Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	day_n	great_a	king_n	3,238	5	3.5290	3	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07032	A tragicall historie of the troubles and ciuile warres of the lowe Countries, otherwise called Flanders Wherein, is sett forthe the originall and full proceedyng of the saied troubles and ciuile warres, with all the stratagemes, sieges, forceble takynges, and manlike defenses, of diuers and sondrie cities, tounes, and fortresses of the same, together, the barbarous crueltie and tyrannie of the Spaniard, and trecherous hispaniolized Wallons, [and] others of the saied lowe Countreis. And there withall, the estate and cause of religion, especially, from the yere 1559. vnto the yere 1581. Besides many letters, commissions, contractes of peace, unions, articles and agrementes, published and proclaimed in the saied prouinces. Translated out of French into Englishe, by T.S. ge[n]t.; Chronyc. historie der Nederlandtscher oorlogen, troublen enn oproeren oorspronck, anvanck enn eynde, item den standt der religien, tot desen jare 1580. English.	Stocker, Thomas, fl. 1569-1592.; Marnix van St. Aldegonde, Philips van, 1538-1598, attributed name.; Rijckewaert, Carolus, called Theophilus, fl. 1577, attributed name.; Henricpetri, Adam, fl. 1576. General historien der aller namhafftigsten unnd fürnembsten Geschichten, Thaten und Handlungen.; Le Petit, Jean François, 1546-ca. 1615, attributed name.	1583 (1583)	STC 17450.3; ESTC S111524	324,446	432

wherevnto all good subiectes and louers of their Countrey of very right offer them selues and the rather she we them selues readie because all the worlde knoweth of the peruerse counsaill and deuise of the saied Spanyardes and their Adherentes as tendyng after the long pacience of their insupportable outrage in the ende to the vtter ruine destruction and sclauerie of all the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis and the faithfull enhabitauntes of the same wherevnto it was apparaunt thei would come had it not been that some other conuenient remedie aboue all other thinges in tyme had beene prouided and that cheefly by the common power and agrement of all the lowe Countreis for the departure and driuyng awaie of the Spanyardes and their Adherentes and that after certaine louyng warnynges and admonitions by his excellencie and the saied Estates of Hollande and Scalande giuen to that ende vnto the rest of the Prouinces of the saied lowe Countreis semyng to be thereto enclined and altogether affected so that for the ad●●uncement of the benefite quiet and vnitie of the saied Lowe Countreis his Excellencie and the Estates aforesaid agreed on either side to meete and entre into communication together about the same when his Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande were agreed and withall had ioyned and strengthened them selues together in this matter for the Bommelians and all the reste of their associates For the sendyng to this ende and purpose their Deputies at a certaine daie to Gant And therefore for this cause his Excellencie together the Estates of Hollande and Sealande haue substituted and by these presentes doe substitute The noble honourable and good Lorde Phillip de Marnix Maister sainct Aldegonde Arnold Thorpe Willyam Zuilen of Newfield Adrian Myle Cornelius Kyng Adrian the yonger in the behalfe and name of his Excellencie and the Estates to be all together or the greater parte of them at the said conference in the Citie of Gant and with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces of the lowe Countreis or their lawfull Deputies beyng there present to treate aduise and conclude vpon whatsoeuer maie best serue for the setting fore ward of the peace Ami●ie and Vnitie of the saied lowe Countreis and the enhabitauntes of the same hauyng alwaies a regard to the former speeches and honest offer oftentymes by his Excellencie and the sard Estates of Hollande and Sealande and their associates but especially to the last treatie of peace with the Kynges Deputies at Bred● and to that whiche there vpon the matter of pacification might haue been treated of and made whervpon the said Deputies might proceade further on if thei thought it requisite or necessarie Giuyng and grauntyng vnto the saied Substitutes or to the more parte of them full aucthoritie and also generall and especiall Commission to accorde and agree with the saied Estates and the rest of the Prouinces about whatsoeuer thei shal find to be any w●e profitable and for the 〈◊〉 theraunce and 〈◊〉 of the Common wealth but especially for the resistyng weakening and driuyng out of the saied Spanyardes as common enemies to the Countrey and common quiet thereof and to the same ende also binde them selues with the rest of the Prouinces vnder suche reasonable conditions and articles as ma●e be godlie and honouble for the repose and wealthe of the Countrey His Excellencie and the Estates of Hollande and Sealande aforesaid promisyng vpon their fidelitie and honour to holde the same as good and effectuall and so farforthe as concerneth them irreuocablie and inuiolably to keepe whatsoeuer their saied Deputies as before is mentioned and in that whiche hath been before saied shall treate of without crossyng or sufferyng the same to be crossed directly or inderectly bindyng them selues their gooddes and generally all the inhabitauntes bothe of Hollande and Sealande and their associates by these presentes bothe for this tyme and the tyme to come without exception of any In witnesse whereof his Excellencie and the saied Estates of Holland and Sealand to these presentes haue Subscribed and for confirmation thereof put to their seales Giuen at Middlebrough the 12. of October and at Delft the 14. of September in the yere 1576. Subscribed by Willyam of Nassou And by the especiall commaundement of the Estates of Hollande subscribed by Peter Bushe And by the expresse commaundement of the Estates of Sealande subscribed by Faymon and sealed with three Seales in redde Waxe at a double Labell of Parchement The Commission of the Secretary The Se●reta● Commission WHere about the seruice of the Lordes the Commissioners chosen by my Lords of the Estates of the Countries here about assembled at Bruxelles for a new entraunce into the conference of the pacification with the Deputies of my Lord the Prince of Orenge and of the Estates of Holland and Zealand and their Associates it was necessarily required that thei should haue a Secretary for the dispatchyng siegniyng and an ende takyng in their name all the Letters Actes Copies and other writinges about their businesse who was left by my saied Lords to bee chosen by the Commissioners aforesaied My saied Lordes of the Estates hauyng chosen and named Ihon de Penantes one of our soueraigne Lorde the Kyng his Counsellours and Maister of his Chamber of the Accomptes of Brabant a man accordyng to their hartes desire haue and doe by these presentes aucthorize the saied Penantes to make dispatche siegne and autentique of knowledge in the name and by the appointment of the saied Lords Commissioners all Acts Letters Copies Writynges that the same might be the better beleued and al other needefull businesse and what soeuer in them contained to be receiued and admitted as thynges very true and credible Prouided alwaies that he shall be duely sworne vnto the said Lords Commissioners therein accordyngly as to them shal seeme most meete Giuen at Bruxelles by vertue of the Estates of Brabant in the name and at the request of all the rest and siegned by their Secretary the 13. of October 1576. and vnderneath was written by the expresse commaundement of the saied Lordes of Estates and subscribed by Cornelius Weelemans and sealed with the priuie Seale of the saied Estates after the maner of a Commission Bee it knowne vnto all men that at the suppication and request of our saied Estates and accordyng to the agreement and confirmation of our said Counsell of Estate in maner and forme as it is set doune the 5. of this present Moneth We will and commaunde our welbeloued and faithfull chiefe Presidentes and those of our priuie Counsell and Counsell at large Our Chauncellour and Counsell of Brabant Our Gouernour President and Counsellors of Flaunders and Artois our greate Bayliefe of Haynault and Counsellors at Mons The Prouoste of Valencia Gouernour of Lys●e Doway and Orchies Our Gonernour President and Counsellors at Namure Our Gouernour Bailiefe and Counsell at Tournay Our Liutenaunt President and Counsailors at Vtright and the Sherife of Malines That thei cause

ancient customes priuiledges franchises of this Citie or against the Citizens and enhabitauntes thereof but ayde defende and keepe them asmuch as is possible for men to do 21 And if they vnderstande any thing tending to the hurte of his Maiesties seruice or the disquieting of the Citie they shall be bounde forthwith to aduertise their Captaynes thereof that they maye make reporte of the same to those to whome it shall appertayne 22 All which they shall do vpon paine and punishment both of bodies goodes limmes and banishment or other arbitrary or pecuniarie correction according to the demerite of the fact and circumstances thereof 23 Vnto all which articles euery one of them when they shall bee enrolled shall bee bounde to sweare and really promise vnto God almightie to keepe and not crosse any maner of way nor yet rebell against them vpon the payne and perill aforesaid Ouer and besides all this the Lieutenant Captaynes Ensignes Corporalles Seriauntes of bandes and diseners shall sweare and promise with all their power to holde and keepe so farreforth as they are able all the Souldiers and Dizaines in good policie obedience and modestie and shall effectually bryng to passe whatsoeuer at any tyme shal be commaunded them to do with their companions and dizaines and likwise to countergard and preuent all discorde sedition and ill will which may aryse betweene the souldiers and the Citizens And if it so fall out that they be not able to appease them then immediatly to aduertise his Excellencie his Lieutenaunt or their Captayne for redresse thereof And so it was subscribed By his Excellencies appoynted De Penants AT the very same tyme there was openly solde a printed picture in which was pictured Commissions and letters from his Maiestie with the Inquisition tyed and hanging at a Bowe that was bent The Protestants or those of the religion going about to pull it downe with ropes The Pope and his shauelings labouring with might and mayne to vpholde and maynteyne them The Protestantes crying out and saying Pour Placcars et Inquisition casser trauaillous tous sanscesser To witte for the ouerthrowing of these Commissions and this vile Inquisition wee neuer cease trauelling till wee haue brought them all downe The Pope on the other side answering and saying Per force et aussi conseil bon Retenous les Placars et le Inquisition to witte And wee for our partes with all the force and counsayle wee can will retayne and keepe them in despite of any man All these thinges aforesayde were done wh●lest my Lorde the Prince of Drange was at Antwerpe but the pulling downe and breaking of the Images was the cause that the Catholikes yeelded more to the Protestantes then they at the first intended For the feare of the rage and furie of the people and the helpe of the Gentlemen Straungers strooke them to the verye heart and besides they knewe well ynoughe● that the kinges Maiestie was a great distance off to helpe them wherefore they were enforced to behaue themselues accordingly as the tyme serued and of necessitie to make a vertue in dispice of them and of their great sorrowe and griefe In the meane while The L. Regent tollerateth the sermons the Ladie Regent by the counsayle of the Lordes of the Goulden Fleese and others graunted and permitted the Protestauntes to haue publique Sermons promising to appoynte them some place without the Citie for the exercise of their religion Ouer and besides that the Inquisition and seuere Commissions shoulde from thence foorth bee abolished so that no man shoulde any more be pursued and bunted after for his conscience But yet vpon this condition that the confedered Gentlemen which tooke no parte shoulde sweare that they woulde procure the people to forsake and lay downe theyr armour and weapon and that the Churches should bee no more spoyled nor any thing that shoulde bee preiudiciall vnto the Cleargie men or Catholikes To be short that they should be ready to yeelde all obedience vnto his Maiestie Hereupon an accord was made in August 1566. Duer and besides this the Regent had procured the most qualified Catholikes to bee sworne to the same and confirmed by his Maiesties commaundement which was proclaymed in diuers places The noble men for the perfourming of their promise and oth wrote and declared to the Consistories all those thynges which had been treated of which was that they should lay down and leaue off their armour and weapon and behaue themselues as good and obedient subiects ought to doe towards their prynces for if they so did not the matter would goe yll with them whereupon the people to shew theyr obedience willingly leaft off and layd downe theyr weapons During these troubles king Philip being aduertised by his suborners and flatterers of the pulling downe and breaking of the images was marueilously angry determined in his owne person to come downe into the lowe countryes with a mayne force for the auengyng of the contempt and misbehauiour committed and doone vnto his matestie But before hee had called together his councel at Madrid to consult about the appeasing of the low countries it was concluded that his maiestie shoulde not goe thyther because that this sire might otherwise bee well enough quenched by force of armes howbeit as for the chosing of a generall that should execute the same they were of sundrie opinions For many were of the opinion that the prince of Spaine Don Charles his maiesties onely sonne and heyre should bee appointed generall not onely for that that by right of nature it apperteined vnto him but also by reason of the good affection which the catholikes of the lowe countries be are hym as beeyng theyr naturall prince and the onelye sonne of the kyng theyr Lorde vnto whom they would sooner yeelde theyr obedience and loue then to any other The duke of Alua 〈…〉 be generall of the arm●e for Flaunders Some of them were loth to lay vpon this young prince so waightie a burden and warlike commission but saide that the Duke of Medina Celi was a meete man for that purpose Some others againe gaue theyr consent to the Duke of Alua whereupon in the end it was so determined The young prince being aduertised of this resolution was greatly greeued and despited therewith and for that cause conceaued a marueilous great harred against the Duke of Alua and other Lordes which beeing once knowen together his good affection that hee had to the lowe countries was the cause of his death as heereafter more at large shal bee declared Whiles they were about to make readie for this warre The kings letters vnto the ladie Regent his matestie wrote to the ladie Regent and to other chiefe Lords of the lowe countries very sharpe letters expresly signifying how angry and greeued he was at the insolencies passed commanding in flat wordes a restauration of the commissions vnto their former strength and accustomed course with many other things hereafter following Hereupon the

were whether President Counseller Boroughmaister or whatsoeuer officer els were enforced before the Inquisitors to take knowledge of as many as were presēted vnto them punish al those that were fauourers of herefie and heretikes Furthermore the Inquisitors tooke a note of all merchants artificers poore or rich that were any way suspected of the reformed religion The Inquisitors are commonly Franciscanes or preaching Friers which take a note of al suche as come not to confession or that offer not to their boxe giuing a copie of thē to the new bishops whose officers as vshers Sariauntes first of al by cōposition burdened the poore soules who soone after were enforced to flee the countrey if they would not be taken so put to death as by experience often was seene At that time it was noysed all the low countrey throughout A brute rumor of warres in the low countries supposed to be a most certaine truth that Duke Erike of Brūswike had leuyed a mighty army both of horsemen footmen to plant the Inquisition in the low countries by force of armes accordingly as he had before by the deuise purpose of the Cardinal of Granuelle enterprised to accomplishe so by that meane meāt to make a conquest of the prouinces of the lād of Belgique and abolish al priuiledges and franchises and in the end make an absolute kingdome of it for this cause was the charge committed to the rulers and captaines who had receiued money of Duke Erike for the leuying of men of warre These newnes engendered such a great feare in the hearts of the people as that the notablest richest merchāts of the countrey Many merchants got thē away into other countries got packed vp al their goods together went away into other lāds insomuch that the artificer had no work to set himself vpon al rēts reuenues decreased many cities townes were vnpeopled so that it was a lamētable thing to see into what a miserable estate the low coūtrey which before was the Paragon of all trade of merchandise not the like in the vniuersal world to be found was fallen now become thus sodainly desolate ruined Againe there were certaine gouernours officers of great authority wealth who first considering of the horrible effect tenure of the letters manifestly declaring that in case there were any man that would oppose himself against the meaning of those letters not ayde the Inquisitors for the accomplishing of their commssion that he whatsoeuer he was should be deposed from his estate another placed in his roome next of al they seeyng the fury and wrath of the people to be greatly moued through such disorderly charges and tyrannies and become so outragious mad that they would not spare any magistrate or officer whatsoeuer And last of all considering that they coulde not with a good conscience in such a case be both plantifes Iudges they were fully resolued to yeelde vp their offices into the kings hands if he purposed to persist in that his intended opinion On the otherside the ancient enemies of the house of Burgoin woulde in no wise let slip this occasion but carefully and dil●gētly sounded the heartes of the enhabitaunts of this low Countrey to see if they could by any meanes possible make them shake off their sidelitie from their Prince Lord hauing gotten men for that purpose to she we vnto them howe insupporlable a bondage that is by which all other franchifes priuiledges and other ordinaunces are defaced and broken and that there shoulde be other Lawes and Statutes appointed after the manner of Spaine which should haue full power and authoritie ouer their moueable and vnmouable goods their wiues and children yea that all the goodes which they haue so long possessed should now be no longer theirs but shoulde themselues also be brought into flauerie and bondage Howebeit they tolde them that this thing shoulde not take effect before such time as his Maiestie shoulde submit himselfe vnto the Inquisition Neither did they forget to shewe the great dammage and losse whiche the countrey was like to receiue through the want of the recourse and company of the Marchantes seeing that marchandize is the very nurse of these Prouinces and that by reason of the trade thereof in other partes the enhabitantes of the lowe Countreys should be ready to starue And that which is more that the bondage of conscience wherunto they shoulde be alwayes tyed was nowe concluded vppon Moreouer they compared all these thinges to other prouinces and regions with their franchises and liberties saying that these prouinces farre passed all other in trade of marchandise and goodnesse of Ground and further tolde them of the great commoditie which other prouinces receiued from these lowe Countreys and coulde not be without them Neuerthelesse their fidelitie and constant loyaltie to their prince was so great and wrought so in them as that they gaue no eare to such suborners but aduertised the Magistrate to be ware of this fetch and drift and preueut it howbeit they were no whit the more abashed for all this neither knewe they what was best for them to do or what best to be left vndone Now for the better vnderstanding of the cause why The bringing in of the new Bishoppes and in what fort these new bishops were erected we are to know that the Priestes Inquisitors for their better assurance of the bringing in of the inquisition into king Philips dominions considering that certaine ecclesiasticall prelates in some measure fauoured the Protestants and were in great authoritie and very rich they therefore greatly enuied them for it For which cause the Inquisitors imagined to erect a newe estate of prelates and to deuide the Archbishopricks Bishopricks Abbaies Pryories c. into many partes And to this ende in the yeere 1558. was appointed at the request of king Philip by the Exclesiasticall estate Francis Sonnius a Doctor in 〈◊〉 and sent to Rome Sonnius sent to Rome who hauing set foorth the noblensse of the lowe Countries and the great riches of the Ecclesiasticall prelates there wrought his matters so wisely as that hee compassed this much That Pope Paule the 4. of that name by the aduise of seuen Cardinalles appointed for that put pose gaue the saide Sonnius audience and graunted him his demaund Whereupon they tooke from the Archbishopricke of Coloigne whose dyocesse was ouerlarge the Bishoprick of Vtrecht made the same an Archbishoprick wherunto they subiected fiue other Bishops to wit the Bishoprick of Deuenter in the countrie of Tranfisselaine the Bishopricke of Harlem in Holland the Bishopricke of Leauwarden in Friseland the Bishopricke of Middlebourgh in Zealande and the Bishoprick Groening in the countrie of Wedde All which plates are farre distant from the Citie of Coloigne neither doe their languages agree with them of Coloigne and therefore the sentences pronounced at Coloigne could not wel bee

March the same yeere The tyrannous Papists troubled the preachinges in the Towne of Andenarde and slue fiue of the company with Harquebuzes The same tynie also the reformed Churches in Flanders were vtterly despersed The 27. of Aprill the same yeere were the last Sermons made in Amstelredame when as the Lord of Brederode with the noble men and ministers departed the same Citie and was the last dispersion of the Churches in the lowe Countreys The ende of the first booke The seconde Booke of the Histories of the troubles in the low Countreys In the beginning whereof shall be described and set forth the Inquisition of Spaine and the execution thereof and next after howe the banished Princes Noble men Gentlemen and others assailed the low Countreys both with horsemen and footemen good store for the recouerie of their enheritances and goods from which they were driuen away by the tyrannie of the Duke of Alua. WE haue discoursed and set down in the first booke the maner of the passing of all the dealings in the lowe Countreys before the D. of Alua his comming and also in what state they stoode at his arriuall And besides howe all they of the reformed religion after the forbidding of the exercise of preaching were persecuted and condemned by the Inquisition But now if thou wilt a while giue eare I wil discouer vnto thee what maner a thing the same inquisitiō is which is more famous then rightly known all Europe ouer The declaration here of woulde be taken of many but for a fable and leasing if the spring head and first original thereof were not manifestly set forth and to say truly the gentle reader should take small pleasure if we should but onely speake of the bare name there of without telling what it is in deede Wherefore for the first point I will declare vnto you what it is who are the indges thereof and the maner of the administration of it And because there is not the least within these Iowe Countreys but knoweth that this Inquisition of Spayne hath been the very true originall of all the troubles I will not forget to lay wide open and set downe in writing the declaration and beginning thereof Spayne at the first was gouerned by meane kings Spaine in olde time gouerned by petie kings and after warde the greatest part thereof was conquered by the Affricanes who at last peaceably possessed it and freed it from the bondage of the Romanes After this the same Prouince was for a while gouerned by the Uandales and Alanes whom the Gothes in the dayes of the Emperours Theodose and Ualentinian the thirde expulsed out of Fraunce who conquered many Lands and Countreys destroying the Romaine Empire At last these wandering people were by the ordinaunce of Boniface gouernours in Affrica who through the dealing of the other Affricane gouernours were sent and called thereto But as they were by the vice Bothes pursued on this side the sea there passed ouer of mē women and children vnder the conduct of Gontram and Gensericke their kings and lordes in the yeere 720. about eyght hundred thousande persons to destroy and conquere Affricke After this retraite of this foresaid Uandales the Gothes by the consent of the Emperours gouerned the realme of Spayne vntill the dayes of K Rodrigue who hauing violated and defloured Cana Count Iulians daughter was ruined slayne with all his kinred For the same count Iulian in reuenge of the wrong and shame that was done him sent the Uandales Mores Affricanes and Sarazins vnder the conduct of Musa their king who haning discomfited and slayne in many battels mo then seuen hundreth thousand men conquered all Spayne and deuided it into diuers kingdomes to witte Granade Ualence Portugall Toledo Cordua and many others But the christians which came of Gothes for the auoyding of the intollerable oppressions and horrible furie of these nations retyred and withdre we them selues into the Mountaynes of Arragon who at that tyme were called the Cantabrians and Asturians and chose one named Pelagius to be their king This Pelagius forsaking the name of a Gothe beganne to make very great warres against the Mores but hee had therein but euill successe Wherefore his successours required ayde and helpe of the French kinges to witte of Pepin Charlemeine Lewis and many others so that in short tyme the Countreys that were lost were conquered agayne which were deuided into Prouinces and after into kingdomes giuing them the names of the fortresses and Townes whereby they were conquered to witte of the Citie or Towne of Leon or Legion the kingdome of Leon of Tarracon Arragon of Barcinone Barcelone of the Castle which Pelagius built so soone as hee had wonne Leon against the assault of the Mores the kingdome of Castile and after all this the kingdomes of Portugall Nauarre Galice Toledo Ualence Cordua and Granade were exected to wit when the Mores were enforced to become subiecte to Christian kings and Countreys at suche tyme as euery one warred against them in his owne Countrey the chiefe of which were the Arragonians and Castilians Nowe amongst all the Princes and Potentates that warred vpon the heathen and Infidelles Ferdinando king of Arragon was the most famous But after that the Countrey was out of the daunger of the Mores by reason of the happie successe of the heathen warres the sayde king Ferdinando suffered the Mores as his predecessors had also done to liue in quiet subiection and obedience paying certayne tribute Neuerthelesse their kinde of life was paynefull especially amongst those that were freemen and yet tollerable inough seeing they were not troubled or molested for the cause of religion But as the thinges of this worlde neuer continue in one selfe and the same estate and that the heartes of kinges and princes doe often chaunge which causeth the subiectes for the present tyme to be ouercharged and burdened There were some that perswaded the sayde king to chose certayne personnes who shoulde haue an eye to their many superstitions and infidelities to the ende the Mahometishe and Ieweshe religion myght not any way derogate from the Catholique Religion Neuerthelesse wee see by experience that oftentimes they whiche make pittes for others fall them selues into them For it is an harde matter to stumble against a stone when as they will labour to reduce others to their opinion and fantasie The king had appoynted for this purpose the moste qualified men following therein the order of his predecessors And as a king careth not what payne hee ordinarily taketh to excell all other kinges and Monarches in honour and fame Euen so this king Ferdinand purposed and concluded to shewe him selfe a no lesse true and politike then a warlike Christian for in leauing all his warlike affayres he bestowed all his care about the aduauncing of christian Religion which is a most good kingly deede and worthy great commendation as also it is the parte and duetie of a king who is the Image of the most excellent and Almightie

king to vse Iustice and true mercie vnto his subiects In doing whereof he hath been most happie and blessed and is a figne of a true testimonie of that name which the Pope gaue vnto him and to his successors kings of Spaine to wit the title of most Catholike king which Pope Gregory the thirde of that name graunted the yeere 1230. To Alfonse king of Galice who also hath giuen to all Spaniardes the tytles of double Catholike Nowe this thing was the cause that all the Mores Sarazins and the Iewes them selues who as the Histories witnesse fithens the sacking and destruction of Ierusalem hauing by the appoyntment of the Emperour Titus continued in these Countreys haue withdrawne them selues out of Spayn because they were enforced to beleeue confesse Iesus Christ to be the sonne of God and therefore forsooke they the Countrey sought out for themselues some other better place to dwell in Insomuch that many thousandes haue gotten them away vnto the borders of Gibalter and from thence into Affricque into diuers other places But the rest who like well of Spayne continue there still and both themselues and their children are baptised Neuertheles not long after when the spaniards perceiued how greatly the opinion of the Godhead whether it be good or bad taking once impression in mens imaginations preuayled and what force it hath in mens harts when it is once rooted therin especially when in long processe of time it is successiuely learned from one to another for then they will become obstinate and neuer forgoe it Then was the exercise of the Iewish Religion forbidden them and as they coulde not in trueth forgette and forgoe the sayde exercise the Spaniardes fell to persecuting of them and yet by a certayne kinde of Iustice meaning vtterly to roote them out But it was impossible to roote out suche a people so obstinately bent and setteled in their Infidelitie A little before this there was a newe order of Fryers instituted by a Spaniarde The beginning of the order of the Iacopins borne within the Dyocesse of Lexonie to witte in Caliroga named Dominicke whiche was called the order of the lacopins and authorized by Pope Honorius the thirde of that name the yeere 1216. And this was brought in by reason of a vision that appeared to him as hee lay a sleepe by which was shewed him that the Churche being shaken and readie to fall was helde vp by Saint Dominicke onely albeeit Pope Innocente the thyrde his predecessor had no will to yeelde to the Institution and exection of that order of Fryers This Religious order is growen into suche credite and so highly esteemed of as that the king of Spaine hath committed vnto the Iacopins all the affayres concerning conscience and religion and although there was before tyme a certayne forme and manner of Inquisition instituted yet was it by this order of the Iacopins whiche was thought to be the most holy of all the rest confirmed and established For when they sawe that the Iewes coulde neyther by the prayers preachings and admonitions of the Iacopins bee conuerted they then proceeded with them after a rigorous maner and tooke vpon them the swoorde to force them to the religion if so bee they woulde not depart and gette them out of the countrey This rodde or swoorde whereof I heere intende to speake whiche the Iacopins vnto this present haue vsurped agaynste these poore people hath been the cause as it is sayde that the Inquisition beganne in the dayes of King Ferdinand whilest hee raigned Because that this manner and fourme of Inquisition is more rigorous then the first was against those herefies and heretiques which they called Marans The originall of the marans which name is ●sed amongst many Christian nations against such as of a singuler desire wishe to haue a newe religion forsaking and reiecting the olde whereupon the originall of the Marans was but a litle before that knowne For as the Iewes looked for the promised Messias and had alwayes in their mouthes this name Maran to witte Our Lorde Euen so the Iewes which had receyued the Christian fayth sayde Maranathi that is to say The Lorde is come Shortly after there arose a dissention and ennemitie amongst the Christians to witte betweene the true Christians and those which denied that the sayde sauyour was come who were called Marans and condemned for a pernitious and wicked sect This is the cause why the Iewes had alwayes that name in their mouthes and that the Spaniardes on the other side called them Apostates and heretiques which woorde they also vsed againste all suche as helde not the true doctrine of the Romishe Church And therefore the Iacopins were the authours of the Inquisition who deuised a better forme thereof then that that was before The king foorth with ratified this forme and Pope Sextus the Genoway confirmed it Without all doubt the king had great occasion to doe this for the rooting out of the wicked and reprobate doctrine of the Mahometistes and Iewes who went about none other thing but to burden mens consciences with the looking for the promised Messias and besides the Sarazins and Arabians whiche the Mores had sent into Spayne committed great mischiefe Yea and the Iewes themselues were condemned by Pope Sextus the yeere 1475. Because they had crucified a childe of two yeeres of age cutting off his genitories and ryght pappe The Iewes put to death a child of two yeeres 〈◊〉 and afterwarde persed him vnto death and then cast hun into the riuer which thing they did vpon palme Sunday in despite and mockery of Iesus Christ and to the dishonour and shame of all christians which Iewes were punished and executed after they had by torture sharp examination and proofe confessed the fact These Iacopins by reason of the reputation whiche they had gotten by the setting vp of their newe order of Religion called them selues the defenders of the Christian doctrine and Religion not onely in Spayne but also in Italy and in other places of Christendome where they had brought in and planted their order The first commission they had was graunted them against the Iewes and Mahometists but after when their authoritie encreased and extended it selfe further then they called themselues the Inquisitors of Heretikes for the persecuting of all such as woulde not obserue the ordinaunces and institutions of the Catholike religion Nowe that we might knowe what kynde of men these Inquisitors haue beene Experience hath shewed vnto vs to wit such mē as through their wickednes haue peruerted all thinges For these good Gentlemen proceede euen as they are affected against the accused whiche is the cause that all men bate them especially sithence the agreement whiche the Pope made betweene the foure orders of begging Fryers And the cause of this controuersie was by reason that the inquisitors had examined certain diuines of the order of the Carmelites vpō some articles of the faith of which number was Iulian

him that they will make a short sute of it Then hee hath agayne audience graunted him but nothing is done neither will they tel him wherefore hee is accused because their meaning is to ouerthrow him by his owne confession After this he is once more brought before the Inquisitors who giue him very hard speeches and saye If thou wilt not otherwise aunsweare and discharge thy conscience thou shalte bee committed to the Attorney generall who will handle thee after another manner fashion to wit he will shrewdly put thee to thy trumpe and triall For his purpose is first of all to make a forfaiture of the goodes of the accused for the kinges behoofe But when the cunning admonitions of the Inquisitors cannot make him confesse nor yet winne him from his perseuerance constancie they then practize another way with him For then they cause a crosse masse booke to be brought laying the hand of the accused vpon them would put him to his othe but if he wil not sweare he is already conuinced if he doe sweare then they make diligēt search what countrey man he is what his friends his profession companions are other such like by which they draw gather great argumēts tokēs But such as are wise and cūning wil not giue thē one word to answer because they before hand see the informatiō and sifting of the matter whereof they are accused In the ende the Action is deliuered him in writing that he may defend himselfe by his attorney and counseller who calleth vnto hym the prysoner and taketh vpon him the defense of his cause and after that the sute is set forwarde accordyng to the custome hee addeth vnto it in writing what the lawe is exhibiting the same into the hands of the Inquisitors who the third day after sende againe for the prysoner and his counsellour to come before them then they commaund hym to tel the trueth seeing that in that auditorie they desire nothyng els But if he will confesse nothing they carry him backe to pryson and at laste the depositions are shewed him without naming the witnesses But if any man will depose any thyng against him the prysoner enquireth of the qualitie and condition of the person and it commeth also many times to passe that the Inquisitors are of the opinion with the prysoner accused that if he can gesse or imagine who is his accuser by calling to minde with whom hee had any talke of matters of religion that the same man ought to brought before him and accuse him face to face They that are subtill cunning will call for a copie of the action that they may answer it by writing But if there are two witnesses they may then without all doubt giue iudgement and sentence of death agaynst the prysoner and one witnes is sufficient to put him to a shrewd trumpe or tryall The aduocate Fis kall pleadeth the condition and the accusers are the witnesses Two or three dayes after when as the prysoner is againe sent for to come before the Inquisitors his councellour sheweth vnto him the principall articles whereof he is accused and setteth downe vnto him the substanciallest reasons and testimonies of his accusers that he may cōsider of them whether they are like to bee true or not And besides he hiddeth the prysoner to be wel aduised to see if he can be able to bring it to passe to vnderstand what they are that haue wit nessed matter against him that he might challenge them for doing whereof certaine dayes of deliberatton are giuen to the prisoner to record with himselfe who or what his enemies be which are able to depose against him and lay any thing to his charge and if he cannot deuise who they should be God haue mercy on him for he hath then no more to say But if he can gesse what they are or name thē no man telleth him that it is they but his councellour telleth it to him secretly then he is asked before the inquisitors by what way or meane hee is able to challenge the accuser And besides if hee woulde excuse and purge himselfe or that hee bee able to prooue that hee hath beene alwayes a great friende vnto the cleargie and obserued all the ceremonies of the Churche to wit that hee hath hearde Masse beene confessed and worshipped the crosse and Images To bee short That hee hath done al cleane cōtrarie to that that his accusers haue deposed which must bee ordinarily done within niene dayes and then his cause is merueilously well amended howbeit all the excuses that hee can make therein are to no purpose except there come in no witnesses against him when the contrarie are examined by the Iudge they conclude vpon the mattter and the aduocate Fiskall prayeth an instaunce that it may bee ended as it pleaseth hym After this certaine Fryers and Doctors of Diuinitie examine his beliefe that is to say they make an interpretation of whatsoeuer the prisoner hath spoken of faith and if in theyr opinion hee hath saide well hee is adiudged to be set free and at libertie and yet notwithout his great domage which hee shall both feele and smell of againe as followeth When they can get nothing at all of him A m●cruel examination or tryall but that hee is able to excuse hymselfe they then put hym to a shrewde trumpe or tryall For first they bryng him through many odde doores of certaine caues vnder the ground vnto a place where the Iudge sitteth And thither presently commeth the hangman apparrelled in a blacke linnen cassocke much like vnto the garmente which the Spaniardes weare vppon maundie Thursday when as for pennance sake they beate thēselues vntil the blood trickle down withall Theyr head and face is couered with an hood hauing no more but 2. holes in it for to looke out at In this sort commeth in the hangman apparrelled to terrifie the prysoner as if the Diuell himselfe woulde correct him for his sinnes when this is done the Iudge admonisheth him to tell the truth procesting that if through torture any leg or limme of his be broken that the fault and scathe shall bee his and lye in his owne necke After this the poore prysoner is shaken out of all his clowtes saue that they tye a lynnen ragge to couer his priuities Anone after hee maketh the hangman a signe what torment hee shall haue Nowe the ordinary torment of the prysoner is this First his handes are bounde together behinde his backe and his body being trysed vp into the ayre with a tormentrous engine they bind to his feete instruments of pron of twentie fiue pounds weight then the Inquisitors say vnto him vnderstand thou fellow that if thou wilt not confesse the troth assure thy selfe we will leaue thee heere to die in these torments In this paine hangeth this wretched and miserable patient all his weeping and teares helping him nothing at all Then the hangman letteth him slip

then the patient is degraded in very deede the selfe same day as followeth First hee is apparrelled in all his Churchrobes as if hee should go to masse All which are taken from him by one that playeth the Bishops part vsing certaine ceremonies and wordes as hee bereaueth him of them one after another vtterly cleane contrary to the ceremonies and wordes that are vsed vnto hym when he is Priested After this they scrape his hands lippes and crowne with a glasse or rasor to take away the holie oyle wherewith he was annoynted All these ceremonies are openly vsed in the sight of the whole world Nowe when all the sentences are pronounced the priestes degraded as aforesaid The seculer magistrate receiueth them that must dye accordyng to the appointment and commaundement of my masters the Inquisitors to execute and dispatch them out of the worlde at the ordinarie place hauing with them suche diuelish and shamelesse Proctours as neuer cease callyng vpon them to renounce the truth which they had confessed and receiued But if the Inquisitors vnderstande that there are some of thē that haue not truly repented but that the woolfe is couered with the sheepes skinne they deliuer them into the tēporall magistrates hands they beseech him to deale fauourably with them and to beware that they breake none of theyr lymmes nor yet drawe any blood of them and in theyr chiefe giuing of iudgement they say seeing that the paine and trauell which wee haue taken about to conuert these persons is all in vaine and to no purpose wee deliuer them into the handes of the temporall magistrate to bee punished according to lawe and iustice yet beeseeching him that if so bee they shall acknowledge their errours and bee conuerted that they wil shew them al the fauour and mercy that they may possibly And all the rest which are not adiudged to dye are sent backe agayne to prison but the next daye in the morning they that are condemned to be whipt are scourged rounde about the streetes some are condemned to the Gallies other some to perpetual imprisonment and some of the rest to weare S. Benets furniture and carry him about But if any of those happen againe to slip and fall into their handes they are then without al redemption Thou hast now gentle Reader heard the causes occasions of the Spaniards warring in the low countries of their warring heretofore against the Mores in Spayne by whō thou maist vnderstād from whence the very right spring head of these dolorous waters come wherwith they had ouerflowed drowned the low coūtries had not God of his meere mercy prouided for the same And besides thou shalt forthwith vnderstād of wonderful things to wit who by whō what time wherfore the Spaniards are dispersed all the lowe countries about And therfore I beseech thee consider whether the matters aforesaid set forth in the 1. booke be not the amiable kynd deeds of a liberal Duchesse against the horrible cruelty of the inquysitiō Truly she hath geuen vs hony mingled with great bitternes for it is wel inough knowen to al the world what cruelty vnmercifulnes shee hath vsed against the poore and miserable subiects The king of Spayne fearing that the Protestantes Religion woulde encrease and grow in the low Countreyes to the great hurt and disaduauntage of the Catholike church and losse of the Inquisition sent very earnestly as hath beene heretofore in the first booke set downe vnto his sister the Lady Margaret Duchesse of Parma willyng her to preuent this Empayre downfall But when he vnderstood that the matter waxed euery daye woorse then other and that the Duchesse dealt not cruelly enough against his subiects he sent out of Spaine Don Ferdinand Aluares of Toledo Duke of Alua The departure of the Duke of Alua out of Spayne to be Gouernour and Liuetenant general of the low countries Who embarqued him selfe with his men of warre at Barcelone in Spaine in the moneth of May 1567. sayling towards Genues with the wind in the poupe The king had commanded all the captaines of the realmes of Naples Scicile Lombardie and the rest to march with their bandes vnto the territorie of Millaine which they performed whiles the Duke lay sicke of an ague there was a mightie company of men of warre come together Chiapin Vitelli was his lieuetenant and Gabriel Serbellon master of the ordenance When the Duke of Alua was ryd of his Ague The maner of the Duke of Alua his going on his voyage hee tooke his iourney through Sauoy towardes the count of Burgoine hauing with him eight thousand Spaniards eight thousand Sauoyās a thousand light horse and from thence through the Dukedome of Lorayne towardes Luxenbourgh where he put into pay the counte Albert of Lodron with three thousand Almaines three hundred horse and came downe together into the low countries vnto Bruxelles And there he imparted vnto the dutches the cause of his comming shewing vnto her his commission authoritie and power which when she had seene shee sent to the king her brother desiring leaue that shee might returne to her L. husband the Duke of Parma and hauing resigned her estate and office vnto the Duke of Alua The departure of the dutches out of the lowe countries she departed out of the lowe countries the tenth of Apryll 1568. to the no small griefe and sorrowe of the people who considered that the Duke had taken vpon him all authoritie and power and meant to continue the dewse which hee had conceiued in his brayne fauoured and fortified by the strength of the Spaniardes whiche were with him to the great and myserable ruine and destruction of the lowe countries Nowe when the Duke of Alua had gotten into his possession all the Townes and fortresses well furnished with Spanishe souldiers hee caused the commissions of the institution of the Inquisition to be proclaimed commanding euery man in the name of the king to obserue the catholike religion and obey the church of Rome Afterwarde The erection of the councell of troubles hee ordeined a newe councel called the councel of troubles of twelue councellours who shoulde haue full power to giue sentence iudge and pronounce sentence of death and in many places put in new magistrates as pleased himselfe This done hee by reason of the troubles alreadie passed caused a great number of the people to be taken besides those whome the Dutches of Parma had before imprisoned and executed on them cruell iustice Moreouer he caused a proclamation to bee made for the fugitiues assigning them a day for their comming in and whoseuer missed his goods to be confisked This foresaid Duke at his first entrance greatly dissembled and would in no wise punishe any for the troubles passed with any corporall payne to the ende to feede the people with a vaine hope and saide that the king had giuen a generall pardon for all the hurly burly that had beene committed

of the said moneth the enemy neuer giuing ouer vndermyning caused the townes men also to plye it with counter-myning as fast and gaue foorth with fire thereto sending thereby a great number of the enemies into another worlde The same day by the aduise of the Borroughmaisters and Captaynes of the towne was ordeined that a newe Ditche and Rampare shoulde bee made like an halfe moone for they were afearde that the enemie woulde vndermyne the saide Forte or Bulwarke whiche in the ende they beate downe which Ditch and Rampare was with one consent and great diligence begun and finished so that there was no man absent at the doing of it but Borroughmaisters head Officers Captaynes Lieuetenants Citizens Souldiers Souldiers wiues and Pages laye at it daye night Insomuch that it was quickly dispatcht made an end of The eleuenth of the sayd moneth an Almayne comming from the entrie of the woode passed by boate ouer Spare and giuing a signe with his Cappe came towardes the Towne desiring to comein and beeyng in the Towne asked for Captayne Steinbach shewing Letters whiche were written vnto him Wherefore hee was brought to the said Steinbache his lodging who foorthwith brought him to the towne house where he was throughly examined and after put in prison The 12. day of Februarie arriued a boate laden with victuals which came from Leyden and the next day beeing the thirteenth of the saide moneth there came a messenger with letters from his Excellencie vnto the Magistrate The 14. of the saide moneth there came in the conuoy of 40. harquebuziers 2240. Rasieresof corne and other victualles and the next day came in a boate laden withe turues very good fyring in the lowe countries The 16 day came in a great Barke laden with bread and fishe But the next day beeing the 17. came in twentie and eight small boates loden with victuals and foure hundred souldiers the greater number of them in double pay vnder the charge of captaine Christopher Gunter The same day also were foure or fiue alarms giuen because the euemie offered to giue the assault setting fire on the myne whiles they stood about the Spittle in order of battaile with ensigne displaid although the firing of the myne stood them in small steed which was the cause that the assault began not The 18. day of February the first Gally of 84. feete by the keele hauing a boord in her certaine souldiers got into Harlem Mere. The same day also entred in foure or fiue small Boats laden with victuals one other laden with two peeces of brasse which came from Leyden The 19. of the saide moneth there arriued a boate laden with ten yron peeces pouder shot and victuals The same day arriued at Penninkfer the little Gallie of Amsterdam with foure or fiue small boates to the intent to cut downe the banke or dyke for the getting in into Harlē Mere who were incountred with the little Gally of Harlem and other small boates and by that meane stayed In the meane while the townes men fired a myne which they had cast vnder the Bulwarke whereupon ensued a braue skirmishe The next day fled out of the towne a Wallon whome before they had taken prysoner into the Almaines campe The 21. of the saide moneth the Amstelredamians returnes from Pennykfer with their boates to accomplish the work which they had begunne who before had fought with the little gally of Harlem There were also certaine horse men sent from Harlem whi the came out of the Sparewouwer gate vpon brydges and tooke one of the enemies Boates fraught with men the greater number of whiche were slaine and the reste hanged at Fuyke The 24. of February the Harlemians sent two of their Gallies to Fuyke and the 25. they receiued two brasse peeces from the Dordrightians one of which carried a bullet of fortie foure pounde weight and the other of thirtie and foure or fiue yrou Serpentines The same day entred fiue small vessels laden with victuals and graine to wit with wheare rye barley beanes and pease The 26. of the same moneth the great Gally of Harlem got before all the rest of the men of warre and entred the Mere where shee fell amongst a dosen men of warre of Amstelredam whereupon foure or fiue of them began to assayle her to haue clapt her a bord before such time as she perceiued that they were their enemies so that shee lost some of her men But Captaine Gerard the younger beeing hurt saued himselfe and his lieuetenant in a small vessel leauing his people in danger whome the enemie foorthwith ouercame an houre or two after the losse of the great Gally came the little Gally of Harlem vnder the charge of Captaine Iames Antony with other sinall men of warre who valiantly recouered the great Gally and wonne of the enemie a new Caruell killing as many as were within boord saue three whome they brought to Harlem one of them beeing a Gentleman of Louayne named Ranscot and the Harlemians returned to Fuyke hauing playd the tall souldiers The same day also entered into Harlem certaine small vessels laden with victuals The 27. of the said moneth the saide Gallies once againe met with the enemie and put the Amsterdamians to flight wher vpon the Harlemians stopped the hole which the Amsterdamians had made with boates stones and other things The last of this moneth very early in the morning the townes men fyred a little Myne that was digged at Saint crosse gate to the losse of some of the enemies The third day of Marche the Harlemians set a woorke and played with the great ordenance before named for as the enemie had made a platforme before the Fortor Bulwarke Iohn Coningham the Scottishe Lieuetenant played so lustily with the battery as that in halfe a day hee had beate it smooth to the grounde The same day also entred into Harlem two small vessels laden with victuals and powder The fourth of March the enemie gaue the alarme and in the meane whyle victualles entred into the towne And the next day the Chase of Harlem entred the Mere hoatly appointed The seuenth of the said moneth the townes men had beaten downe the enemies platforme The same day also a Proclamation was made that no assise shoulde bee payd of any thing within the towne The eight day entred into Harlem two ensignes of English men and Wallons which were quickly sent away againe because it was thought that there were about foure thousand souldiers in the towne The nienth day● as Captaine Enchuise and his horse men enbarqued wherefore the townes men skirmished against the enemie that laie in the wood and so did they likewise the xi day but to small purpose The twelfth of Marche came victualles into Harlem and alarme was giuen But the fourteenth of the said moneth the Harlemians fired a myne which dispatched some of theyr enemies amongest whome a Spaniard couered with earth was retyred howebeit hee neuer spake word and soone after dyed The

perforce Moreouer they were well to weigh and consider that if so bee they did not all that was possible for men to doe that they should not only loose theyr Towne of Leyden but also all the whole Countrie besides whiche should bee to them and their successors amost cursed and shamefull reproch for euer And therefore that they were lustily to hold out the enemy and so be the cause of not onely preseruing themselues but of the whole countrie also and get themselues thereby an euerlasting famous name And for the better effecting of this matter sparily to spend their victuals after the example of the Harlemians and Middlebroughians Nowe followeth the answere to these letters written the first of Iune Although their corne would not stretch so farre as the time mentioned in those letters yet they hoped lustily to holde out the force of the enemie during the time aforesaide yea they were fully resolued rather to abyde the extremitie of famine then to become their enemies slaues In the meane whyle they required that the Delftians Roterodamians and Goudians might be forbidden to suffer any victuals passe out of any of them by lande because the enemie should therby be greatly weakened Protesting against them that if they otherwise did that they more sought their owne priuate gain then the endomaging of those who went about none other thing but the turning away of the enemie from their gates c. And nowe let vs againe returne to Frauncis Baldez his enterprises So soone as Baldez had in this maner without anie great ordenance be sieged the towne of Leyden For hee right well knewe the merueilous charge of that which was planted before Harlem and withall the small effect it wrought he therfore knowing that it woulde lesse auaile against this towne whiche was so notably strengthned with mightie strong Rampares bethought him either by sugred speeches cunning letters or seuere threates to subdue it And for so much as hee had many fugitiue Hollanders with him whoe were at his beeke and commandement and at that time called in the Hollanders language Glippers he entended to imploy them about these affaires and it may bee that it was their owne sute and request seeing there were some of them too too carelesse for the losse and libertie of their countrie and therefore thought by theyr sundrie letters written from diuers places to the Leydens to draw them to the call and so deceiue them some of which said letters shal be here set downe at large as they were written and the briefe contents onely of othersome And firste and formost Iohn Adryanson the wylde and Ewout Arent the sonne of Gerard sente the twentie eyght of Maye from Harlem to the Magistrate and whole body of the Towne the Letters hereafter following signed with their hands but not al written by thē which made the matter greatly to be suspected that the Letters were no parte of their inuention My Maysters the great and singular affection and loue which we haue vnto our Countrie accompanyed with an horryble terrour and heart breake A Letter sent to the Leydens by certeine sugitiue Hollanders haue beene the cause to let you vnderstand that wee foreseeing you my maysters to be in great hazarde to fall into extreame calamitie and miserie if you in minde persist to defende the Towne of Leyden against his maiesties will and honour our most gentle Lorde and naturall Prince seeing we are more then informed of the innumerable numbers of men of warre already assembled and doe yet still assemble both on foote and on horsebacke with purpose to come downe into our poore and desolate countrie of Holland some of which are already on the way and are dayly still comming on and chiefly to set vpon you my maisters and to turne you cleane out of your dores ouer and besides a great number of Spanish shipps dayly approching which are prepared and furnished for the same effect Wherefore my maysters we hartely beseech you to haue a very good and discrete regard vnto this matter and looke throughly vnto it that you be not ouer long in deliberating hereon least by your obstinate purpose and intent all good meanes be altogether cut off and taken from you For you my maisters knowe well enough the meaning and purpose of souldiers who onely are enclined to sacke and spoyle for their particular profit beseeching you likwise to haue regarde to your poore wiues and children your miserable olde fathers and kinsfolkes who are no way able to helpe and relieue you and be not the cause of suffering that to be lost and euill dealt withal which ought so much to be had in honour with you and amongst the rest the little wealth and substaunce which yet remayneth through the insupportable exactions by you my maysters as it were for the space of two yeares vpholden which wee daye and night see before our eyes For this cause we in the beholding of you are enbolvened to exhibite a certeine supplicatiō to Monsier de Liques Gouernour of Harlem a very curteous ciuill and discrete noble Gentleman and borne within his Maiesties lowe Countries where al his welth lyeth who is wonderfully enclined to vnitie peace and tranquilitie who hath answered vs that if you your selues would become sory and repentant and so submit you vnto his Maiestie that he knoweth such a way for the sauing both of your bodyes and goodes as you your selues cannot wish a better alwayes prouided that this submission be made before such time as you be more straightly couped vp by his maiesties garrisons And for this cause my maisters hee hath inioyned vs to aduertise you that the Lordes of the Towne might deuise to set downe certaine pointes and Articles with such conditions as you would craue your pardon extending the same no farther then to you should seeme most expedient and to sende the same ouer with all possible speede vnto the sayde Lorde de Liques who will procure you a fauourable answere and giue you good direction to the great Commaundator of Eastile now Gouernour for his Maiestie of all his Low Countries For we know not better howe to counsell you then to be directed by him who likewise made the League at Mons in Haynault which in euery condition was fully and wholly obserued according to the promises and which we also trust that you wil more firmely keepe Beseeching the Lord God that it would please him so to inspire you with his holy spirit as that at last you hauing by it a right iudgement be not caryed away with an obstinate and froward constancie to refuse that good occasion which presently is offered you for your so great aduauntage The 29. of May Gerard of Hooghstrate wrote two Letters from Leyerthorpe Other letters sent from the spaniolated Hallanders to Leyden the one to the Leydens which was vnsealed and without superscription And the other of the same effect to his cosin Gerard Iohnsō It is insinued to the Burroughmaysters that

Dampmartin vnto the Estates what the cause was of his retournyng into Fraunce and of the forsakyng of the lowe Countreis and amongest other thynges he wrote vnto them of the louyng request of the Kyng his Brother by reason of an vprore that arose in Fraunce So that hereby some bodie had perswaded the people that his presence was an hinderaunce to the generall peace of the lowe Countreis and besides that he went about none other thyng but to make hym self Lord and Maister of all the Cities hereabout whiche his dealyng he forsooth would aswell as he could needes excuse saiyng that it was vtterly vntrue and his reason was because that at his departure he rendred vp all thinges into the handes of the Estates further offryng that wheresoeuer he became he would alwaies remaine their good frende and so takyng his leaue required that thei would in regarde hereof be myndfull of the greate charges he had beene at for the aidyng of them leauyng with the saied Estates Maister Pruneaux as his Ambassadour lydger The Estates greatly marueilyng The Estates sende thankes to the Duke of Antowe at this his so sudden and vnlooked for departure dispatched Seigmour Froymont and Gyles Martin a Doctor of the Ciuile Lawe and Secretarie of the Citie of Antwerpe towardes the saied Duke to declare vnto hym how greatly thei had weighed and considered of his departure beseechyng hym to take suche a course as that he might still remaine hereabout and acknowledgyng the benefites whiche thei had receiued by hym offered hym all their seruice with promise of suche satisfaction and contentation as was meete for one in so high a callyng Now the Prince of Orenge had so well and wisely handled his matters at the Citie of Gaunt as that the peace of the Religion was there proclaimed the 27. of December 1578. and with all certaine other Articles concernyng the Ceremonies of the Romishe Religion The 29. of Ianuary 1579. The Estates of Hollande and Sealande Vtright Gelderlande Friselande and the reste of the Prouinces wisely consideryng that the Enemie went about to dismember the Prouinces as hereafter you shall heare and that the Malcontentes were very foreward in the suppressyng of those of the reformed Religion fell to a conclusion of a farre better vnion at Vtright the tenure whereof hereafter ensueth Wee hauyng by wofull and lamentable experience founde out The vnion of Vtright that sithence the pacification of Gaunt by whiche all the Prouinces of the Lowe Countreis sufficien●ly bounde theim selues to aide one an other bothe with their bodies and goods for the driuyng out of these Countreis the Spanyardes and other Foreine nations with all their adherentes the Spanyardes with Don Ihon of Austriche and the reste of their Chieftaines and Captaines haue hunted and still by all meanes possible doe daiely hunte after the saied Prouinces aswell whollie as in parte for the bryngyng of them vnder their subiection tyrannic●ll gouernement and sclaucrie And bothe by armes and practizes to dismember thesaied Prouinces and make the vniō whiche was made sithence thesaied Pacification of none effect to the vtter ruine and desolation of thesaied Countreis whiche wee in deede haue founde not long sithence by their perseueraunce in their said purposes through the soliciting of certaine Cities and places by their letters as the Countrey of Geldrelande and the surprisyng of others by Armes And therefore all thei of the Duchy of Geldrelande and of the Countrey of Zurphen and all thei of the Counties of Hollande and Sealande Vtright and the Countreis about Friselande beyng betweene the Riuer of Eems and Lauwers haue thought it bothe good and profitable to binde and vnite themselues together more nerely and particulerly not that thei meane to cutt them selues of from thesaied generall vnion that was made by the Pacificatiō of Gaunt but to be thereby a greate deale the stronger and prouide against all inconueniences wherevnto thei might fall through the Stratagemes enterprises or force of the Enemie and vnderstande how and in what sorte the aforesaid Prouinces might behoue themselues in suche occurraunces and so defende themselues against the power of the Enemie And for the auoidyng of a further separation of the saied Prouinces and the particuler members of the same leauyng still the saied generall vnion and Pacification of Gaunt in full strength and vertue are accordyng thervnto by the Deputies of the said Prouinces fully by theirs respectiuely aucthorised to the same agreed and concluded vpon the poinctes and articles ensuyng not meanyng thereby whatsoeuer shall otherwise fall out to separate theim selues from the holy Romishe Empire 1 And first it is agreed and concluded vpon that thesaid Prouinces shall binde confederate and vnite them sclues together and by these prefentes doe binde cōfederate and vnite themselues for euer to holde together euery maner of waie as if thei were but one onely Prouince without also for euer to separate deuide or cut of theim selues one from an other either by will graunt alteration contracte treatie of peace or of mariage nor yet for any other occasion whatsoeuer that might happen and to vphold and maintaiue the Prluiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes laudable and auncient Customes Vsances and whatsouer either especiall or particuler Rightes of euery Prouince particuler Cities and all the members and enhabitauutes of the same and none of theim to hurte and hinder one an other but rather aide and helpe one an other by all the meanes possible thei can yea if neede bee mainteine confirme strengthen garde and defende one an other bothe with their bodies and gooddes against all and euery persone and persones whether it bee man or woman whiche shall goe about in deede any waie to infringe theim Prouided alwaies that the controsies that are or hereafter maie be betwene some of the saied Prouinces members or Cities of this vnion as touching their perticuler and speciall Priuiledges Fraunchises Exemptions Lawes Statutes Laudabse and auncient Customes Vsances and other rightes shal be decided by the ordenarie course of law arbitrement or frendly agrement and none of the other Countreis and Prouinces Cities or members of any of them so lōg as either partie is contented to submit hym self to the law once to haue to doe with them without it shal be their pleasures to go frendly betwene them for the makyng of a louyng and peaceable accorde 2 Item for the conformyng and accomplishyng of the saied vnion and confederacie the saied Prouinces shal be bound to aide one an other bothe with their bodies goodes and blood against all the force and violence that any waie maie be offred them vnder the colour and name of his Maiestie or in his behalfe whether it be by reason of the Pacificatiō made at Gant or because thei tooke armes vpon them against Don Ihon of Austrich receiued Archduke Mathias for their gouernour and whatsoeuer dependeth or hath fallen or shall fall out thereon although it should be vnder colour onely of reestablishing restoring or

Souldiers And the nexte morrowe in an Alarme set fire on the Cannon stockes whiche were on the Mill hill and Common The thirteene daie the Enemie caste vp an other Trenche in the saied North Common keepyng Steendicque Trenche And although that this Trenche was hurtfull bothe to vs and ours yet was there nothyng saied nor doen against it So that the night ensuyng the Enemie beganne to caste vp an other Trenche in Ysueene waie holden all in with the Riuer of Ae whiche greatly hindred vs because that the messengers whiche were gone out of the Toune were enforced to retourne backe The fourteene daie the Tounesmen on the daie tyme had giuen vpon the Tower a signe of fire whiche thei of the Wood might well see whereby thei vnderstoode that Victualles grewe skant in the Toune And besides for want of Wood thei were faine to pull doune their houses to make theim fires The Tounesmen also sallied out vpon the hindermost Trench whiche was caste vp in Ysueene waie but it was to no purpose For thei were repulsed by the other Trenches because that thei whiche laye in the Wood would not once helpe them So that thei were driuen to retire without bryngyng to passe their purpose and deuise The fifteene daie fower Citezens entred the Toune without staie whiche was a woonder because the Enemie had sette a watche rounde aboute the Toune not aboue a stones cast one from an other This daie a signe with fire was giuen that the Tounesmen were readie with their Bridges to passe the Riuer of Ae accordyng to the Generall of the Armies commaundement The Tounesmen also caste vp certaine Trenches in the Garden diches on the Northe side of the Toune out of whiche the Souldiers of the Toune might skirmishe with the Enemie In the meane while the Bridges were with all possible speede laied ouer the Riuer of Ae to the ende that our aide should not haue any occasion to staie and in the makyng of this Bridge there fell out a meruailous straunge case For whiles the Citezens aboute nine of the clocke at night were busied aboute this Bridge the Enemie in the nexte Trenches tainted fower of them with the shot of one Harqucbouze one of whiche was Captaine Conrade and yet not one of them once hurte The sixteene date the Enemie made a Trenche of Wagōs against our Garden Trenches and the nexte morrowe a sallie was made out of Onniger gate wherin was taken a Souldier and a woman whiche woman was examined and forthwith a Dromme was sent towardes the Enemie to knowe whether he would deliuer the prisoner or no whiche he vtterly refused The night following the Enemie had a notable Marme giuen hym as if our aide would haue marched vppon hym but all in vaine because the Enemie with all diligence mustred hym self with all his forces vpon Northe Common The nineteene daie The Enemy chargeth them in the Wood. aboute the daie breake the Enemie armed hym self with all his forces to charge them in the Wood but he was so lustely repulsed as that he was driuen to make his retraict The twentie daie aboute 200. persones came to the Toune house criyng out for bread Not one 〈◊〉 of bread left in the toune and eche man had for his share one peece for hym and his Familie because there was a morsell of bread more left in the Toune This daie euen at broade noone daie came into the Toune fower Citezens and three souldiers who in despite of the Enemie came betweene the Warde and the Trenches and although the Enemie commyng out of his trenches pursued them yet was there not one of them once tainted nor hurte whiche so encouraged our aide that thei purposed the next daie in the mornyng to reuictuall the Toune The 21. day of this Moneth thei in the Wood The Toune reuictualled in the v●ewe of the enemy laded certaine Souldiers with Bread and Cheese and sent them the very same waie that the rest aforesaied had gone and although the Enemie skirmished to stoppe their passage yet passed thei in despite of hym with more losse to hym self then to our men and brought to the Toune about 250. Loaues and 150. Cheeses The night ensuyng thei of the Wood beganne to cast a newe Trenche some what nexer the Toune And in the daie the Enemie with all his forces pressed nere to Steendicque Common but it was not knowne for what cause He very busily trauciled also to bring his Artillarie behinde Easterwike but it was to no purpose This daie in the euenyng came a fliyng Post to the Toune with a letter And the night followyng the Enemie made a forte of Wagons at the passage where our men caried ouer the bread and Cheese The 22. daie the weather beganne to thaw and the Tounes men beganne to cast vp a newe Trench within the new Bridge without North newe gate About noone a skirmishe beganne to be coupled betweene the Roiters of the Wood and the Roiters of the Enemie In so muche that nine of our men issued out of their Trenches and came to North Common chasing out of the one of them the better parte of their Launces whiche caused the Enemie crye Arme Arme throughout all his Campe suddemly rushyng with all his forces vpon the Common how be it thei in the Wood would at no hande retire although thei were but a fewe Roiters and an handfull of small shott but most couragiously made hedde vpon the Enemie drawyng towardes the Toune waie wherevpon the Souldiers of the Tnune in su●he sorte issued out to helpe and ayde those of the Wood as that the Enemie receiued hurte enough And although the Enemie by reason of the multitude of his Royters wonne a passage yet what with those of the Toune behinde and those of the Wood before thei were gallantly hansled with Harquebouze shott and in the ende so handled as that his Souldiers squared somewhat out of order in so muche that it seemed rather a battle then a skirmishe for otherwise could not the Roiters bryng their souldiers to the fight And therefore many valiaunt Officers Captaines of Horsemen and others of name were there slaine In so muche that thei were driuen by reason of the raine to retier in order of battle This daie also the Cannon on either side plaied her parte lustely and the forte of Wagons whiche the Enemie had made the night before was broken in peeces and caried to the Toune About foure houres after the Enemie was got to rest The Towne againe reuictualled thei of the Wood had reuictualled the Toune with a pretie sprinklyng of some 75. Busshelles of Wheate Meale Cheese and Pouder Now the Enemie would by no meanes trouble them by reason that the Tounesmen had assailed the very nerest Trenche of that passage in whiche were two Ensignes of suche noble courage as that thei wonne the Trenche tooke the Artillarie slewe 17. Souldiers and caried awaie the rest that were hurt as prisoners yea and had drawne awaie