wherewith we recouered the Haigue Thursday about ten of the clocke at night we anchored before the Castle of Gernsey and my Lord Generall and some other Gentlemen with him lay at the Castle that night Friday morning we set saile from thence and about fiue of the clocke in the euening we put into the road of Iarsey Monday my Lord Generall expecting the Companies out of the Low Countries were this daye ariued with Captaine Anthonie Wingfield Sergeant Maior of the Campe his Lordship went abord and lay at anchor in the road all that night Tuesday in the morning we loosed from thence and hauing a fine winde at North and by West about eight at night we anchored in the road of Pimpowle ariuing in the road called Lemoys de Guelle neere Pimpoule Wednesday y e 5. of May we discouered diuers shippings and botes that came from Brehake and made towards S. Malowes whereof we tooke one laden with salt and fish It is to be remembred that those of Brehake and of the Castle taking knowledge of our approch abandoned the Castle and yeelded themselues to the kings authoritie Not long after the enimie fled from the Castle of Lantegard which was fortified for the king by the Prince Dumbeez now Duke Mountpenser at this day My Lord dispatched letters into England from the Abbey of Beauport Thursday the 6. of May was spent in vnshipping the horses munition and souldiers This day also the Prince Dombeez sent 20. Moyles laden with bread to the Abbey for prouision of the souldiers Wednesday the army marched towardes Guyngamp and lodged in a small village in the way neere the Abbey and this night the Guyngampiers hearing of our approches set fire on their suburbes which we might plainelie discerne This night likewise my Lord Generall rode before to the Towne to take view and to saue as much as might be of the suburbs for the lodging of the troupes Thursday our troupes being with the French accompanied were lodged in such houses and other places of the suburbs as were left vnburned the same day the enimie sallyed out of the towne in pursuyng vs Captaine Wolfe an Englishmans colours were taken which we recouered againe at the winning of the towne and deliuered to him Fridaie those within the towne not beleeuing that we had any Cannon with vs sent out diuers spies to discouer which we tooke This day our Artillerie being a Cannon and two Culuerings came to vs. Saturday it pleased my Lord Generall to put them within the Towne out of doubt for the Artillerie being planted our first shot was so exceeding well made as that it dismounted a peece which the enimie played withall from a steeple the Prince Dombeez beeing present Sonday Monday and Tuesday were spent in drawing plat-formes and in planting the Ordinances Wednesday the Canons were readie to play being plāted in a Cloyster in the French quarter on the north side of the towne Thursday morning we hauing expected certaine Artillerie of the Princes to haue come from Brest which came not to vs we began the batterie with our owne 4. peeces continuing the same all that day and the next vntill three of the clocke in the afternoone to the number of 400. shot at which time notwithstanding that the breach was verie vnassaultable and small the wall being passing strong yet the French humour vrged my Lord Generall verie hotlie to an assault Which vpon so small a possibilitie of doing anie good his Lordship was hardlie drawne vnto onelie in regard of the honour of our nation he made choise of certaine out of diuers companies wherof Captaine Iackson Captaine Heron and Captaine Hayes to haue the leading and afterwards the dice being cast the chaunce fell to Captaine Iackson and Captaine Heron to haue the point of the assault and to be seconded by Captaine Hayes as occasion should serue who being accompanied with Captaine Catesby and manie other English gentlemen although the breach was very vnassaultable as before and exceeding troublesome by reason of the height thereof and the light falling of the moulder of the wall and the great number of the fetherbeds and such like which the Cannon had beaten downe yet a great part of our men perforce obtained the verie top of the breach where they endured a hot and long assault Captaine Heron receiuing a push with a pike vnder his gorget was there slaine and about some tenne or twelue of the common souldiers and besides thirtie hurt with stones the residue not being able to maintaine the assault any longer for the causes before remembred were driuen to retire The Baron Monluc hauing in this seruice the conduct of certaine French shewed himselfe verie couragious and gayned at that time vnto himselfe great reputation but the residue for the most part came forwards verie coldlie It was thought good that Captaine Hayes and his companie should not at this time come forwards but be reserued vntill the next day at what time the finishing of a Myne then in hand was appointed during this assault Captaine Dennis an English man offering a Scalado on the other side of the towne was shot with a Musket in the bellie whereof he died shortlie after Sonday next following being Whitsonday beginning againe to play after a three or foure tyer the enimie summoned a Parley which in fine grew to a capitulation in this sort viz. That the next day the horsemen in the towne should depart with their horses and Harquebusses leauing the Cornet behinde the footemen with their swords and the Townesmen to Fine 40000. crownes to the Prince Monday they came forth accordinglie to the number of 200. horse and 260. foote and the towne possest Mounsier de Cargamart being appointed Gouernour of the same There was found in the towne being yéelded vp foure Ensignes one Cornet one Cannon perier one demy Culuering sixe Sacres and of Mynions 2000. weight The towne was found to be verie strong defensible and sufficient able to haue kept the same for a far longer time if they within had bin honest men my Lord General doubted not but to haue drawen them of the towne to far strickter conditions then is said had not the Prince Dombeez seemed to be verie glad of this and that his hap sorted to so good successe and therefore would not further stand vpon it Wednesday then next following my Lord Generall dispatched letters to certaine the Lords of her Maiesties most Honourable priuie Counsell to my Lord Norice his father and to my Ladie his mother and other his friends in England Thursday the 27. dicto a Muster was taken of the Armie Tuesday the first of Iune anno dicto vpon the taking of Guyngamp it was purposed that we should haue gone for Morlayx but by certaine after Counsels that intent was altered for that it was said that the Duke Mercoeur was remoued from Pontiny where he ioyned with 4000. Spaniards vnder the
Baalac cursing the Israelites and the other more like Pharao persecuting and oppressing them but both of these most like the roring Lyon and hungrie Beare which Salomon speaketh of séeking now more and more the pray and spoile of the chéefe godlie Gouernour the Prince of Orange now ruling the Low-countries and defending their warres with the States whom the Pope and Spanish King had proscribed certaine yéeres agone and could no way come by his bodie to bring it into thraldome by wars threatnings nor subtil sleights to circumuent him Now therefore they the said Pope and king of Spaine practise subornation of murdering messengers to hunt and haunt his Court vnder colour of some far fecht and deare bought false friendship as in the last yéere 1582. one Iohn Iaureg with full purpose sent from the Pope and Spanish King to murder this good and godly Prince and Father of his Countrie then kéeping his Court within the Castle of Antwerpe accompanied with the foresaid Duke of Aniow the Councell of the States and the noble Generall Norice with others his faithfull friends euen then the said murthering messenger when he had discharged a dagge at the good Prince the wound as God would was not so desperate but that he recouered within a while after the malefactor in the very déed doing was apprehended stabbed with 27. wounds and afterwards beheaded bowelled and quartered in the market place of Antwerpe And praised he God who preserueth his Elect the said good Prince so recouering liued afterwards full two yéeres Although euen in the next yéere following 1583. another caitiue of Caines crew named Peter Dordoigne a Spaniard sent from that Romish Babylon and Spanish Periander comming in the month of May to Antwerpe about the like purpose was taken at Antwerpe before he could doe the déed as God would haue it who being thereupon imprisoned confessed that he was sent out of Spaine from the king himselfe with whom he had secret conference and encouragement to doe that mischéefe vpon the Princes person but the king concealing it not to be his fault commaunded him to lay the fault vpon one of his Secretaries and so this messenger had his iudgement and was put to death at Gronyng as guiltie in minde will and purpose to kill the said Prince But now in this yéere 1584. the good Prince being assaulted by thrée other seuerall champions of Sathan might seeme to haue sufficient warning by the former persons whom he should simplie suffer to be brought vnto his presence when that subtill Serpent the Diuell that old craftsmaster of theirs deuiseth sundrie meanes to worke mischiefe by As here by the first of these thrée whom I am to speake of vpon the 13. of Aprill one Iohn Ianson a rich Merchant vpon hatred which he conceiued against the good and harmeles Prince comming into a seller néere vnto a place where the Prince was then lodged had prouided with gunpowder to blow vp and destroy the Prince and all his retinue but though the Prince saw not the person yet he smelt the rat found him and laid hold vpon him as God would or euer he had power to performe that mischiefe and so the malefactor was headed bowelled and quartered for the same The second of these thrée and fourth in number of the murthering messngers hitherto sent was a Frenchman and Captaine of a band named Gottus who being captiued a little before by the Marques of Rombase one of the Duke of Parmaes Generals promised the said Marques if he would set him at libertie he would worke such way being very well acquainted with the Prince of Orange that he would with all possible spéede dispatch him out of his life saying that as he was very familiar with him and could easily vpon any occasion come to his presence and haue full conference with him so especially saith he if I shall be inuited to the Princes table to eate of his meate I can subtilly cast that few shall perceiue into some Eele broth which the Prince loueth very well such a powder as infecting the whole dish of meate shall if he eate thereof without long delay destroy him But this French Captaine Gottus hauing gotten himselfe at libertie haunting the Princes presence yet not so farre put in trust nor so much made of as he made account to haue béen and yet imployed in seruice for the Prince and States in a certaine Sconce before he either put his purpose in practise or performed his promise to the before named Marques was by Gods good will no doubt preuented and in defending that Sconce being ouerseene with drinke was shot into the head by a Musquet and so died presently in the said Sconce The last of the thrée missiue Manquellers this yéere sent being the fift and last of all y t were sent hitherto and most mischieuous souldier of Sathans cursed crew was a yong fellow named Balthazar Gerard a Burgunnian of seuen and twentie yéeres old of short stature hard fauour and base constitution dissembling himselfe otherwise to be called Francis Guyon the sonne of one Peter Guyon put to death for preferring the reformed religion when indeede this is that messenger of Sathan here of all others chiefly transforming himselfe as Saint Paul saith into an Angell of light This villaine commeth in the beginning of the moneth of May in the foresaid yeere 1584. vnto the Prince of Orange his Court O that he had here béen so simple as the Doue to haue shunned by flight this mischiefe at the first or as wise as the Serpent to haue vanquished the wisedome of the viperous wretch at the last and pretending to bring letters vnto the said noble good Prince importing great and rare newes out of France vsing a certaine protestation in expresse words of his zealous mind vnto the Gospell and adding for that cause he came farre to preferre his seruice vnto the Prince himselfe aboue all other Princes bringing with him and shewing forth also vnto the Prince certaine writings signed by Countie Maunsfeld called commonly flying seales vnder colour of friendship purporting enmitie namely how Luxenburge and the cities of other Prouinces might craftily be taken by the Prince of Orange his souldiers The Prince perusing ouer the writings and marking well the seales saying there could be no great matter performed by them commaunded him for a while to depart away Here before he went this villaine begged of the Prince some money to buy him hose and shooes wherevpon the Prince commanded his Secretarie to giue him some money for his said necessitie vpon the 8. of Iuly that yéere 1584 which he no sooner receiued but incontinently going his way from the Princes presence and comming to the vttermost court he bought with that money of two stipendarie watchmen two hand-dags But when this villaine had bought them calling to minde as hee afterwards being taken confessed what the Prince of Parma and one other named Assonuil had before
bonos Quidue agat interea Miles dum cessat ab Hoste Ne se desidiae dedat Inersque siet Denique faelici postquam fera praelia dextra Egeris volitas clara per ora virûm Parcere num victis deceat vel perdere prorsus Quidque horum illustret nobilitetque prius Haec tibi MARS plene ostendit docuitque vt Alumnum PALLADIS vt fueras ante in amore pari Et quoniam in bello multum sibi vendicat Ipsa FORTVNA hanc flexit quo tibi adesse velit Annuit haec siquidem fausto tibi Numine olim Praesenti ac prompta se fore dixit ope Ergò vt caepisti pergas DVX Inclyte bellum Quod nunc prae manibus prouehere atque sequi Donec ad optatum finem perduxeris aqua Cum sit causa DEO grata amica bonis Idem Ad Eundem FOrtunae donum est generis quod Clara propago Te Illustrem efficiat nobilitetque Domum Quod verò proprijs meritis virtuteque adeptus Longe praecellit splendidiusque nitet Namque tua in bello Generosa fortia facta Fermè Orbis totus nouit ad Astra vehens Haec te perpetua decorabit gloria laude Et tibi post obitum Vita perennis erit Tu interea PYLII transcendas Nestoris Annos Et placidos habeas ac sine nube dies Vt Patriae atque Orbi praesis victricibus armis Et cum Pax fuerit Consilio atque fide In illustrissimi eiusdem D. Effigiem depictam MAgnanimi effictam quicunque conspicis arte NORICEI effigiem nobile cernis opus Sed si animum videas quem picta ostendit Imago Dices nil toto magis in Orbe micat Omne Insigne huic vni fata simul dedere DII superi vnde hominum constat tutela Hunc tegite vestris accumulate bonis Vt Victor referat multos ex Hoste triumphos Semperque aeterna gloria Illustris viuat Petrus Bizarus Belga A Table of the principall contents in this Booke THe Translatours Collection of the succeeding Gouernours in the Netherlands and the originall causes of the ciuill warres there 1565. page 1. The Originall warres there vnder the Dutchesse of Parma page 4. Captaine Churchyards seruice page 5. The ciuill warres there vnder the Duke of Alua. pag. 15. The warres there vnder Don Lewis Requisensius pag. 20. The warres there vnder Don Iohn de Austria p. 24. The warres there vnder Alexander Prince of Parma against the Arch-Duke Mathias for the States p. 30. Maister Henrie Knowles seruice p. 46.47 Sir Iohn Norice knight his first comming into the Netherlands 1577. p. 27. His proceedings there vntill 1588. p. 102. The warres there vnder Francis Duke of Aniow for the States against Alexander Prince of Parma p. 43. Captaine Edward Stranges seruice p. 45. The warres there vnder Parma against the Prince of Orange p. 54. Fiue seuerall messengers sent to murther the Prince of Orange p. 55. His death and funerall p. 59. His Title and Epitaph p. 65. The warres there vnder the Prince of Parma and the States p. 67. The warres there vnder the Prince of Parma the Erle of Leycester p. 74. Captaine Thomas Louel Captaine Charles Blunt now L. Mountioy Captaine Thomas Vauiser now Sir Thomas Vauiser p. 74. Captaine Iohn Pryses seruice p. 79. Sir Phil. Sidneyes seruice there his death funerall p. 88. The Erle of Essex his seruice at Zutphen p. 89. The Lord Willoughbie his seruices there p. 88.103.104 Sir Thomas Cicil now Lord Burley p. 84. Sir Henrie Norice p. 88.89 Sir William Russels seruice there p. 95. In Ireland p. 145. The wars there vnder the Prince of Parma against Count Maurice p. 103. The death of Parma where the Belgick historie endeth p. 111. The seruice of Sir Thomas Morgan p. 18.19.32.41.47.106 The seruice of Sir Roger Williams p. 38.42.97.98 His seruice in the Portugale voyage p. 113. The voyage to Portugale p. 112. Sir Edward Norice his seruice there 113.116 A Iournall of Sir Iohn Norices seruice in Fraunce 1591. p. 119. His memorable seruice at Brest in Britaine 1594. p. 134. A briefe discourse of his seruice in Ireland against the Arch-rebell Tyrone 1595. p. 144. Sir Thomas Baskeruil Sir Francis Vere and Colonell Huntley p. 98. Sir William Pelham p. 101. Sir Thomas Knowles p. 74.138 FINIS Tabulae THE TRANSLATORS COLLECTION OF THE succeeding Gouernours in the Netherlands and originall causes of the warres there BEfore I come to the Consequent I must begin with the Antecedent before I frame the vpper building I must fixe a foundation so before I come to the causes of the Ciuill warres in the Netherlands I must by due course of the Dutch and Latin Historie which I fellow set downe the succeeding Gouernours in those Countries by foure circumstances briefly gathered out of my Authors first booke Histor Belgic as he largely by substance deliuereth for former causes of later consequents The first circumstance is this The deriuation of the gouernment of those Countries by processe of time for many yéeres vnder foure Dukes of Burgundy and as many Archdukes of Austrich of which that Philip was the later Archduke who being sonne of Maximilian before Archduke of Austrich and Emperour of Germany and sonne in law to Ferdinando King of Spaine leauing behind him his two sonnes Charles the elder and Ferdinando the younger with foure daughters suruiuing deceased out of this mortall life in the yeere of our Lord. 1505. The second circumstance is this That the said Charles as elder brother Archduke of Austrich and King of Spaine sailing by sea thence into the Netherlands Anno 1517. taking possession of those Countries for his owne behoofe within two yéeres after that is to say Anno 1519. on the 28. of Iuly was elected at Frankford in Germanie both King of Romanes and Emperour of Germanie by the name of Charles the 5. Emperour and so continuing in magnificent and memorable honour and renowne many yeeres gouerned those Countries yet not without some seueritie as it is said Much like the Eagle which seeming naturally to affect her young ones will yet nourish them with great austeritie Although euen in his time for the Religion of the Gospell the ciuill broyles beginning in Germanie he sought by his great wisedome and grauitie to appease the same yet happily liued he after this in great honour and felicitie for he liued and saw his foresaid younger brother Ferdinando chosen Caesar at Colen Anno 1530. and on the fift of Ianuary 1531. crowned King of the Romanes who became an earnest fauourer and furtherer of the Gospell He liued also and saw the felicitie of his lawfull begotten sonne Philip both Duke of Burgundy Archduke of Austrich and King of Spaine Anno 1542. but he liued not to see the life and death of his base begotten sonne Don Iohn de Austria who died as afterwards shall appeare in this historie Anno 1578. To be short he liued yet to see his
said sonne Philip married with Mary Quéene of England on the 19. of Iuly 1554. and in the next yéere following 1555. he gaue this his said sonne Philip full possession and principalitie ouer the said Countries of the Netherlands which hee had himselfe so gouerned not without some seueritie 38. yeeres Finally omitting larger discourses of this Charles the 5. Emperour of his so many notable and memorable expeditions in in his life time performed let these few words suffice that he made nine into Germanie seuen into Spaine seuen into Italy tenne into the Netherlands foure into France and two into England which in all were nine and thirtie After all this to make an end of his memorials he resigning vp the Empire and iurisdiction thereof vnto the Princes Electors of the same in the yeere of our Lord 1557. and so leauing Germanie departed into Spaine where he finished the race of his mortall life on the 20. day of September in the yeere of our Lord 1558. hauing been Emperour for the full space of nine and thirtie yeeres The third circumstance is this That his aforesaid younger brother Ferdinando succeeding him in the Empire on the 18. day of March 1558. did so godly and so religiously gouerne the same from his first inauguration thereunto that he had much adoe to be confirmed in this Imperiall dignitie by Pope Paul the 4. of that name Bishop of Rome because he this good Emperour granting peace vnto the Churches of Germanie preferring the Gospell the same Pope Paul withstood him in Italy and thwarted him with warlike forces out of France to come of purpose to Rome there to disgrace and disanull his gouernment euen in that same very yeere 1558. aforesaid This good Emperour notwithstanding perseuering an Imperiall sincere Patrone of the sacred religion to his great comfort saw his sonne Maximilian also chosen and crowned King of Romanes in the moneth of Nouember 1564. And so he himselfe hauing been Emperour sixe yeeres and vpwards was by the God of peace called out of this troublesome world on the 25. of Iuly Anno 1565. The fourth and last circumstance yet not the least which I gather out of my Authors first booke is this That as the said King Philip of Spaine had been from the yeere of our Lord 1555. aforesaid possessed in his soueraigntie ouer the Netherlands vntill this yeere 1565. aforesaid so his father Charles the 5. Emperour in his time was not so seuere an Eagle but this his sonne now becomes as sore a Lion ioyning hands as it were with the Pope of Rome And whereas they two made other Christian Princes beléeue they became right restorers of Christian policie in processe of time they prooued themselues to be destroyers of the peace and weale publike of a good gouernment in sending foorth the Spanish Inquisition as the ground of al the griefe in the Netherlands and the originall cause of the ciuill warres there now following The originall ciuill Warres in the Netherlands vnder the Duchesse of Parma FOr first by the said Inquisition sent from the Pope and the Spanish King into the Netherlands against the professors of the Gospell or of the reformed religion thus it fell out That the King hauing chosen new Bishops for the purpose sent them thither to execute the said Inquisition amongst them They of the reformed religion hereupon exhibit to the Lady Margaret Duchesse of Parma and Placencia sent by the King thither for their Regent and Gouernesse vnder him a little printed booke wherein they craue mitigation of the Kings Decrée hoping as they alleaged that he would not infringe and frustrate their ancient priuiledges and franchises in those points and for that cause they were reputed and called Geusij viz. poore men Which thing being interpreted to the worst in Spaine and sore stomacked by the King they of the reformed religion perceiuing the same fire euery day more and more to burst foorth to quench or at least as it were to auoide the same by publike assemblies at Sermons and conuenient places doe prouide for their profession and for protection of their particular estates Hereupon on the other side began Idolatrie to outface and disanull their doings by the Papists yet for all this the said Ladie Margaret Duchesse of Parma then Regent was commaunded by the King to graunt securitie vnto the Nobilitie of the professors who had béen before suiters vnto her for the same that they might fréely haue their assemblies and Sermons till further order were taken therein Then they of the reformed religion laid away their weapons and some Idolatrous personages were put to death Meane while the Regent hauing gathered vnder her some forces began to sow discord and debate amongst the reformed Nobilitie whereof the lesser part being stirred vp or rather enforced by her menacings and threatnings doe againe take them to their weapons whereupon at Antwerpe did sedition and tumult arise To auoide future daunger William Prince of Orange and Counte Nassaw hereupon departeth out of the Netherlands in happie time Againe at Antwerpe was commandement giuen in certaine places that Sermons should be prohibited and so all things seeme to stand in vncertaintie though some hoped that the Kings displeasure would be pacified To conclude yet so many as were suspected of the reformed religion were taken and violently put to death many others taken endured long imprisonmēt many others fearing worse to come fled these Low Countries dispersing themselues into diuers parts of Europe And all this continued vnder the said Duchesse of Parma Regent for the space of twentie moneths In the time of these troubles and graunt of an Interim to haue frée libertie in preaching the Gospell there fell out a bloodie conflict neere Antwerpe at a place called Austeruile for one Monsieur de Toloze a Protestant suspecting bad practises of the Regent gathered and assembled two thousand souldiers in a fortification not fullie accomplished at the said Austeruile meaning with that force to aide them of Antwerpe if ill measure were offered them which the Regent went cunningly about for she in all secret manner raised a thousand horse and foure thousand footemen and gaue the charge of them to a gallant Captaine called Monsieur Beauvois albeit a cruell man who immediatly marched priuily towards this new fortification and before Monsieur Toloze could make himselfe strong to withstand his enemies the Regents power in the breake of day set vpon the vnreadie and féeble force of Toloze and charged them so furiously and hotly that they entred the weake fortifications ouerthrew the whole companie of Toloze sauing a few that escaped dangerously into Antwerpe among which souldiers Captaine Churchyard saued himselfe and entred Antwerpe Notwithstanding Toloze being slaine and almost all his men the enemie after the victorie gotten marched with all possible spéede towards Antwerpe where fortie Ensignes of the Regents power were in battell on the Market place readie to
till that order was then taken for the same when the Merchants Marriners and their ships were released and dismissed but the goods liable to the value of the Spanish Kings treasures was answered accordingly Thus the crueltie of the time and state in the Netherlands increasing most odious vnto other Christian princes it was Gods good pleasure to put into the mindes of the States of Germanie also of Charles the 9. King of France for mitigation of these calamities to enter a league with William Prince of Orange and Count Nassaw to leuie forces of men and munition vnder conduct of the Count Lodwicke of Nassaw brother to the said Prince being also associated with the two valiant Captaines Ienlisij and the Lord of Laxone who with their said forces part Germans part FrenchmeÌ„ part Dutchmen and part English voluntaries bending their endeuours to the surprising of the strong towne of Mounts in Henault on the 24. of May in the foresaid yéere obtained the towne by fight and possessed the same by strong fortification thereof In that yéere saith my author King Philip vpon suspition that he had of his only son Charles Prince of Spaine that hee should prepare himselfe with habiliments by sea to step away into the Netherlands and ioyne with the States vz. the Prince of Orange Count de Egmont Graue van Horne and others to manage ciuill warres against his father and his Commander before named for that cause cast his said sonne into prison where continuing a certain time he died yet as it was thought by bléeding The foresaid Gouernesse Duchesse of Parma and Placencia departed about the end of Iuly home into Italy being conducted vpon the way to the sea side by the Commander Generall who returning to his Court at Bruxels cited thither the said Prince of Orange Count de Egmont and Count Horne hauing before proscribed them to appeare vpon their alleageance to the King before him as his Lieutenant generall ouer all those Countries The Prince of Orange kept him aloofe out of his daunger the other were taken laid in prison and afterwards beheaded in the Market place at Bruxels In that yéere also was Tergoas besiged the second time by Tseratius for the Prince and the States who was afterwards made Gouernour of Flushing there at Tergoas hauing made his ditches and plotted his stations for his Ordinance to be discharged by and by made he a breach in two places of the walles At the which assault the French souldiers vnder Monsieur and the English stipendarie hired souldiers vnder Captaine Thomas Morgan and others néere vnto the chiefest gate of the towne being 25 paces broade about midnight made entrance into the Citie whilest Creitius the Colonell being by his Frenchmen greatly furthered therein bestirs him to scale the other side of the gate but being countermaunded by the souldiers within sufficiently defending that place both hée and they were repulsed and forced to giue back froÌ„ that assault Whereby Mondragon the Spanish Captaine newly thereupon come thither reserued Tâ—â—goas from any further siege himselfe and his souldiers wading thorow déepe waters sent thither in great oportunitie by the Commaunder Generall as it were to resist the assault and rescue the towne which was performed with the losse of two hundred English and French souldiers slaine and fallen into the waters there Frederick the sonne of the Duke of Alua hauing béen with his said father very forward in all actions about the 21. of Nouember 1572. with the forces which he had vnder him from his father besieged Zutphen in Gelderland and shortly after tooke it Thus the Duke of Alua hauing with great crueltie gouerned for the King making hauocke of all with little mercie wheresoeuer hée came casting downe strong holds and killing man woman and child to make an end of his mischiefes when now the citie of Harlem in Holland had for her own best safegard receiued the Garrison of the said Prince of Orange pitched there his Tents bringing thither his armie consisting of Wallons and Frenchmen vnder their Captaines also Englishmen and their Captaines by name Captaine Turner who serued there some 8. yéeres Captaine Cotton Captaine Christopher Hunter Captaine Candish Captaine George Gascoyne and others which were all voluntaries and of certaine Scottish Regiments sending thither also all kindes of necessarie victuals furniture and prouision for the said armie thither then came the said Frederick sonne to the said Duke of Alua and with his fresh forces of diuers countries sent thither by the King of Spaine laieth great and long siege vnto the same which enduring from the said yéere 1572. néere at ende till the 15. of August 1573. hée at length preuailed so farre that profligating the Princes armie and dispersing them here and there he entred the same citie and obtained and kept it in possession for the King vsing the inhabitants thereof with no little extremitie About the 20. of August in the said yéere 1573. his said father Don Ferdinando Duke of Alua partly his crueltie being by the King perceiued and partly by the States of the Netherlands complaiâ—â—d vpon leauing his said sonne to gouerne and beaâ—e armes for the King with a conuenient retinue departeth out of those Countries not without many a curse banning and exclamation made vpon him for his farewell wheÌ„ he had so there tyrannized about the space of 6. yéers little more or lesse Vide HieronymuÌ„ Connestagium in Historia Portugaliae The Warres in the Netherlands vnder Don Lewis Requisensius Gouernour for the Spanish King ABout the beginning of October 1573. succéeding the said Duke of Alua came thither sent by the King of Spaine another Noble man named Don Lewis Requisensius he taking gouernment vpon him smally enterprised to purpose in the latter end of that yéere In the next yéere following 1574. he bestirreth him by all meanes possible to leuy his forces to besiege diuers townes and to fortifie some others amongst which when the Zelanders had attempted to besiege Midleborow they so farre proceeded that the towne suffered great penurie and distresse of all things both by sea and by land and by meanes thereof was in the end yéelded vnto the said Zelanders for the Prince of Orange who supported their powers and forces therein What time in the yéere aforesaid 1574. this newcome Commaunder brought his forces to besiege the citie of Leyden one of the chiefest cities in Holland the said Prince of Orange sent thither for safegard thereof vnder Lieutenant Edward Chester an Englishman ten Ensignes or companies of English souldiers all voluntaries who appointing certaine of them for a garrison in the citie procureth the citizens to make speedie prouision of corne and graine for the necessarie sustentation of his souldiers But finding the want thereof at his comming and their slownes in preparing the same at that time he complaineth greatly y t they the lesse regarding or foreseeing the
lyonlike force practised against the nobles and States of the Low Countries infringing their ancient priuiledges breaking fidelitie in contracts violating the bonds of amitie and violentlie oppressing al integritie of loyal subiects and faithfull seruants of God seeking to make hauocke of high and low rich and poore young and old with more then Turkish tyrrany in those dominions most vntollerable Neither rest these two there contented with the great effusion of innocent blood like conquerours preying on or spoyling euery sillie shéepe with their iawes imbrued waxing euer more hungrie neuer rest raging hither and thither casting down Bulles threatning silly lambs swift of foote and gréedie of tooth to teare in péeces the christian members and to quaffe vp their blood in their vnquenchable thirst in those Countries but this Anti-Christ and his adherent vniustlie without cause giuen them as the iust God iudge and reuenger of all wrongs knoweth doe now also bend all their forces euen in this yéere against the most lawfull naturall christian and religious Phenix of feminine sexe and the most peerelesse Paragon of true professing Princes Elizabeth Quéene of England her gratious Royall person her noble lawfull kingdomes naturall faithfull subiects and happie peaceable estate and gouernment This Antichrist I say this Romish seauen headed tenne horned and triple crowned Dragon whose taile draweth the third part of the starres from heauen and casteth them to the earth presumeth to approch néere the woman the Church of God the defender of the faith and watcheth wililie with inward and outward Serpentine malice to deuour the innocent harmelesse child whereupon although this Dragon send forth his angels to war with the woman though he send forth his Iesuits the English fugitiues whom he hath nuâ—led vp in Popish abhomination manie yéeres and though he againe likewise infect and enforce the Locusts and Scorpions of the bottomlesse pit with his infernall furie such as Francis Throgmorton and manie other vipers which would haue wrought intestine warres and ciuill bloodshed against their naturall most gracious Prince their countrie and friends by forraine confederacies of the Pope and Spanish King their abbetters subborners and supporters yet to the perpetuall glorie of God these wicked Angels Locusts and Scorpions hauing no power to hurt anie good or godlie member but such as themselues which haue not the seale of God in their forehead were ouertaken by Gods power and prouidence and cast out into the earth and so the Lord of hosts fought for our Quéene and vs in peace mercie to our comforts but in his iustice and iudgement against our inward and outward enimies for which God make vs thankefull to his glorie for euer After the death so sought for and procured of the aforesaid noble Prince of Orange by the said Pope and Spanish king as afore mentioned the ordering of the affaires both ciuill and politike rested in the wisedome of the Nobilitie and States of the Low Countries who seeing themselues like sheepe left without a Shepheard a nation without a Gouernour and a bodie without a head plucking vp their spirits vnto them taking heart and christian courage vnto them in their godlie iust and lawfull cause for defence of Gods true religion of their auncient priuiledges themselues their wiues children and countrie and for eschewing the horrible tyranny of the forraine vsurping Pope and Spaniard their Idolatrie vniust exactions oppressions vnmercifull vexations and horrible desolations doe with most carefull consideration take oportunitie of time and with mature deliberation to consult vpon some peculiar and speciall protection of themselues and their countries thus grieuouslie distressed Whereupon in the next yéere following 1585. after conference had amongst themselues in the month of May that yeere they dispacht into England an honourable Embassade which ariued at London on the 26. day of Iune being personages of great account in the Netherlands Namelie the Lord Iames Gryse the Lord Roger Harsellus in the behalfe of Gelderland Maister Noelus Caronus Lord of Schonwall who at this day is resiant in England Agent for the Estates and Iohn Dousta Lord of Nortwich for the south part of Holland with eight others men of great account which for breuitie I doe here omit whom they substitute as their deputies to sollicite their cause vnto the Queenes Maiestie of England these were lodged about the Tower street and had their diet in worshipfull manner appointed at Clothworkers hall in London vpon her Maiesties owne charges On the 29. of Iune they repaired to the Court at Greenewich where they presented vnto her Maiestie the Soueraignetie of those Countries which being ratified contained at large 31. seuerall Articles as to the Duch historie I referre the Reader With godlie and neighbourlie commiseration whereof her Maiestie being pittifullie moued to put forth her helping hand to saue that which was in extreme perill considering well by former accidents how sinister a minde the Spanish king by the Popes instigation had of long time vniustlie borne of late put in practise and would now likelie proceed further if God and good regard in due time were not her best friends her excellent Highnes therefore to preuent the worst prouideth first for her own safetie and her subiects at home trayning and mustering of able men in all places of the realme for necessarie domesticall defence whatsoeuer might befall and afterwardes in the month of Iulie presseth out of the Citie of London certaine conuenient companies of Souldiers furnished for the warres at the charges of the Fraternities or Societies of the same Citie and on the 13. of August following with certaine special braue Knights approued Captains and worthie Seruitors ouer them transporteth all these into Holland Zeland Brabant c. as other the like Souldiers had beene before time sent out of other parts and places of the realme Of these seuerall Companies at this time was sent the before named valorous Generall Norice chiefe Commaunder who comming from thence for that purpose a little before taking his leaue of her Maiestie and her Nobilitie embarked himselfe and his retinue on the 24. of August this yeere 1585. and with a prosperous winde ariued in Holland about the 26. of the same where his forces being before ariued he disposed of them as was most conuenient till time and opportunitie serued for their purpose About this time the Right noble by birth and for vertue renowmed Knight Sir Philip Sidney sonne and heire of that most noble Sir Henry Sidney Knight sometime Lord Deputie of Ireland and then Lord President of Wales was by her Maiestie sent ouer after the said Generall Norice on the tenth day of October in the yéere aforesaid who ariuing in safetie at Flushing was on the ninetéenth of that moneth by the States established Lord Gouernour of Flushing in Zeland where by his valour wisedome and great diligence he surprised the towne of Axel in Flaunders and at Doesburgh in Gelderland made manifest proofe of
seruice done is knowne to many and euery priuate man could speake of the crossings betweene the Deputie and him whosoeuer was faultie But the state whiles they gouerned stood in better termes then it hath done since howsoeuer it hath bin thought that the treating of peace did preiudice any good procéedings At this time Munster was quiet and most part of Lemster except Feaugh Mack-Hughes countrie kept in good termes In Conacht the miserie that they had indured before taught them to desire quietnes onelie they would speake reprochfullie and bitterlie against Sir Richard Bingham their Gouernour The townes vpon the borders of the North and those of the English pale were defended by garison so that there was no great harme done to the English pale but by the incursions of some of the Orrelyes who were continuallie prayed and seased vpon by our garisons all Vlster both at that time and now continueth still rebellious and this was the state of the countrie at that time when Sir Iohn Norice withdrew himselfe into Munster After his being at Munster the said Generall Norice came to Dublin where staying some two months there came order out of England that he and Sir Ieffrey Fenton should be ioyned in Commission to treat with Tyron vpon some Articles of peace There was as I haue formerlie said Commissioners appointed by the deputie to treat concerning the same businesse but after the order came out of England that Commission ceased and the said Sir Iohn Norice and Sir Ieffrey Fenton were authorised in their places Those that were appointed as messengers betweene the Commissioners Tyrone were Sir Warram Sellenger and Captaine William Warren both of them sufficient men and of Tyrones old acquaintance and those who faithfullie proceeded according to their instructions These men brought to that passe by the direction of the Commissioners that he was to haue his pardon and no question had he meant to be loyall those sleight doubts that he made of his safetie would neuer haue made him vnmindfull of so high and merciful a grace and fauour after his most vile and trecherous offence It may be doubted because there was some priuate crossings betweene men of high place that their crossings would haue hindered his hope of deseruing well hereafter It was reported that he should say so much surelie which if he did it was but to excuse his intended trecherie as he hath often done since Now during the Commissioners stay on the borders Tyrone sent his owne submission in by the aforesaid two Agents and besides sent into Dundalk for to make the better show of his fained submission some of the chiefest men of Vlster As namely Mack Gwyer Mack Mahun the Orrelyes and others to deliuer their submissions to the Commissioners so after the receiuing of them in the Commissioners repaired to Dublin to the State and so shortlie afterward from thence they went towards Conacht according to their Commission Where they were to meet with Odonele and others of his countrie there to receiue them into submission as they had those of Vlster Sir Iohn Norice being chiefe Commissioner with Sir Ieffrey Fenton held notwithstanding his place as Generall of the Armie and did carrie the same into Conacht most part of which Armie continued in the Prouince all the time of his being there At his comming thither hee found all the countrie in rebellion and in great miserie yet most part of the best men in the countrie were readie to receiue her Maiesties gratious pardon most of them did come in verie submissiuelie and made offer to doe her Maiestie good seruice Sir Richard Bingham was growne somewhat grieuous amongst those of Conacht and they would bitterlie complaine against him alleaging that he was the cause of their reuolt but that is their custome and he must be a man of verie rare gouernment that shall euerie way satisfie or giue content to their rebellious affections Vpon the countries complaint Sir Richard Bingham was sequestred from the gouernment of that Prouince they were hearkened vnto in whatsoeuer they could alleadge against him so gratious and iust is her Maiestie in euerie way righting a nation which notwithstanding proue most disloyall and rebellious Now during Sir Richard Binghams sequestration Sir Iohn Norice had absolutelie the commaund of his said Prouince and did during his time verie good seruice namelie in bringing into her Maiesties obedience manie of the best gentlemen of the countrie and continuallie praying spoyling and killing of the rest who being desperatelie obstinate held themselues still in rebellion This his good seruice so performed against those persons was sometimes by the garisons and sometimes by the Armie as they marched through the countrie insomuch that at the Generals departure forth of the countrie hee left it in good termes So about December hee was called from thence to Dublin where after some stay there the State hauing notice that the garison of Armah was like to be distressed if they were not presenlie releeued the Generall was appointed to draw an Armie into the field for the victualling of that place but it should appeare he was authorised to treate with Tyrone about the victualling of it For the Armie being drawne together by Dundalk and readie to march there was such order taken that he the said Tyrone should suffer it to be victualled by two or three Companies from the Newry which was performed and so the Armie disposed into the garisons againe It should seeme that besides the victualling of that place it was appointed that the said Tyrone should speake personallie with the Commissioners for that after it was agreed that he should suffer it to be victualled he appointed a day to speake with the Commissioners Sir George Bowser being then ioyned with the others in Commission What their conference was when they met I know not altogether but the manner of their meeting was this Tyrone hauing his Armie neere vnto the place appointed for the Parley caused foure or fiue hundred of his shot together with his best horse to lie within a mile of the same his Armie who were then encamped on the side of a hill nere Dundalk there was sixe gentlemen of the Generals troupe of horse appointed to stand on the one side of the forde of a little riuer there where the parlie was and sixe others of Tyrones to stand on the further side with him in sight of the Commissioners he seeing the Commissioners come downe from our Armie began to come forward himselfe not suffering any other to come with him so saluting Sir Iohn Norice told him he was glad to see him being of his old acquaintance Sir Iohn Norice likewise told him that he would be glad to see him become a faithfull subiect withal remembring him of the great fauours that her Maiestie had shewed him heretofore and that yet her Highnes was mercifullie enclined to haue him receiued into grace if there were anie hope he
would forsake his trecherous course and become a faithfull obedient subiect He answered with great protestations that he was sorie for his offence and that there was no Prince in the world whom he did or would more honour and reuerence then her Maiestie neuer naming her Highnes but with his hat off all which shewes of obedience in him made many beléeue that he meant to become otherwise then since he hath proued himselfe But those that haue liued long in that countrey amongst them know by experience that they are a people full of malecontentment inconstancie rebellion and treason desiring no other gouernment but their owne rude barbarous and disordered kinde of life and manners most horrible and odious to all that feare God obey their Prince and loue their Countrey It was euer doubted by Sir Iohn Norice and to be beleeued of euery one that know the Rebell Tyrone that he neuer meant to be faithfull in his word wherefore his trecherous delaies could not be imputed to any remisse course held by Sir Iohn Norice towards Tyrone But there is no question had Sir Iohn Norice liued he would haue made it appeared vnto the world as he hath done heretofore that the zeale he did beare to doe her Maiestie and his Countrey seruice was such as that priuate malice in crossing him shuld neuer haue had power either to make him faile in the least point of his alleageance or to burie any of his honourable intended enterprises I haue heard him say my self and so haue others which now liue in Ireland that if he could but hope that the Rebel Tyrone would vnfainedly accept of her Maiesties grace and mercie towards him and that he the said Sir Iohn Norice might haue béen the instrument to haue perswaded him to become a faithfull subiect he would not haue cared what labour or paines he endured to be assured thereof It was thought that the prosecuting of Feugh Mac Hugh was contrary to the Articles agreed vpon betweene the Commissioners and the Rebell Tyrone and it should appeare that he disliked thereof For after his pardon was sent him by Sir Edward Moore and he in all things to the shew of the world readie to haue accepted thereof on the sudden his pardon was brought backe and he returned excéedingly discontented After the time of this last treatie with Tyrone which was in the latter end of Ianuary aforesaid he remained vpon the borders of the North still expecting direction how to procéed in those Northerne affaires which continued from the moneth of Ianuary aforesaid 1596. vntill the moneth of May in the yéere 1597. following for the space of foure moneths At which time he the said Generall Norice receiued aduertisement out of England that the Lord Borowes should come ouer Deputie into Ireland So vntil his comming the Generall kept himselfe vpon the borders of the North. It was thought at the Lord Borowes comming ouer the old grudge would be renewed but I think that matter was carried into England before the Lord Borowes departed thence For that after their méeting contrarie to the expectation of many Sir Iohn Norice caried himselfe very discréetly and respectiuely towards him besides that he made knowne vnto him the state of the countrey at that present together with his best counsell and aduice for the reforming of the desperate estate that then the kingdome was left in In so much as it was thought before Sir Iohn Norice his going into his gouernment of Munster that they were both good friends But now vpon the Lord Borowes his receiuing of the Sword Sir Iohn Norice was absolutely sequestred from all commaund except that of the Prouince and so sent downe into Munster with an opinion to get leaue to passe into England But that fell out contrary to his expectation So he hast ouer three moneths with a shew of his health although inwardly he felt his owne griefe And thus the cause of his conceiued griefe was the hastening of his death and so iudged of by most men which knew the same The manner of his death was answerable to his honourable life and knowne to some of his seruants and followers who now with great griefe must rew it He died the third day of September 1597. at his Brother Sir Thomas Norices house in the towne of Mayallo in the Prouince of Munster within the kingdome of Ireland at the 50. yéere of his age hauing spent 26. of them being the most flourishing time of his life in her Maiesties seruice against her enemies in the Netherlands Spayne Portugall France Britaine and Ireland as particularly before and here finally is mentioned The Honourable Lord Henry Norice Baron of Rycot father of the said Lord Generall had fiue sons moe all Martiall men vz. Master William his eldest sonne seruing in Ireland and there deceased Sir Edward his third sonne seruing lastly at Ostend now liuing Sir Henry Norice his fourth sonne and Sir Thomas his fift sonne both seruing lastly in Ireland hurt and died there but buried in England and Master Maximilian his sixt and youngest sonne died in France The honorable Ladie Margerie Mother to all these died at London 1599. The said honourable Lord Henry their father died at Rycot Anno 1601. Thus being intreated to set downe what I knew that passed vpon Sir Iohn Norices side at his latter daies in Ireland I haue although not iournally yet of my certaine knowledge truly and duly described all the notable occurrents that passed from his last comming out of Britaine to the time of his death in Ireland as before is said All this seruice in Ireland was set down by Daniel Gyles sometime Page and after lately seruant to the said Generall Norice at his death as aforesaid FINIS 1547. 1. Edw. 6. Exordium de quatuor circumstantijs The first circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The second circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The third circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. The fourth circumstance Historia Belgica lib. 1. Historia Belgica lib. 2. Anno 1566. The States finding thēselues greatly iniuried and grieued by y e Spanish Inquisitiō do exhibit vnto the Regent a iust protestation of their cause The keyes and custodie of Antwerpe in Churchyards hands at this vprore witnes Master Ioseph and his brother Master Richard Candeler Churchyard Captaine of 30. thousand in this time at Antwerpe The Prince of Orange and Counte Nassaw departeth out of the troubled Low Countries in happie time Churchyard then fled to England in a Priests apparell and came to y e Queene The Protestants chuse Churchyard their Captaine The Duke of Alua sent as Gouernour ouer the Low Countries vnder King Philip Lib. 3. He made a general restraint of Englishmēs ships goods Historia Belgica lib. 4. Anno 1569. Certain Christian Princes assist y e Prince of Orange to fortifie the Low Countries Historia Belgica lib. 3. King Philip imprisoneth his owne son The Duchesse of Parma departeth into Italy