be a president for the Court of Rome But the Pope that the ceremonies in his Chappel might not any more be intermitted at last upon the sacred day of Pentecost commanded that next the Imperiall the French Embassadour should take place Whereat Requesenes in a fury after he had in the Popes presence taken publick notice of the injury in his masters name by his Majesties command left Rome This businesse held many in suspence what king Philip would do particularly concerning the Councel of Trent which the Pope was so earnest with him to settle in his Dominions and it exceedingly troubled the Dutchess of Parma because she governed the Low-countreys which among all his Maâ—esties Dominions lay most open to the invasion of Hereticks and therefore the Pope most of all desired that the Councel should be first established there The Governesse therefore doubtfully exspected the Kings pleasure in his next letters and withall was somewhat more slack in punishing Hereticks and some were absolutely of opinion the Councel of Trent should be no more heard of in the Low-countreys This rejoyced the Hereticks who jeered the wisdome of the Pope that found so seasonable a time to provoke the Spaniard by whom if the Councel were refused what Kingdome would obey the Canons made at Trent Though some upon the same premises concluded otherwise and said the Popes justice was not shaken either by hope or fear nor did they doubt of the Kings piety and constancie or that a private offence could move him to put the Councell out of his Protection which if he should do the French would not fail to undertake it if it were but onely because the Spaniard had rejected it And behold Letters came from King Philip which acquainted the Governess that the Dispute was ended but farre otherwise then he conceived the equity of his cause or his observance to the Pope deserved That he had therefore called away his Embassadour from Rome where he might not appear with honour that being the last private businesse he was likely to have with his Holinesse but for the publick or his service and obedience to the Pope and the holy Apostolick See from which he would never depart he had commended those to Cardinall Paceco Patron of the Spanish at Rome with whom she should hereafter transact all businesse appertaining to the designation of Bishops and establishment of Religion for defence whereof as likewise for propounding and imposing the Councel of Trent upon the Low-countreys it was fit her care and endeavours should not be slacked upon any cause whatsoever And indeed the King having thus declared himself she would easily have brought it in if she had not stumbled at the threshold For desiring the advice of those that had the care of souls and of the greatest Casâ—ists in the Universities and likewise putting it to the suffrage of the Senate they voted against the Councel and advised her not to propound the Decrees containing certain heads repugnant to Monarchy and the Priviledges of the Subject unlesse the said heads were excepted And this they urged more freely and peremptorily because they imagined such confidence could not but be acceptable to the King which under the pretence of liberty served the Princes ends and yet excâ—sed the Prince from any fault But the King whom the Governess in every thing
libertie his offices and the Kings favour And the King of Navarre as nearer to the Crown by the prerogative of his bloud was declared Constable of France the Guises on the contrary falling as much from their authority The Hugonots increased in number and licentiousness and were by so much the more audacious by how much they conceived it would be more acceptable to the great Constable of France who by these troubles hoped to recover his wife's portion the Kingdome of Navar. But to case him of that care and the Hugonots of their confidence Advices were privately sent out of the Low-countreys by Cardinall Granvell to his brother Cantonet Prospero de sancta Cruce came Embassadour to France from Pope Pius the fourth and looking into the King of Navarres designs he was of opinion the man was not troubled so much about Religion as about the getting of a Kingdome and therefore might be drawn from favouring the Hugonots if he might have some hope given him of coming to the Kingdome by another means Wherein Sancta Cruz meant to sound the King of Navarre But first he acquainted Thomas Cantonet the Spanish Embassadour and he communicated it to his brother Cardinall Granvell Then Sancta Cruz proposes to the Constable what had formerly been agitated the restitution of Navarre and undertakes if he will but defend the Catholick cause that the Pope shall earnestly solicit King Philip either to resign to him the Kingdome of Navarre or to give him in lieu of it something of equall value and that he doubted not but King Philip whose inclination he had found at his being in Portugall as he came from Spain into France would comply with his Holinesse This often confirmed by Cantonet wonne the King of Navarre who resolved to treat with the Catholick King himself and sent one of his meniall servants Anthony Almeyda a Portugese whom he knew to be gratious with his Countreyman Rui Gomez Prince of Ebora then in greatest favour with the King But Granvell receiving intelligence of these proceedings from his brother Cantonet was very glad for the successe of his design but yet no lesse solicitous as he wrote to the Governess from Machlin what the King would answer to Almeyda because he conceived upon that answer depended the motions of the greatest French affairs He had pre-acquainted Rui Gomez and the Duke of Alva and let them know That it was a nice point and fall of danger in the managery whereof they might trespasse as much by forwardnesse and violence as by security and neglect And therefore he conceived it best to offer the Duke of Bourbon some such thing as if he deserted them might be taken away again After many overtures the Kingdome of Sardinia was proposed to him in King Philips name Whereto was added the Admiralty and a pension to maintain the office Which conditions though some commended as good for both parties because on the one side Sardinia is a greater and richer Kingdome then Navarre and on the other in the midst of King Philips Dominions which at his pleasure might command it Yet some were of another opinion and thought King Philip who was not prodigall of his Kingdomes onely baited him with the hope of Sardinia For to what purpose should the Bourbons be brought into that Island neighbouring upon Sicily and Naples where they might revive their ancient factions in those Kingdomes Neverthelesse the Pope did wisely in moving it whether he hoped to bring it about or understood it to be labour in vain because it would equally conduce to the good of Religion in France whether the King of Navarre was kept from protecting the hereticall party by a true hope or a false And truly by little and little he was so averted from them that he was not altogether so kind as formerly he had been to his wife Ioan Alibret which perhaps made some affirm in writing that the Spanish Embassadour indeavoured it and treated with the King of Navarre to divorce himself from his wife because she was fouly poysoned with heresie and gave him hope of a marriage with Mary Queen of Scots by the help of her Uncles the Guises and that he should have with her the Kingdome of Scotland and likewise all Great Brittain wherein he should be established by the Popes authority and the King of Spains assistance Queen Elisabeth being deposed for heresie But these were either vain rumours or contrived out of envy Nor is there any colour of truth that Granvel or Sancta Cruce could be ignorant that heresie is not a sufficient cause of Divorce or that King Philip would offer the Kingdome of Scotland to one he could not choose but fear because of former enmity in the businesse of the Low-countreys and his power to offend Spain for the future in case he should conquer that whole Island Indeed two years after when there were Treaties between the same Queen of Scots and the Arch-duke Charles sonne to the Emperour Ferdinand and Charles Prince of Spain King Philip writ to Granvel That he was well pleased The Archduke should in that be preferred before his sonne But if the King of France should think of a marriage with her whereof he had some intimation that troubled him not a little then he should willingly consent to a match betwixt his sonne and the Queen Out of which words it may easily be collected What Philips mind was touching the Kingdome of Scotland Nay that the Spanish Embassadour did not so much as pretend the Proposall of that Match to the King of Navarre this assure me because when he communicated all particulars to his brother Granvel as I observe in their letters and often mentioned the business of Sardinia there is not one word of this marriage But be what it may it is certain Alibret incensed against her husband who dayly grew more averse from the Hugonots and wold not hear her when she was a suiter for them in a rage left his Court and withdrew into some Towns of her own The King of Navarre did not so much neglect as his brother the Prince of Conde and the Collignies earnestly imbraced the patronage of the hereticks especially because the Guises were restored to grace and favour at Court. And now such was the face of things not onely at Court And now such was the face of things not onely at Court divided into factions but likewise all the Kingdome over that arms were taken up to maintain the different opinions in Religion and all things seemed to boad a Civill warre To the Prince of Conde and Generall Collignie the hereticks from all parts sent assistance Nor were the Guises and Comestabilis Memorancy lesse ayded by the Catholicks With whom the King of Navarre joyned himself but he was brother to the Prince of Conde the King a child and ignorant of deceit Mean time the Queen mother was
support their Architecture a while which if compleated and able to stand alone then they easily suffer their fictions to grow out of date to be pulled down and cast away like props and scaffolds when the building is brought unto perfection And the Governess knowing it was now no time for delayes sent for as many of the Order as could conveniently attend her for it was Passion week and the major part had retired themselves to make their Confessions in the Monasteries of their own Towns according to the custome of the Nobility and shewed them the Declaration upon sight whereof Count Egmont and Count Mansfeld who were the first that came protested that no part of it was either done or said by their Companions of the Order It was therefore resolved that expedition should be used whilst the multitude had onely a tast of the Errour but had not as yet swallowed down the Falsehood and that they should not expect till the wooll dipt in Ink were made uncapable of another die That the Governours of the Provinces and the Magistrate of every City and Town should be immediately informed of the truth and a copy sent them of the Petition presented by the Covenanters with the Governesses marginall Answer They were likewise to take notice that if any thing else were published by any whatsoever it was to be reputed as the Invention of some seditious persons endeavouring to beget domestick Tumults and accordingly by the Kings Laws and Authority to be punished These Letters though presently sent into the Provinces yet failed to undeceive the people which in many places had already heard and believed the untruth to the great prejudice as I shall presently shew you of the ancient Religion and the Publick peace Which forced the Governess to hasten the Embassie into Spain that was lately voted by the Senate Iohn Glimè Marquess of Bergen and Governour of Haynolt was named for the imployment But he whether his guilty conscience could not brook the Kings presence or whether the trouble of the voyage frighted him at first refused to undertake it then was willing so that another might be put in Commission with him Florence Momorancie Lord of Montiny was therefore joyned with the Marquesse Both of them because they doubted their business would not please the King were suiters to the Governess to dispatch away a Messenger into Spain that should prepare his Majestie with the knowledge of their coming in the interim they resolved so to order and spin out their journey that the Messenger should meet them upon the way with the Kings Letters wherein they might perceive if his Majestie approved of their imployment Notwithstanding all this caution which their ill-presaging minds rather used for their security then for their Honour they escaped not but this Embassage cost them both their lives They had yet other unlucky Omens for two dayes before they set forth the Marquess of Bergen as he walked in the open Court of the Governesse's Palace was hit upon the thigh with a Ball of wood by some playing at Pall Mall and being very grievously hurt kept his bed and was constrained to deferre his journey You would think this good office was done him by his Genius who not contented by other warnings to have pulled him by the ear now laid him by the heels and kept him lockt in fetters to â—inder his unfortunate voyage But what Fate hath ordained for every man is not so easily prevented as foreseen In the mean while the Governesse it concerning her to loose no time got the other Embassadour though against his will to go before the Marquesse of Bergen who should follow as soon as he recovered and to acquaint his Majestie with the state of affairs in the Low-countreys after the Gentlemens petition was delivered To this purpose besides letters instructions and other appendents to an Embassage her Excellence gave him a Book containing in eighteen chapters the principle actions of that year which she left to his Majesties consideration and concluded that onely his presence would with the least hazard settle the Low-countreys Yet before his departure the Governesse as she had promised her two Embassadours sent away Fabius Lembus a Neopolitan an old Courtier and faithfull with private commands and notes wherein she interpreted most of that which she had given in charge to Montiny She sent likewise a copy of Charles the fifth's Edicts somewhat qualifyed in the penalties against Hereticks by advice of the Senatours and Divines likewise signifying that she had shewed that qualification severally to the Estates of the Low-countreys and that by most of them it was approved of yet that she would not publish it nor propound it to the People without his Majesties consent but she earnestly beseeched him to command it and to deferre his intention of establishing the Popes Inquisitours So on the seventeenth of May she dispatched Fabius Lembus thus instructed In ten dayes after Montiny followed and the seventeenth of June was by the King gratiously received at Madrid and divers times had Audience Yet before he could get a determinate Answer he was commanded to exspect his fellow Commissioner the Marquesse of Bergen nor found he the King inclinable to or well pleased with his Embassage Indeed to divert his Majestie from consenting to the Low-countreymens desires though he was of himself sufficiently constant both to Religion and his opinions Pius the fifth interposed his authoritie by whose Nuncio Pedro Camaiono Bishop of Asculum who had an eye upon that Embassie from the Low-countreys his Majestie was continually solicited not to suffer the Catholick Religion to fall in the Low-countreys but that he would personally by force of arms punish the disloyaltie of that turbulent people And for this cause his Holinesse commanded Iulio Pavesio Archbishop of Surrentum whom he sent Legate to the Emperour Maximilian to take the Low-countreys in his way and in his name to set a high commendations upon the Dutchesse of Parma for her zeal to Religion manifested in her Government of the Low-countreys wherein he should incourage her by promising supplies of money from the Pope with his utmost assistance For now a Cause was controverted for which he would not fear to stake his triple Crown Moreover he was to advise with the Governesse about delivering the Popes letters to the Prince of Orange and Count Cuilemburg exhorting the Count to forsake the Hereticks unto whom it was said he adhered and to reconcile himself to the old Religion and admonishing the Prince not to suffer with impunity so many foul things as were committed by Hereticks in his Principality of Orange to the great dammage of all the neighbouring Cities especially Avignion But the Governesse whose counsell the Legate was commanded to follow did not approve of the delivery of the Popes letters to Cuilemburg least as he was a youth of a weak and fantasticall brain he
sing Prayers He often read Saints lives and discoursed of holy things more frequently then he accustomed he washed out the stains of his Conscience by Confession of his sinns and are the bread of Angels though sometimes not fasting for which he had a dispensation by reason of the weakness of his stomack granted by the Pope Nay with a discipline of platted cords so much prevailed the example of others and a mind once conquerour over it self he put himself to constant sharp penance for his former life Which Discipline King Philip ever had in great veneration and a little before his death commanded it to be brought to him and as it was stained in the bloud of Charles his father he sent it to his sonn Philip the third and they say it is still preserved among the pious monuments of the House of Austria Lastly upon occasion of those funerall Obsequies which he celebrated for his Mother on the Anniversary of her decease a new desire set him a longing if it were lawfull to celebrate his own funeralls advising hereupon with Iohn Regula a Father of the Convent and his Confessour when he told him it was though without president yet a pious and meritorious act he commanded immediately that all funerall preparations should be made A Herse was therefore set up in the Church torches lighted and his servants in black stood about it the Service for the dead being mournfully sung by the Religious men He himself surviving his own funeralls beheld in that imaginary last office the true tears of his attendance He heard the Hymn wishing him happy rest among the Saints and he himself singing with them prayed for his own soul till coming near him that officiated and delivering him the torch he held lighted in his hand with eyes lifted up to heaven he said Thou great Iudge of life and death I humbly beseech thee as the Priest takes from me this wax-light I offer so thou at last in thine own good time wilt graciously please to receive my Spirit which I commend into thy hands arms and bosome Then as he was in a loose mourning garment he lay down upon the floor all the Church beginning to weep a fresh and as he had been laid forth to take their last farwell It seems the Emperour by these feigned Rites plaid with approaching death for two dayes after his personated Obsequies he fell into a fever which by little and little consuming him the Archbishop of Toledo gave him all the supplies by the Christian Church appointed for the struggling soul and the Monks that came frequently out of their Cels into his Bed-chamber prayed God to send their Guest a happy convoy to the mansion of the Blessed and on the Eve of the Evangelist S. Matthew in the eight and fiftieth year of his age whereof he onely lived two years with a great sence of Piety and Religion he departed this life His death was attended with conspicuous signes in Heaven and Earth For a while after he sickned there was seen a blazing star in Spain at first somewhat dimm but as his disease increased so it grew in brightness and at last shooting its fiery hair point blank against the Monastery of S. Iustus in the very hour the Emperour died the Comet vanished Nor happened this without admiration in the Emperours garden sprung a Lilly which at the same time put forth two buds The one as it is usuall blowing in the Moneth of May The other though as well watered gave no signe of laying its great belly all the Spring and Summer but that night wherein the Emperours soul put off the garment of his body the Lilly suddenly breaking her Challice with an unseasonable and unexspected Spring began to blow It was likewise observed by all that this Lilly laid upon the high Altar for men to view was received as a happy and white omen Thus Charles the fifth when he had enjoyed his Fathers kingdomes fourty years the Empire six and thirty and himself two after the resignment of all these left it doubtful whether he merited more honour in so long governing the Empire and many Kingdoms or in relinquishing them all together Yet I am not ignorant this Act was then diversly censured and at this day the Emperours resignment is an argument for Rhetoricians to declaim upon in the Schools and Politicians at Court But omitting the conceptions of these men and such builders of Castles in the air I will give you the common and most probable opinions Philip the Second King of Spaine Prince of the Low-countreys Ro Vaughan sculp But whatsoever it was King Philip after his Fathers decease disposing of his new Dominions instead of Mary Queen of Hungary substituted in the government of the Low-Countreys and Burgundy Emmanuel Philibert Duke of Savoy who besides his nearness of bloud to Charles the fifth had given him many proofs of his experience in the Warrs especially in those Provinces against the French Nor were his great abilities less usefull to King Philip in the War that welcomed him to his new Principality For though the Kings Henry and Philip in the beginning of this year by the mediation of Mary Queen of England had made a five years truce at Cambray yet by reason of the Warre flaming between the Pope and King Philip the Truce within the year was broken the Spaniard laying the fault upon the French and the French upon the Spaniard King Henry called into Italy by the Caraffi embraced the specious pretence of protecting the Pope but peradventure he looked not so much upon the cause as upon the issue of the War easily believing he should conquer this new and unexperienced Prince having at more then one Battel overthrown so old a Souldier and so great a Conquerour as his Father And now the French having past the Alps under the Duke of Guise's Command fought for the Pope in Italy and at the same time entring the Low-Countreys under the Conduct of Colligni plundred the Province of Artois Whilest King Philip the Duke of Alva strongly prosecuting his affairs in Italy on the one part prevailed with his Wife to denounce War against King Henry on the other part he commanded Philibert Duke of Savoy to make an introde into France by whose valour and conduct he won that memorable Victory at S. Quintins which put all France into a shaking fit insomuch as the greattest part of their Gentry being prisoners to the Spaniard the rest marched into Italy it was the common fear if the Conquerour came on he would easily possess himself of Paris most of the Townsmen being fled to the neighbouring cities as if the Spaniard were at their gates But King Henry commanding the Duke of Guise out of Italy and raising a great Army which is ordinary in France where the children are bred souldiers he soon interrupted the
had sworn to the priviledges of Brabant and promised not to impose upon the Low-countreymen new forms of Iudicature could have power if the Laws remained in force to compell them to suffer the severity of the Inquisition and those Edicts But these rumours moved not the Governess at all who continued to execute the Law upon offenders And the Councel of Trent then ended was by the Kings command proclaimed in the Low-countreys At which in some places the people openly stormed and rescued condemned persons half dead out of the hangmans hands stealing to conventicles in the City and in the fields Nay many of the Nobility entered into a kind of combination among themselves partly to scatter libels in the streets partly to present petitions to the Governess by great multitudes with such tumult and success that the Emperours Edicts had their edge abated delinquents were pardoned and no one afterwards endeavoured to bring in Censors of faith where they had not formerly been So that nothing was done to oppose the Preaching-men that had broke loose from their hereticall neighbours and in the very market place declaimed against the Catholick Faith To which a company of Boors and rogues presently joyning rushed into the Churches robbed them defaced the sacred Monuments and lastly fell into open rebellion without any Generall then declaring for them but with strange licentiousness force rapine and plunder To this point it was come at last And some affirmed that storm which with a sudden noise prodigiously fell upon the Low-countreyes was raised out of the peoples fury caused by the severity of the Prince who plotting at once to entangle them in so many incoveniences by the Imperiall Edicts Questions of faith and the Councel of Trent had provoked the patience of the Low-countreymen Yet others cleared the King of any fault as not being author of those edicts and questions but onely confirming his Fathers Decrees and those Pontificiâ—nâ—Censors of faith which Charles the fifth had called into the Netherlands And that the King or Emperour when he brought in the Inquisitors had not therefore broken the Low-countrey priviledges by inducing a new form of Judicature because their jurisdiction not being ordinary but onely delegated could not be called a new Judicatory And therefore they highly extolled the Kings religion that respected the authority of the Romane Bishop and the Councels far before the threatnings of his turbulent and seditious subjects nor held it imprudence to be the first that should oblige his dominions to that which had been decreed against heresie by the wisest Fathers of the Christian Common-wealth But farther to prosecute in this place diversitie of mens judgements would argue an ambitious wit especially since I perswade my self all I have hitherto set down did indeed contribute to the Belgick tumults but were not the principall causes of them It is now my purpose clearly to explain those causes to you that such as read my history may learn by the example of the Low-countrey men what it is that commonly imbroyls a State or Kingdome Anthony Perenott Cardinall Granvel Counsessour of Estate of Margaret of Parma William of Nassau Prince of Orange But the causes which hitherto I have numbered up severally and shewed them to proceed from the Lords and Commons did at last all meet in one point of concurrence in the Prince of Orange To demonstrate this I will give you an exact account of his descent his nature and by what arts he attained his power a necessary narration and I presume not unpleasing to the Reader that such as shall see him almost for sixteen years Generall of great armies fighting with various fortune may have his manners and as it were the Picture of his heart before their eyes The house of Nassau in Germany was ever Princely but when Adolphus of Nassau was elected Emperour he made it a Sovereign Family Count Otho brought them into the Low-countreys almost two hundred years ago where they were established by his nephew Engelbert the first and by the nephew to the first Engelbert the second That being great Grandfather this great Uncle to William Prince of Orange Which Princes left him the inheritance of many towns in the Low-countreys and other fair possessions that came to them by marriage which made him there a person of eminence afterwards encreased by the Principality of Orange that descended from the Chalons upon the family of Nassau For his fathers brother Henrick had a sonne named Renatus by Claudia Chalon siâ—ter to Filibert Chalon Prince of Orange Renatus after the death of his uncle Filibert succeeded him in the Principality upon condition that he should change his name from Nassau to Chalon But he likewise dying without issue the Principality of Orange and the rest of the great estate which he had in Burgundy came to his Cousen german William whom we now speak of by the favour of the Emperour Charles the fifth William was born in the year one thousand five hundred thirty three the eldest of five brothers and it is reported his father whose name was William desired to know his sonnes fortune of Philip Melanchthon that was by Chaldean rules rather as a Professour then an artist held to be skilfull in Calculating of Nativities Who having erected their Schems told him Williams fortune was not in all parts alike proportioned For at first his starres would shine down honour upon him him afterwards he should lay his design for greater honours but at last come to an unfortunate end What his judgement was of the other four brothers I have neither heard spoken nor seen written Perhaps because they wanted success they were passed over in silence lest it might discredit his art Charles the fifth took him away when he was very young from his father who had revolted to the Lutherans and delivered him to his own sister Mary Queen of Hungary As soon as his years permitted the Emperour made him a gentleman of his bed-chamber and was much delighted with the constant waiting and conditions of the youth because he was very modest and did not make vain ostentations of his service nor omit any oportunity to be serviceable and that in a grave and serious manner that he might be thought more capeable then ambitious of imployment From the bed-chamber where he kept his place for almost nine years the Emperour made him a souldier and Generall of his horse in the Low-countreys Nay when the Duke of Savoy left the army he substituted in his place William Nassau Lieutenant-generall though he wanted years for so great a command being not past twenty two and was brought in over the heads of many great Commanders among others which the Prince of Orange himself admired of Count Egmont who besides his experience in the warres was twelve years older Thenceforth as well in peace as war he was by the Emperour valued in the first file
of Nobility and imployed upon diverse noble Embassages Indeed in the Emperours great resignment of his dominions which was his last act as a Prince when he sent the Crown and Sceptre of the Empire as we have told you to his brother Ferdinand by the Prince of Orange he clearly shewed by that last honour he could do the greatness of the affection which he bare him And though some that suspected his nature from the first often wished the Emperour to look to him and not to be over confident of his disposition which under the pretence of virtue covered fraud and design and that he should take heed how he cockered up that fox in his bosome that one day would devour all his domestick Poultry But the Emperour frowned upon and contemned these aspersions knowing they are ordinarily cast upon such as Princes favour Nay these rather confirmed him in the Emperours good opinion Howsoever by making honourable mention of him and commending the modesty and fidelity of the youth the Emperour seemed to discharge that envy Perhaps he thought the Prince deserved it not perhaps it was the common fault of masters that apprehend themselves to be no less concerned in such invectives then their favourites and servants and without looking into the business make themselves patrons of the men whose cause they think their own Yet in the Prince of Orange at that very time were symptomes of a disease that should have been prevented or at least observed Which symptomes grew more and more apparent after the Emperours departure For though at his leaving the Low-countreys the Emperour commended the Prince of Orange to his sonne Philip and King Philip both of his own accord and for his fathers sake gave him many testimonies of his good liking for he made him one of the Order of the Golden fleece sent him tâ— conclude a peace with Henry the Frensh King and that done deliverec him for hostage And to those large Provinces of the Netherlands which the King trusted to his Government he added Burgundy though farre remote But what could all this work with him that gave out the King was obliged to bestow upon him the absolute Government of all the Low-countreys for his pains and expences to defend the greatness of the house of Austria And in his Apology against King Philip he took upon him the boldness after he had particularized the merits of his Ancestours towards the Emperours Maximilian and Charles to conclude That but for the Counts of Nassau and Princes of Orange the King of Spain could not have loaded the front of his proclamation wherein he proscribed him with the glorious titles of so many Kingdomes and Nations Frustrated therefore of his hopes to govern the Low-countreys and perceiving Granvell to be the great man in the Dutchesses new Court and fearing he should every day be less esteemed by her whom he would have prevented of her Government by professing himself to stand for Christiern Dutchess of Lorrain and endeavouring to bring her in he resolved to maintain his greatness by another way and provoked by new indignities to act what he had long since designed And though I have no certain ground to believe that at the very first he laid his plot to revolt from his allegiance to the King yet I dare boldly affirm he studied at that time some innovation whereby he might weaken the Kings Government overthrow the Spanish power incourage the hereticall party by right or wrong advance his own honour and authority and if fortune made him any other fair offer to lay hold upon it Indeed for altering of a Government I know not if any man ever lived fitter then the Prince of Orange He had a present wit not slow to catch at oportunities but subtill concealing himself not to be sounded even by those that were thought privy to his secrets Then he had a rare way to ingratiate himself with any that but came to speak with him so unaffectedly he conformed to strangers manners and served himself of others ends not that he stooped to the poor forms of complement and common professions of imaginary services wherewith at this day men do honourably mock one another But shewing himself neither sparing nor prodigall of his Courtship he so cunningly contrived his words that you could not but think that he reserved farre more for action Which begat a greater opinion of his discretion and gave more credit to his pretensions Besides though he was of a proud and infinitely ambitious spirit yet he so carried it to the outward shew that he seemed to command himself and not to be sensible of injuries But he was as subiect to fear as free from anger Insomuch as he doubted all things thought every thing unsafe but yet desisted not because on the one part his brain fruitfull in plots if the first took not presently made new supplies on the other part his vast and immoderate ambition strangled all doubts and delayes But in the splendour of his house-keeping and the multitude of his friends and followers he was equall to great Princes No man in all the Low-countreys more hospitable and that gave nobler entertainment to forrein Embassadours then the Prince of Orange which hugely pleased the people that delight to have the wealth and power of their Countrey showed to strangers nor was it distastfull to Princes with whom he redeemed all the opinion of his pride by his humble and familiar invitations of their servants But for his Religion that was very doubtfull or rather none at all When he was with the Emperour and the King he seemed to be Catholick When they left the Low-countreys he returned by little and little to his Fathers heresie which was bred in him of a child yet so as while the Dutchess of Parma continued Governess he rather appeared a Favourer of the hereticall party then an Heretick Lastly after the Dutchess was removed he declared himself for Calvin for from a Lutheran he was now turned to his opinion not onely as a private Sectary but as the great Defender of his Faith Afterwards he writ a Book wherein he testified to all the world That from his childhood he was ever much enclined to the Religion which he calls Reformed the seeds whereof his heart alwayes constantly retained which at length ripened with his years And that all he did at home or in the warrs related to this end To maintain Religion in her first Purity assailed and shot at with so many Laws and Edicts by the Emperour and the King Whether he wrote truth and was indeed a Calvinist in opinion or rather by that means sought to ingratiate himself with the men whose service he had use of some have made a doubt it is most probable his Religion was but pretended which he could put on like a Cloke to serve him for such a time and put it off again when it was
knowing how advantagious it would be to the State of the Low-countreys if things appertaining to Religion should be transacted by him in whom among other ornaments his scarlet would advance his Authority Yet notwithstanding these letters from the Dutchess Granvel assented not till he had answer out of Spain then he presently put on his Robes and so expressing his duty to the King without distast to the Governess he received honour from the one and favour from the other Besides his Pall the Popes Chamberlain brought him from Rome a Cardinalls hat which is seldome sent to any it being the custome to receive it onely in Rome Which benefit Granvel ascribed to the Dutchess with exquisite thanks not so much extolling the greatness of the bounty as the giver And he said he had cause to reverence it as the greatest of all honours because therein he adored the goodness of his Prince But in his private discourse he plainly told the Dutchess That considering the Changes of mans life he had accepted of that Dignity Especially for that if at any time he should leave the Low-countreys as he saw a storm over his head threatening him from the Lords he might have a place at Rome among the Cardinals to which he might make an honourable retreat A designe at this day hit upon by many who knowing That Power seldome grows old at Court and that Favour will as surely perish as Life are willing to be advanced into this Order not as ambitious but as provident persons that in their greatest misfortunes the Altar and the Church may be their Refuge In the year following 1562 the Civil War of France reviving the Kings commands came to the Governess enjoyning her with all possible care and speed to send assistance to King Charles against his Rebels An Account of the Management and Original of these troubles will not I suppose trespass upon your patience if I repeat briefly from the beginning not onely what before this time was agitated touching these succours but the whole Progress of those French tumults forasmuch as partly upon private discord at Court partly for that in publick which concerned Religion it was the Model of the Plot laid by the Low-countrey men with so like success of both Nations that sometimes unless you be rectified by the names of Places and Persons you would not think you read the actions of two Kingdoms but of one and the same People Moreover some part of the French Rebellion was carried by advice sent out of the Low-countreys whereof Cardinall Granvel gave intelligence to his brother Thomas Lord Cantonet Embassadour for the Catholick King in France This being therefore a business of no small importance and because I would not interrupt my Narration of the Low-countrey war with inserting that of France I shall here as the matter and place requires with no vain not tedious Digression comprehend the whole Heresie having long since poysoned France had distracted it into factions and many men contemning the old had taken up the name of the new Religion For although after Luthers pestilence reigned in Germany France had a great while kept it self free from the infection yet in the year 1533 it was attempted by some of Luthers Emissaries For Francis the first favouring learned men and learning as commonly they do whose actions are worthy of a learned pen resolved to erect an University at Paris sending proposals of great entertainment to the ablest scholars of Italy and Germany This opportunity Luther took hold of and sent Buâ—er and others of the boldest of his followers which by disputing in that confluence of prudent men might give an Essay to bring in the new Gospel Nor wanted there some that were taken with the Novelty Especially because such as were questioned for Religion had their recourse into Aquitain to Margaret of Valois the Kings sister who perhaps out of hatred to the Bishop of Rome which had been infused into her in the family of her husband Alibret whom his Holiness depreived of the Kingdome of Navarre might lie open to the cunning of the Lutherans perhaps out of ambition to be thought a Wit which she affected beyond the limits of her sex or indeed as she herself confessed some years before her death at which time she was a Catholick it was not out of the perversness of her nature but out of commiseration to the condemned persons that fled to her protection which made her so earnest with her Brother in the defence of their new opinions So that for ten years together she bolstered up Lutheranisme in France Though Francis the first was the more slow in eradicating it by reason of the Germanes and the Swisse that served him against Charles the fifth till being grievously offended with the contumacy of the men and their malice to Religion he published many Proclamations against them not onely threatning but executing his Laws untill at last he almost extinguished the name of Luther in his Kingdome But Calvins stratagem succeeded somewhat better Who immediately upon the death of Francis the first whilst King Henry was engaged in the Warrs attempted France by sending Libels from Geneva And as he found the minds and ears of many possessed with Luthers opinions so he himself set the common people agogge to understand his new doctrine and the vulgar was very proud for his Books were writ to their capacity in the French Tongue to be made Judges of Religion and as it were to passe their votes upon the abstrusest controversies of Faith Lastly as they that fall from the highest point are easily tossed from one breach of the precipice to another till they come to the very bottome having once departed from the old Religion they fell headlong from Luther to Calvin many of them not resting till having disclaimed all worship and not believing there was any God at all they finally stuck fast in the bottomless Abyss of evil And notwithstanding that Heresie first corrupted the minds of the People they being still the first that are swept away with a Plague yet in a short space it made way through the Commons seized upon some of the greatest Lords and came into the Court it self where it infected many persons of quality as that which was likely to be serviceable to the factious Nobility for winning the peoples hearts and drawing them to make head against their Competitours that grew still more powerfull with the King For Mary stuart Queen of Scots of the House of Guise by her Mother being married to Francis the second much advanced the greatness of the Guises For the King but fifteen years old had use of others service and these were fit to be employed Especially Francis Duke of Guise and his brother Charles Cardinal of Lorain he being an experienced fortunate Commander abroad and a prudent man at home this eminent for a generall Scholar deeply
distracted between two factions wavering and fearing the successe of either Things being in this condition whilst King Charles made all the friends and means he could to help himself King Philip was extraordinarily carefull to dispatch away succours to his kinsman Perhaps moved by zeal to Religion perhaps solicited by his wife who trembled at her brother Charles his danger perhaps jealous of the Low-countreys lest the arms or example of the French should there prejudice his affairs Therefore having raised three thousand foot in Italy and made Iohn Anguisciola their Colonel to be commanded in chief by Imbertus Platerius Bordillon Lieutenant Generall for the King of Spain in Piemont and dispatching as many more from Spain by the way of Navarre he writes to his sister Margaret Governess of the Low-countreys presently to choose two thousand horse out of the Low-countrey Militia to march against the French Rebells and if the Queen or the Guises shall desire more men to furnish them The Governess reading the Kings letters at the Counsel board observed that all the Lords were against sending assistance to the French The Prince of Orange and Count Egmont argued that the horse was maintained by the Provinces for a guard to the Low-countreys and to that end they were at first ordained Therefore to carry them out of the Low-countreys the Provinces must give their consent but that would be a work of time and exposed to much danger now especially when the Low-countreys wanted additionall forces and ought not to have their own taken from them But they had perhaps a higher Consideration For it was believed at the instigation of the Prince of Conde some German Princes had threatned their neighbours the Low-countreymen if they assisted the Guises enemies to the new Religion they in defence of the Cause would bring an armie into the Low-countreys Nor do I think it unlikely that both the Prince of Conde attempted it and the Germans undertook it For on the one part the Prince of Condes faction was much troubled about the raising of those forces in the Low-countreys as appears by a book then published and sent by the Spanish Embassadour Cantonet with letters to his brother Granvel wherein they give the Hereticks many reasons why the King of Spain should not assist the Catholicks in France On the other part the Governess by an Express to his Majestie informs him That the Low-countrey men either terrified by the Germans or out of some other cowardly considerations would hardly nay could by no means be drawn to give order for the horse to march into France and threatned mischief if they went In which letter she seems to touch what I have here mentioned the cause of their dissent And she her self either despairing that the Provinces would let them go or believing they could not be well spared from the Low-countreys equally endangered by a war from Germany and an Insurrection at home pressed the business more remissely at the Councel Table When on the sudden came an Express from the King wherein the Governess was not a little chid for her delay and commanded without further consultation immediately to send away the Horse She anxious how she might obey his Majesty in that particular by the advice of Granvel changed the name not substance of the Kings desires demanding money instead of men Which being granted she presently returned it into France to the Queen-wother and signified to King Philip the reason of her so doing Not onely because she knew money would be far welcomer then men to the Queen according as she her self formerly intimated and after the receit confirmed but likewise for fear the Governess should loose both her endeavours and authority in pressing the Low-countrey men to that which she found by experience was not to be obtained or if it were obtained would be disadvantageous That she feared the Low-countreys now their hearts were down and that in Tournay and Valencena were begun no inconsiderable stirrs about Religion and no doubt but they would encrease if the seditious once saw the Low-countreys left naked without defence of their Horse Lastly for that some by their Place were to conduct the Horse whose faith she might very well suspect it seemed to be no less dangerous to trust them with Arms then to shew a diffidence in them by choosing other officers The King received rather then approved the condition of the money which the States had granted and sending fifteen hundred horse out of Spain to the Queen-mother which the Governess was to pay he strengthened the Catholicks in Francâ— But before these succours came the King of Navarre the Guise and Momorancy had taken Roan from the Prince of Condes men The King himself though dangerously shot lying upon his bed in a kind of Chariot was triumphantly brought into the Citie But a few dayes after his wounds bleeding afresh in the same sepulchre with himself he buried his hopes of the Kingdome of Sardinia which he had kept alive till his last gasp to the great good of the Catholicks Nor was the War prosecuted with lesse care Momorancy commanding in Chief both Armies exceedingly increasing For with the Kings forces were joyned 6000 foot sent from King Philip and the fifteen hundred Horse formerly mentioned And near to Dreux a Town in Normandy they fought a battel with great courage on both sides The Prince of Conde and Momorancy both the Generals were taken prisoners and above ten thousand men slain the Victory at last fell to the King but with more honour then joy Such fatall wars issued from the liberty given to the Hereticks and cherished by the ambition of the Lords But these miseries of the French which I have related for to that end I have related them brought the same mischief upon the Low-countreys as any man will easily perceive that hath leasure to compare the practises of Hereticks in both Nations and the differences of either Court the names of Hugonots and Gueses raised in their severall tumults The Cardinal of Lorain answering to Cardinal Granvel the Queen-mother of France to the Dutchess of Parma in the Low-countreys the like conspiracy of the Nobility the like Edicts of their Princes the plunder of Cities and Churches not to be distinguished all things in both Countreys almost the very same as springing from the self-same Causes save onely that the War was more suddenly begun by the French and more obstinately pursued by the Low-countrey men The first Low-countrey Towns that followed the example of the French were their next neighbours Tournay Lisle and Valencena which by their sudden motions plainly signified the subsequent ruine of the Netherlands For in October the year before two French Calvinist preachers in the same night the one at Valencena the other at Tournay openly before a great assembly in the Market-place delivered their new Gospel and when they had done
consulted liked it not and therefore made answer It was not his pleasure in propounding the Councel to his Subjects any thing should be excepted lest Rome a Citie apt to prejudicate should from thence have matter of censure and other Christian Princes that looked upon Spain occasion of imitation For that which is said in the Councel touching Sovereignty and Subjection was sufficiently considered when the publishing thereof was disputed in Spain where all those difficulties were discussed And as at that time no exception was taken but the Councel absolutely proposed onely with a little moderation to be used in the practice so it should be in the Law-countreys whither he had sent a copie of the Spanish Proclamation that his Subjects throughout all his Dominions might obey him by one rule The Governess according to his royall Mandate beginning to be active and indeavouring to put an end to what she had in the Netherlands begun how sad a commotion followed in the end of the next year when the people to the ruine of many broke out into Rebellion I shall in its due place commemorate In the mean time the Governess seeing the difficulties of the Exchecquer and Religion to increase and that she could get nothing of his Majestie by Letters resolved to send some great man her Embassadour to the King and looking upon Count Egmont as one that besides the Nobilitie of his birth and his experience in the affairs of the Low-countreys she did believe would have all things granted to his great and acknowledged merit her Excellence designed and in the beginning of the year one thousand five hundred sixty five with the advice of the Senate sent him into Spain And Count Egmont willingly undertook the imployment because as he said to the Governess and she informed the King by the opportunity of this publick Embassage he should dispatch hi own private businesse with his Majestie Having therefore received large instructions with the consent and hopefull exspectation of all many of the Nobilitie for honours sake bringing him on the way he set forward the same day that Francis Hallevine Lord of Zeveghem returned from Germany whither he was sent by the Governess in the name of King Philip to the Emperour Maximilian his Empresse and the Princes of Germany to condole the death of his father that religious Prince the Emperour Ferdinand which the Emperour Mazimilian took extreme kindly and made great promises of service to his uncle At this time the Prince of Orange had by Princesse Anne of Saxony another sonne called by the name of the Prince Electour her father Maurice This is the Prince Maurice whom we must often mention not without the commendations of a valiant and cautelous Generall who being chosen by the States Confederate in the place of his father lately killed after he had for two years commanded the Hollanders as a Prince though by another name which is commonly the end of long Governments dyed of grief conceived at the siege of Breda when he saw it must inevitably be taken The Governess wrote to the King that the child had all the Orthodox rites of Baptisme but that which most troubled her was on his Christening day they delivered him in tutelage to the Prince Electour Augustus Duke of Saxony and Philip Landgrave of Hessen both Lutheran Princes in whose names two Lords infected with the same heresie were his Godfathers For even in this likewise the Prince of Orange who alwayes acted two parts had something Catholick and something Hereticall to please both sides still attending their severall fortunes as a neuter In the letters the Dutchesse informed the King what jealousies and reports were raised by the message which she had communicated to the Senate touching the meeting that was to be upon the borders of Aquitaine between Katharine of Mediâ—es Queen-mother of France governing that nation joyntly with the King and her daughter Isabella Queen of Spain For King Philip by his letters had commanded his sister to assure the Low-countrey Lords that nothing more was intended by that interview then the satisfaction of King Charles and his mother being in their progresse come so near the confines of Spain To the same purpose he either wrote or sent Embassadours to most of the Princes of Europe not so much as any Lord of Italy or Spain or any one Minister of State but was by instructions from King Philip acquainted with the occasion of that conference Yet all this took not away the Low-countreymens fears and jealousies but rather increased them many especially Hereticks being apt to believe that the Queen mother did not this out of love to her daughter but to lay the foundation of some great design against the hereticall factions and the disturbances of both Kingdoms which they suspected the rather because it was rumoured King Philip would be there in person And indeed when Queen Isabella moved him to add to their contentment his presence I find by his letters to the Governess that he was pretty well inclined to the iourney though she diswaded him and said it was below the Majesty of so great a Prince to trust himself to the power of the French at that time when partly the French Kings minority partly the condition of a Quen-regent made the subjects so contumacious towards their Governours Yet his Majesty replyed that if he were sure his presence were necessary for the good of Religion he was resolved for Gods cause to decline no trouble or danger whatsoever Yet consenting to the going of his Queen and commanding Ferdinand Count of Toledo and Duke of Alva to wait upon her and present in his name to the King of France the Order of the Golden-fleece he himself went not either diverted by many cares having then as he wrote to the Governess received intelligence that the Turk besieged Malta or else to give his resolutions with greater authority at a distance which I suppose was the cause why he left it not in his wife's power to determine any thing before she had by her letters advised with him But at this enterview so highly celebrated in the writings of all Scholars even of the Poets themselves when in so great state and glory King Charles and the two Queens met at Baion the French sleighting the Spanish pride with greater pride all that was concluded the more secretly it passed onely in presence of the Duke of Alva with the more confidence do some writers as if they had a blank before them fill up the space with wit and deduce from hence strange secrets of State Omitting such divination out of the letters which I have written in King Philips own hand to his sister about that conference this I know The Queen of Spain for divers weighty reasons no doubt by the command of King Philip had desired her Brother and Mother whom it
corrupted with heresie to be made Devils and numbered among the slaves condemned to eternal torments And although Princesse Mary could not prevail with the Mother in her suit for these boyes yet a few years after God gave her the same number of that sex and it is probable that her desire of breeding up anothers children to be Gods servants was recompensed by God himself with as many children of her own Nor will I omit a memorable passage that happened in the same Port where one of the Kings ships by accident was set on fire not farre from the Admirall where the Princesse was aboard And while some strove to quench the flame and some to save themselves and their goods she running out of her Cabin to the Prow made a little stop and said Well and shall I lose my box of sacred Reliques presently the flame approaching near her she ran back and with a mighty courage plucked the box out of the Cabinet either forgetting or despising the jewels it contained to an infinite value Presently returning again from her Cabin for the furie of the fire was not yet asswaged a Gentleman met her and stepping in with great reverence took her by the arm and beseeched her whilst she might to flie the danger But she casting a frown upon the man said Sir you were best unhand me As if she 〈◊〉 more fearfull to be touched by him then by the flame so unsuppoâ—â—â— she went forward to the Prow and the fire being presently extinguished they set sail for the Low countreys About the beginning of November the fleet arrived at Ulushing where she was received and attended by such as the Governess had sent upon the sudden news of her landing that train being augmented by the horse and foot of the severall towns through which she passed till she came to Bruxels Where all sorts of people welcomed her with greater joy and gratulation because they heard she had so difficult and dangerous a passage Octavio Duke of Parma being a few dayes before come out of Italy purposely to be at his sonnes wedding upon the next Saint Andrews day appointed by Philip Duke of Burgundy for the Anniversary feast of the Order of the Golden-fleece which he instituted and commended to the patronage of that Saint the Nuptials were celebrated at Bruxels with such magnificence as befitted the Neice to Emmanuel King of Portugall and the Grand-sonne to the Emperour Charles the fifth but likewise with such Christian Pietie as was exspected out of the opinion conceived of so religious a Lady and made good by her presence beyond all imagination Maximilian de Bergen Archbishop of Cambray married them The King of Spain was present by Didacus Gusman à Silva his Majesties Embassadour to the Queen of England commanded for this reason to take the Low-countreys in his way Embassadours of neighbour Princes were at the wedding to joy them from their Masters All the Low-countrey Nobility was there the Knights of the Golden-fleece expressed a particular contentment because about a hundred and fifty years before their Order had been founded at the marriage of Duke Philip of Burgundy with Isabella of Portugall and now at the like marriage of this Princesse of Portugall they revived the memory of that Day in all kind of shews and pleasures seeming to forget their present discontents and factions So great was the gallantry of the Lords and they so taken up with revells But after the nuptiall feast was over and the Bride and Bridegroom departed from the Low-countreys as if the Truce were ended they fell to their differences again The narration of which differences I shall wave a while till I have in reference to Princesse Mary related some passages noble in themselves but rendered more illustrious by her royall Bloud and because they equally concern her husband Prince Alexander and his posteritie which we must often mention in the progresse of this History therefore it will be the best in this place to summe them up together Princesse Mary now come into Italy was received with unusuall pomp and ceremony For drawing near to Parma she was met by two gallant troops one of Lords the other of Ladies her husband Alexander being in the head of that and this led by his Aunt Vittoria Farneze wife to the Duke of Urbin On that side such a multitude of horses and on the other such a world of Coaches vying bravery and rich Liveries that seldome hath been seen a more magnificent and glorious Show But the Princesse after she had been the second time thus entertained applyed her self to serious matters her example and endeavours in a few dayes changed the face of Parma And she her self many times having prayed to God for a Sonne to continue the name of the Farnezes accidently conceived a hope that if she took up some Orphan or beggar-boy and bred him for Charity she should compasse her desire She therefore took up one in the street and bred him in her Court and nine moneths after she was delivered of Ranucio But her hope proving as fruitfull as her self she resolved to beg of God another Sonne that she might settle the house upon more pillars and directing her prayer to our Lady in the Church called the Scala Prince Alexander by chance coming thither she turned to him and said Come Sir let us joyn our prayers to God that in obedience to his Virgin-mother he will gratiously please to give us another Sonne They prayed together with great faith and within nine moneths after she brought forth Odâ—ardo which was not the cause of greater joy in Prince Alexander then it was of admiration and reverence towards his wife at whose suit God had given him both his Sonnes From thenceforth he more and more honoured her Sanctimonie insomuch as at the battle of Lepanto boarding the enemy with more valour then caution and afterwards being reproved by Don Iohn of Austria he replyed He had at Home the Cause and Patronesse of his confidence Indeed she spent the whole time of that warre in devotion and penance for her husband But for her children because she knew they were granted her by Gods speciall favour she bent her study while she lived to season their tender years with divine precepts and when she came to die was not so earnest with her husband for any thing as to be carefull of their education using that very prayer to God which she heard was made by the Queen of France Mother to Saint Lewis In this moment of time which is my last I pray and beseech thee O Father of mankind that if my children be inclined to commit any fouler crime against thee thou wilt hasten their ends and prevent their treason against thy Majesty A prayer worthy all mother-Queens that would have no children but such as will acknowledge God the
which in regard the Judicature of the Inquisitours and the Emperours Decrees were repugnant they ought not to have been so easily proposed by the Chancellour nor could they possibly admit them The Governess having notice of the Petition commanded it to be brought and read at the Councel Table And though some held it a bold request yet it was her pleasure the Annals and Records of Brabant should be searched especially the Commentaries of Francis Hulst a Brabanter who first executed the Office of Inquisitour in that Province Upon sight whereof answer was made That because from the year 1550 this kind of Inquisition was not used in Brabant and that the King had declared his resolution to innovate nothing therefore it pleased his Majestie there should be no change within their Government but onely that the Decrees of Charles the fifth should be in force till it was otherwise ordered by the King Which moderate Answer neither satisfied the Brabanters that promised themselves all their desires and yet encouraged those of Flanders to present such another Petition to the Governess But her Excellence was by a speciall Messenger ingaged in business of higher concernment For she received fearfull intelligence from a man till then unknown but by the endeavours of Christopher Assonvill a worthy Senatour privately admitted to her presence That many noble persons of Brabant had entred into an Association in case the King should by force impose the Inquisitours upon their Province that they would by force defend themselves which confidence was built upon a privy confederation betwixt them and certain forreiners principally Gaspar Colligny Admirall of France Some such thing the Prince of Orange a little while after wrote from Leyden to the Governess And the same was discovered to her by the Counts of Egmont and Megen who said The Conspiratours had privately issued out Commissions to Captains and Colonels and that if need required they had in a readiness above twentie thousand men But what manner of Conspiracie this was and the Original of it I shall now demonstrate out of the Letters which are in my custody written by some that were purposely appointed to examine the matter of fact For when the Governess the year after this by the Kings command sent certain persons hastily to inquire in the respective Provinces who they were that had raised or fomented this years tumults they seized upon the Letters Books and Notes of many men out of which compiling a Treatise they informed his Majesty and the Governess of the beginning and progress of this designe And in discharge of what I have undertaken partly from thence partly from other Records I borrowed this which in short I shall deliver to you Long before the bloudshed of this year 1566 some of the Nobilitie of the Low-countreys in particular some young Lords none of which I can readily name but onely Lewis of Nassau brother to the Prince of Orange sojourning for a long time at Geneva and such like Towns were easily intrapped by the Hereticks For they had onely been so far instructed in Religion as might serve to keep them Catholicks at home but not abroad to teach them if they should be circumvented how to distinguish truth from falsehood and truly no man ought to come near infected persons without a Preservative about him These young Noblemen therefore having been new-catecâ—â—â—ed by Hereticks when they returned to their Countrey often spake in commendation of forrein Religions and libertie of conscience and found the people intentive and inquisitive after new Doctrines Nor did many of the Merchants wish a greater happiness then this Liberty for themselves were inveigled with the like strange opinions and consequently would have no one for Religion to be barred free Traffick These joyning their Counsels plotted for which they had divers examples by degrees to shake from the shoulders of their Countrey the yoke of the Catholick Faith that would not suffer any other doctrine to predominate within their Cities This designe I collect was laid in the year 1559 when King Philip resolving to return to Spain commanded that his Fathers and his own Edicts which during the Wars could not should now be strictly observed Which happening in that conjunction of time when the Prince of Orange advised the Low-countrey men to petition for disbanding the Spanish souldiers lest by their means the Spanish Inquisition should forcibly have been imposed upon them as he himself hath left recorded in his Apology I do not think it improbable that the Prince of Orange might be privie to matters then in agitation Yet I believe not that upon the first conference of the Nobility and Merchants any thing was certainly pitched upon or the form of a Confederation conceived in writing Nor is it likely that a Conspiracy of many persons should for six years lie undiscovered But then the seeds of Rebellion were onely sown which afterwards in the year 1564 when Cardinal Granvell went into Burgandy sprung up by occasion of the Councel of Trent as I am well assured out of the said Notes and Letters Moreover in that year 64 those Gentlemen and Merchants which met about it knowing that so great a weight could not be supported without arms determined to try the Hereticall Princes of Germany either to get their assistance or at lest to have some colour for using of their names to aw the Governess and her Party For this cause they sent Agents into Germany which had secret conference with the Prince Electour Palatine and brought all their transactions to Egidius Clerus a Lawyer of Tournay imployed by Lewis of Nassau and lying at Ausburg onely for this purpose as appears by many Letters and Pamphlets of his writing Whence it may be conjectured that Prince Lewis himself was at the same time in Germany soliciting the same business Which though it was concealed with wonderfull sâ—lence till the end of the year 653 yet in the beginning of 66 when the Edicts concerning the holy Inquisitours with the Decrees of Charles the fifth and of the Councel of Trent were Proclaimed which were by many accounted great grievances then the Conspiratours pretending to maintain the Liberty of the Subject with incredible dexterity scattered Libels over all the Provinces to the number of five thousand as the Governess afterwards wrote to the King jeering cursing and railing at the Spanish Inquisition and advising the people Not to enslave themselves to Tyranny which all Nations and as it were the generall consent of Mankind resists That the Inquisition was not introduced at Rome without a tumult what then should be done in the Low-countreys armed with so many Priviledges against any Innovation whatsoever Fears and Jealousies were increased by preparation for a war made in Spain by the King wherein the Duke of Brunswick Pay-master-generall for his Majestie in the Low-countreys was very active The
the fifth Book The Historie of the LOW-COVNTREY WARRES The sixt Booke BUT whilst the pen was thus imployed Brederod raised some Forces at Antwerp and upon receipt of these Letters from the Governesse made hast to increase his number of which he carried with him above 1400 to Viana a Towne of his own in Holland fortified to that end a little while before Part of these men marched by land part was transported in seven Shipps followed with a Uessell laden with Armes and Ammunition It was said that William Count Lumè a Marcha Escanbechius Villers and Malberg were to bring thither 1500 horse from the Covenanteers and that Lewis of Nassau was likewise expected there with the German Forces under his Command that having mustered the Army at Viana they might send them into severall parts as occasion should require This rejoyced the Hereticks who now openly bragged that at length their cause was well followed and the Nobility revolting from the King had cut off all hope of pardon That it was not to be doubted but that besides the Counts Hochstrat and Horne Orange himselfe would declare for them nor durst Brederod presume as he had done but that he relyed on higher powers though it was conceived that amidst those troubles he aymed at the Principality of Holland whereunto he pretended a Title and to that private end used the Assistance of the Lords His Ambition was flatterâ—d by the Covenanteers but in the mean time every one had their particular Designe Wherefore a while after most of the principall Cities of the Low-countries Antwerp the Bus Vtrecht and Maestriecht Amsterdam Groeningen Tournay besides Valenciens and others by the increase of their Souldiers seemed to threaten a desertion from the King Anthony Bomberg of Antwerp fell upon the Bus a Towne of Brabant and tooke it by the helpe of the Hereticks that were the stronger party he was lately fled thither out of the storme of the French commotions wherin he served under the Prince of Conde from thence being rebandied to his Country as he was of an Vnquiet restlesse Spirit he bounded againe into the Belgick Tumults and increased the number of the Covenanteers But the Governesse having formerly sent Merodius Lord of Peter Semy and Scheiff Chancellour of Brabant to settle the Motions of that Towne when she heard they Could not do it her Excellence commanded the Count of Megen to draw towards the Town with some Troopes of Horse directing withall Her Letters at the same time both to the Citizens of the Bus and to her agents there Graciously conferring with the Citizens about receiving a Garrison into their City and restoring it to the antient Priviledges and giving Instructions to Her Agents for pressing it to the Magistrats The Letters were intercepted by Bomberg in place whereof he counterfeited two others as written from the Governesse proudly to the Citizens and deceiptfully to her Agents and when he read them to the Magistrate having given out among the people that the towne should have beene betrayed by Merodius and the Chancellour the furious Multitude flocked about their Houses railing vpon them for Traytours and besieged them a day and a night till Bomberg had ripened his Plot. Who taking the incensed Rabble before their fury cooled the rarest time for Mischeif perswaded them that Count Megen was the principall Traytour and that they should therefore come upon him whilst he expected but the word for entering of the Towne They easily believed that Count Megen would attempt it to revenge the private Iniuryes done to his Towne of Megen by those of the Bus which being their neighbours and the stronger had oppressed them Bomberg therefore takes vpon him the Command in cheife and instantly raising 800 men and planting some great Cannon on the walls when the Count march'd up he unexpectedly fired and beat him back with the losse onely of his Plot upon the Towne and an affront received which he deepely resented Count Megen not having then sufficient forces to lay seige to so strong a place marched to Vtrecht for this was in his Orders from the Governesse and the charge was stricter because she feared that Towne by reason of the neighbourhood of Viana which was the general Rendezvous of the Covenanteers And they of Vtrecht because their lands daily sâ—ffered by the incursions of Brederods Souldiers willingly received a Garrison from the Count and by his directions presently built a Fort upon the banke of the River Leck right against Viana Nor was Brederod lesse actiâ—e but in the interim having setled Viana and being called to Amsterdam by the Gheuses he came thither disguised and then in his owne opinion his hope stood faire for the Principality of Holland At the same time Iames Marnixius Lord of Tholouse one of the Covenanteers shipt 600 men at Antwerp in three bottoms and sent them downe the water into Zeland hoping whilst other parts were in combustion unobserved in the Tumult assisted by the Pretour of Middleburgh to possesse himself of Vlushing and the whole Island of Walcheren which is the Head of Zeland But the Governesse was before him for she had made Cattey a faithfull and valiant Gentleman Governour of Vlushing and commanded him to carry some Regiments from the Marches of Flanders and draw them out in order of battaile before Walcheren Therefore when the Tholousians came within sight of the Island they were easily beat back and vainely expecting Brederod who was kept in action by Megen tâ—at appeared with his horse sometimes before Amsterdam sometimes before Viana they fairely passed the River againe into Brabant but at Ostervell a village neare Antwerp they made a halt and ayming at things above their strength pitched their Tents upon the banks of Scheldt and there intrenched and daily increasing with multitudes of Exiles and Outlawes that fled unto them for protection they sent them out in partyes to the adjoyning Townes and Villages where they robbed and fired the Churches returning to the Army loaded with spoyle and frighting or incouraging Antwerp according to the severall factions within the City But the Governesse particularly fearing Antwerp lest Tholouse might bring in his Army and strengthen the Gheuses calling to her Philip Lanoy Lord of Beavor a noble and industrious commander she said I call God to witnesse I am unwilling and with much reluctation forced to a War the Fame of Uictory a glory that hath wrought with many Women and might with me out of the sense of my Fathers invincible and martiall Bloud I never aspired unto in my Province of the Low-countries But since with stubborne-natured and implacable wicked men neither by indulgence nor pardon I have beene able to effect any thing but onely the lessening of my Authority and their feare truly I should not lay to heart either the cause of Religion or of the King and Country if
I should not at last by making new examples punish their perfidiousnesse imboldened by my too much Lenity and by force of Armes which through your valour I may easily effect endeavour to destroy these Enemies and Rebells sometimes bringing in Heresie to raise Tumults sometimes plotting to take Armes and breaking into open Hostility Courage therefore Beavor for I have chosen thee to revenge this Treason to Majesty Divine and Humane And since it is necessary to be speedily at Ostervell take thy Commission and be gone fight with Tholouse whose tumultuary Forces without opposition plunder the Country terrible only to such as entertaine them Be sure that pitty move thee not to give them quarter upon any termes but those wicked men that have committed unpardonable Villanies do thou without pause or mercy destroy with fire and sword Having thus instructed the Generall her Excellence commanded him to take out of the Garrison of Bruxells 300. Musketteres and joyne to them the Flanders Horse lately called back from Wallacron under the command of Valentine Pardieu Lord of Mott with the Foot companies of the Counts Aremberge and Barlamont Besides she gave him many of her owne Life-Guard and enjoyned him with this Army to march against Tholouse The Prince of Orange that governed Antwerp imagining what the Governesse would doe had tooke order the day before Beavor came to Ostervell that the Bridge between that and Antwerp should be broken lest the Gheuses sallying out of Antwerp should help the Tholousians as he signified to the Governesse by Marius Carduin or more probably lest to succour Beavor the Bridge should give passage to the Catholiques whose cause he could not desert nor would defend Also by his command the next day all the ports of Antwerp were shut the Citizens wondring what should be his reason when on the suddaine hearing the thunder of Cannon hard by the Towne they ran to the wals and saw a Battaile fought at Ostervell They knew the Ensignes of both Armies displayed alongst the River side and almost heard the cryes both of those that charged and fell Nor did all the Towne behold that Martiall Scene with the same wishes but shouted according to their severall inclinations with divers kinds of clamour as if they had been upon a Stage sometimes chearefully incouraging their Partie sometimes doubtfull and crying shame upon them they shooke their hands and moved their bodies as if they themselves were really in the Feild striking or avoyding Blowes Till the routed Tholousians fled For Beavor had been so quick in his march that comming upon them before they could well arme themselves and repaire to their Colours they had scarce time to put their men in Order of Battaile Yet for a while they stood At first their number imboldened them and at last their Houses and Fortifications saved them But those being fired part of them were burnt in their owne dwellings some few slaine in the Field but the most forced to leap in the River and either drowned or as they swam shot in the backs Tholouse himselfe despairing of Releife or Pardon tooke a Barne and was there burnt There fell at this Battaile the first that was fought with the Low-country Rebells 1500. of the Gheuses About 300. were taken prisoners and all put to the Sword by Beavors command because it was conceived the Antwerpers would sally out and assist the Remainder of their conquered Friends And indeed when the Calvinists saw their Brethren routed and put to flight for it troubled not the Lutherans who hate Calvinists farre more then they doe Catholiques presently taking up Armes they marched directly to the Bridge to succour their distressed Party But when they found the Bridge broken downe and saw the Ports shut up they ran through the Streets as if they had been drunke and cryed Arme Arme. And in foure houres space 14000. men were come together having neither any certaine Generall nor resolution whether to make way through the Ports or turne their fury upon those that kept them in They say Tholouse his Wife in Antwerp helped forward this combustion For understanding the Defeate and Danger of her Husband his Death as yet she knew not almost out of her wits she ranne about the Towne howling and crying to the Calvinsts for Assistance or Revenge And now the Prince of Orange with Count Hochstrat meeting these furious Rebells doubted not by the Majesty of his presence and their great opinion of him easily ro quiet this Distemper and began to give them reasons why the Bridge was broke for feare the conquering Army having a Party within the Towne should make themselves Masters of it But the rest of his words were drowned with hideous cryes and Railings They called him Traytour to the Cause and then he found by experience that Majesty without strength is not safe among the incensed multitude Nay one of those Calvinisticall Rogues set a Pistoll to the Prince his brest as if he would give fire upon him so much dares the basest Rascall animated by his contagious Fellowes The Prince of Orange therefore thought it well for the present if he could get off for the number boldnesse of the Calvinists increased And now seizing upon the Merian Bridge and taking the Cannon out of the Magazine they drew them upon their carriages and planted them against the Court resolving to set up a new Magistrate madly and barbarously proclaiming that all the Clergie and Religious should be turned out of the Towne Nor lesse active on the other part was the Prince of Orange who taught by his late danger commanded sixe Companies of the Garrison Souldiers to guard the Piâ—zza and the Mint and drawing after him a huge sort of Lutherans joyned them to the Catholiques whereof no lesse then 8000 had armed themselves The Catholiques and Lutherans formed into a Body with Colours flying marched to the Pallace of Justice and there made a Stand ready to defend it if the Calvinists should attempt any thing and these as if they would fight came on and presenting their Muskets seemed to expect the word When the Prince of Orange attended by all the Senate and a strong Guard of Souldiers came to the Calvinists and with a commanding countenance advised them to lay down Armes if they had any Demands to make they might be more easily obtained without Tumult if they did otherwise he swore he would be a perpetuall Enemy to the name of Calvin Whereat the Calvinists seeming to be dismayed submitted as if it were in Honour to the Prince when indeed they found themselves much too weak for the Catholique and Lutheran Forces to which the Italian and Spanish Merchants flocked in great numbers armed fearing they should finally be plundered by the Calvinists who had either to that end begun the Tumult or at least would so conclude Therefore Hostages being given and received on both sides the Calvinists upon
began to offer his Service and to be active in publique Affayres First taking the Oath as he had promised in the forme wherein it was administred and putting downe the Consistoryes in the lower Flanders he in person with six Companyes of Foote disarmed diverse Townes and shewed himselfe so averse to the Designes of some of his Collegues that by Count Hochstrats Servant theiâ— vsuall Messenger he advised them to attempt nothing against Religion the King or their owne Honour if they did he would hate them worse then a white Scarfe which was the ordinary Weare of the French Horse This made Hochstrat and the rest send to him for the Originalls of all the Letters and Petitions which he had at any time received from them returning him those he had sent to them an undoubted Argument that their Friendship was dissolved Notwithstanding the Governesse was fearefull that all this might be cunningly dissembled But whether Egmont did it bonâ fide now hating the proceedings of the Covenanteers or whether he complyed with the Governesse to take off the ill opinion conceived of him now upon the King's Approach certainly it was of much advantage to the Catholique cause For many of the Covenanteers the Prince of Orange having left them and frighted to see Egmont with some of the greatest Lords fall off the rest growing jealous of one another every man shifted for himselfe and either personally or by friends petitioned the Governesse for their Pardons and bound themselves as they were required by a new Oath Not long after Hochstrat and Horne wrote to the Governesse promising to take the Oath in her presence nay the last named sent a Copy of the Oath inclosed in his Letter The Counts Culemburg and Bergen had now left the Low-countryes Lewis of Nassau followed the Prince his Brother So that Feare had severed the foure principall Confederates excepting only Brederod who still lived in hope This caused an universall dejectednesse and consternation of the Merchants and Hereticks complaining they were deserted contrary to the Covenant and crying the Nobility had betraid them This caused diverse especially Ministers to fly this incouraged the Governesse to use expedition that whilst the Heads of the Conspirators were timerous and at difference among themselves she might the more easily reduce the stubborne people to their antient Obedience And now by command from the Governesse Norcarmius with â—1 Companies of Foote and 10. piece of Cannon was to attaque Maestricht in Brabant But they of that City hearing of the Surrender of Valenciens immediately turned out of Towne all the preaching Hereticks and factious Teachers Then understanding that Norcarmius drew neare they forthwith sent Commissioners to the Governesse to beseech a pardon for what was past promising for the future to continue faithfull to the King and Bishop For part of Maestricht is subject to the Bishop of Liege and part to the King as Duke of Brabant The Governesse gave them a short Dispatch and referred them soundly chidden to be answered by Norcarmius The Commissioners were no sooner gone but Messengers came from Gerard Grosbeck Bishop of Liege assuring the Governesse that the Hereticall Sinke at Maestricht wâ—s now cleane swept That many of the Citisens with the Magistrate even when that Plague was hottest kept themselves uninfected That the Gentry and Communalty were not past Cure as plainely appeared by the suddaine change made in the City converted chiefly by the endeavours of one of the Society sent for from Colen by the Bishop which Father dayly chalenging the Hereticall Doctours to dispute and dayly confuting them had brought them to a perfect Recovery of their old Religion and Allegeance And therefore the people if they might but have a pardon would satisfy for their Delinquency with more earnest Observance and were now ready to receive a Garrison though the Bishop himselfe did not conceive any necessity for making it a Garrison the Firebrands of the Rebellion being now extinguished Or if her Excellence were concerned in honour not to alter her Determination that one or two Companyes would be sufficient That he himselfe for his own part had pardoned those of Maestricht with promise to be a Suiter in their behalfe for the like pardon from the Governesse the rather because he considered himselfe not only as their Prince but as their Father well knowing the mercy of the Governesse Who thanking the Bishop for his message full of kindnesse and charity told them it was not in her power to imitate their Master's Example the King having taken from her all Authority of pardoning Offences of this nature but she was confident they might hope no lesse from the Kings Clemency In the meane time it was necessary that a new Garrison which she might confide in should be put in into Maestricht to prevent the practice of Traitours that made sure account of that Towne lying no lesse convenient to receive Succours out of Germany then Valenciens for Ayde from France She had therefore commanded Norcarmius to take Maestricht but first to advise with the Bishop and to that end she had sent Turius Secretary of her Privy Counsell to give him notice of their March The Messengers replying that Maestricht was not like other Townes of the Low-Countryes because part of the Jurisdiction appertained to the Bishop The Governesse answered not that particular for she used sometimes to returne Silence for an Answer saying these that had not ill eares would be sufficiently answered by not being answered The Army in the meane time made long Marches with cheerefulnesse proper to Conquerours and invited forward by the hope of Plunder But the Maestrichers were as quicke in yielding and excepted against nothing which Norcarmius in the Governesses name commanded Who entring the Towne tooke the keyes from the Magistrate and all their great Cannon and Munition from the City disarmed the Townsmen hanged the Author of the Rebellion in the Market-place and leaving Egidius Barlamont with part of his Forces in Garrison he with the rest marched towards Holland as the Governesse had appointed to joyne himselfe with Charles Brimey Count of Megen The Citizens of the Bus doubting which way the Conquerour would take were so much the more fearfull of the Governesse by how much they knew they had more justly merited her indignation For by her Edict she had proclaimed them Enemyes to the King for their uncivill usage and detaining of Merodius and Scheiff Chancellour of Brabant which she had sent unto them for expelling Count Megen and admitting Bomberg which Edict confiscated the Wealth of the City and deprived them of all their Priviledges till such time as they should returne her Commiss The Townsmen though at first they slighted her Decree yet at length better advised by the nearnesse of the Danger unknown to Bomberg beseeched the Governesse to grant a safe Conduct for certaine Commiâ—â— of theirs to
the remainder of the publique Composition-money Hereticall Temples built in diverse Cityes she commanded to be pulled downe which the people did with so good a will that at Gant which is almost incredible a great Lutheran Synagogue in one houres space was levelled with the Ground You would think these were new Cityes and new People which a few months before having been zealous to the cause and stood Body and Soule in defence of the Hereticall Party were so changed as to offer their service in pulling downe of their Temples as if that could excuse Indeed they destroyed the Monuments and Memoriall of their Fault with such speed especially in the Province of Flanders that the beames of the Churches which they ruined served for Gallowses to hang their late Worke-men and Audience Thus the fire kindled by the peoples discontents blowne to a flame by the Bellowes in the Pulpit fed by the Emulation of the Lords and finally scattered abroad by the faction of the Gheuses devouring and destroying the Lowcountries was so damped and extinguished by the Governesse that Religion and Obedience were every where restored the Hereticks restrained by punishment or forced to fly the Country some few getting their Pardons others forfeiting their Estates and living in Banishment so as the Covenanteers were reduced to poverty and the wallet that is they were made true Gheuses and at last all the Lowcountryes enjoyed their antient Peace and Tranquility One thing amidst so many happinesses did not a little afflict the Governesse who observed that multitudes of Lowcountrymen which could not make their peace frighted with report of the Army comming out of Spaine daily left their Habitations and to the great dammage of the Cities carried away their Merchandise Manufactures and consequently the Gaines into other Nations Wherefore she had often intreated his Majesty that either he would give her Authority to pardon and settle the Provinces or else which she thought would be best to come himselfe among his Subjects now quiet and willing to obey not terrifying them with an army but receiving them to mercy And the Later of these two Courses the King indeed in many of his Letters to the Governesse promised to make use of But how he came to alter this reall or pretended Resolution and in stead of Coming in Person to send Ferdinand Toledo Duke of Alva his Lieutenant thither because it was the great businesse of Spaine and for a whole yeare agitated at the Councell Board I will here with my best industry give you a full view of those Proceedings The Governesse from the very begining desired the Kings Presence and wrote out of her experience of the present Evill and her foresight of a greater yet to come that it was incurable without an Application from his Royall Hand which the Lowcountrymen would take for a Favour lest they should be forced to indure torments inflicted by a Servant Many Spanish Lords of the Councell were of the same Opinion nay Pope Pius the fifth wrote Letters and sent Peter Camaianus Bishop of Asculum to perswade him to passe with an Army into the Lowcountryes where no doubt his presence would compose the Motions of his Subiects and timely prevent the private Designes of some great Persons But if in such a precipitate Mischeife he should either delay his going or act there by any of his Ministers of State he much feared the Lowcountryes might change their Religion and the King lose the Lowcountryes His Majesty upon these and the like Advises from the Netherlands Spaine and Rome resolved to go in person Commanders were listed Shipping provided and his meniall Servants that were to attend him named And lest this warrelike Preparation might be get a Ielousy in the minds of princes his Majesty satisfied them by his Ambassadours of his true Intent in that Expedition against the Lowcountrymen The King of France was desired to giue the Spanish Army Passage through the Provinces of Narbon and Lions To Emanuell Filibert Duke of Savoy upon whom he much relyed the King sent Iohn Acugnia to advise with him what time by what way he he would direct him to bring his Army and which were the most dangerous Places for Ambuscadoes and to intreat him to send his Majesty a Chart exactly describing the Cityes Forts by which every day his Souldiers were to march with the locall intervalls dimensions who therfore desired the whole Country between Savoy Burgundy might be accurately measured and put in Colours to which end Gabriell Cueva Duke of Alburcher Governour of Millaine should send him Captaine Campin an exquisite Enginere with a painter and a Surveyer lest his Majesty might might upon the way encounter any thing new upon which he had not preconsidered But the more earnestly and formally the Particulars were requested the lesse they were intended for Security being only to amuse the world and in all these Punctualityes and curious Accommodations for his March there was nothing of substance all meerly Show and Colour Nor can any man perswade mee that King Philip a subtill and ambitious Prince would at that time leave his chiefe strength when he found some beginnings of the Rebellion of the Moores and was inwardly so much offended with his Son Charles Prince of Spaine For should he take his Son along into the Low-Countries and bring the Lords a Patron for their cause which the Prince was thought privatly to favour or leave him behind and trust him with Spain which it was likely he would involve in Tumults when he was left to himselfe whose fierce nature even his Majesty could hardly moderate in the time of peace But the King concealed these Reasons and with new Preparations fed the Rumour of his Voiage thereby to keepe the Lowcountry-Lords in more obedience and to have the fairer Pretence to put off the Emperour whom the Lords as it was said meant to make Arbiter from interessing himselfe in the businesse of the Lowcountryes and by the fame of an Army to deterre others from fomenting the Faction of the Gheuses The King was hâ—lpen in his dissimulation by a quartan Ague which holding him long was thought to be the Cause of his Delay especially for that he still continued his care and provisions for the Voiage Though some of his nearest Servants knowing all this to be but Pageantry suspected his Ague likewise to be fained But when the King was recovered and that by Letters from the Governesse his Majesty was certified of the Rebellion of some Townes and Danger of all unlesse prevented by his Coming quickned with Griefe and Anger he made all things ready with such formall Hast as not a Servant in his Court no not the Lowcountry-Embassadours the Marquis of Bergen and the Lord Montin thaâ— had often Laughed at the Comedy of the Royall expedition did now doubt the truth of it
yet still the King did but act his part was not serious For among other dissuasions from his Voyage Letters came from the Governess giuing him intelligence that the Lords were resolved if the King as they heard would bring an army into the Lowcountryes that they themselves would call in forreigne Assistance and casting off their Allegeance oppose his Entry Which howsoever he dissembled or publiquely seemed to slight questionlesse he that was so jealous of his Crowne and Honour must needs be very sensible how much both would be indangered if by carrying an Army thither he should teach the Lowcountryes how to arme so render himselfe contemptible to his Subiects and to the neighbour Princes that would looke on or perhaps secretly assist the Rebells Therefore in the last Consultation which he held about it at Madrid his Majesty would only have it put to the question Whether he should goe without an Army which some perswaded or take his Forces along which the Popes Nuntio earnestly advised Among his Privy-Councell which then were numerous and great Statesmen because the King greatly relyed vpon their Iudgements there came to the Board Ferdinando Toledo Duke of Alva Roderick Gomez a Silva Prince of Ebora both of them very powerfull with the King but as Favour tooke place of Estimation he was greater in his Majestyes Account this had the greater Honours conferred upon him There was likewise Cardinall Spinosa who from very meane beginnings was advanced to be chiefe Inquisitour and President of the Councell of Castile and had beene of so high Authority in King Philip's Court that he was called the Spanish Monarch There was also Gomez Figueroa Duke of Feria Iohn Manric de Lara and Anthony de Toledo Knight of St Iohns of Hierusalem and Prior of Leon all excelâ—lent and active wits But Feria besides the vast indowments of his mind exceeded them all in handsomnesse and sweetnesse of disposition Manric was conspicuous for Prudence the Prior for Religion Then sate Bernardo Fresneda the Kings confessar a Franciscan Anthonio Perez Privy Seale and diverse others most of them Councellours of approved integrity and such as seriously intended their Prince's Honour which notwithstanding as every one was of a sowre or gentle temper they interpreted according to their owne inclinations Thus it is that all men forme their Opinions and the Vote which nature extorts we thinke is given to the Cause when indeed we give it to our Humour The King himselfe sate in Councell to moderate by his presence the publique and continuall Iarres between the Duke of Alva and the Prince of Ebora contending no lesse for superiority at the Board then for preheminence in Court Or rather his Majesty came in person that if any one which he heard was designed should move for his Son to be Generall he himselfe might breake off the proposall And there was one that perswaded the sending of an Army remembring his Majesty of Tiberius Caesar that left forrein Warres to the Managery of his Sonnes But immediately Prince Roderick who very well understood the King as if he approved that part of the Advise for the King's Security tooke the Speech out of the others Mouth and by degrees brought it to this That he could not but think it unseasonable to exasperate quiet and obedient Subjects with an Army thereby ingaging the Hereticks their Neighbours to assist their Brethren That the Fire of Civill War is carefully to be watched especially in such a place where they are neere that feed the flame and they farre off that must extinguish it though indeed it can never be extinguished without the Conquerours's Losse For in the civill Ruine of Cityes Men and Fortunes the Prince loses whatsoever is taken from the conquered The Offences till that day committed by the Low-country-men were sufficiently punished and subdued by his Majestyes Sister and if any thing were unsubdued it was their minds not their their bodyes but those should be conquered not by Armes but Favours being more agreeable to the King's Clemency and to the nature of the Low-country-men of whom his Father Charles the Fifth was wont to say There is no people under Heaven so they be fatherly used that more abhorre servitude or more patiently indure it Then summing up the expence of an Army the Dangers the Jealousies of Princes he concluded That nothing was so intricate in the Low-countryes or ravelled into such hard knots but might be easily and gently untyed without drawing of a sword to cut it Certainly forrein Troubles might be composed at distance by a Prince without diminution to his Authority reserving his presence for cases of extreame necessity This Counsell of Roderick Gomez was the sense of a man potent at Court whose principall Aime was peace and quiet and his greatest Policy to prevent a Warre where the businesse and consequently the Power should be transferred to others Of the same opinion was Bernardo Fresneda a plaine and sweete-natured man and Anthonio Perez a Creature of Prince Roderick's But the Duke of Alva was for Armes and Revenge as the only cure for Wounds given to Religion and Royall Authority For by other Artifices and facility nothing was effected but the taking away obedience from the King and feare from the Rebells At first the Low-country-men desired only to be freed of the Spanish Garrisons and protested nothing else was wanting to quiet the People But when our Souldiers were disbanded were the people quieted or the rather and with the more confidence did they not demand that Granvell should be removed from the Governesse and the Helme of State which he protected never desisting till with base Libells ridiculous Fooleryes and traiterous combinations at last they extorted their desires But peradventure when one man was cast overboard it laid the wind which raised that popular Tempest No rather as Licentiousnesse more easily increases then begins having now got ground as men imboldened by our Gentlenesse they publish scurrilous Pamphlets against the Multiplication of Bishopricks the Revivall of the Emperours's Edicts the Councell of Trent and the Pontifician Inquisitours they petition but with their swords in their hands they fright the Governesse with Threats and weary the King's patience with obsâ—inate and impudent Messages Whereupon the King out of his clemency considering himselfe as a Father was pleased to moderate some of his Decrees and the Governesse to grant something more then she should have done to such base Petitioners For what wrought her Indulgence but only that when they had obtained their Requests by not obeying they forgot themselves to be subjects unlearned their Principles of Obedience and shaking of Allegeance to their Prince made an Association of the Provinces as if the number of offendors should secure them and undervaluing all things humane and divine in comparison of the Liberty they had once tasted off Indeed his Father Charles the fifth who was not ignorant of the Low-country-men's
held by the Prince of Orange and they ioyed in his Safety as if thereby the Lowcountreys were not left altogether Destitute Nay Cardinall Granvell at Rome hearing of the doings in Bruxells asked the Messenger whether the Duke had taken Silence so he called the Prince of Orange when he answered no he was not taken Granvell they say replyed If that one fish hath scaped the net the Duke of Alva's Draught is nothing worth But because all this was done without acquainting the Governesse before it could be divulged the Duke sent the Counts Mansfeldt and Barlamont whom he knew she Favoured and were yet in his House to tell her Excellence what was past and to excuse his secresie for he had concealed it by the Kings command to the end that no part of the Odium might reflect upon her who was concerned to preserve the love of the people under her Governement But this gave no satisfaction to the Governesse and though whilst they were present shee smothered her indignation yet deepely resenting it shee began to doubt that many such actions might happen for the future and the power being transferred to Alva she her selfe should only retaine the title and formality of Governesse that the Governement might appeare to be in one of the House of Austria Therefore upon receipt of new Letters signifying the King had put off his voyage for Sixe moneths longer that is till the beginning of the Spring her hope then failing and being daily tormented with sore fits of the Colick she sent her servant Machiavell to the King and disputing the imprisonment of Egmont and Horne briefely without complaint lest she might seeme distasted at it she beseeched his Majesty in regard of her Infirmities which made her unfit for cares of State to license her departure from the Lowcountries rather then stay her there with such limited and almost no Authority Whether it were advantageous to the King or handsome for her whom the King vouchsafed to call Sister to be subordinate to another She humbly submitted to his Majesties Consideration For her part she resolved so long as she lived to be wholy Governed by his Majesties Pleasure as became his most humble Servant This notwithstanding the Governesse omitted nothing which appertained to Civill Affaires For by resolution of Senate which she summoned the Duke of Alva being present she endeavoured to stoppe the Lowcountry-mens Flight which daily and still in greater numbers slipt away and tenne of the richest Merchants of Tournay intending to go into England by her Command weere clapt up prisoners and their Goods in the Port of Vlushing imbargoed and confiscated A while after the French Embassadouâ— as she lay upon her bed coming to kisse her Hands and making a grievous Complaint that Multitudes of Lowcountrymen flocked to the Prince of Conde and others that intended a Warre against the King she published an Edict against all Lowcountrymen that should assist the French Rebells The Embassadour not thus contented by Command from King Charles who was now almost ruined by his rebellious Subiects moved the Governesse for some present Forces out of the Lowcountreys And indeed it was but a reasonable Request for though the Causes of this Warre which the French Historians call the second Civill Warre of France were not all different from those of the first yet the Prince of Conde and Colligny the heads of the Faction grounded their pretence upon the Passage of the Duke of Alva's Army who faining to march another way intended the Invasion of France to destroy those of the reformed Religion For in the Conference at Baion they said it was so articled betweene Charles the French King his Mother Katherine of Medices and his Sister Isabella Queene of Spaine where the Duke of Alva was in person In pursuance of which Agreement the Governesse formerly had persecuted and quelled the Hereticall Party in the Low-countryes and now Alva himselfe was come with a strong Spanish Army that at the same time King Charles might ruine the Hugonots in France and the Spaniard their Brethren in the Low-countreys Wherefore the French Hugonots raising great Forces as if they would revenge wrongs received or at least stand upon their guard for the future first they seized diverse Townes and Cityes then laid a Plot to take the King himselfe lying at Meaux who very hardly escaping in the night and received into Paris there they straitly besieged him and cut off all Supplyes by Armes or Victuall endeavouring to bring their Prince into their Power At last drawing out their Army they gave him battaile at the Towne of Saint Denis and though they left the Field and fled and the Catholiques by consequence had the victory yet it was a bloudy one the King's Generall Annas Momorancy being slaine Notwithstanding they made greater Levyes for Heresie dayly increased and receiving strong Recruits from Germany reviv'd the Warre Which moved the King of France besides the men raised through his whole Kingdome to desire ayde for the defence of Religion out of Italy Germany and as I said out of the Low-countreys But the Governesse not willing to grant Assistance without knowing the King's pleasure gladly referred it to the Duke of Alva who remembring the Agreement for mutuall Succours made at Baion and thinking the French Embassadours ' Motion both honourable to the Spaniard and opportune for kindling Enmity between the Low-countrey-men and the French Hereticks whose minds would be distracted to see an Army come against them from the same place whence formerly they had supplyes he answered the Embassadour that the Senate had decreed Auxiliaryes as he requested which should forthwith march away and acquainting the Governesse with it he gave the charge of 2000. Spanish Foot and 1200. Horse most of them Gentlemen of Haynolt and Artoys to Iohn Lignius Count of Aremberg Some write that the Duke offered himselfe to be their Generall but such Assistance as it was likely to do would have begot a jealousie in the French that he came not as a Friend but as a Spy therefore as not expedient for either Kingdome that he should be absent from the Low-countreys it was by the Embassadour modestly refused and then Alva substituted another in his place Howsoever it were about the end of November Aremberg departing from Cambray three dayes supplications being made before he went for his happy Expedition joyned his Forces with the Marquesse Villeirs at Amiens from thence marching up to the King's Army he did his Majesty great Service in many Battailes till the French Differences partly settled by a Treaty he was commanded back to the Low-countreys by the Duke of Alva who then especially needed such a Generall and such an Army About that time Machiavell returning from Spaine brought her Excellence the King's Letters wherein after he had signified that three dayes before his Queen was brought a bed of a
this Mischiefe is vulgarly imputed to the Duke of Alva for before he came Governour to these Provinces his name was hatefull to the Lowcountry-men It is reported when the Emperour Charles the fifth meaning to revenge himselfe upon Gant asked the Duke of Alva what Punishment in his Opinion they deserved He answered that his Majestyes stubborne Country deserved vtter Ruine The Emperour offended at this cruell Answer commanded him to go to the top of a Tower from thence take a View of the whole Towne then he asked him how many Spanish Skinnes would goe to the making of such a Glove for Gant in French is Glove but finding the Emperour by his looke to be displeased Alva durst make no Reply This Passage because interwoven with the Honour of the Prince and City whether true or false was easily believed by the Gantois and from them dispersed with an Odium upon Alva through the rest of the Lowcountreys And by the manner of his Coming he increased the Opinion of his Severity entring the Provinces with an Army as if his designe were to Conquer them bringing Spanish Souldiers againe into the Low-countreys awing the Townes with them and with the Forts he built sentencing Count Egmont a man generally beloved and Count Horne Admirall of the Seas summoning the Prince of Orange with other of the Confederates to answer their Impeachments And it is said he perswaded the King that he should not out of Lenity of which there had beene too much allready pardon any man for the future And indeede if his Majesty had granted the Petition made by the Prince of Orange that his owne and his Friends causes might be heard by the King as Master of the Order of the Fleece not by the Duke of Alva and his Councell many thinke they had hardly at this time begun the Warre But the sentence of the inraged King condemning the Prince of Orange and his confederates of High Treason and confiscating their Estates being pronounced by an odious Minister and so the Odium reflecting upon the Judgement it selfe may seeme to have constrained their taking of Armes upon a just resentment and consequently that the miserable and long Warre ensuing should rather be charged upon the Spaniards then the Low-countrey-men as some say but what are they men of that number which saith Polybius conceive the Causes and Beginnings of a Warre to be the same For my owne part as I will not deny but that Alva's cruell and hatefull Government was the Occasion and Beginning so I assure my selfe it was not the Cause of the Warre For the cause was much deeper grounded Indeed the Prince of Orange's Ambition to command in chiefe exasperated with griefe and Anger heightned by the accesse of Hereticks and opportunity of a Party men of all qualities ingaging this was the Cause which if it had not then and from that Originall taken fire to kindle a Warre in a little more time and from another Place would have found combustible matter Nor can occasion be long wanting to Improbity But the Prince of Orange his Fact was so fortunate as to find Patronage in the Hatred of another For he upon the Sentence pronounced by the Duke of Alva against him his Brother and many great persons tooke up Armes with so much the fairer pretence by how much it seemed not only just but glorious to defend himselfe to recover his owne and to vindicate his Associates his Son and Countrey in their Rights and Liberties In the Relation of which Warre managed by the Duke of Alva and his Successour Ludovico Requesenes I shall contract my selfe especially where I have no more nor no certainer Intelligence then others For which two Reasons I have inlarged my discourse in the Dutchesse or Parma's Government and shall doe in that of Don Iohn of Austria and of Alexander Farneze For I can promise many Animadversions concerning them out of the Monuments of Letters in my hands which are not common Yet in this Summary if there be any thing as I presume there will be diverse which I know and is unknowne to others I shall not faile to give it you at full Some thought the future Calamities were presaged by a Boy borne at Liege with two Heads foure Feet and as many Hands portending as they said the Monster of a Confederation to be made out of the joynt Forces of sundry Nations which soone after came to passe This Terrour was increased in minds already disposed to feare by a Fire immediatly after happening in the City of Machlin For a sparke falling among the Gunpowder at the Mills by accident or perhaps upon designe tooke hold of 60. Barrels with such a horrid thunder and Earthquake that in most of the Cityes of Brabant the men and houses trembed at the dreadfull noyse Though in regard these Powder-Milles used to be distant from Townes there were but few men slaine yet there might have been fewer and would be daily if as we sever seditious persons lest by coming together they set the State in a Combustion so the Elements that make Gunpowder were kept a sunder But Alva more moved with the Losse then with the Prodigy laid the foundation of a Fort at Antwerp modelled by the great Engineere Paciotto approved of by the Judgment of Serbellonio raised by the hands of 2000. Workmen with extraordinary Speed and Successe because he used but one man's contrivance and one man's counsell It was built in the forme of a Pentagon at every one of the sides was a large bulwarke to foure of which the Governour gave his owne name and titles Ferdinando Toledo Duke and Alva the fifth he suffered to be called Paciotto But this Fort though it long continued a patterne to all the new Plat-formes of Europe and that Paciotto got himselfe a great name by it being from thence called the Inventour of the moderne Fortification yet it was not by all men equally esteemed as for other Causes so particularly for the Situation upon that banke of the Scheldt which looketh towards Brabant in so much as when the Enemy from Holland attacques the Towne it cannot beat them off as it would have done had it been placed on the other side the City against the mouth of Scheldt opposite to Holland But 't is excused by some that say when Alva built this Fort he rather considered how he might defend himselfe from the Towne then the Towne from the Enemy And they add that the place was discreetly chosen as opportune for the bringing in contribution from those Provinces subject to the Spaniard which indeed is most considerable in the building of Forts a convenience they had wanted in case it had looked towards Holland Though I suppose Serbellonio had not this in designe For when he raised this Fort Holland was no lesse obedient to the King then Brabant and therefore he would have provided
for contribution from both But I conceive by that Site he intended the Security of the Fort it selfe For when all the Levell between that and Holland lyes so much lower that the River is kept off by huge Piles of wood lest it should overflow the Fields and Villages it had been very inconsiderate to have fortified where the Enemy tearing up the Wood-piles the very water would have besieged the Place and have forced it to yield To which danger it is not subject being seated on the higher ground Though afterwards when the Low-countreys were divided and Holland brought into the power of the Enemy that fell out which was not at first thought of the Advantage of bringing into the Fort Supplyes out of the Provinces in obedience to the King of Spaine At the same time from the councell of Twelve nominated by Alva to determine without Appeale the causes of all Delinquents in the late Tumults by reason of their frequent Sentences of Death called the Councell of Bloud William Nassau Prince of Orange Anthony Lalin Count Hochstrat Florence Pallantius Count Culemburg William Count Bergen Henry Brederod and the other Lords fled out of the Low-countreys were upon Alva's command summoned to heare their Accusations and Impeachments read by the King's Advocate and to cleare themselves of the crimes charged against them But they presently sending a Paper to the Duke of Alva wherein they denyed his Councell to be a lawfull Court of their Companions of the Golden Fleece held it their safest course at a distance to defend their Common cause The Prince of Orange made suite to the Emperour Maximilian and implored his and the German Princes Assistance that by their Authority the Difference wit the Duke of Alva might be composed Unlesse perhaps he did it that under pretence of making his Peace the Spaniard might not looke into his preparations for a Warre Nor did Caesar or the Princes of the Empire deny their Patronage to the Low-country-men But the Duke of Alva answered to the Letters written by Maximilian and to the Duke of Bavaria's Embassadour whom the rest of the German Lords as one respected by the King had chosen to represent their Desires to the Governour that he did not this of himselfe but by command from the King and so hastning their cause to a Hearing yet expecting the number of dayes given for their Appearance when within that time none of them came in the Duke of Alva according to the power deputed to him by the King in that case to heare and determine pronounced the Prince of Orange his Brother Lewis and the rest that were summoned by Edict guilty of High Treason and confiscated their Estates Likewise he put a Spanish Garrison into Breda a Towne of the Prince of Orang'es and taking his Son Philip-William a Child of thirteene yeares old from the Vniversity of Lovaine where he was a Student sent him into Spaine where under the name of Catholique Education the name of Hostage was concealed This the Prince of Orange seemed passionately to resent execrating with continuall and publique Exclamations the cruelty used to a boy of thirteen whom neither his own Innocence nor the priviledges of the Vniversity of Lovaine could protect from Injury Yet many upon very good Grounds conceived his Son's Captivity was pleasing to this subtill Prince measuring all things by his own Advantage For if the King of Spaine prevailed and consequently he himselfe should lose all he had yet his Majesty might be mercifull to the boy bred up a Spaniard but if as he hoped it should otherwise fall out he had a younger Son Maurice Companion in his Father's Fortune and Heire to his Estate By the said Councell of twelve all such were particularly condemned as the Duke of Alva upon Examination by Inquisitours sent through the Provinces found to have violated Churches or holy Pictures or to have assembled at Sermons Consistoryes and turbulent meetings or to have conspired against the King either by wearing Cognizances and owning the names of Gheuses or by taking Armes or lastly by assisting the Rebells with their Endeavours Counsels or Forces Yet the wiser sort thought this to be an unseasonable Course and that rather till the Heads had been cut off the Body should have been gently handled and laid in a sleepe lest if it should be in motion that agility might easily decline the blow made at the head With the like fury the Duke of Alva commanded them to pull down Culemburg-House Where the Gheuses first received their Denomination and upon the place setting a Marble-pillar writ upon the Basis as a monument to posterity in foure Languages these words In this Area stood the House of Florence Pallantius ruined in memory of the execrable Treason hatched therein at sever all times against Religion the Roman Catholique Church their King and Countrey This Spectacle was rendred more horrid by the late newes from Spaine that Prince Charles was imprisoned by the King his Father's command and that Florence Momorancy sent as you have heard into Spaine by the Governesse was by warrant from the King a Prisoner in Segovia It was thought the same objections were against him that were against his Brother Count Horne but the Prince lost himselfe by his Favours to the Low-countrey-men Indeed the Judgement upon Montiny was certainly known he being condemned a yeare after to lose his Head but the cause of Prince Charles his Death which hapned in this yeare the more uncertaine and obscure it was the more litigiously do Writers strive to examine it most men having a naturall Ambition to search into Secrets and passe by things before their eyes Whatsoever I my selfe have by my Industry discovered that concernes Prince Charles I shall impartially unfold not regarding the conceptions of others Charles prince of Spaine was of a furious and violent nature and noted to be so from his Childhood at which time being presented by some Hunters with Levorets he killed them with his owne hands that he might have the pleasure of seeing them gaspe and dye The Venetian Embassadoâ—r tooke notice thereof and from thence made a Iudgment of the Child 's barbarous inclination with as much probability as long agoe the Areopagites censured the Boy that put forth the eyes of Quailes This I have read in the Letters touching the Affayres of Spaine writt by the said Embassadour to the Senate of Venice And the Prince himselfe dayly manifested the truth of these coniectures by his cruell and monstrous disposition not being at many times Master of himselfe as the Archbishop of Rossana the Popes Nuntio affimed writing to Cardinall Alexandrino And the Child grew more headstrong by reason of his Father's absence and the indulgence of Maximilian King of Bohemia who with his Queene Mary Daughter to Charles the fifth governed Spaine for King Philip. This his Granfather Charles the
besides the distempers of his mind if he were not poisoned he dyed upon Saint Iames his Eue. Foure dayes before having for a long time equally slighted the cure of Body and Soule God turning his Minde he called for his Ghostly Father and confessing his Sinnes with great compunction sending one to his Father to begge pardon for his Disobedience holding a hallowed Candle in his hand gave up the ghost I know this Relation will not please some that greedily swallow downe the foulest Surmizes without any distinction or respect to Truth or False-hood for whose palates if I were minded to dresse my Discourse I might instance the Rebellion of the Moores at this very time and make Prince Charles their Incourager and say that he sollicited Selimus the Turkish Emperour by Michesius the Jew fled out of Spaine as I have formerly related I might like-wise move a jealousie that the Faction of the Low countrey Covenanters was assisted by Prince Charles and might interpret that to be the reason why they resolved to send into Spaine many thousands of Calvins Catechismes translated into Spanish whereof the Governesse as I told you sent Intelligence to King Philip Pope Pius the fifth wrote to his Majesty that some Chest fulls of them were found at Lyons and Tholouse Nor should I passe over the Death of Queene Isabella Wife to King Philip there being but a few moneths between the Prince his Death and her's as if their too much Familiarity for Isabella should have beene marryed to Prince Charles had been the cause of both their fates Lastly I might tell you how the Prince had a designe upon his Father's life either out of affection to the Crowne or hatred to the King grounding my conjecture upon common fame which spread to farre that to my knowledge this verse of Ovid was used to that purpose in the Low-countreys first applied as they say by Opmerus FILIVs ante DIeM patr Ios InqVIrIt In annos Wherein both the Prince's Fact and the yeare of his Death are expressed in numerall Letters But this kind of learning as darke and intricate I willingly leave to those Writers that by Interpretation of such Oracles are ambitious to be famed for acutenesse of wit and divination they seeming to me besides their uncertainty to have no colour of Truth For not to speake of the Love betwixt the Queene and Prince which if it had been true the King to breake that League would have hastned not put off the Princes Marriage with his Cosen-german if the Prince had plotted any thing against his Father he might every day have executed it by himselfe and with his owne hands as being young and coming resolved against an unprepared old man or if he would have raised Tumults and called in help no doubt but he had needed many hands and consequently when the Prince fell those of his Party I suppose could not have stood yet the Princes Death was the losse of no mans Life Nay the King to lessen the envy both of his Son's Imprisonment and Death knowing himselfe aspersed by diverse persons in particular by Mary the Empresse the Prince's Aunt and desirous to match her Daughter to the Heire of so many Kingdomes would he not have pretended the cause of such Severity to have been his Son 's impious Designes Notwithstanding in his Letter to the Empress he denyed that his Son was found guilty of any â—reasonable Intention but said it was fit he should be imprisoned for his own howsoever for the Kingdome 's Good And a few dayes after his Son's Commitment sending the President of his Councell of Castile to the Archbishop of Rossana the Popes nuncio he assured the Bishop from the King there was no other reason of that Change as the Bishop himselfe wrote to Cardinall Alexandrino in the President 's wrods then his Majesties Resolution to prefer Religion and the Safety of his Subjects before his owne bloud which compelled him in a manner to sacrifice his only Son lest he should have been more than ingratefull for the great benefits God had bestowed upon him Afterwards his Majesty inserted in his Letters to forreine Princes and to his owne Kingdomes that the Rumour spread abroad of a Plot which his Son had upon his life was idle false But this fortune proved peculiar to the two Charles'es the Grand-father Grand-childe that the one's Desire to resigne and the other 's to invest the Soveraignty very much busied the wits of Writers The Low-countrey-Lords and Commons affrighted with the King 's forrein and domesticall Severity every man as his conscience accused him shifted for himselfe few hoped for Pardon many thought of Armes and Revenge In so much as Alva himselfe hardly escaped at the Monastery of Greene-vaile to which he was going in devotion an Ambush being laid in the woods by Ressorius Nohott to surprize him by the way And when he came thither he was in danger to have been murthered in the very Monastery by Charles Ressorius his Brother who had taken the habit of a Monke pretending feare of the Duke Iohn Lignius Count Aremberg Governour of Frisland Generall at the Battaile of Hilligel The death of Count Aremberg incouraged not the mind of the Prince of Orange and the Confederates more then it exasperated the Duke of Alva and hastened his March into Friezland to prevent Lewis of Nassau from joyning forces with the Prince of Orange But the Duke fearing that in his absence some Tumult might be raised in favour of the Lords his Prisoners freed himselfe of that suspicion especially being inraged for the losse of Count Aremberg at the newes brought him that Grave Lewis had hanged many Spaniards in Revenge of his Brother Adolph's Death And though diverse of his Friends did not so well approve his Resolution but indeavoured to perswade him there was no danger of a Tumult in the Low-countryes so long as he had for his Security such Hostages as those Prisoners And that it was no more to be doubted that the Low-countrey-men would out of their affection forceably attempt any thing for the Liberty of the impeached Lords then it was to be hoped that the same affection would disswade them from stirring lest by a popular offence they might wrong those Noble-mens private cause Yet the Duke of Alva despising this Advise as one that long experience had made jealous and of his owne nature was averse to other mens counsells which he looked upon with the aspect of a retrograd Planet especially when they offered themselves on the first of Iune Nineteene noble Covenanters were condemned of High Treason by the Councell of twelve and by the Duke of Alva's Order beheaded in the Sand-market at Bruxells Eight whereof dyed religiously the other Eleven like Hereticks as they were obstinately and therefore the bodyes of those were buryed but the other all but
among the rest had impeached and condemned the Prince of Orange then he joyned the common cause as he strove to make it with his owne and openly tooke up Armes safe in point of reputation because there was one to whose execrated name the Warre would be imputed But the Cities being terrified with the suddaine punishment inflicted by the Duke the Prince of Orange found by experience that in the new Impression of a feare whose first Fit is the strongest and by continuance lessens till it be shooke off it is to no purpose so long as the humour that hath weakened the people is undigested to sollicit them to rebell But when the Cities as well those that continued faithfull to the Spaniard as those that stood suspected were pressed to pay Taxes the hatred of the Generality increasing overcame their Feare the people growing more confident when they heard that the Duke of Alva must be gone Then the Prince of Orange knew his time was come for maturing a Rebellion and founding of that Government which he had long designed Therefore whilst Alva fixt all his Care upon raising the Taxes the Prince of Orange laid hold of the opportunity to draw the people from their obedience to the King and incouraged by the secret Intelligence which he had with many Townes ready to revolt levied Souldiers at his leisure and kindled such a fire of Warre in the Low-countreys as for so many yeares space could never be put out with the ruines of battered Cities nor extinguished with a torrent of bloud The Warre was begun upon the Sea of Holland as if they had now already found their strength and were sensible from the very first in what part they should establish their Dominion And notwithstanding this Rebellion was often intended and attempted by the Gheuses as well those of Corporations called the City Gheuses as the High-way-men called the Wood Gheuses yet the Water Gheuses for so they were commonly called were they whose fortunate Audacity carried it The Commander in chiefe of these Water Gheuses was Count William a Marcha Baron of Lumè professing his enmity to the Duke of Alva in his Colours wherein was painted ten pieces of money to inflame the fury of his men by putting them in mind of the tenth part The first that tooke Commissions with him were William Blosius Treslong Lancelot bastard Son to Brederod Bartholomew Entese Sonoi and diverse others These had Letters of Mart from the Prince of Orange and orders to scoure and rob the Sea-Coast of Holland and Friezland And out of hatred to the Spaniard and desire of Free-boote whereof the Prince of Orange was to have a fifth part they executed their Orders and robbed from the mouth of the Ems to the English narrow Seas where if at any time they met with Ships too strong for them or fled before a Tempest they commonly secured themselves in some English Harbour But the Queene her selfe refusing to protect them as common Enemies upon request made to her by the Duke of Alva they having boarded and taken a Biscaner were by tempest driven into Vorna an Isle of Holland the People supposing them to be Merchants cast upon that Coast by the Storme Where imboldened by their late perills they fell upon the Brill a Port-towne of Zeland and before the Townsmen were aware that they brought Warre not Merchandise with unimaginable successe no man resisting they tooke the Place upon Palme-Sunday and Lumè leading them on broke the Saintes Images in pieces and omitting no kind of Irreverence to holy things or Orders so fortified the Ports that when Count Bolduc Governour of Holland by Alvas Command came against them they not only gave him a strong Repulse but likewise Willam Treslong with incredible Confidence fired some of his Ships accidentally severed from the Fleete Vpon report of the taking of this Isle as if the Scarlet Colours had beene hung out for Signall of battaile to the Provinces t is not to be told what wonderfull changes through all the Low-countreys immediately insued For many Cityes favoured the Covenanteers some invited them others stood neutrall and would neither admit of Alva nor revolt from the King A few were sensible of their Allegeance and tooke armes for the Spaniard Dort the Chiefe City of Holland when Count Bolduc fled thither and demanded entrance for his men it being cunningly given out that the Spaniards were upon their March to distraine for the tenth part would not let him in but shut their Gates against him as an enemy Vlushing a port Towne of Zeland and the bulwarke of the Ocean upon an Exhortation at Masse made to them on Easter day in the morning by the Parish Priest who hated the Spaniard perswaded them to maintaine their Liberty turned out the Spanish Garrison with such a popular fury as they hanged Colonell Alvarez Pacecho Kinsman to the Duke of Alva at Treslong's request in revenge as hee said of his Brothers death foure yeares before beheaded by Alva's Order and the Hereticks themselves were earnest to have him put to death that Vlushing might not hope for pardon from the Governour 's just Anger A while after Enchuysen lying over against Friezland which among the chiefe Ports of Holland had till then continued loyall revolted from the Duke Enchuysens example was follwed by Horne Alcmar Edam and other Townes of North-Hollandt And in South Hollandt Goude Oudewater Leyden Gorcom So that besides Amsterdam and Schoonhoven that were still faithfull to the Spaniard the Duke of Alva lost almost all Holland and a great part of Zeland which had so shaken off the terrour of his name that they wrote publique Libells against him and assoone as Brill was taken pictured him with a paire of Spectacles put upon his Nose by Lumè standing behind his back for the Low-Duch call Spectacles Brills and they have a jeering Proverb when they hamper a man that they put Spectacles on his nose and a Snaffle in his mouth These Figures therefore signifyed that Alvas Severity was now bridled But they that made them little dreamed what a world of Mischiefe hung over their heads in the hand of this great Generall one that despised such ridiculous toyes And though some of the Cityes I have named wavered at the very first resolved to rebell not resolved to whom they should submit yet partly despairing out of the greatnesse of their crimes committed against the Church and Churchmen partly out of an obstinate determination never to indure the new Taxes they finally came in to the prince of Orange and as if he had beene their Kinge Lumè moving it tooke an oath of Fidelity to him From him they received their Garrisons Shipping and Armes he disposed of all places of Government made Lawes bestowed an ordered the Revenues taken from the Clergy such Multitudes out of France and Great Britaine flocking
they call the States till it should be otherwise ordered by the King who for some time doubted whether he should allow that form of Goverment or no. For Gregory the thirteenth who had mutually agreed with King Philip to assist the Queen of Scots then a Prisoner being to nominate a Generall for that expedition for it was undertaken in the Popes not the Kings name lest it might distast the Rivalls of the Spanish Greatnesse his Holinesse made choice of Don Iohn of Austria famous for Sea victories And therefore advised the King by Ormanetti who was trusted in the transaction of that businesse to send his Brother into the Low-countreys wanting at that time a Governour who would be in great esteem with the Low countrey men that honoured the memory of his Father Charles the fifth and might from thence passe with a Fleet into England where he if any man might exspect success He likewise articled with King Philip that the Queen of Scots if it pleased God they freed her from captivity should be married to Don Iohn with the Kingdome of England for her dowry which would be a fair title to the Island for the House of Austria to ground a Warre upon The King disliked it not though he more approved of the Expedition then of the Generall but instantly resolved and promised the Nuncio to send his brother into the Low-countreys But his Majestie thought it not amisse to protract his Brothers going for a while that he might see how the Low-countreymen would govern the Low-countreys moved hereunto by Ioachim Opper a Low-countrey man his Secretary for the Netherlands who delivered his opinion that the Low-countrey Lords would no doubt be infinitely carefull of the Common-wealth and would now themselves apply to the evill that remedie for which they had so often solicited the King Who by confiding in them would for ever oblige the hearts of the Low-countrey men Especially in that his Majestie well knew the Principall Senatours Duke Areschot the Counts Mansfeldt and Barlamont and the President of the Senate himself Viglius Zuichom were men of most undoubted Religion and Loyaltie But to govern by a Committee that I may not accuse the Kings prudence from the event was then unseasonable For in the most troubled State the most present remedy is for one man to rule Truly this indulgence of the Prince did more hurt to the Low-countreys then all his severity as appeared by the immediate ruine of the Provinces For the people freed from a Spanish Governour would not acknowledge a new one in the Senate or rather greatly feared not a power divided and diminished among many And the Lords despised the government of their Peers and easily deluded their discordant Votes and Orders Some enemies to the Spaniard desirous of revenge fomented this difference of the Lords especially the Burgesses for Brabant and Haynolt whom Requesenes had larely called to Bruxells For these as they were chosen under-hand by means of the Prince of Orange in regard of the Authority wherewith those Provinces intrusted them hugely distracted the Senate And though both parties pretended the Kings name and cause yet their Designes and Counsels were so different that some of them were vulgarly called Spaniards others Patriots or Protectours of their Countrey And as the word Countrey infinitely takes the People with a counterfeit and deceiving image of Libertie it was not to be doubted but in case of a Warre the major part of the Low-countrey-men would adhere unto this party Nor was occasion long wanting to mature the mischief For when they had taken Ziriczee after Requesenes his death the Germans and Spaniards clamouring for their pay for that Island had afforded very little money it was resolved on by the Senate for easing the Low-countreys of the burden of forrein Souldiers to pay and cashiere the regiment of Hannibal Count de Altempse because there having lately been a breach between him and the Governour of Antwerp Frederick Perenot Lord of Campin about the Garrison it was feared lest publick mischief might ensue In the mean time the Spaniards that took Ziriczee under Colonell Mondragonio when they saw themselves passed by and the many moneths pay which was promised them issued out to others interpreting not falsely as some said that it was done out of malice to their Nation and they thereby necessitated to an Insurrection First as if he looked not into their business they threatned Mondragonio then hearing of the complaints made in the Senate of Bruxels by Count Altempse who publickly affirmed that he was casheired not for any danger to the Town of Antwerp nor with relation to his fouldiers importunity for pay which he himself a fortnight longer was able to have satisfied but only by the subtilty spleen of the Lord Campin that excluded souldiers faithfull to the King and so weakning the Spanish partie intended to betray the citie to the Prince of Orange Whereupon the Spaniards troubled at the publick danger and the more exasperated by their private injury in regard they demanded but what was due to their extraordinary labours and unprendented courage in wading through the sea seized upon their Captains and chose themselves a Generall in Mondragonio's place Whereto they were animated by the example of the horse and recruited by the accession of Valdez his Regiment They sent letters therefore to the Senate at Bruxels threatningly petitioning for their money Nor did the Senate deny it the major part being Royallists But the Burgesfes of Hoynolt and Brabant long since bought as I said with the Prince of Oranges money interceded in the name of their Provinces pretending publick necessitie And whilst the Senate partly affrighted with their protestations partly intangled in crosse votes deferred their payment the Spaniards thinking their menaces contemned took up their Colours in furie crying Away for Brabant And having left Ziricze guarded with a few Wallons quitting Schelt and Duveland Islands they had conquered with so much glory to their Nation they ran up and down Brabant threatning but not resolved upon any determinate design the Cities generally trembling and in amazement exspecting where that storm would fall But having first rejected the conditions which Count Mansfeldt meeting them near Asc brought from the Senate then sending away Iuliano Romero who for the same cause came from the Spaniards without so much as hearing him speak afterward shaking their swords and presenting their muskets against Francisco Montesdocha they commanded him to come no nearer and lastly on a sudden possessed themselves of Aelst a town in Flanders not farre from Bruxels hanging the King Officer that opposed them before the Gates openly professing they meant to keep Aelst as a pledge till their Arrears were paid When this news came to Bruxels with addition but false that they had plundered the Town and put the People to the sword the minds
description of other Generals by how much he will be oftner in the Readers eye filling up a great part of our future Annals Nor will it be unpleasing to know Alexander Farneze before his Low-countrey expedition and to compare him in his former life to Himself in the Government of the Low-countreys like Members of a great Bodie every where great Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma Piacenza Governour of the Low countreys But in the interim a nobler cause of war was offered him a generall peace being concluded among Christian Princes against the common enemie Divers considerations incited him to that voyage the ground of the Warre the confluence of noble persons that ingaged and above all the Generall Don Iohn of Austria equally near to him in love and bloud Nor was his Father unwilling to let him go in hope that his sons military inclination would produce great effects howsoever that his fiercenesse would be tamed But his Mother that was powerfull with her husband being against it the Duke said nothing could be done till they knew the pleasure of the King his Uncle In the mean time Margaret of Austria received Letters as she had ordered it from the King wherein he wished Prince Alexander should not go as yet But he beyond measure inflamed with Don Iohns invitation at last prevailing with his Mother and the King furnished himself for the Warrs as young souldiers ever do magnificently Fourty two Gentlemen of Parma and Piacenza followed him and he had three hundred that were a king of Pretorians for his Life-guard men chosen with more then ordinary care by Paulo Vitelli a great Commander most of them having been Captains Lieutenants or Ensignes or at least above the rank of common souldiers With this train Prince Alexander offered himself as a Volunteer to his Uncle the Generall Who then by chance being at the Musters of his Army affectionately embraced him and when he had with the Generalls leave selected four hundred sea-men of the Kings he put them in two Gallyes sent from the Common-wealth of Genoa to be commanded by Comes Carolo Scotto and Pedro Francisco Nicello he himself with his Lieutenant Vitelli and part of his Gentlemen and Souldiers going aboard the Admirall of Genoa Though in the voyage especially before the battel Don Iohn would never let him be out of the Imperiall Galley where he was himself which turned to the benefit of the whole Navie For a verie bitter difference ensuing between Don Iohn and Venerio the Admirall of Venice likely to embroyl the forces of Christendome in a Civil Warre when Don Iohn in his first heat was about to revenge the wrong offered to the Majestie of the Supream Admirall onely Prince Alexander though some failed not to bring fuell to the fire that burned sufficiently in the young Generalls nature had so much power with his Uncle that he kept him from striking the first stroke Till Mark Antonio Columna the Pope's Admiral and the Venetian Embassadour Augustino Barbaricâ— by their wisdom joyned to Prince Alexander's endeavours swifter then imagination dispersed this Tempest threatning destruction to the Fleet. For which service when Prince Alexander came next to Rome Pope Pius commended him before some of the Cardinalls acknowledging both himself and Christendom much obliged to him But when they were upon the place of Battel formerly famed for the victory of Actium won by Octavius Cesar and the ships on both sides put in Battalia Prince Alexander being aboard Columna's Gally in the midst of the Fleet passed into his own the two other Genoa-Gallyes lying to the wind-ward and after aâ—showr of Arrows and Bullets from afarr the ships encounting Alexander Farneze having an eye upon Mustapha Treasurer of the Turkish Fleet with all his force stem'd his Gally and grappling found her a great deal stronger then he imagined She carryed the money and therefore was manned with above three hundred Ianizaries all old and valient Souldiers When they had fought long upon equall termes sometimes one of them setting up their Colours sometimes another Prince Alexander at once inflamed with shame and anger flourishing as he used to do a huge great sword leaped into the Bashaw's Gally and laying about him on both sides like a mad-man by the flaughter of the enemy opened a way to his Souldiers that were so nettled with the example and danger of their General as now all the boldest Turkes being slain the rest would presently have yeiled if the Bashaw of Alexandria had not come in with a strong Gally whereby the Turks both strengthened and encouraged for a while renewed the fight But one of Alexander's Farneze's Gallyes sending in fresh supplies when the Turks could no longer stand the fury of the conquerours Mustapha being in many places run through the body the Bashaw of Alexandria hurt and soon after taken Prince Alexander made himselfe master not only of the Treasurer's Gally but likewise of the Auxiliary ship with so great pillage for his men that some of them got 2000 Sultanies it is a Coin of little lesse value then the Venetian Chechine of gold others 3000 onely out of this Gally of the Treasurers besides what his two other Gallies found in three of the enemies Galliouns and as many of their Galliasses They say that Don Iohn of Austria after the Battel when he heard his Nephew Alexander highly extolled received him with great expressions of joy and love yet praised him with this exception that he boarded the enemy with better successe then judgment they being yet in their full strength and able to have hindred his retreat Which fault he took for an honour and said the reason of his confidence was built upon the sanctitie of his wife by whose prayers to God for him he conceived himself protected and secured so merrily passing over his uncles reprehension Nor was the gallantry of Prince Alexander's minde lesse manifested the year following though with lesse fortune or rather lesse concord of the Christian Nations For the league being renewed and the Christian Fleet somewhat too late after the Battel of Lepanto returned to prosecute their victory in Peâ—oponnesus the new Turkish Admiral Uluciall had now repaired his ships and to avoide the encounter of the League having many times changed his Road now lay at Anchor near the strong Port of Methone And whilst Don Iohn with many offers to fight endeavoured to draw the Turks into the Main he resolved to send Alexander Farneze to besiege Navarinum not far off by land Who with 6000 in two divisions began to batter the Fort with more industrie then successe For the place being all rock or craggy his men could hardly get earth to raise their batteries nor could their tubbs and Gabions filled with earth and stone opposed in stead of a curtain be defence sufficient against the enemies Cannon The Seige was neverthelesse continued
and the Navarines sallying out but with losse beat back were thought to be upon the point of yielding When the Turks either by the connivence or ignorance of Prince Alexander's Souldiers put in men by night and relieved the Garrison Besides the Turkish horse and foot coming from al quarters Prince Alexander fearing they would block up his retreat and not hoping to take the Castle thought it enough in his enemies sight to retire with his Cannon to the Fleet. And Don Iohn since the Turkish Navy shunning a general Battell could by no affront be provoked to sea contented to have struct a terrour into the enemy and forced them to confesse themselves not able to appear upon the Main the mindes as well as the Fleet of the Christians being divided he went to Sicily the rest to other places Thus was Alexander Farneze initiated in war which as it begat an opinion both among those great Souldiers and Princes absent specially the successour to Pope Pius Gregory and King Philip of Spain that he would prove a gallant General so afterward it moved the King of his own accord to call him where the war was most dangerous into the Low-countreys For his Majesty pressed with the Low-countrey-mens daily complaints against Don Iohn of Austria and very desirous to quiet the Netherlands without Arms that weaken even the Conquerour himself he resolved to satisfie the desires of the Provinces and in his Brothers place to substitute his Sister Margaret of Austria with her Son Alexander Farneze Hoping either by her prudence and power with the Low-countrey-men to find out some expedient towards the concluding of a Peace or by his valour if there was use of Arms strongly to pursue the war Therefore he ordered it that Cardinall Granvell then at Rome should perswade his sister of Parma to return into the Low-countreys The Cardinall taking a journey to Aquila found there very opportunely the Dutchesse and Prince Alexander and read his letters containing the Kings desires to both together Though his Majesty had likewise commanded the Marquesse of Ayamont Governour of Millaine to treat with Prince Alexander apart The Dutchesse answered doubtfully she would advise upon it either fearing as she pretended to displease Don Iohn or by that delay and seeming refusal aym to put a higher value upon her journey But Alexander Farneze without the least demurring said he would obey the King with all his heart if it so pleased his mother He made yet a plainer answer to two letters delivered him by Raphael Manrique from Ayamont that was sick and kept his bed together with his Majesties letter wherein after expression of his grief for the death of Princesse Mary wife to Prince Alexander he signifies his resolution to imploy him in the Low-countreyes I am certain they are the Kings words now you know it with a ready and undaunted mind you will satisfie my exspectation of you and my love which highly esteems you and your virtue most illustrious Prince But when the King altered his determination of substituting the Dutchesse in his Brothers place by reason of Matthias the Arch-dukes coming into the Low-countreyes it was doubted at Parma whether it would be handsome for Prince Alexander to go and fight in the Low-countreyes commanded by another which consideration he out of duty to the King and desire of glory in the wars easily contemned especially incouraged by some dark words of Granvell promising great matters Besides Gregory the thirteenth interposed his Authority and exhortation who informed of the design by Cardinal Farneze highly praised it and bad the Cardinal write to the Prince of Parma in his name that the expedition would be pleasing to God and therefore under so mighty protection and upon encouragement from his Holiness he should willingly and speedily undertake it The Pope I suppose did not thus commend the warre onely for the King of Spain's sake and the common cause of Religion but for some peculiar benefit that might result to the Pontifician Empire For the Prince of Parma being a Feudatary and Homager to the See Apostolick his Holinesse thought himself concerned in sending the Prince to a Forein warre whence he might return an able General to defend the Church of Rome Wherefore Alexander Farneze having within a few dayes received three letters from Don Iohn of Austria which invited him with great entreaties and no lesse promises to the society of warre and glory making ready with all possible speed the twelvth day after he left Parma arrived at Luxemburg and there met Don Iohn who with expressions of incredible contentment received Prince Alexander that stood amazed to see his uncle no lesse impaired in his health then in the presence and Majestie of the most fortunate Generall So true it is that they are most sensible of adverse fortune which have been in most felicity It is therefore probable that Don Iohn not against his will or onely by the Kings command sent for the Prince of Parma nor did with dissembled joy welcome him from whose long approved fidelitie and valour he might promise safety to the publick and a particular preservation to himself whose life was sought by so many plots At their first meeting Don Iohn imparted the Kings commands that he should acquaint Prince Alexander with all businesse of Warre and Peace and reserve for his use 1000 Crownes a moneth Both which conditions pleased him very much especially the later usually given by the King to none but Viceroyes Governours of Provinces or Generalls of Armies For some dayes the Prince of Parma took the money till the Kings high estimation of his merit was thereby divulged among the people afterwards writing his humble thanks to his Majesty he as one more ambitious of honour then profit refused the pay adding that it was not fit he should be so remunerated who had yet done no service and he needed no encouragement But Alexander Farneze acting nothing without order from Don Iohn wholly applyed his minde and endeavours to inform himself of affaires at home and abroad which he found to be in a very bad condition For the King had but two Provinces that continued loyall in the rest the few Forts that held for his Majestie daily revolted to the States Nay even in Holland Amsterdam it self began to waver And in Brabant Bergen op Zoom where the Souldiers basely betraying their Colonell Charles Fugger yeilded to the States But the Garrison of Breda a while before deceived by a stratagem of the enemy carryed themselves yet more basely towards their Colonell For the Generalls of the Sates Arrmy Philip Count Holach and Frederick Perenot Lord of Campin that besieged Breda they were gallantly opposed by George Fronsberg Colonel of the Germans that served Don Iohn but the Garrison because they were some payes behind daily growing to mutiny Fronsberg by a man of know
his Fashion and Example So as the wearing of long haire esteemed so much for many Ages in one man's Imitation was by all left off And also first Don Iohn because the haire on the left side of his temples grew upright used with his hand to put away all the haire from his fore-head and because that baring of the Fore-head looked handsome in him thence came the Fashion of combing and keeping the haire up in somuch as that kind of Foretop is in some places called an Austrian Finally in the last Scene of his life Don Iohn himselfe wished to be like his Father and as He resigning his Kindomes hid himselfe in solitude among the Hieronymites at Saint Iustus so Don Iohn a few months before his death would have done among the Hermits of Mount Serrat in Spaine for ever after to serve God who as he said would and could do more then his Brother Philip. Which Determination whether it was the issue of Piety or of the improsperous Successe of his Affaires I cannot easily distinguish Nor must omit that wherein Don Iohn of Austria farr exceeded his Father Charles the fifth the Purity of Mind which his Governesse the Lady Vlloa had so inamoured him of from his Infancy that all his Life long he persevered in it and could not rest quiet if never so little a Sinne lay upon his Conscience Therefore twice every Month which was his constant course he came to Confession his Soule being a true Prince that could not brooke the basest Servitude Nay he never undertooke any Expedition or fought battaile but first by an exact Confession of his Sinnes he implored God's Mercy Which Care of himselfe in a Prince tempted to greatest license by his age handsomenesse and Place of Generall I suppose will be so much the more esteemed by how much this Piety is rarâ—r amongst Souldiers and by how much a Circumspection of this nature uses not to be alone nor unattended by a traine of many Vertues Moreover if one should adde this to his military Praises and diversity of Warres that before he had beene trained a Souldier he commanded as a Generall and to the Immensenesse of his Courage that he was never daunted by any Enemy either greater in number or reported by Force to be invincible and to his Felicity in all battailes that he came off perpetually a Conquerour at least never conquered truly wee may justly number Don Iohn among the most valiant and fortunate Generalls that ever were The day after his Death the Colonells of severall Nations contended which of them in the funerall Pompe should have precedence as Bearers of the Corps The Spaniards pretended because they were the Kings Countreymen The Germans because Don Iohn was their Countreyman The Low-countreymen disputed the Prerogatiue of the Place But the Prince of Parma instantly decided the Controversy in this manner That his maeniall Servants should carry the Body out of the Court where it should be received by the Colonells of that Nation whose Quarters in the Field used to be next the Generalls they were to deliver it to others and those againe to others that quarter'd farther off In this Order the Horse and Foote marching on either side the Corps in compleat Armour was carryed from the Campe at Buge to Namure with a Crowne upon his Head according to the funerall Ceremonies of the ancient Princes of the House of Burgundy Though others because diverse Irish Lords with the Popes Consent had offered him the Kingdome of Ireland which he would not accept till he knew whether it would be approved of by King Philip imagined out of that respect this Marke of a King was given to his Modesty His bed was stiâ—l supported by Colonells and Captaines of that Nation whose Horse followed the Corps fresh men still easing the wearyed of their burthen till it came to the Magistrate of Namure Foure Mourners attended the body Peter Ernest Count Mansfeldt Campe. Master Octavio Gonzaga Generall of the Horse Pedro de Toledo Marquesse of Villa-Francha and Iohn Croi Count of Reuse this a principall Commander among the Low-countreymen he among the Spaniards each of them holding in their hands a corner of the Herse-Cloth A Regiment of Foote as the custome is went before with their Pikes and Muskets reversed coloâ—rs furled and all the other Complements of Sorrow Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma followed in close Mourning with a heart sadder then his Robes excepting only so farre as the care of the distressed Army delivered to him diverted the current of his Griefe The funerall State ending in the great Church at Namure and Don Iohn's bowells being there buryed Prince Alexander laid his Vncles body in a temporary Tombe expecting what Commands the King would send from Spaine For at his Death Don Iohn desired three things might in his name be moved to his Majesty That he would command his body to be buryed in in the Sepulchre of Charles the fifth That his Mother and brother by her might be received into his Royall Protection And that he would remunerate the Service of his Followes whom he had long sustained with hope with some reall Bounty he himselfe having not had wherewith to pay them He made no Mention at all which is wonderfull of his Daughters For Don Iohn had two Daughters Anne and Ioane this at Naples by Diana Phalanga a Surrentine Lady that at Madrid by Maria Mendona a Maide of an illustrious Family and Beauty Anne was privately bred by Magdalena Vlloa Don Iohn's owne Foster-Mother and went from thence after she was seven years old to a Nunnery of holy Virgins at Madrigall Ioane for allmost as long a time was educated by the Dutchesse of Parma Sister to Don Iohn after whose death she sent her to be bred up in a Monastery of the Order of Saint Clare at Naples But She by Command from the King was translated from Madrigall to Burgo's a House of Benedictin Nunnes whose perpetuall Abbesse she was chosen This after she had lived twentie yeares in the Cloister at Naples was at last married into Sicilie to Prince Butero Both these Ladyes in one yeare in one Month only not upon one day deceased But I believe Don Iohn among those Particulars which at his death he commended to the King said nothing of his Daughters because he thought the King knew not of them for they were so privately and cautiously brought up that Alexander Farneze to whom he imparted all his other Secrets knew not of one of these The other had long since beene discovered to him not by Don Iohn but by his owne Mother Margaret of Austria which was the Cause that when Don Iohn lay upon death-bed Prince Alexander durst not desire him to commend that Daughter to the King lest he might put him to the Blush or seeme willing by such Commendations to free his
the hopes of such as were disaffected to the Spaniard nor too sparingly lest it might take off the Honour of his Laurell as the easy purchase of a Generall that must hereafter triumph over the Enemy FINIS An Alphabeticall Table of the most remarkable Passages and Sentences Note that the figures without l. relate to l. next before ABbat of Gemblac lib. 9. pag. 52. and of Trull l. 2. p. 41. Abbaties in the Low-countreys assigned new Bishops l. 1. p. 29. Abbats complain ibid. their complaints answered l. 1. p. 31. They exasperate the Brabanters l. 3. p. 65. Some of them turn Covenanters l. 5. p. 101 Abdication of the Empire and his Kingdoms by Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 3. the causes p. 8. Abdication of the Government of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 4 Acugnia vide Iohn or Iuan. Adolph of Nassau Emperour l. 2. p. 43 Adolph of Nassau brother to the Prince of Orange enters Frisland l. 7. p. 46. Fights the Arembergians p. 47. kills Count Aremberg ibid and is slain by him ibid. Adrianus Comes Taurello l. 9. p. 45 Aegidius Lord of Hierg sonne to Count Barlamont at the siege of Valenciens l. 6. p. 10. at the battel of Mooch l. 8. p. 3. Master of the Ordnance and Colonel of Walloons l. 10. p. 5. at Namure Treasurer after his fathers death ibid. Governour of Gelderland on the borders whereof he takes many Towns l. 8. p. 8. invites Don Iohn to see Namure l. 9. p. 35. defends Ruremond against the Confederates lib. 9. p. 49. storms Bovines â— 9. p. 53 54. his death l. 10. p. 5. Vide Giles Aelst a Town of Flanders taken by the mutinous Spaniards l. 8. p. 18 19 Alberic Count Lodronio Colonel of a Regiment of Germans l. 6. p. 31 33 Albert Duke of Bavaria approves of the designe of arms against the Rebels l. 5. p. 134. He moves the Duke of Alva in behalf of the impeached Lords l. 7. p. 42 Alcmar l. 7. p. 72 81 Aldegund vide Philip Manixius of St. Aldegund Alençon vide Francis Hercules Alexander Farneze Prince of Parma born at Rome l. 9. p. 42. his Father ibid. the prediction of Paul the third ibid. his Christening p. 43. propension to arms ibid. sent very young by his Mother into the Low-countreys to King Philip p. 44. his suit at eleven years old to the King ibid. who carries him into Spain ibid. his Majesties love to him ibid. He Charles Prince of Spain and Don Iohn of Austria compared together l. 10. p. 18. He is sent to the University of Alcala l. 7. p. 43. the King entrusts him to Count Egmont to conduct him to the Low-countreys l. 4. p. 90. his marriage l. 4. p. 91. Solemnized at Bruxels l. 4. p. 94. and at Parma l. 4. p. 95. his sonnes ibid. his veneration towards his wife p 95. and l. 9. p. 46. his love to arms l. 9. p. 44. his digladiations in the night with great hazzard to himself p. 45. he goes in the Christian Fleet against the Turk ibid. composes the difference between Don Iohn of Austria and Venerio ibid. for which Pius the fifth commends him l. 9. p. 46. he boards Mustapha's Galley ibid. takes him and Scander-Basha ibid. The prize took by his men ibid. his answer to Don Iohns admonition ibid. he is sent to besiege Navarine ibid. attempts it in vain l. 9. p. 47. he joyned with his Mother is designed by the King for the Government of the Low-countreys ibid. animated by Gregory the xiii l. 9. p. 48. he goes for the Netherlands ibid. A pension assigned him by the King ibid. He views the Armie with Don Iohn l. 9. p. 49. his attempt at the battel at Gemblac l. 9. p. 51. his courage is praised and reproved by Don Iohn l. 9. p. 52. His letter to the King in honour of Don Iohn p. 53. nor mentioning himself to his friends ibid. He besiegeth Sichem l. 9. p. 54. and the Fort 55. executes the prisoners taken ibid. Diestem yields ibid. he reduceth Levia ibid. his expedition and victory at Limburge l. 10. p. 1 2. he storms Dalhem p. 3. recovers the whole Province of Limburge within twenty dayes p. 4. Thanks sent him by the Neighbour-Princes ibid. A rumour of his death forged by the Prince of Orange l. 10. p. 4. The King means to make him Governour of the Low-countreys p. 6. he likes not the truce proposed ibid. his Letter to his Father Octavio Duke of Parma ibid. The King sends him money l. 10. p. 7. his speech at a Councel of Warre wherein he disswades the coming to a battel ibid. He desires of Don Iohn the honour to lead up the Foot and hath it l. 10. p. 9. He demonstrates to Don Iohn the enemies designe p. 10. He brings off the men circumvented by the Enemy p. 11. and lying open to their Cannon p. 12. of which he gives an account to his Mother Margaret of Parma p. 13. he sends a complementall Embassage into Portugal ibid. his advice to Don Iohn touching the conditions of peace proposed by the Estates p. 14. He is by Don Iohn upon his death-bed nominated Governour of the Low-countreys p. 15. he cannot well resolve whether he should undertake the burden yet accepts of the his Commission ibid. he writes to his Mother and to his Father ibid. The causes why he accepted of the Government l. 10. p. 16. he attends Don Iohn in his sickness and supplies him with money ibid. his care for his sick Uncle and for ordering the armie ibid. he puts to death those that sought the life of Don Iohn l. 10. p. 20. He satisfies the severall Nations contending who should carry Don Iohn of Austria's body p. 22. he attends his funerall to Namure ibid. builds him a temporary tombe ibid. writes to the King of Don Iohns death and his last requests to his Majestie l. 10. p. 23. and how his Uncle dying commended the Government to him ibid. he is not assured the King will confirm it ibid. the King sends him a Commission to be Governour of the Low-countreys and General of his armie there ibid. the King answers him to Don Iohns requests ibid. He gives the Corps of Don Iohn in charge to Colonel Nignio to carry it into Spain l. 10. p. 24. he orders it to be privately conveyed through France ibid. He takes upon him the Government of the Netherlands ibid. whereof he certifies the Catholick Princes of Europe ibid. Alâ—xander Medices advanced to the Principalitie of Florence l. 1. p. 21. his marriage with Margaret daughter to the Emperour p. 22. he is slain within the year ibid. Alienation of the Nobilitie l. 2. p. 37 38. and why l. 3. p. 67 68 71 Alâ—â—tanien souldiers vide Muteneers Alâ—sâ—o Delrio l. 8. p. 20 Alâ—ysiâ— Quiscioda Lord Steward to the Emperour l. 10. p. 17. carryes Don Iohn an infant into Spain ibid. breeds him up ibid. brings him to King Philip on the field a hunting who there owned
132. l. 6. p. 24. as keth the Duke of Alva what punishment he thinks due to the Gantois l. 7. p. 39. his words concerning the magnitude of Gant ibid. and the nature of the Low-countrey men l. 6. p. 23. he thinks of reducing the Low-countreys into the form of a Kingdome l. 1. p. 15. why he forbare to do it p. 16. how he amplified the Principalitie of the Netherlands ibid. he meant to have encreased the Bishopricks of the Low-countreys l. 1. p. 17. why he went not on with his defigne ibid. Charles the fifth Prince of Burgundy abrogates the innovation of taxing the Low-countreys at the hundreth part l. 7. p. 69 70. he prepares Edicts and Arms against the Lutberans l. 2. p. 34. l. 9. p. 42. his Decrees and Edicts published l. 4. p. 96. they are thought to be severe and breach of priviledge to the Brabanters l. 5. p. 98. they are defended l. 5. p. 104 105. qualified l. 5. p. 106. sent into Spain l. 5. p. 114. He begets his daughter Margaret at Ondenard in the Law-countreys l. 1 p. 20. and Don Iohn of Austria at Ratisbone in Germany l. 1. p. 16. with whom he is compared p. 19. he espouseth Margaret to Alexander Medices l. 1. p. 21. and after his death to Octavio Farneze p. 22. his wife Isabella of Portugal l. 10. 17. by whom he had Philip the second l. 9. p. 43. his parity and disparity with King Philip l. 2. p. 38. his daughter Mary l. 7. p. 43. he makes his Will at Ausburg l. 1. p. 10. prepares to resigne his Kingdoms p. 3. Creates his sonne Philip master of the Order of the Golden Fleece ibid. gives him the Low-countreys and Burgundy l. 1. p. 4. then all his Kingdomes p. 5. repeats his own actions l. 1. p. 4. His speech at the resignment of his Kingdome to his sonne ibid. he gives away the Empire p. 5. he sends the Imperiall Crown and Scepter by the Prince of Orange to his brother Ferdinand ibid. l. 2. p. 44. his desire to transfer the Kingdome of the 〈◊〉 to his son Philip l. 1. p. 5. from Zeland be weighs anchours for Spain ibid. The ship he sailed in after he was landed sunk immediately ibid. his words when he came on shore ibid. a suspicion that his mind was changed l. 1 p. 5. he visites Charles Prince of Spain p. 6. builds himself a house adjoyning to the Monastery of St. Iustâ—m ibid. his family and furniture l. 1. p. 6. his daily exercises in that solitude ibid. his Whip or discipline died in his bloud much reverenced p. 7. he keeps the anniversary of his mothers death ibid. he celebrates his own Funeralls ibid. falls sick l. 1. p. 7. discovers his son Iohn to King Philip l. 10. p. 17. dies religiously l. 1. p. 8. The prodigies at his death l. 1. p. 8. the years of his Government ibid. the severall conjectured Causes of his Resignation l. 1. p. 8. Charles of Austria Prince of Spain l. 7. p. 43. his nature ibid. not approved of by his Grandfather Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 6. his education l. 7. p. 43. l. 10. p. 18. sent to Alcala l. 7. p. 43. falls from a ladder ibid. is recovered by the help of St. Didacus l. 7. p. 43. Isabella daughter to Henry the second of France is designed for his wife l. 7. p. 45 68. so is the daughter of the Emperour Maximilian p. 68. how unlike he was to his father l. 7. p. 43. his hatred to his fathers favourites ibid. his patronage of the Low-countrey men l. 6. p. 22. l. 7. p. 43. his purpose to steal away for the Low-countreys l. 7. p. 44. which he imparted to some friends ibid. discovered to his father by Don Iohn l. 7. p. 44. he endeavours to fright the Duke of Alva from his Low-countrey expedition ibid. being to take horse in the morning he is in the night seized on by his father l. 7. p. 44. committed to his chamber p. 45. his infelicity ibid. and Death p. 45. the causes of his imprisonment and death ibid. He Don Iohn and Alexander Farnâ—ze compared together l. 10. p. 18. Charles Count Barlamont Governour of Naâ—â—â—e l. 1. p. 16. the asserror of Religion l. 10 p. 5. his sonnes ibid. his known fidelity to the King l. 1. p. 25. l. 3. p. 69. l 10. p. 5. one of Granvels party l. 4. p. 81. manifests his readiness to take arms for the King l. 5. p 129. informs the Governess what the Knights of the Order had designed l. 3. p. 69. when Duke Areschott and Count Egmont fell out he mediated between them l. 3. p. 72. his vote against the Covenanters l. 5. p. 103. he gives the name of Gâ—enses by way of contempt to the petitioning Covenanters l. 5. p. 109. takes the Oath of allegiance l. 6. p. 11. is by force taken out of the Senate and imprisoned in Bruxels l. 8. p. 20 dies at Namure l. 10. p. 5. his Obsequies ibid. his Encomion ibid. Charles Boisot Governour of Zeland sent by the Prince of Orange into Duveland l. 8. p. 10. slain by the Royallusts p. 13 St. Charles Cardinall Borromeo l. 8. p. 1â— Charles Brime Count Megan Governour of Gelderland and Zurphen l. 1. p. 17. l. 2. p. 41. gives the Governess intelligence of the Lords conspiracy l. 5. p. 99. and of souldiers levied in Saxony l. 7. p. 47. discovers to her the Covenanters l. 5. p. 101. his vote in Councel l. 5. p. 103. sent before by the Governess to quiet the sedition at Antwerp l. 5. p. 118. and to the Buss and Maâ—strieht l. 6. p. 2. Megen printed Mela takes the Oath of Allegeance l. 9. p. 11. beats the Covenanting Rebels out of Amsterdam l. 6. p. 19. drives them into Waterland ibid. is highly favoured by the Governesse p. 48. governs Frisland in the place of Count Aremberg deceased ibid. l. 7. p. 58. his Votive montment at Swoll in Leovard l. 7. p. 48. he dies ibid. Charls Croi Marquess of Haure returns from Spain to the Low-countreys l. 8. p. 19. sent by the Deputies of the Estates with an Army to Antwerp l. 8. p. 22. commands a Wing of Horse at the battel of Giâ—â—slac l. 9. p. 50. Charles Davalo son to Vastius Captain of a troop of Horse in the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 30 Charles Egmont Duke of Gelder l. 1. p. 19 Charles Farneze twin-brother to Alexander Farneze l. 9. p. 43 Charles Fugger a Colonell betrayed by his souldiers l. 9. p. 48 49 Charles the seventh of France his difference with his son Lewis l. 7. p. 44 Charles the eighth of France what an Oath he forced upon the Pisans and Florentimes l. 9. p. 34 Charles the ninth of France l. 3. p. 58. at Baion l. 4. p. 8â— his marriage with Elizabeth daughter to the Empâ—rour Maximision l. 4. p. 88. he desires assistance against the Hereticks l. 3. p. 55 56. his victory l. 3. p. 61. he
Medicâ—s sister to Pius the fourth l. 8. p. 9 Claâ—a Isabella Engenia her birth l. 5. p. 132. she is married to Albert Rodulphus the Emperours brother ibid. Claudia Chalon wife to Henry of Nasson l. 2. p. 4â— Claudius Civilis l. 1. p. 2. l. 7. p. 58 Claudius Haâ—dtepen l. 9. p. 35 Claudius Vergius Lord of Camplit Governour of Burgundie l. 1. p. 17 Clement the seventh P. M. l. 1. p. 9 21 Clement Marot turned Davids Psalms into French meetre l. 3. p. 63. his manners ibid. he files to Beernâ— ibid. returns to Paris ibid. goes to Geneva ibid. dies l. 3. p. 63 Cleveland the Duke vide William Cobell l. 7. p. 57 Coliny vide Gaspar and Andelat Calen the Elector dies l. 2. p. 1â— Columna vide Marc. Antonio Columna Columne of Marble ingraved at Cuilemburg house l. 7. p. 42. In the Prince of Oranges colours with a Marro l. 7. p. 62. Comet before the death of Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 8. another forerunner to a Warre l. 9. p. 49. Vide Prodigies Commissary of Horse the first in the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 30 Comparison of 〈◊〉 Monor ancy with the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 8â— with Count 〈◊〉 l. 7. p. 48. of the defeat of 〈◊〉 with that of Lewis de Nassau l. 7. p. 56 57. of Charles the fifth with his sonne Philip the second l. 2. p. 38. of Charles Prince of Spain with Don Iohn of Austria and Alexander 〈◊〉 l. 10. p. 10. of Cathorine de Medices with Margaret of Parma l. 3. p. 61. of the Cardinal of Lorain with Cardinal Gravel ibid. of Count Egâ—â—t with the Prince of Orange l. 3. p. 70. of Don Iohn of Austria with Charles the fifth and Gâ—rmanicus Cesar. l. 10. p. 21. of Captain Paâ—ccho with Petreius the Centution l. 8. p. 12. of the old Brigick Warre with the new l. 7. p. 56. of the French with the Low-countrey tumults l. 3. p. 61 Commander in Chief or Governour of the Low-countrey l. 10. p. 15. 23. of the Camp or camp-master l. 6. p. 30. of thâ— Ottoman Fleet l. 8. p. 14. of the Kings navy l. 8. p. 15. vide Fleet. Of the Knights of the Golden Fleece vide Order and Knights Of the Lanciers l. 8. p. 4. of the sea l. 1. p. 17. l. 7. p. 69. l. 8. p. 13. l. 9. p. 44. of the life-Guard l. 6. p. 33. of the Kings Exchequer vide Treasurer of the Musketeeres l. 9. p. 51 Combination against Alva l. 7 p. 46. against Granvel l. 3. p. 67 68 71 72. of the people and of the Merchants Vide Conspiracy Commission for the Government of the Low-countreys not signed before his death by Requeseues l. 8. p. 18 Complaints of the Low-countrey men against the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 70. against Don Iohn of Austria l. 10. p. 20. against the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 75. against the Spanish forces l. 2. p. 28. and l. 3. 50. of the Corenanters against the Governesse l. 5. p. 108. of Count Egmont against the King l. 4. p. 96 of the old Bishops against the new l. 2. p. 29. of the Governess against Count Egmont l. 5. p. 123. of her to the King l. 5. p. 136. of the Spaniards against the Estates l. 9. p. 30. of Don Iohn against the King l. 10. p. 20. of the Lords against the Spaniards l. 2. p. 38. of them and others against the new Bishops l. 2. p. 29. of the Prince of Orange against the Emperour l. 5. p. 133. his and Count Egmonts against the King l. 3. p. 68. l. 5. p. 104. both theirs against Granvell l. 3. p. 75. of the Governours of Provinces against the Governesses Edict l. 6. p. 98. of Philip the second against his father Charles l. 1. p. 9. of the people against the Inquisition l. 5. p. 105. and against the imprisonment of the Lords l. 6. p. 33. of the Senatours against the Inquisition and the Emperours Edicts l. 5. p. 103 104 〈◊〉 of the â—orhon Doctors against Merots Poetrie l. 3. p. 63. Vide Hatred Councel of twelve cojustituted to examine Delinquents 〈◊〉 Low-countreys l. 7. p. 41. they impeach the Lords ibid. condemn them l. 7. p. 42. and many Church-robbers and disturbers of the Peace ibid. Councel of State governs the seventeen Provinces l. 8. p. 16. and ruines them p. 17 Councel of Trens beâ—â—â—â— by Paul the third l. p. 42. promulgored by Pius the fourth l. 4. p. 85. received by Philip the second of Spain not refused for his private difference with the Pope ibid. the difficulty in setrtling it l. 4. p. 86. a Edict for its observation published by the Governesse Margaret of Parma l. 4. p. 96. which occasions a revivall of the Lords conspiracie l. 5. p. 98. Condemnation of the Covenanters l. 7. p. 42. of 〈◊〉 l. 3. p. 62. Vide Punishment 〈◊〉 side Lewin Câ—dom a town l. 2. p. 31. Conference of Charles the ninth of France and the Queens 〈…〉 l. 4. p. 87. its causes ibid. what was acted there p. 88. how it frighted the hereticâ—â— ibid. Confessor to Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 7. to Charles Prince of 〈◊〉 l. 7. p. 45. to Margaret of Parma l. 1 p. 23. to Philip the second l. 6. p. 23 Con 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 prescribed to all the Covenanâ—◠〈…〉 l. 5. p. 138. a new one conceived and 〈◊〉 to the Emperour ibid. the Germane hereticks require that it should be embraced in the Low-countreys l. 5. p. 130 131 〈…〉 Colonel of the 〈◊〉 l. 6. p. 30 sights 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 l. 7. p. 47. his Regiment rerâ—â—â—â— the 〈◊〉 of Count Aremberg with the firing of many villages l. 7. p. 57. he and his Regiment punished ibid. p. 58. by the Duke of Alva he is restored to his command l. 7. p. 18 Conscience carefully purified l. 1. p. 7 Counsels of State Justice and the Finances l. 1. p. 25 Councel of Warre Vide Warre Counsels fraudulent l. 9. p. 34. l. 10. p. 20 impious l. 9. p. 26 27. of the Kings of France and Spain against the hereticks l. 2. p. 46. of expelling the 〈◊〉 l. 8. p. 21. of prudent persons about Charles Prince of Spain l. 7. p. 44. Vide Consultation Consistories of hereticks l. 5. p. 13. disturbed l. 6. p. 7 8. l. 7 p. 42. Conspiracy of the Armenterians with the 〈…〉 l. 6. p. 6. of the seventeen Provinces against the Spaniards l. 8. p. 21. of the Germane Princes with the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 58. against Don Iohns life l. 10. p. 2. Vide Combination Conspiracy of the Low-countrey men from what Originall Vide Lords Gentlemen Gheuses Consultation of admitting the Covenanters l. 5. p. 103 104. of the Kings expedition into the Low-countreys l. 6. p. 22. of casting the Spaniards in the Netherlands l. 3. p. 51. l. 9. p. 27. against sacrilegious plunderrers l. 5. p. 127 Contention of the Low-countrey Lords l. 2. p. 38.
a German Regiment beats the Confederates from Ruâ—emund l. 9. p. 49. raiseth men in Germany l. 10. p. 7. Pomp vide Funeral and Triumphal Portugal taken by Philip King of Spain l. 7. p 82 Portugal Ships with Indian Lading taken by the English l. 7. p. 66. Pope Prisoner in the Castle of St. Angelo l. 1. p. 9. Ports of England interdicted to the Ships of Holland l. 7. p. 71 72. Port of Brill and Encâ—â—ysen in Holland ibid. of Calice in France l. 1. p. 11. of Vlushing in Zeland l. 7. p. 72. of Graveling in Flanders l. 1. p. 11. vide Fleet and Ships Presages and predictions of Charles the fifth concerning the Low-Countries l. 2. p. 37 38. of Lucas Gauricus upon Henry the second of France l. 1. p. 13. of Meâ—lancthon upon the Prince of Orange l. 2. p. 43 44. of Paul the third upon Alexander Faraâ—ze l. 9. p. 43. of Pius the fifth touching the danger of Religion in the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 21. of future Calamities l. 7. p. 40 53. l. 9. p. 49. of prosperous Successe l. 8. p. 11. vide Prodigies President of the Privy Councel l. 1. p. 25. of Castile l. 4. p. 82. l. 6. p. 23. Pretor of Antwerp l. 5. p. 124. Priest turn'd out of Antwerp l 9 p. 40. and Amsterdam l. 10. p. 5. Banitâ—hed from Great Britain fed and supplyed by the King of Spain l 4. p. 83. put to death with barbarous torments l. 7. p. 75. their Figures tyed to Posts and whipped l. 7. p. 78. whether Priests and Religious may write of War and things Prophane l. 1. p. 2. one praying for the Souldiers wading the Sea l. 8. p. 11. wide Religious Princes must imitate Iupiter l. 4. p. 85. what the Philosophy of Princes is l. 5. p. 147. Priviledges of Branat vide Brabant and Bruxells Priviledge of the Ioyful-Entry l. 2. p. 30. Prodigies at the Death of Charles the fifth l. 1. p. 8. before the Low-Countrey War l. 7. p. 40. seen in Heaven l. 7. p. 59. observed at Florence l. 1. p. 22. at Lovain l. 7. p. 53. vide Comets Eclipse and Presages Proscription published against the Prince of Orange l. 2. p. 45. his defence l. 1. p. 4. vide Apology Proscription of Martin Luther l. 2. p. 34. of the Covenanters l. 7. p. 42. Prosper Sanctacruz Paul the fourth's Nuncio in France l. 3. p. 58. Protestation of the Spanish Embassadour to Pope Pius the fourth at Rome l. 4. p. 85. Proverb Military among the Walloâ—â— Souldiers against timerous Scouts l. 7. p. 54. Proverb of the Valencenians a proud one l. 6. p. 5. Provinces of the Low-Countries their Division vide Low Countries Psalter turned into Meeter l. 3. p. 63. sung in Frenâ—h by the Hereticks l. 3. p. 61. l. 5. p. 117. 124. condemned by Edict l. 3. p. 64. Punishment â—alls by lot upon the Author of the Crime l. 6. p. 31. of the English that sought the life of Don Iohn l. 10. p. 20. of Anthony Strall l. 7. p. 49. of an Apostate l. 4. p. 83 84. prepared for the Citizens of Bruxells l. 7. p. 70. of Casembrâ—t l. 7. p. 49. of the Covenanters l. 7. p. 40. of Dui l. 7. p. 49. of Hereticks l. 3. p. 62 65. l. 4. p. 96. l. 5. p. 130. l. 6. p. 11 20. l. 7. p. 75. of the Harlemers l. 7. p. 78 79. of the Spaniards ibid. p. 72. of Lanoi l. 3. p. 62. of Moro l. 5. p. 107. of the Gentlemen Covenanters l. 7. p. 48 72 74. of the Lords l. 7. p. 52. of Rebels l. 6. p. 4 19 20. of an Hereticall Minister l. 4. p. 83 84. of the Seditious l. 9. p. 56. of the men taken at Sichem l. 9. p. 55. of Spell l. 7. p. 49. vide Condemnation and Mulct Pyramo Conrado brother to Don Iohn by the Mother l. 10. p. 24. Pieâ—rho Malvezzi designed Colonel of the Italians l. 10. p. 7. Sentences in P. IT concernes PARTICULARS that the Generality should be governed l. 2. p. 37. No tye can oblige the PERFIDIOUS l. 6. p. 11. 'T is Lawful for the poorest Peasant to PETITION l. 5. p. 103. PRINCES never can offend alone l. 5. p. 15. It is of great Concernment to get a habite of PIETY whilest thou hast thy Vnderstanding that when thou art not t'y self thou canst not but be Pious l. 10. p. 16. They do ill that make the Favourers and Pityers of their Cause Spectators of the PUNISHMENT l. 7. p. 53. The Philosophy of PRINCES is to dive into the secrets of Men leaving the Secrets of Nature to such as have spare time l. 5. p. 137. The people take it as a favour from their PRINCE to be punished by his hand left they be enforced to endure torments enflicted by a Servant l. 6. p. 21. Easily will Nature shrink into her own Stature and Condition if PRIDE that puffs up and distracts her do but once evaporate l. 1. p. 6. PRINCES dislike not their Ministers Ansterity rendring them inaccessible to the subtile Flatterer l. 7. p. 83. Treasons are not believed to be plotted against any PRINCE that is not slain l. 9. p. 37. Without a Scene and admiring Spectators PROUD men do but coldly act their parts l. 1. p. 25. Some mens PROUD Natures are inraged if forbidden but if left to themselves will in time recover l. 4. p. 79. 'T is a fault in humane Nature to conceive things greater because PROHIBITED l. 5. p. 117. No PROUD man ever carried himself like a Servant to any over whom he did not hope to be a Master l. 8. p. 33. Q. Question of Tributes l. 7. p. 71. in the Councell of Trent of place between the Spanish and French Embassadour l. 4. p. 85. Composed ibid. revived at Rome ibid. determined by the Pope Ibid. Questions of Faith agitated l. 2. p. 39. Quesâ—oy Q. Cicero l. 8. p. 8. Q. Sertorinus l. 1. p. 6. Quirin Hill l. 9. p. 40. Quisciada vide Aloysto R. RAge of Women against stragling Fugitives l. 1. p. 12. Raiters routed by the Lanciers l. 8. p. 4. Ranuccio Farneze Duke of Parma Piacenza is born l. 4. p. 95. l. 9. p. 44. how he was begged of God l. 4. p. 95. Raphael Barberino Uncle to Pope Vrban the third l. 7. p. 60. sets down the particulars of those battles whereat he was present ibid. advertiseth the Duke of Alva of the Prince of Orange's Designes l. 7. p. 61. is sent by Alva to the Queen of England l. 7. p. 66. returnes the Duke the Queene's answer and the state of the Cause Ibid. prepareâ— Shipping for the Zeland Expedition l. 8. p. 9. raiseth Fortifications at their Entrance into Zeland ibid. Doth many Services in Vitellâ—'s place ibid. p. 10. wades over the Sea ibid. Raphael Manrique l. 9. p. 47. Rapine vide Plunder Rassinghem vide Maximilian Ramund de Tassis Principal Secretary to the King of Spain l. 7. p. 44. Rebellion of the
Belgick Provinces against the Romans l. 7. p. 70. of the Moores against the King of Spain l. 6. p. 22. of the Hugonots against the King of France l. 6. p. 26. by the Prince of Orange in the Low-countries attempted and matured l. 7. p. 70. the Rebel Cities receive from him Governours Lawes and Imposititions l. 7. p. 72. from whence the Low-Countrey men and the Prince of Orange had their occasion of Rebeling l. 2. p. 48. l. 7. p. 70. first from the Cause of Religion l. 5. p. 133 134. l. 6. p. 1. 7. 11. then from Taxes layed upon them l. 7. p. 71 73. afterwards from the Mutinous Spaniards vide Gentlemen Covenanters l. 8. p. 20. Recovery of Cities Revolted from the King l. 7. p. 77. of Mons ibid. its description ibid. of the Province of Limburg l. 10. p. 2. its delineation l. 10. p. 1. Reformed vide Religion Reformed Regiment of Naples l. 6. p. 30. of Sardinia cashiered and punished l. 7. p. 58. a magnanimous one of the Royallists l. 8. p. 11. a Squadron of Walloones l. 9. p 50. vide Army Register of the Empire l. 1. p. 2. Regâ—ard vide Simon Religion holds forth Worship to God and Peace to men l. 2. p. 33. Preserver of peace and tranquility ibid. holds the People in due obedience l. 2. p. 46. the manner of advancing it in the Low-countries l. 1. p. 18. Penal Edicts against irreligion l. 2. p. 49. l. 4. p. 96. the Cognizance of the Cause of Religion to whom it appertains l. 2. p. 33. l. 4. p. 84 85. l. 5. p. 105. against the Violaters thereof what provision was made l. 2. p. 33. 'T is injured by Luther ibid. the League for Religion approved of by the Hereticks l. 5. p. 138. Religion commended by the Emperour to the Estates of the Low-Countries l. 1. p. 4. by the King to the Covernesse and Estates l. 1. p. 27. l. 4. p. 83 90 96. a Conspiracy against l. 5. p. 141. wrong offered to it l. 1. p. 9. l. 5. p. 113 116 121. Scandalous Libels against it l. 4. p. 77. l. 5. p. 112. hatred to it l. 3. p. 56. l. 8. p. 8. the Cause of the Low-countrey War l. 1. p. 3. l. 9. p. 1. 9 30. its Restitution by the Governesse l. 4. p. 83. l. 5. p. 130. l. 6. p. 18 20. by the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 64. a new oath formed against it l. 5. p. 107. l. 9. p. 39. liberty of Religion sought for in the Low-countries l. 5. p. 99 102 119 129. extorted l. 9. p. 41. Consultations concerning it l 1 p. 18. l. 6. p. 15. Religion Reformed secured in the Low-Countries l. 5. p. 127. Councels held in France and the Low-countries to destroy it l. 2. p. 46. the Prince of Orange makes use thereof to keep Townes against the Spaniards l. 10. p. 5. vide Gheuses the Disturbers of the Catholick Religion l. 5. p. 134. Revolters from it l. 9. p. 37. Men of doubtful Religion l. 3. p. 75. the Religious turned out of the Low-Countrey Cities l. 5. p. 132. l 9 p. 40 41. their Monasteries l. 2. p. 30. plundered l. 3. p. 64. l. 5. p. 122 127 137. Reliques of Saints preserved from fire and ruine l. 10. p. 5. more valued then Jewels l. 4. p. 94. Remedies seasonably applyed l. 8. p. 19. sometimes bettered by Contempt l. 4. p. 79. and rash in precip tated misfortunes l. 10. p. 21. the best when one Man Governes l. 8. 16 17. the Remedy of imminet Mischief l. 5. p. 112 113. Rene daughter to Lewis King of France married to Hercules Duke of Ferrara l. 1. p. 21. her daughter designed for Wife to Alexander Farneze l. 4. p. 91. Renatus son to Henry of Nassau Clande Chalon l. 2. p. 43. Rendition of Low-countrey Cities and Provinces to the Spaniards l. 6. p. 11. l. 9. p. 52. of many places to the Prince of Orange l. 7. p. 73. of Oudenaerd l. 7. p. 75. of Brill l. 7. p. 70 72. of Mons l. 7. p. 73. of Dendermund l. 7. p. 75. of Centron ibid. of many Towns to the Royallists l. 7. p. 77 78 l. 8. p. 8. of Bommen l. 8. p. 13. of Bovines l. 9. p. 53. of Cimace l. 9. p. 57. of the Abbey d' Espine l. 7. p. 74. of Dallhem l. 10. p. 3. of Harlem li7 p. 78. of Limburg l. 10. p. 1. of Nardâ—us l. 7. p. 78. of Sichem l. 9. p. 54. of Maestricht l. 8. p. 21. of Valenciens l. 6. p. 10. of St. Valerey l. 7. p. 46. of Zeriezee l. 8. p. 13. of Zuitbeverland l. 7. p. 78. of â—utphen l. 7. p. 77. of Aloost l. 8. p. 18. Rentey a Castle of Artois l. 8. p. 4. Reputation l. 5. p. 110. Republick of the Hollanders how great and from how small beginning l. 1. p. 1. l. 7. p. 73. Of the Hereticks Instituted by the Covenanters l. 5. p. 138 142. advanced by Piracy l. 7. p. 73. their Fleet most commonly victorious ibid. Requesenes vide Berlingâ—erio Lodovico his son Galceâ—anâ— and Lodovico Commendador of the Knights of St Iago Restorer of lost liberty an attribute given to the General of the Covenanters l. 5. p. 109. Revolt of Cities and Provinces from the Spaniard l. 7. p. 72 73 l. 9. p. 37. Sollicitors of the Low-Countrey mens Revolt l. 7. p 71 73. Reux rendred to Don Iohn l. 9. p. 57. Ryne a River of Holland l. 8. p. 7. Roan taken by the French l. 3. p. 61. Rich mens unhappy fortune l. 8. p. 24. Rimenant a Village l. 10. p 9. the Battle ibid. Risorius Nohoc layes a plot against the Duke of Alva l. 7. p. 46. from Iuliers passes the Moes ibid. Robert Brederod enemy to Cardinal Granvell l. 2. p. 41. stands for the Archbishoprick of Cambray ibid. Robert Melodune Viscount Gant l. 9. p. 5. Robert Stuart Commander of the Scots at the Battle of Rimenant l. 10. p. 10. Roderick Gomez a Silva Prince of Ebolo one of the Lords of the Privy Councel to the King of Spain l. 2. p. 38. of great power with his Majesty l. 3. p. 8. l. 6. p. 22. his Contest with the Duke of Alva at the Councel Table and in Courr Ibid. his opinion touching the Kings Expedition into the Low-Countries l. 6. p. 23. He advertiseth the Governesse of the Marquis of Bergen's death l. 6. p. 27. and that she must bring his Cause to a Tryal ibid. writes to her in the Kings name of the Army that was to march into the Low-countries Ibid. and acquaints her with the Cause of the Duke of Alva's coming l. 6. p. 29. attends the King at the Commitment of Prince Charles l. 7. p. 44. jeeres his Rival the Duke of Alva for erecting to himself a Statue l. 7. p. 65. Roderick de Toledo a Colonel carried out of the field wounded into the Camp l. 7. p. 80. Rodolph the second Emperour by his Embassadour obligeth himself to
about the Beginnings of the Low-countrey tumâ—lts Ostentation of wit Faction Ignorance of the difference between Beginnings and Causes Which difference is principally to be observed and explained by an Historian So did the ancient and best writers Fab. Pict in his Annalls Tit. Liv. l. 21. Polyb. l. 3. To follow whose examples it is easie for a man acquainted with Princes secrets The Low-Countreymens Priviledges very great Lud. Guicciardin in Descrip. Belg. From whence this evil had its Originall because the King trencht upon them three wayes The retaining of the Spanish souldiers 〈◊〉 first Cause of their 〈…〉 The Low-Countreymen are aggrieved Instigated by the Prince of Orange And exasperated by the Spaniards the 〈◊〉 Hence grew their 〈…〉 the King 〈◊〉 Cause is 〈…〉 wholly to 〈…〉 to the Low-Countrey-men Not to the King Whether the Belgick tumults are to be derived from this fountain Multiplying the number of Bishops the second cause of Insurrection The complaints made thereupon By the old Bishops The Lords temporall The Abbots And almost all that stood for the Low-countrey priviledges In 2. Addit ad â—aetum introitum Principis Hispaniae Artic. 24. What those priviledges were Artic. â—6 And how violated by increase of Bishops For which many men rail at And threaten the King Artic. 5. Some argued for his Majestie From Precedents in other countreys Which makes against the complaints of the old Bishops Baronius ann 639. 741. Extrav Solvator de Praebend Dignit As likewise against the temporall Lords And against the Abbots Aubertus Miraeus in Notitia Episc. The literal sense of their priviledges Whence some infer that they were not broken June 4. 1561. apud Arnold Havens de novis Episc. l. 2. Jun. 4. 1561. Arnol. Haves de nov Episc. l. 2. and adde the decision of the Lovain Doctors and necessity the greatest of Priviledges And that the King was not obliged to summon the Estates Generall Nor out of his own purse to allow maintenance for the Bishops Especially when he gave them Pensions Whether the beginning of the tumults may be deduced from hence The Inquisition the third cause of Insurrections The first occasion of introducing it into the Government of the Church The different forms thereof Established in Rome Constit. 34. Licet Not without Penalties J Manich and l. Quicunque C. De haereticis C. ut inquisitionis de haereticis in 6. In Spain especially from the year 1383. Martin Luthers Heresie makes it every where strictly observed Emp. Max. 1. Gratian. Theod Arcad. Honor Martian c. Charles the fifth his Edict against Luther and hereticks Leoâ— Seven times the Emperour renued it The Brabanters refuse the Inquisition King Philip confirms his Fathers Edicts Commands the execution thereof to the Governess The Governess to the Magistrates The Magistrates let it cool The Brabanters still refuse The people differ in opinions The common discourse against the Inquisition and the Emperours Edicts In the Lateran Councel under Innocent iii. Tumults caused by fear of the Inquisition and punishment of Delinquents Some men censure the King Others excuse him C. Sane 2. de Off. Potest Jud. lib. 1. §. Quiâ—manda tam. 〈◊〉 de Off. ejus Of the Prince of Orange His Ancestours came out of Germany Into the Low-countreys Ann. 1292. The Prince of Orange in his Apol. 1581. Their power in the Netherlands Anno 1544. The birth of the Prince of Orange Henr. Ranzou in exemplis Astvol Michael Airzinger in Leone Belg. His Nativity calculated His civill And military education Called the ordinary Bands Emmanuel Fishberti Duke of Savoy His favour at Court Some suspect him The Emperour answers all Objections And commends him to the King The King makes great account of him The Causes of his Discontent His Designe His Wit and Manners Which relished not of Courtship or Levity The splendour of his Family His doubtfull Religion He declares himself a Calvinist Apology 1518. His Apology Anno 1518. Whether from his heart or no is uncertain Ann. 1581. He was Hostage for K. Philip to Henry K. of France Ann. 1581. He discovers both the Kings designes against the hereticks And from thence takes his hint for Commotion Ann. 1559. Beginning at the Convention of the Knights of the Golden Fleece out of the same Apology Hoventius Momorancy Lord Montany Anthony Lalin Count Hochstrat Starting matter for sedition out of the Spanish souldiers 1559. In the some Apology Out of the new Bishops In his said Apol and so Granvel writes Ann. 1582. Out of the Inquisition Out of Granvels power Out of the troubles arising in the Duke of Alva's government The mutinous Citizens and the Hereticks desire to have the Prince of Orange for their Generall Anne daughter to Maurice Duke of Saxonie He offers himself To the destruction of the Publick The Causes and Occasions of the Belgickâ—nmults â—nmults summed up 1559. The Spanish souldiers have Orders to depart 4. Octob. Their Departure countermanded by the King Whereat the Low-countreymen rage And grow desperate Tacitus in his Annals l. 13. Called the Consult 1560. The Consulters are of opinion the souldiers should not be stayed 1560. Of the same mind were all the Councell of State 1560. But onely Granvell Who at last consents The Governesses Express to the King Her private letter 12. Decemb. The King assents in these words The Spanish souldiers sail for Spain 1561. A new Modell of the Foot Touching forrein and domestick souldiers 1562. The Marriage between the Prince of Orange and Princesse Anne daughter to the Duke of Saxony Landgrave of Hessen Anno 1550 The Landgraves Plot to break the match Discovered to the Duke of Saxony 1561. The Nuptials with Princesse Anne celebrated Afterwards he sued out a Divorce Anno 1572 At Brill is Holland Granvel made a Cardinall A Cardinalls hat brought to him He delays his acceptance 25. Feb. 12. Iuly 1562. 27. March The Governess likes not his delay He at last owns the scarlet And hat sent him by speciall favour from his Holiness For which he gives the Governess his reasons as she wrote to the King 29. Novem. 1564. 1562. The Crown of France being endangered succours are sent from the Low-countreys Of the French Tumults The Lutheran Religion brought into France Upon what occasion The City of Paris Its Favourers Margaret of Valois sister to K. Francis T is almost extinguished â—y the King Calvinisme succeeds First among the Commons Afterwards among the Lords Out of their â—mulation and envie 1562. To the Guises Duke Francis and his brother the Cardinall Anthony of Bourbon King of Navarre The Prince of Condè brother to the King of Navarre Gaspar Colligny and his brother Andelot All these were infected with Heresie But the greatest Professour of them was Joan Alibret Queen of Navarre Julius II. The Lord joyn with the hereticall rabble 1559. Against whom assistance is requested of the King of Spain And promised Alibret exasperates her husband against the Catholicks Tit. Liv. l. 1. The conspiracy at
Camillo a Monte. Christopher Mondraegonio Sancho Avila Curtio Martinengo Nicholao Basta Francisco Verdugo The Army divided into Tertiaes A new Invention Their March Strict discipline Exemplary Pâ—nishâ—ent The Duke of Alva enters the Low countreys He is saluted from the Governesse To whom he had sent He quarters his men in the Low-countries 22. August His visit to the Governesse in great state and with much Reverence He shewes her part of his instructions Omitting his larger Commission till a fitter time She appeares satisfied But complaines to the King 8. Septemb. Of the Attainâ—dor of Count Egmont Alva uses him to draw in Count Horne He summons the Lords to advise about the publick The rest he surprises by other meanes Especially Casembrot And Strall The Lords advise with the Dukes very unadvisedly Count Egmont arrested and disarmed So is Count Horne The City in a Maze Cardinall Granvells saying The D. of Alva sends his excuse to the Governesse Not satisfactory 20. August 11. Sept. She sues again to bee discharged of the Governement In the interim shee is very active in it By her Edict she stops such as were leaving the Lowcountries She publishes another in favour of the French Embassadour Who likewise moves for forces out of the Netherlands to suppresse the new Troubles of France Occasioned by the Duke of Alva's March Great Mischief done by the Rebells The Governesse doubts whether she may grant the Embassador's Request But the Duke of Alva makes no difficulty of it Who furnishes him with men makes Count Aremberg their Generall And offers himselfe to lead them But the French decline that Offer from a Spaniard Of the Governesse's departure from the Low-countreys October 10. The King gives her leave to go She delivers to Alva his Commission And signifies her departure to the Princes her neighbours Decemb. 7. Writes about it to the Estates And answers the King thus Decemb. 20 Complements sent to the Dutchesse of Parma By the Provinces And neighbour-Princes Especially by the Queene of England Febr. 10. She departs the Netherlands having a Pension assigned her by the King And leaving a great desire of her Returne in the Low-countrey-men's hearts Which they expressed in their discourse 1574. Out of the Letters of Juan Gang. Fransican and others 1568. A proposall of the following 〈◊〉 The couse is â—â—mmoâ—â— heâ—ged upon the Duke of Alva out of 〈◊〉 to him For his words to the Emperour For bringing againe the Spanyerds For conâ—enning and banishing the Lords Out of all which some deduced the Cause of the Warre l. 3. Hist. But improperly A more probable deduction How the Authour meanes to write the Governments of Alva and Requesenes Presages of the future A monster born at Liege A Fire at Mechlin The Fort at Antwerp It 's Figure of five sides The Architect The Site by some disliked Hier. Conestag li. 2. Defended by others Adrian Sropernus contra Conestag But with arguments ill suited The reason why it was built in that place The Councell for examination of the Tumults The Duke of Alva summons the Belgick Lords to answer their Impeachments They protest against his proceeding The Prince of Orange sues for the Patronage of the German Princes Who treate with Alva But in vaine The Duke of Alva gives sentence against the Lords Sends the Prince of Orange's Son into Spaine where Amb. Morales was his Turour a great Philosopher and Divine The Prince of Orange appeares inraged In his Apology 1581. But is not so The Councell of twelve condemnes diverse others Alva razes Culemberg house New terrour from Spaine By reason of Prince Charles his misfortune And the Lord Montiny â— death Of Charles Prince of Spaine His disposition What conjectures were made from it Quint. 5. â—9 I. B. Castanco afterwards Vrban VII Feb. 4. Aloys Cab in Philip the 2. l. 2. 6. and 8. and Adrian l. 19. and 20. Hist. Charles the 5. liked not his Grandchild Aloys Cab. in Philip. the Second 2. l. 6. P. Charles sent To Alcala to study Lyes at the point of Death Recovers miraculously How unlike to his Father Their mutuall aversion out of the Letters of Castan the Popes Nuntio to Car. Alex. 30. Aprill Vpon these two points Out of the same Letters to the same person 4. Feb. His hatred to his Fathers Servants His Patronage of the Low-countreymen More violent then it ought to have been His purpose to go for the Low countreys His Endeavours to hinder the Duke of Alva's Belgick Expedition Out of the said Letters to the same man April 30. He reveales his Designe to Don Iohn Marquesse Pescaria Duke Mid. Riosiou Who first disswades him Afterwards acquaints the King with it The King seeks helpe from God And Counsell from prudent men what to do in the Case of his Son 1456. Paul Aemil. in Gar. 7 and Haraeus in â—hilip the Good Who being to take â—ost by breake of day Was seized at midnight Rui Comez Prince of 〈◊〉 Comez Figueroa Duke of Feria Anthonio de Toledo Priour of Leon and Aloysio Quisciada A guard set upon him in his Lodgings his Infelicity His religious Dâ—ath Out of the Letters of Castan the Popes Numcio to Card. Alex. 27. July Didacus de Chiaves Causes that might sound probable for the imprisonment and death of Prince Charles The Rebellion of the Mooâ—es in Spaine The Belgick Faction countenanced by him Ant. Gabie in 〈…〉 l. 3. c 3 1566. Too much familiarity with the Queen his Step mother A Plot to murther his Father Lib. 1. Metamorâ—h MDLXVIII But all these Causes were uncertaine Or rather false Ianuary 21 What the King wrote concerning his Son's Imprisonment Didaco Cardinall Spinosa Ianuary 24 What he caused to be divulged privately And publiquely The said Nuncio to the said Cardinall Ianuary 27 Charles the fifth Prince Charles The Low-countreys in great feare An Ambuscado layed for the Duke of Alva The Duke of Alva proceeds against the impeached Lords and Gentlemen His friends disswade him First he puts to death 19. Then others Risorius Carloi Dui Villers Yet more John Groneit Spel Prevost de Campagna on Drossart rural Fammianus Strada Many intercede for the Counts Egmont and Horne Mary wife to Count Mansfeldt Sabina ofâ—gmont â—gmont October 1. Her humble Petition to the King The King's Advocate still followes the cause against the Prisoners Charges them both Among diverse other things With these Particulars The summe of their Indictment He concludes this to be matter enough for Sentence of Death to passe upon them C. Egmont's Province Count Horne's Province Some of these Heads the Governesse had objected against them to the King August 20. 1566. The People doe not thinke them guilty but conceive all this to be the malice of C. Egmont's Rivall Alva Whom the Count had foyled The Duke of Alva not so culpable in this as some imagine In Adriaenus Stopeâ—â—s See the yeare 65. Whether Count Egmont bribed by the Rebells connived at them The Duke of Alva pronounces Sentence of
Duke of Alva desirous to attend her Highnesse into Spaine and to leave his Governement of the Low-countryes 51 Septem The King assents And nominates his successour Who was long a comming In the interim Alva returnes to his Demands of the 10 and 20. parts An Inundation in the Low-Countries November 1 Greater then any in mans memory What a destruction is made See Pier. Winsen l. 2. Hist. A rare Accident This calamity drawes off the Duke from inâ—isting upon the Taxes Some perswade him to desist altogether Arhâ—n l. 3. Dipnos Others argue that it was just and Necessary And diverse meerely put a trick upon the Duke of Alva At length He qualifies the Edict and proposeth it the third time April The City of Bruxells refuse it with notorious contumacy Alva provides against them Forces and Halters See further in the Prince of Orange's Apology 1581. But suddaine Newes diverts him So that he is forced to leave the designe of Taxes Which had infinitely prejudiced the Duke and occasioned the Revâ—ls of the Low-countreys farre more then all his cruelty The Hollanders anciently free from Tribute Taciâ—us de Moribus Germanorum Idem l. 4. Annal. The exaction whereof caused their Rebellion against the Romanes 1570. And now for the same reasons the P. of Orange sollicits their Defection Having often tryed other waies to bring them 〈◊〉 As last he compasses his desire The People being imboldned upon the newes of the Duke 's present departure The Duke of Alva's Losse at Sea The Water Gheuses Their Generall His Principall Officers They turne Pirates Are prohibited the Ports of England Vorna They take the Towne of Brill April 1. Destroy all things Sacred Beate the Spanish forces Gulielmus Blosius Treslong A wonderfull change followes Durdrecht or Dort revolts from the Spaniard And Vlushing John Treslong And Enchuysen And almost all Holland And a great part Zeland being now out of feare of the Duke of Alva and jeering him for the losse of Brill The revolted Townes put themselves into the Prince of Orange's power Their new Commonwealth The predatory Fleet very much increased and constantly victorious Bernard Mend. l. 16. Making the Taxes their Pretence Iuly 24. Anno 74. Many other Townes revolt Doesburg Zutphan Harderwick Oldden sal c. Lewis of Nassau takes the City of Mons assisted by the French May 25. With their Kings leave procured by Gaspar Coligny Who with too much confidence trusts himselfe to the King Endeavours to win the Low-Country Lords And makes high offers to Vitelli. The Marquesse Vitelli's noble carriage Of Mons recovered by the Duke of Alva J. B. Adrian l. 18. Thuan. l. 36. Duke Federico attacques the Towne The French bravery The Spaniards pitch their Tents Women-spies Punished Bern. Mend. l. 6. 2. Reg. c. 10. The Abbey D'espine taken by the Besiegers The Armyes sent by Coligny to relieve the Towne Gives battaile to Federico Is defeated Vitelli's bold venture Thuan. l. 54. Iohn Meu l. 7. Ber. Mend. reckons but twenty Prisoners put to death Those that escaped the â—ight knockt in the head by the Boores. The victorious Army full of â—olliâ—y The second expedition of the Prince of Orange from Germany into the Low-countreys to relieve his brother Lewis He takes Ruremond by storme Passeth by Lovaine for a summe of money Mechlin yields He takes other Townes in his March Bruxells holds out Guelm a Mar. Lud. Gulielm Foure Armies of the Enemy at one time harressing the Low countreys Pouring their fury upon things sacred and the Priests Guâ—ieâ—m 〈◊〉 de crudeliâ—â—â—â— In 21. Mart. Gorcom Sur. in com Arnold Havr l. 15. de erect Episc. Johann Meurs in Orang l. 7. and others This makes the Prince of Orange's Army illspoken of He hastens to Mons Admires at Alva's Trenches Tryes to breake through in vaine The Ioy in the Duk 's Campe For the Massacre at Paris Henry IV. Gregory XIII A Thanksgiving day upon the same occasion at Rome Which causeth the Prince of Orange his Despaire And retreate from Mons His Campe assaulted in the night by Spaniards in their 〈◊〉 Their confidence The Prince of Orange's danger Septem 19. Mons yielded to Alva His just commendations for that victory He recovers all the Prince of Orange had taken The sack of Mechlin Peter Trigose The charity of the Antwerp Merchants towards the Plundered Iohn Boter in vita Albani ex Hist. Societ Iesu Ann. 1572. The Souldiers piety Alva strives to cleare himselfe from the Infamy of Sacking Mechlin The Victory won by Duke Federico And Mondragonio Goes Octob. 20. Ann. 72. The destruction of Nardem Which make the Spaniard odious Mich. Isselt in Hist. sui temp Fran. Har. in Annal. Belg. aâ—â— fere omnes Of the Siege of Harlem Federico despaires of taking it His Father chides him The Harlemers provoke the Spaniards with new Scorne The Spaniards jeere to the Towne Their Answer Their mocquery of holy things Not unpunished August 1. They yield to mercy Very many put to death Alva's Son The remarkeable Accidents hapning at this Siege Carrier-Pidgeons A Regiment of Women The wilfulnesse and cruelty of the Harlemers The Siege of Harlem and Sancerre 1573. Compared Thuan Hist. l. 55. How many Royalists were slaine and hurt at the siege of Harlem Roan 1562. How many Covenanters were killed Bern. Mend. Lumè discontented His Commission taken from him by the Prince of Orange He is imprisoned Banished the Low-countries Arnold Havensius l. 1. de nov Episcop An. Carner in Hist. Belg. l. 5 Fran-Harzus in Annal. He dyes D. Federico forced to raise his seige of Alcmar Count Bolduc Admirall of the Spanish Fleete beaten at Sea â—euteâ— apud Haraeum in Anâ—l Gallantly fighting Aldegund the Prince of Orange's intimate friend taken prisoner Novemb. 17 The Duke of Alva resignes the Lowcountries to his successour Requesenes And goes aboard for Spaine The diverse senses touching his departures of the Hereticks The Prince of Orange And of the Catholickes Sextus Aurel. in his â—ife He is gratiously received in Spaine by the King But the Courâ—iers thinke the King dissembles Wherein they were deceived The true cause of Alva's confinement His excellent temper of mind in that calamity How great an honour it was to him in the end He is called from banishment to be Generall against Portugall His words to the Messengers He conquers And dyes The King's expression Didaco Prince of Spaine Anne the Emp. Maximilian's Daughter Alva's Elogy His Father 1510. His Grandfather He himselfe greater then his Progenitors Alva and Annas Momorancy parallel'd The Duke of Alva a good Courtier Much affected by the King But rather inwardly then in shew How much the King relied upon his Faith What soyled his Fame 1574. Requesenes begins his Government of the Low-countreys The hopes conceived of him Mart. Delr l. 1. Belg. Turb He takes away the Duke of Alva's Statue To the great joy of the Low-countreymen The Zelanders besiege Middelburg Requesenes sends a Fleet to relieve
natures had then demonstrated how they should be used when omitting all milder remedies he chastised his rebellious Country-men with Armes â—nd so reduced them But now it was not one City but all the Provinces had conspired against God and the King Nor because the Rebells sit still for the present are their hearts therefore brought downe but will resume their Armes when they are not awed by the Terrour of Revenge For the most venemous Serpents may be safely handled in Winter not that they have lesse Poyson but because they are more unactive it being now known by experience that for the same man to be an Heretick and a good Subject is incompossible Thus his riged disposition argued particularly discoursing how an Army might be raised and conducted and disputed all the policies advantageous for that Expedition which he being an old Generall and the rest of the Lords no Souldiers was of all the councell only able to argue And his Judgement was confirmed by Cardinall Spinosa who made a grave Speech complaining how the Holy Court of Inquisition was violated in the Low-countryes The rest were of the same Opinion all but the Duke of Feria who being nearer in Bloud then Affection to the Duke of Alva and of a milder nature differed from him altogether not denying but the Low-countryes needed some kind of Remedy wherein he dissented from the Prince of Ebora with whom in the rest hee concurred but that Remedy should rather be applyed by dexterity of Counsell that by force of Armes which would be more honourable to the Prince as if he made it not a businesse to settle his Dominions not making himselfe a party whilst fought with his subjects allowing them for his Equalls and more safe in relation to his Neighbours and Enemyes that would no doubt make use of the Low-country-Insurrections to moulder away the Spanish Power by their owne Victories Nor did that Allegation of the Emperours taking of Gant Ferdinand of Toledo Duke of Alva Governour of the Low-countreys Ro Vaughan sculp sufficiently conclude the Stubbornnesse of one City might be easily broken when the rest of the Low-countreys were obedient now almost the whole began to waver and in the same common cause and danger were ready to associate in their defence Many circumstances made for that warre which disswade from this Then the Germans were the Emperour's Subjects the English his confederates and the French his Inviters Now all those being obliged by no Right of Empire or tye of Alliance many of them differing in Religion all concurring in envy as they will quicken our troubles so they will retard our Assistance Therefore for the present omitting the thoughts of Punishment and Warre let some be sent into the Low-countryes that may narrowly observe and bring us a true Account of the present condition of the Provinces and let us in the interim give the Subjects Rest and time to come to themselves and take heed we doe not unseasonably teach them to use those Armes against his Majesty which they have imployed so often in his Service These considerations nearly resembling those offered by Prince Roderigo I suppose the Duke of Feria purposely kept back till the Duke of Alva had spoken that bringing them in as a new opinion he might side with Roderic Gomez whom he much affected But the King though he plainly favoured the Duke of Alva's Resolution yet being many did oppose it deferred or seemed to deferre the declaring of himselfe so long till every ones benefit should reconcile their diverse and clashing Opinions Thus bodyes are dayly formed when after long contention of the Elements some parts being remitted others consumed the whole is made adequate For Roderick Gomez laboured to keep the King in Spaine but though he disliked his going into the Low-countreys with an Army as dangerous howsoever unnecessary yet he found this advantage in it that if the Duke of Alva should be Generall which he easily supposed it would remove his Rivall from Court and ingage him in no slight Difficulties But Alva though in the first place he indeavoured to draw the King from Spaine making sure account he should wholly governe him in the Army yet he was well enough pleased to be trusted by the King though absent with the whole Warre and to leave Roderick Gomez behind in whatsoever degree of place or Favour For as it troubled him to see the King value his Merits lesse then the others person so was he ambitious of some Imployment where Warre and the Field might put a difference between those whom Peace and the Court had equalled Their Opinions therefore meeting in this point the King without further delay declared That he had long thought of a Expedition into the Low-countryes and whatsoever was alledged to the contrary altered not his Resolution but yet hee would not goe till some one sent before him should enter the Provinces with an Army not to affright the Obedience or Peace of his Subiects with those Armes but to use them as a Guard and Ornament to the Prince Shortly after calling for the Duke of Alva he gaue him the Command in Chiefe for that Expedition the rest of the pretenders willingly yielding to him an old Generall famous for many Victories When he had received his Commission the King immediately wrote to the Viceroyes of Sicily Naples and Sardinia to draw out three Regiments from their Spanish Garrisons to be sent to Millaine in the Gallyes of Garcia de Toledo To the Governour of Millaine his Majesty wrote to ioâ—ne unto them a Regiment out of that Province whither the Duke of Alva would shortly come with his new Spanish Levies that should supply the Garrisons from whence the old Souldiers were selected Likewise to the Duke of Savoy the King had formerly sent Iohn Acugnia and now dispatched Francis Ibarra that as the other desired a passage so this might procure Victuall for the Army Moreover Count Iohn Anguisciola went Embassadour to the Swisse and Anthonio Mendoza to the Duke of Loraine acquainting them with his Majestie 's Intentions and desiring Leaue for the Royall Army to passe without Molestation through their Territoryes For the King had changed his Resolution of sending them by Lyons Charles the ninth of France excusing himselfe pretending the Civill Warres and consequently the unsafenesse of the Passage Indeed the Report of the Spanish Army terrified many Countryes particularly Geneva who were made believe that Pope Pius had agreed with the Duke of Alva in his March to turne his Forces as he might easily doe upon the Geneveses and they were assured the Duke of Savoy would not lose so good an Opportunity That which I imagine bred the Suspicion was the suddain Embassage of Bernardino Mendoza sent to the Pope from the Duke of Alva whilst he stayed in Millaine Wherefore Geneva not only requested Aide to the common Cause from Bearne whose turne would be the next
but likewise from all the Calvinists of France as from a Plantation of Geneva especially from the Prince of Conde Head of the Faction Who gâ—ad of that Occasion to make Levies promised and sent Assistance to Geneva under the Command of Mombrune And the Prince himselfe with Gaspar Colligny began their publique Musters in France preteÌ„ding to King Charles a feare the Spaniards that accounted them as Enemies had a designe to take them unprepared Nay they would have perswaded the King to raise an Army and not let slip such an Opportunity as fairer could not be to revenge himselfe of a Nation that ever hated France It was true that the Spanish Army both for the Goodnesse of Souldiers and Noblenesse of Commanders was a most select and considerable one yet in their passage through the Straits and over the Mountaines on the one side by the French on the other by the Geneveses and Swisse they might easily be distressed and cut off And then all King Philip's Spanish and Italian Forces being overthrowne as it was not to be doubted but either a way might be opened to recover Millaine left naked of old Souldiers or it was but marching into the Lowcountreys and that people willingly would receiue the French to whose Armes they must acknowledge themselves obliged for their delivery from the Spanish But if neither of these Projects tooke effect yet certainely for many years a warre was not to be feared from those that having lost such an army could not in a long time recruite The Prince of Conde added that if it would please the King to raise forces for that warre he would bring his Maiesty 50000 men Thus under a specious colour for the publick safety they offered his Maiesty the Army which they had privately designed for their Rebellion like true Hugonots who call that the Kings Security which is indeed his Captivity But the French King knowing what they aymed at lest by provoking a Potent Prince he might at one time be ingaged in a Forreine and Civill Warre replyed it was neither agreable to the Honour nor Valour of the French to circumvent a King neare to him in Affinity and Freindship But to secure his Kingdome from the Spaniards in their March he would giue Order for the raising of a new Army Withall he signified to King Philip the Condition of his Civill Discords by reason whereof he could not promise Security to his Forces if they came And now the Duke of Alva transported in the Galleys of Andrea Doria and Cosmo Duke of Florence with his new Spanish Souldiers that were to supply the old Italian Garrisons arrived at Millaine where falling into a Feauer he was forced to remaine At which time upon notice of the Army which the Duke of Alva was to bring into the Lowcountryes and that the King himself would follow for so it was reported the Governesse endeavoured to disswade his Maiesty from coming in a Warlike manner which would be of no use but to imbroile the Provinces againe That the Lowcountreys were at present in a peaceable condition returned to their Religion and Obedience nor wanted they strength and Men by which as this Condition was acquired so it might be preserued and increased by the King's presence if he came alone but if he brought a new and mighty Army what would it import but great Expences to the King and noe lesse Poverty to the Lowcountryes Vpon the very Rumour of a forreine Army diverse Tradesmen and Merchants familyes were now departed and when they heard of the Armyes nearer Approcahes more would leave the Country because they knew there would be noe Trading in a time of Warre and yet they must pay Sessments and great Taxes for maintaining Souldiers Besides the Feare of the People that cannot but thinke these Forces to be their Executioners the indignation of the Nobility whose good Service in quieting the late Commotions would seeme to be slighted and the certaine Relapse of the Place into Heresy that would returne into the Lowcountreys with a Lutheran Army out of Germany and which out of the premisses she prophetically concluded it would cause by that inexpiable Hatred antipathy betweene the two Nations a bloudy Civill Warre for many Ages Wherefore she earnestly beseeched his Majesty that laying aside this unseasonable Designe of Armes he would come peaceably into the Provinces more like a father then a King and that by his presence and Wisdome he would add to these happy Beginnings what was only desirable Continuation This Letter the Governesse sent by an Extraordinary Gaspar Robley Lord of Bill and Governour of Philipvill that being presented by a person of Honour it might have more Authority with the King But it neuer moved him who replyed his Army should come into the Lowcountreys for no other End but to establish peace And this was writ to the Governesse in the King's name by Rui Gomez a Sylva Prince of Ebolo who likewise sent her Excellence Newes of the Marquesse of Bergen's Death which happened in the Kings Absence from Madrid Iohn Glimèe Marquesse of Bergen Op Zoom a City in the farthest part of Brabant was the last yeare sent from the Low-countreys into Spaine with Florence Momorancy Lord of Montin nor was his Embassy very well received the King being excessively inraged at the Violation of their Churches and Defection of their Cityes Therefore the Marquesse begging leave to returne very often but still in vaine because the Governesse had privately advised the King not let the Embassadours goe so long as the Troubles lasted when he had now sufficiently discovered the Plot upon him both by his Delayes at Court and his mock-hopes as if he should every day returne into the Low-countryes with the King weary of the Imployment and struck with the Duke of Alva's being chosen Generall he fell sick and despairing of his Recovery sent for the Prince of Ebolo his old Friend to whom they say he grievously complained of the King and prayed he would deliver to his Majesty these words from a dying man that should no more speake for himselfe That it much grieved him not only to have no value put upon the many painefull services hee had done but likewise to see himselfe suspected and looked upon as an Enemy yet he hoped that his Fidelity and the perfidiousnesse and calumnâ—es of his Maligners would once though too late appeare A while after having settled all worldly businesse on the one and twentieth of May he dyed some say poysoned as if no man frowned upon by his Prince could dye a naturall death For my part I meane not to affirme it otherwise then as a Conjecture He was equally beloved by Charles the fifth and his Son Philip from him he received the title of Marquesse this for his gallant Service at Saint Quintin chose him out of all the Low-countrey-Lords to go over with him into