seauenteenth of September Without doubt God did wonderfully fauor the Protestants in that they could not passe for want of water being very likely that of all that had landed not any one had escaped for that they must haue thrust them-selues among houses which did flanke one an other being rampared fifteene foote thicke besides other small trenches which they had before and a good parapet all along the dike full of harguebuziers which attended them with great deuotion The which the Protestants could not well discouer by reason of the reedes and oziers And it is wonderfull there were no more slaine being within fifty paces of them but in my opinion I haue told the cause It is true that this retreat was not without some losse which hapned by a great mischance for the Captaines Catteuille Durant hauing planted them-selues behind a heape of turffs with some thirty shotte from whence they had much annoyed the Spaniards in the morning meaning to retire and hauing but one little boate with the which they had past thether at their returne too many thrusting into the boate they ouerturned it so as Catteuille and Gailleresse Lieutenant to Durant were drowned with ten or twelue soldiars At their returne the Admirall and La Garde hauing intreated Seignior Vander-Aa to go make report vnto the Prince of all that which hee had seene and of their opinions consulting vppon all difficulties and propounding whether it were expedient to seeke some other passage and to go batter the fort of Leydstchen-dam and assault it thereby seeke to enter into Vliet for it had bene to the like effect as the passage of the bridge vnlesse that by this they had entred into the lake of Soetermeer which had beene very auaileable for the boats and by the other they must alwaies keepe in chanells the Councellor Wasteele who slept neither night nor day to aduance this busmes came to tell the chiefe of the Protestants that being aduertised of an other passage by some that knew the Country very well hee would not faile to make search thereof and that hee had found that by Schyelandt it should bee easie to enter into Rhinlandt hauing not so many waies nor dikes as where they were and that there were passages ynough where they should not want any water the which the Seignior of La Garde resolued to view with two or three small boats But considering afterwards that they must make a great circuit and that happely it should bee necessary to lodge there if they found any thing that was fit conuenient they thought it more expediēt that hee and the Admirall should go togither with eight galliots and some fourescore harguebuziers halfe French and halfe Wallons Where they found more water then the way which they had gone before for they past ouer the Landtscheydinghe and had no need to make any breach From thence searching the Landt-scheydinghe from Scheylandt to Rhynlandt they were guided vnto Scluses by the which they must passe from whence the Spaniards had dislodged a day or two before hauing no conceit that the Protestants would take that course seeing them lodged on the other side as if they ment to continue it It seemes that in all this action GOD did guide the Protestants for neither they nor their guides did know whether there were any enymies in that quarter and without doubt if any house vppon the Scluse had beene fortified with a guard they must haue returned without doing any thing But finding so good an opportunity they would not loose it but breaking the Scluse to make a passage and leauing two boats in guard there they entred into Rhinlandt In the meane time beeing so neere the village of Soetermeer it was to bee feared that the Spaniards had some watch in the steeple which might discouer them for they did it but by stelth and a good way from their army And if the Spaniards had had an Alarme they might easily haue preuented this disseine beeing so few men yea it was to bee feared that they should haue beene shutte vp in these chanells yet beeing resolued to passe as farre as they might finding water ynough they came vnto a way which is called Seeswaertswech going from Soetermeer to Benthuysen distant halfe a league one from an other The Spaniards were lodged in these two villages who were ill aduertised of the protestants comming that before they had any alarme they were lodged and had intrenchd themselues setting threescore Pioners to worke which they had brought with them to make a breach where neede should require being very glad to see the water visibly to rise on the other side goodly great chanells and the meadoes all ouerflowne wherevpon they resolued that the Admirall should remaine there in gard with his galliottes and if the Spaniard came with great troupes to force their trenches the harguebuziers which defended the approches of these two villages should imbarke again as well as they could but the Protestants made their trenches so strong without any alarum as two thousand men could not haue forced them There remained with the Admirall Citailelle Lieutenant to the signior of Noyelles Collonel of the Wallons captaine Derriere and some others which lay all in the trenches And it was also concluded that the signior of La Garde should returne to cause all the army to march The which hee did after that hee had made a gallant retreate at Cronwech where as the Spaniards if they had aduanced but with fiftie shot might haue donne him an affront for La Garde after that hee had drawne all forth remained behinde with fiue and twenty harguebuziersl to free a certaine boate of Delf called the Arke of Noe the which beeing heauie and vneasie to mannage in these chanells did verie much trouble them beeing laden with Artillerie in the which there was but one onelie Marriner to gouerne and guide it the charge hauing beene giuen to rascalls who in the night slipt away and without the dilligence of captaine Cornellis Classz Vice Admirall of Flessingue who came to retire it it was condemned to bee burnt this disturbance continued at the least three houres Some of the Protestants Gallies were alreadie aduanced towards the Admirall in the end their retreate beeing well made they marched with all the rest of the armie the Victualls Artillerie and Munition except some sixe small boates which were left behinde to garde that great Barke of Delf and fiftie Germaine souldiars in it The Spaniards were much amazed at this vnexpected approch the which gaue them so hot an alarume as they sodenly quit these villages to the Protestants that is to say Benthuysen the first daie the Protestants arriued there whether the Admirall sent Ciuitelle with some shot and the next daie at night Soetermeer The whole armie beeing come to the Admirall and hauing good passages to this way you must imagine that all the waies of the countrie are like to little
they of the aforesaid Romish religion certain yeres past vpon smal occasions had forbidden the exercise of the reformed religion namely in an 1566 and many times after for many other causes which the aforesaid magistrats thought not conuenient as then to be declared The said magistrats therfore command that euery man shal gouern himselfe according to their resolution aforesaid and that euery one should behaue himselfe peaceably without vpbraiding or crossing one another for any forepassed action in what sort soeuer it had been done for that the magistrats by their said proclamation did decree a generall forgetting and forgiuing of all actions on both sides receiuing and taking euerie one of what religion soeuer they were into their safegard and protection except three or foure that were the chiefe motiues of the last tumult of Ruyskenueldt aforesaid And if after that any man were found to haue proceeded against any part of the said ordinance wherby the common peace of the said towne as also the authoritie of the said magistrats might bee hindered or disturbed they should bee punished as common breakers of the peace and enemies to the welfare of the towne And that noman might pretend ignorance therein the said magistrats had appointed the same to bee published Dated in Brussels the first of May in the yeare 1581. In the end of May captaine Iames of Rensy hauing first acquainted them of Ypre in Flanders with his enterprise surprised the castle of Douxlieu vpon the riuer of Lys neere to Esteres belonging to the seigniour of Vendeuille whereof hee was made gouernor by the foure members of Flanders the which he fortified against them of Arthois and the Chastileine of Lille which did much trouble them in their nauigation vpon the said riuer so as in the end la Motte went to besiege it with foure peeces of ordnance and the place was yeelded vnto him vpon hard termes the said Rensy going forth not without great feare after that he had seene seuen or eight of his souldiers hanged who before had held the Spanish partie hee himselfe doubting that he should not haue so well escaped The 7 of Iune M. Iohn Scheyf knight chancellor of Brabant died in Antuerpe hauing a little before his death resigned his place to the seignior of Lysueldt counsellor of State He left a little booke in forme of an Apologie which he had written for his iustification against the slanderous and infamous letters written against him by the cardinall Granuelle In the same moneth they of Gant had an enterprise vpon Lille thinking with the helpe of some intelligence which they had to surprise it earely in a morning with bridges and ladders but they were discouered too soone and all their designe turned into smoke for the which one Iohn Drumez a notable merchant of the said towne was accused with some others Drumez being found guiltie by his own confession was beheaded others were hanged and some lesse guiltie were banished About the same time there was beheaded at Mons in Henault M. Iohn Gilles register of the king of Spaines Exchequer a reuerent old man hauing a little before resigned his place to Cronendal his sonne in law Hee was accused to haue written letters to them of Brussels aduertising them of some designe which the prince of Parma might haue vpon their towne The warre was mannaged somewhat strangely at that time in Brabant for want of discipline and good pay whereupon the Scottish men did mutine at Viluoerden chasing away their colonell Stuart so as they had much adoe to pacifie and content them The like happened in the fort of Villebrouk the which they could by no meanes appease so as in the end they were forced to bring the canon from Antuerpe The like fell out at Berghen vpon Soom so as for want of money the Estates and the prince of Orange had so smal authoritie and commandement ouer the men of warre as it was a pitie to see And although the king of Spaines souldiers were not much better paid yet was he better obeied for that hee endured the insolencies and oppressions which they committed in all places where they came as well in the champian countrey as in good townes and in their garrisons without any respect which on the other side was the cause that inhabitants went away towns were vnpeopled and all trades of merchandise and traffique decayed True it is that there came great aboundance of treasure out of Spaine for the king as well in readie money as by letters of exchange but it came but slowly and with great charge besides that the warre which hee had in Portugall to assure that kingdome was of an excessiue charge Wherefore as the meanes were small of either part it made them of Brabant Flanders and Friseland to maintain themselues with small means and small forces all the yeare 1581. In May some troupes of base Flaunders vnder the commaund of colonell Moriant borne at S. Omer hauing an enterprise vpon some places of Arthoys demaunded passage by Menreuille a great Borough vpon the riuer of Lys confining vpon the countrey of Laleuwe three leagues from Bethune the which being too indiscreetly refused they forced a passage by the sword the towne was spoiled and then burnt and some which had saued themselues in a church were there rosted You may see what the wilfulnesse of fiftie or sixtie men preuailed to defend a turnpike or a paltrie barricadoe against fiue or six hundred men which was the cause that goodly and rich place was quite spoyled Those troupes passing on by the village of Wattou their designe vpon Arthois beeing discouered by their long stay at Menreuille where they thought to force some souldiers of the male-contents which had fortified themselues in a church hearing that succours both of horse and foot came vnto them they abandoned it marching towards Dixmuyden where they were pursued and ouertaken before they could recouer the towne so as they were charged and put to rout and some were burnt in a barne whither they had retired themselues with their horses so the burners were themselues burnt The male-contents in Iune seized vpon the castle of Baerle in Campeigne which they caused to bee fortified by the neighbour villages they lodged in the meane time at Hoochstraten and Tournhout vpon the passage of Breda The seigniour of Stakenbroeke gouernour oâ—… Breda deuised how hee might take it againe and to that end went to besiege it with some troupes and two peeces of artillerie but he had not made fortie shot for a triall to see if they would yeeld or not and seeing no shew thereof he retired After that the Estates of Brabant sent the seigniour of la Gard a French colonell with his cornet of horse and foure or fiue hundred foot to seize vpon the castels of Hoochstraten and Tournhout the one he tooke by composition the other by force which made them of Baerle quit the place and burne it La Gard marched
of warres which all wise princes desire to auoyd as much as possibly they may and neuer desire to enter thereinto vnlesse by compulsion and great necessitie they are constrained or that they expect some great benefit to be gotten thereby It is euident that this warre is not necessarily to be vndertaken by you if by a peace for many yeares you may free your selues thereof and it is most certaine that if you enter into warres you shall bee a meanes to put both your selues and vs to great charges and be a cause of great hurt and spoile It is our intents and meanings to giue the like aduice vnto the archdukes deputies and if they refuse to yeeld vnto a truce we will then tell them plainely that our princes for your good defence will doe all that which belongeth vnto true and faithfull allies This being likewise imparted vnto the archdukes deputies Spinola and the rest desired 4 daies time to peruse their instructions and thereupon to returne an answer and after foure daies were expired they made answer That their commission from the king of Spaine contained no point nor article of truce vpon any such conditions as were propounded and that therefore they could not deale therein without expresse commission from Spaine and for that cause they desired sixe weekes longer time to procure the same but if in the meane time the Estates would enter into treaty touching the same they said they hoped that for as much as imported the archdukes they should giue them full contentment And vpon the ninth of September they gaue certain articles vnto the Estates which were That the archdukes were content to enter into a treatie of truce for seauen yeares as well by sea as by land That either side should enioy and possesse that which they then held That during the said time the king of Spaine shall graunt them free traffique into Spaine and that the said king of Spaine within two moneths after the conclusion of the truce should declare whether he would cōprehend the Indies within the truce or not and if that the king of Spaine were to be ioyned in this action they desired twentie daies longer respite and continuance of the said treaty and that the said kings and princes should be aiders and assisters to keepe and maintaine the said truce in like sort as if an absolute peace were made This dilatorie answer being receiued the generall Estates were of diuers opinions amongst themselues for that president Ianin embassador for France thought it expedient to let them stay the propounded time that was set downe by them to expect an answere out of Spaine some of them resolued to grant so much time but they of Zeeland and many others were of another opinion for that they had not kept any time by them demanded and limited withall finding the peace to be in a desperate and doubtfull estate they thought it best for them not to hold their enemie any longer within their countrey wherein they had so many catholike friends and might procure many more which might tend greatly to their hurt and preiudice and so at last they fully agreed vpon a generall resolution which vpon the thirteenth of September they caused to be deliuered vnto them in writing the contents thereof beeing as followeth The general Estates of the vnited prouinces hauing duely considered of that which hath beene propounded in their full assembly first vpon the ninth and after that vpon the 11 of September by the embassadours of Fraunce and England together with those of the princes electors and others of Germanie that they would graunt vnto the deputies for the archdukes sent into Holland to treat of a peace longer time of staying in the Hage vntill the last of this moneth of September to attend a more ample commission out of Spaine doe to that end by these presents declare that they had rather see the departure of the said deputies for the archdukes towards Brussels there to attend for their said further commission for certaine good reasons deliuered by them vnto the said embassadors in their generall assembly vpon the 11 of September and for diuers other considerations but calling to mind how much they are bound vnto the said kings and princes they are content to pleasure them that the said deputies shall stay here to attend their said commission vntill the last day of this present moneth which commission must be made to confirme the freedome of the vnited prouinces not onely by the king of Spaine but also by the archdukes and that without any restriction or conditions and withall to acknowledge that the said confirmation shall not continue onely for the said time of truce but for euer to the contentment of the said general Estates so as the said deputies for the archdukes shall dispose their affaires hereafter and for want of such full commission to depart vpon the first of October without seeking any further delay neither of the said embassadours nor of the Estates if they cannot obtaine the same Dated in the Hage the 13 of September 1608. Whereupon the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes hauing receiued no other answer from their princes and finding that their departure was so absolutely and so resolutely determined and set downe they made preparation to depart complayning that they had so strict a day giuen them and withall protested that they were sorrie that a peace could not be made doubting not that if the Estates would haue had a little more patience they should haue attained to a good end this done the deputies of the generall Estates went euery man home to their owne houses they of Zeeland openly protesting that they would appeare no more there vnlesse the Spanish deputies were gone out of the countrey or that they could shew an absolute commission Vpon the last of September when they were readie to depart marquesse Spinola and the rest of the deputies were inuited to dine with prince Maurice whither they all came except auditor Vereicken for that he was hurt in one of his legges and was carried in a coach from his lodging after dinner prince Maurice and the rest of the lords went with them to Risewicke and there taking his leaue he left his brother Henrie earle of Nassau to conduct them to Delft hauen where the same euening they tooke shipping in prince Maurices pinnace accompanied by diuers gentlemen as Emery van Liere gouernour of William Staet Haultaine admirall of Zeeland and others who brought them to Antuerpe and returned backe againe from thence they went to Brussels where they found the people in great expectation and desire of peace but all the comfort they could giue them was that they were in good hope it would be concluded Thus ended this long and fruitlesse treatie of peace betwixt the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes and the deputies for the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces the which had filled all Europe
consumed them And for that in these later times since the emperor Charles the 5 there haue beene so many writers of diuers religions euerie one writing according to his passion or according to the affection which hee bare to them of his religion I haue endeuored to hold a meane I will not say but such as are most passionat may sometimes discouer what religion I hold most pure for I neither can nor ought to denie it before men no more than before God yet hath it not in matter of truth made me to incline more to one part than to another to publish or suppresse the vertues and vices the honour and disgrace of one or other And for that the ground of our ciuill wars is written too partially or rather inuectiuely by some as by Surius the Chartrous monke by Ersingerus vander Haec Iansonius Documensus others built vpon a meer accusation of rebellion and disobedience to the king of Spaine and his edicts touching matters of religion and the Inquisition as those words of rebellion and disobedience comprehend much in them and haue a large interpretation But the better to informe posteritie who it may be will not be so partiall as to interpret all things past to rebellion and disobedience as these partiall men haue done I haue bin very large in the description of the originall and first spring together with the causes and motiues of our troubles and of the wars which haue followed against the Spaniards and their adherents by the insertion of many declarations which I haue thought very necessarie for this subiect for the explaining thereof I haue also of purpose extended my selfe to serue for an instruction and direction to posteritie in the description of the most remarkable sieges of towns of either part as of Harlem Leyden Alcmar Hulst and Bomel by the Spaniards of Middlebourg Gheertruydenbergh Steenwic Groningue and others by the Estates in which sieges haue bâ—…ene seene the dexteritie diligence industrie directions errours and omissions of the commanders of either armie I would also intreat the courteous Reader not to stumble nor take exception at the tearmes of Roman Catholikes and Protestants which I vse speaking of the one or the other Persuading my selfe that the Catholikes wil not except against this epithete Roman as also they of the Religion who pretend it to be reformed will not reiect the name oâ—… Protestants seeing they not onely pretend it to be reformed but protest and maintaine with all vehemencie that it is so be they of the confession of Ausbourg or others howsoeuer they will call them be they Lutheâ—…ans Caluinists or Zuinglians as well of Germanie France England the Netherlands as of other places disagreeing from the Romish Religion all which indifferently for the aboue named reason we call Protestants As for that which concernes the war armies exploits enterprises surprises stratagâ—…ms incounters embasies sieges of towns battailes victories and routs although I haue seene and learned something as well in France as in these parts I leaue the censure of the stile and phrase which I haue vsed to describe them to commanders colonels captaines and other souldiers who haply know them better and haue a better militarie methode to write them than my selfe who I hope will courteously supply my defects THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER COurteous Reader it is now almost two yeares since I published to your view the Inuentorie of the French Historie I must confesse it had beene more safe to haue made that worke the period of my labours and not to haue vndergone a new taske of greater difficulty But by the intreaty of some whom I much respect and mine owne desire to giue my countrie-men some more contentment and to acquaint them that haue not read it in the French with the whole historie of the Netherland warres as wel as with the estate of France I haue thus venturously once againe put forth from a safe port into an ocean of dangers and vndertaken the translation of this historie of the Netherlands Whereunto I was the more incouraged by the gratious reception of my noble patrons and the kind testimonies of approbation of many courteous and well minded gentlemen who haue bin content to wincke at my weakenesse and defects in that worke and to allowe of mine indeauours yet will I not arrogate any thing that was praise worthie in that storie vnto my selfe nor attribute the worthinesse of those authors to mine owne merit who could both grace themselues in writing French and me in teaching them to speake English I doubt not but some will thinke it a great indiscretion to meddle with this subiect whereas the soueraigntie and prerogatiue of a mightie monarch in those vnited prouinces is called in question I confesse it were so if it were originally done by me but beeing written in the French Italian Latine and Dutch I thought I might without any imputation impart it to our owne nation which hath had so great a share in those warrâ—…s I assure my selfe it will be diuersly censured as men stand affected to the cause some I doubt not will read it to be satisfied of the true causes and proceedings of this long and bloodie warre some I presume will curiously search out but for matter of exception and not instruction and I feare some will be so transported with passion and out of charitie as whereas before they would haue exchanged a friendly good morrow with me they will now shunne my company and take me for a capitall enemie to their cause But good God how are they abused in their conceptions I would intreat those men to remember that I neither take vpon me to be an aduocate to plead the cause nor a champion to defend it by armes but am onely a bare translator who am tied to my teacher and cannot exceed the limits prescribed me by mine author There is nothing of mine owne in this worke neither haue I added nor kept backe anything that was materiall for the subiect and I may lawfully protest that I haue beene free from passion without aggrauation or detraction hauing vsed all the moderation I could in the relating of any thing where there might appeare either spleene or affection As for the truth of the historie and the integritie of mine author I must referre you to Iohn Francis Petit who must plead for himselfe and therefore I haue planted his owne preface or apologie in the front of this booke where you may both see his reasons for the course of the historie beginning with the earles of Holland and Zeeland and read his protestations for his sinceritie in the faithfull relating of all things that haue passed during the warres If this may not suffice for his iustification he himselfe is yet liuing here in London and ready to satisfie any doubt that may arise I must aduertise the reader that to make this historie more perfect and to continue it vnto these times I haue beene forced to vse some other
of the contract of matrimonie in Paris for him and in his name with the lady Isabella and at the same time the duke of Sauoy rid thither with a great traine to marry with the kings sister which was done with great triumphs where there was a great running at tilt appointed to be holden in Paris wherin the king himselfe the duke of Guise the prince of Serrare and the duke de Nemours were chalengers against all commers The king in the first and second daies ran brauely and the third day the queene fearing hee would ouer-labor and heat himselfe too much or hauing a secret conceit of some misfortune that might happen vnto him desired him to refrain from running that day but he would not and the third day when he had run two houres and was about to giue ouer he would needs shew that he was not wearie and calling Monsieur Lorges earle of Montgomery then captaine of his guard that was esteemed to be one of the best runners at tilt in France willed him to breake one launce more with him who excused himselfe by the wearinesse of his horse and other things but the king would not be denied and so as they were running one against the other it fortuned that Montgomery breaking his launce vpon the kings breast the splinters thereof slew into the kings visor of his helmet which was forgotten to be close shut and by reason that the visor gaue vp one of the splinters strucke the king in the right eye and wounded him deadly and when he began to stagger he was vpholden and taken downe from his horse sore bleeding with great crying of all the court and many of the people and being vnarmed and his wound visited by diuers expert surgeons whereof one was Andreas Vesalius sent thither by king Philip it was found to be mortall and altogether deadly and yet by the great experience and policie of the said surgeons he liued ten daies after and died vpon the tenth of August 1554 at the age of fortie yeres and in the twelfth yere of his raigne at his death complaining of his owne lightnes and also amongst other things that he had been ouer-rigorous against those of the reformed religion but the Cardinall of Lorraine told him that it was the diuell that troubled his mind so much willing him to striue and resist against him He was a wise prince and a right souldier couetous of honour and high minded The earle of Montgomery after the deed done fell downe vpon his knees before him acknowledging that hee had well deserued to die but the king would not in any wise that it should bee imputed vnto him but freely forgaue him as hauing compelled him thereunto but he presently departed from the court keeping himselfe solitarily as a man desolat comfortlesse but being counselled to read the holy Scriptures for his consolation as the Frenchmen write in the end it was the meanes to cause him to alter his religion and being before that a Romish Catholick and one that earnestly persecuted the reformed religion after that became a great protector defendor thereof in Fraunce and at the last being besieged in a small towne of Normandy called Damsron he was taken prisoner from thence caried to Paris and there openly beheaded whose death was imputed vnto the queene her children to be a point of cruelty reuenge King Henry left issue foure sonnes and three daughters Isabella the eldest was then espoused to the king of Spaine the second was dutchesse of Lorraine and the third queene of Nauarre Francis the eldest sonne was maried to the queene of Scotland and succeeded his father after him Charles after him Henry that was also king of Poland Francis the fourth son in Ann. 1582 was made duke of Brabant all which died without issue In K. Henry the seconds time two great sinnes raigned much in France as Atheisme Nigromancie which was much imputed to the Italians that were attendants vpon Q. Katherine de Medices and thought to be they that brought it in wherein many French poets and rymers were great helpers which many wise and learned men ascribe to be the cause of the deserued punishment that fell vpon the country of France Those of the reformed religion in Fraunce write that strange death of the king to be iustly sent vnto him and a great fauour of God towards them as thereby shewing his church his great power and a deliuery from a great persecution which the duke of Alua being there at that time sought to put in practise by the said kings aid according to the first article of the last peace concluded tending to the destruction of all those of the reformed religion throughout the world which it seemeth that the king sought to begin with the lords of his parliament among the rest committed Anna du bourg prisoner that openly spake vnto the king in the parliament house to be fauourable to those of the reformed religion for which cause the K. being fore moued threatned him that he would himself see him burnt which God by the wound in his eie would not suffer him to do but the said duhourg was afterward burnt notwithstāding the kings death This yere in August Pope Paule the fourth of the familie of Caraffa that was the cause of breaking the peace and had made war against the king of Spaine and the first founder of the Iesuits died in Rome at such time as with all his kinred and sect he had vndertaken and concluded to make a great persecution vnder pretence of religion against all good persons His death gaue many men cause to reioice especially the inhabitants of Rome in regard of the innumerable warres taxations burthens that he his practised procured so that the people of Rome arming themselues ran vnto the Inquisition house where they wounded the chiefe Inquisitor the rest flying away to saue their liues which done they burnt the house and released the prisoners would haue burnt the cloyster of Minerua because they were addicted vnto the Inquisitors if by meanes of Marcus Antoniu◅ Columna and Iulius Caesarino it had not beene preuented who by many faire words dissuaded them from it whereby also the Popes nephewes and kindreds houses were likewise spared The Popes image standing in the Capitoll they beat downe and drawing it through the streets cast it into the riuer of Tyber and commandement giuen in the name of the counsell and people of Rome vpon paine of great punishment that all the Popes and his familie of Caraffes images armes shields and titles should be broken downe in euery place of Rome as deadly enemies vnto mankind whose memorie deserued not to bee kept in the world Pope Pius the fourth his successor although hee had promised Cardinall Caraffa and the duke of Paliano his cousin and their familie to forgiue all offences fore-past and assured them thereof by his hand writing yet neuerthelesse he caused them all to
the Protestants who had chased away the Romish religion being besieged by the bishop yeelded by composition vpon condition to pay the charges of the siege to repaire that which had been taken out of the churches and monasteries and from thenceforth to entertaine the Romish religion receiuing such garrison as the bishop should place there The seignior of Thoulouse with some other gentlemen Protestants by the intelligence of Peter Haâ—…k bailif of Middlebourg in Zeeland had an enterprise vpon the island of Walchren being imbarked at Antuerpe but the maâ—…hants ship of Antuerpe hauing seen them imbark departed before them and arriued first in Zeeland giuing aduertisement of the said enterprise the which by this meanes failed and withall the prince had forbidden them of Zeeland before to receiue any garrison of which defence wee shall haue cause to speake hereafter In the meane time the people seeing the hot pursuits of the clergie to increase daily to their great losse and preiudice and that the Gouernesse seeing that shee had woon the game by the disiunction of the nobles made no account of their sighes and complaints they resolued to appeale to the king sending him a supplication full of teares to mooue him to take pitie of his people who demaunded nothing but to bee maintained in the libertie of their consciences And to make it knowne vnto his Maiesty how much they desired to aduance his affaires they offer him three millions of florins so as it would please him to entertaine the transaction in his full force And withall they imployed certaine princes of Germany to bee suiters in their fauour But this offer and demaund being imparted to the counsell of Spaine was held for a presumptuous ostentation of their riches and bred iealousie in many that by this ouerture they would seeke to win the hearts and draw in the forces of strangers to come to succour them Yet the people left not to trie other meanes as well with the Gouernesse whom they found rough and inexorable as with the confederat noblemen who being summoned as being in the like sort interessed and paâ—…takers of the like perill and danger of the doubtfull issue which this tragedie seemed to promise to keepe their faith othe and promise so often reiterated vnto them that they should not be molested for their consciences but should haue 〈◊〉 exercise of their religion with preaching they protested to impute all the fault vnto them and the occasion of the miseries that might fal vpon the Netherlands The 2 princes of Orange and Gauere or Egmont being as before is said of seuerall opinions the other lords also did likewise participat with the one or the other and as they diuided themselues so did the confederaâ—… gentlemen so that a third paâ—…t of them held not with the confederats but those that were of the reformed religion sought all the meanes they could to confirme and vphold that confederacie and tâ—… procure some great lords to resolue to hold with them to preserue and maintaine the countries in their freedomes and to keepe all strangers out of the same hauing most regard and respect to the prince of Orange in regard of his wisedome and experience as also because of his power friends and allies in Germanie who they knew should bee seconded by the earle of Hoochstrate and many others But the prince in his great discretion marking and considering the kings great power and force whom he knew both of his owne nature and by the prouocation of his Spanish counsell to beare a grudge vnto the countrey not onely for the religion but also for their priuiledges thereunto adding that the zeale of the common people that were addicted to the reformed religion at the first would be great but not certaine to make a full account or reckoning thereof and lastly seeing that within the Netherlands hee should haue the aforesaid earl of Egmont with the principallest and most part of the old souldiers noblemen and implacable spiritualtie enemies against him would by no meanes bee induced nor persuaded to attempt any thing For which cause the baron of Brederode and others of the principallest confederats determined to seeke all the meanes they could before they would enter into any extremities and for that cause wrot a letter vnto the regent to craue leaue to be admitted to come vnto the court to shew her what wrong was vnto them contrarie to the securitie by her giuen vnto them but the regent returned them an answere saying That they should not come within Brussels for that their comming thither vpon the fifth of Aprill last past had caused all the trobles and businesse in the land And hauing certain soldiers within Brussels she gaue them charge not to suffer any of the confederated gentlemen to come within the towne For which cause the baron of Brederode wrot another letter out of Antuerpe vnto the regent bearing date the 8 of Februarie saying That not their petition but the Inquisition and new deuises that men sought to bring into the country together with the long delay made to answer their request were the true and onely causes of the â—…roubles in the countrey and that she might know that his intent and meaning was no other than onely to propound some meanes of peace and vnitie and for that she would not suffer him to come at the court he sent her two requests from the confederated gentlemen wherein they shewed how that in August before the countrey being full of troubles and the people in euerie place readie to rise vp in armes by meanes of the good resolution then taken all was pacified wherein they well and truely acquiâ—…ed themselues And although it fell not out so well in some places it was the fault of those that were not well addicted vnto the seruice of his Maiestie and that when as an assured amendment and reformation was in euerie place expected attending the good â—…esolution of the king with the aduice of the states generall sodainely against all hope and expectation letters were sent out by her to forbid the preaching and exercise of the reformed religion who for that cause as then blamed them as appeared by a petition sent vnto her and thereunto annexed besides that they perceiued by the letters aforesaid as also by other her proceedings that shee sought by foâ—…ce to forbid the preaching vnto the people imprisoning and vsing other kind of rigour vnto the preachers contrarie to the agreement and without order taken by the king with the aduice of the generall states Besides that they saw the bad entertainment that had beene and as yet was giuen vnto the confederated gentlemen together with the distrust that men had in them without cause or reason That the lords were counselled and aduised not to bee conuersant with them willing them to keepe out of his Maâ—… towns without any cause pursuing and following after to take them as if they were enemies to the king and their natiue country which
There was likewise a proclamation made against those that fled out of the Netherlands That such as fled should be taken and brought backe againe and all those that were so determined or that made any preparation thereunto and their goods to be arrested at the custom houses places of passages and frontiers of the land vpon pain to those that did it not to be holden as suspect persons and fauorers of the crimes imputed vnto them that fled and for the same to be punished with confiscation of the ships scutes wagons and carts of all those that carried and conueyed the said fugitiue persons goods as also that no man should harbor lodge furnish with money any fugitiue or banished persons nor write letters nor receiue any to and from them and such like orders At that time the counsell of the troubles for that the duke of Alua could not take the earle of Culembourg gaue a sentence against the house of the said earle ioining to that of the earle of Egmont behind the sand hill in the towne of Brussels condemning it to be pulled downe and rased to the ground and neuer to be built againe with an inscription grauen in a square stone of marble set vpon a piller in the middest of the place written in foure languages and this was the Latin Regnante Philippo 2. Cathol Haspan Rege in his suis inferioribus Germania regionibus gubernance vero Ferdinando Aluares de Toledo Albae duce c. Florentij de Palant quondam domum solo aequari sancitum est oâ—… execrandam memoriam repeâ—…tae in ea coniurationis aduersus religionem ecclesiae Catho Rom. Regiam Maiestatem ipsas regiones Anno salute 1568 5 Calend. Iunij Meane time the regent the duchesse of Parma had wrought such meanes that shee had obtained leaue of the king to depart out of the Netherlands and for her good seruice was by the king rewarded with gifts as a great summe of money and a yerely pention during her life and for that cause preparing her selfe to trauell vnto her husband into Italy did by writing take her leaue of the states and the whole Netherlands in her letters shewing how shee was receiued and installed into the gouernment of the Netherlands in the presence of the generall states assembled in the towne of Gand in anno 1559 and for that cause she said shee could haue beene content to haue yeelded vp the same in the like assembly of the general states as the gouernorâ—… and regents before her had done but for that the king had expresly forbidden the assembly of the generall states during that troublesome time vnlesse he himself were personally presenâ—… that could not be done according to her desire whereby she was constrained to do it by writing praying them to take in good part and judge the best of her labour industrie care and diligence vsed in the said gouernment much complaining of the trobles and vprores happened in the two last yeares of her gouernement yet by Gods grace and by the aid and assistance of a great number of the good subiects of the Netherlands before the end of April she said she had brought all the towns prouinces once again to a ful obedience vnto the king and in the beginning of May garrisons were put into euery place so that there rested nothing to be done but onely to punish the offendors and to take order therein as it should please the kings Maiestie whereby she hoped that in short time the Netherlands would be reduced to their former happy and flourishing estate which she with all her heart desired once againe praying them to take her proceedings in good part withall wishing and counselling them to keepe and obserue the Romish Catholike religion and obedience vnto the king After that vpon the 30 of December she departed out of Brussels and trauelled towards Italie accompanied by diuers of the nobilitie of the Netherlands the duke of Alua himselfe conducting her some part of the way About this time there was a certaine enterprise taken in hand by the fugitiue gentlemen against the person of the duke of Alua at such time as he in Lent meant to go in deuotion from Brussels to the cloyster of Groenendale in Somen wood the principall doers thereof beeing the lord of Rysoire and his brother the lord of Carloo of the house of Noot and others this lord of Carloo kept in the said cloister in habit of a monke for feare of the duke as hee said they had gotten readie sixe or seuen hundred horse-men most part of them keeping in the house of Dohan not far from thence within and about Brussels they had about 500 foot men whereof a souldier that sometime had serued the lord of Likes told the said lord who presently gaue the duke intelligence thereof at such time as he was fully purposed to goe to performe his deuotion which the duke would scarce beleeue and for that cause was hardly to bee persuaded not to goe but the souldier naming his captaine to bee one of the earle of Egmonts horse-men the said captaine was presently apprehended and committed to prison and being sharply examined would not disclose any thing touching the said conspiracie and for that cause was with varietie of rigorous and bloudy inuention cruelly tortured and put to death and so the said enterprise went not forward and yet no more men troubled nor molested for the same In the meane time as the prince of Oranges processe was handled before the duke of Alua by incapable commissioners without any lawfull forme of proceeding by the instruction and deduction of which processe the princes iustifications did not appeare To the end that posteritie might know by what reasons he could iustifie and purge himselfe from the false and slanderous accusations of the duke of Alua vnder the name of the Atturney generall who was then but a simple man and a drunkard called Iohn du Bois a peasants sonne and also to shew the grounds of the alterations which haue happened in the Netherlands the said prince set forth a discourse for an aduertisement to all the world of his innocencie and of the wrong which the duke of Alua did him which discourse was intitled A Iustification of the Prince of Orange against his slanderers the which for that it was published in print I forbeare to relate here The earle of Hoochstraten being cited in like maner by the atturney generall and accused almost of the like crimes that the prince of Orange was answered thereunto after that he was retired first by letters vnto the duke of Alua and then by an answer vnto the atturney general and in the end by an ample discourse of his actions in the seruice of the king and countrey to serue him for a iustification where among other things to confirme his declinatorie exceptions set downe in his answer he produceth foure articles drawne out of the laws and ordinances of the good duke Philip
were not all of one mind but the duke vpon his promise tooke it for a consent They of Henault Arthois and Namure had giuen their consent but with condition not to be burthened therewith but consented onely to induce the others thereunto as they did after openly declar◅ Thereupon the duke commaunded the hundreth penie to be gathered while an order should be taken how the tenth penie might be collected and perceiuing the difficulty therin thought it conuenient to stay it for a while til the disordred kind and forme of consent were somewhat forgotten and the magistrats in all places altered and changed and for that cause said That in steed of the tenth and twentieth penie he would be content with the summe of two millions yearely to be paid for the space of six yeares according to the old taxe and for that he had well hoped by collection of the tenth penie to haue had the meanes to haue laid vp a great summe of money against time of need hee desired that one hundreth penie might bee giuen therewithall which amounted vnto foure millions of gulderns but when hee could get no full consent thereunto hee would not accept of the two millions yearely taxe to bee paid but for the space of two yeares onely to make the people the willinger to pay the tenth penie for that it was troublesome vnto them to pay it after the old taxe whereby it was well perceiued that at the end of two yeares he meant to raise the tenth penie whereby hee knew hee should receiue great thankes and commendations of the king and great honor in Spaine hauing raysed the kings demeanes and incomes in the Netherlands to such a rate to which end all those two yeares he sought all the meanes he could to bring the manner of collection after the old taxe into disliking for that thereby the people knew what they paid vnto the king and therfore deuised what meanes he could to increase the difficultie and dislike of the said taxe both by words and actions and while for certaine yeares he was inuenting and deuising to bring in and raise the taxe of the tenth penie from anno 1569 hee had begun to practise with them of Vtrecht to get them to consent to the giuing of the tenth and twentieth penie but they excused themselues desiring him to haue consideration of them and to remember that it was not yet aboue 40 yeares from anno 1528 since they had granted by contract to yeeld subiection vnto the emperor as also that their country was verie small that a man might passe through the broadest part thereof in an houres space and that the one halfe thereof was but a barren island and that as much thereof as was fruitful was maintained and preserued by ditches mils and Sluces and such like costly industrious workes and that they in the forepassed troubles were forced to raise a hundred thousand gulderns for the preseruation and defence of their countrey and such like excuses neuerthelesse they were content to graunt him a taxe of 112 thousand gulderns to be discharged and vnburthened of the paiment of the tenth penie The prelats and the fiue churches in Vtrecht showed likewise That their spirituall goods belong to the churches were priuiledged and that they could not fall without expresse consent of the pope Sub commercium laicorum for that in the bull quae legitur in coena Domini all those are excommunicated that did consent to giue any thing out of the spirituall goods towards the lay mens taxes and they likewise that receiued any such taxe or collection without expresse consent as aforesaid alledging many such like priuiledges more and that therefore they could by no meanes consent to his Maiesties request of the tenth and twentieth penie Salua conscientia iuramento This answer much moued and offended the duke specially because the spiritualtie alledged Bullam de caena Domini which he vnderstood to extend onely against the oppressors of the catholikes and the church of Rome and not against the defenders and protectors thereof wherof he accounted himselfe to be one withall chafing against the Printer that had last printed the said bull as also against the priuie counsell for granting licence to do it and namely against secretarie la Torre for signing it for which cause he kept him prisoner in his house and discharged him of his office for the space of a yeare after And further to compell them of Vtrecht to grant to his desire vpon the one and twentieth of August 1569 he sent the whole regiment of Lombardie being tenne companies to lye in garrison in the towne and caused them to bee lodged as well in the spirituall as temporall mens houses thereby much burthening and incombering the townes men compelling them to giue thē seruice mony as they call it for two thousand foure hundred men which they said their regiment contained euerie man a gulderne a weeke which amounted vnto foure and twentie hundred gulderns the weeke and notwithstanding all this compelled them to prouide them all their necessaries and perceiuing that he could not thereby compell them of Vtrecht with that great charge to content vnto the said taxe vpon the fifteenth of December hee caused the kings atturney generall to summon the whole bodie of the towne to appeare before him and his bloudic counsell vpon the nine and twentieth of December then next after ensuing where they appearing hee charged them with high treason and for that cause said they had forfeited all their priuiledges charters and freedoms and that they had deserued to be punished in such sort as he in his discretion should thinke good Whereupon ensued many answers replies duplications and writings betweene them of Vtrecht and the kings atturney generall with great partakings on the dukes behalfe whereby their writings could hardly be read or heard and for that cause vpon the fourteenth of Iuly in anno 1570 hee caused sentence to bee giuen out against the states of the countrey of Vtrecht as namely against the fiue Metropolitane Colledges of the towne representing the first member of that state and against the gentlemen as well within as without Vtrecht representing the second member and for the third member the townes of Vtrecht Amersfort Wicke and Rheuen charging them to haue contracted and agreed with the confederated gentlemen and their adherents winked at the abuses of the image breakers and suffered the heretikes to preach in their hallowed churches and forbidden the monks and that therefore both the spiritualtie and temporaltie had committed high treason for which cause the said fiue churches were depriued from the aforesaid prioritie and that from thence forward they should haue no place nor voyce nor once bee called to appeare amongst the generall states that the gentlemen likewise should no more bee the second member of their state and touching the bodie of the towne of Vtrecht hee d◅ed them to haue forfeited all their priuiledges c. as also the
the departure out of the land was limited vnto them for that time onely they said it was done for that there was no reason to alter the religion at euery time and thereby to procure and raise confusion and scandale among the common people and might likewise tend to a disgrace of Iustice and the Kings prerogatiue That his Maiestie doubted not that if the strange preachers and consistories with some other priuate persons who by meanes of the troubles vnder pretence of complayning for losse of their priueledges had brought in diuers Inouations would alter their opinions or were once gon out of the Netherlands that the common people being better informed in all things would be contented to liue in peace and obey his Maiesties will and pleasure who onely sought to defend and keepe them from all inconueniences and perticularly from the inquisition which his Maiesti pretended not to bring into the Netherlands Vpon this replication the deputies for the Prince and the estates of Holland and Zeeland vpon the fourth of Aprill desired a monethes libertie to make there report in regard that they seemed to charge and laie all the burthen vpon certaine perticuler persons and strangers and that therefore they would fetch lawfull and authenticall testimonialls of their authorities desiring withall a passport for certaine of their Ambassadors which they ment to send with the Earle of Swartzenburgh who as then was vpon his departure vnto the Emperor and that in the meane time the hostages might also returne againe The Earle of Swartezenburg likewise vpon the sixt of Aprill wrot vnto the great Commander to Brussels saying that hee had commission from the Emperors Maiestie to bring certaine Ambasadors with him from the estates of Holland and Zeeland that his Maiestie might bee fully informed of the cause for the better furtherance of a peace to bee made with the King of Spaine promising and giuing his word that the said Ambasadors should not in their said lourney vse any secret or vnlawfull proceedings The liberty of a monethes time sought by the deputies of the estates was partlie graunted vnto them but the Pasport required for the Ambassadors was by the Commander vtterl◅ denied Vppon the sixt of Aprill the Earle of Swartzenburgh tooke his leaue of the deputies on both sides assembled in Breda shewing them what labour and trouble ◅e had had both by intercession vnto the great Commander the Kings gouernor Generall and with the Prince of Orange and the estates of Holland and Zeeland to extinguish and quench the secret hatred and burning fier of enuy that flamed in their hearts and that although as then there was little effected for that the differēce of religion much hindered their proceedings yet he was not altogither out of hope neither wished he that therefore the matter should be neglected and not goe forward but rather gaue counsell that both partes should cease from armes that the truce should be made betweene thē for sixe moneths and for that the reformed religion was so deeply grounded in the hearts of the one party that it could not so sodenly be rooted out he thought it good that during the time of the truce they of Holland and Zeeland might freely vse the excercise of their religion and not to deny the said truce for religion sake The condition of the said truce on both sides he referred vnto the discretio as of the parties desiring them to take his meaning in good part as fore-seeing the generall ruine and destruction of the Netherlands if the cessation and laying aside of armes were not granted that so their hearts might be vnited togither and thereby a peace procured it being other-wise to be feared that the Netherlands being diuided might so fall into the hands of other Princes the which in regard of the great affectiō he bare vnto the Kings prosperous happy proceedings he would gladly seeke to hinder and preuent to that end desired an answer from the Commander within two dayes after earnestly desiring them not to take his departure in euill part it being apparant and sufficiently knowne with what labor and cost hee had performed that charge and that yet with great greefe hee had heard that hee had reaped and gotten the euill will and disliking of diuers great Lords for that cause onely and was had in suspition and that therefore he thought it necessary for him to returne backe againe vnto the Emperor and to discharge him-selfe of his ambassage not doubting but that his Maiestie if the truce were once agreed vppon would vse all the meanes and wayes he could to procure a firme and an assured peace and that so the Netherlands might bee kept and maintained in obedience vnder the King wherein he himselfe will neither spare his labour nor his meanes for the good of his Maiestie and his subiects of the Netherlands To this oration made by the Earle of Swaertzenbrugh touching his departure the great Commander made answer vppon the eight of Aprill giuing him great thankes for his labor and paines which hee knew the Kings Maiestie would take ◅n good part But touching the truce he said his Maiestie would not agree therevnto for certaine reasons and that hee saw no cause why hee should desist from his disseins but was content that there should bee a truce concluded for two monthes so that in the meane time the excercise of the reformed religion might cease both in Holland and Zeeland and they that vsed the same to go into some other place and that hee thought it not a thing pertinent vnto his office and charge to grant pasports vnto the Kings rebells to passe through his country whereas they had meanes ynough to go otherwaies In his voyage to the Emperor hee wished him all good successe giuing him great thankes for his paines taken therein in the Kings behalfe The like answer was made him by the Deputies as then in Breda so the Earle of Swaertzenburgh took his leaue and departed Vppon the last of Maie the Deputies mette againe at Breda where-in the behalfe of the Prince of Orange and the States of Holland and Zeeland c. Vppon the last of Iune there was a wrighting presented by them wherein they said that they liked well of the offer made of holding and obseruing of their priuiledges for the profit of the Netherlands but that they could not perceiue how that would or might be in any sort beneficiall for them when as they by the articles propounded must leaue and for sake the country Moreouer for-that they perceiued speaking freely that it was not as yet conuenient for them to forsake their natiue country as also the reformed religion they humbly besought his Maiestie that it would please him with a fauourable countenance to behold and regard the great zeale and holy intents of his obedient subiects and in the matter of conscience whereof account is onely to bee made vnto GOD him-selfe to with-hold and cease the fier and
sword where-with his subiects and members of all the Netherlands vntill that time had beene persecuted and most grieuously tormented with vnspeakeable vilde cruelties brought vnto their ends and vtter destruction they for their partes promising in all worldly causes to bee obedient vnto his Maiestie and to serue him as faithfully as euer any of his subiects in times past had done For the securities proferred said they many pitifull examples do sufficiently shew how they may be estemed by al the world especialy if the townes castles shippes and artilery were deliuered ouer before the Spaniards and other strangers were gon out of the Netherlands and that the estates generall should haue taken good order for al inconueniences therefore to avoyd al difficulties and so to proceed to the beginning of a good security they knew no better way then that according to the contents of there request presented in writing the strangers should be sent out of the contry which might the rather be don without cause of suspition for that the Prince States of Holland Zeeland had not any manner of dislike nor quarell with the rest of the other Prouinces but held and esteemed them as their good friends allies neighboures offering to standvnto all reasonable security that there should be no new matter deuised nor vnlawfull act attempted by them during the time graunted for their departure out of the country vntil such time as the general estates might assemble to gether to consult about a good order to be taken in al causes of policy good gouernment Further although their offer aforesaid was sufficient yet would they in the aboundance of their true intents and desires of peace offer more that it might appeare both before GOD and the world that they nether desired nor yet sought their owne welfare and ease noâ—… yet pretended any other thing then the welfare and common good of the country That although those amongst them that had settled their consciences in the true apostolike religion had rather loose both their liues and goods then they would in any wise deny the same or once do otherwise then it requireth They are neuer-the-lesse content so his maiestie will desist from denying their request touching their religion that not onely that but the point of security and all other causes difficulties and differences should be determined and ended by the lawfull assembly of the generall estates of the Netherlands And for as much as that by withdrawing away of all strangers out of the country all troubles and Insolencies would cease and all the Prouinces without doubt would be fermly vnited together they offered to stand vnto all reasonable condition of security whereby on both sides they might liue in perfect peace betweene the departing and with-drawing of the strangers out of all the Prouinces and the assembling of the generall estates Where-vnto they desired and praied that they might haue an vnâ—…ained and a Catholike answeare with an absolute yea or nay vnto every perticular point of there request While this treaty of peace continewed the Commander generall assembled his counsell of estate priuy counsell and tresorers with certaine of the principale Lords of the state and other councelors of good estates and quality to heare their opinions touching the peace as then in question and the answeares made therevnto by the deputies of the Prince of Orange and his adherents who after long conference gaue there aduice saying that the most assured way was to maintaine the Catholike Romish religion and the Catholike persons in Holland c. as also for the better securing of the Kings inheritances vnto him selfe for that the Prince had giuen forth that he knew those that had a good will to take the same into their handes saying further that seeing the point of sending out of strangers was agreed vpon that it ought to be effected vpon good security the King hauing naturall Netherland Catholike Souldiars inough whereof the experience was euidently to be seene in the time of the regent the Duches of Parma that had pacefied all the controuersies in the country with the subiects of the same which as then were well trusted before the comming of the Duke of Alua and now are in a manner distrusted when as their loyaltie was once againe tried in the yeare 1568. when the Prince of Orange entred with an army into the country and they kept him out they likewise found it expedient that the generall estates should bee assembled where unto they submitted themselues and likewise esteemed it not to be so hard a matter to permit and graunt them freedom of conscience without scandale and exercise thereof as also to stay and dwell within the Countrie as other forraine marchants both Dutch-men and Englishmen of contrary Religion did for that in the meane time GOD might so worke in their hearts by good sermons and instructions as they would be conuerted and that in all places the catholike religion might be erected and giue good examples of honest life and conuersation vsing many such like arguments with allegation of diuers old customes and examples but this would not bee liked of by the counsell in Spaine who had an other desseine intending an absolute conquest which not-with-standing it is said that the great commander himselfe did often complaine of in his death bed and after that the Spaniards themselues These articles being in this sort set downe in the name of the King yet could not the Prince of Orange beleeue that it was the Kings meaning to send the Spaniards out of the Netherlands and for that cause desired to see the Kings owne hand and seale vnto the same which was shewed him by the Baron de Rassinghen who for security thereof kept the same against the Commanders will who imagined that the offers that were made would not haue bin so well accepted and for that cause would haue it proceed no further saying that the King was no marchant or would bee constrained vnto any thing and that hee liberally offered and presented such conditions which they should haue accepted of when they had time and place and so seeking all delaies hee caused his deputies to make answeare that hee would send all the proceedings of that peace into Spaine and attended an answere from thence asking foure moneths time for the same where-vpon the deputies of Holland c. vpon the foureteene of Iuly for there farwell made a declaration in writing the contents whereof were to shew how little the Kings deputies were alwaies afected to deale vprightly in the contracts of peace and that therefore they for there discharges both before GOD and the world would make it knowne vnto them and euery man how they for there parts had alwaies fought and labored to haue an end of the warres and so breefely declared from the beginning to the ending what had past from the first request sent vnto the King by meanes of Monsier Champigny vntill there last declaration which offers
their part had besides the said nine monethes contributed twenty three thousand florins They of Holland and Zeeland through their long precedent warres were quite exhaust and drawne dry with the great charges wherevnto they were subiect for the reparation and entertaining of their dikes so as at the most they could not entertaine aboue twenty fiue or thirty companies forseruise As for them of Arthois and Henault that they sought money from others to pay their garrisons and from whome they should rather feare a reuolt then any good wherefore they of Antwerp did intreat the Ganthois that to shew them-selues conformable to the intention of the Archduke Prince and States they would send some notable summe of mony to court to releeue their country in this extreame necessity besides the three or fore hundred thousand which they had furnished in nine months The tenth of Nouember the Duke of Aniou sent the Seignior of Boniuet to them of Gant intreating them to remedy and reconcile their diuisions for the pacefiing whereof they could not choose a more competent iudge them himselfe who sought nothing more then to accord them with the Wallons Malecontents as hee had formerly pacefied the troubles in France And as for the prisoners that they should put them into his hands with whome hee would deale as by the common aduice of all good countrymen and especially of the Queene of England should bee held iust and right The next day the comissioners of the Archduke Prince and States did exhibit their commission to them of Gant and propounded that which they had to saye vnto them with a deduction of many pregnant reasons and inconueniences that might growe if they did not yeeld vnto the Articles which had beene offred vnto them The same day the Queene of Englands Embassador according to her Maiesties letters of the twelth of October and the sixt of Nouember gaue them to vnderstand that by their courses and manner of proceeding they gaue occasion to all the world to thinke that they sought nothing more then to entertaine a mortall warre whereof all their neighbours did so much desire to see an end That it seemed they would not subiect themselues to any superiority or higher power but would make a world by themselues whereby some might bee easely moued to assist the States to force them to obedience That they should bee carefull that for the appetit of some quarrells and priuate intrerests the good and welfaire of the generality were not indangered to fortefie the enemy and to weaken their brethren and country-men and of friends that were strangers to make them enemies And although it was to bee presumed that Duke Casimir being come to succor the States by the meanes of the Queene of England had beene secretly called by them to ayde them yet said the Ambassador her Maiesty found it very strange The which made her thinke that all this trouble might be easely pacefied if the Ganthois would conforme them-selues to the councell of the Prince of Orange and the generall estates in three points That is in the restitution of Clergie goods that are yet in esse in the suffring of liberty of religion and to deliuer into her maiesties hands or of some other neuter Prince the prisoners where they should bee kept with as good gard as the Ganthois could desire wherefore her Maiestie sent them word that if therin they would not bee perswaded and yeeld they should giue her great cause not onely to bee a stranger vnto them but also to abandon them quite wherefore they said Ambassador intreated them that they would duly consider and resolue theron Finally he required at their hands in the Queenes name a bond for forty fiue thousand pounds sterling conformable to them of Brusselles Antwerp Bruges Middelbourg Dordrect Amsterdam Dunkerke and Nieuport The thirteene of Nouember they of Brusselles sent their deputies also to Gant to make the same complaints and propositions which they of Antwerp had formerly done with some other reasons tending to make them leaue of their partialities and factions producing many goodly examples at home of former times happened in the like occurrents Vnto all these propositions and aduises of the Ambassador of England and the Deputies of Antwerp and Brusselles the Ganthois answered the eighteene of the moneth That they found not them-selues in any sort bound vnto the Articles and conditions that were propounded vnto them vntill that their stipulations and promises had beene first propounded vnto the Archduke Prince and Generall estates and by them accepted That is that the Ganthois should not bee bound to receiue the Romish Relligion or to performe any of the Articles if first of all the Wallons and Malcontents did not desist from all acts of hosty lity and retire out of Flanders And when the other Prouinces had receued and admitted liberty of religion in effect withall the other points and Articles they said they would not sequester nor dismember themselues but that they would acknowledge the Arch-duke as Gouernor generall the Prince of Orange his Lieutenant and the generall estates in all humility as their superiors and obey them in all Christian and reasonable commandements And the rather for that they with the other members of Flanders had conceiued a singular inclination and affection in the administration of mylitary discipline with a naturall loue to their country and especially to the profession of the reformed religion from the which they protested they would neuer bee drawne neither for life nor death and to acknoledge for euer the good and sincere affections which the said Prince carried vnto his country whereof he had giuen sufficient testymony in the late warres This answer of the Ganthois being seene by the States did not greatly please them which was the cause of the Princes going as we haue said to Denremond and from thence after many conferences and contradictions he came the 4. of december to Gant where being arriued hee sent for the deputies of the Magistrats of the towne to heare his propositions and demands conteyned in sixe Articles First that they should accept the articles of the act which they had formerly sent vnto them touching the accord Secondly that they should not forsake the union of the generall estats but should ioyntly ayde to maintaine it Thirdly that in the affares of the country and of the Conty of Flanders touching the generality they should not resolue any thing without the aduice and consent of the 4. members of Flanders Forthly seeing that there was no order set for the time togather in the common mony nor for the prouiding thereof that there should bee a certaine rule set downe to take away all suspition as well for the receit as the distribution of the generall contributions Fiftly that the affayres concerning the gouernment of the towne and common-weale should bee managed by common voices without disorder or confusion according to their preuiledges Sixtly and lastly that
together like old souldiers and defended themselues in such sort as they escaped without any hurt the rest were all slaine and spoyled La Noue himselfe thinking it a shame to abandon the artillerie and beeing yet in good hope that it would bee better when the rest of his men came which he still attended from Wackene fought valiantly and did what was possible for him to doe vntill that hee was furiously charged and taken prisoner hauing sent his sonne Tiligny to hasten his men forwards by the which meanes hee with the most part of the horse and footmen escaped The lord of Marquette was likewise taken to whom the greatest blame of that ouerthrow was imputed because he caused not the bridge to be broken downe as hee was commaunded but trusted vnto others Hee lay long after prisoner in Henault till at the last after certaine yeares imprisonment he brake out of prison Monsieur de la Noue being the burgraue of Gants prisoner prince de Espinoy brother to the margraue wrot from Dornicke in his behalfe vnto those of Flanders who vpon the eleuenth of May wrot their letters vnto the burgraue to intreat him to vse la Noue well who by his letters from Cortricke the twelfth of May promised no lesse and yet notwithstanding hee gaue him vnto the king at which time the regiments of Hesse Egmont and Capres mutined and would haue had the earle of Egmont discharged for la Noue for which action the burgraue was much blamed as knowing well that hee should not bee set at libertie for any ransome or exchange whatsoeuer during the wares besides the want of so braue a souldier whereof the Estates had great need and yet hee was allied to the burgraue who had beene the cause of seending for him out of Fraunce to serue the Estates when hee himselfe held with them but pride hatred and spleene made him doe it whereof hee made shew vpon some gentlemen that were taken prisoners amongst the which one was la Noues steward who beeing brought before him hee stabbed him with his owne hands when as all the furie was past which an Albanoys souldier refused to doe commaunding his men to doe the like to all the rest The ordnance munition and eighteene Ensignes whereof most of the men were as then absent were all taken wherewith he rod triumphantly into Cortricke and with him monsieur la Noue his prisoner whom hee sent to Berghen in Henault vnto the prince of Parma The number that were slaine was not great so as the Estates had more misse of such a captaine than any losse in regard it was a great hinderance to their proceedings but they assembled their souldiers againe with all the speed they might by that meanes to keepe the enemie from a further inuasion after their victorie who made shew as if they would set vpon the towne of Niuelle About this time William van Horne baron de Hesse sonne to William lord of Gaesboeeke of the house of Horne brother to the earle of Vtkercken practised in the behalfe of the Estates and the duke of Aniou with whom the States were in a maner agreed to reduce certaine places vnder the Estates commaund or else to doe them some other seruice With whom consented also Iong Warrous lord of Thian gouernour of Cassel who likewise thought to deliuer Cassel vnto the Estates but their practises were discouered and Thian flying escaped away but the baron of Hesse was by the said burgraue and the baron de Montigny taken prisoner and not long after his processe being made by command from the prince of Parma who by that meanes knew how to set the noblemen of the Netherlands together by the eares was beheaded at Quesnoy in Henault vpon the eight of Nouember beeing a lustie young gentleman but wauering and inconstantly minded The lord of Haussy likewise of the same conspiracie beeing sommoned to appeare was forced to flie and came to his house at Liedekerke by Brussels which he deliuered into the hands of the Estates but afterwards by meanes of his wife being found wauering and inconstant and much suspected by the Estates hee was by them committed to prison yet by meanes of Oliuer vanden Temple gouernor of Brussels who had maried the lady of Weerdenborgh his wiues sister hee was released and went into France The eight of Iune in the morning the garrisons of Herentales Brussels and Macklyn with their captaines and colonell la Garde with a Spanish captaine called Alonso secretly and sodainely climed ouer the walls of Diest vpon the marsh side and beeing gotten vp slew the guard at the port of Sichem where they let in the Spanish captaine who serued the Estates faithfully with the horsemen Within were two companies of Wallons that made great resistance but three companies of Dutch men among the which one was a companie of the earle of Lodrons regiment that had serued at least foureteene yeares in the countrey which valiantly resisted and diuers times caused their enemies to retire but at the last they were most of them slaine in the same place where they fought without once retiring a foot fighting to the last man which is not often seene On the Estates sides also there were certaine captaines slaine and many men hurt Sichem and Arschot were likewise taken by the Estates Halen was for saken by the enemie but perceiuing that the Estates proceeded no further they returned thither againe The like enterprise the malecontents of Henault not long before purposed against Brussels thinking to take it vpon Saint Iohn Baptists day being mooued thereunto by a captaine of the bourgers called Otto de Barker Iaques le Court a proctor who had dealt with the earle of Lalaine the baron de Montignie and the bourgraue of Gant hauing deliuered them the print of one of the keyes of the towne gates so as they came thither with good troupes of horse and foot but the foresaid parties hauing made it known vnto the prince of Orange monsieur Aldegonde and monsieur Temple the gouernour they made great preparation for them with shot secretly placed vpon the high way and other places and within the towne there were diuers souldiers secretly lodged in the houses not farre from the said gate monsieur de S. Aldegonde standing readie at the portcullis to let it fall when they should thinke good but for that it had rained all night long and by that meanes the souldiers could not keepe their matches light and being wearie with so long and tedious a march hauing made great hast and some of them being behind the rest for that cause were verie vnwilling but when as day began to appeare whereby they might easily haue beene discouered many of them came to the port which according to promise they found open yet durst not enter but went backe againe they of Brussels shooting after them with their canon and from thence went to the enterprise of Gant aforesaid About the same time they of
would not attempt it rashly he should secretly send them a thousand men into the towne and they would set vpon the enemie themselues against the which Cornput and Berenbroeke opposed saying That the diuiding of an armie which was neither great nor strong of men was not likely to doe any good or to relieue them the enemie being so neere whereof they also aduertised the Estates and how that they were forced to signe to such an instruction The like contention and discord was dayly in the towne oftentimes writing to haue leaue to yeeld vp the towne if they were not relieued in short time saying That they had not victuals within the towne for aboue sixe dayes The like tumults and vprore was amongst them in the enemies campe who were kept night and day in continuall alarmes in exceeding cold weather and with want of money for the which they often called so that at the last the earle of Renenbergh was forced to absent himselfe for a while vntill he had gotten some money for them wherewith he contented his souldiers with many faire promises The like contention hee had with Schencks horsemen that once before had left the campe so that on both sides they were in great extremities Vpon the nineteenth of Ianuary the earle of Renenbergh sent a trumpet with a letter signed by Martin Schenck and Iohn Struef wherein they vsed all manner of persuasions to moue the towne to yeeld but they had an answere to the contrary by word of mouth Euery day they did what they could to annoy one another and vpon Shroue-tuesday they without the towne hauing often asked them within if they had almost eaten vp all their horses they within mounted souldiers vpon all the horses they could get being about threescore with launces and when as they had therewith braued vpon the wals they went secretly out of one of the gates and gaue an alarme vnto the campe and so went in againe at another port crying vnto them and saying That they had gotten in a new cornet of horse so as they shewed themselues to haue resolutions and no want of any thing The like ieast was vsed by the earle of Renenbergh whereby captaine Cornput had like to haue lost his life for that he wrot him a letter the contents whereof were these Honourable and worthy gentleman for that by reason of the present frost you can doe no good in the trenches nor cannot passe the time away by drawing your ring vp and downe vpon your finger because you haue beene forced to lay the same to pawne to pay the souldiers and besides that haue not wherewith to set your teeth on worke or to cleanse your maw and yet should haue something to busie your selfe withall therewith to passe away the 〈◊〉 therfore we send you the letter here inclosed to please your humour dated in the kings campe before Steenwicke the fifteenth of Ianuary In the letter there was a booke printed in French made by Assonuille or some other whereof the title was The prince of Orange his letters interpreted which he sent to the duke of Alanson with many annotations in the margent which the prince in his Apologie maketh answere vnto By this letter certain of captain Cornput his enemies in the towne thought that the enemie had sent some reasonable conditions of yeelding vp the towne vnto him and that he for that cause would noâ—… let them see them and therefore were desirous to haue them and so made a tumult against him which was hardly pacified To this letter captaine Cornput made as good an answere and also sent some Annotations vpon the marginall notes of the printed counterfeit Letters Besides this to passe away the time captaine Thomas an Albanois captaine sent to Sir Iohn Norris to challenge him to fight hand to hand with him either with launce pike sword or curtleax whereunto captaine Williams his lieutenant colonel made answer that he would fight with him at all the said weapons which vpon certaine conditions was vndertaken and hauing giuen sureties on both sides and both the armies standing in order of battaile they two in presence of them all met together and after certaine blowes giuen both with launce and curtleax without any harme to either party according to the agreement they drunk one vnto another and so departed The seuenteenth of Ianuarie vpon the importunacie of them of the towne vnto Sir Iohn Norris as also by the dayly intercession of Coen Dierickson that was with him at Griethorn saying That for want of victuals they within the towne could not hold out foure dayes hee determined to doe some enterprise vpon Steenwicker Woldt being in all with his English regiment the regiment of the earle of Nassau and that of Michiel Caulier and some companies of Hegeman and Stuper not aboue two thousand men which he certified vnto those of the towne who with the halfe of their men issued foorth when it was darke whereby they missed each other and so did themselues hurt and Sir Iohn Norris for his part did nothing for that he came into a field full of trees the which was inclosed with a ditch not farre from the towne Which the earle of Renenbergh perceiuing brought certaine field-peeces thither and first hauing made his prayer he gaue a terrible assault against the same but he was valiantly repulsed so that he thought it best for him that euening to returne backe againe vnto his campe thinking to find him there the next day but Sir Iohn Norris perceiuing in what danger he was in regard that hee had neyther victuals noâ—… horsemen and that he might perchance haue beene ouerthrowne if the enemie had inclosed him was much mooued against Coen Dierickson that had made him beleeue that the towne was in so great necessitie and therefore thought good to goe vnto Blockziel to Sonoy his fortifications where he vnderstood by certaine persons that the towne was sufficiently prouided with all things necessarie for a while for which cause hee determined to stay for the Friseland ayd which he likewise certified vnto the towne The earle of Renenbergh once againe summoned the towne to yeeld writing them a comfortable letter which captaine Cornput answered with many annotations and caused it to be sent him againe which letter was openly read before the campe in great despight to the earle of Renenbergh After that vpon the foure and twentieth of Ianuarie the earle of Renenbergh vnderstanding that Sir Iohn Norris with all his forces lay in the cloyster called S. Iohns campe he went thither with a great force where he besieged him round about and battering the place thought to take it before he should haue ayd out of Friseland Sir Iohn Norris presently had great need of victuals whereby hee was constrayned and enforced to eat his horses although Sonoy sent him some victuals from Blockziel whereas two of his companies ouerthrew two of the enemies which were of the like number Wighbolt van Eusum lord of
said William of Nassau prince of Orange either aliue or dead or else to bereaue him of his life that hee would giue vnto him or to his heires either in money land or annuall rent twentie fiue thousand crownes of gold and therewithall forgiue him all crimes and offences whatsoeuer hee shall haue formerly committed and done yea if hee were no gentleman to make him a gentleman for his valour Promising reward and aduancement to all them that should assist him in the execution thereof according to their estates degrees and qualities Hee likewise declared all those that were his associats and adherents to bee banished persons and their honours liues and goods confiscated if they did not abandon and forsake him within one moneth after the publication of the said proscription and their goods wheresoeuer they should bee found either in Spaine or elsewhere marchandise debts actions or inheritance to be good prize to them that could take them c. This banishment and proscription the prince of Parma commaunded to bee published throughout all the townes of the king of Spaines obedience by his letters written to the gouernors and the Prouinciall counsels This ignominious proscription which the king of Spaine made against the person of William of Nassau prince of Orange did not much aduance his affaires as wee may see by the progresse of the hystorie Many men of great qualitie that were Neuters and good Catholikes did wonder much to see the prince of Parma cause it to bee published and printed seeing that he could not passe without an answere which would touch both the king of Spaine and him to the quicke For as soone as the prince of Orange had seene a coppie thereof hee made an Apologie the which hee caused to bee printed in diuers seuerall languages and did dedicat and present it to the generall Estates of the countries of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Delft vpon the thirteenth day of December to whom he submitted his authoritie life and goods and made them judges of his seruice and answere whereof I will make a briefe recitall Touching the point of ingratitude wherewith hee doth charge him for his aduancement to the succession of his cousin Rene of Chalon prince of Orange hee said That therein hee was not bound neither to the emperour nor to the king of Spaine for that hee was his fathers brothers sonne and that hee might giue him his lands in Bourgoigne and the principalitie of Orange by his last will and testament according to the priuiledges of Burgoigne called the French countie whereas they may freely giue their lands by testament to whom they please and yet the said king Philip detained them from him wherin he had beene wronged to the value of two millions of gulderns He also complained of the sentence giuen against him for the seigniory of Chasteaubellin the arrerages whereof amounted to 3 hundred and fiftie thousand gulderns And touching the principalitie of Orange he said That no man had any thing to say thereunto for that hee held it of no prince whatsoeuer but was his owne freely without any superiour soueraigne and that in regard of that principalitie hee had no need of any princes friendship and fauour but of the king of France Then he shewed what seruices his predecessors of the house of Nassau had done to the house of Austria First cont Engelbert his great vncle with the baron of Roemont wonne the battel of Guynegast for the emperour Maximilian with many other great and notable seruices Then followed his vncle Henrie of Nassau who in a manner had planted the imperiall diadem vpon the emperour Charles his head he beeing absent in Spaine and the princes electors making often motion to send for the king of France to make him emperour wherein hee was such an iustrument as Charles inioyed that dignitie whereof there could no tokens of thankfulnes be shewed on Spaines behalfe as other kings and princes had done and were yet to bee seene by some peeces of ordnance which the king of Hongarie had giuen to his ancestors as a testimonie of their valour and seruice against the Turke the which were forcibly taken out of their house in Breda by the duke of Alua. After him followed prince Rene who restored the losse which the emperour Chales the fift had sustained by the ouerthrowe of an armie and recouered him the duchie of Gueldres and in the end died at his feet in his seruice Saying moreouer that prince Philibert of Chalon had alone in a maner gotten him the duchy of Milan and the kingdom of Naples and with the duke of Bourbon assured him Rome keeping the pope prisoner And whereas he proclaimed him to be a villaine and a traitour he desired him to tell what villaines and who they were at whose commaundement the cardinall Granuelle should haue poisoned the emperour Maximilian the second and that he knew what the said emperor had said vnto him and how that he after that time had so much respected the king and the Spaniards as he durst not after that make profession of the reformed religiō which he notwithstanding held to be the best Touching the gouernments honours and titles which had beene giuen him by the emperour and the king he said they had beene exceeding chargeable vnto him hauing spent aboue an hundred and fiftie thousand florins without any recompence and that beeing generall of the armie he receiued but three hundred gulderns the moneth which was not sufficient for them that pitched his tents Touching the order of the Golden Fleece he faith That he had beene chosen by the chapter of the said order that he was most beholding to the brothers of that order for the same Saying moreouer That the king himselfe was fallen from that dignitie in that he had broken the oath which he had taken by the death of the earles of Egmont and Horne the marquesse of Berghes and baron of Montigny all knights whose proces ought not to haue been iudged but by the knights of the same order as had beene seene in Philip duke of Burgoignes time by Iohn lord of Luxembourg And for that he was of the counsel of state he said That he had often refused it but that the cardinall of Granuelle and others had laboured to haue him called onely to assist them with his authoritie with the people And whereas his mariage with the ladie Charlotte of Bourbon was obiected vnto him as dishonourable in respect of her profession he answeres That the duke of Montpenser her father a prince who was an earnest Romish Catholike was very wel pleased therewith and in like manner all the princes allied to his second wife had giuen their consents neither had he concluded the said mariage rashly nor without good premeditation the which although she were an abbesse was held lawfull by the opinions and iudgements of learned diuines and lawyers and therefore no iust cause why the king
earle of Hoochstraten who of the lady N. of Egmont widow to the earle of Hennin lord of Capres left one son after his death This earle of Renenbergh was a courteous nobleman well red in Greeke and Latin a great louer of histories and of musicke wherein he spent most of his time He was an enemie to all tyrannie although he committed that vild act in Groning the which he afterwards repented 1000 times and a great obseruer of militarie discipline he was withall very carefull to haue his souldiers duly paied As for his religion I will not meddle with it but we may coniecture what the heart was hauing red so many bookes of the learnedest Protestants and had conuersed so long with them but the feare of his mother of the chanon his vncle who had made him his heire of the earle of Lalain his cousin and of the persuasions of his sister had made him to change his party the which he often repented Colonel Gaspar Verdugo succeeded him in the gouernment of Friseland and Groning The Estates of Flanders sent a little armie into the quarter of Ypre and Dixmuyden vnder the commaund of the prince of Espinoy whom they made generall whereof the Seignior of Villers before gouernour of Bouchain was marshall of the campe to make worke on that side for the prince of Parma during the victualling of Cambray But the Parmo is beeing stronger in horse than the Estates he defeated some neere vnto Dixmuyden In the mean time the prince of Espinoys mē that remained in garrison at Tournay in his gouernmēt of Tournesis gaue many affronts vnto their enemies in Henault whom they annoyed all they could as in like manner the malecontents did beeing lodged in the fort of Hauteriue betwixt Tournay and Audenarde from whence they did runne dayly to the ports of either towne who at the same time defeated a rich conuoy of ninetie wagons with all sorts of marchandise going to Antuerpe and from thence to the fayre of Francfort beeing guarded but by some few foot and fifteene horse onely Of all these wagons there were about seuentie taken the rest escaped This vnfortunate incounter made many poore men who went themselues to Gant and Antuerpe to sell their marchandise of the which there were some taken prisoners who besides all their losses were hardly ransomed Such encounters were made dayly on eyther side whereby all traffique both in fayres and markets decayed At that time the Estates had their armie encamped neere vnto the village of Loos in the Chasteleine of Furnes in West-Flanders in a commodious place hauing but three thousand foot and eight hundred horse The male contents thinking to rayse them from thence went and encamped at Pont Rouard called in Dutch Rousbrugghe where they skirmished daily one with another but seeing that they preuailed little and got nothing but blowes they retired from thence with the losse of three hundred men to go and ioine with the prince of Parma before Cambray where they expected the French The Seignior of Iuchy gouernour of Cambray had beene forced but with the consent of the Estates to treat with the duke of Aniou brother to the French king who had sent him certaine French companies led by the Seignior of Balaigni bastard to Iohn of Monluc bishop of Valence On the other side the prince of Parma and the Wallon neighbour prouinces fearing least the French should settle themselues and lodge there sought all meanes possible to dislodge them by faire meanes money secret practises and intelligences with their partisans within the towne the which not succeeding the prince thought to force them by necessitie and famine and therefore built forts and made trenches at all the approches vnto the towne as at Marquion Creuecaeur Vauchelle and other places by means whereof he would besiege them farre off by whole yeares cutting off the victuals and munition which before the French brought vnto them So as in the end beeing annoyed with the said forts and trenches and by the horsemen which scoured the plaines those of the towne grew to want all things but bread and salt especially for as much as would be contained in a womans thymble would cost aboue a penny For whose succours the duke of Aniou according to his promise made all the hast he could to leuie men ouer all Fraunce But before he could effect it he was constrained first to seeke to pacifie the quarrell that was in Fraunce touching the entertaining of the fifth Edict of peace which some of the Spanish faction did kindle all they could to crosse his designe The which being done and the peace proclaymed in Fraunce he assembled his armie about Chasteaudun consisting of goodly troupes both of horse and foot hauing the greatest part of the French nobilitie voluntaries whom he had inuited to doe him this great and notable seruice with the which were the old companies of men at armes vnder the commaund of the lord of Bellegarde all amounting to foure thousand horse and tenne thousand foot the said duke marching with his artillerie in the head of his armie towards Cambray being resolued to giue battaile to the prince of Parma if hee would attend him Among the chiefe of his armie there were the marquesse de Elbeuf the earles of la Val S. Aignan and his sonne Rochpot Montgomery and Vantadour the Viconts of Tureine and la Guerche the Vidame of Amiens the lords of Feruaques la Chastre S. Luc Dieu la Mauvissiere and many others with foure marshals of the campe whereof Feruaques was the chiefe The Queene mother sought by entreaties and all other meanes to call backe her sonne the duke of Aniou from this expedition and to hinder him from relieuing of Cambray but he reiected all entreaties as inhumane hauing promised the Estates not to fayle them in this extremitie which made him to persist in his pretended enterprise Some gaue it out that the Spaniards sought to corrupt him with great gifts that he might desist from his intended enterprise and that many of the French nobilitie through the presents which they had receiued and large promises grew into suspition to haue secret intelligence with the Spaniard King Philip hearing of the duke of Aniou his great preparations supposing that such great troupes beeing like vnto a royall armie could not bee raysed without the kings consent hee complained by his embassadour of his brothers great preparation to aid and protect his rebellious subiects of the Netherlands who were enemies of the true Religion and of the faith of Christ against their naturall prince against the Catholicke faith and against a king which was his kinsman and good f◅iend hauing neuer giuen him any cause of so great a wrong and therefore he could not beleeue that so great forces could be gathered together without the kings aid and consent entreating him therefore that seeing he had receiued no wrong from him he would also forbeare to iniure a king that was his friend and
hee was presently committed to prison by the Estates beeing charged with many things But being about to make his processe the Queene of England wrot in his fauour and withall being able to iustifie himselfe hee was set at libertie yet he lost his place of Admirall the which was giuen vnto Iustine of Nassau base sonne vnto the prince of Orange They of Antuerpe knowing that the bridge and the Stocadoes were finished made a great shippe to be a meanes to breake all this worke of the prince of Parmaes this great shippe was made of masons worke within in the manner of a vaulted caue vpon the hatches there were layed myll-stones graue-stones and others of great weight and within the vault were many barrels of powder ouer the which there were holes and in them they had put matches hanging at a thred the which burning vntill they came vnto the thred would fall into the powder and so blow vp all And for that they could not haue any one in this shippe to conduct it Lanckhaer a sea captaine of the Hollanders being then in Antuerpe gaue them counsell to tye a great beame at the end of it to make it to keepe a straight course in the middest of the streame In this sort floated this shippe the fourth of Aprill vntill that it came vnto the bridge where within a while after the powder wrought his effect with such violence as the vessell and all that was within it and vpon it flew in pieces carrying away a part of the Stocado and of the bridge The marquesse of Roubay Vicont of Gant Gaspar of Robles lord of Billy and the Seignior of Torchies brother vnto the Seignior of Bours with many others were presently slaine which were torne in pieces and dispersed abroad both vpon the land and vpon the water The same day the Hollanders and Zeelanders woon the forts of Lyefkenshoek whereas the marquesse the yeare before had committed horrible murthers when he tooke it and that of Doel which were not farre from the prince of Parma his forts vpon the riuer of Antuerpe that of Lyefkenshoek being right against Lillo The captaine who had commaunded therein for that he had yeelded it vp so lightly lost his head by the prince of Parma his commandement The said burning ship strucke such a terror into the prince his men which were within the forts of Calloo and Oordam as they abandoned them for a time not onely for the fire which flew but also for the great abundance of water which the violence of the powder cast into the said forts out of the riuer so as the souldiers knew not what should become of them no more than if the world had instantly perished by fire and water If they of Antuerpe had followed and charged them presently it is to be thought they would haue done some great exploit But to what end serueth it to batter a towne to make a sufficient breach to amaze and discourage the besieged if withall they will not giue an assault They of Antuerpe had their forts not a league from them and their shippes of warre neerer which might haue made a great attempt But the wind being contrarie they could not in a manner doe any thing but a long time after The Hollanders which were in the fleet on the other side of the bridge heard it yea it was also heard into Zeeland but they knew not what it was and so they found it too late that they had lost a goodly opportunitie wherein they might haue done some great exploit The prince of Parma caused that to be soone repaired which this fire had broken and carried away The eight and twentieth of March la Motte gouernour of Graueling made an enterprise vpon Oostend the which succeeded so happily in the beginning as he woon the old towne in the which there was an old church from whence he might commaund with his musket shot ouer all the towne This part is diuided from the new towne by a bridge which the said la Motte had giuen in guard to one of his captaines attending the rest of his troupes which should enter by the hauen but the souldiers of the garrison which were within the new towne beeing in armes strucke such a feare and amazement into the hearts of them which were in the old towne as they suddenly abandoned it and so it was presently recouered by the enemie the which did wonderfully discontent la Motte being forced to retyre by reason of the cannon which played from the towne vpon his troupes the which he led backe cursing not knowing to whom he should impute the fault At this time the deputies of the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces returned from their embassage out of Fraunce after that the king had thanked them and made his excuse vnto them as we haue said yea he aduised them to depart as speedily as they could and to stand vpon their guards for feare of them of Guise hauing gratified euery one of them with a goodly chayne of gold so as the deputies taking their leaue gaue his Maiestie most humble thankes for the good will which he shewed to the vnited Prouinces The Queene of England hearing how the affaires of the vnited Prouinces had passed in Fraunce was in great doubt that the Estates through dispayre not able to defend themselues with their owne forces should be reconciled vnto the king of Spaines obedience beyond all expectation by reason whereof she dispatched away the Seignior of Grise great baylife of the towne of Bruges who had beene sent vnto her Maiestie for some succours of men by whom she gaue the Estates to vnderstand of the good will that shee bare vnto them offering them her friendship for which cause the Estates being assembled together to conferre vpon these offers they propounded certaine points in counsell whereupon they might enter into treatie with her yet not omitting any thing that might serue for their owne safegard and defence And as these parlyes of treatie betwixt her Maiestie and them were somewhat long by reason of so many sendings to and fro wherein they must attend the wind it could not bee so soone concluded nor succours sent as they desired so as the towns of Brussels and Macklyn and in the end Antuerpe were forced to yeeld Colonel Martin Schenck and the Seignior Bentine gouernour of Stralen in Guelderland for the king of Spaine crossed through the Betuwe in the Veluwe and presented themselues before Arnham the chiefe towne of Gueldres holding for the Estates whereas the garrison sallyed out vpon them and there was a fieâ—…ce encounter with the losse of many men on both sides so as neither part had any cause to brag of victorie Schenck was wounded there and carried to Nymeghen In the beginning of May they of Antuerpe sent their great floting fort called The end of the Warre downe the riuer neere vnto the fort of Oordam where the Spaniards were But comming too neere vnto the
heart of her owne kingdome As touching the loosing of friends the cause would bee so honourable and so good as shee should haue the kings of France Nauarre Portugal Denmarke Scotland other potentates her welwillers These reasons and allegations thus propounded and answered were communicated with the aforesaid deputies for the Estates who at that time made knowne vnto her Maiestie the estate and power of the Netherlands and what contributions the same were able to raise as also what the charges of an offensiue warre would be and what by loue and good gouernment might bee hoped for and gotten from such as were willing thereunto so as they might be maintained and kept in their freedomes lawes and auncient priuiledges for that it was well knowne and found to bee true that Holland alone since the pacification of Gant in 9 yeres besides their owne charges within the said prouince had contributed to the warres in the Netherlands in generall aboue 3500000 gulderns It was further declared how much it concerned the kingdome of England hauing beene long vnited to the Netherlands by many auncient contracts and bound to hold and maintaine the same in respect of the situations of both those countries for that the Netherlands had many great riuers and England an island lying right ouer against it who being enemies might doe great hurt one to the other and being vnited together might rule and haue the soueraigntie of the great ocean sea whereby they both get their liuings and without it could not maintaine themselues England hauing no strong forts but the high and steepe cliffes vpon the sea side the Netherlands many strong townes which liue most by their traffique by sea therfore are ful of ships sea-faring men whereby Englands steep banks might in time be made vnprofitable so easily assailed England also with the great store of good harbours hauens that are in it might greatly impeach and hinder the traffique of the Netherlands and therefore in times past these causes especially mooued them to make so many reciprocall contracts and alliances one with the other and not to suffer them to be inuaded or gouerned by strangers and that not onely betweene the princes of the said câ—…ntries but also with the Estates of the same as perpetuall friends and welwillers These things on both sides well weighed debated and considered had mooued the Netherlands once againe to make a motion vnto England and likewise had stirred England to heatken vnto their request and the rather for that now by meanes of the vntimely death of their prudent protector the prince of Orange the losse of many townes and castles and the refusall of aide to them made by the king of France by the procurement and secret practises of their enemies they were brought into a miserable and desperate estate and therefore it was now much to be feared that by their mistrust and diffidence the rather because they had many weake members amongst them which were continually suborned and solicited by the subtilties of their enemies they might fall into some treatie of reconciliation and peace or agreement with their enemies and afterwards inuade England with their helpe and meanes to the which they bare no lesse enuie and hatred in their hearts than vnto the Netherlands as it not long since plainely appeared by the arresting of diuers English shippes in the hauens of Spaine without any speech or cause of breach of peace cruelly handling and hostilly tormenting the marchants and sailers of the same The Queene of England was herewith not a little in minde perplexed and troubled being a matter that much concerned both her owne person and her kingdomes and dominions and therefore could hardly be resolued therein The reasons why the Queene tooke not vpon her the soueraigntie and chiefe command ouer the prouinces of the Netherlands for an inheritance to her her heires and successors all wise men persuaded themselues to be these first that shee was a princesse in yeares past hope of hauing any children and that shee had not any man within her kingdomes fit in all respects to take vpon him the command and authoritie of so absolute a gouernment and to execute the same as it ought to be done that shee was not mightie enough to rule ouer both places because shee did not beleeue nor could be persuaded that the power and contribution of the Netherlands was so great and so much as it was affirmed to be wheras for good considerations they made it not knowne to bee so much as it was but to the contrarie shee thought the Netherlands beeing compelled by extremitie had made it much more than it was and that her counsell had not taken sufficient information of the estate thereof that shee would not put her selfe wholly to the hazard and aduenture not onely fearing the great pride of the king of Spaine but the inconstancie of France knowing her owne might and that her subiects were not accustomed to the warres and vnwilling to contribute any great summes of money for the same especially to aide and assist a forraine nation Thus did this wise and prouident Queene aduisedly measure and weigh her owne meanes and affections and yet shewed her care and commiseration shee had of the Netherlands in their miseries with the assurance of her owne estate first and chiefly to be respected and after that to aide and assist the Netherlands as time and occasion should offer opportunitie These and many other like reasons mooued both parties to the conclusion of a prouisionall succour for the releeuing of Antuerpe which at that time was besieged and much distressed and thereupon it was contracted concluded and agreed between the Queene of England and the deputies of the Netherlands by a contract made the second day of August that the Queene should send foure thousand men to releeue the towne of Antuerpe and disburse all such summes of money as should be paid for the presting and imbarking of these troops and to be paied them monthly for three moneths together from the day of their mustering which together with the transportation and other things necessarie was accounted to amount to the summe of fortie thousand gulderns and the three moneths paie to be 184600 gulderns which summe should be repaid againe within sixe moneths after the raising of the siege from before Antuerpe and if it were not done then to be paid within twelue moneths after the first daie of their muster for assurance whereof it was agreed by the deputies that the towne of Oostend or Scluse should within one moneth after bee deliuered ouer to the Queene with all the prouision of munition ordnance and other marshall furniture therein and that shee should take seauen hundred of the said foure thousand men and place them in garrison in the said towne alwaies reserued that the said town should continue concerning the ciuile gouernment vnder the iurisdiction of the Estates of the said prouinces and not bee burthened
and pleasing But I offer to your further consideration whether certaine experience doth not dayly teach and make knowne vnto vs that we may with greater fruit seeke an accord with hope that God will mooue their hearts to clemencie who are now so much hardened to seeke our ruine and destruction You will say vnto me that it hath beene often attempted but in vaine I know it right well and doe see plainely that the greatest mildnesse and clemencie which they vse in all their treaties and accords is still accompanied with a designe to root out Christian Religion in time and the true seruice of God as it is commaunded and expressed vnto vs in his holy Word and which is more they are more vnwilling at this day to heare it spoken of than they were euer I meane amongst the common sort of people But in the meane time I see also that we haue so often attempted armes in vaine and that the more the warres continue the more the knowledge of God and of true pietie decayeth omitting to speake of the ruine and bondage of our countrey and yet they will againe trie force and hope euen against all hope or likelyhood Why may we not in like manner once againe trie the successe of a generall accord and hope beyond hope that God will yet at length mooue their hearts and doe that which he hath not yet done Without doubt after that we haue a thousand times attempted armes in vaine wee may foure or fiue times trie the meanes of a peace and concord It may happily be in vaine and peraduenture with great fruit and if it doth not produce the good fruits which we attend and hope for it may be God will cause vs to feele some other which we expected not If we bee refused in so loyall a request the necessitie of our warre shall be the greater and the cause more iust and fauourable and it may be God will mooue the hearts of some other princes to haue pitie and compassion on vs and eyther by force of armes or meanes of intercession to take our cause in hand and to reuenge our quarrell All warres from the beginning of the world to this day haue once had an end eyther by the ruine of one of the parties or by an accord To attend the ruine of one partie it is much to bee feared that it would fall vpon our side for the lâ—…mbe our head is a good warrior by the vertue of the spirit and by the sword of the Word but he doth sildome employ any substantiall armes whereas on the other side the beast which maketh warre vnto the lambe and his followers is victorious in this world by armes and is drunke with the bloud of Martyrs An accord hath not alwayes succeeded after it hath beene attempted our neighbour Fraunce doth shew it and our owne bowels haue felt it and the examples of all ages and nations doe witnesse it But in the end when the Impostume is ripe it must be then broken But some will say vnto me that they feare too great inconueniences may arise by these treaties of peace I confesse it and without doubt they are exceedingly to bee feared yet a wise man must with due deliberation consider of the inconueniences on eyther side and where there is greatest likelyhood of remedie and helpe If they hope to obtayne victorie against the enemie by armes to preserue the libertie lawes and priuiledges of the countrey to defend the true Religion to warrant the Church of God from oppression and ruine in the name of God let vs resolue to take armes but let vs vndertake it couragiously and cheerefully and employ both our hearts and hands therein But on the other side if our forces doe dayly decay if armes doe subiect our countrey and people vnto the yoake of strangers if armes deface all lawes and auncient policie disperse the Church of God ouerthrow all true pietie and Religion wipeth out all remembrance and respect of the word of God and in the end draweth vs one after another into our enemies power why doe wee not then looke vnto that which is most likely to preserue and defend vs Wee saw by experience when we had all our forces ioyned together to vphold vs when wee had a head to conduct and direct vs when our meanes were entyre yet the chiefe townes of the countrey were enforced to come to an agreement with the enemie one after another so as so many townes so many priuate accords were made and entered into Wee know that these priuate accords are a ruine and confusion vnto the countrey and yet we cannot preuent these priuate accords nor will not make any motion for a generall peace in time but are like men that were inchaunted and drunke with this opinion that we must attend and hope euen vntill the last houre of our extremitie and neuer speake or make motion of any peace but when we are so neere driuen that we can doe no more which is the very cause that all our actions are not guided and managed by reason but carried headlong as it were by passion and necessitie Without doubt when wee are brought vnto the vttermost extremitie it is impossible for vs to obtaine any good or reasonable conditions from the winning enemie for the victor doth alwayes prescribe a law vnto the vanquished and hee that sighteth doubteth the danger thereof and oftentimes is compelled to giue eare vnto an vnequall accord Wherefore the fittest time on good conditions to make peace is when both parties are strong and fit to abide the fight but when the one is vnderfoot and not able to hold out any longer there is no time then of reconciliation but of humilitie I doe not yet giue counsell to make an accord but if that one towne after another shall be forced in the end to agree vnto the enemie I am of opinion that they should take an antidote against this deadly poyson and begin when it is time for it is better to treat of a reconciliation for all the townes together than for the yeelding vp of one towne in particular But it is greatly to bee feared that if they once speake of a treatie of peace and reconciliation and that the common people haue once any vent of it they shall confound and ouerthrow all their course of warre and bee enforced to runne headlong into ruine and confusion without any meanes eyther to preuent or withstand the same Verily I beleeue it and it is most certaine that this daunger proceedeth onely from want of authoritie and commaund If this bee not now to be redressed what will it bee hereafter when as wee shall haue sustained greater losses and calamities But I thinke it is yet to bee repayred and that there is much lesse difficultie or hazard to doe it presently than there will be hereafter I haue alwayes beene of opinion that when the magistrates and gouernours and those that are appointed to manage the affaires of
drawne a certaine instruction or order of the Councell of Estate which should ayde and assist him in the sayd gouernment the contents whereof were how the affaires of Estate and others touching the gouernment of the Netherlands ought to bee lawfully executed with the full consent and priuitie of the Counsell of Estate as it is vsed in all common-welthes especially in the low countries and was also obserued by the gouernors and regents of the same being great personages of royall bloud and some of them Queenes but it was answered by the Earle of Leicester that all instructions were no other in effect then limitations of his commission and that the gouernment generall of the Netherlands beeing absolutely giuen vnto him hee should neede no such instructions In the end to content his Excelency the deputies of the states sayd that hee should not bee bound to those instructions but that they were made for the Councell of Estate and that his Excelency was not to bee bound to conclude any matter of importance by plurality of voices but by the aduise of al the Councel of Estate being heard he theron should conclude as hee found it most conuenient for the good of the common-weale To this resolution the Estates were hardly to bee drawne as well foreseeing that hee not beeing tide to any instructions might easily bee seduced by bad Counsell and so deceiued as commonly such kind of men intrude themselues into Princes Courts and vpon all occasions are ready to strike a stroke to further themselues and hinder the common-weale which in the Earle of Leicester was most to bee feared in regard he was wholy vnexperienced in the nature manners and scituation of those countries and had no knowledge nor iudgement touching the Estate of the countrie neither yet of good and expert Councelors and therefore the likelier to fall into greater errors but the Estates finding themselues in great perplexitie touching the gouernment agreed vnto all his desires as farre as possible they might and withall gaue him libertie to choose one Councelor of Estate out of euery Prouince togither with the alteration of the great seale and counter-seale adding in their great seale a shield of his armes and for the counter-seale his whole armes which was neuer granted to any gouernor before him These things being imparted to the Queene she was much moued thereat esteeming thereby that they sought to ingage her further in those affaires then she was willing to vndertake Where-vpon she presently sent Sir Thomas Hennage her Vice-chamberlaine and one of her priuie councell into Holland with letters dated the 13 of February finding fault that the Earle of Leicester had taken the absolute gouernment of the Low-countries vpon him which she thought very strange in regarde that shee her selfe had refused to accept it and now to giue that vnto her vassaile and seruant which shee had refused and that without her consent shee thought they offered her great wrong and indignitie as if shee had not discretion inough of her selfe to know what shee were best to take or leaue saying amongst other things that it was cleane contrary to the declaration shee had made and put forth in Print wherein shee protested to take on her the assistance of the Netherlands to no other intent then onely to ayde her good neighbours without any desire or meaning to meddle or make with the protection or soueraigntie of the sayd countries and that by their action euery man might haue occasion to iudge the contrary or at the least such as take on them the authority and priuiledge to iudge and censure Princes actions as they thinke good whereby their honor should bee much interressed And that therefore her intent was to shew the vprightnesse of her proceedings to reuoke and recall the aforesaid authority and to command the sayd Earle not to vse any further or other authoritie then was set downe in the contract which if it were well obserued shee doubted not but it would extend and reach to the good and furtherance of the common cause affirming that her refusall in that point proceeded not from want of care to further the countries good and common well-fare but onely in regarde of her honor and to stop the mouthes of her enimies and euill-willers referring the rest of her intent vnto the bearer of those letters This letter gaue the Estates great cause of suspition and therefore being in Amsterdam they made answer there-vnto by letters dated the 25. of March with all humilitie excusing the action and protesting that there was no meaning in them thereby to charge or binde her Maiestie any further-then the contract lead her vnto but that the necessity of the countrey required to haue this authority giuen to one for that it was better to haue one gouernor then two and in regarde of her Maiestie they had rather choose oâ—…e of her subiects there-vnto then any other giuing his Excellencie no other authoritâ—…e then other gouernors before him had had and which was alwayes renocable the word Absolute being put in to distinguish his gouernment from others that were put in but by prouiso and bound to instructions as also to procure more obedience and care in the people for the maintaining of marshall discipline furthering of the contributions and better execution of his commissions and not to giue his Excellencie the soueraigntie therein following the examples of the Romaines and others that it was also done to let and breake of certaine enterprises of the enemie as also to comfort and stirre vp the hearts of the distressed people and that the recalling thereof would breed great confusion assuring her that it was not any thing contrarie to the contract the whole soueraigntie of the Prouinces still resting in the Estates hands and the gouernment or administration thereof in the Earle as it did in other gouernors The soue raigntie still beeing reserued vntill her Maiestie would bee pleased to accept of the same hoping that shee would vouchsafe to haue a regarde vnto the distressed and lamentable estate of the countrie and that there consisted more in maintaining the authoritie and gouernment of the Earle of Leicester then in ordering a great armie as her Maiestie should bee further instructed by Sir Thomas Hennâ—…ge Sir Thomas Hennage being returned into England and hauing made report of his ambassage the Queene made answer by letters dated the one and twentie of Iune 1586. that shee perceiued by their letters that they had done that in regarde of their good affection and vpon vrgent cause where-with shee was the better satisfied in that they confessed their fault and that they might haue giuen her knowledge thereof before it had beene done wishing them in any case to keepe and obserue all their promises to deliuer the mony ouer into his hands and to augment their contributions giuing him full authority tâ—… execute all things by aduise and as necessitie required Shee likewise excused the suspition giuen out
Galleies which came out of Portugall one by great fortune was saued in that hauen the other three were driuen into Bayon vpon the coast of France whereas one Dauy Gwin an English slaue with diuers French and Turkish slaues first ouercame the one and then wonne the rest whereas Don Diego de Mendiana was slaine the slaues sauing themselues in France with these Galleies they thought to haue driuen the Zeeland shippes from the coast of Flanders and so to haue drawne the Duke of Parmaes shippes out of the hauens The Spanish armie beeing refresht and their shippes rigged againe receiuing daylie commandement from the King to put to sea on the one and twenty of Iulie they went out of the Groine and sailed till they came to the entrie of the English chanell from whence they sent certaine small Pynnasses to the Duke of Parma to certefie him of their comming and to will him to make himselfe readie to ioyne with them The Spanish fleet being discouered by an English pinnasse and the Lord Admirall beeing aduertised thereof when hee little expected them supposing that the fore sayd storme would haue kept them longer in harbour on the nine and twenty of Iuly early in the morning hee made all the hast hee could to get his shippes out of the hauen of Plimouth imbarking his men not without great trouble and difficultie the same night hee himselfe with sixe shippes onelie put forth to sea and the rest following as fast as they could On the thirtie day of Iulie at noone they had a sight of the Spanish fleete the winde beeing then fouth-west holding their course as it seemed directly for Plimouth but perceiuing the English shippes without the hauen they sailed along the coast wherein many of good iudgement thought they committed a great error but they had expresse commission to saile directly towardes Flanders and both togither to assaile England about Margat but it is reported that the chiefe amongst them and such as had greatest experience in sea causes as Iohn Martinez de Ricalde Diego Flores de Valdez and other's shewed great reasons and sayd that it could not otherwise bee but that great difficulties would arise in their proceedings hauing such limmited instructions alledging many things that were to bee obserued in such actions as whether winde and tide to get out of the hauens of Flanders and to enter vpon the coast of England as also darke and light moone-shine nights roades and depthes all beeing subiect to the windes and other seuerall daungers but their Commission was they should followe their instructions and anchor about Calais where the Duke of Parma should come to him with his flat bottomed boates and so passe on vnder the protection and gouernment of the great shippes or els whilest they were in sight should saile along and land his men in the Downes but as the prisoners confessed they chiefe deseigne was to haue entred into the mouth of the riuer of Thames And as the Spanish fleete past along by Plimouth the English army made presently towardes them and got the winde of them On the one and thirtie daie the English bare vp close with the Spanish fleete within musket shot the Admirall shooting verie hotly against the Vice admirall of Spaine which when the Spaniardes suspecting and perceiued that the English played so on them with their great Ordinance they kept verie close togither in order of battaile and in the forme of a halfe moone carrying but little saile for that they would not loose any of their companie and holding their course in that manner one of their great Galliasses was wonderfully battred by the English shippes and they sailed so close and nere togither as the chiefe Gallion of Sicilia wherein Don Pedro de Valdez Don Basco de Silua and Don Alonso de Sayas with other Gentlemen were brake her mast against an other shippe whereby it was not able to follow the fleet neither would the army stay to helpe her but left her behinde which the Admirall of England descrying being loth to loose the sight of the Spanish fleet past by her in the night with as many shippes as could follow her for that Sir Francis Drake who was appointed that night to beare the Lanthorne had fiue great Hulkes in chase the which were seperated from the Spanish fleet and found them to bee marchants shippes of the East countries so as the English Admirall did all night follow the Spanish Lanthorne and in the morning found himselfe to bee in the midst of his enemies wherevpon hee made all the hast hee could to free himselfe of so great a daunger On the first of August Sir Francis Drake met with Don Pedro de Valdez ship hauing foure hundred and fifty men in her whom he sommoned to yeeld after some parle Don Pedro vnderstanding that it was Drake whose fame was so great yeelded himselfe and was well intreated In this shippe there was some part of the King of Spaines treasor about fifty fiue thousand ducats which was all made prize The same Vice-admirall Oquendos shippe was set on fire in the which there was great store of poulder and munition it was burnt downe to the water and verie fewe of the men saued this shippe was also taken and carried into England with many poore men miserably burnt yet the poulder beeing vnder the hatches was miraculously preserued This night the English Admirall had followed the Spanish fleet so close as in the morning hee was alone among his enemies so as it was foure of the clocke in the afternoone before that all his fleet could reach him It is sayd that at that instant Don Hugo de Moncado Generall of the Galleasses did presse the Duke of Medina to giue him leaue to charge the Admirall which by no meanes he would grant in regard of his limmited commission Vpon Twesday the second of August the Spanish fleet was thwart of Portland and then the winde came Northward which was against the English but they recouered it soone againe for they were small shippes and of better saile that day there was a verie great fight betweene them but the Spaniards seeing the English shippes maintaine it so valiantly all the daie long they gathered themselues againe togither and sailed on their intended course which was to ioyne with the Duke of Parma about Dunkerke In this fight a great Venetian shippe with an other smal shippe of the enemies were sonke The English armie increased daylie beeing about one hundred saile but most of them too small ships to board the Spaniards except two or three and twenty of the Queenes great ships which onely made the greatest fight Thether also came many Noblemen as the Earles of Oxford Northomberland Comberland and others with many knights and Gentlemen of the best houses of England to winne honor The third of August the sea beeing very calme the fight continued onely betweene the Galliasses and the English ships who for that they went with
knowne vnto his heighnes they haue declared and doe by these presents declare that sence the time they haue beene forced by extreme necessity to take armes in hand for the preseruation of the liberty of the netherlands together with their ancient preuiledges as well of the members thereof as of townes and inhabitants in parculiar to diuert the oppression of the Spaniards and their proud gouernment ouer the consciences bodies goods of the subiects of the saied countries and of their wiues and children their intention and desseign had alwais beene to vse those armes with the grace of God against the Spaniards and their adherents with full trust and confidence that the almighty would blesse their good and iust intentions as they had sufficiently tryed The which hath beene so much the better knowne not only to concurre with the good of the said countries but also of all Kings Princes and common-weales their good neighbors hauing by the mighty hand of that great GOD not onely their desseignes and meanes beene blest but also the hearts of the said Kings and Princes their neighbors stirred vp and moued to maintaine their good and iust cause whereof they attribute the honor to his diuine bounty aboue wholy relying vpon his immutable power attending from his hand a good and commendable issue of this heauie and hard warre hauing a firme hope to see these Netherlands speedely and generally vnited and restored to their ancient beauty and prosperity where-vnto they aspire and doe their best endeauors hauing tryed whereof the remembrance is yet fresh vnto them the comodities and sweetenes of peace tranquility and vnion feeling on the other side the discomodities toyles and troubles of warre But as they did most humbly thanke his heighnes for the declaration he had made by his letters of the good will and affection which hee bare vnto all those that doe sincerely affect the peace concord and prosperity of these countries So had they in like manner great cause to complaine before God and the world of those that vnder false practises and collour of peace do seeke to shed the innocent bloud of Christians and to aduance the suppression and totall ruine of these Netherlands wherein the councell of Spaine finding themselues now offended in the heighest degree labour more then euer by all meanes possible vsing to that end most vnreasonable and vniust proceedings to the ruine and desolation of these Prouinces Seeing it is well knowne to all men how they haue behaued them-selues with all extremity and namely to the effusion of innocent bloud by the hands of their executioners so many thousands of poore persons men and women of all qualities among the which there were some of the cheefe noblemen of the countrie with the breach of the prerogatiues freedomes liberties and Belgike rights of the members and townes as well in generall as in particular Besides many murthers burnings violences exactions commissions and so many other foule and execrable acts notwithstanding after so many petitions and supplications yea by the sending of ambassage into Spaine the Marquis of Berghen and the Baron of Montigni who were intreated contrary to the law of Nations notwithstanding also the intercession of some great Potentates to the end that the said countries the members and townes with all the good inhabitants thereof might be maintained in their goodly liberties priuiledges and ancient rights and that the oppression of their consciences persons and goodes which the Spanish nation and their adherents doe excercise might bee rooted out which hath beene the cause to bring them to those extremities By reason whereof it shall please his Highnesse to vnderstand and take in good part that the said Estates in this busines of so great waight and so important for the good of those countries and the maintenance of their subiects proceed in that forme and manner which euery man sees at this day And that they can hardly beleeue and much lesse bee assured of that which they speake of the change of humors in the Councell of Spaine for that such changes with greater probabilities haue bene heretofore partly beleeued to the great preiudice of these countries For in the beginning of this warre the crueltie of the Spaniards was so great as they did roote out all they could bring vnder And that before that for a thing so worthie as is the preseruation of a country against strangers they had attempted any thing either by effect or councell When as not onely the Champian country but euen many principall townes were euil intreated by murthers spoiling burning and other execrable acts vntil that in these parts they had resolued to intreat all the Spaniards and their adherents which they could gette as rigorously to let them see by the effects that they of this party had no lesse courage and resolution to maintaine so iust a cause then they to tyrannize ouer them and to seeke to bring them into bondage Being well assured that nothing should be attempted by them against these countries but it would turne first to their disaduantage This did somewhat moderate their bloudy councell with a shew of alteration of their humors but in such sort as finding it to be too hard and difficult to compasse their disseignes by force they made shew that they would hearken to some reason and there-vpon were appointed the first beginnings of a treatie in the yeare 1574. So as the Estates of Holland Zealand vsing their ancient plainnesse and naturall virtue were moued to sette downe their greeuances as well by letters as by mouth and to demaund redresse But the fruites of this beginning of a treatie were on Brabant side the surprize of Antwerp by the Spaniards which histories call the day of Fuera Veillacos and of the side of Holland Zealand and their associates the two hard sieges of the good towne of Leyden the which by the grace of God and fidelitie of their confederates and their owne valour was preserued from the attempts of their enemies yea with so extraordinary an amazement of the Spaniards as God making them presently to faint they fled confuzedly out of Holland soone after they fayled to surprize Vtrecht as they had done the same yeare before of that famous Cittie of Antwerp This first deceitfull treatie beeing past a second was prepared the yeare following 1575. in the towne of Breda at the intercession of that mighty Emperour Maximilian the second his highnesse father wherein appeared plainely by their acts how little the Spaniards were inclined to the good of the countrie the which had no other fruites but greater preperations to warre then euer whereof soone followed the taking of Buren Leerdam Oudewater Schoonhouen Bomene and the siege of Zirixee Afterwards the Spaniards and their adherents by robbing spoyling burning and other execrable cruelties yea by surprising of townes which held their owne party they gouerned them-selues with such excesse as the Estates in those partes could no longer indure them proclaiming them publike
good effect if it had not pleased God to take him so sodainely out of this world But now that his present Maiestie their Prince and Lord hauing succeeded the King his father not onely in his realmes and Estates but also in his Christian and Godly vertues to follow his steppes in the entertainment of amitie good neighbor-hood and correspondencie with the sayd vnited Prouinces by demonstration of the loue and affection which hee beares them desiring nothing more then to see them discharged of these miseries and calamities and of whatsoeuer might grieue or annoy them which desire and zeale hath mooued his Maiestie to send them as his Ambassadors vnto his Excelencie and their Lordships to vnderstand if they had any inclynation and could bee content that his Maiestie with other Christian Princes and Potentates should deale and labour that these long warres and publike calamities common to them all might once bee supprest and quencht and peace so much desired generally setled and planted hoping that the King of Spaine their aduerse partie might in like manner bee drawne vnto it And the generall Estates may rest well assured that the King their Prince would not herein seeke nor procure any thing that should bee preiudiciall to the Protestants religion in the which his Maiestie hath beene borne bred and brought vp and with the grace of GOD will continue vnto the end but onelie procure the meanes by the which they might bee preserued and maintained with increase of their happinesse Wherevpon his Maiesty doth most affectionatly intreat the sayd Prince and Estates that they will giue eare vnto it and resolue to propound conditions and Articles whereby they may bee inclined to enter into conference and that the King their Master might bee thereof informed by them which his holie and Godly intention his Maiestie had made knowne vnto the renounced Queene of England Elizabeth his deare Sister and Allie with all good and holesome admonitions and exhortations vpon the horrible amazements doubtfull euents and iminent dangers of this war as in like sort he would haue them represented vnto his Excelency and their Lordships His Maiesty requiring also the sayd Estates that all neutrall persons which haue no community with this bad warre might haue free nauigation comerece and traffick of Marchandise into any place whatsoeuer so as they forbeare to carry any munition of warre vnto the enemie And much lesse that his Maiesties naturall subiects should be restrained in regard of the perpetuall contracts neighbour-hood friendship and good correspondency which hath alwaies beene betwixt his subiects and them of the vnited Prouinces to whom the like is freely allowed in all his hauens passages and straights Then afterwards hauing beene intercessors for Steyn Maltesen Amptman of the castle of Bahuysen in Denmarke that he might bee paied the arrerages of his account for the seruices which hee had done to the particular Estates of Holland and Friseland The sayd Ambassadors hauing in his Maiesties name wisht all happinesse and prosperitie vnto Prince Maurice and the Estates with offer of his loue and good neighbor-hood in im◅tation of his Ancestors and especially of the deceased King his Lord and Father And they for their parts did offer vnto the Estates their humble seruice Beseeching them aboue all that they might carry vnto the King their Lord and Master in the Estates behalfe a good and a pleasing answere Wherevpon the generall Estates of the vnited Prouinces made aswere vnto the sayd Ambassadors as well by mouth as by writing the foure and twenty day of October as followeth THat the Lords of their assemblie deputed and representing the sayd generall Estates had beene exceeding glad to here and vnderstand the good remembrance which his Maiestie had retained of the friendship neighbour-hood correspondency and ancient contracts which had bin of long time betwixt the crown of Denmark Norway c. with the Prouinces of the Netherlands in generall and especiall of the good opinion which the worthie King Frederic the second of that name King of Denmarke c. had of them and of the worthy remēbrance which he hath had of the deceased VVilliam of Nassau Prince of Orange c. The said Estates hauing neuer had any doubt of the loue and good inclynation of the sayd King to the vnited Prouinces which giues them the greater cause of ioye for that his Maiesty doth offer to continue and perseuer therein for the which they did most humblie thanke him Hoping that they neither haue nor euer will neglect any endeauor that may serue to entertaine and augment his Maiesties good will and affection to them and the sayd Prouinces That the sayd Estates will neuer forget the good affection which the deceased King did carry to these Prouinces desiring to retire them from vnder the heauy burthen of warre and to restore them to peace and rest assuring themselues that his Maiesty now raigning hath not onely inherited his fathers Kingdomes and Estates but also his vertues and the same inclination which hee had to the friendship good neighbourhood and correspondency with the said Prouinces Whereby they do firmely beleeue that his Maiesty desires nothing more then to see the prosperity and health of these countries by the rooting out of all acts of hostility and of all that might be preiudicial and chargeable vnto them for the which they hold themselues so much the more bound vnto his Maiesty And as they do herein know his good will so they hope that by the reasons hereafter produced his Maiesty will beleeue that the sayd Estates haue neuer desired any thing more then once to see an end of this warre and it changed into a good and firme peace for the attayning whereof they haue done what possible they could for their safeties preseruation of their religion and good of the country Whereas contrariwise on the Kings behalfe and of the councell of Spaine in all conferences of peace as well in his name as otherwise they seeke nothing but practises and cunning shifts to surpresse the countrie and the good Inhabitants thereof As it appeared by the first conference in the yeare of our Lord 1574. betwixt the Lord of Champigny in the King of Spaines name and the signior of Saint Aldegonde for the Prince of Orange and the Estates of Holland and Zeeland the which went to smoake for that they would not yeeld to the least point that was demaunded for the safetie of religion beeing the Spaniards onelie intention during the sayd conference to breed a diuision betwixt those two Prouinces and so beeing masters of the good towne of Leyden to lodge themselues safely in the heart of Holland The which by the fidelitie and good endeauors of the sayd Prince and Estates together with the besieged in the sayd towne by the helpe of GOD was preuented The like was seene in that solemne assemblie held at Breda in the yeare of our Lord 1575. at the intercession of the Emperour Maximilian hauing sent the
will extend The third demand was That his Imperiall Maiestie would appoint a Gouernor and councell in the countries of Cleues and Iuilliers c. Thereby the King of Spaine or the Cardinal Albertus his future sonne in law did plainly descouer how they did gape after these dutchies of Cleues and Iuilliers the other Estates Signeuries of Duke Iohn of Cleues rainging at this present in good and perfect health Grounding vpon this hope that the sayd duke beeing without children and therfore his Dutches Earldomes and Signeuries should by right fall vnto the Emperor who should giue them vnto his brother Albertus Or els the which hath appeered by the effects that hee would not attend duke Iohns death but seize vpon them by force and practises in his life time as the sayd Admirall sought to doe soone after and in deede did too much yea he was expresly commaunded from the court at Brusselles as wee will shew hereafter not to desist for any thing in the world from the conquests of the Dutchies of Cleues Iuilliers and Berghe seeing there was speech of marrying this Duke Iohn with the Duke of Lorrains daughter as after happened Wherein the Emperor seeming to bee of the same hope and expectation with the King of Spaine answered As for the countries of Cleues Iuilliers his Imperiall Maiesty had resolued to send one or two good catholiks thether to auoide some greater inconuenience In the meane time the king of Spaine should looke to keepe good gard on his side and make account of al needfull succors the which notwithstanding must be done with discretion to the end that such as pretend any interest should haue no cause to enter into suspition which the Emperor himselfe is forced to entertaine by reason of the concurrence of time This answere did the more confirme the King of Spaines designes and the sylent pretention of the Emperor vnto the said countries of Cleues Iuilliers c. So as it seemed this was the very fable of the Beares skinne for his replie Hee required that it would please his Imperial Maiesty to declare as soone as might be his intention touching Cleues and Iuilliers that therevpon the Catholike King might haue his forces readie Hee required also that his Imperiall Maiesty would send for the Princes pretending right to the sayd countries that hereafter they should not medle nor seeke to make any Innouations tending to the blemish of the Emperors authoritie or the preiudice of his Catholike Maicstie yea that his Imperiall Maiesty should call away the commissioners that were at Duysseldorp as Authors of bad practises to the end that his Catholike Maiestie bee not forced to vse other meanes And although it were a decent thing to respect the Princes yet they must not bee so negligent and carelesse as in taking away the mischiefe which might happen without they neglect to prouide for that which might miscarrie within This replie did plainelie laie open the King of Spaines designes vpon the countries of Cleues and Iuilliers requiring that the Emperor would send for the Princes pretending right the which are Princes of the Empire that is the duke of Prusse and the two Brethren dukes of Dieux Ponts by their wiues Sisters to duke Iohn and to charge them not to attempt any thing to the diminution of his Imperiall authoritie for that the Emperor maintained that for want of a lawful heire male the said dutchies should by right of the see fall vnto the Emperor their soueraigne as beeing masculine sees of the Empire And the sayd Princes pretending in case the duke should die without heires maintained to the contrary that they might as in France and in other realmes and countries as well fall vnto the femals as males the which the alliances of the said countries which haue not alwaies beene vnder the same Prince by marriages of one with an other had well declared in times past And as for that which hee sayeth to the preiudice of his Catholike Maiestie there could bee no other by reason of the multitude of other heires but to the preiudice of the designes of his pretended vsurpation For the preuenting whereof there was an assemblie of Estates held at the same time at Duysseldorp the chiefe towne of the dutchie of Berghe where the Dutchesse of Prusse and one of the duke of Deux Ponts where present with the Emperors commissioners who for that they would proceed roundly and sincerely not discouering the King of Spaines designes are called Authors of bad practises and the deputies of the King of Spaine who in this Dyet made shewe not to feare any thing more with a certaine Nuncio of the Popes who was of the same mettall then that these countries should fall into the hands of some Protestant Prince whom they called heretike such as the Princes pretending interest are which would be as the King sayd of the towne of Aix to pernitious a thing for his neighbour countries which might be infected with the poison of their heresies the which is alway the foote of their song To whom the Emperor being willing to shew himselfe conformable sayd As for Cleues and Iuilliers hee would send for the Princes pretending right that they should not meddle seeing it belonged onelie to his Imperiall Maiestie to dispose among them hoping they would obey him Wherein the Emperor might haue beene deceiued for these Princes would not so soone haue yeelded vnto him and this had beene an occasion to put all Germany in warre and combustion The forth demand was That the sentence giuen against them of the towne of Aix might bee presently put in execution without any delay It did greatly import the King of Spaine and Cardinal Alâ—…ertus for the attayning vnto their designes to haue the towne of Aix situated in the countrie of Iuilliers neere vnto Lembourg at their deuotion the which they could not easily obtaine so long as the Protestants were Maisters thereof and the stronger who failed not to bee vigilant and to keepe a good gard for their owne preseruation wherefore hee required the execution of the sentence giuen against them in the Imperiall Chamber which was in effect the re-establishment of a Catholike Romish Magistrate in the sayd towne the extirpation of the Protestants religion and the exclusion of the Protestants themselues the which beeing executed hee held himselfe then assured As Cardinal Albertus with the assistance of the Bishop of Liege the executioner of the sayd sentence by vertue of the Emperors commission hath done since to the disolation of the sayd towne and especially of those that did pursue it who for the most part died soone after their re-establishment and those which remaine languishing in misery And although the Emperor touching the sayd towne of Aix had the like desire with the King of Spaine yet the Admiral full of choller replied That in regard of them of Aix they could not exceede the bounds of ordinary Iustice as beeing vnworthie that they
contented with his reuenues 6 That all forraine souldiers shall hereafter be vnder the kings paie and entertainment the which shall be imployed in field vpon the enemies frontiers 7 All Germane souldiers and such as are borne in the countrie shall be entertained and paied as farre as may be and that the surplusage shall be discharged by the king 8 That all offices and gouernments of prouinces townes and forts shall within one yeare at the farthest be deliuered into the hands of the noble men of the countrie to gouerne 9 All extraordinarie councellors shall be reduced to the order that hath beene accustomed And the great councell of Macklin with that of Brabant and the councell of estate shall be filled with them that are naturall borne in the countrie 10 That all prouinces countries and townes shall be entertained and maintained in their auncient rights priuiledges and freedoms 11 His highnes shall be bound to returne into the Netherlands by the month of may next comming 12 That her highnesse during her absence shall appoint a gouernour in the said countries which shall be of her blood who shall be bound to sweare to all that which the king hath sworne 13 That it shall be tollerable for the generall Estates by the interuention of his highnes to enter into conference with them of Holland and Zeeland touching a peace 14 And vntill the countrie may be furnished with noblemen naturall borne of the countrie they shall depute three to go with his highnes into Spaine and to thanke the king 15 That his highnesse shall be bound to entertaine all aboue mentioned and at his return with the Infanta to take the accustomed oath in all the prouinces 16 That the gouernors captaines nor men of warre shall not attempt any new thing during his highnes absence 17 His highnes at his returne shal be bound to assemble the generall Estates to labour together for the redressing of the affaires of the Netherlands All aboue mentioned being thus past and the said cardinall archduke sufficiently acknowledged and accepted for their future prince according to the promise of mariage betwixt him and the Infanta meaning to vncardinall himselfe and to enter into the consummation of the said mariage according vnto the popes dispensation hee went to Hault a little towne in Brabant three leagues from Brussels commonly called Our ladie of Hault in old times a famous place of pilgrimage where he laid downe his cardinals hat and habit vpon the high altar the which he offered vnto the said ladie He had also vpon expectation of this mariage resigned his archbishopricke of Toledo by vertue whereof he was head of the Inquisition which of right belongs vnto the said archbishopricke by the which resignation they said hee retained an annuall pension of 50000 ducats for it is not lesse worth than 300000 a yeare This done he began to giue order for his voyage and for the gouernment of the Netherlands to the which during his absence he named his cousin a cardinal also Andrew archduke sonne to the archduke Ferdinand who was brother to the emperour Maximilian and therefore cousin german to Albert ioyning with him the councell of estate He appointed Francisco de Mendoza admiral of Arragon to be general of his armie Cont Herman vanden Berghe marshal of the campe with other commanders and officers to put in execution during his absence the resolution which was taken at Brussels touching the frontiers of Germany whereof we will hereafter discourse more at large To beare him companie according to the articles there were deputed Philip of Nassau prince of Orange c. to whom his sister the countesse of Hohenloo sent a good summe of money to make his voyage being of the reuenues of his demeanes in Holland and Zeeland the earle of Barlaymont and the earle of Sores noble men borne in the countrie and many ladies and gentlewomen amongst them the countesse of Mansfeldt widow to the earle and dowager to the earles of Henin and Hochstraten and many other yong noble men and gentlemen desirous to see Spaine the triumphs state of the prince of Spaine and of the said archduke and Infanta All things beeing thus prepared the archduke parted with his traine from Brussels about the midst of September taking his way as he said towards Prague to see the emperour his brother to conferre with him of the affaires of the Netherlands and of his designes vpon the territories of the empire and from thence to goe to Grets to fetch the ladie Gregorie Maximilienne daughter to the archduke Charles of Austria who was brother to the emperour Maximilian the second betrothed to Philip of Spaine This princesse was borne in the same degree with the prince of Spaine that is of her fathers neece for the king of Spaine and the archduke Charles had either of them maried his neece which princesse the archduke Albert was to conduct into Spaine to accomplish her mariage with the said prince and the archduke his with the Infanta altogether The said archduke before his departure had written on the 18 of August to the general Estates of the vnited prouinces containing in substance that he went to marie with the Infanta with whom he had the Netherlands in dower wherein he had alreadie proceeded so farre as most the greatest part of the prouinces had receiued him for their lord and prince That he desired nothing more than to settle a good peace in the Netherlands and now seeing it was manifest that the king was resolued to seperate the said countries from Spaine thereby to take away all iealousies and causes of distrust yea and the warre it selfe he required the Estates that they would enter into consideration and remember that warres must once end by peace and that therefore they should conforme themselues with them of Brabant and Flanders yeeld to a generall peace and receiue and acknowledge him for their prince and lord for the which he had authoritie from the generall Estates of his prouinces whereunto he expected their answere There were letters also from the prince of Orange vnto prince Maurice his brother and from the duke of Arschot and the marquesse of Haurec containing That seeing the king of Spaine had diuided the Netherlands from Spaine there should now be no more doubt on that side and therefore they persuaded him to doe his best indeauour there might be a good peace made wherein they knew he could doe much that he should lay before his eies the honour of his house to the which hee could neuer doe better seruice seeing that all other prouinces had already acknowledged and receiued the said archduke c. To all which letters there was no answer made neither by the Estates nor by prince Maurice The peace betwixt France and Spaine beeing concluded and the townes yeelded on either side as we haue said there was yet a time limited for them that would be comprehended in this peace according to the clause
made vnto vs haue not beene much pleasing to vs to heare touching the conduct of the king of Spaines armie seeing they might well thinke and consider that such a passage of a royall armie would be burthensome to your Excellencie and your subiects and that the lodging which they had taken in the towne of Orsoy would make many to censure it diuersly But so it is whereof you may rest assured that we neuer had any thought to preiudice your lands and countries with the kings armie nor to giue you any occasion of complaint But seeing that wee were once mooued to assaile his Maiesties rebels and them of your Excellencies by armes the which beeing concluded in councell by mature deliberation whereof wee haue thought good to make you acquainted that it must be exploited in that manner your Excellencie no more than our deere and well beloued cousin wee hope will not take it otherwise than in good part As for that wee doe presently leaue the towne of Orsoy as you demaund and ruine the fort of Walsom your Excellencie shall vnderstand that for the present time we cannot vse any other passage ouer the Rhine to effect our designe but wee will doe it vpon the first opportunitie according to our promise and that the kings souldiers in their passages and in the quarters where they are presently lodged shall be held in such order and discipline as neither your Excellencie nor the duke your brother shall haue any more complaints of their subiects as they haue hitherto had and that we will entertaine good and loyall neighbourhood together the which we thought good to signifie vnto you by these presents with our sincere intention c. Contrary to these promises all this moneth of September whilest that the admirall did soiourne at Orsoy his men being dispersed ouer the countrey of Cleues took the towns of Alpen Santhen Calcar Goch Gennep not without murthers a world of insolencies 300 of whose horse went before the town of Cleues where the duke was in his palace seeking to enter into the town vpon promise that they would leaue the duke peaceably in his castle the which being refused them they returned with disdaine and fiue dayes after they returned making the like demaund saying that they had charge from the admirall and that in case they refused they would seeke some other meanes but they returned as il satisfied this second time as at the first In this assembly of the Estates of Cleues the duke and his sister beeing there in person the princesse behaued her selfe couragiously incouraging the said Estates and their nobilitie yea sometimes with teares in her eyes And there were letters written on the dukes behalfe and hers vnto prince Maurice thanking him for the good order hee held to keepe their countries from oppression intreating him to continue it and to preserue them as much as he could and not to be discontented against them that the enemie had lodged so long in their countrey but rather that he should haue pitie and commiseration of them And as the deputies of the inferiour circles were then assembled at Dortmont they were required by the Estates of Cleues to send cont Vander Lippe to the admirall to pursue the restitution of Orsoy but it was farre from thence and the admirall made no account to leaue it so lightly Prince Maurice whilest that the admirall did fortifie Orsoy meaning to take a view of his whole armie he caused it to be put in battaile by squadrons vnder the mountaine of Elten in a great plaine of heath if haply the Spaniard who had past the Rhine should haue any desire to charge them but no occasion being offered the prince was glad to see the good order of his horse and foot and their resolution and desire to affront the enemie The admirall hauing finished his fort of Walsom nere Orsoy on the 29 of September hee sent to summon the towne of Rhineberck by friendly letters written to captaine Schaef gouernor of the towne whom he knew to be verie sicke of the plague the which was at that time verie hot in the towne who made him no other answer but That they were in conference with the prince elector of Cologne to deliuer it into his hands whereof hee expected an answer wherefore he could say no more vnto it at that present Before Berck there was a little island in the middest of the Rhine whither prince Maurice expecting it would bee besieged had sent three companies to intrench themselues there who finding the place not onely discommodious but that at a low water the enemie might passe easily ouer and cut their throats they retired into the towne although they died verie fast there hauing not aboue foure hundred men left The admirall not content with this answer writ againe to captaine Schaef sending him word That notwithstanding the said conference hee should deliuer the towne into his hands by prouision And he did in like maner write vnto the captaines wife promising to giue her a good recompence if she could persuade her husband But it was all labour lost besides prince Maurice hearing of Schaefs sicknesse had appointed captaine Hedduic to be gouernor of the towne so as the admirall being forced to vse other materials than inke and paper on the 10 of October he came to inuest it They of Wezel the chiefe towne of Cleueland goodly rich and a place of great traffique and thinking to light a candle before the diuell they resolued to send him some goodly presents to appease his wrath that he should not force them as he had done other townes of the same countrey on the other side of the Rhine writing vnto him and desiring a pasport for their deputies horses and wagons that they might bring him the said gifts and presents safely Whereunto the admirall answered in substance That it was not his intent nor custome to accept any presents to diuert him in any sort from his duetie for the profit and seruice of his friends but rather he required that they all together according to the necessitie of the time should do their indeuors with him and labour to take away the occasions and causes of all the miseries wherewith the Church and Commonweale were so torne and dismembred By reason whereof seeing the chiefe point to serue the common good and to purchase his fauour consisted therein that they could not send him a greater present than to let him vnderstand that they indeuour to cut off the causes of this mischiefe and to restore the Church and Commonweal to the estate they were in before the troubles the which hoping should be accomplished by them they should therein make him great presents and might spare the charge and danger of sending to him From Orsoy the 12 of September The earle Vanden Broek did in like maner write the twentieth of the moneth vnto the admirall intreating him to send him a safegard for his castle of Broek
the king of Spaine but also against the authors and practisers of such cruelties I beseech you sayd hee what good can you expect of such incertaine things when as they are worse intreated than the stranger the kinsman and the enemie the innocent and the guiltie the good and the wicked are all held in one ranke And to the end I may discharge my duetie I am resolued to write all these wofull and tragicall practises so preiudiciall to the whole empire and send them to the emperour intreating you in the meane time to take order that such oppressions and outrages may cease that the towns forts and castles belonging to the duke of Cleues may be restored That the troups may bee withdrawne the dammages repaired and that no more occasion may bee giuen of further ruine the which by right and reason ought to be put in execution and would proue honorable vnto you Whereof I wil attend a good and courteous answer From Cleues the last of October 1598. The oppressions committed by the Spaniards whereof the commissary cōplains which were sent by attestation quoted by number alphabet together with all the admirals proceedings were That his men tooke spoyled without any respect of safegards and much lesse of neutralitie betwixt the riuers of Issel Lippe in the duchie of Iuilliers first the castle of Diesfort belonging vnto the seignior of Willich steward by inheritance of the duchie of Cleues notwithstanding the safegard set vp at the gate the which they spoyled with all that the poore countrey men trusting in the sayd safegard had brought in thither for their refuge and succour Item the castle of Billingof belonging to them of Bernsau the which beeing taken at the third assault they slew all they found within it and then spoyled it The castle of Oberenbergh belonging to the seigniour of Marnholt was also spoyled Item after they had robbed the cloyster of Schlenhorst they drew all the Nunnes into a troupe stript them naked rauished them and intreated them tyrannously The castle of Asseldt beeing taken and spoyled they threw the men which they found in it from the top of the tower into the ditches After they had spoyled the castle of Gran belonging the steward of the countrey they carried all away prisoners that they found in it The castle of Hackenhuys belonging to the seigniour of Ilf they spoyled They did not onely spoyle the castle of Impel belonging to the seigniour of Diepenbroek and carried away all the corne cattell and other goods but they burnt the base court and tare an infant out of the mothers wombe beeing readie to bee deliuered Rossau belonging to the seigniour Godd◅rd Williche was wholy spoyled Wenge appertaining to them of Gar and the village Domic spoyled The strong castle of Hynd belonging to the seigniour of Graustein was also ruined and all burnt that was about it The monasteries of Mariendale and Fryet were spoyled And all the villages about the sayd castles endured a thousand outrages and strange indignities which were by them most cruelly executed both against men and women We haue mention before of the castle of Vanden Broeck and what they did there besides they haue entred into the riuers of Lippe and Roer spoyled the castle of Wewenhuys belonging to them of Hueffen and burnt the base court of the castle of Fuert appertaining to George van Syburch Item the castle of Mamich whereof the widow of Capelle was owner burning the base court The castle of Essand belonging to the seignior Wittenhorst spoyled beaten downe and burnt with diuers others And going higher towards the countrey of Munster and Westphalia on the three and twentieth of Nouember Dom Louis de Velasco generall of the Spanish artillerie came before the towne of Dortsen with letters from the admirall requiring the bourgmaster and counsell to open their gates and receiue a garrison Whereunto answer was made him That it did not belong vnto them to open their gates to any strange souldiers without the aduice and commaundement of their lord and prince the elector of Cologne Moreouer they had not deserued any such vsage of the king of Spaine wherefore they required foure dayes respite to aduertise their lord and prince But they replyed That they should not haue an houres respite to take counsell and therefore they should presently say yea or no whether they would open their gates and doe what they demaunded and if they did it not presently they had brought that with them which should master them before night and then they might thinke what would become of them They of the towne insisted to haue but two dayes saying That it had not beene heard of no not in time warre to receiue strange souldiers without the priuitie consent of their prince but they could not obtaine it the messengers retiring who had made this summons there presently approched many troups neere the towne who began to intrench themselues with all speed and to plant nine peeces of ordnance to batter it as if it were an enemies towne The bourgers seeing these sodaine acts of hostilitie not able to preuaile any thing by prayers nor intreatie began somewhat to defend themselues shooting certaine vollies into their campe hoping that the generall vpon better aduice would forbeare but it preuailed nothing the Spaniards continuing their batterie vntill they had ouerthrowne a great part of the wall so as the same night or the next day they had gone to the assault for the which they made a bridge ouer the riuer of Lippe bringing their men at night euen to the foot of the counterscarpe And although the bourgers had rampared vp that which was battered and somewhat assured it against an assault hauing chased the souldiers from the counterscarpe yet the next day they began their batterie againe the which did not onely batter downe all they had rampared but did so teare the houses along the street of Lippe as no man durst shew himselfe at the rampars The Spaniards making preparation to assayle them about noone they shot fierie bullets into the town wherewith the poore bourgers being terrified and abandoned of all succours knowing well that their prince was ignorant of all this and too farre to deliuer them from these attempts being vnable of themselues to resist them in the end they consulted how they might preserue their liues wiues and children so as they sent certaine deputies vnto the Spaniard to offer him the towne vpon the best conditions they could obtaine the which being accorded the generall Velasco entred with thirteene hundred men and demaunded the keyes with all the armes and munition in the towne the which was not done without great oppression of the good bourgers The Spaniard hauing got footing in the iurisdiction of Reckelinhuysen some of his troups marched towards Dortmont whereas they demaunded entrance to lodge one thousand horse all Winter which if they refused they would come so well accompanied as they should haue no cause
at Ordam and other forts vpon the riuer of Antuerpe This was an act of able and resolute men the which caused a great amazement in the towne of Antuerpe where they kept their gates shut two daies for feare of some treason They tooke in these ships 50 brasse peeces of all sorts which were more worth then the gallie had cost at the first to make and rig although in the beginning they had held it to be vnprofitable and the charge lost but other effects since haue shewed the contrary The archduke hauing to his charge after the battaile of Nieuport gathered together some new troupes of souldiers after prince Maurice his returne into Zeeland he sent most of them into Brabant vnder the commaund of Dom Louis de Velasco lodging the greatest part of them betweene Duffel and Macklyn not very farre one from another doubting prince Maurice his horsemen who did greatly spoyle the countrey round about The mutinous souldiers of Hamont held the towne and castle of Weert still for their securitie hauing 14 stiuers a day deliuered them for euery souldiers pay and yet they made great spoile in the country The archduke also reformed his old souldiers both horse and foot especially the Spaniards and Italians and reduced diuers companies into one We haue shewed before how the emperors embassadors moued the archdukes for the deliuerie of Rhineberck vnto the elector of Cologne but they referred it to a treatie of peace which was then in hand saying That they daily expected a pasport from the vnited prouinces for the deputies of the Estates vnder their commaund as Brabant Flanders c. who were at that time in Antuerpe attending the said pasport the which being sent by them of the vnited prouinces the deputies appointed for the Estates of Brabant Lembourg Luxembourg Gueldres Flanders Arthois Henault Valenciennes Namur Ryssel Douay Orchies Dornic Tornesis and Macklin being assembled at Brussels went to Antuerpe and from thence to Berghen vp Zoom Their names were Gerard of Horne earle of Bassignie sonne to the lord of Boxtel of the house of Horne gouernour of Macklin Philip van Bentinghe lord of Bight and Paffenhowen colonell and steward of Montfort M. Henric Coet pentioner of Ypre and others who vpon the 19 of Iuly came to Berghen being brought in by mon◅eur Bax gouernour of the towne who met them some quarter of a mile off There they found some eight or ten deputies for the Estates of the vnited prouinces whereof monsieur van Oldenbarneuelt aduocat for Holland was one where they were all feasted by monsieur Bax. The next day being met together the letters sent from the Estates assembled at Brussels vnto the Estates of the vnited prouinces were there read the cōtents wherof was To shew how desirous they were to enter into a treatie of peace with the Estates of the vnited prouinces shewing how good and necessarie a peace would be and what miseries and calamities follow warres praying them once to vnmaske themselues to lay aside all iealousie and distrust and to enter into this treatie of peace with sinceritie of hearts c. Which ended the deputies of the vnited prouinces rose vp and went into a corner of the hall where hauing conferred together they sat downe againe monsieur Barneuelt speaking for them all said That they reioyced much to heare the generall Estates assembled at Brussels so well affected to a generall peace and vnion of the whole Netherlands as they had sent naturall borne subiects and members wishing well vnto the Estates vnto them whereof some were their kinsmen and had liuings among them for which their great good will and affection they gaue them heartie thanks taking God the world and their owne consciences to witnesse that they desired nothing more than a godly iust and assured peace but in regard of many strange oppressions and cruelties vsed by the Spaniards and their adherents they had great cause of distrust whereof he produced some examples Hee also laid open the admirals violence and crueltie not onely to them but to their neighbour countries who notwithstanding were better affected vnto him than vnto them with many such like reasons so as they could not beleeue but that all such violent actions were resolued on by the archduke and his counsell intending to do the like vnto them when time and opportunitie serued Therefore they sayd they were not in any sort resolued to enter into any treatie of peace with the Spaniards or their adherents vnlesse that the generall Estates would take arms with them to chase all strangers out of the countrey and then the whole prouinces would find meanes to vnite themselues together and so reduce them againe to their former estate c. Wherunto the deputies for the Estates in Brussels made answer That it was verie credible that by the retreat of strangers and the committing of townes and castles into the hands of such as were borne in the countrey all doubts and distrusts would bee remoued and matters reduced to the antient order But looking precisely into this action they were of opinion That as long as the vnited prouinces continued in armes and made war it was not fit nor conuenient for the Estates in Brussels to reiect the king of Spains aid therwith to defend themselues against such as made war against him Whereupon either partie conferred together and then sitting downe againe monsieur Barneuelt sayd That they held the donation made by the king of Spaine to the Infanta to bee false and of no force for that it was therin expresly set downe That if the archduke died without children the Infanta should returne into Spaine againe and if the Infanta dyed the archduke should remaine in the Netherlands but as gouernour thereof and the countrey returne againe vnto the king of Spaine And moreouer if they had any children they should not marie but with the house of Spaine It was also decreed by the same gift That the subiects of the Netherlands should not trade vnto the Indies and that vpon forfeiture of the said countries concluding thereby that they were now more subiect vnto the Spanish seruitude than euer for that in consideration the archdukes had bound themselues so strictly vnto Spaine and that the generall Estates of those prouinces had likewise sworne to be true and faithfull vnto them as to their naturall lords that of force that yoke must needs ensue He also said That touching the points of communication specified in their letter with their instructions and verball propositions the deputies of the vnited Prouinces hauing duly cōsidered theron they found that the whole transport made by the K. of Spain to the Infanta his daughter tended meerly to the preiudice of the Netherlands in regard that the archdukes the Estates also with them were so strictly bound vnto the king of Spaine as in their opinions they could not safely deale concerning a peace neither with Spain the archdukes nor
abstinencie from war made for 10 20 or 30 yeares vntill the splene and hatred of both parties were somewhat cooled and appeased or else that a continuall abstinence from wars on both sides might be concluded each holding that he hath and so liue in peace and friendship together keeping garrisons vpon their frontiers the king the archduke surceasing their pretensions vntill that God sent them other meanes liuing in peace as France and Spain do the French king leauing his kingdom of Nauarre in the king of Spains hands Touching truce or abstinence from war it were to be doubted that the vnited prouinces wold not trust them and the other meanes were verie good if the king and the archduke would hearken thereunto But he saith there is yet another meanes to end these bloudie wars which had ouerthrowne and ruined so many townes and bin the losse of so many souls and bodies whereunto all the Estates proceedings ought to tend and put to their helping hands Old diseases require other maner of cures than new there must be a means found that should be acceptable vnto either partie He acknowledgeth That the vnited prouinces and namely Catholikes themselues are wholly estranged from the king of Spaine so that neither he nor his house is not to expect any good seruice at their hands for a long time They haue experience of their owne countries forces they haue learned that which they knew not and now were vsed to liue in freedome and not accustomed vnto the yoke They dayly read and heare their fathers tell what fearefull cruelties haue bin vsed against them and executed vpon their forefathers friends and companions which is the cause of new hatreds and strengtheneth their rebellion and to bee briefe their children suck hatred against the Spaniards from their mothers brests What then shal the king of Spaine and the archdukes do with such rebels shall they for their pleasures alwayes liue in armes and troubles vnprofitably spending their treasures and reuenues and shal a Spaniard say That the king shall rather hazard and aduenture all his kingdoms and power than leaue or lose his right But we must answer with a politike true reason and say If men stand so much vpon their right why go they not to recouer Thunis and Goletta againe All honors and dominions haue their casuall fortunes and periods The empire of Rome might well aford to haue that which belongeth vnto it The time was when Spaine had not those large limits which now it hath who can say or tell whether he shall hold it still God giueth and God taketh The house of Austria long since made great wars against the Switsers to bring them vnder their subiection againe but at the last they thought it better to leaue their right than to labour in vaine and to lose both men and money And if euerie man would seeke for his right with all extremitie who should liue in peace But hee saith Hee would not that the king and the archdukes should simply resigne their right although neither the one nor the other euer yet possessed or enioyed any thing in Holland or Zeeland but would rather haue them to imitat the example of the children of Albert duke of Saxonie who after that their father they had long made war against thē of Groningue finding that they were stil to begin againe hauing to do with a stiffe rebellious people they esteemed them vnworthie to bee accounted their subiects and so sold them for a great summe of readie money vnto the emperor Charles 5 with al the rights they had vnto them returned into their country of Mesnia there to liue in peace In like maner the K. of Spaine being so much incensed against the vnited prouinces as he cannot affect thē what can he do better than by mediation of the kings of France and England or of the princes of the empire or by meanes of the prouinces which are vnder his command than to purchase a peace vnto himselfe that is hee should compound with those of the vnited prouinces for a good summe of money whereof the interest might yerely amount vnto as much as in times past the vnited prouinces did yearely pay vnto the king towards his wars and so to let them liue in peace and freedome renouncing all right which he pretends ouer them Themistocles once gaue profitable counsell vnto them of Athens but for that it was not honourable it was by Aristides aduice reiected Now if this counsell be found both honourable and profitable for both parties why should it be reiected Touching the vnited prouinces he saith That he saw no reason to the contrarie why they should refuse it but the K. of Spaine and the archdukes would not so easily be drawne vnto it although they had no great reason to reiect it Would it not be verie profitable for him to receiue a great summe of money which should be paid at certaine dayes with interest for that which should not be presently paid of the vnited prouinces for the redemption of their freedomes whereby he should peaceably enioy the reuenues of the other prouinces the which by meanes of a peace would be inriched by trade and traffique and so saue the great charges of continuall wars The king of Spaine and the archdukes should therby haue meanes to gather great treasures wherewith in stead of the vnited prouinces which is but a small continent of ground they might go and conquer new countries and kingdoms vpon the enemies of Christendome Concerning the honourablenesse of this action it were no disgrace at all but a great honour and commendation for them throughout all Christendome that for the good and welfare of Christendome they had made a peace and ended the miseries of war washing away the teares and bloud of poore men and giuing them cause to praise and thank God and to pray for their prosperities and welfares For as men esteeme the kings power to bee great to seeke his right by armes so would it tend to his greater reputation and honour that hee had yeelded freely thereunto without any compulsion only in regard of the common welfare and peace Hee said further That he had heard that this king of Spaines father before his death had resolued to end these wars by some means or other and that he saw no better course But if it should be alledged to the contrarie That hereby men counsell the prouinces to disioyne themselues one from another answer might be made That they had alreadie beene disunited many yeares without any meanes of reconcilement and that the Netherlands had not alwayes beene vnited some of them hauing bin purchased and therefore he might sell them againe And if any man would obiect That others might follow the example of the Hollanders answer may be made That let them first striue and withstand the kings forces fortie yeres together and then let them speake The king of Spaine also hauing peace with the vnited
wrath of a great incensed potentate and Prince against his subiects by whom hee findes himselfe to bee left and reiected You shall finde no examples neither in ancient nor moderne histories that the subiects which once haue fallen from their Prince or that defended their owne freedomes or were fallen into greater slauerie and misery could euer finde any meane to worke their reconciliation and to procure restitution to their former estates vnlesse that their territories and countries were so strong and mightie as they had their owne assurance within themselues thereby at all times to force the agreement made to be held and obserued and to with-stand the Princes attempts which hee should make to the contrary Some say there was neuer any warre seene nor heard of but at the last it was ended by peace and that quarrels ought not alwayes to continue and bee without end I acknowledge that also to bee true and desire by my counsell to leade you vnto a good happy and an assured peace for that peace is obtained either by an accord or by victory Potentates and Princes may helpe themselues by both the said meanes and when victory denieth it them they may seeke to make an agreement and being made trust therevnto for that by meanes of hilles and valleys or deepe seas they are commonly seperated one from the other whereby one cannot so hastily inuade the other each of them hath his gouernment apart and holdeth his sword and strength in his hand to bee his owne warrant as soone as hee shall finde any cause of distrust but betweene you and the reconciled enemy there are no walles to part you You must lay your heads in his lap deliuer vp all your aduantage armes and gouernment and haue no meanes at all of warrant assurance or trust but at your deadly enemies discretion and mercie which in so hard a case is dangerous to prooue And therefore you must seeke by victorie to get peace with resolution either to dye valiantly or couraigously to obtaine the victorie The third meane or midle way of againe receiuing the once lawfully forsaken and disauowed Prince diuerse countries and nations whereof too many examples are extant haue hardly attained vnto but by meanes of valiant and couragious continuance in armes which some haue wisely chosen and haue in the end obtained a desired peace and rest whereof I will set downe a fewe examples which are very well knowne vnto euery man and as yet fresh and perfect in memory By this meanes the Switzers being hardly dealt withall by the house of Austria would no more subiect themselues vnder the same yoake but by meanes of their constant resolution they obtained such freedome as at this day they are seene to flourish and yet their warres continued not any thing the longer God Almighty by his wonderfull prouidence ordered the matter in such sort as the house of Austria itselfe refrained from armes and in tract of time had neede of the ayde and assistance of the Switzers who after they had made warres together for the space of a hundred yeares and many times made peace and truce for a time which was alwayes broken by the house of Austria at last Sigismond Duke of Austria made a perpetuall peace permitting them to enioy their full freedome the which the Emperour Maximilian the first and Charles the fift both of the house of Austria did afterwards ratifie and confirme and had great ayde and assistance from the Switzers in their Italian warres In like case also they of Denmarke would by no meanes bee perswaded to accept of Christian King of Denmarke whom they had driuen out of the countrie although the Emperor Charles the fift his brother in lawe and others both by armes and intreaties imbraced the cause and yet neither the Switzers nor the Danes had not so waightie lawfull nor well grounded a cause for the leauing of their sayd Princes nor yet endured the hundred part of the oppressions and wrongs nor shewed so much patience as the Netherlanders but the example of the Machabees which is found in the holy Scriptures is most agreeable with your case concerning religion for they would not be any more vnder the yoake of Antiochus whom they had reiected but continued so long in armes vntill the Prince him-selfe became weary and suffered then to liue in peace so you by a valiant resolution and continuance in armes are to expect and hope for a great furtherance and blessing from God almighty who thus long hath so wonderfully assisted you and will still helpe and assist you in regard that you are compelled to fight not onely for your old and commendable fredomes and liberties but also for his and his Churches honor Now al men of any sound iudgement wil conceaue whether the present Estate of the Netherlands at this day be not like vnto that and it is to be hoped that the King of Spaine and the Archduke Albertus will at the last by your constant resolutions be brought to the consideration of the bad aduise and counsell which they haue thus long followed and be weary of this pestiferous warre being a canker eating into their tresure and ouerslipping and neglecting of other notable occasions and conquests and great danger and trouble for many of their countries and kingdomes and will giue place to better counsell as their progenitors did in respect of the Switzers suffering the Netherlands peaceably to enioy their freedom and religion and vse there aid and friendshippe in other actions which may procure them ten times more profit where-vnto all Spanish nations that border on the seas in respect of their necessary trade and mutuall trafficke will be great furtherers and by humble petitions if they see your constancy still resolute to continew moue the King to yeeld therevnto for that without doubt they indure more trouble and hinderance by the prohibition of sea-faring then the Netherlanders other-wise the King that last died would not haue permitted the same for so many yeares euen in the heate of all his warres This is the true and onely meanes to attaine vnto an assured peace and quietnesse all other meanes and agreements are mixed with many cares and suspitions the common nature of men cannot subiect them-selues after the leauing and reiecting of their King neither can he put any assured trust or confidence againe in you nor you in him although in regard of your good nature and vpright heartes you suffer your selues to be perswaded to cast of all feare and distrust wherin alwaies the weakest haue the greatest cause and to iudge other mens hearts by your owne hoping that men will deale in like-sort without faulse-hood with you as you do with them and yet there is nothing more certaine then that the said distrust will neuer be remooed out of the King and the Arch-dukes hearts which no man knoweth better then their owne counselors that speake so much of casting of all distrust for they will alwaies put their
other with the losse of a hundred of their men wherof fiue were captaines as the ouerlopers reported and of du Bois men thirty were slaine and wounded and so the Earle of Busquoy went backe againe to his army at Moockle which he there fortified in an Island lying in the Meuse It is since vnderstood that his intent was to enter into the Betuwe and to incampe himselfe on the side of the Rhine either aboue or beneath Arnhem and that then Spinola should also come to the Rhine and so to ioyne both together which had beene a great furtherance for them wherein du Bois did the vnited Prouinces verie good seruice at that time for which cause Prince Maurice caused good watch to bee kept in euery place by water and by land both with horse and foote especially along by the Isel or where their enemies might haue the best meanes to get ouer placing shippes of warre in gard vpon the riuers who kept watch with halfe their men in shalops as also in herring boats which sayled too and fro and euery houre brought newes what the enemy did so as Prince Maurice had at least a hundred companies of men lying all there abouts This enterprise of the Earle of Busquois fayling and the enemy thereby brought to a new resolution Spinola laie still at Lochem vntill the last of Iulie thinking to giue Prince Maurice a sodaine blow and to that end went with his army towards Brouckhorst and Doesborgh In the meane time sending an other troupe of souldiers to Almeloo where as then hee was gathering togither a certaine number of boates to bring his souldiers downe the riuer to Bercklenmeers bridge and so into the Blackwater betweene Sasselt and Swol meane time the garrisons of Linghen and Oldenzeel came thether to him hoping with them and by the aide of the said Scutes vpon the second daie of August earlie in the morning to passe ouer the Black-water and to enter into Masteâ—…broke and so to beseege Swol and by the same meanes to take Geelmuyden lying vpon the South-sea but Warmeloo Drossart of Salant who laie in Swol vnderstanding thereof went forth with three companies of foote and cornet of horsemen and so valiantly withstood them as after a long fight Spinolaes men were let of their passage and forced to retire and that in great hast fearing that their enemy had beene stronger many of the men of both sides beeing slaine and onely by their obstinacy Spinola seeing that this passage also could not bee gotten was forced to procede to his third resolution and so vpon the third daie of August hee went with his armie before Grol whereinto Prince Maurice had put the young Lord of Dort with eighteene companies of men beeing about thirteene or foureteene thousand men strong at their first comming they were entertained with skirmishes but after that hee made his trenches and the tenth day of August he tooke two halfe moones which stood without the towne by force where hee had at the least sixe hundred men slaine and wounded whereof some were of his owne kindered and eigh or ten captaines with many officers and amongst the rest two Earles of Embden viz. Earle Iohn of Redbergh and his brother Earle Christopher were wounded they within also had much hurt and lost captaine Appel vander Schuren Lieutenant to collonel Dort In the winning of those halfe moones Spinola shewed great rigor and cruelty against his men driuing them like beasts both to fight and to dig vnder the enemies ordinance by meanes of his horsemen who followed with their cortelases drawne yet notwithstanding they were thrice put backe but the fourth time hee won them with the counterscarfes and cutte of some part of them of the towne so as they could not gette in againe which done he placed his Ordinance for the batterie vppon the sayd halfe Moones And beeing by that meanes close by the ditches of the towne with all the speed and courage they could vse they filled them vp with such stuffe as they could gette and so vppon the thirteenth of August gotte to the walles of the towne and also to their mynes wherein the pouder was alreadie placed where they fought hand to hand in three seuerall places they also shotte downe all the parapets of the walles and began to vndermine them The reason of this hastie and furious proceeding was for that Spinola had taken certaine messengers with letters sent to them of Groll willing them to withstand the enemie valiantly and that they should bee releeued within three daies as hee also vnderstood by the soldiers which dayly went to Prince Maurice from all places for that hee had sent for William Earle of Nassau out of Freezeland to come with all the men that hee could spare and for Colonell Edmonds out of Reinbergh Collonell du Bois from the Betouwe and the soldiers of Deuenter and Swoll which all marched to Doesborgh with Ordinance Munition and all other preparations for an armie Where-vppon Spinola vsed all the dilligence hee could to winne the towne determining vppon the fourteenth of August to assault it in three places at once and to that end in great pride hee placed his men in order of battaile and made a terrible show and there-with hee willed a Trumpet to certifie them within the towne that hee would giue them but one houres time to bethinke them-selues which if they refused hee would put them all to the sword for that hee sayd hee would and must haue the towne c. Where-vppon they within namely the Burgers being much abasht fell downe at the young Gouernors feete desiring him to consider of their generall weakenesse so as the Gouernor vnaduisedly at their request was content to hearken vnto a composition without once shewing Prince Maurices letters to the soldiers who promised they should be releeued vpon the sixteenth of August and there-vpon he and the Captaines without any great need yeelded vp the towne by composition and so issued out with 18. Ensignes displayed being about 1200. sound men 100. wounded and 15. or 16. horsemen of Batenborghs companie Within it also there was a companie of New-geusen who like to them that sold Gheertrudenbergh were prescribed and banished in all places but for that the composition was made for them also they went forth and deuided them-selues amongst the other companies The Bourgers had two moneths time giuen them to consult whether they would stay or depart the towne and so the garrison went out from thence in great hast with bag and baggage hauing but two houres time granted them to doe it for feare of Prince Maurices comming and to that end had wagons giuen them to bring them to Zutphen where they arriued the next day at noone And although Spinola was much commended for his good order and discipline yet that garrison past not without ransacking of the men and some wagons There was about a hundred men slaine in Groll but many more without some sayd
was carryed into Holland Of the Hollanders side the Admirall Hemskerke was slaine at the first charge with some 100. men and about 60. hurt On the 26. day the Estates ships withdrew them-selues a little from the towne and Castle and drest their hurt men as well as they could during their abode there they might see many soldiers both horse and foote vppon the sands running towards Gibraltar for they did confidently beleeue that the Estates men would make an attempt to spoile the towne where they were in such feare as they began to pack vp their baggage and to flye away On the seauen and twentith day the Estates armie past ouer to the Coast of Barbarie sayling so neere the Towne of Ceuta and other places belonging vnto the King of Spaine as they shotte at the shippes many of them beeing on horse backe fearing their descent But they past on vntill they came vnto the Rode of Tituan a strong Towne fiue Leagues from Ceuta belonging to the Moores there to repare their shippes which had beene spoiled with the Canon comming before the towne they were curteously intertained The Gouernor with many Turkish Gentlemen went aboard to welcome them offering them all friendship and assistance and sending Oranges and Lymons with diuers other sort of fruites to refresh them shewing great signes of ioy for their victory Those that were a shoare were much honoured of all men The Gouernor offered to lend them good numbers of horse and foote if with their ships they would attempt any thing vppon Ceuta but they excused them-selues vpon other disseignes Their shippes beeing well repayred and all things in good order the Vice-Admiral Alteras was made Admirall and Peter Werhoef was Vice-Admirall then they tooke councell which way they might annoy the enemie more in the end they concluded that the Vice-Admiral with part of the Fleete should go to the Islands to seeke their aduenture and the Admirall with the rest should lye vppon the Coastes of Spaine and Portugall and two of their victuallers with a shippe of warre should carry backe the Admirall Hemskerkes body imbalmed into Holland who arriued at Amsterdam the fift of Iune where three daies after hee was interred with an honourable Military pomp as his loyaltie and great seruices done vnto his countrie had well deserued his body was carryed by twelue Captaines beeing accompanied with all rites and Ceremonies belonging vnto such a Commander and followed by the Councell of the Admiraltie Magistrates of the townes Collonels Councel at war Captaines Officers Gentlemen Marchants aduenturers to the East Indies with al the chief Burgers of the towne in very good order The generall Estates for a perpetual memorie of his seruices caused a goodly tombe to be built vp for him with his armes ouer it and on the West side there was a faire table of Iette in the which were grauen in golden letters the painful voyages and vertuous acts done by him in his life time It had long beene sought and practised in the Netherlands how to attaine vnto a Truce or surceance from armes but the Vnited Prouinces remembring what happened to Sextus Pompeius sonne to Pompeius the great vpon his Treatie with the Emperour Augustus they alwayes feared it yet at the last it brake forth after a strange manner In May 1606. Monsieur Walraue van Wittenhorst Drossart of the land of Kessel came for that purpose to the Hage in Holland but as then he could effect nothing touching the same nor yet once haue audience granted him after that in December following he came into Holland againe with one maister Iohn Geuart Licenciate in the lawes and Secretarie of Tournhout making knowne to some of the Estates that they had instructions dated In May containing that the Archdukes were wholy addicted to cease the long continued bloudy warres and to reduce the countrie vnto a good peace vpon such reasonable conditions as the Prouinces should be well content there-with which was that they knew the vprightnesse of their intents and that they desired nothing else but that which was their owne and that therefore they were content that the Estates themselues should aske what they thought conuenient to demand of them for their owne securities wherein they would giue them all-reasonable satisfaction and that if they would hearken therevnto or to a truce for many yeares they should appoint time and place and they would agree there-vnto yea although they thought it not good to haue it openly done but secretly and by few men there-vnto appointed and that their meaning was not to circumuent them c. Besides this the Archdukes had written a letter of the 12. of December 1606. that they had once againe sent the Gentlemen aforesaid into Holland to make an offer of a treatie of peace and that if they were more addicted to a truce then to a peace they should certifie their mindes therein The Archdukes in regard of their great affection desire to peace might willingly hearken there-vnto Wher-vpon they began to deale priuatlie one with an other but for that they had no letters directed vnto the generall Estates they thought it not good to make the matter openly knowne before they had further commission from the Archdukes for which cause in December the sayd Geuarts went in all hast to Brussels from thence brought a Commission from the Archdukes bearing date the third of Ianuary 1607. containing a charge imposed vpon the said Monsieur Van Horst and Secretary Geuarts that they at the first assembly of the Estates should in their behalfe signifie vnto them that they were ready to hearken vnto a peace and for the treating thereof were content to appoint Commissioners to giue the Estates all reasonable contentment or that if they would rather hearken vnto a truce that the Archdukes were also content to do it for such time as should be agreed vpon Who being come vnto the Hage vpon the ninth of Ianuary with this Commission they presently began to craue audience for the same of the generall Estates and vpon the tenth of Ianuary they spake with Prince Maurice and after that vpon the thirteenth of Ianuary they had audience giuen them by the generall Estates where they declared the effect of their charge and commission desiring the Estates withall to remember and call to minde the doubtfull euents of warre and there-vpon to dispose themselues to a good peace or truce thereby to reduce the countries vnto quietnesse and to their ancient prosperitie c. Where-vnto vpon the seauen and twenty of Ianuary answer was made them after some rehearsall of that which had past in former times that the Estates perceiued that the Arch-dukes still continued in their groundlesse pretences of hauing right and lawfull title vnto the vnited Prouinces whereas they affirmed before all the world and know it to be euident and apparent that there was no manner of title to be pretended by the said Archdukes vnto the said vnited
what diligence they had vsed therein promising faithfully if they would content them-selues there-with that it should bee presently procured if the Estates would desire it neuer-the-lesse hee desired sixe dayes respite to write vnto Brussels and from thence to receiue further Commission which was granted him and therevpon hauing receiued the same vpon the second of August hee promised the Estates to cause the sayd agreation to bee made in an other forme and that therefore they had reason to bee satisfied for that time seeing that the Arch-dukes had written into Spaine to certifie the King of the difficultie therein insisting with-all to haue a resolution from the Estates to countermaund their shippes from the coast of Spaine and that they would vouchsafe to pleasure the Archdukes therein Here-vpon certaine dayes were spent in consultation and diuerse conferences were had with the sayd Veryken and at the last vppon the eight of August an answer was giuen him by word of mouth and afterwards deliuered him in writing containing that the Estates declared and held the respectiue agreation to bee imperfect and defectiâ—…e not onely in qualitie and forme but also in the substance thereof for that so many words were left out that it was not written in French nor signed by the King nor yet sealed with his great seale as also not containing an agreation of the whole proceedings but restrained onely to certaine points and that they made no mention of the approouing and declaration of the freedome of the vnited Prouinces as the Arch-dukes had done and that therefore touching the rest of the propositions they could make no further declaration before the first of September next ensuing and therefore they deliuered him a writing in Dutch French and Latin whereby they showed that they vnderstood that the King was to make the agreation before they could enter into any further treatie and that therefore to make a further declaration as much time would bee spent as had past before from the foure and twentie daie of Iulie to the first of September and that neuerthelessâ—… they were content in honour of the Archduke to countermaund all their shippes of warre from the coast of Spaine and that truly and effectually and that all the prizes by them taken within the space of sixe weekes beginning vpon the foure and twenty of Iuly should not bee allowed for good but should bee restored againe the which answere the sayd Vereycken vpon the twelfth day of August went to Brussels The truce continewing for eight monthes aforesaid both by sea and by land both for Spaine and the Netherlands it gaue a great hope to all the country people that the matter would in the end bee brought to a peace or a long truce but some men of good iudgement held it to be a matter of greater difficulty and that it was so ernestly followed on either side that so they might get some aduantage and thereby aduance their owne cause and that it would not so lightly nor without more rumor bee ended on either side Whilest this businesse about peace or truce was in hand and that the Neighbour Kings and Princes with the countries of Iuilliers Cleaue Leege and East Freeseland busied and troubled themselues therewith many oppinions conceites and discourses were made touching the same The greater sort which extol the greatnesse of Spaine could not bee perswaded nor beleeue that the Archdukes should euer procure any agreation or consent therevnto from the King of Spaine in such sort as it was promised but rather thought that there was some other meaning and intent others to the contrary said that the hundred and fiftie mylions which the King had spent the aboundance of bloud which had beene shed the great mutenies great want of money the King of Spaine finding himselfe continually assailed and compassed about with such strong fleetes at sea which were likely to take all trade by sea from him or to incomber him much whereby hee must of force hold the Islands and the Indies fast bound vpon Spaine with such like difficulties and other considerations which might cause that great King to conceiue many doubtes especially in respect of a great rich company which the vnited Prouinces were about to make for the West Indies which should continue for the space of sixe and thirty yeares wherein some great misterie or secret laie hidde which might either make his Indies rebell or els they would assaile them in the weakest places and thereby giue all his treasorors cause of doubt that his treasure which vseth to come from the Indies would bee cut off and so giue him no more credit whereby hee should bee compelled necessarily to fall into greater charges to arme and defend his farre distant Islands and so by that meanes diuide his power farre a sunder They said moreouer that it was wisely scircumspectly and necessarily done of the King and the Archdukes willingly to giue ouer and yeelde vp their soueraignite as it was giuen forth to the vnited Prouinces finding that they were not by any other meanes of perswasions practises or power to bee brought to any treatie for that their weakenesse or any greater disgrace or losse which they might chance to haue might force them to seeke to bee protected by France in which protection there was great daunger that at the last they should bee driuen out of all the Prouinces and therefore they thought it best to seeke to possesse the better part quietly with a neighbourly peace at the least till a more conuenient time rather then to suffer the French King to inrich himselfe with the Netherlands which would depriue Spaine of all authority respect and credit The Netherlanders for their partes as there are many deepe witted and prouident men amongst them could not beleeue that it was done bona fide and therefore that proceeding was cleane against their mindes doubting that in the end they should bee forced to fall againe vnder the subiection of the Spaniard vnder the name of the house of Burgondie imagining that the ground thereof had beene layd long since and that the truce or peace was but a breathing vnto them They could not likewise conceiue how they should preserue their estate maintaine the grouernment of the Prouinces in vnity withstand all difficulties that might arise neither yet how to continewe their meanes and taxations especially if the Archdukes should ease the contry people thereof in their Prouinces how they should maintaine their authority at sea if the conuoies and lycences ceased and holding them still how the trade of marchandise might bee continewed amongst them that were wont to goe thether where they were least burthened with exactions neither how they should keepe souldiars in good order and discipline not beeing imploied and exercised in armes nor how religion should bee maintayned in the same estate it was or how to bring the common people againe to beare armes when they shal once haue felt a sauor and tast of peace
vnto vs all their pretence of soueraigntie vnto these countries they promised to do that by their letters and that they would not take any thing from vs but by exchaunge and wherein wee should our selues giue our consent To conclude if wee looke into the ground of this matter wee shall find that it was in vaine for vs to maintaine so long warres and to haue consumed so great a treasure and so much of our bloud to maintaine our freedome if with our owne consents wee will make our selues seruile and banished from the two third parts of the whole world It was also needlesse for vs to oppose our selues against the power and forces of our enemies if wee will consent and yeeld to this article That wee should not traffique with al nations and which is more not with those which are not subiect vnto the king of Spaine It was likewise madly done of vs to oppose our selues against the raysing of the tenth penie which would haue driuen all trade of merchandise out of the countrey when as we of our selues shall giue ouer the two third parts of our traffique and trade by sea The reasons and considerations that might yet bee added hereunto are innumerable but these seeme to bee sufficient to conclude That although wee doe sincerely and from our hearts desire a godly honourable absolute and generall peace yet wee would bee loth thereby to abandon the greatest and most profitable trade wee haue and by that meanes to fall into greater miseries than euer and yet wee protest that wee are content to persist in our generall resolution and the letters giuen vnder the hands and feals of the king of Spain and the archdukes and not to deale otherwise than by this treatie to hold and maintaine our freedomes liberties priuiledges and antient customs together with all that which at this present time we possesse and enioy without the which wee would neuer haue begun nor entred into this treatie These in effect are the principall reasons alledged by the companie of Indian merchants why they should not grant to leaue off the Indian trade with many others which for breuitie sake I here omit But for that the gouernment of the vnited prouinces consisteth of many parts amongst the which there are many men that esteeme not much of forreine trade and traffique or at the least not so much but that they are of opinion That the preseruation and maintenance of the tilling of the land and the inhabitants of the Champian countrey concerned them more they could not enter into so good consideration touching the same as was requisit and necessarie to bee had wherefore the wisest men and such as were of greatest vnderstanding and of soundest iudgement determining so to accommodat the matter as both the one and the other might receiue some contentment thereby for that cause had many meetings and conferences with the deputies of the aforesaid king of Spaine and the archdukes as vpon the nineteenth three and twentieth and seuen and twentieth of the moneth of Februarie and vpon the fourth day of March at the which assemblies nothing was done therein but each partie resolutely held their owne opinions and would not yeeld one vnto the other maintaining them with many arguments and reasons concerning matter of state and also with great resolution and earnest pretences in such sort as the Estates of the vnited prouinces who for the most part were of opinion That they ought not to yeeld vnto the deputies of the king and the archdukes in that point nor in any wise to desist from the same at the last they resolued to propound three meanes vnto the said deputies of the said king and the archdukes hoping by the one of them to bring them to consent and yeeld thereunto which were either by that treatie of peace wholly to graunt them their traffique to the Indies and the dependances thereof or by way of truce to permit and suffer it for certaine yeares or to leaue all those countries lying beyond the Tropicke of Cancer in wars and either partie to take such aduantage as hee could in those countries without seeking any amends or recompence against their aduerse partie on this side the Tropicke for any wrongs or iniuries they should receiue in those parts But the deputies on the contrarie side wholly refused those offers first alledging That it was altogether contrarie to their commission which expresly forbad them to yeeld vnto the sayd trade and traffique to the Indies Secondly That the king of Spaine and the archdukes were princes which were addicted vnto peace and not to warres and therefore know not how they should graunt or consent to so strange and monstrous a contract whereby both warres and peace should alike and at one time bee concluded And touching the meane or the middle course they say they were of opinion That something might bee graunted therein so as the Estates of the vnited prouinces of the Netherlands would consent and agree that at the end and terme of the said yeares they would desist and leaue off the said trade But for that the â—…states of the vnited prouinces declared That they had no such intent or meaning but at the end of the sayd yeares each partie should remaine as they were at the first and at their owne free choyce nothing was done in that point at that time The Estates of the vnited prouinces finding the obstinacie of the deputies of the sayd king of Spaine and the archdukes made a shew as if they would make a motion touching their trade into the West Indies and to that end sent for the merchants of the West Indian trade causing them to assemble together to see what difficulties might be propounded therin and thereby to further the same But the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes made no account thereof esteeming it to bee but a scare-crow to put them in feare and therefore still they persisted in their first resolution making their complaints to the embassadours of the neighbour princces then resident in the Hage holding that point to bee as vniust and intollerable for the estate of their princes as if they had taken and held them prisoners they could not bind them to harder conditions The Estates also for their parts made their complaints to the said embassadors alledging That they being by the said princes held and esteemed for free countries the said princes sought to impose many conditions vpon them which the prouinces vnder their owne command could not suffer nor indure In the end of Februarie the princesse of Orange came to the town of Hage in Holland by the procurement of the Estates of the vnited prouinces bringing with her out of Franne an hundred and twentie fiue thousand crownes in readie money where shee was visited and welcommed by the most part of all the embassadors and also by the deputies for the king of Spaine and the archdukes The sayd deputies for the king of Spaine
dead in this ditch speechlesse drawing only his breath There were some of these conspirators seruants taken whom in the Earles presence they cut in pieces and hauing drawne him forth of the ditch they carried him vpon the Mount of Muyden whereas he breathed out his last gaspe after that hee had gouerned Holland Zeeland and Friseland as well by himselfe as by his tutors two and fortie yeres He was a generous prince of a goodly stature and louely countenance gracious and eloquent in his speech a good musitian stately and liberall To conclude he had all that might be desired in a prince except this vice of incontinencie and the villanous adulterie which he committed with violence which was the cause of this sudden death His body was carried by boat to Alcmar where his bowels were buried in the church and his body being imbalmed was layed in the Quier vntill that Cont Iohn his sonne were returned out of England Cont Floris had two grey-hounds the which had alwaies followed him going in and comming out of the castle of Muyden and which were found lying by him in the ditch where he was slaine carrying him into the boat they followed and leaped into it and would neuer eat nor drinke although it were offered them yea they would haue starued themselues if they had not beene drawne away from the Earles dead bodie Amongst those that had assisted at this murther many fled out of the Countrey and among the rest the Seignior of Woerden went vp and downe like a vagabond and died poorely and miserably in a strange countrey The lord of Amstell who was a good old man and had suffered himselfe to be suborned by the Seignior of Woerden and Velsen after that all his goods had bin confiscated was entertained by his friends in a far countrey All Holland Zeeland Friseland and the neighbour countries were troubled for this fact the which was taken so grieuously as the Hollanders to begin the reuenge by him that had bin the author of this conspiracie and actor of the murther went to besiege the castle of Croonenbruch they within were quiet as if the Seignior of Velson had not bin there and yet he was The news of this murther was written to all Cont Floris friends and allies but especially to Iohn d'Auesnes earle of Henault and to Cont Iohn his sonne who came before the castle of Croonenbruch whereas they planted their engins of batterie The earle of Cuycke hearing that the Seignior of Velson was straitly besieged in his castle as the said earle had bin present at the resolution of the taking of Cont Floris in the name of the duke of Brabant did write vnto the earle of Cleues being at that siege intreating him to be a means that the besieged might depart at the least with their liues saued the which he promised him to do whereupon he sent for his men about him that he might at need preserue them as he might well haue done But the Hollanders hauing some notice therof were much discontented and aduertised the lord of Loef brother to the earle of Cleues thereof who came himselfe to tell him that if he meant to saue the life of the besieged it was certain the Hollanders would fall vpon them besides the scandale and reproch wherewith they should be taxed for euer and therefore he aduised him to let the Hollanders and Zeelanders alone and if he were otherwise resolued he with his men would retire being loth to incurre dishonour and the danger of his life The earle seeing how ill it was taken and that he should auaile little caused the castle to be attempted both by scaladoe and otherwise the which he did force and take by assault and all the prisoners that remained aliue were taken and put into safe keeping In ◅e meane time it was bruited abroad that the earle of Cleues meant to saue the Seignior of Velson his companions that were prisoners Whereupon the Kennemers running to armes cried out That if there were any one that would carry away the murtherers of their prince or saue their liues that they themselues should first die by their hands wherupon the earle was forced to deliuer them the prisoners Those of Dordrecht had Hugh of Baerlandt the Kennemers had William of They lingen and two others those of Harlem had William van Zaenden those of Delft had Arnold van Bienschop the earle of Cleues had Gerard of Craenhorst foure others al which were beheaded and laid vpon wheeles those of Leyden had Gerard van Velson the author of this conspiracie and the murtherer of Cont Floris whom they tormented more than any other for they put him starke naked into a pipe full of sharpe nailes and so was rolled vp and downe throughout all the streets of Leyden then after all these torments they cut off his head and laid him vpon a wheele all his kinred vnto the ninth degree that could be taken were put to death and set vpon wheeles many being only suspected that they were ready to serue their lords and masters and not knowing the cause were banished for euer out of Holland wherof some meaning to retire thēselues into Denmarke mistaking their course were driuen beyond the straight of Weygat and not knowing whether they went coasting along Tartary they entred into the riuer of Oby from whence they came into Persia and by the kings consent did inhabit a marish part of the countrey after the maner of Holland where they haue continued in their auncient language manner of life and labour vnto this day As in like sort we may say that within these 70 yeres the Hollanders that fled for religion haue throgh the grace of Christierne the third king of Denmarke planted themselues in a little Island right against Coppenhaghen called Amack the which they do labour dresse after the manner of Holland so as this little Island which is not aboue two French leagues in circuit is called the garden of Coppenhaghen in the which the chiefe market of the towne is called Amacker-markt And thus much for them The Hollanders did rase the castle of Croonenbruch to the ground from thence they went to doe as much to that of Muyden but finding the place abandoned and no man in it all being fled they gaue it in guard to Didier of Harlem who took it into his charge on the countries behalfe and is at this day a good Chasteleine After which time the Nobilitie Townes and Commons of Holland made an agreement iointly together confirming it by a solemne oath whereof publike letters were drawne neuer to receiue into grace those of the houses of Amstel Woerden and Welsen nor any of their kinred nor allies whom they sought to root out by all meanes or to chase them out of the country by which meanes there were many persons banished and vagabonds so as there remained not any one of these families in Holland and if any were left they durst not
shooes with his foot He tertified little children to behold him and yet there was not any roughnes nor malice in him but was gentle and mild as a lambe for if he had beene fierce and cruell answerable to his greatnesse and proportion he might haue chased a whole armie before him In those daies there sprung vp in the country of Friseland the factions of Schyerlingers and Vetcoopers the which froÌ„ a small beginning vnworthy to be written the which notwithstanding we haue related in our description of the vnited prouinces of the low countries was the cause of great effusion of bloud destruction of the country ruine of good families murthers among all sorts in generall As in like sort the partialities of Hooks and Cabillaux in Holland and those of Guelphes and Gibilins in Italie the diuersitie of coloured hoods in Flanders and other like factions in France were the causes of great miseries in those times also according vnto some opinions it seemes that all these factions began almost at one instant that of the Schyerlingers and Vetcoopers hauing continued in Friseland vntill that the Emperour Maximilian the first sent Albert duke of Saxonie thither to suppresse them for that the Commissioners which he had formerly sent to pacifie and reconcile them had preuailed nothing making him his lieutenant and gouernour hereditarie yet with small profit for he was slaine there and his two sonnes the dukes Henry and George as we shall shew hereafter did not auaile much so as they left all so great louers haue the Frisons alwayes beene of their franchises and liberties But vnder the gouernment of the said princes of Saxonie these factions ceased to oppose themselues with their ioint forces against the rule of strangers as they had done often before when any stranger came to assaile them and hauing chased them away they returned to their first spleene and hatred but the Saxons brought them to so great pouerty and their quarrell continued so long as they forgat their factions IOHN EARLE OF HENAVLT THE second of that name one and twentieth Earle of Holland and Zeeland Lord of West-Friseland 21 Joannes Hannonâ—… Fiue yeares I liued Earle of Holland by descent Of blood and for my comfort God three noble sonnes me sent Whose valours did enfranchise me from all my feare Whil'st Brabant and the Emperor 'gainst me great malice bare By them I ouercame GVIDO DOMPIERRE in fight And freed the towne of Zirickxee from all their enemies might The Flemings I subdu'd that were my enemies And in Valencia deepe intomb'd my bones and ashes lyes THE SECOND BOOKE ¶ The Argument IOhn Earle of Henault sonne to Iohn of Auesnes and the Ladie Alix sister to king William Earle of Holland was the second of that name and one and twentieth Earle of Holland Warre betwixt them of Vtrecht and their Bishop Iohn de Renesse prouokes the Earle of Flanders against the Earle of Holland which was the cause of great warres ¶ William called the Good the third of that name the two and twentieth Earle of Holland Guy of Holland his brother bishop of Vtrecht had great warres against the Frisons Cont William subdued the East-Frisons Iustice done vpon a baylife of South-Holland for a cow whom the Earle caused to be executed lying on his death bed ¶ William the fourth sonne to the good Earle William the three and twentieth Earle of Holland He makes warre against the Russians them of Vtrecht and the Frisons by whom he was slain in battaile leauing no children ¶ Marguerite wife to the Emperour Lewis of Bauiere daughter to the good Earle William the foure and twentieth Commander in Holland and Zeeland where she appointed duke William of Bauiere her eldest sonne Gouernor in her absence He had warre against them of Vtrecht The faction of the Cabillaux rise in Vtrecht which bandie duke William against his mother after the death of the Emperor Lewis whereof followed two cruell battailes in the first the Empresse was victor in the second duke William after much bloud spilt they agreed ¶ William remaining the fiue and twentieth Earle of Holland Vtrecht had warre against their bishop and the bishop against the Earle of Holland who was distract of his wits and the gouernment put into the hands of duke Albert of Bauiere his brother notwithstanding the factions which grew betwixt the Hoocks and the Cabillaux William called the Franticke being dead ¶ Albert of Bauiere was the six and twentith Earle of Holland Delft rebelled against the Earle he besieged it and forceth them to obedience The bishop of Vtrecht in warre against the Earle of Holland Anne of Poelgeest minion to Cont Albert murthered in the night which bred a great quarell betwixt the Earle of Ostrenant and Cont Albert his father An affront done to the Earle of Ostreuant at the French kings table which caused warre against the Frisons who were often subdued and rebelled as often Warre betwixt the Earle of Holland and the Lord of Arckel The historie of a sea-woman taken in Holland ¶ William the sixt of that name the seuen and twentieth Earle of Holland succeeded his father Albert he had great warres against the bishop of Vtrecht and the Lord of Arckel The Liegeois make warre against their bishop brother to the Earle of Holland the Earle goes to succor him and defeats the Liegeois Warre betwixt the Earle of Holland and the duke of Gueldres Cont William leauing one only heire ¶ Iacoba or Iaquelina the eight and twentieth commanding in Holland c. she maried first with the Daulphin of France sonne to Charles the sixt who died at one and twentie yeares of age without children then she maried with Iohn duke of Brabant Iohn of Bauiere bishop of Vtrecht troubles her estate to make himselfe Earle The Lady Iaqueline seperated from the duke her husband by reason of neerenesse of bloud she espouseth the duke of Glocester who after leaues her She had great warres and troubles against the duke of Brabant against her vncle and against the duke of Bourgoigne shee marries Franc of Borsele secretly the duke Philip of Bourgoigne puts him in prison and for his libertie she resignes all her Countries vnto the duke IOHN Earle of Holland sonne to Cont Floris the fifth being dead without heires the Earledomes of Holland and Zeeland with the Seigniorie of Friseland came by succession to Iohn Earle of Henault sonne to Cont Iohn of Auesnes and the Lady Alix sister to William king of Romans and Earle of Holland and so sonne to Cont Iohns great aunt Iohn of Henault was the one and twentieth Earle of Holland for which he quartered his Armes the Lyon sables of Henault and the Lyon gules of Holland in fields or This Earle had foure brethren Botzard bishop of Metz Iohn bishop of Cambray Guy chanon of Cambray and Floris who was prince of Morienne At his comming to this succession of Holland and Zeeland he gaue vnto his brother Guy the Seigniories of Amsterdam
quiet If all things go well and are in quiet said the Earl how comes it that thou bailife and judge of thy quarter hast vsed force and violence against a poore countrey man that is my subiect taking away his cow out of his pasture in despight of him then calling for the poore man he asked him if he knew him and what he could say for his cow The bailife answered That he had giuen him another Yea said the Earle but if it were not so good as his doest thou thinke to haue satisfied him therewith no no not so I will take the cause in hand and be the judge The bailife and the countrey man referred themselues willingly to what it should please the Earle to decree Wherupon the Earl appointed the escoutette of Dordrecht that as soone as he should returne to his house hee should presently without delay pay vnto the countrey man a hundred crownes of good gold to be leuied vpon the bailifes goods and that he should neuer after molest the countrey man neither in word nor deed This sentence thus pronounced both parties were satisfied which done the Earl said vnto the bailife Thou hast now agreed with the poore man but not yet with me then he commanded the escoutette to retire himselfe and to fulfill what he had inioyned him but the bailife should remain by him to make reparation of his fault and hauing sent for a ghostly father and the executioner he condemned the bailife to loose his head to serue for an example to others then being confest the Earle caused him to come before his bed and he himselfe drawing out the sword gaue it to the executioner who cut off the bailifes head in the Earles presence beeing thus sicke in bed who hauing called the escoutette said vnto him Take your cosin with you and beware of such facts least the like happen vnto you The escoutette returning to Dordrecht carried backe the bailife in two parts and paid the countrey man his hundred crownes Soone after this good Earle William worne with yeres and with sicknesse called for the earl of Ostreuant his eldest sonne to whom he gaue many godly and fatherly admonitions first of the loue and feare of God then of the administring iustice equally to all men to entertaine his subiects in peace and rest not to surcharge his people with extraordinarie impositions and taxes to reuerence church men and not to be offenciue vnto them with many other goodly exhortations to liue well Hauing ended his speech he gaue vp the ghost the 9 of Iune 1337 after that he had gouerned the prouinces of Henault Holland Zeeland and Friseland 32 yeares He was a very vertuous prince victorious in war a good man at armes well spoken iudicious a great louer of peace gratious to all men and well beloued in all courts of princes He was interred with great pompe in his towne of Valenciennes After his death the contesse his widow went and liued among the religious women at Fontenelles where she died fiue yeares after her husband We haue before made mention how that the Frisons slew the gouernor whom the king of Denmarke had giuen them whose wife was deliuered six monethes after of a sonne the which was bred vp in the court of the king his vncle This sonne being growne great and desirous to be reuenged of the Frisons hauing no meanes nor power of himselfe he intreated the king to giue him only one ship well appointed to see if by policie he could exploit any thing against the Frisons with this ship he entred into the riuer of Ems where he vnderstood that the judges and officers of the countrey of Friseland were assembled about Groningue he resolued therefore to cast anker there thinking that if hee stayed any time they would come and demaund what hee was and what hee did the which fell out accordingly for the officers seeing this goodly ship in the road went to see it and to heare somenewes comming neere they demanded according to their custom of whence the ship was what commodities he carried whither he was bound This yong man shewing himselfe vpon the hatches saluted them honourably and answered them modestly That hee had no great marchandise in his ship that hee was a rich marchants sonne and that hee was desirous to see hauens and port townes and especially the countrey of Friseland requesting them to come aboord and tast his wine and he would do the like on land with them They doubting nothing went aboord the yong man receiued them courteously presenting them a banquet whereas they dranke so well as most of them were drunke and fell asleepe He finding so fit an oportunitie weighed anker sayled directly towards Denmarke with these drunkards who hauing disgested their wine found that they were cousened This young gentleman comming into Denmarke presented them vnto the king who blamed their disloyaltie much hauing murthered his lieutenant they excusing themselues that it was not done by them nor in their time besought the king to saue their liues The king answered although I haue good reason to put you all to death yet I will giue you all your liues if you can settle me in Friseland as I was before The which they promised In the end the Frisons by the persuasion of one of these Iudges that was sent vnto them were content to acknowledge the king of Denmarke for their lord and to receiue a lieutenant in his name with whom the Iudges and Officers were sent home The gouernor hauing receiued the homages of fealtie of the Frisons caried himselfe modestly ynough for a good time but in the end seeking to bring in the Danish lawes and to entreat them extraordinarily beyond their priuiledges they reuolted againe as the Dutch Chronicle sayth Vel odio seruitutis vel amore libertatis and expelled their gouernor out of their countrey In the life of good Cont William the chief noblemen in Holland and Zeeland were William earle of Ostreuant eldest sonne to good Cont William Iohn of Beaumont earle of Blois his brother Henry and Didier of Brederode brethren Symon and Didier of They lingen brethren also Iohn lord of Heusden Iohn lord of Drongelen his vncle Iohn lord of Arckel Didier Seignior of Valkenburch Monioye brother to the wife of the lord of Brederode lady of Voorne Nicholas lord of Putten and Streyen Philip vicont of Leyden lord of Wassenare Iohn Seignior of Leck and Polanen Iohn Seignior of Henckelom Otto Seignior of Aspren Iohn Seignior of Egmont Walter his son Ghisbrecht Seignior of Iselstein Henry Seignior of Vianen Iohn of Persin Seignior of Waterlandt Guy of Holland Seignior of Hamstede Arnold Seignior of Cruyningen William Seignior of Naeldwick Floris of Spyck Ieams vanden Voude Floris Merwen Didier and Herman Zwieten brethren Gerard of Hemskerke Gerard of Raphorst Gerard of Polgeest Floris vanden Tol Ogier van Spanghen VVilliam Kuser baylife of Rhinlandt Didier of Sassenhem Daniel of Matenesse and Didier
at her deuotion hee sent the Lord Fitzwater with good English troupes to goe vnto her who landed at Brouwer shauen in Zeeland with whom there ioyned certaine Noblemen of Zeeland whom the duke of Bourgongne defeated in bataile The 27. of Ianuary in the yeeare 1426. the Cardinalls of Venice and Vrsine Iudges delegated in the cause betwixt the Duke of Brabant and the Lady Iaqueline Contesse of Holland his wife hauing had the aduice of other Cardinalls therein pronounced their sentence by the which they declared that the said Lady had wrongfully seperated her se fe from the Duke her husband and although that she ought to bee ioynâ—…d againe to the said duke yet for some speciall reasons moouing them they did ordayne she should be safely kept vntill the definitiue sentence and at her owne charge with Amedee duke of Sauoy allyed vnto her and the duke her husband in the third degree and by affinitie in the second The duke of Glocester hearing of this sentence retyred himselfe and hauing abandoned the said ladie he married another in England Duke Iohn of Brabant hauing these newes was much quieted in conscience the said lady much discontented for that she would not by any meanes come into the hands of the duke of Sauoy but would rather haue gone to the duke of Brabant but he would none of her saying that he must obey the sentence so she remained at Schonhouen at Goude And yet notwithstanding the duke of Bourgongne held still the gouernment of Holland Zeeland Friseland This duke of Bourgongne seeing his affaires successefull to the end he might one day attain to that whervnto he did aspire which was to swallow vp the countrey of the said Lady who was his cousin Germane resolued to make violent war against her and to sub due all them that were opposite vnto him And for that the Lorde of Seuenberghe did then hold with the Contesse he went soone after the defeate of the English at Brouwershauen to besiege him in his towne both by Sea and Land in the the depth of winter where he lay fourteen weekes at the end whereof the friendes of the said lord did mediate a smale truce the which being expired the duke besieged it so straightly as no thing could enter in nor get out The inhabitants of the Towne considering on the one side the great charges and oppressions which they were forced to beare during the siege and on the other side the goodly offers that were made vnto their Lord and that through his wilfulnesse the ende of so many miseries which they endured would be but their vtter ruine for the auoyding wherof they resolued as they did to yeeld vp the towne to the duke of Bourgongue in despight of him who tooke possession thereof and in the ende the Lord of Seuenberghe was forced to yeeld him also his castle with all his land and Siegniorie liuing himselfe in exile as a Vagabonde where he dyed for want The 4. of April in the saide yeare 1426. the Contesse Iaqueline gathered together some troupes out of the countrey of Vtrecht and from the townes of Goude Schoonhouen and Ondewater and went by water to Hemestede neere vnto Harlem besieging the said Towne The lord of Brederode came thither to assist her with the Kennemers them of Alomar The magistrates of Harlem had had a little before some intelligence of this siege and therefore they sent for the Lord of Gaesbeeke Lieutenant of Holland for the Duke of Bourgongne and Rouland of Vtkerk to come to succour them The suburbs of the towne were burnt and all the wood about it cut downe They did often shoot fire into the towne but it was still quenched many assaults were giuen and they were valiently repulst The duke leauied men in all his territories to succor the besieged whereof hee made the siegneors of Litelltenveld and Vtkerke commanders hauing many braue captaines the which he sent into Holland Being come to Leyden they resolued the next day to assayle the Countesse and first of all they sent a spye clothed like a Lepar carrying in his wallet a white loafe in the which there was a letter sealed to carry into the towne when he should finde his best oppertunity This Spie being come to Hamstede begging in the Campe was suspected and apprehended examined searcht and the letter found By the which they did write that they were come neere vnto Alphen and that the next day they would stop the Sluse of Goude to cut off the Contesses returne with her Armie into the said town of Goude the which they thought to effect easily and hauing performed it they would goe and succour them The Contesse hauing heard this letter read caused the bearer to be hanged vpon a Tree and the night following raised her campe and imbarked her armie the which came at the breake of day to Alphen she being there in person The Seignior of Vtkerke finding her to bee so neere had no other leisure but to incourage his men to fight well where there was a furious charge and it continued long In the end the seignior of Vtkerke seeing the desaster falling vpon his side and so many men ouerthrowne retired himselfe out of the prease the Contesse remaining victoresse in which battaile all the Picards were slaine 500. other soldiers and 80. Bourgeses of Leyden After the victorie the Contesse created these Knights Iohn of Waessenare second sonne to Philip who was Vicont of Leyden Henry of Croenenburch Euerard of Hoochtwoude bastard to Cont William of Bauaria father to the Countesse Iohn of Langerack seignior of Aspren Didier vander-Merwen Gerard of Poelgeest seignior of Homade and Arnold of Gant a Geldrois After this defeat the Kennemers vnder the Contesse Iaquelins authoritie made William Nagel their Captaine and went to destroy the castell of Hemskerke to be reuenged for that they of Harlem had before ruined the castels of Brederode Heemstede and Assendolph At the same time they also destroyed the castels of Heiligersberge Cralingen and Spangen in Schicland This done the Kennemers went into Waterlandt where they tooke the townes of Monikendam Pumerende and Edam from thence they drew towards Medemblyk and Enchuysen then to Horne out of the which the inhabitants issued forth in armes to skirmish with them but at the first incounter their Bayliffe was slaine with many riche Bourgesses and the rest were beaten backe euen into their ports so as there were many prisoners and among them foure of the chiefe of the towne Captaine William Nagel causing his men to approache and to aduise how to force them those of the towne put all their women and maides in order of battaile with their white kerchers and white smockes vpon their garments to make them seeme a troope of men all in white armor the which succeeded happily for them for the Kennemers seeing them a farre off thought no otherwise but that they had beene the
being not very strong the beseeged without any battery made the like composition to them of Saintron and gaue ten men who had also their heads cut off among the which there were fiue Hostages From thence the duke marched with his army before Liege the which did much trouble the inhabytants some desyring to hold good and to defend the Citty saying that they had men ynough especially a hardie knight called Rasse de Lattre others seeing their countrie destroyed and burnt demanded a peace at what rate soeuer The duke approching neere the towne there was an Ouerture of peace by the sollicitation of the Hostages Who acknowledging the fauour that had beene done then were mediators of this businesse Finally they perswaded them of the towne to yeeld and brought three hundred of the chiefe of the Cittie in their shirtes with their heads legges and feete bare who brought the keyes of their towne and Cittie of Liege vnto the duke yeelding themselues to his mercy except from fire and spoile At the which there was present the lord of Mony Ambassador for the French King and Iohn Preuost his Secretary who were come to make the like demaund and charge vnto the duke as the Constable had done a little before But they preuailed no more then he had done The day of the reduction the duke thinking to make his entry sent first the lord of Humbercourt for that he had good acquaintance there but the entry was forbidden him that day the mutiners opposing all they could against the peace The lord of Humbercourt remained in an Abbay in the suburbes where he wrought so pollitikely as early the next day many Hostages came vnto him intreating him to come vnto the Pallace wheras the people were assembled and that he would there sweare two points whereof they were in doubt which was that they should bee free from fire and spoile and that presently after they would deliuer him the portes Hee presently aduertised the duke thereof from whome hauing receiued commandement so to doe hee went and sware for their better assurance which done the Liegeois commanded their men to come away that were at the gates suffring the lord of Humbercourt to place the dukes gards there and to plant foure Enseignes vpon the foure gates And so the duke was Maister of the sayd towne and Citty of Liege into the which hee entred the day following in great triumph causing twenty fadomes of the wall to bee beaten downe in his presence and the ditch to bee filled vp against the breach There entred with him two thousand men at armes in complete armes they and their horses and two thousand Archers the rest remayning at the campe Hee went first to Saint Laurence Church He stayed some daies in the cittie during the which he caused sixe score to be executed of those which had beene Hostages and with them the messenger of the towne whom he hated extreamely it may bee for his bad tongue he made some newe lawes and customes and charged them with great summes of money the which he sayd were due vnto him for the breach of the peace Hee carried away all their Artillery and armes and raized all the Towers of the towne walles Then hee returned into his countries whereas he was receiued with great triumph especially in the towne of Gand who with some other townes had begunne to rebell But now they receiued him like a victorious Prince Here by we may see how much a victory doth import not onely with enemies but also with neighbours and friends and how dangerous a thing it is to bee vanquished For if the duke had beene beaten in the countrie of Liege the Ganthois had continued in their rebellion with the other Flemings which they did now forbeare seeing him returne a conqueror A Prince ought therefore to be very carefull to hazard a battaile if he bee not forced therevnto and before hee attempt it hee must propound all doubts and dangers that may happen for that those that doe balance and peize the benifit or losse that may rise thereby doe most commonly prosper better then those that rashly and with a vaine presumption runne on headlong to fight as it hath happened thrice to this duke Charles as wee shall shew hereafter But all the good councells and all the best indeauors in the world are of no force when God hath a worke to do whereof we must not to curiously serch into the first causes and motiues The duke beeing at Gand the French King sent many Ambassadors vnto him to perswade him to abandon the duke of Brittayne and he on the other side sent vnto the King to excuse himselfe saying plainely that hee could not doe it This refusall did much displease the King but especially the victory which hee had had against the Liegeois his allies whome notwithstanding hee had least ingaged In the end Sommer being come the King burning with desire to ruine the duke of Brittaine caused his armie to enter into his countrie The duke of Bourgongne hauing intelligence thereof writ vnto the King intreating him to forbeare seeing that the dukes of Normandie and Brittayne were comprehended in the treatie of peace But receiuyng no pleasing answere from the King hee caused his armie to march towardes Peronne The Cardinall Balue came thether to him but stayed not long hauing made some ouerture of a treatie the King tending to no other ende but to diuide him from the other Princes telling him that the dukes of Normandie and Brittaine would accord with the King without him Duke Charles made him a short answere which was that he was not come to field to make warre against this King but to succor his Allies Presently after the Cardinalls departure there came a Herald called Brittayne to the duke bringing letters from the dukes of Normandie and Brittayne conteyning that they had made an accorde with the King renouncing all other allyance namely his The duke of Bourgongne was much amazed at these newes seeing that hee was come armed to field only to succor them he was in some doubt that they had bin coūterfit letters but this suspition was soone taken away by other letters which did confirme it Messengers posted frō the king to the duke from the duke to the King in the end the King gaue vnto the duke 120000. crownes whereof the moity should be presently paied before hee raised his campe for his charges in leauyng of that army The duke sent a groome of his chamber that was very familiar with him vnto the King whose name was Frobisser The king trusting his secrets very much vnto this man told him that hee desired much to speake with the duke hoping to winne him considering the bad offices which these two dukes had played him and the great summe of money which hee had now giuen him To whome the King sent the Cardinall of Balue to perswade him therevnto who found the duke at Peronne but
King of Româ—…ins had good cause Then to supplant I had the Gouernors place Being also Prince and head o're Saxon Lawes But Freezlands gouernment hariditarie Was giuen then to me he cruell foeâ—… At Groninghen reacht me a deadly blowe My friends to Misnia-house my corps did carrie AFter the Emperors retreat the Flemings by vertue of their treatie of Bruges drew vnto their party against Duke Albert the townes of Brusselles Lovuaine Tillemont and other small towns of Brabant who had their shares in this warre as also they of Arthois Henanult and Namur did by meanes of the French who were allyed to the Flemings All this faction was but a ruine and a generall distruction of al the Netherlands one towne making warre against another some towne was taken one day for one party and recouered againe the next by the other During this warre the Flemings made themselues strong at sea imploying many banished men of Hollande and other that might not drinke of all waters with the which they did much harme vnto the Hollanders espetially to them of Leyden With which Flemings Francis Brederod brother to the Lord of Brederod did ioyne with certen banished men of Rotterdam and of some other townes This Gentleman was made one of their Captaines at sea to make warre against the Hollanders who were his owne Countrymen so as being imbarked in Flanders he landed at Delfshauen and so marched to Rotterdam the which he surprised passing ouer to the ditch vpon the Ice without striking stroake which towne was at that time full of marchandise the which they could not then ship by reason of the great abondance of Ice which floats in winter in that riuer vnto the sea The flemings not being contented to set the fire of dessention by their rebellion in their own contry but they presently kindled it in Brabant and Holland sedusing the goodsubiects of both contries to ioyne with them in their villanies In the yeare 1489. the King of Romains came into Holland where he went throughout all the townes to shew them that by reason of the alterations in Flanders they should bee carefull to stand vpon their gards intreating them to continue in their accustomed loyalty to the Prince his Sonne and to him and toreceiue no strang forces doing this being in the towne of Harlem their were other townes in Holland which came to complaine of the Harlemois which had beene the cause of great troubles if the King had not wisely preuented it Yet not with standing there was some warre by reason of the surprise of Rotterdam the which did much anoy their neighbors hauing drawne the vicont of Montfort to their party who also made violent warres for his part vntil that in the end the 22. of Iune the seignior Francis of Brederode Superintendant in the towne of Rotterdam began to treat with the Squier of the King of Romaines as in the end an Agreement was made by the which a Proclamation was made at the towne house that whosoeuer would depart the towne with the seignior of Brederode they might freely doe it without any let and in like sort all that would remaine might do it boldly without feare or serch According to which agrement Francis of Brederode and the other Captaines with their soldiars departed the towne and the Squier entred with his men but all this did not pacific the troubles in Holland nor with the Vicont of Montfort In Nouember following Albert Duke of Saxony ariued in Holland he came first to Leyden and from thence to la Goud to aduise of the meanes to treat an accord with them and with the Vicont of Montfort For the effecting whereof there was an assembly of the states in the saide towne of Leyden But by reason of the Dukes sodaine departure who went towards Brabant for matters of greater importance which neere concerned him it remayned for a time in suspence In the meane time the Vicont being at Worden continued his spoyles vpon the Hollanders This cruell deuouring â—…arre of the flemings against the King of Romains being thus strangely inflamed to the ruine and desolation of all the neighbour countries in the end both parties yeelded to a peace submitting themselues to the arbitrement of the French King who should be sonne in law to the King of Romains and to his councell who after manie conferencee and deliberations gaue an arbitracie sentence which was very benificiall to the King of Romaines and preiudiciall to the Flemings concluding to an accord and reconciliation in the which Philip of Cloues was not comprehended who kept at that time in the Castell of Scluse but afterwards hee was receiued into grace This peace was proclaymed throughout all the Netherlands to the incredible ioy of all the people being tired with the fore-passed miseries After-wards by reason of the abatement of coines which during the warre had bin exceding heigh in respect of that they had bin before there was a mutiny in the Towne of Bruges for the suppressing wherof Engelbert of Nassau was sent who as wel for this cause as for that they kept their Prince prisoner did so pinch the towne as they continued poore a long time after and the Brugeois were constraind by the allowance of the King of Romaines to build vnto the said earle of Nassau that goodly house which the Princes of Orange haue at this day in the towne of Bruges Duke Albert of Saxony being returned out of Brabant into Holland after the assembly of the estates held at Leyden seeing that the Vicont of Montfort did not forbeare to do all the Iniuries he could vnto the Hollanders it was resolued by the said duke and by the townes of Holland to go â—…besiege him appointing the Rendeuous for their army betwixt Worden and Montfort And about the end of May in the yeare 1490. the said Duke accompanied with Iohn of Egmond Gouernor of Holland and of many other noblemen went planted his campe before the towne and castel of Montfort the which he did batter furioufly and ouerthrew the ports towers walls giuing many assaults the which were well defended the besieged making many braue sallies in which and during the siege there died many of either side So as in the end the Earle of Nassau of Chimay arriuing in Holland preuailed so by their good meanes perswations with the Duke of Saxony to auoid a greater effusion of blood as there was an accord made betwixt the Duke the Hollanders of the one part the Vicont of Montfort on the other by the which the Vicont should restore to the Hollanders the towne and castle of Woerden departing with his family all that was in it in regard whereof the Duke should raise his campe from before Montfort the which was performed of either side Then the Vicont tooke an oth of fealty to the King of Romains and to Prince Philip his sonne in the hands of duke Albert so the said
one with her attendance in goodly equipage There were in all full 15000. horse as well barded as archers and those of the Emperors house-hold Spaniards Wallons Germaines and other nations marching quite through ths Cittie and going out at another Porte to lodge abroad for there was scarce roome in the Citty to lodge the Maisters The Emperor approching neere the Porte the Chanoins and the foure orders of begging Friars went to meete him conducting him to the great Church which they call Charlemagnes Chappell where in two dayes hee was annointed sacred and crowned with the first Imperiall Crowne the which was of Yron with all the ancient ceremonies and solemnities accustomed the which are particularly described in my great Chronicle Hee remained fiue dayes in the citty of Aix after his coronation sending backe many Noblemen Netherlanders to prouide for the frontiers Then hee returned to Cologne and from thence to Maestricke About that time certaine ships which they called Busses being fishing for Hearing were taken at sea by the commandement of the King of Denmarke and carried to Coppenhagen Adolph of Bourgongne Lord of Beueren high Admirall to the Emperour sent certaine deputies in his Maiesties name vnto the King In this prise of ships there was one of La Vere in Zeeland the which being seazed on by the Danes a storme comming the Marriners of Zeeland became maisters of them whom they kept close vnder hatches vntill they had brought them to la Vere where they were kept prisoners vntill that the deputies had obtained a discharge for their ships from the King of Denmarke which done the Admirall attired the Danes that were brought to la Vere all new and sent them home into Denmarke with good vsage After that the Emperor was parted from Spaine to come into Germany to receiue the Imperial crowne there fell out great troubles for that Don Piedro Giron and others did rise in armes by reason of their freedomes and liberties complaining of the seuere gouernment of the Lord of Cheures whom the Emperour had left in Spaine as if hee would giue all the offices of the Kingdome to the Netherlanders and other strangers excluding the naturall Spaniards So beeing in great numbers both of horse and soote they marched directly towards Valliodolit where without striking stroake or any opposition they carried away Queene Iane the Emperors Mother and all the Councell prisoners to Tordesillas distant but eight leagues from thence The which Cardinall Adrian borne at Vtrecht who had sometimes beene the Emperors Scholemaster seeing hauing beene appointed gouernor with the Admirall of Castille did leauy men also to make head against them hauing first sommoned them by deputies to submit them selues and returne to their accustomed obedience with promises of the Emperors speedy returne To whome they made a bould and a presumptuos answere that they did their duties to marry their Queene widdow to King Philipâ—… mother to the Emperor to the duke of Calabria sonne to King Frederic expelled from Naples to make him King of Castille But being obstinate and not willing to yeeld to any reason they were surprized in Tordesillas and the Queene deliuered out of their hands so as some were punished with death others banished When as Martin van Rossein Lord of Puydroien had discharged for a time the Office of gouernor of Friseland for the duke of Geldre finding that the priuate gouernors captaines and other Officers sought more their owne priuate prosit then the seruice of their Prince or the good of the common-weale and not able to endure it hee parted from Sneck and returned into Geldres acquainting the duke with the causes for the which he would giue ouer his place Wherevpon their was a new gouernor sent into Friseland in his place which was Christopher Earle of Maeurs a man of great respect and authority In the meane time the prolongation of the truce for a yeare beganne to weare away wherevpon it was continued againe for two yeares more During the which the Geldrois did not forbeare to rob and steale both by sea and land the which the poore soules of the Bourguignon were faine to beare beeing forced to obserue the Articles of the contract so as in suffring they had nothing left them but that goodly vertue patience About the time of the Emperors coronation the Geldrois did carry themselues so insolently as without respect of truce or any thing else they tooke the towne of Nicuport right against Schoonhouen in Holland the which they did spoile and burne The Bourguignons vanquished with impatience pursued them so as they tooke some prisoners and among the rest some gentlemen of good houses who were executed and layed vpon wheeles as theeues and robbers The Frisons of the Bourguignon party hearing that the Emperor should hold an Imperiall diet at Wormes in Germany sent their deputies thether Kempo Martua a knight of the councell of Friseland and Sybrand Roorda to beseech his Imperiall Maiesty and the Princes of the Empire that they might be once freed and deliuered from the oppressions and outrages which the Geldrois did them To which petition they had a fauorable answere the Emperor excussing himselfe for that he had no sooner prouided for it with promise to redresse it speedily Afterwards William of Rogendorf the Emperors Lieutenant in Friseland was called away and discharged from his gouernment in his place was appointed George Schenck Baron of Tautenburch who before had beene Drossart of Vollenhof who came the 24. day of March to Leuwarden with ample commission The sayd Lord of Rogendorf was made generall of the armie which Philip of Bourgongne Bishoppe of Vtrecht sent to passe the Zuyderzee and entred into Cuyndert where hauing stayed some-time and made warre against the Geldrois Frisons they went on and came to Lemmer whether the Earle of Maeurs the duke of Geldres lieutenant had afore sent some men to stoppe his passage if happily Rogendorf should offer it Yet notwithstanding any resistance hee past there chased the Geldrois spoiled and ransomed Lemmer and all the Sea-coast towardes the East Rogendorf hauing thus past his troupes into Friseland hee left Nicholas Wilderstroff to commaunde in his place and went to the Court at Brusselles All this was done to vanquish and tire the Frison Geldrois and to drawe them to the Emperours obedience The Emperor thrust on by Pope Leo to suppresse the doctrine of Martin Luther published in the same yeare 1521. his first bloudy Edict against them of the Protestants relligion whome then by a generall terme they called Lutherans which continued in the Netherlands vnto the yeare 1566. since which time vnto this day they haue called them Gueux as in France Huguenots as wee shall hereafter see but the Spaniards yet call them by the name of Lutherans All this time the warre continued in Friseland betwixt the Bourguignons vnder the command of the Baron of Tautenburche in the name of the Emperour hauing ioyned with
were broken and then to keepe the towne in better order then it had beene the Emperour caused a great and strong Cittadell to be built in the place whereas the Abbaie of Saint Bauon was wont to stand into the which hee put a good gouernor and a sufficient garrison to hold them in subiection that they might neuer rebell any more Moreouer the towne payed 50000. florins vnto the Emperour besides their Annuall duties All the preuiledges which they had enioyed for so many yeares which had beene the cause of their often and many mutinies and rebellions were taken from them fifty of the chiefe of the towne attired all in mourning weedes cast themselues at the Emperours feete and other fifty in their shirts with halters about their necks crying for mercy with their hands lift vp with other indignities that were done them as you may reade at large in the Chronicle of Flanders On Saint Mathews day Ferdinand King of Romaines arriued at Brusselles with a smal traine whereof the Emperor being aduertised the same night he tooke post with foure horse only whereof the Earle of Buren was one and the Lord of Conde an other it was very darke before they arriued at Brusselles whereas hee was welcome to his brother King Ferdinand and to his sister the Queene of Hungary This same yeare was published by the Emperor the 4. bloudy Edict against them of the religion in the Netherlands the which confirming the 3. precedent was the subiect of al those that haue since bin granted both by himself King Philip his son beeing called the great Edict of the yeare ◅540 the which is yet daylie obiected against them of the relligion inthe lowe countries Whilest that the Emperour made some aboade in the Netherlands being much troubled to suppresse the Ganthois Hee consulted also what was to bee done against the Protestants of Germanie the Popes Legat incensed him against them all he could vpbraiding them with all the opprobrious termes that might be terming them worse then Turkes and proclayming warre against them charging them with heresie and rebellion The Emperour following his accustomed course without aduertising of the Legat appointed a diet at Haguenau where King Ferdinand was president for the Emperor and as King of Romains where after some conferences it was sayd that matters were in that estate as they could not determine any thing especially through the absence of the Elector of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen and therefore they must referre the businesse vnto an other daie when as the Ambassadours and Diuines of eyther side should meete in equall numbers to conferre togither vpon the Articles of the confession of the Protestants faith prouided notwithstanding that the Edict of Ausbourg should stand in force and that it should bee lawfull for the Pope to send his deputies thether if he pleased The diet was referred to Wormes and in the meane time the Emperor writ his letters confirming the former conclusion promising an Imperiall diet whereas hee would be himselfe in person whither that should bee brought that should bee treated at Wormes Hee sent his Ambassador Granuelle to Wormes with his sonne Anthony Perrenot Bishop of Arras and some Spanish diuines Granuelle in the Emperors name exorted them that were there present to studie for peace and vnion The next daie Campege the Popes Ambassador made his speech to this effect that the Pope would for his part do all that was possible excepting relligion But nothing was done in this assemblie for that matters inclyned in fauor of the Protestants who desired nothing more then to enter into conference hauing brought many learned men to that end among others Melancton Bucer and Caluin After many remises for a countenance onely there were some publicke disputations betwixt Melancton and Eckius touching originall sinne But the third daie Granuelle and the other Ambassadors receiued letters from the Emperor by the which hee referred the businesse vnto the diet at Ratisbone commanding the Protestants to be there also and Granuelle to returne vnto him In the beginning of February 1541. the Emperor leauing the Netherlands came to Mets in Lorraine and so passing by Spire came to Ratisbone He was receiued at Nuremberg with great state In March many Princes the states of Germany came to Ratisbone where he attended them who on the day of the assembly begun the 25. of Aprill propounded many excuses why matters had beene so long delaied yet prefering the quiet of Germany before all other things yea before his owne health hee was come thether to intreat them to aduise of some good agreement and to the end that euery one might know how much he desired peace his opinion was if they found no better expedient that there should be some learned and quiet minded Germains chosen out to conferre friendly togither of all differences and report as well to the Emperor as to the States how they might come to some agreemēt Wherevpon there were diuers conferences betwixt three Doctors of the Protestants and three of the Romish relligion but they agreed in fewe things the Romanists offring still to refer their controuersies to the Popes decision the which the Protestants did mightily impugne The Emperor hauing heard all their opinions discoursed in order concluded that seeing their differences could not be there determined and that there were other important affaires hauing also staied long there hee referred all to a councell whereof the Popes Legat had giuen him hope and that hee himselfe would in person sollicit it vnto the Pope promising also to returne into Germany If that the Pope did not aduance any thing to prouide himselfe for the pacification thereof William duke of Cleues of Iuilliers c. vpon the word of Ferdinand King of Romaines went vnto the Emperour to see if they might agree touching the duchie of Geldres but hee could neuer obtaine a confirmation from the Emperour As for his proximitie and neerenesse to the succession there was no doubt of it But the Emperour pretended the Inuestiture which his Grandfather the Emperour Maximillian had made vnto him to hold it in fee of the Empire and the purchase which the Duke of Bourgongne his great Grandfather had made of Duke Arnhold and lastly the acco◅d made betwixt him and Charles of Egmont the last Duke of Gelders With which allegations and pretensions the Duke of Cleues could not be satisfied maintayning all these sales seazures and accords to be voyd and of no force for that they could not be made to preiudice the next heire apparent with out his consent The French King hearing of the Du◅e of Cleues discontentment resolued to make an alliance with him that by his meanes and others hee might make warre in the Netherlands and there-vpon offered not onely to take him and his countries into his protection but also to giue him all assistance and ayd to inlarge his limits with a good annuall pension and moreouer to giue
throughout all the country of Liege as a fee of the Empire vpon euery thousand florins value of Inheritance to helpe to defray the charges of the last warres of Germany The Liegeois would haue opposed themselues and fallen to mutiny but hauing sent their deputies to the Emperor in the end they yeelded vpon certaine conditions The Emperor at the same time did chase all the ministers out of Ausbourg Iohn Frederic duke of Saxony although hee were a prisoner did not forbeare to comfort them and to assist them with money Some of them retired into Suisserland and some else where The newes of this banishment of Ministers amazed many for euery man feared that what had beene done there would be also practised in other places as it was afterwards but for a short time in respect of Germany At such time as all were in these alterations the French King hearing that duke Maurice attempted warre against the Emperor fell vpon 22. ships of Zeeland bound for Spaine being worth aboue 200000. florins the which hee tooke and spoiled and then carried them into his hauens wherevpon the 17. day of September in the same yeare 1551. the French Ambassador was sent away from Brusselles as an enemie with all the French Nobility which had remained with the Lady Elenor Queene Dowager of France and warre was proclaimed the 21. of that month betwixt these two great Princes both by land and sea Many wondred how the King durst â—…eaue the friendship of the Emperor beeing then in so great prosperity neither did the Emperor as some sayd expect it In Ianuary 1552. the generall States of the Netherlands assembled in the towne of Bruges in Flanders whereas the Queene of Hungary Gouernesse of the sayd countries made a demand in the Emperors name of an extraordinary aide or subuention of three Millions of gold wherevnto the Flemings would in no sort yeeld by reason of their small traffick but they offred to entertaine so many men at armes as should fall to their shares wherewith the sayd Lady was not well satisfied Afterwards the sayd estats assembled at Brusselles where vpon certaine conditions they did grant 400000 florins Duke Maurice and the Marquis of Brandenbourg sonnes in lawe to the Landtgraue of Hessen sent their Ambassadors to the Emperor accompanied with the letters of the King of Denmarke of Ferdinand King of Romaines of Albert duke of Bauaria of the brethren of Lunebourg of the Elector Frederic Palatin of Wolfgang duke of Deux Ponts of Iohn Marquis of Brandenbourg of Ernest Marquis of Baden of the dukes of Merklenbourg and of Christopher duke of Wirtemberg to sue for the Landtgraues deliuery But it seemed the Emperour respected all these Princes little referring the answere of their request to the comming of duke Maurice who hee sayd should come to treate with him William eldest sonne to the Landtgraue did importune him and Maurice more both he and the Marquis of Brandenbourg putting him in minde of their bond and promise speaking somewhat bigge vnto him In the meane time the horsemen that had lyen about Magdebourg and within it wintred in Thuringen and the neighbour country where they did much harme especially to the Clergy and aboue all to the Archbishop of Mentz Wherevpon hee and the other two of Collogne and Treues complayned to the Emperor being resolued to forsake the councell To whome hee gaue good words intreating them to stay whether the duke of Wirtemberg those of Strausbourg and other Protestants had sent their Ambassadors and the duke Maurice did also send his the which did much reioyce the sayd Archbishops beleeuing that they had no more any cause to doubt of him The chiefe differences of the Protestants Ambassadors were vpon the safe conduit of their diuines the which they were forced to alter three times and vpon the other points which duke Maurice had propounded These Ambassadors hauing receiued their safe conduits in such forme as they could obtaine them sent them to their Princes and Magistrates Soone after many began to murmur that the councel should be prolonged and that Maurice beeing in league with the French made his preparations to warre against the Emperor This report increased daylie and they sent messengers from Trent to the Emperor to know his pleasure Afterwards an other came from the Emperor but they vsed therein great discretion to keep matters secret least they should discontent the Councell vntill that the first of Aprill Duke Maurice and his companions besieged the Towne of Ausbourg the which three daies after was yeelded vnto him Which was the cause of the dissipation of the Councell Maurice writte letters the which were afterwards printed to the States of the Empire setting downe many liuely reasons which moued him to make warre against the Emperor for the preseruation of his relligion and the liberty of Germany and withall for the deliuery of the Landtgraue his father in law Hee did greatly taxe the Emperor seeking to bring Germany into seruitude vnder his Monarchy as hee had already oppressed it by diuers exactions and suppressions of their priuilidges Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg published a writing almost of the same substance complayning that the libertie of Germany was opprest euen by them that were bound to defend and inlarge it c. The French King did also publish letters by the which hee shewed that hee had no other end but the libertie of Germany and of all Christendome complayning of the wrongs which the Emperor did and had done to him and to his friends in whose succors he had resolued to imploy all his forces in that warre yea euen his owne person without any respect to his owne priuate Interest how great soeuer it might bee But onely that Germany might bee restored and Iohn Frederic Duke of Saxony and the Landtgraue of Hessen deliuered c. These letters of the Princes and of the French King dispersed throughout Germany gaue cause of hope to some and to others of feare and care William the Landtgraues sonne hauing put his men to field went and ioyned with Duke Maurice Albert of Brandenbourg did also ioyne with them with his horse and foote In all places where they past they brought the Townes vnder their subiection taking the Inhabitants into their safegard and protection yet forcing them to furnish both mony and Artillery The Princes did also send to them of high Germany and especially to Nuremberg that they should not faile to bee at Ausbourg in the end of Aprill and did also presse them of Vlme to enter into league with them Whilst these things were doing in Germany the French King marched with a goodly army and tooke Toule and Verdun Imperiall Townes vppon the Frontiers of France Then marching into Lorraine vnder coullor of demanding passage hee tooke Metz a Towne of the Empire also He thought to haue done as much to Strasbourg a faire great rich and mighty Towne but the Senat excused them-selues and kept him
for that the besieged were aduertised thereof and did countermine The Towne was valiantly defended by choise Captaines Princes and others of great houses and all vnder the command of the Duke of Guise The Emperor seeing his armie ouer-toyled and to disband and diminish dayly through hunger colde nakednesse and want of all things some Italians retiring into the Towne to the Duke of Guise being prest by necessitie about the end of December hee retired his Canon resoluing to make an honourable retreate wherein heâ—… imployed Cont Egmont to discouer and assure the wayes and the first of Ianuary the Emperor came to Thionuille leauing all the charge to dispose of the retreate of the Armie vnto the Duke of Alua his Lieutenant the which he performed with great dishonor and shame for so great a Captaine as hee would seeme to bee Making the sayd retreate with the Earle of Aremberg their reere-ward was charged by the Vidame of Chartres who defeated a Cornet of light horse burnt a good quantitie of poulder and tooke more prisoners then hee desired so weake and languishing were the poore souldiers as they could not make any defence Then was it generally spoken that the Duke of Alua had beene the cause why the Emperor had not taken Metz for that hee would neuer hazard his Spaniards to giue a generall assault notwithstanding that there were a sufficient breach made whereat they could not haue lost so many men as there dyed afterwards through colde plague and pouertie for which cause the Emperour was forced with shame to raise his Campe hauing lost so many men spent so much money and blemished so much his reputation and credit The Emperor hauing stayed some time at Thionuille arriued the sixt of February at Brussells Many would not beleeue that hee was yet liuing wherefore hee was wonderfully welcome and very honourably and gratiously receiued especially by his two Sisters the Queenes of France and Hongary The people in generall were wonderfull ioyfull of his comming euerie one desiring to see him often for that they could scarce beleeue that he was yet lyuing hee was growne so pale and leane with continuall sicknesse There was a subsedie graunted him by the States of sixe hundred thousand florins during his aboade in the sayd towne there fell out a great tumult betwixt the Spaniards and the Watermen in the which there were two Spaniards slaine two daies after they beganne againe where there was a maker of Tapistrie slaine Wherevpon the Officer of the towne tooke foure Spaniardes prisoners The Magistrates complained vnto Prince Phillip the Emperors sonne of the disorder of the Spaniards falling ten or twelue vpon one man to kill him the Prince gaue them leaue to apprehend them and to doe Iustice. And whereas one of the chiefe Authors was fled into Saint Nicholas Church they went and apprehended him in the Quier neere to the great Altar The Spaniards did runne thether in armes meaning to rescue him among the which there were some of their commanders that would haue insulted ouer the Iustice but the Seignior of Molembais arriued with his halbardiers who made them retire for otherwise it had gone hard with them If they had not supprest their Insolencie in this manner no Burgeses of Brusselles nor any one borne in the countrie durst to haue walked in the streetes if they had not beene the stronger and there had beene continually great fighting with them but the Spaniards doe so much feare la Horca that is the gallowes as this commandement restrained them In the â—…end of the Spring the Lord of Bignicourt of the house of Montmorency by the Emperors commandement did inuest Teroane lying in the midest of Arthois for the defence whereof the French King sent the Lords of Esse and Montmorency with their companies of men at armes and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen Adrien of Croy Earle of Roeux lord Steward of the Emperours house was generall of the army the towne was furiously battered and they endured 3. charges at an assault where there was great losse on eyther side but of the French there were diuers of account slaine In the end by sappe they ouerthrew a Bulwarke which filled vp the ditch which the Lord of Montmorency and the rest of the captaines seeing demanded to capitulate But whilest they parled with Count Bossu who succeeded the Earle of Roeux beeing dead during the siege the Germaines and Bourguignons gaue a furious assault on an other side and carried it by force killing all they incountred Onely the Spaniardes who loue money saued the liues of many Gentlemen to haue their ransomes The most cruell and pittilesse were the Germaines and Landtfknechts reuenge that during the siege they had set a sheepe to feede vpon the rampart who as his kinde is fell a bleating Met Met putting the Emperours men in minde of Metz where they had lost so many The Lord of Montmorency being wounded was taken prisoner with the Lords of Attigny Loches Varennes Fauernon Montenay la Barre and many others who beeing put in a safe place the towne was all fiered and blowne vp with powlder so as in the end it was quite raized and ouerthrowne nothing remayning but one suburbe of the Iurisdiction of Arthois the circuit of the ground where the towne stood belonging to the Bishoppe of Bologne the which hee farmes out for pasture Albert Marquis of Brandenbourg continued warre still against the Bishops hauing spoyled the lands of Henry duke of Brunswick hee went into the territory of Minde Duke Maurice fearing that he would march into the country of Hessen to assayle Franconia againe he went from Northuse to Embâ—… to be before him and hauing gathered togither his troupes he sent to defie him by a gentleman wherof followed a most grâ—…uous and bloudie battaile Both armies beeing neere vnto Saxony the ninth of Iuly Albert hauing past the riuer of Wexen they ioyned Battaile with all their forces and great fury and choller of eyther side there was a bloudie fight which continued many houres in the which duke Maurice who was the stronger in horse had the victorie but it cost him his life for hee was shot through the bodie whereof hee died two daies after Albert saued himselfe in Honobrie there were about foure thousand men slaine vpon the place most of them horsemen with a great number of prisoners Henry of Brunswick lost two Sonnes Charles and Phillip Duke Maurice was not then much aboue 32. yeares old He died without any sonnes leauing two onely daughters Duke Augustus his brother succeeded him in all his estates and electorall dignity The Prince of Piedmont Generall of the Emperors army in the place of the Earle of Roeux went after the ruine of Teroane to beseege Hesdin whether the French King had sent a good number of his cheefe commanders as the duke of Bouillon Gouernor of Normandy and Mareshall of France Duke Horatio Farneze the Earle of Villars the marquis of Nesle
some of the Hollanders ships than the Hollanders themselues were tooke fiue of them and brought them into Deepe In this fight the Hollanders had sixe ships burnt and the French men sixe and one sunke in the sea It was thought that the French men lost many thousand men their admirall being one and the Hollanders about 300 men This fight was esteemed an honourable action for the Hollanders because they were but marchants ships and the French men ships of war and better manned While they were busied in the Netherlands touching the ratifying and establishing of a truce there began a new warre in Italy by meanes of pope Paul the fourth the first inuenter of the Iesuiticall sect This Paul was one of the familie and house of Caraffa in Naples that alwayes held with the French men in their Nepolitane warres and for that cause were most of them banished out of Naples and serued vnder the French men This Iesuiticall cardinall Caraffa being pope began to fauour and aduance his owne family and kindred thereby seeking meanes to be reuenged on the noblemen and cardinals which in Italy being their enemies were such as fauoured the emperour and the house of Burgondie as also vpon the houses and families of Columna Romanes and others charging them to be conspirators against him and for that cause persecuted them to the vttermost of his power whereby they were compelled to seeke aid of the viceroy of Naples the duke of Alua the duke of Florence and others who the willinglier granted thereunto because the pope refused to inuest the king with the crown of Naples which he holdeth as tributarie to the sea of Rome and seemed to threaten to excommunicat and curse both the emperour and the king of Spaine for which cause the duke of Alua came to aid the house of Columna and sore anoied the pope taking many places from him whereby he was constrained to craue aid of France which alwayes held and maintained the sea of Rome For which cause in the end of the yeare 1556 the duke of Guise was sent into Italy with eighteene or twentie thousand horse and foot men which did the pope no great pleasure for that the duke of Alua hauing besieged Rome and the king of Spaine hauing woon the battaile at S. Quintines which the pope had heard of the French men were sent for to returne againe into France by which meanes a deuout peace was made the duke of Alua first seeking it and went into Rome to kisse the popes foot and by that meanes got the great priorship of Spaine for his bastard sonne Don Ferdinando de Toledo The war in this sort begun in Italy notwithstanding the truce made betweene both parties not long before the French men and the Spanyards sought to intrap one the other vpon the borders of the Netherlands and to that end vpon Twelfe eue the admirall of France then gouernor of Picardy thought secretly to haue taken the towne of Doway thinking to deceiue the townes-men when they were busie drinking vnto their kings but he failed of his purpose after that hee tooke Leus in Artois which he pilled and spoiled The same yeare in the moneth of March the king of Spaine went into England to his wife queene Mary to haue some aid from her who vpon the seuenth of Iune by sound of trumpet openly proclaimed warre against France both by water and by land and by a booke put in print charged the king of France to haue conspired against her with the duke of Northumberland sir Thomas Wâ—…at Dudley Ashton and other English nobles in regard that hee supported and prouoked them against her as he had done the like to retaine rouers and false coiners of her money wholy against the promise by him made vnto her embassadors as also that not long before he had sent Thomas Stafford one of her rebellious subiects to take the castle of Scarborow and had secretly conspired against the towne and countrey lying about Calis and for that he made warre vpon the Netherlands which the kings of England were by contract long since made alwayes bound to aid and assist and that hee had little esteemed of her intercession of peace and desired no friendly nor good neighbourhood and for those causes she thought it conuenient to declare and hold him for her open enemie which she caused to be signified vnto him by a herault he being then at Reims in Campaigne which herault being rewarded by the king of France was presently returned backe againe with this answere saying That seeing his lady and princesse would now become his vtter enemie whereas hee had alwayes beene her friend he hoped by Gods helpe that hee should find meanes ynough against a woman and to get the better hand of her as his progenitors had alwayes done the like against their enemies The warre in this sort being proclaimed the queene of England raised an armie of sixe or eight thousand horse and foot-men and some pioners which were al apparelled in blew cassocks vnder the conduction of the earle of Pembrooke with the lord Clinton and the lord Mountague and three lord Dudleyes sonnes of the duke of Northumberland and many others which went to Calis and from thence marched to S. Quintines and there ioyned with the king of Spaines armie and holpe him to assault and win the said town where the lord Henry Dudley was slaine in the assault The king of Spaine being in England vpon the sixt of Iuly Emanuel Philibert duke of Sauoy began to raise an armie by aid of the prince of Orange the duke of Arschot the earle of Egmont the earle of Megen the earle of Mansfelt the earle of Barlemont and others with whom were ioyned the Dutch horse and foot and with that armie marched towards Guise making shew to besiege the same and incamped themselues not farre from it but their number daily increasing the duke of Sauoy sodainly approached and inclosed the towne of Saint Quintines with his light horse-men Within the towne there was a company of horse-men led by monsieur Tiligny and captaine Brudit as then gouernor of the towne and not long after in the night time Iasper Coligny earle of Chastilion admirall of France got into the towne The siege being strongly placed round about the same the ordnance was planted and diuers mines and sconces made about it The meane time Henry king of France sent an armie of men vnder the leading of the constable of France and the duke de Montmorancy to put more men and victuals into the towne which they thought to do by meanes of a marsh or poole of water lying upon the one side of the towne and to that end the constable came with his armie and lodging not far from the duke of Sauoyes campe shot out of his armie into the Spanish armie and to the duke of Sauoyes tent whereby he was forced to dislodge and to go into the earle of Egmonts quarter With the constable of
lord de la Garde and many others And after that the towne was ransackt and great part of it burnt from thence the king sent the earle of Arenbergh with three regiments of Dutch men to besiege Chastelet which was soone yeelded vnto him by the lord of Solignar who afterward being in Paris was for the same committed prisoner who made answere for his owne excuse That hee had but three hundred men therein whereof the one halfe was either dead or sore wounded by the batterie of the canon that brake the stones of the walls in such sort about the souldiers eares that they had no meanes to defend themselues and that the place was too little to hide the souldiers in These two places the king caused to be newly fortified and vnderstanding that the Frenchmen began to assemble new forces and to enter againe into the field he resolued to march no further into France but to besiege Han which after sixteene or twentie hundred canon shot was also vpon the twelfth of September deliuered vp vnto him which hee likewise fortified The meane time also he tooke and burnt Noyon Chandy and other places In Winter time the king returned vnto Brussels againe and there discharged the greatest part of his armie from whence also the Englishmen departed into England At that time Don Ferdinando Gonsaga an Italian died in Brussels being come with the king out of the campe an old experienced souldier and esteemed to be the best souldier in the king of Spaines armie and one that had done great seruice for the emperor Charles In the earldome of Burgondie the lord of Poleville had assembled eight or nine thousand men in the king of Spaines behalfe to inuade the territories of Bresse and therewith besieged Bourg in Bresâ—…e but finding it to be better prouided and fortified than he supposed it had been and hearing that the king of France had sent for his French souldiers out of Italy which were marching against him wherof 2000 harquebusiers conducted by the Vidasme de Chartres were alreadie entred into the countrey hee was forced disorderly to breake vp his siege The king of France in the meane time after the losse of S. Quintines and other places caused another armie of men to be raised in Campeigne by the duke de Neuers and to ioine with them had sent for the duke of Guise with his souldiers out of Italy with charge to take order for all things there in the best maner that he could Whereupon pope Paul doubting some further matter began to hearken to an agreement and to that end sent his legat to the duke of Alua with whom a peace was concluded vpon condition That the duke of Alua in the kings behalfe should do that homage and submission that a deuout son is bound to do vnto his holy father thereby to obtain grace pardon from him and so doing the pope should receiue him into his fauour againe and in regard thereof the king should deliuer the pope all the towns he had taken from him and the pope for his part should recall his curse and receiue all the rest of the princes and noble men that he had aided to make war against him into fauor Anthony Columne and Ascanius de le Cornia only excepted The French army being newly gathered together vnder the duke of Guise determined to enterprise something against Calis which was once before sought to haue beene done by the admirall monsieur Chastillion and then againe attempted by the marshall Strossy and to that end vpon the first of Ianuarie the duke of Guise came before it and presently woon the fort of Newlandbridge a fort that stood in the way betweene Calis and Bullen and lay in a marsh ground and likewise another fort called Risebanke and being master of those two forts the towne hauing but few souldiers within it which by means of the taking of the two forts aforesaid was narrowly beset both by water and by land vpon the fourth of Ianuarie they battered the water gate with a peece of ordnance and the castle with 33 canons so furiously that the shot was heard to Antuerpe being thirtie three Dutch miles from thence whereby they made a great breach and a fit place to giue an assault and at a low water gaue a fierce assault whereby they draue the English men out of the castle that fled into the towne where fir Anthony Ager captaine of the castle was slaine but the English men returning againe when the floud came and that they within the castle could not be aided by them that were without and for that there were but a few French men within the castle set valiantly vpon the castle again thinking to driue the French men out but by the lord of Daudelot the duke of Aumale and the marques Dalboeuf they were expulsed after that they sought by placing two or three great peeces of ordnance vpon the bridge of the castle and by vndermining to win the castle againe but many of them were burnt and blowne vp and being driuen from thence the gate was strongly fortified against them At last the lord Wentworth gouernor of the towne with others of the principall commanders perceiuing what danger the towne was in and that the castle was already woon and they very weake being not aboue 300 fighting men and hauing want of many things and wholy without any hope of reliefe by meanes of a great storme that as then was at sea the wind being North-east whereby no man could come out of England whereby it seemed as if heauen and earth were against them and held with the French men they thought good to parlie and the rather for that they durst not receiue any of the king of Spaines souldiers out of Flanders into the towne although such an offer was made for that they were in suspition that king Philip by that meanes would make himselfe master thereof and for that cause the kings aduice who at his last going out of England passing along by it perceiued the weakenesse thereof sent into England was not beleeued by the counsell there but rather was the cause of more suspition Cardinall Poole and two or three bishops more of the priuie counsell being then in great authoritie in England little knowing the scituation of the place making the queene and the rest of her counsell beleeue that the king of Spaines reputation the common opinion of the strength of the place and of the prouision therein together with the short passage out of England thither to serue the same specially in regard that they were masters of the sea would keepe the French men well ynough from thence as it after plainely appeared at the lord Wentworthes arraignment who being released of his imprisonment in France brauely cleared himself by law which I my selfe heard shewing what aduertisements he had sent ouer from time to time concerning the weakenesse of the place the want of men and the enemies secret enterprises
Which their request he would gladly haue denied them but for that they earnestly alledged all their priuiledges and shewed him the copy thereof and what he had promised and sworne and to the contrary must haue beene forced to protest against him he was content to grant that they should depart out of the countrey within three months after but it fell not out in halfe a yere at the least when he had great need of them about the losse of the Island of Zerby in Barbary The cause why the states were so earnest to haue the Spaniards out of the countrey was for that many courtiers wholly depending vpon the king in great credit with him and as then staying in the Netherlands had made it knowne abroad that they were much moued and hoped for a reuenge for that in the last of the nine yeares schating they were denied the receiuing and distribution of the mony and that the states themselues receiued it and paid it vnto their owne countrimen by their seruants whereby the said courtiers nailes were pared which they openly interpreted to bee a kind of disobedience as if they would prescribe lawes vnto the prince and not trust him with the managing of the common mony With them diuers that sought gouernment and authoritie ioined themselues both strangers and others that sought to further and aduance the opinion of the king and the duke of Alua and also the Spanish Inquisition and the Spaniards which was that it was not possible to driue the Lutherans or heretickes out of the Netherlands nor out of Spaine but they must first find means to obtaine absolute and ful obedience authoritie and commaund for the king whereby they might then plant the Spanish Inquisition therein without the which two points they were to account the Netherlands as lost countries which was to be brought to passe by strange garrisons which things being known and perceiued by the best experienced men amongst the states caused them so earnestly to desire the departure of the Spaniards out of the Netherlands This pretence of these counsellors and the Spanish hatred was at the same time sufficiently made knowne vnto the greatest personages of the Netherlands and that it was resolued that the authors of the petition touching the departure and withdrawing of the Spaniards should be well punished and namely a Spanish counsellor that bare a good affection vnto the nobilitie and gentlemen of the Netherlands came to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont and others playing at Chesse and giuing them warning asked them if they had so much time to play and made no more account touching the request made then vnto the king with such like words which they earnest at their play esteemed to be spoken in ieast but when they had made an end of their play the prince of Orange said to the earle of Egmont as he was a very politicke prince that those words vttered by that counsellor were not spoken in vaâ—…e and therefore desired the earle of Egmont as being very familiar with the said counsellor to speake more at large with him about the same which he did who made him answere That they were to looke vnto themselues and esteeme them to be forewarned by a friend namely that it was determined by the king and his counsell That all those that signed to the petition to haue the Spaniards withdrawne out of the Netherlands or once consented thereunto should be punished for the same at conuenienter time whereof as a friend he gaue them warning And so when all things were ordained and made readie for the kings iourney hee tooke his leaue of the states at Gaunt aboue all things recommending vnto them the maintenance of the Catholicke religion and punishment of heretickes and went to Zeeland where there was a great fleet of ships ready to saile with him exceeding well prouided of all things and amongst the rest great store of capons and hennes to the number of 15000 at the least whereby you may esteeme what the rest of the prouision might be and vpon the 26 of August 1559 he set saile and departed from Vlishing with 20 Spanish and Biscayne shippes 30 hulkes and 40 other shippes and with a good wind in few daies landed at Lacedo in Biscaye where presently the wind changed The counsell of Spaine thought his returne into those countries to be very necessary in regard that the Lutherans began greatly to encrease within the land for the which cause presently vpon his arriuall in Spaine he caused great and rigorous execution to be done not only vpon men but also vpon women and with great and solemne pompe and ceremonies burnt diuers of them and punished others with seuerall kinds of torments and in the moneth of September when he came to Valedolit in October after being personally present with all his court he caused 28 gentlemen of great houses and some of the best in Spaine to bee burnt before him and after that great persecution ensued This yeare in Ianuary Isabella the French kings daughter was brought to the frontiers of France by the king of Nauarre and the Cardinall of Bourbon in great magnificence where she was receiued at Rouceaulx by the Cardinal of Burgos and the duke of Infantasgo and by them conueyed into Castilia to the king and vpon the 31 of Ianuarie with great pompe and solemnitie she was maried vnto him where it is said that during the feast it cost the king two thousand duckets euery day and not long after prince Charles the kings onely sonne was openly proclaimed and declared to be heire apparent vnto all the kingdomes and dominions then in his fathers possession and oath of fidelitie made vnto him for the same This yeare likewise the new riuer made from Antuerpe to Brussels was fully finished which aboue thirtie yeares before had beene begun by them of Brussels digging through many small hilles fields and wayes for which purpose they had bought all the grounds where the said riuer should passe thorow vpon the which they made foure faire great sluces to keepe out the vpper water and digged it so deepe that great ships might passe along within the same Amman van Brussels duke of Lockeghem a great furtherer of this worthy worke was for the same much commended and praised of all the people This yeare vpon the sixteenth of October king Philip erected an Vniuersitie in Doway and endowed it with great reuenewes wherein the Iesuites haue certaine colledges which they of Louen much disliked and in the time of the Emperor Charles in Anno 1530 hindered and staied the erecting therof but at this time without the knowledge of Louen or of the townsmen of Doway it selfe by the procurement of Cardinall Granuelle president Vigilius and the counsellor Nigri it was by the king strongly granted and confirmed by Pope Paul the fourth The reasons the king had to moue him thereunto were That youth might there to the furtherance of the Catholicke religion be
reputations to continue any longer there so discontented as they were with the said cardinall And in the end they intreated that their aduertisment might bee taken in good part by his Ma. and that he would beleeue that what they did was for a true zeale they had to his seruice and for the discharge of their duties Wherunto the king answered them the 6 of Iune That he was well assured that what they did aduertise him by their letters proceeded from a good zeale and affection which they bare vnto his seruice whereof hee had long since made good triall but it was not his custome to change his seruants without good reason seeing that by their letters they did not set down any particular occasions c. Wherunto the noblemen replied the 29 of Iune That their intention was not to frame any action before his Ma. against the cardinall but they did hope that the simple aduertisement which they gaue him without any forme of charge or accusation shold be a sufficient inducement to moue him to meditate of some honorable good meanes of satisfaction to the iust complaints of his good subiects imploying the cardinall in other affairs whereas according to his vocation and profession he might serue more profitably They said they had no intent to charge the cardinal but rather to discharge him yea of a burthen which was not only extraordinarie and vnfit for him but which could not long remaine in his hands without feare of trouble and great inconueniences And if in their former letters they had not specified any occasions it was not for want of matter nor pregnant reasons but for that they held it not fit to fall into more bitternesse against him yet if it pleased his maiestie to be better informed they should find matter ynough and too much whereon his faithfull subiects did ground their complaints And their desire was that his Maiestie would enquire more amply of others that were not suspect whereby his Maiesty might comprehend that it was not without good and iust cause that the commons did greeue and if there were no other occasion but the generall murmuring of the countrey against him it was a sufficient testimonie that his presence great authoritie was too dangerous and therefore not to be imploied Which considered seeing the smal seruice which they could do in the counsel of state with the wrongs disgraces and affronts which they endured they besought his Maiesty to excuse them if they came no more there vntill some other course were taken that should bee held most fit for his seruice and the good of the commonweal in the mean time they would not faile to discharge their duties faithfully in their gouernments or in any thing that it should please the Gouernesse to command or should haue need of their aduice out of the said counsell of state c. Notwithstanding al these admonitions nothing followed and as the practises of the clergy did grow more more odious so the number of the Protestants increased daily notwithstanding al their persecutions the which in the end were so abhorred of al the world as they might easily perceiue that this feare of bishops and Inquisition nor the rigor of their edicts was no longer to be endured And then brake out openly the diuision betwixt the nobles which had lyen long smothered hauing the chiefe gouernment of the affaires of the countrey for that they which would gouerne all alone wherof the cardinall was chiefe could not endure that the princes knights of the order being with them in the counsell of state should propound any mildnesse or moderation of affairs to the kings content and the preseruation of the commonweale without these rigors innouations which made them to absent themselues from the counsell of state And withal the cardinal did continually bite and iniure these noblemen calling some fools others Lutherans with other reproches in reuenge wherof some attired their seruants in fools coats and caps with coxcombs others with quiuers of arrowes importing some league carrying their hats turned vp in despight of the cardinall and of his faction The cardinall informed the king of all this and made his profit therof This dissention among the nobles made the perplexitie of the commons greater who began to bee much discontented seeing that they did not imbrace this businesse resolutely as they ought The Gouernesse priuie to this diuision sent her secretary Armenteros vnto the king at whose returne the cardinal being called away went into Spaine where being resident if he euer did bad office in the Netherlands against the noblemen and generally against the whole commonweale hee did now much worse interpreting all things to the worst construction In the meane time the persecutions ceased not throughout all the countrey against them of the religion but were more violent than euer not without great danger to the magistrats officers of iustice during the time they did their publike executions at which times the people did commonly mutine casting stones against the sergeants executioners as it happened at that time at the execuâ—…ion of C. Fabrâ—… a minister in Antuerpe hauing bin in former times a Carmelite he was betraied by a certain woman who made a shew to beare a great zeale vnto religion hauing â—…dured long imprisonment many miseries in the end he was condemned to be burnt aliue And as the Marcgraue with the bailife his lieutenant hauing brought him to the place went to execute him the people hauing first song Psalms fell to casting of stones against the executioner and his seruant neither was the Marcgraue nor his lieutenant free from touch notwithstanding any helpe they called for of the burgesses the sworne companies who would not stir so as the poore patient being bound and fire beginning to be set to the Marcgraue and his lieutenant not daring to stay any longer fled into the state-house and so did the executioner who yet by the lieutenants commandement before he leapt from the scaffold to saue himself stroke Fabri on the head with a hammer and beat out his braines and stabd him in the backe with a dagger so as the people running to preserue him from the fire found him dead and there the dead bodie lay in the mire vntill 4 of the clock in the afternoone that the Marcgraue with his guaâ—…d hauing put him into a tumbrell seeing the great multitude of people which followed him he caused a great stone to be tied about the dead bodies neck and to be cast into the riuer of Escaut Afterwards some being rescued out of their hands by force for a time they durst not execute any one publikely but in the prisons either by the sword halter water or other torments til after the comming of the duke of Alua then the persecutions began to be done publikely and greater than euer The Winter after Christmas grew extreame cold and the â—…rosts continued most bitter vntil mid
am bound by reason of my office and oath I could not forbeare to speake mine opinion freely therein desiring rather to be disliked for mine aduertisements than for my silence and negligence if the countrey should fall into any disaster be blamed to haue beene a disloyall negligent carelesse gouernour And first touching the obseruation of the counsell although in the beginning they did murmure were vnquiet yet seeing that since they did adde some reseruations and restrictions I did hope that for this point there would grow no great difficultie As for the reformation of Priests and other Ecclesiasticall orders as they be no matters of my vocation I referre my selfe to them that haue the charge and if need be I will therein satisfie his Maiesties will and commaundement Touching the second point containing That Gouernours Consuls and other Officers should with all their power assist the Inquisitors and maintaine them in the authoritie which belongeth to them by diuine and humane lawes the which they haue alwaies vsed vnto this day your Highnesse may remember That the complaints oppositions and difficulties which haue growne throughout all the countrey for the reception of new bishops haue proceeded onely from feare that vnder this cloake they sought to bring in some kind of Inquisition the execution whereof was not onely abhorred but also the name therof was most odious Your Highnesse is not ignorant and it is well knowne to most of the subiects and inhabitants of these prouinces That the Emperour and Queene Marie haue often and diuers times assured the said countries as wel by mouth as writing That the Inquisition should neuer be brought in but that they should be maintained and gouerned as they had beene in former times yea that his Maiestie himselfe had often assured them to free them from such bad suspitions and feares Without doubt Madame these promises and assurances haue kept the subiects and inhabitants from any new change and that many of good calling and abilitie haue spent their estates without seeking any other places whereas they might haue liued in libertie without feare of the Inquisition whereby the peace vnion and traffique hath beene entertained and the contribution of mony requisit for the maintenance of the warres paied whereas otherwise the countrey being destitute of such inhabitants and of their means should be in danger to be a prey to the first that would assaile it In regard of the third point that the kings absolute resolution is That the Edicts made as well by the Emperour as his Maiestie should be duly executed in all points with all rigour without any moderation Madame this point seemeth very hard to digest for that there are many and diuers Edicts which haue beene heretofore moderated and restrained and not alwaies literally obserued and with rigour yea when as the publicke calamitie was not so vrgent as at this present nor when as our people by the sollicitation and practises of our neighbours were not so much giuen to innouations and not to giue them cause with more rigour and vehemencie and to resume the termes of the Inquisition and to seeke to execute them with all bitternesse I cannot Madame comprehend the mysterie but that his Maiesty shall get no other benefit but trouble himselfe disquiet his country and lose the hearts of his good subiects giuing euery one cause to thinke and feare that his Maiestie meanes to take another course than he hath alwaies promised and made shew of and put his countrey in danger to fall into his neighbours hands as well through the great multitude of them that will retyre themselues as for the small assurance will be left for them that shall remaine and all without any helpe or aduancement to religion I will omit many other inconueniences for breuities sake knowing well that both his Maiestie and your Highnesse haue beene heretofore sufficiently informed Withall in my opinion vnder your correction the time is not now fit to moue mens minds which are but too much altered and distempered through famine and the drought of the season and in my conceit it were better that matters were left in suspence vntill his Maiesties comming who wee heare maketh his preparatiues to come into these parts which were to bee wished that hee would make hast that by his presence matters might be so ordered as should be thought fittest for the seruice of God and his Maiesty and for the quiet and prosperitie of these his countries and subiects for any trouble growing the remedie would be more speedie by his presence than otherwise Notwithstanding if his Maiestie and your Highnes be so resolued to haue the said points and articles presently executed the which I see cannot be put in practise without putting the countrey into a greater feare of a totall ruine whereunto his Maiestie beeing here present might take better regard I had rather if they will not surcease this worke till then but will proceed in the said Inquisition and execution that his Maiestie should commit some other in my place that could better comprehend the inclinations of the people and were more capable than my selfe to keepe them in obedience and awe rather than it should come into the mouthes of men whereby I and mine might bee hereafter blamed that in the countries of my gouernment and during my charge there had happened any troubles or sinister accident Desiâ—…ing his Maiestie and your Highnesse to rest assured that what I say is not for that I am vnwilling to obey your commaundements or to liue otherwise than a good Christian as my fore-passed actions can well witnesse I hope his Maiestie hath found by experience hauing neuer spared neither bodie nor goods for his seruice wherein I desire to continue whilest I haue life to breath Besides if the affaires of the countrey succeede not well I were in danger besides the bond I owe vnto his Maiestie and his countries to expose not onely all that I haue in the world but also my person wife and children which nature it selfe commaunds vs to preserue It may therefore please your Highnesse according to your accustomed wisedome to consider hereof and to interprete it in the best part as proceeding from one who speakes with a syncere affection which he beares to his Maiesties seruice and to preuent all inconueniences whereof I call God to witnesse c. From Breda the foure and twentieth of Ianuarie 1565. Vpon the receit of these letters and others written afterwards by the prince of Orange the said Gouernesse writ backe vnto him requesting him very earnestly to come to Brussels with the other noblemen and gouernours there to consult and determine what should be thought most sit and necessarie to preuent all inconueniences aduance his Maiestics seruice the quiet and tranquilitie of the countrey and the assurance of the inhabitants The other Gouernours and Consuls of prouinces hauing receiued the first letters from the Gouernesse with an extract of the three chiefe
as much as this seemeth strange to some to giue heretickes leaue to sowe their heresies let vs see if it be possible to preuent their assemblies and doubtlesse if we looke vnto experience the perfect mistresse of all things we shall find it is as possible to hinder it as it is impossible to keepe them from beleeuing of that which they think fit and agreeing with the word of God Haue we not I pray you seene the great power of the most victorious Emperour Charles the fifth of famous memory who made all the world to tremble Haue we not seene his incredible diligence to suppresse this Religion Haue we not seene the rigorous Edicts which he made And wherto tended it but to hinder the preaching of this new Religion and that they which made profession thereof should forbeare their assemblies for he knew well their hearts could not be forced and yet he preuayled nothing notwithstanding all his prohibitions It may be they assembled in some strange countrey where they had greater libertie no no but contrariwise all the princes in Christendome together with the Pope were resolued to root them out and to giue them no place of retreat but all was in vaine How doe we then thinke that the kings power the which out of doubt is not greater than the Emperors can hinder it seeing that now France England Germany Scotland and all the countries about are open vnto them to retire themselues and to vse the libertie that is here denied them whereas they haue so many princes and kings on their side whereas the number is multiplied by infinite thousands Without doubt they that gaue his Maiesty this counsell shew plainely that either they want iudgement or els they seeke to settle their owne greatnesse to the preiudice of the king and the ruine of the countrey Let them examine all the hystories of the world and they shall find That when any new Religion hath beene grounded vpon the inward persuasion of the word of God that all the striuing in the world could neuer hinder but the exterior discipline thereof would haue it course The Romane Emperors could neuer force the Iewes to receiue their statutes into their Temples nor hinder the Christians from their assemblies who desired rather to liue like sauage beasts in caues and rockes than to abandon the exercise of their Religion I will not examine if their quarrell be like vnto this so it is that they are as well persuaded in their hearts that they follow the word of God and that they are commaunded to assemble and preach as they were which persuasion can neuer bee wrested from them by any violence For they say among themselues That if they should be allowed to beleeue what they would so as they would forbeare to teach and assemble were as much as if they should suffer a man to liue so as he would take no refection and nourishment for they maintaine that Faith is entertained by the preaching of the word euen as the life of the body is by the nourishment of meat But admit it were possible to forbid their assemblies they must proceed either by rigour and force or by gentlenesse and persuasions that is they must either corrupt them or els force them to doe against the testimonie of their consciences and falsifie their faith which they owe vnto God It is most certaine that the constant and vertuous will rather chuse a thousand deaths than to doe any thing against their consciences so as with them there were nothing to bee gotten As for the rest who for feare or hope would denie their faith first they should grieuously offend the diuine Maiestie and damne their owne soules by this false-hood and dissimulation for that they should sinne doubly first to haue embraced the error and afterwards more to haue falsified the faith and testimonie of their conscience and to haue dealt doubly whereas God requireth synceritie and plainenesse so as they that should force them thereunto should be the cause of their more grieuous damnation They then which counsell the king to force or corrupt his subiects to the end they should dissemble and make shew of any other Religion than that which they beleeue in their hearts are the cause of the disloyaltie which they commit against God and the king For without doubt he that shall carrie himselfe disloyally vnto God eyther for feare or hope it is to be presumed that by the same passions he will carry himselfe as disloyally vnto the king when as time and occasion shall be offered Constantius father to Constantine the great although he were a Pagan yet hee called Christians into his Court and admitted them to fauour whom hee did see ready to abandon goods and honours yea their owne liues rather than to be disloyall vnto the God whome they did worship yea hee held them worthie of his friendship and did impart vnto them his most important affaires And in truth the king hath no subiects more faithfull than those which obey him for conscience that is to say because God hath so commaunded it They which falsifie their conscience to please the king or for any other priuate respect shew that they doe not obey the king for conscience onely but for some other particular affection And if they make no difficultie to falsifie their consciences in the seruice of God without doubt it is to bee feared that when any passion or affection should moue them eyther the feare of death or the losse of goods and credite or some such like things they would make no greater difficultie to falsifie their faith which they owe vnto the king So as they which giue this counsell vnto the king shew their ignorance for that they seeke to root out them which in simplicitie and synceritie of heart yeeld obedience vnto God and the king And as for those which proceed disloyally and against their consciences they are not onely content to suffer them but also to aduaunce them vnto honours as wee haue seene by some examples of those who hauing before made profession of this Religion haue afterwards without being condemned of errour onely to aspire to honour and credit turned their coats To conclude although it were a thing possible to force or corrupt the Protestants to abandon their Religion and to doe against their consciences yet were it not expedient for the good of the Commonweale But as I haue said it is not possible to hinder them vnlesse they will ruine them and put them to death The which were hard to compasse for in the place of one they should put to death tenne others would rise and those which die so constantly rather than renounce their faith are held for good men by the common people who haue more regard to the constancie than to the cause which they maintaine whereupon they haue a desire to examine the cause and come to fall into the same opinions so as this must needs cause them to multiplie
either side and that those which proceed by any other vnlawfull meanes as by taxing and slandering shall bee well punished which doubtlesse will be a most assured meanes and the subiects shall liue in good vnitie and concord together and will carrie a perfect obedience vnto his Maiestie And in the meane time truth will lay open falshood in such sort as the king shall not need to feare that heresies shall multiply by this meanes to root out the truth but contrariwise wee shall see truth flourish and al heresies and false sects decay Gods glorie shal be generally celebrated and the kings greatnesse and prosperitie increase The which God grant vs by his holy grace to whom be all honour and glorie for euer and euer and euer Amen Such was the discourse of M. Francis Baudwin wherein he toucht the true point concerning the remedie of the troubles the which the king and his counsell might since haue known to be true if they would haue confest it freely or whether that the point of religion and the great zeal which his counsellors did counterfeit were the matters which toucht them neerest as they made great shew of or else couetousnesse and ambition euerie one aiming at his priuat greatnesse to the preiudice of the king and his countries and if the king who was then giuen to his pleasures and without any knowledge of state the which hee hath since learned to his owne cost referring all wholy to his cardinall and counsell had not beene so easie to suffer himselfe to be persuaded to the contrarie Whilest that both great and small in the Netherlands were thus distempered for feare of the troubles which were at hand by reason of the new bishops Inquisition bloudy edicts and counsell of Trent Alexander Farnese prince of Parma sonne to duke Octauio and the duchesse gouernesse of the Netherlands maried the Infanta of Portugal in the towne of Brussels whither most of the nobles and best qualified gentlemen of the countrey came to honor the feast during the which there were diuers conferences among them all concurring in this opinion That they held it an inestimable losse and a miserable case that a countrey so abounding in people and so flourishing in riches should for the aboue-named causes come to ruine and de solation and that so many faithfull and loyall subiects should kill and murther one another so grosly for that they would not yeeld a little to their inclinations nor discharge them any thing of the violence that was offered them seeing that the peoples requests were so reasonable Wherein seeing that they which had the gouernment in hand were abused or hindered by some bad spirits to preuent the apparent mischiefe they thought themselues bound as wel in regard of their duties and othe as of the ranke which they held to imbrace this matter effectually and to aduance it all they could But they would first trie if by the generall complaints of the people together with their praiers and intercessions they might obtaine any thing Wherin many of them did imploy themselues the more earnestly for that they had of a long time been affected to the religion and therefore hated the edicts and all other cruell innouations The noblemen which were as we haue said assembled at Hochstrate were dealt withall but they would not hearken to it but reuealed it to the duchesse for that some feared the euent yet notwithstanding the noblemen and gentlemen assembled at S. Trudon in greater numbers resoluing to make a petition in the peoples name they concluded of the order and the day when they should meet at Brussels to make the said petition vnto the gouernesse and the chiefe of the countrey as well by mouth as by writing And to the end that through the persuasions of some seditious instruments the matter might not be so disguised as their assembly and good intention should be taken in ill part and otherwise interpreted than was sincerely intended they thought it conuenient for their assurance to make a confederation or league together by the which they did promise to succour one another and not to forsake it for any cause but what should bee done vnto the least of them for that occasion should be taken as done to them all in generall and to euerie one in particular and that they should iointly defend themselues with all their powers whereof they made a compromise signed by euery one of them the tenor whereof followeth Whereas wee haue beene lately duly informed and it is most true that certaine peruerse creatures cunning and malitious making a counterfeit shew of great zeale which they haue to the maintenance and increase of the religion and Catholike faith and of the vnion of the people but indeuouring onely to satisfie their instiable couetousnesse ambition and insupportable pride haue by their â—…gred words and false suggestions so persuaded the king our lord notwithstanding any petitions to the contrarie that haue beene made vnto him that contrarie to the othe which his Maiestie hath made vnto God and to his faithfull subiects of the Netherlands he would forcibly bâ—…ing in and plant that pernitious Inquisition the which is not onely vnreasonable and contrarie to all diuine and humane lawes but also exceeding all the rigours and cruelties that euer were put in practise by the most cruell tyrants Infidels and Heathens The which also cannot but redound to the great dishonour of the name of God and the losse desolation and totall ruine of the said Netherlands for that it doth subiect all authoritie and iurisdiction vnder the power of the Inquisitors making all men perpetuall and miserable slaues exposing all good men to continuall and apparent danger both of bodie and goods by their searches and visitations so as if a priest a Spaniard of some wicked instrument meanes to do a mischiefe to any man by meanes of the Inquisition he may accuse him cause him to be apprehended yea put to death be it iustly or vniustly and confiscat all his goods were he the vprightest man in the world without hearing of his cause reasons and lawfull defence Wherefore we that haue subsigned hauing duely weighed and considered all these things haue and do thinke it our dueties according vnto reason to preuent the said apparent and intollerable inconueniences and by all good meanes to prouide for the safeties of our goods and persons that we be not made a prey vnto them who vnder colour of religion or Inquisition would inrich themselues with the losse of our goods and liues Whereupon we haue resolued to make and do make a good firme and holy league and confederation binding our selues and promising one vnto another by a solemne othe to hinder with all our power that the Inquisition be not brought in in any publike sort whatsoeuer either openly or secretly vnder the name of Inquisition Visitation Edicts Commandements or any other pretexts whatsoeuer but to abolish and root it out as much as in
put in execution that wicked enterprise as well with Frenchmen as other strangers wherewith we find our selues much grieued Wherefore we beseech your highnes to do vs so much fauor as to name the accusers and them that are accused to the end that the wrong and wickednes being discouered your highnes may do speedy and exemplarie iustice and that to preuent the inconueniences and scandales which may grow being well assured that your highnes will neuer suffer so noble and honorable a company to remain charged with such infamous wicked acts Whereunto the duchesse answered that she knew nothing of all that he had said touching those accusations neither had she euer had such an opinion of any one of them whom she assured her selfe to be the K. faithful seruants and as for their petition she would looke into it and impart it to the counsell the tenor whereof was Madame it is well knowne how highly renowned the loyaltie of the Netherlanders vnto their lords and naturall princes hath been and is yet throughout all Christendome wherein the nobilitie hath alwaies held the first ranke hauing neuer spared body nor goods for the preseruation and encrease of their greatnesse wherein we his Maiesties most humble vassals desiring to continue so still are ready to employ both body and goods to do him humble seruice and seeing in what termes the affaires stand at this present we had rather incurre some dislike than to conceale that from your highnes which might proue preiudiciall to his Maiesty and withall trouble the quiet and happinesse of his countries hoping that the effects will shew in time that among all the seruices which we haue or may do vnto his maiesty this is to be reputed the greatest most seasonable so as we assure our selues that his maiesty cannot but take it in good part Although Madam we doubt not but that whatsoeuer his maiesty hath heretofore decreed of new touching the Inquisition and the strict obseruation of his Edicts for matter of religion hath some ground and iust title and that to continue all that which the emperor Charles of famous memory had with a good intention decreed Yet seeing that the diuersitie of times bringeth withall diuersitie of remedies and that within few yeares the said edicts notwithstanding that they haue bin executed with all rigor haue yet giuen occasion of many grieuous inconueniences Without doubt his maiesties last resolution by the which he not only forbids to moderat any thing of the said edicts but commands expresly that the Inquisition should be obserued and the edicts executed with all rigour giues vs iust occasion to feare that not only the said inconueniences wil encrease but also in the end may follow a mutinie generall sedition tending to the miserable ruin of the whole country according to the apparent shews of the peoples alteration which are to be seen in euery place wherfore knowing the greatnesse of the danger that doth threaten vs we did hitherto hope that either by the noblemen or the states of the country your highnes should be duly informed to preuent it in taking away the cause of the euill but seeing they haue not done any thing for some causes vnknowne to vs and that in the mean time the mischiefe encreaseth daily so as the danger of a sedition is euen at hand wee haue thought it our duties according to our oath of fealtie together with the zeale which we beare vnto his Maiesty and the countrey to attend no longer but rather to offer our selues to performe this necessary dutie And we do it the more willingly for that we haue reason to hope that his Maiestie will take our aduertisement in good part seeing this action doth concerne vs neerer than any other being exposed to those calamities which do commonly grow from such accidents hauing for the most part our houses and goods in the countrey lying open as a prey to all the world considering also that by the rigorous obseruation of the said Edicts as his Maiestie hath expressely commaunded there is not any man among vs no not in all the countrey of what estate and condition soeuer but shall be found culpable of confiscation of body and goods and subiect to the slanders of any enuious man who to haue part of the confiscation would accuse him vnder colour of the edicts hauing no refuge left him but onely the dissembling of the officer vpon whose mercie his life goods must wholly depend In consideration whereof we haue so much the more cause humbly to beseech your Highnesse as we doe by this present petition to take some good order for it and in regard of the importance of the cause to make a speedie dispatch vnto his Maiestie by some one fit for that employment aduertising and humbly beseeching him in our behalfes that it will please him to prouide as well for the present as for the time to come And for that it can neuer be done in leauing the said Edicts in their vigour and force seeing that thereon dependeth the spring of the said inconueniences that it will please him to encline to the abolishing thereof the which he shall not onely find very necessarie to diuert the totall ruine and losse of these his countries but also conformable to reason and iustice And to the end he may not haue any occasion to thinke that we which haue no other pretence but to doe him most humble seruice would attempt to bridle him or to prescribe him a law at our pleasure as wee doubt not but our aduersaries will construe it to our disaduantage it may please his Maiestie to make some lawes by the aduice and consent of all the generall estates assembled to prouide accordingly by other more fit and conuenient meanes without such apparent danger We also beseech your Highnesse that vntill his Maiestie may be informed of our iust request and dispose according to his good and iust pleasure you will preuent these dangers by a generall surceasing as well of the Inquisition as of all manner of executions vntill that his Maiestie hath otherwise decreed protesting that we haue as much as in vs lyeth discharged our selues of our duties by this present aduertisement wherof we now discharge our selues before God and men declaring that if any inconuenience disorder sedition reuolt or effusion of bloud should hereafter happen for want of a speedie and conuenient remedy we are not to be taxed to haue concealed so apparent a mischiefe Wherin we take God the king your highnesse the lords of his counsell and our consciences to witnesse that we haue therein proceeded as good and faithfull seruants and loyall vassales to the king not exceeding the limits of our dutie wherfore we do the more earnestly beseech your highnesse to preuent it least some greater mischiefe happen This was the petition presented by the nobilitie the which was both pregnant iust and conscionable the which the king should haue acknowledged as proceeding from his
consent counsell and aduice of the generall states yet they said in behalfe of the lords of the Order of the golden Fleece and others of the principalest of the nobilitie that they had all resolued and agreed together That if it pleased the king to graunt vnto these three poiuts to do their endeuors to pacifie the state of the Netherlands then so troubled and disordered and to be a meanes to plant peace and vnitie amongst them by secret practises of good men whereof there were yet a great number within the land and well addicted vnto them and so to compell the bad by force to liue in peace and subiection Which they were charged to desire at his Maiesties hands and had fully determined to put the same in practise so they might haue the kings good will and consent thereunto vnlesse it pleased his Maiesty to make great hast to come into the Netherlands and yet not without conuenient and fit oportunitie Much being argued and disputed hereupon both the embassadors said plainly and flatly as the Spaniards reported and after inserted the same in the processe made against the said lords that the noblemen and gentlemen of the Netherlands had no intent meaning nor purpose to rise vp in arms if it pleased the king to grant vnto the points of their embassage propounded but were fully determined euery man to keepe at home in his owne house making further complaint That they were scorned and despised of the Spaniards which presumed that they ought to haue the commaund and rule ouer the lords and knights of the Netherlands as they haue in Millaine Naples and Sicilia which the Netherlanders could not endure with many such like speeches as they report While they proceeded in this manner and that the counsell in Spaine were busied about this matter the Regents letters were brought from Brussels into Spaine to certifie of the peoples assemblies and gatherings together in many places of the countrey and of their open preachings which were done about Dornick Rissel S. Omers and Ypre and that certaine French preachers were among them and that the like was done in Antuerpe For which cause shee desired the king to send a good and a short resolution and to consent vnto the three points before alledged for that she nor the lords of the Order of the golden Fleece neither yet her counsell could find no other meanes to preuent the apparent troubles and the rather as she said for that the secretarie gaue it out That it was by their consent and commandement which they should preuent and make known by the effects that their intentions had beene and was good â—…lse the world might thinke that theiâ—… petition which they said was presented for the preseruation of the countrey had beene the onely cause of these preachings and if any one among them had incited the people thereunto hee had exceeded the bounds of their compromise and petition Whereupon the nobles answered by writing punctually to euery article in the forme that followeth Madame We cannot giue your highnesse sufficient thanks for the good offers which were propounded vnto vs at Duffel the 18 of this moneth by the prince of Orange and the earle of Egmont on your highnesse behalfe who left it vs in writing as followeth the which seems to containe nine articles whereof the first is That your highnesse hath sent the marquesse of Bergen and the baron of Montigny vnto the king to acquaint his Maiestie with our petition For the which Madame wee most humbly thanke your highnesse and we hope that those noble men being so sufficient will doe all good offices with his Maiestie whereby hee may vnderstand our iust intentions to be conformable to our petition Secondly We are put in mind of the promise which we made to die in his Maiesties seruice and 〈◊〉 your highnesse feet Wherein Madame we desire to continue alwayes neither had we euer any other will For the third That we know that since our petition there hath beene no innouation touching the Inquisition and edicts according to our demaâ—…nd and that therein your highnesse hath satisfied 〈◊〉 We beleeue that your highnesse hath altered nothing since our petition but the magistrats haue not duely obeyed your highnesse letters but haue continued still in the apprehension and imprisonment of people by vertue of the Inquisition and edicts That which we persuade our selues is directly contrarie to your highnesse intention and command Fourthly That aâ—… good and loyall subiects according to our promises we should restraine and suppresse the insolencie of sectaries As for our promises Madame wee hold that we haue wholly satisfied them both in generall and particular yea wee haue done our best endeuours to containe the people in all modestie and to hinder the preaching from whom wee cannot take away the persuasions which they haue conceiued vpon the stay of his Maiesties resolution for that it was said vnto vs That within two monethes after the presenting of our petition to your highnesse we should haue a direct answer And also the manner of assembling the prouincial states which haue beene held in some places contrarie to the vsuall custome and the threats which are vsed daily both against vs and the people namely by the church men all which reasons haue drawne the people together to their publike preachings the which they haue continued vnto this day as they themselues haue told vs plainly And wee desire your highnesse should know that had not beene the presentation of our petition and the good offices which we haue done both before and since they had not so long conteined themselues being prest by their conscences as they say Fiftly That matters tend to a popular sedition and that strangers are dealers in it and those which are our antâ—…ent enemies To that Madame we answere that whensoeuer any strangers shall bee dealers in it we will be the first that shall goe to horsebacke to hinder them but that we or any others ought not to oppose our selues against the kings vassals and subiects wee find it not for his Maiesties seruice but contrariwise the ruine and ouerthrow of al the Netherlands for that they submit themselues to the resolution of the generall estates as shall be related more amply hereafter The sixth article That the sectaries giue it out That it is by our consent and commandement so as it may well â—…e iudged that our petition which wee say wee had presented for the preseruation of the countrey is the onely cause of their publike preaching We answer Madame that neither in general nor yet in particular euer any one of vs did incite mooue or persuade the people to make the said preachings but contrariwise haue endeuoured to hinder them by all meanes by reason of the troubles and disorders which we did feare might grow but seeing that wee could not persuade nor diuert the people we haue suffered them to do as they thought good and so farre as
time the said prince would aduise of some gentle meanes fit for the present which they required to be communicated vnto them And as euery member gaue his answer and his meanes in writing whereof the copies were sent to court the offer was accepted of by prouision which they made to subiect themselues to the guard of the town And as for the preaching that they would make report thereof vnto the court intreating them in the meane time to diuert and retire them as much as was possible As for the conuocation of the generall estates they caused it to be required by their deputies but that point was referred to the kings resolution And as during these actions they had so wel laboured with them of the religion as they began to forbeare the carrying of armes and that it was to be hoped that soon it would be wholly left it happened that the Drossard of Brabant which is as much as a Prouost Marshall hauing some horse and foot and a commission as the brute was to fall vpon their assembly to apprehend the ministers antients and deacons and by that meanes to disperse the preaching passing the 19 of Iuly at night along the ditches and before the towne gate he was discouered and knowne the which put all the commons presently into suspition that hee came expresly into those quarters with other people which he had in the village of Mercxhem where his dwelling was not far from Antuerpe to fall the next day vpon their assemblies which were made without the towne Wherefore the people being moued more than before tooke their armes againe resoluing to resist the Drossards attempts by force The prince of Orange fearing this disaster sent presently to court requiring that before the next day morning which was Sonday commandement might be giuen to the Drossard not to attempt any thing but to retire himselfe from thence seeing that one of these two points was to be feared ither they of the religion would make themselues so strong and so well armed as they should haue no occasion to feare the Drossard who should get nothing but blowes or if they found not themselues strong ynough it was to bee feared that they would seize vpon some place within the towne to keepe their preachings without being in danger of him wherein there was such diligence vsed as the same night the gouernesse writ vnto the Drossard commanding him to retire which letters were deliuered him early on the Sonday morning wherewith the people were somewhat pacified but from that time the preachings were more carefully guarded and with greater strength than before the which they continued for that the Drossard was many times seene on the Saterday about Antuerpe About that time came certaine aduertisements that duke Erick of Brunswick continued stil to leuie men by the kings commandement and that about Linghen there were some readie to enter into the countrey the which bred new alterations And wheras moreouer vpon the pursutes made in court by the deputies of Brabant the Gouernesse had the 23 of August giuen a resolution vpon certaine points the commons receiued contentment by the one part and discontentment by the other for whether it were that shee had pardoned some repenting Anabaptist except his abiuration and accomplishment of penance at the suit of some of the town made vnto the prince and the magistrat who were intercessors for him vnto the said lady this did somewhat content the people as also for that the said lady was content to pardon by proclamation all those that had beene at their preachings and assemblies but to the conuocation of the generall estates which was required she made no other answer but that they must attend his Maiesties answer to whom she said she had written and for that she had refused to inlarge one of the reformed religion which was apprehended in his house against the priuiledges notwithstanding that in other places some of the like had beene set at libertie the people tooke it ill and were greatly moued seeing that all the merchants they of the religion in generall yea the prince himselfe and the magistrat to auoid some greater scandall had beeâ—… intercessors for him to the Gouernesse yet would she neuer yeeld to his deliuerie vntill that afterwards he was freed in despight of her by a mutinie all which serued as prouocations to incense the people more considering how the said lady contemned the earnest requests of those that were suters for the prisoner We haue said before that the nobles confederat intreated the earle of Egmont who sent vnto them from the Gouernesse to carrie her their answer vpon the ambiguities which shee desired to be explained the which they promised to doe The said answere and explanation was as followeth Madame the earle of Egmont hath giuen vs to vnderstand That your highnesse desired to be satisfied of some points set downe in certaine articles presented by vs vnto your highnesse the which in our opinions are plaine ynough and that the rest will be but tedious yet Madame to satisfie your commaundement wee haue thought good to make this declaration which followes to the end that our iust intentions may be thereby the better vnderstood and that hereafter they may haue no cause to interpret them sinisterly And to answer first vnto the third article of our answer Whereas your highnesse requires that we should set downe in particular in what townes the prisoners bee and the occasioâ—… wherefore and that your highnesse pretends that it is not come to your knowledge Wee say Madame that in Tournay Lille Mons Aire Bethune At h Bruges Gand and other plaâ—… there haue beene many prisoners apprehended for religion by vertue of the edicts as will appeare vnto your highnesse by the informations which you may call for As for the 4 5 and 6 articles that we should make apparent how wee haue discharged our dueties conteining the people and hindering the preaching Wee say that your highnesse may send into euerie prouince to the consistories and ministers of the religion to vnderstand our endeuours both in generall and in particular and your highnesse shall find that all will bee conformable to that which wee haue giuen you to vnderstand As for the point of the fourth article where there is a question of the manner that hath beene held at the assembly of the prouincial states in some parts against the ordinarie custome Wee answere That it doth not concerne vs any thing to prooue it for that they bee the peoples allegations who say that they haue been accustomed to assemble the states of Flanders before them of Arthois and that in the proceeding of most of the other estates they haue sent for some that were not accustomed to be there and others who were woont and ought to assist were not sent for or at the least they sent the letters so late as the states were assembled before they receiued them And they haue told vs moreouer
to deale with the gentlemen about the same this commission ensuing That they should hold and obserue the points contained in the letters of protection and for that she perceiued the great and imminent necessitie then raigning she was content that the said lords should enter into an accord with the confederated gentlemen and certifie them that the common people laying downe their armes in such places where as the preaching was then presently exercised and keeping themselues from giuing any cause of scandale or disordered actions there should no wrong nor iniurie be done vnto them nor to any others that should for that purpose trauell to and from them vntill such time as his Maiesty with the aduice of the counsell of estate should take other order therein vpon condition that they should not in any wise hinder the proceedings of the Catholicke religion but should suffer the Catholickes freely to enioy their churches in manner as they had them before Giuen in Brussels the thirteenth of August 1566 with this charge to deale and conferre with the confederated gentlemen she sent the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the earle of Horne the baron de Hachecourt and the counsellor Dassonuille which met and consulted with the deputies of the gentlemen being Lodowicke earle of Nassau Eustace de frenes baron D'esquerdes Charles de Reuel baron Dandreguyes Bernard de Merode baron de Rumen Charles vander Noot baron de Risoire George de Montigâ—…t baron de Noyles Martin de Serlues baron de Sterbeeke Philip van Marbays baron de Lounerual Iohn de Montigni baron de Villers Charles de Lieuin baron de Famars Frauncis de Haeslen Iohn le Sauage baron de Descouberque These after long conference at the last drew vnto a conclusion agreement and accord in his Ma. behalfe which for that it is of so great importance and consequence and that all the troubles and warres that after ensued had their foundation from the same I thought good to set downe the true copie both of the proclamation and act made in manner of a securitie or protection Marguerite by the grace of God Duchesse of Parma and Plaisance Regent and Gouernesse for the king my lord in these his countries to all to whom these presents shall come greeting Whereas many gentlemen of these countries haue presented in Aprill last a petition to the end that it would please his Maiestie to take away and abolish the Inquisition and both the old and new Edicts which they said were too rigorous and therefore might not be put in execution and to make others in their places by the aduice and consent of the generall estates of the countrey requiring that the said petition might be sent by vs vnto his Maiestie to prouide accordingly Whereupon wee held many great consultations with the gouernours of prouinces knights of the Order and counsellors of State to his Maiestie And after that wee had represented all with our aduice vnto the king for that wee thought it good that by reason the said gentlemen might haue some doubt or scruple that his Maiestie would not take in good part the said petition together with the compromise which they had thereupon made together nor that which followed after and that such doubt might be the cause of greater mischiefe and trouble in the countrey wee by the same aduice haue also entreated That his Maiestie would be pleased to giue them letters of assurance that hereafter nothing shall bee imputed vnto them vpon that occasion whereupon his Maiestie had aduertised vs of his good will and pleasure According vnto the which we desiring the good quiet and tranquilitie of the said countries and to make the gentlemen petitioners more willing to yeeld all obedience and seruice vnto his Maiestie according vnto that whereunto they are bound both by nature and oath and as they haue alwayes offered themselues wee haue at their request and according to the power and authoritie giuen vs by his Maiestie and as Regent and Gouernesse generall of the said countries and by the aduice of the knights of the Order gouernours and counsellors of State being with vs giuen for their assurance this writing signed with our hand in forme as followeth Her highnesse hath caused the gentlemen petitioners to returne the twentieth of August for answer of their petition during the which time she hath happily receiued letters from his Maiesty whereby she shall haue the better meanes to giue them a certaine and absolute answere And first she lets them know that his Maiesty hauing regard to her highnes informations seeing that they which are at this day altered for Religion or otherwise offer to submit themselues vnto that which shall be decreed by his Maiesty with the aduice of the generall estates for the good of Religion and the quiet and tranquilitie thereof with the aduice of the lords knights of the Order and counsellors of state is content that the Inquisition whereof they haue complained shall cease Secondly his Maiesty hath consented That there shall be a new Edict made but it was not fully resolued if it should be done by the generall Estates or otherwise yet her highnesse hopes that by the first she shall haue a resolution according vnto that which his Maiesty hath written vnto her wherein she will alwaies do her best endeuour that his Maiesty may graunt it as she hath already done by sundry letters And in regard of assurances whereof they make mention in their last petition that her highnes was well aduised to giue it them so farre forth as lay in her as presently she can assure them seeing his Ma. hath consented giuing her full authoritie to do it in what forme and manner shee shall thinke fit Wherefore she lets them vnderstand That his Maiesty desiring to free them of all suspition who might thinke that he were ill informed of them and to take away all distrust which was the cause of these troubles meaning to shew his accustomed clemencie abhorring nothing more than bitternes is content that her highnes for the auoiding of al diffidence and distrust shall giue them such letters of assurance as she shall thinke fit and requisite for their greater securitie and for that which is past so as they carry themselues like good and faithfull vassals subiects to his Maiesty hoping they will not faile in the duties which they owe him The which her highnes is presently ready to effect And as they haue full satisfaction in this point her highnesse will not refuse the offer which they haue often made to employ themselues in the seruice of his Maiesty and her highnesse for the peace quiet of the countrey as they are bound by nature and their allegeance according to the which her meaning is they should giue their Faith First That they shall not do nor procure directly nor indirectly any thing against his Maiesty his estates nor subiects but shall employ themselues to doe all things that good
Segobia sick of an ague This matter being brought before his counsel was by them much long debated many of them taking it in the worst sence but at the last they all generally agreed that the Netherlands had great need of his Maiesties presence therin and for that cause began to consult vpon the best way for his trauell and voyage thither and that in the meane time the Regents letters should be answered in such manner that the king should seeme to say nothing touching the Regents dealing with the confederated gentlemen and the sectaries nor once speake thereof that he might not thereby make any shew to like or dislike thereof least it should be occasion of new vprore or suspition And touching the assembly of the States generall that might not by any meanes be tollerated as it had beene oftentimes before determined without burthening the kings conscience Lastly That the Regent should be once againe put in mind to entertain and pay the dutch princes and pentionaries to the king and that his commaundements might be fully kept and obserued According to this resolution in the moneth of October the king writ two sorts of letters the one to be shewed to the counsell and the lords and the other to be kept secret in the first he wrote That for that the Queene his wife was then brought in bed of her first child being a daughter borne vpon S Clares day and for that cause named Isabella Clara Eugenia he was as then going from Segobia to Madril to make preparation for his voyage into the Netherlands and that he was not persuaded that the troubles in the Netherlands could be pacified by assembling of the generall States especially in his absence with other such like doubts He wrote likewise vnto the Emperour Maximilian much complaining of the troubles in the Netherlands Whereunto the Emperour as a wise experienced and politicke prince returned him an answere in the moneth of September satisfying him in euery point of his letter particularly desiring to hold and maintaine all loue and friendship with him as brethren are bound to doe one vnto the other amongst other things saying and by many reasons and arguments proouing that hee after due ripe and good deliberation and aduice taken considering the ground and depth of the same found it to be a matter of exceeding great consequence weight and trouble principally because the matter of the Catholicke Religion was become so hatefull and odious vnto many of the Germane princes allies and of affinitie with the noblemen and gentlemen of the Netherlands which might easily bee procured and induced to mount vpon their horses and to aid them whereby the Netherlands should not only endure and suffer great hurt hinderance charges and burthens but also no small doubt might be made how the same would be well holden and kept and therfore he said he thoght it the best meanes and wherein least danger consisted to end and pacifie the controuersie if it were possible by good and peaceable meanes and not by force and rigor Which to effect his Maiesty offered so the king would be content to be a mediator betweene him and his subiects with many such reasons more He wrote likewise to that end vnto the Regent the duchesse of Parma and therewiâ—…h sent her certain letters to be giuen to the lords of the Netherlands as to the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont the earle of Horne the earle of Mansfield others but referred the deliuering of them to the discretion of the Regent and the kings pleasure which the king did after forbid her to deliuer vnto them About this time many of the noblemen in the Netherlands wrot their seuerall letters vnto the king as the earls of Egmont Mansfield Meghen and Arenbergh the baron of Barlamont Noircarmes and Rassinghem the Burghgraue of Gaunt the Vniuersitie of Louen and diuers others euery man according to his affairs shewing in generall and particular what had passed especially in euery one of their seuerall gouernments Whereunto the king made them answer in most friendly wise thanking them for their good seruice in his behalfe and willing them to continue in the same commending them seuerally for their particular seruice with many and good speeches and wrot a very friendly letter vnto the president Vigilius with his owne hand thanking him for his great paines and good endeuor done in his seruice and desiring him not respecting his age feeblenesse and indisposition of body to continue therein till his comming thither And for that about this time the prince of Orange the earle of Egmont made complaint vnto the king and certaine lords in Spaine that were their friends that some complained of them behind their backs and had a bad and sinister conceit and opinion of them against all truth as time and oportunitie should well declare with such like speeches they were answered by the third hand of certaine counsellors of Spaine that the best meanes for them to cease all bad speechâ—…s and conceits was to shew and proue the contrary by their actions conforming themselues in all things to the good will of his Maiesty which was alwaies cleare allowable answerable and from the which there was no bad consequence to be feared for that the â—…ightest and truest point of the duty of a vassale or subiect is that knowing the resolute intent and purpose of his prince to endeuour himselfe by all means to effect fulfill and execute the same with all celeritie and promptnesse although hee had some particular feeling to the contrarie for that a particular member as all vassals are vnto their lords ought not to thinke or esteeme himselfe wiser than his soueraigne prince to whom onely belonged the gouernment and generall commaund and not to the particular vassale They wrote them likewise that in Spaine the common opinion was That if they namely the prince of Orange and the earle of Egmont or any of them both would haue behaued themselues stoutly and couragiously the troubles in the Netherlands had not proceeded to such an issue which notwithstanding if from thence forward they would doe their endeauours to doe good and vpright seruice for the State without dissimulation as dutie bound them they might thereby reforme all causes or at the least maintain them in esse vntill the comming of the king into the Netherlands with diuers such instructions The Gouernesse by her manifest demonstrations of mildnesse and by so many goodly assurances which she promised did not onely labour to retaine the people and marchants from retyring out of the countrey but also the nobilitie who notwithstanding any assurance shee could giue them were not without distrust but aboue al hauing disappointed the league and compromise of the gentlemen which made her hardie and yet dissembling shee studied to entertaine by all kinds of fauour and courtesie the prince of Orange with the earles of Egmont Horne and Hochstraten The king hauing sent her word that she
stupiditie to his owne perdition and the totall â—…uine and desolation of his house or that God the punisher of our offences being iustly incensed against these prouinces for their disordered libertie being giuen to all vices voluptuousnesse and wickednesse after that they had once begun to tast the fruits of peace which he had giuen them after such long and bloudie warres against the French or that Egmont had not yeelded the onely honour vnto God of those two goodly victories of S. Quintines and Grauelingues hauing often braued it more than was fit to the contempt and disgrace of them that lost them not acknowledging that it was God onely that gaue him power to win those victories and that men are but his instruments they could neuer persuade him to thinke otherwise of his affaires eyther by a retreat as the prince and others had done or by opposing himselfe and redressing the vnion to encounter and repulse the duke Neither could he euer discouer any thing vntill that he was taken in the toyle as we will presently shew The duke of Alua being arriued at Brussels the eight and twentieth of August was honourably receiued of the Regent which informed him of all thinges at large and shewed him by what meanes and how according vnto her opinion hee should pacifie the countrey and bring the prince of Orange and other noblemen and gentlemen that were sted to become well deuoted willing and readie to doe the king seruice and that if there were but a meane vsed therein there should be no cause to feare but that all things would bee peaceably and quietly ended But the duke supposing and presuming that the most part of the troubles in the Netherlands were procured and continued by the sayd Regents lenitie and slackenesse thought to rule the matter in other sort and at that time shewed his commission vnto the Regent and the States but not altogether for his was greater and extended further than that of the Regents as hauing authoritie to place and displace all gouernours of prouinces and townes and all other officers beeing made captaine generall of the kings forts holds and souldiers hauing full power and authoritie ouer the counsels of estate and the Treasurers He caused as much of his commission as hee thought good to be put in print that euery man might know it and yet he had a further and more absolute commission to giue iudgement and take order in all causes of crimes and rebellion to punish and pardon all offences and to recompence and reward men for their good seruices as it appeared by a particular instruction made and giuen vnto him by the king himselfe bearing date in Madril the last of Ianuarie 1566. Which when the Regent saw and perceiued that the duke tooke all authoritie vpon himselfe and that he made shew to take an other course suffering her to keepe the court but without traine and that hee lodged in the house of Culenburgh and had all the company following him she thought that she had nothing to do there and for that cause sent vnto the king to craue leaue to depart from thence that she might go into Italie to the duke of Parma her husband The duke being in the gouernment he caused all his souldiers to lodge round about him in the neerest townes as the regiment of Naples in Brussels all Spaniards the regiment of the earle of Lodron in Antuerpe discharging many of the Wallons whom he mistrusted He tooke the keyes of the gates from the townes-men whereof they of Gand by a request presented vnto him by the earle of Egmont made complaint which put the duke in a great rage and said That he would doe what he thought best to be done for the kings seruice and not otherwise And presently as soone as he saw himselfe established in the gouernment in steed of moderating the proclamation and other things requested and sought by the lords and gentlemen of the Netherlands he ratified confirmed and ordained the old proclamation and the Inquisition to beâ—…d and executed in the same and in steed of assembling the generall states hee appointed 〈◊〉 of twelue men that had full power to deale in all things that in any sort touched oâ—… concerned the aforesaid troubles and to take order therein which was called the bloudy counsell and in French the counsell of troubles This counsel consisted of Netherlanders mixed with straÌ„gers as the barons de Barlamont Noircarmes the presideÌ„ts of FlaÌ„ders and Artois but the chiefe and principallest of them were the Licentiat Iohn Vergas doctor Bois del Rio the Fiscale of Burgundy Iohn de la Porta aduocat Fiscale the counsellor Iacob Hessel the counsellor Belin Brese aduocate Fiscale of Mechlin and du Bois attourney generall wherof the duke himselfe was president but in his absence Vergas sat as president in his place of whom it is reported That for rauishing an orphane child committed to his custody he was banished out of Spaine a man aboue all others most sterne and cruell seeking nothing but riches and bloud But the Spaniards said That the cankered wounds of the Netherlands had need of so sharpe a knife as Vergas was to cut away their dead flesh The secretaries were Vlierden la Torre Praeâ—…s and Mesdagh The first two or three moneths the duke and the lords assembled and sat in counsell euery forenoone and afternoone all being directed by the duke himselfe whose meaning was that the opinion of the counsell should be but consultiue as counsell giuers and not absolute as giuing iudgement in any cause and so intended to haue all things depend vpon him alone and they to stand to the iudgement that hee should giue For which cause the said counsell for that many of them could not endure the crueltie therin propounded sought meanes to be discharged thereof others being ashamed stayed at home whereby the said counsell being twelue was oftentimes but fiue foure and sometimes but three persons as it appeareth by diuers iudgements and sentences of life and death giuen out by them and particularly by that of Anthonie van Stralen which was signed onely by the aforesayd president Vergas doctor Boys del â—…io and Secretarie de la Torre And by this counsell and by the duke himselfe all power and authoritie was taken from the prouinciall counsels of the land and the inhabitants robbed and dispoyled of all their ordinances iurisdictions appeales and resorts cleane contrarie to the priuiledges of the land with an expresse prohibition sent forth vnto all iudges and officers not to take any knowledge of any thing touching the last vprores yea and the counsels themselues both high and low were forced to stand to the iudgement of the said counsell which had commaund ouerall noble and vnnoble spirituall and temporall so that the dukes will was an absolute law without suffering or allowing any appeale reformation or reuiewing of their sentence once giuen and pronounced by the duke hauing full and soueraigne
hee might see the great confidence and estimation we haue alwayes had of him Yet the said prince hauing had small regard vnto his honour and to the othe of fidelitie and loyaltie which hee hath sworne vnto vs as to his Soueraigne Prince and by reason of the said estates and offices hath made himselfe the head author aduancer fauourer and receiuer of rebels conspirators seditious practisers and disturbers of the publike good and quiet As also prâ—…sently after our departure from these countries towards our realmes of Spaine his designe with some others was to vsurpe the whole administration and gouernment of these countries and to that end had many pernitious practises hauing forgotten himselfe so much as to take armes against vs and to exclude vs out of those countries from the which hee had not desisted but for want of meanes doing all offices vnder hand with our subiects to diuert them from the affection and fealtie which they haue alwaies shewed to vs and our predecessours yea which is much more detestable and abhominable vnder the colour and cloake of religion and by false persuasions that our intention was the which was neuer to bring in the Inquisition of Spaine into those our countries so as by his seductions and false impressions many of our said subiects haue risen rebelled against vs. And namely that the said prince had fiâ—…st seduâ—…ed corrupted and incited a great part of the nobilitie so as they haue made leagues and conspiracies and sworne by the same to defend and fortifie themselues against vs and our ordinances the which haue beene alwaies kept and obserued in the said countrey the assemblies being made to that end in his owne house as well at Breda as in this our towne of Brussels And that since hee had receiued the said rebels into his protection and safeguard with promise of all assistance who also haue gone armâ—…d to field against vs in diuers places And that the said prince had counselled and assisted the lord of Brederode chiefe of the said rebels to fortifie the towne of Vianen against vs hauing suffered him to inroll souldiers in our towne of Antuerpe in the view of all the world against our expresse lawes then newly made and published imbarking them for the towne of Vianen with all munition of warre furnishing also the said Brederode with some peeces of ordnance Besides the said prince had forbidden any of our townes and forts to receiue any garâ—…ison in our name and among others in our countrey of Zeeland whither he had sent men expâ—…esly to surprise it and thereby to stop vp our passage by sea And the said prince being sent vnto our towne of Antuerpe to pacifie the troubles and popular tumults had of his owne priuat authoritie and beyond the charge giuen him in that towne suffered and allowed the free exercise of al sects indifferently giuing them leaue to build many temples and consistories for the sectaries whereof haue followed the dangers and inconueniences that euerie man-knowes Suffering leuies taxations and collections of money to be made which should be afterwards imployed in the entertainment of the said souldiers Doing moreouer many other acts which our said Atturney will declare more at large in time and place all tending to his designe thereby to vsurpe vpon our said countries the which is not tollerable but deserues punishment and exemplarie iustice requiring that it would please vs to grant him a commission for the apprehending and taking of the said prince of Orange All which things considered at the request of our said counsellor and atturney generall wee giue you commission and authoritie that with such aid and assistance as you shall thinke fit you shall take and apprehend the bodie of the said prince of Orange in what part soeuer you shall find him in these our countries and shall bring and conduct him vnder a good guard to our towne of Brussels to bee iustified before our well beloued cousin the Duke of Alua Knight of our order Gouernour and Captaine generall for vs in these our countries c. appointed by vs especially to that end and to receiue such punishment for the said crimes and conspiracies as shall be thought fit and conuenient And if you cannot apprehend him you may adiourne him Giuen at Brussels the 18 of Ianuarie 1568. This commission was proclaimed by a sergeant and six trompets and the relation of the adiournement was set vp in the court at Brussels whereunto the prince of Orange after that hee had beene aduertised answered the atturney generall by his letters as followeth Master Atturney I haue receiued the copie of an adiournement the which you haue caused to be executed by a publike proclamation finding my selfe grieued with the accusations contained therein as a noble man of my qualitie ought to doe desiring nothing so much as I hope I shall make it appeare than to haue meanes to contest and answere for my selfe hauing no intent to leaue an impression in the hearts of the ignorant that I haue not discharged mine honour and the duetie which I owe vnto the king and that I haue acquited my selfe ill and vndutifully of those charges estates and offices wherewith it hath pleased his Maiestie heretofore to grace mee but rather I hope by the discourse and relation of my defences to shew that the good long and loyall seruices expence and losses which I haue incurred by reason thereof shall much exceed my bonds and rewards Hauing therefore cause to desire no lesse that they should enter into this calculation than hee that attends a reliefe in his affaires by the conclusion and end of his account But as that which wee desire most is oftentimes the last put in execution proceeding duely and orderly as it is fit For as the Physian or Surgeon doth not seeke to heale and close vs a wound before he hath searched the bottome and disposed the humor neither doth the Architect build a house before he hath laid a good foundation I am by the qualitie of your adiournement forced to deferre the allegation and explication of my said defences vntill that your accusation may bee made before a competent judge and not suspect and in whom there may bee hope that there shall bee such regard had to that which shall bee propounded as shall bee fit and that they will proceed to absolution or condemnation according to the â—…xigence and merit of the cause And in the meane time I must comfort my selfe with the examples whereof the hystories are full of such as hauing with the hazard of their liues expence of their goods preserued and amplified the estates countries and reuenewes of theiâ—… princes and lords haue not onely beene infamously adiourned and proclaimed but in stead of reward haue receiued corporall and exemplarie punishment haue beene chased away banished slaine and executed seeing the fruits and recompences of their seruice attributed to them that least deserued it I find it no lesse strange in our
king gaue him a good and a friendly answer but yet subtilly and craftily saying that it was far both from him and his nature to haue a bad opinion of one that had bin so good and trustie a seruitor both to his father and him and that the cause why he denied him his pasport was for that he would haue him to goe with himselfe into the Netherlands or els to vse his counsell with many such like words but in the meane time order was taken in all places that no man should let nor sell him nor his seruants any horses which was discouered and perceiued when as before he and the marques of Berghen rode vpon a time to confession to our lady of Guadalupo when as there were forty horses sent after them which secretly attended and watched them After that when newes came into Spaine of the imprisonment of the earles of Egmont and Horne his brother the baron de Selles lieutenant of the kings guard of Netherland archers was commaunded to enter his house and to commit him prisoner with a Netherland gentleman called Nesse being the kings chamberlain and both caried to the castle of Segobia where the baron de Montigni was put into a small high tower with one of his seruants called Arthur de Munter a Luycknaer and eight souldiers appointed to guard him which vsed him most shamefully being thus committed to prison he desired diuers times that he might haue law and iustice as belonged vnto a lord of his qualitie vpon which his request receiuing no answere nor resolution he sought meanes to breake and escape out of prison whereunto he had woon a Spaniard one of his guard to consent and some of his owne seruants as his Secretarie Anthony vander Becque and another gentleman of Pruseland called Iohn Hanowe his steward Iohn le Moyne and his cooke that baked his bread after the Netherland manner those he wrote vnto by letters sent them by meanes of the said Spaniard of his guard and they answered his letters againe which they baked in his bread and so conueyed them vnto him meane time he got files wherewith he filed certaine yron barres and in a cofer had ladders sent him that shut and folded one within the other besides that hee had post horses made ready for him and all other things necessarie and fit for such a purpose to ride away all beeing well and politickely deuised and foreseene but when it came to the point and that the horses stood ready the steward Iohn le Moine neglecting his time to deliuer the last bread being ouer busie and earnest to take his leaue or last farewell of his whore whereby the bread that had the letter in it was not deliuered as it should be but came to the hands of the captaine of his guard which brake or cut it vp and found the letter in it whereby the whole enterprise was discouered for which cause all his seruants were committed to prison and condemned to die and to that end had their confessors often sent vnto them expecting nothing but death But many men tooke compassion on them so that the Spaniard of the guard onely was hanged and the cooke condemned to haue two hundred blowes with a broad thicke peece of leather which was done with wonderfull compassion of the standers by that cried out and said That they as seruants had done nothing but that which was commâ—…ndable seeking their lord and masters deliuerie that had long sought and desired to haue law and iustice whereby they were not put to death but the foure seruants were committed prisoners into a castle callâ—…d Valasco where they continued and liued a long time in great miserie till in Nouember 1567 at which time it happened that the princes of Portugall the kings sister and mother to Dom Sebastian king of Portugall passing by the prison the said prisoners making a great noise both with their chaines and cries she asked what they were and was certified that they were Flemings imprisoned onely because they sought to haue gotten their lord and master out of prison that had long sought for iustice but could not obtaine it Whereupon she promised for the lord of Montignies sake and the innocencie of their small offence earnestly to solicite for their deliuerance vnto the king which she obtained for the which they most heartily thanked God and the princes The baron de Montigni vnderstanding thereof vsed such meanes by secret friends that hee got a certaine summe of money and gaue it them for to beare their charges into the Netherlands giuing them letters to his wife the lady Montigni daughter and sister to the prince of Espinoy and Dauitourgh of the house of Melun that she should allow them euery one according to his place a certaine yearely pention out of his lands during their liues in recompence of their seruice and troubles endured for his sake They being so discharged and come into the Netherlands seeking to obtaine their said reward and to that end making meanes vnto the baron de Noircarmes to bee an intercessour for them not onely to the lady Montigni but also to the duke of Alua that had forbidden her to giue them any thing at the last got nothing but were vpon paine of hanging banished out of Brussels After that the duke of Alua caused the said lord de Montignies processe of life and goods to be made as he had done against the other lords wholly without his knowledge appointing a counsellor to answere for him that neuer spake with the said lord de Montigni nor yet could get any instruction or information out of Spaine from him he himselfe not once vnderstanding thereof And when Annavan Austria the emperour Maximilians daughter passed through the Netherlands to goe into Spaine to marry with the king the Contesse of Horne mother vnto the said lord de Montigni and his wife with diuers others kneeling downe before her desired her to be a meanes vnto the king that his processe might be made and he deliuered out of prison which the said espoused queene promised in most friendly manner that it should be the first request that she would make vnto the king her husband Which the duke of Alua vnderstanding presently sent letters into Spaine and procured the meanes that the said baron de Montigni was remooued from Segobia vnto the castle of Simancas and before the queene got out of the ship to set foot on land he was poysoned by a young page that put poyson into certaine broth wherewith he serued him which page was expressely charged to doe it vpon paine of death as he after confessed vnto his secret friends by meanes of the which broth he fell into a burning feauer whereof hee died in the beginning of October in Anno 1570 his sentence being by the said duke of Alua first published in the Netherlands in March after in Anno 1571 and all his goods confiscate He left issue by his wife whom he had newly
married before his departure in Spaine but one daughter that died very young After his death his wife maried the lord of Floyon of the house of Barlamont and after earle of Barlamont who after her death maried with the onely daughter and heire of the earle of Lalaine These lords manner of life and Religion could not escape the Spanish furie although they were most earnest and good catholickes the marquesse of Berghen being so earnest therein that he commaunded all catholicke offices to be performed within his gouernment and caused the children of those of the reformed Religion to be baptised againe neither yet could the intercession of the emperour the princes of Germany and others preuaile any thing therein Touching the liues actions and seruices of these lords done for the king and the benefite of the Netherlands many men in other countries round about were of opinion that they only were the principallest instruments both by counsell and action of the kings good and prosperous proceedings victories and greatnesse and that his affaires through his father the emperours crosses in Germanie and his weakenesse of bodie being at an ebbe were by theirs and other Netherlanders means so much furthered and aduanced that thereby they brought Fraunce to graunt to so good and an honourable peace in his behalfe But it was their euill fortunes that they were too well beloued and fauoured of the common people and by their vpright and good seruices together with other Netherlanders had gotten ouer-great credite and report in euery place whereby they had not onely mooued and enticed the people to yeeld great tributes taxes tallages and honours vnto the king but also procured great seruices to be done for him in other countries as in Germany c. And when the king with his counsell in Spaine had fully resolued to bring the Netherlands vnder full obedience and subiection by the Inquisition and other strange deuices brought into it and other countries whether it were of zeale vnto the Romish catholicke Religion or that he ouer-much desired his owne profite and greatnesse hee sought and expected from those lords that they should and would vse and put in practise their authoritie and power aforesaid among the common people as they had done before wherein they did not acquite themselues so well as the vnexperienced counsellors in Spaine concerning the affaires of the Netherlands desired and expected they should haue done which the said lords esteemed to bee cleane contrarie vnto the kings seruice and the profit of the Netherlands as also thinking it to bee a thing vnreasonable for them to withstand and contrary their owne friends kindred countrey lawes and priuiledges knowing better than they of Spaine wherein the profit and commoditie of the Netherlands and consequently the aduancement of the kings honour and seruice chiefely consisted esteeming it vnpossible to hold and maintaine a people that had alwaies liued in freedome in peace and quietnesse by such odious kind of rigour as the proclamations and the Inquisition brought in and inflicted vpon them For which cause they seeing the proceedings of their neighbour countries sought to procure and induce the king to a necessarie kind of altering or moderating of his pretended course by diuers and seuerall meanes for the maintenance and preseruation of the catholicke Romish Religion which otherwise stood in great danger to be ouerthrowne which disliked and much displeased the king and his counsell and was the matter of Treason as the Spaniards supposed for the which they must die others measuring their actions by another way esteemed and iudged them both by God and mans law to haue iustly deserued to die for that in so good 〈◊〉 cause wherein so much consisted the honour of God Religion the countries welfare and the kings profit they were not more vigilant carefull prouident and earnest than they had beene but through feare and suspition of the kings carelesnesse beeing badly informed by the enemies of the countrey suffered themselues to be easily carried away and to let such cases of importance as the abolishing of the proclamations for the assembling of the States and such like priuiledges graunted in times past to be taken away from the Netherlands by prouiso whereby they made the other lords and gentlemen become faint hearted and partly holpe and assisted to persecute them contrarie to their owne promises wils and consciences seeing and knowing wherein the honour of God the Religion the countries welfare and the profite of the king most consisted better than any other counsellors about him did as time it selfe hath sufficiently made manifest and declared Some others argued to the contrarie excusing them That they thereby hoped to pacifie the kings wrath when he should see and perceiue the obedience of his subiects and the weightinesse of the cause together with the daungers therein consisting and so might be mooued to a softer and more conuenient remedie Wherein also they were much deceiued which the prince of Orange and others had sufficiently foretold them as that they would bee the bridge and onely instrument vpon the which and wherewith the Spaniards would enter into the Netherlands counselling and aduising them rather to kepe all strangers out of the land vntill the king by aduice of the generall States should be better counselled Generally euery man esteemed that the king could reape no good nor profit by the rigor and crueltie that he had vsed against those earles and other noblemen and gentlemen but be a meanes to breed much hatred euill will and desperation among the people towards him which since hath cost many mens liues and consumed a great masse of treasure These were the common and generall opinions of all well experienced persons in matters concerning estate in other princes countries and courts touching their deaths Cont Lodowic of Nassau hauing gotten the victorie against Cont Arembergh and the Spaniards diuided his armie into two with the which he went to besiege Groningen a great and mightie towne in the countrey of Friseland not without great admiration of all men how hee durst with so few men and so little munition attempt such a towne whereas the earle of Meghen was with eighteene ensignes of Germanes and a thousand Spaniards and Curio Martinengue with three hundred horsemen The besieged made many braue sallies and among others one on the two and twentieth of Iune in the which the earle of Nassau lost aboue two hundred men seeking to hinder them from building of a fort betwixt two riuers In the meane time Chiapin Vitelli marshal of the campe to the duke of Alua gathered together what men he could with the which he aduanced whilest that the duke prepared to rayse the siege Chiapin camped on the one side of the towne not farre from Cont Lodowics Protestants who sent to offer him battaile but he excused himselfe The duke of Alua sent to entreat the emperour in the king his masters name that he would commaund the earle of Nassau to leaue the siege
Vander Marke failed of his enterprise and for that the wind fell contrarie whereby they could not get out of the Meuse they stayed there not without feare and there began first to consult to take some place or other for their owne securitie whereupon Threlon counselled them to take the Bryele The ships entring into the Meuse put them of the Bryele Meuseland sluce in great feare not knowing what ships they were for that cause sent out one Iohn Peterson Coppenstock who perceiuing them to be Gueux asked for captaine Threlon for that his father had alwayes beene bailife of the Bryele and being brought vnto him the earle perceiued him to bee a fit man to carrie their message into the town and to that end gaue him captaine Theolns signet with commission in the name of the earle Vander Marke to summon them to yeeld vp the towne for the prince of Orange as the kings lieutenant who was comming into the Netherlands with a great power to free the same from the tyrannie of the duke of Alua and from the tenth penie The signet was sent into the towne for the bourgmasters securitie which desired the same vntill the earle Vander Marke came forth This Coppenstocke was let into the towne which as then was shut and being questioned withall did his message so well that the townes-men were much abashed hauing a weake towne and without garrison whereby the the richest and the best of them yea and the greatest part fled out of the towne before they gaue him any answer Vntill that time there had two companies of Spaniards lyen in garrison within the towne which not long before were sent to Vtrecht amongst others to plague and punish them of Vtrecht for that they had obtained grace in Spaine to haue their spiritualtie restored againe to their place and voyce amongst the states and to force them to pay the tenth and twentieth penie They of the towne of Bryele beeing wanting counsell and aduice fled out of the same without any resolution and therewith the Gueux in all hast went on land diuiding themselues into two parts Threlon going with one companie to the South gate and Roybol to the North gate where with fagots pitch and straw they thought to fire the gate but taking a mast and running forcibly against it broke it open and so vpon Palme Sunday in the euening being the first day of Aprill anno 1572 they entred into the towne without bloud shedding the earle Vander Marke with many Walons entring therein the next day they ransacked the churches brake downe the images and draue out the priests and the monkes and for that they perceiued the towne not to be verie strong to hold it against the enemie they thought to haue left it if it had not beene by the persuasion of Threlon and Iaques Cabilleaw and others that counselled the earle to stay there for the good scituation of the hauen and for that cause promised each other to keepe and defend the same to the vttermost and so wrot vnto the prince of Orange for more ayd and taking some of the ordnance out of their ships fortified the towne therewith These news being brought vnto Brussels made the towns men glad for that they were then vpon the point to bee forced to pay the tenth penie and from thence forth to continue the same or els part of their townes men should haue beene hanged vp before their doores The duke of Alua seemed to make small account of the taking of the said towne neuerthelesse hee sent to Vtrecht to the earle of Bossu to will him with all his force to driue the Gueux from thence which was no small ioy to them of Vtrecht for that the Spaniards had conspired some mischiefe against them of Vtrecht which they meant to haue executed vpon Maundy Thursday vpon which day the Spaniards vse to whip themselues and vnder colour thereof thought to haue wrought their villanie vpon the inhabitants of the said towne of Vtrecht Maximilian earle of Bossu beng gouernor of Holland hauing before receiued intelligence that the earle Vander Marke was at sea went to the Hage and from thence had sent for two companies of Spaniards vnder the leading of Don Ferdinando de Toledo and vpon the newes and commission sent vnto him by the duke of Alua hee marched with ten companies of Spaniards to Meuseland Sluce and Schiedam from whence with ships and boats they went ouer to Heeuliet and Swartwale and being got into the island wherein the Bryele stood marched towards the towne where the Gueux lay without the towne and shot fiercely against them at the last one Rochus Meussen the towne carpenter leapt into the water and with great speed opened the new Sluce whereby presently there entred so much water into the land that no man could goe in the island but onely vpon the ditch vpon the which the Spaniards went along vnto the South gate where they found so much shot placed against them that they began to be both out of hope and courage Meane time it being Easter eue Threlon and Roybol went with certaine souldiers to assaile the ships and boats wherein the Spaniards came ouer whereof some they sunke others they burnt and let some driue away which the Spaniards perceiuing as also that the water stil began to rise higher within the island they were in feare to be all drowned for which cause euerie man fled disorderly away seeking to saue themselues some swimming others running through the water and some hanging vpon the scutes and so got ouer Beuerland in the durt and myre whereby many of them were drowned and smothered in the water The earle vander Marke durst not send many of his men out being too weake In this sort the Spaniards came before Dorcht all wet durtie and wearie where they of the towne in friendly manner refused to let them in for which cause the earle of Bossu went with them to Rotterdam hauing left sixteene of his men behind him in the Island and two captaines which the Gueux hanged vp at a myle The Graue vander Marke sought meanes to strengthen himselfe in the Island causing the countrey people therein to be mustered swearing and protesting to stand one by the other and prepared shippes and boates to make warre vpon the water The prince of Orange disliked much of the taking of the Briel fearing that his other enterprises as then not readie to be effected would be discouered and that thereby the duke of Alua might bee too soone awaked but in regard of the good scituation of the place hee sought all the meanes that hee could possibly to ayde and helpe the earle from all places The ninth of Aprill the duke fearing the like accident in the Isle of Walchren in Zeeland that had happened at the Bryel especially at Flessingue and for the better execution of the citadell which he had designed vpon the sea side whereof the foundations were layed and to hinder the
nauigation of strangers hee resolued to send a garrison but doubting they would not willingly receiue any especially Spaniards fearing some mutinie the six and twentieth of March the sent Scipio Campi an Italian to enter into the towne vnder colour of friendship and to seize and assure himselfe thereon hauing an intention to cause the magistrates and the deputies for the collection of the tenth penny to be executed for that they had also refused to put it in practise Scipio beeing entred the towne the eight and twentieth day caused the commons to assemble to whom he declared that he had greatly recommended the towne to the duke of Alua so as he had graunted them in his Maiesties name a good summe of money to be employed in the fortification of the towne and that for his part he was desirous and ready to employ himselfe therein and to assist them for the which the bourgesses gaue him great thankes Some dayes after he did impart his intention and charge to some of the towne his adherents and as he had put this good impression into the peoples minds the third and fourth of Aprill following he made fiue breaches in the wall at one time vnder colour that he would fortifie it as he had giuen it out He stopped a sluce and made a proclamation in the towne That if any one would vndertake the workes which he had designed they should come vnto the towne-house at the day and houre appointed and presently he caused a bridge to be made ouer the ditch right against one of these breaches hee caused the keyes of the towne gates to be counterfeited and the artillerie to be secretly cloyed The fifth of the said moneth being Easter eue hee set double guards in euery place aduertising the inhabitants not to stirre if they heard any noyse in the night And as seuenteene ships departed from Berghen vpon Soome laden with Spaniards thought to enter that night into Flessingue without any let the calmenesse of the weather and a Northwest winde hindered them so as they were constrayned to deferre the enterprise vnto the next day which was Easter In the meane time the quarter masters of these Spanish companies being landed at Arnemuyden came to Flessingue where they called the magistrates together and importuned them with threats to make lodgings for the Spaniards The magistrates and these harbengers beeing busie in the towne-house about it the people began to troupe together in the streets much troubled for that they heard they would lodge the Spaniards they entred into the towne-house and began to crie out confusedly That they would haue no Spaniards and that they would rather die than receiue them encouraging one another to armes The bourgomasters seeing it sought to stay them and to appease this mutinie but one of them saying vnaduisedly vnto the multitude If wee would receiue the Spaniards can you hinder vsâ—… At which words the people incensed more than before ran vnto the towne wals to seize vpon the artillerie and finding it cloyed they discouered that they were sold and betrayed Those that were the authors seeing the bourgesses thus moued slipped quietly out of the town and were neuer seene afterwards during this trouble The bourgesses hauing freed their artillerie seeing the Spaniards aduance to enter into the hauen they demaunded powder the which being refused them they forced the Magasin of munition where it was from whence they drew as much powder and bullets as they pleased wherewith they charged the artillerie crying out That they would not suffer the Spaniards to enter so long as there was a man of them aliue making some shot through this fleet of shippes Whereat the Spaniards being much perplexed strucke sayle so as they durst not approach any neerer being within an arrow shoot of the head of the hauen and not able to retyre by reason of the tyde and the wind that was contrarie one among them leaping into the sea came swimming to land beeing come into the towne hee entreated the inhabitants with his hands ioyned together not to shoot any more and that they would not fayle to retyre at the full sea the which through the pitie of some considering that at that time they knew no place whether to retyre was graunted them vpon condition That if at the first full sea they did not depart from thence they would sinke them with their Canon In the meane time the baylife of the towne seeing the people thus mooued ranne speedily to Middlebourg to informe the Seignior of Wacken Vice-admirall for the king of Spaine of all that had passed and in the meane time many of the magistrates which had fauoured the Spaniards retyred secretly out of the towne After dinner the Seignior of Wacken being come and hauing demaunded of the people If all that which they did were wel done one among them answered him resolutely That he himselfe was the cause thereof which amazed him so as he retyred to the towne-house to some of the aldermen that were yet remayning then afterwards he went and spake againe vnto the people but somewhat more modestly entreating them that at the least they would suffer a hundred Spanish souldiors to enter which they refused Then he demaunded them if they had rather haue Wallons wherunto answere was made him That neyther the one nor the other Being full sea at three of the clocke in the afternoone the Spaniards were commaunded to retyre and two peeces of Ordnance were discharged which made them presently to depart The burgesses being much incensed against the Seignior of Wacken would haue slayed him accusing him to bee the cause of all the mischiefe and that returning to the duke of Alua he would bee their mortall enemie yet he found meanes to escape and to retyre to Middlebourg The duke of Alua hearing how matters went at Flessingue and that it was lost for him setting a good face on it said Pitsi linge no es nada for which cause the Protestants of Zeeland carried afterwards in their colours No es nada others carried nine pieces of money shewing that they made warre to preserue the tenth These shippes laden with Spaniards being retyred from Flessingue arriued in the Island of Zuydbeuelandt thinking to enter into the town of Ter-Goes but they would not receiue them so as the thirteenth of Aprill they arriued before Berghen vpon Soom where the entrie was in like sort denied them but the sixteenth following they surprised it by night and entreated the inhabitants by reason of this refusall as you may imagine and as they accustomed to doe vnto such as obey not their wils The ninth of the said moneth three Spanish captaines seeing the colours flying vpon the rampars of Flessingue thinking to find their Spanish troupes there which were retyred notwithstanding the aduice of the master of the shippe entred into the towne where they were presently taken and put in prison The eleuenth of the said moneth some countreymen brought two Spanish souldiers into the
Spaniards Wallons and Germanes two thousand paces or thereabouts into the drowned land not knowing whither they went the which they passed in fiue houres and arriued safely though with great toyle in the Island of Zuytbeuelandt where they made them to rest before they would haue them fight with their enemie being aboue foure leagues from them And although that these souldiers were so wet and tyred as they could not march farre and that the Protestants besieging Ter-Goes were fiue thousand men and might easily haue defeated them by reason of the great aduantages they had ouer them had they beene all fresh and lustie yet there fell so great an amazement amongst them in their campe as to their great shame and confusion they raysed the siege and fled retyring vnto their shippes as if the enemies had beene at their heeles when as they did scarce see them Bartel Entens lieutenant to the earle of Marche was one of the ring-leaders in this flight who arriued the two and twentieth of October with his men and the French before la Vere and the English before Flessingue They had left some English and French in the suburbes for the rereward that they might the more easily imbarke the artillerie But the feare and apprehension was so great among them as they abandoned all and fled in such disorder to their shippes as many seeking to enter in the prease were drowned and the artillerie abandoned and lost Captaine Saras vnfortunate in all his exploits was againe taxed with treason so as to iustifie himselfe he went to the prince of Orange who had made him gouernour of Flessingue to whome hee made a declaration of his innocencie desiring him to giue him leaue to call any man by proclamation vnto the combate that should say that he were other than a faithfull and a loyall gentleman hauing in all things discharged himselfe of his dutie and allegeance Whereupon some of his friends aduised him to haue patience and that time would iustifie him sufficiently if that his actions were syncere and iust Bartel Entens being returned with his men into the Isle of Walchren made an enterprise vpon Arnemuyden thinking to surprise it but he fayled for that one of his souldiers hauing shot off his peece indiscreetly and without cause caused an alarum for the which he was hanged then burning some countrey houses about the towne they ran towards Westhouen a castle belonging vnto the bishop of Middlebourg the which they tooke and burned the next day The king of Spaine hearing that the too sharpe and rigorous gouernment of the duke of Alua had beene the cause of all the troubles in the Netherlands whereof hee had dayly many complaints and that through his negligence the Zeelanders and others had taken armes meant to call him home and to send the duke of Medina Coeli in his place a nobleman of a milder disposition to gouerne the said countries of the Netherlands after the duke of Alua. And to that end there was a good fleet of shippes of warre appointed with two thousand Spaniards with whom there ioyned fiue and twentie other marchants shippes Spaniards Portugeses and Italians laden with wooll spice and other good marchandise With all this fleet the duke of Medina sayled happily vntill hee came vnto the coast of Flaunders But the eleuenth of Iune newes being come to Flessingue That there were forty shippes gone towards Ostend euery man posted to arme and put forth his shippe to set vpon them Captaine Worst with other captaines went foorth to find them with twelue shippes and hoyes but before they could come sixe and twentie carauels of this fleet had cast themselues into the Swyn of Scluse whereas the duke of Medina saued himselfe with twelue more in a shippe-boat The Zeelanders burned three which were runne a ground and two others being taken were carried to Flessingue laden with marchandise The Spaniards that were found in these fiue were cast ouer-boord and about threescore caried prisoners to Flessingue from whence the twelfth day of the same moneth went foorth eight other shippes well manned with souldiers mariners and bourgesses gaping after nothing but bootie encouraged with the good successe of the day before and to second those twelue shippes that went forth with captaine Worst to fight with those twelue great shippes laden with Spanish souldiers the which for their greatnesse could not enter into Scluse but these great carackes seeing them come kept so close together as the Zeelanders could not annoy them so as they returned without any effect being hindered by a Westerly winde which was contrarie vnto them Yet the same day they rigged forth certaine great shippes to visit them the next day if happily the wind would serue but the tempest encreasing they could not doe any thing and so for spight they hung vp eleuen Spaniards which they had taken prisoners The next day they discouered many sayles at sea comming from the West yet could they not suddenly discerne what they were and therefore at Flessingue they held their artillerie readie and their rampars well manned The twelue great Spanish carackes were forced by a Southwest wind to ioyne with all these sayles that were discouered The first shippe of this fleâ—… was of Antuerpe at whom they of Flessingue shot which made them to strike sayle as likewise all the fleet did But the twelue carackes laden with Spaniards which followed them although they shot much at them passed on still coasting Flâ—…unders vntill that all twelue came vnder the lee of the castle of Rameken but all the rest of the fleet of Lisbonne which were one and twentie sayles were all taken except three which weyghed anchor in time and aduentured by the Hont towards Antuerpe The Zeelanders had a wonderfull rich bootie in all these shippes besides that which they had before of the duke of Medinas for besides the spices wooll wines and other marchandise they had in one of them in gold and siluer coyned and to coyne two hundred thousand duckets so as if all this bootie had bin well gouerned and applied to the good of the common cause it had beene sufficient to make warre a whole yeare against the king of Spaine But leauing Zeeland a little wee will shew what passed in the meane time in Holland and other prouinces of the Netherlands I thinke it conuenieâ—…t to shew how the towne of Enchuysen obtained her freedome which I will in briefe declare that the Reader may thereby conceiue how other townes likewise proceeded in their actions for that the taking of the Briel Flessingue and Enchuysen were the onely foundation and first originall of the recouering of the freedome of the Netherlands and shaking off the Spanish yoke Enchuysen is a good towne belonging vnto North Holland or West-Friseland and lying vpon the South sea a towne well peopled and well stored with shippes but in times past but little esteemed inhabited by rich sea-faring men and fishers which beeing strongly situated together with
therewith the assembly departed But to get the consent of the bourgers the bourgmasters caused the great or the common counsel of the bourgers to be assembled and sent vnto them some of their secret counsell and others whom they best trusted with whom they dealt in such wise that it was agreed by the most voyces that the ships of warre should go forth Whereupon the ships went out and certaine barrels of powder and sailed towards Amsterdam but as they put out one of the flie-boats fell on ground which by reason of the wind could not be holpen whereupon the earle Vander Markes ships making towards it the captaine and the men hauing forsaken it fell vpon it and hauing ransacked it of all that was in it burnt it The bourgmasters hearing thereof thought good to set out another fli-boat in place of that was lost not making any words nor shew to do it till about noone time when least people were in the streets which for that it was contrarie to their agreement and they seeking to bring it through the draw bridge certaine bourgers imboldened themselues when they were about it to let the bridge fall between the two masts whereby the flie-boat could neither go in nor out and so lay still certaine dayes The bourgmasters and the magistrats laboured likewise to raise a companie of men out of the bourgers within the towne thereby to hold better vnitie and peace amongst them appointing one master Henricke to be their captaine but the bourgers not content with him sent Peter Ruyskens and Diericke Brower to tel them that they liked not of him Answer was giuen them That they would please them and that they desired nothing else but peace and that if they would nominat foure men they would chuse one of them Whereupon the bourgers assembling chose foure men but they liked not the bourgmasters whereupon one Bart Luytgeson was appointed captaine of that companie and therewith they tooke their othes Meane time Peter Buyskens and Diericke Brower sought by al meanes to persuade the bourgmasters that the prince of Orange would shortly enter into the field to aid them shewing letters new come out of Dillinborgh which Isebrandt Iacobson and Richart Claeson had brought but they would not beleeue it but deuised all the meanes they could to go forward with their proceedings to aid the duke of Alua and hauing gotten a companie of souldiers vnder their command determined to send the flie-boat that lay vnder the bridge for a man of warre amongst the rest of the ships that were gone to Amsterdam and to that end the bourgmasters and the counsell with the companie of souldiers about noone time went to the bridge where they found no man but Cornelis Brewer with Iacob and Iohn his two brethren who presently got more companie and standing vpon the promise made vnto them stept vpon the bridge Cornelis hauing a two handed sword vpon his shoulder and his brethren either of them a peece the bourgmaster Peter Cornelison stepping forward asked who was there that would let them from drawing the fly-boat forth from vnder the bridge whereunto Cornelis Brewer made answere and said That will wee or else will die for it The bourgmaster therewith abasht and withall many people assembling together one of the souldiers filled his peece to shoot at Cornelis Brewer and his brethren which one of the bourgers called Arent Erickson perceiuing cried out and said If thou shootest at any of the bourgers I will thâ—…ust my poniard in thy ribs wherewith hee and the bourgmasters left off their pretence returning backe againe with the companie of souldiers to the town-houle where they presently caused the harguebusiers to assemble at the town-house with their armes the said harguebusiers appointed in euerie town of the Netherlands out of the best and fittest bourgers with speciall othe to defend the towne beeing come vnto the towne house asked wherefore the bourgmasters had so sodainly sent for them Answere was made them That they would haue them to helpe either to driue the Gueux and villaines out of the towne or else kil them Whereupon great dissention rose amongst the shot so that many of them sought to go peaceably home againe With that the bourgmasters caused two great peeces that lay before the town house although the gunners had left them to be made readie and placed them against the street where they thought the bourgers would come vp one William Besterman striking off the locks laid powder vpon the touch-holes as if they had beene readie to shoot them off Wherewith a bourger of good account called Iacob Florison that dwelt not farre from the towne-house then sitting vpon the seat before his doore with his wife seeing that preparation and forwardnesse thought vpon some meanes how to preuent the danger of bloud shedding and standing vp determining to venture his life said to his wife Sou that is Susanna Williams daughter adue wee must now part and presently went to the North Spuy where he met with Gerrardt Iohnson Swaels a canonier that asked him what were best to be done saying they would all venture life and limme with him so he would take the commaund vpon him Iacob said Well then take the planks that lye there and place them in maner of a scoâ—…ce breast high in the broad street before thy mothers house and then fetch the two brassâ—… peeces that lie vpon the hauen and place them before the planks but shoot not before they of the towne-house come or till I come againe from the Spuy Wherewith hee going to the Spuy found great store of fishermen there that heartened one the other to goe forcibly to the towne-house and to constraine them to lay downe their arms before they were stronger crying out and saying Seeing they seeke to bring vs to our ends let vs goe and spoyle them first but when Iacob Florison spake vnto them in friendly manner and said Good brethren be patient a while vntill they come to fight with vs and then will wee shew that wee are men that they may haue no cause to charge vs withall wherewith they were somewhat quiet notwithstanding a politike bourger called Harco Meyusche that after was a captaine in the battaile against Boshuysen and lost his life in that war for his countries cause said That it was the best way to set vpon them least they should come too short and too late wherewith they were certified that the harguebusiers in the towne-house were at controuersie and many of of them vnwilling to fight against their fellow bourgers and so to bring the towne into perpetuall slauerie and that therefore many of them were gone home againe and that onely some that fauored the Spaniards staied there This being thus pacified the one holding the others sword in the scaberd the bourgers sent Peter Buyskens with some others to the burgmasters to moue them to send the brasse peeces that stood before the towne-house vnto the walls and to aâ—…d and
which was very great laden with victuals which they thought to carry vnto Middlebourg one was burned laden with corne and another was cast away vpon the sands neere vnto the Ramekins On the Spaniards side was slaine the Seignior of Blicquy a gentleman of Henault cut off by the wast with a chayne shot and with him some captaines and gentlemen Charles Grenet brother vnto the Seignior of Werp who was in Middlebourg was carried prisoner to Flessingue where at his first entrance he was in danger to haue beene massacred by the mariners if the women had not saued his life There was in this defeat about nine hundred men slaine and drowned on the Spaniards side and but few taken prisoners The rest of the moneth of Aprill was spent at the siege of Harlem in light skirmishes on eyther side and then there was forged in the towne a certaine peece of siluer carrying on the one side the armes of the towne and on the other their deuice Vincit viâ—… Virtus In the beginning of May the Seignior of Roulle gouernour of la Vere hauing gathered together a thousand men out of his owne garrison Flessingue Zirickzee and other places made an enterprise vpon the Island and towne of Tolon which he thought to carry relying vpon his friends and intelligence there But presenting himselfe before the towne about six of the clocke in the morning as soone as he was discouered they saluted him with the canon and small shot so as captaine Ambroise le Duke and some of his souldiers beeing wounded they were enforced to retyre And although there were no hope of good successe in this enterprise being thus discouered yet they continued there so long as they of the Island and the towne being ioyned together with all their forces went to charge them with such furie as they were put to rout and defeated whereof the Flemings were the cause for by their flight they gaue courage vnto their enemies and dismayed the Wallons their companions who being about three hundred men defended themselues valiantly in the trenches which they had made so as in the end being forced they were all cut in pieces In this encounter captaine Schooneuall and his ensigne-bearer were slaine and almost all his companie being for the most part of those that had remained almost six yeares in the woods hauing beene at the surprise of Audenarde as wee haue sayd before The Seignior of Roulle was also slaine by his owne men accusing him that hee had brought them vnto the slaughter Captaine Iacob Simonson was taken prisoner and some few souldiers who being put into the Spanish gallies were drowned except some few which found meanes to saue themselues At the same time there dyed one captaine Tâ—…t Worst admirall of Flessingue a captaine as free from ambition and couetousnesse as valiant and hardie in whose place there was another chosen very well tryed for his great valour The ninth of May being Whitson eue the Spaniards did cast a mans head into one of the bulwarkes at Harlem with a note containing these words Behold the head of captaine Oliuer The besieged had two pigeons drawne out of their doue-houses the which they carried often vnto the prince of Orange his campe from whence they let them flye with little scrowles tied about their thighes the which came into the towne to their Pigeon houses they were called Flying messengers The shippes of Amsterdam did so keepe the sea of Harlem being very many as little could come that way vnto the towne the which was so straightly besieged as nothing could come in or goe out but with extreame perill and danger if it were not to make some sally or to skirmish as they did vpon the sixteenth of the moneth when they went to charge them that were lodged in the fort by the Wood whome they chased from thence and the next day they tooke the fort of Fuyck by assault then they went as farre as the house of Iohn Pitteman the which was held by the Spaniards whereas they slew two centinels and brought away three cloakes and the couering of a bed The besieged of the towne of Harlem did sometimes blow vp a myne of their rampar at the foot whereof the enemies were lodged which did much annoy them There was also an order That all the earth which they brought vnto the rampar should be cast into the ditch the which was in such abundance as by that meanes they did enlarge their rampar without aboue two fadomes The 17 of the month the fleet for the victualing of Middlebourg being behind the castle of Ramekins and prepared to return to Antuerp they aduanced a little and went to anker on the other side of the castle attending a wind fit for their voiage The same day there issued forth about three hundred men out of Middlebourg who came within canon shot of Flessingue along the dike betwixt Ramekins and the town being discouered there sallied forth as it were by force a number of souldiers of the companies of Eloy and Bernard at their incounter the skirmish grew so hot as they of Middlebourg hauing many of their souldiers hurt and some slaine retired And it is worthy the noting that although the skirmish continued four howers verie furious yet there was not any one of them of Flessingue slaine nor hurt The fiue and twentieth of the moneth the Spaniards hauing recouered the fort of Fuycke they sallied forth about fiue hundred men and came and assaulted the fort of Russenburch which was held by them of the towne at their first approach there were but nine or ten men the rest being gone vnto the towne but they returned sodainly at the noyse of the shot and entred by another way The charge was furious for at the first the Spaniards tooke the intrenchment of the counterscarpe of that side where they approached euen vnto the bridge where there was a captaine slaine or at the least some man of account and aduancing neerer there was a captaine with seuen Spaniards slaine The captaines heads were cut off and sent that night into the towne and set vpon pikes at the end of a bulwarke in reuenge of that of captain Oliuer whereas they remained all the day following at which skirmish there were some fortie souldiers hurt the which were put into smal barkes by their companions and carried to their quarter And as they made their retreat it happened that Iohn Schatter holding a little barrell of powder to distribute among the souldiers by mischance it fell on fire whereby both he and Serrats with seuen or eight more were verie sore burnt but to recompence this mischance they had a chaine of gold weighing three hundred crowns from one of the Spanish captains Al this time of the siege the kine and other cattel fed without the town along the ditches The Spaniards went in good numbers to fetch them away and although they had taken seuen or eight yet were they so hotly
march all in armes and in the middest of them the magistrats women and children But this designe was broken by a letter from the Spaniards that were quartered in the wood assuring them that all that remained in the towne should haue mercie which the German captaines and other souldiers beleeued too lightly And the same day in token of the victorie which the Spaniards had gotten of the baron of Battembourg they planted vpon their bulwarke nine ensignes which they had taken in this defeat The eleuenth day at night fiue companies of Wallons went out of the towne beeing followed by the companies of harguebusiers and some other bourgers they were in a manner all out so as there scarce remained any man on the rampar where the breach was the which happened by an amazement which fell among them but as there was not any man to set vp the bridges they returned dismaied into the towne euerie one to his quarter and to his guard and if God had not then preserued the towne the Spaniard had easily carried it for it was almost mid-night before the souldiers and bourgers were in guard at the rampar The twelfth day the two bourgmasters captaine Steenback Rossigny and Christopher Vader agreed vpon certaine conditions to yeeld vp the towne to the Spaniard But this accord did not please Rossigny who aduertised the other captaines French and Wallons whereupon they drew vp the bridges of the towne that the Spaniards might not enter yet in the end vpon the good hope was giuen them they consented The thirteenth day proclamation was made by the drumme That all the companies should assemble together in one place as they did where they were demaunded whether they would stay in the towne at the duke of Aluaes mercie or depart without armes Whereupon they answered That they had rather stay at the dukes mercle than to leaue their armes the which they said the more willingly for that they had told the Easterlings and the Scottish men that they were pardoned And so the soldiers recommending themselues to God resolued to attend what might happen vnto them Captaine Bordet a French man hearing them speake of yeelding to their mercie called one of his souldiers and said vnto him Souldier my friend come hither thou hast done mee many good seruices doe me now this last shooting me thorow the bodie with thy harguebuse the souldier refused him but through intreaties and importunities he did it And so died Border not feeling the crueltie of his enemies and scorning to die by the hand of a hangman The cause of this Roman-like act was for that the Spaniards had declared that there was no mercie for them that had beene besieged at Mons in Henault where the said captaine Border had beene The foureteenth day the companies were sent for to the towne-house to know if they did consent to that accord by the which the bourgmasters had redeemed the towne from spoile for two hundred and fortie thousand florins at two paiments one hundred thousand within twelue dayes and the rest at three monethes Whereunto hauing consented the deputies went to confirme this agreement the which being thus concluded the towne was put into Dom Fredericks hands Then commandement was giuen that at the sound of the great bell all bourgers and souldiers should bring their armes into the state-house that the townes-men should goe into the cloister of Zyel the women into the cathedrall church and the souldiers into the church of Bakemisse but the Germans and Scottish men should still keepe the guard at the rampar This done Philip Martin sometimes bourgmaster of the said towne who during the siege had remained with Dom Frederic went to the cloister of Zyel to intreat the bourgmasters and the bourgers to prouide the money that was promised speedily least that by delayes the towne might bee spoyled The same day the Spaniards being entred commandement was also giuen to the Scots and Germans to bring their armes vnto the towne-house and from thence were led vnto S. Katherines cloister and to S. Vrsula where they were giuen in guard to certaine Spanish souldiers This done Dom Frederic the earle of Bossu with some other noblemen entred into the towne and presently all the Ensignes of companies hauing the day before deliuered vp their colours into the Spaniards hands were put in prison and afterwards sent with a guard to the castle of Cleef Whilest that the poore bourgers were thus guarded within the church the Spaniards spoyled some of their houses The fifteenth day of that moneth Dom Frederic caused about three hundred Wallons to bee hanged and headed and the same day the duke of Alua came from Amsterdam before the towne of Harlem where hee made the circuit of the towne to view it on the out side and then returned from whence he came without entring into the towne The next day captaine Riperda and his lieutenant were beheaded the minister Steembach was hanged and two hundred and seuen and fortie souldiers were drowned in the Sea of Harlem The seuenteenth there were a great number more executed and the eighteenth day there were three hundred more as well souldiers as bourgers which lost their heads with the minister Simon Simonson On the twentieth day the seigniour Lancelot of Brederode captaine Rossigny and the receiuor of Bryele were executed by the sword in the village of Schoten The regiment of Lazarus Muller with the captaines beeing Germans were conducted the seuenth day of August out of the towne whereof a part of them went to serue the duke of Alua And the eleuenth day following all the English and Scottish were beheaded And to fill vp this sea of bloud all the wounded and sicke were beheaded before the hospitall dcore They that lay without in the sconce as beeing forgotten in the contracts while they were executing the rest of them in the towne and forgetting to giue them meat were found starued to death with hunger The sixteenth day of August the Dutch souldiers beeing about six hundred strong with their captaines were led out of the towne with conuoy but passing by Nienwer church monsieur Sonoys souldiers with the ayd of them of Enchuysen setting vpon their conuoy ouerthrew them and so set them at libertie Thus were all the souldiers in Harlem beeing aboue two thousand men with their captaines executed and murthered except some few that got secretly away and a Scottish captaine called Balfour that vpon promise to doe some exploit against the person of the prince of Orange was set at libertie which hee himselfe told vnto the prince esteeming it a matter not to be done being wholly against law or conscience After this victorie gotten against Harlem the duke wrot letters vnto all the townes of Holland offering pardon and grace but none of them would giue eare thereunto namely they of Rotterdam made him answer saying That they would bee obedient and dutisul vnto the king of Spaine but would not acknowledge any other
Scluce but sodainly he turned head hauing both wind and tide fit and directed his course towards Antuerpe passing before Flessingue they were pursued by the lesser ships of Zeeland for the greater beeing vpon the Lemmer could not arriue in time who charged them so behind as they forced foure of their smaller ships of warre and fiue other vessels laden with victuals to run on ground vpon Flanders side least they should fall into the Flessinguers hands Besides there was brought vnto Flessingue a hulke of two hundred tunnes the which had beene taken by the Spaniard being at sea laden with many sorts of merchandise Although the seignior of Beauuoir had not vnladen the third part of the victuall and munition which he had brought yet durst he not make any longer stay at Haek fearing the tempest in the which he had lost six or seuen ships besides the great difficultie hee had to conuey those victuals from that place to Middlebourg The besieged of Alcmar in Holland to find some meanes to recouer their channell they did endeuor with barkes to set fire on the other house which they could not do at the mouth of it the bourgers with one of their bourgmasters and some souldiers went in boats to skirmish with the enemie another companie was gone by the salt pits to charge the enemie by land But the Spaniards hauing sent some of their men by the new port towards the town making shew as if they would assaile it on the South side at a place called the Geest as soone as the alarme was giuen in the town the bourgers quitting the skirmish returned to the rampar and so this enterprise proued fruitlesse The next day the Spaniards told the besieged being vpon the rampar That they desired to conferre with them vpon good assurances The which being imparted to colonell Cabelliau and the counsell of the towne being assembled it was resolued among the bourgmasters captaines and chiefe of the towne not to treat in any sort with the Spaniards no not to heare them speake the which was deliuered vnto them From that day the Spaniard seeing himselfe contemned and that they would not once heare him speake began then to resolue to warre and to shoot at the houses in the towne without doing any great harme to the rampar the which the besieged did fortifie day and night The fiue and twentieth of August the Spaniards made a false alarme towards the port of Harlem as if they would assayle the towne of that side And the said day they sent a drummer with captaine Steenbach as it was thought to the port of Friseland demaunding of the besieged if they might approach any neerer freely Being answered them that yea they desired to speake with captaine Cabelliau or with one of the bourgmasters but whilest that one went to deliuer the message hee was knowne by a souldier then they cried vnto him that he should retire and as hee recoyled a little they that were in centinell shot at him calling him traytor and that he had beene the cause of the losse of the towne of Harlem the which hee vnderstanding drew foorth his sword and threatning them hee presently went his way Three dayes after the Spaniards put themselues in battaile an howre after mid-night as if they had meant to haue giuen an assault the which they did as it was thought to see the countenance of the besieged and how they were resolued to defend themselues but there was nothing heard throughout all the towne but an alarme and shooting of peeces so as the Spaniards seeing them come to the rampar nothing amazed made a gentle retreat And the same day there died to the great griefe of all the commons Iohn Arentsz minister who being at the extremitie and hearing that the Spaniard was at the rampar prayed God with all his familie to preserue his deere countrey that it might serue as a refuge for them that make profession of the Gospell The night following the Spaniards made a trench before the port of Friseland to approach their canon neerer and notwithstanding the continuall shooting of the besieged yet could they not hinder their worke so as about noone they sallied out of the towne and chased them from thence but the Spaniards hauing doubled their forces they returned and forced the besieged to retire into the towne who carried backe with them which they had found vpon the way a little barrell of powder some head peeces swords and clokes which they that fled first had left The first of September of many messengers which the besieged had sent out there was one onely that returned who brought letters from the Seignior Diederic Sonoy gouernour of West-Friseland and from the States of the countrey vnto the counsell of the towne of Alcmar the which did much comfort the besieged In these letters he did grieue that they were so straightly besieged The which he had no sooner vnderstood but he did his best endeuour to send them a companie of supply but he could not doe it by reason of the base retreat of their men which they had vpon the lake of Schermer yet he would not fayle to employ his person to succour them and to helpe to rayse the siege That he had written to the prince of Orange to that end doubting not but their forces if they would patiently attend succours would disappoint the attempts of their enemies And touching that which they had desired to haue the dike broken by Medenblycke hauing imparted it vnto the States of West-Friseland they had alreadie let goe all the sluces of the sea and if necessitie required he himselfe would bee the first that should pierce the said dike And touching that which they had written That they had brought foure and twentie peeces of Ordnance to the enemies campe that he had heard nothing thereof by his spies yet hee was not ignorant in what perplexitie the towne was the which he could not relieue as he desired yet he would do his best endeuours to send them succours and this was the substance of his letter Those letters of the States of West-Friseland assembled in the towne of Horne contained That as for the powder which they dayly attended as soone as they had receyued it they would send it vnto them and in the meane time they would doe their best endeauours to succour them by water and by land entreating the bourgers to be of good courage and the rather for that Cont Lodowic had written vnto Philip vander Aa to exhort the Hollanders not to faint for the losse of Harlem but trusting vnto the equitie of their cause to shew themselues more valiant for the defence of their libertie and the countrey hoping they should bee soone freed from the tyrannie wherewith they would oppresse them Some that were well affected gaue it out that there were letters come to some priuate persons That duke Christopher sonne to the Cont Palatine was vpon the frontiers of Gueldres with two
for the siege of Leyden as for the victualling of Middlebourg and the recouerie of Zeeland Behold how the Netherlands had successiuely two strange gouernours against the rights liberties freedomes and the kings oath which did not allow any other gouernor or gouernesse but of his bloud or borne in the countrey Being come to the end of the duke of Alua his gouernement I thinke it not amisse to satisfie the mind of the reader that may be desirous to know more particularities touching him to make a briefe rehearsall of the said dukes actions gouernments and cruelties the which are set downe in writing by his aduersaries First they charge him That hee had counselled the king to vse all extremities in all causes concerning the Netherlands and was alwaies the head of such as were worst affected vnto those prouinces That he was the onely meanes and nourishing of the disliking and contention betweene Dom Charles prince of Spaine and Dom Iohn de Austria and betweene others and him by his bad reports And that hauing gotten the charge and gouernment of the Netherlands that he had procured his instructions and commission to be made according to his owne will and desire conformable to the auncient hatred that he had conceiued against that countrey adding thereunto That he had beene receiued more peaceably and friendly into the Netherlands than he hoped or desired which was onely in regard of the honour and duty they owe vnto their naturall prince and vpon the promise made by the regent the duchesse of Parma who would haue seene all things past forgiuen and forgotten for that euery one had done his best endeuour to the vttermost of his power for his Maiesties seruice and the peace of the land But the duke being come hee presently declared That the priuiledges and freedomes of the countrey the institution of the order of the golden Fleece and the priuiledges of the Vniuersitie of Louaine which the king had personally sworne to obserue were all forfeited and lost thereby to hold and account the land to be as a strange countrey newly woon and conquered by the sword and therein to rule and raigne according to his will and pleasure They say further That his cruelties were so vnnaturall and vngodly that neither Nero Pharaoh Herode nor any Heathen tyrant could euer haue deuised or inuented greater That he had brought the king into a contempt and great dislike of the Netherlands although they were his patrimoniall inheritance contrarie to the admonition and counsell of Aristotle giuen to Alexander the Great That to the Grecians he should shew himselfe a father and as vnto a free Nation but to the conquered Barbarians and strangers as a lord and commaunder That hee had caused iudgement to bee giuen and execution to bee done vpon noble men and great personages by strangers defamed persons and men of base condition and qualitie and not without great and particular desire of reuenge beeing such personages without the which the king nor the emperour his father should neuer haue attained to so great estate and glorie And that in Brussels vnder pretence oâ—… hatred of religion hee had tyed one Anthonie Vtenhowe a gentleman to a stake with a chaine compassing him about with a great fire but not touching him for the Spaniards to passe the time withall turning him round about like a poore beast who was forced to liue in that great paine and extremitie roasting before the fire so long vntill that the halberdiers themselues hauing compassion of him thrust him thorow contrarie to the will and intent both of the duke and Spanish priests That hee had mooued the king to helpe himselfe by foure tyrannicall meanes First to disarme the countrey not suffering the inhabitants to exercise armes but to imploy strangers in his warres Secondly to make and keepe them poore by oppressions and laying great taxes vpon them Thirdly by making of castles and citadels which some call the dennes and nests of tyrants to bridle them And further by feeding and nourishing of diuision among his subiects for religion They obiect That hee had withholden the king for so many yeares in so great dangers from comming personally into the countries of the Netherlands as the emperour his father did only for the towne of Gand. That hee had incensed the king so much against the Netherlands as he would not vouchsafe to heare them but rather flatterers their enemies as it appeared by a packet of letters sent into Spain where they were kept vnopened nine monethes together vntill the comming of the cardinall Granuelle into Spaine That he had contemned the generall estates of the Netherlands persecuting iudging condemning and executing the nobilitie and gentlemen thereof as traytors to their countrey hauing onely presented an humble petition to the Duchesse of Parma being Regent to craue an assembly of the generall estates That hee was not content to haue destroyed and brought so many noble men gentle men rich and poore people vnto their ends and to haue banished and driuen so many out of the countrey but had so hardly and badly vsed those that remained in the countrey as they were fallen into dispaire and were pitied and lamented in all kings and princes courts whereby those that were in the land had beene compelled to ioyne with the banished persons when as they perceiued that the pardon made by the pope and the king by his onely meanes and procurement tended onely to deceit as beeing full of double interpretations exceptions and restrictions wherein they might not trust the Netherlands for the most part that are a people that commonly are good old and Catholike Christians beeing esteemed for heretikes by the new Spanish Mauritane Christians for which cause many spirituall persons fearing the rigour and crueltie vsed by punishing and banishing of the people procured attestations certificats and testimonials from their bishops and pastors to testifie them to be cleer and not to haue offended whose names hee caused to bee written and sent into Spaine thereby to bring the Spiritualtie into suspition of heresie and so to bereaue them of all honour and credit seeking to bring the Spirituall goods and liuings of the countries of the Netherlands into the kings hands after the Spanish manner thereby to bestow them vpon the Spaniards That his crueltie appeared by his ransacking spoyling ruining expelling destroying imprisoning chaining banishing and confiscating of mens goods burning hanging beheading breaking vpon wheeles hanging men aliue by the feet and with most horrible and vncredible tormenting racking and murthering of so many noble and vnnoble rich and poore young and old widowes and orphanes men women and young maids of all estates and conditions So as hee bragged sitting at meat That hee hauing done the best hee could to root out all heresies had caused eighteene thousand men to bee executed and put to death by the ordinarie minister of iustice within the space of six yeares that hee gouerned the Netherlands not accounting those that his
there were a hundred French should land vpon the right hand and a hundred Wallons on the left and some captaines to haue a care of the placing of the Gabions and to set the Pioners to worke finally all things were so well ordred and disposed as they would not faile in the execution if it were possible for all the importance of the Action consisted in making of a passage to Leyden escaping at vnawares by some places and making their way by force in others This last meanes had alwaies seemed as indeede it was verie difficult yea altogither impossible without sufficient water that they might fleete euerie where and therefore it behooued them to seeke some expedient For they did see that after that they entred into Noorda the water had rysen but three or foure inches in eight daies all which a North-west winde had taken away in eight and fortie houres and brought the water to the same heigth it was the day of their arriuall the which did much perplexe them not that they doubted but in time they should haue water sufficient but they feared that they of the Towne were reduced to that extremitie as they should bee forced to yeeld not able to attend the euent of so vncertaine a thing which depended vpon the winde for in truth to attend the increase of waters that might ryse by the tides were a vaine thing for that the bosome or circumference of the countrie which receiued the water was to great and spacious to be sodenly filled and therefore it depended vpon the meere grace and assistance of God who holds the windes in his hand and a winde would giue them a greater increase in three daies then the tides in three weekes Thus the Protestants discoursed what was with them and what against them and did finde that of necessity they must direct their passage betwixt Soeterwoude the castell of Swyetten and Leyderdorp as the Spaniards did rightly conceiue and there attended them for they must passe betwixt them within a musket shot of both sides And moreouer there was a way going for Soeterwoude to the castell of Swyetten neere vnto Lyderdorp along the which the Spaniards kept great gard as well on the land as in boats or the chanells which are of either side of the way which made the passage some what difficult for they must dislodge them and foritfie there to fauor and couer their Pioners which were to make a breach there and the soldiars that were to land them In the meane time many of the country disputed and maintained that their best course was to go and win Stompiswech murmuring that matters were so much delaied not weighing the difficulties as if warre were as easie to manage as to diuise To content these people the Protestants would trie this passage by the Lake of Soetermeer according to the order that was mentioned but it was in vaine for they were al night seeking of a passage euen vnto this way the which they could not possibly find for the chanells dceiued them as those of Cromwech had in like manner donne and without doubt they had beene well beaten there the Spaniards hauing manie Corps de Garde very nere one vnto an other but for want of chanells they were forced to returne to their first determination The beseeged on the other side were wonderfully importuned by their enemies Don Fernando of Launoy Earle of Roche promised them all good vsage and Francisco Valdes on the other side threatned to hang them if they did not yeelde to his mercie and discretion But all this did nothing amaze them that were well affected to the cause although they did see some ill enclyned which cryed out openly that they must yeelde three hundred and more of them assembling togither about the Towne-house crying out of the Magistrates that they would ruine the towne and that it was a follie to attend any succors neither could they nor would they any longer endure that famine thrust on or rather fauored therein by more then three partes of the Magistrates which was a wonderfull thing yet the better part of the Burguers being the stronger they did still breake and disapoint these factions and monopoles being resolued to attend all extremities choosing rather to trust in the mercies of God then in that of the Spaniards An other time some of the inhabitants came vnto Peter Adriansz Bourguemaster laying before him the miseries which they endured and the great famine there was making great complaints accompanied with threats to whom he answered in few words You see my Brethren and fellow Bourguers that I haue made an oth the which I hope by the grace of God to keepe inuiolably If my death may any way auaile you for I must once die neither doe I care whether I die by your hands or by mine enemies for my case goes right take my bodie teare it in peeces and diuide it among you as farre as it will goe I am content The Burguers were so daâ—…ted with this answere as they retired without any more words The Maiestrates aduertized the Admirall Boysot of their extremity wherein notwithstanding they sayd they were well resolued to continue the which did wonderfully satisfie the Commanders of the Protestants army for seeing the water and iudging their estate to be more desperate then they made shewe of they knew not what to thinke The messengers were sent back but seeing themselues discouered vpon the way by a Spanish Sentinell they were soterefied as they would no more returne wher-with the Commanders were much troubled seeing they had no meanes to send them any newes whereby they should greatly haue comforted them and made them continue constant in their resolution The next day there came two other Messengers who shewed by their good stomakes and their great feeding what bad cheere they kept in the towne These men brought fiue or sixe cople of Pigeons in a cage with letters confirming the former intreating them not to loose any occasion assuring the chiefe of the army still of their courage and resolution The which came very happelie for sodenly one of the Pigeons was dispacht with a little letter who fayled not to goe vnto his Pigeon house whereof the Protestants were assured by a signe which they of the towne gaue them who although their succors were within halfe a league of them and might easily see the towne yet the Townsemen could not see them by reason that the trees which grew there abouts being higher then the masts of their boates tooke away the knowledge of them but they vnderstood well by the daily shooting of the great ordinance that they could not be far off In the meane time whilest that the Protestants were readie to force a new Chanell with their Pioners to goe vnto that way betwixt the castell of Swietten and Soeterwoude for they did assure them that beyond it the water was deeper and that there was no more difficulty vnto the
before the French her naturall enemies In this â—…ort the requests of the vnited states were refused giuing them leaue notwithstaÌ„ding to leuie men and munition within her realme for their money and to transport it so pâ—…ssed the yeare 1575. the Spaniards remaining before Ziricxzee At this time the Commander greâ—… bare of money so as there began a generall alteration by reason of the soldiers insolencies being vnpaied wherevpon hee sought all meanes to taxe euery towne at his discretion as hee had done the villages of the champian country asking 28000. gilders monethly of Antwerp to pay Colonel Hannibal Vander-Ens regiment who threatned the towne if they would not pay it Then was the King of Spaine found to be indebted to the Spanish Genoa other marchants called Foukers in the summe of fouerteene Millions and a halfe of crownes or duckets besides what he ought vnto his soldiars which summe did rise so heigh by reason of the intrest money whereof the Pope being aduertised he gaue the King a dispensation of all his promises contracts and morgages whereby he might lawfully breake and recall the same where vpon the King vpon the first of September 1575. made a proclamation and an other the fift of December 1577. whereby he called in disanulled and made voyd his contracts and promises made vnto all his creditors reducing his debt to a smaser summe This want of money in the King and his great debts were not to be wondred at for at the same time the Netherland warres had cost him aboue forty two millions of duckets whereof the most part came out of Spaine besides all the losse which the Netherlands had susteined by the daily spoyles and ruine of townes villages Castells and houses This want of money and the Kings falling in debt in this Gouernors time bred a contempt of the Commander so as in steed of receiuing money the Prouinces complayned some demanding restitutioÌ„ of their liberties others to be freed of their garrisons according to his promise others demand an accompt as they of Flanders who had promised 100000 gilders vpon condition that out of the same they should deduct the losses they had susteyned by the Spaniards and should haue a due account of all that had beene disbursed to the soldiars for seruice and lodging money as also that the soldiars should depart out of Flanders and bee punished for the wrongs and insolencies they had commit ted that good marshall discipline should be obserued that goods confiscated should be restored according to their preuiledges that the bloudy councell might be put downe and no other appointed in the place thereof but that all causes might be decided by the Prouinciall councells That all preuiledges might be restored and the taxe of the tenth peny vtterly abolished for the which all the Prouinces in generall made great instance where-vpon the Contributions ceased neither did the commisaries pay or receiue any mony for which cause the Commander was aduised to assemble the generall States or their deputies in Brusselles who being there assembled made a petition the cheefe auther whereof was Richardot Bishop of Arras a learned and well spoken man The cheefe points whereof were protesting first that they would not abandon the Catholike Romish religion nor their due obedience to his maiesty intreating that al strangers might be sent out of the Netherlands and that the Nobility and naturall borne in the country might be imployed in their places that marshall discipline might be obserued and that the contributions of the country might be imployed to the vse that they were granted that their priuileges might be mantayned and kept that the King might be duly informed of all things and that he might haue a councell of Netherlanders by him to haue a care of all things that concerned those Countries and that the mutined Spaniards might be punished and the bands of ordinance new erected This request being presented vnto the Commander who was then in Duyueland he was much troubled crying out Dâ—…os nos libra de estos estados and so came presently to Antwerp where he made knowne the reason why he had assembled the estates which was to haue mony and they presented him a petition where-vnto he made answere that he would doe his best endeauor to perswade the king to yeeld to their desiers Whilest that the Spaniards wer at worke before Ziricxzee the protestants were not idle in Holland for the 11. of February 1576. they tooke a great fort called Crimpen in the gulph of the riuer of Leck by the which they did warrant all places betwixt Dordrecht and Rotterdam After the taking of Schoonhouen the Seignior of Hierges went to beseege the towne of Woerden the which he did blocke vp very straightly for that he could preuaile nothing by battery by reason of the Inondation neither could he approch his cannon so nere as to plant it in battery for there were two peeces drowned which he had planted being not able to retire them During the seege of Ziricxzee which the Spaniard pretended to get by famine don Lewis of Requesens great Commander of the castile Gouernor and Lieutenant generall to the King of Spaine in the Netherlands died the 5. of March in Brusselles of a pestilent feuer or else of the plague it selfe After whose death the King not able so soone 〈◊〉 dispose of another gouernor which the States required might be a Prince of the bloud according to the priuiledges and oth of the said king the gouernment of the said coâ—…tries was put into the hands of the councell of State which caused some alterations as we will presently shew Chiappin Vitelli Marquis of Cetona marshall of the king of paine armie died a little before being falne out of his coach from the top of a dike in the land of Ziriczee otherwise called Schouwen wherewith he was sore brused being a heauy and a corpulent man he was put into a barke to be conueied to Antwerp but he died by the way he had bin a braue soldier of great experience but a scorner of all religion being accustomed to say Morto mi morto mi Caual which is as much as to say when I am dead all the world is dead which is the prouerbe of an Atheist The Duke of â—…orence had sent him to serue the King of Spaine to bee rid of him for some hard conceit he had of him It was said that some by the dukes command had plaid him this trick vpon the dike vnlesse as some said the diuell himselfe did it The Prince of Orange hearing that Ziriczee was so distressed as without speedy succours it would be lost hauing endured a siege of seuen moneths came into the I le of Walchren to aduice of the meanes to succor it The Zelanders prepared an army by sea to victuall it but all the passages were so garded by the Spaniards the riuer so strictly shut vp as thinking the 13. of Iune
the first conuocation of the generall Estates the which should be held at Berghen vpon Soom where he should be allowed confirmed by a generall consent There were letters written to the other Prouinces and townes in the behalfe of them of Brabant to draw them into their societie with their iustification for the taking of the said Noblemen and a declaration of the loue affection they bare vnto their country as followeth My maisters it is notorious to all the world how the Spaniards borne in pouerty and come out of a poore country obseruing the riches wealth of these Netherlands haue alwaies sought which now they shew by effect to plant themselues there to make it their continuall aboade and to hold the greatest and best offices but not able to attaine there-vnto our priuiledges not admitting any stranger to be aduanced to any office they haue fought by all meanes possible vtterly to ruine it Hauing therin shewed their pernicious desseigne at the first alteration which happened in these Netherlands in the yeare 1566. the which the Duches the councel did very discreetly pacefy so as since they haue enioyed some rest al questions being laid aside The which by a naturall and inueterate hatred against these countries they haue made proofe of when as they sent the duke of Alua into these parts who well instructed in Machiuells precepts put many of the chiefe and ancient Nobility to death building here and there Cittadels to reduce the people into slauery besides the excessiue and insupportable impositions and executions as of the 30. and 10. penny of all merchandise aduancing the skum of his leud instruments to offices of greatest honor entertayning a multitude of traitors and spies among the people to obserue their actions and words â—…and against the liberties freedomes and preuiledges of the country hindering forbidding the connocation of the generall Estateâ—… he suffred his Spaniards to commit all sorts of insolencies and villenies with an vnrestrained liberty to kill and murther whom they thought good to force and rauish wiâ—…es and virgins noble and base and to commit al sorts of cruelties with impunity not only by their Commanders and captaines but also by the meanest soldiar among them Wherby we see that the riches and welth of these countries which was wont to be very great is now come to nothing and the glory of our ancestors turned to ignominy and shame And which is more it doth not appeere that they will desist from their courses in the least point vntil that by their thefts robberies spoyling burnings and deuastations they haue made these countries a wildernes desart As of late by their mutiny vnder collour that they are not paied their entertainment they practise all acts of hostility threatning in case they bee not paied to ruine many good townes being to that end retired out of the Island of Ziricxee and come into the country of Brabant to shew the hatred where with they are inflamed against vs hauing a dessigne to ceaze vpon the noble and mighty town of Brussells the aboad of the Court to spoile it but seeing themselues discouered that the good inhabitants of the sayd towne were in armes and stood vpon their gard changing their desseigne they haue fallen vpon Flanders and in hostile manner haue surprized Alost threatning to do the like vnto Brussells to destroy it wherfore the States of Brabant considering what miseries and calamities all these practises might bring vnto the country they held them not to be any longer tollerated and hauing laied them before the councell of State they were also of the same opinion and haue thought it necessary to resist such insolencies and violences declaring the Spaniards to bee as rebells and enemies to the King and States punishing them according to their merits Wherevpon the States haue decreed that to maintaine the royall authoritie and for the defence of the countrie there should be a leauie made of horse and foote But whereas it hath beene discouered that some of the councell of State did secretly and vnder hand fauour the sayd rebells and mutines yea did incorrage and perswade them to set vpon the towne of Brussells and to extort and wrest from them a great sum of money seeking also to hinder the leauy of men of warre as the States had decreed opposing themselues against it â—…ith all their power and seeking to disapoint the intentions and meanes of the States and by lies and false-hoods to frustrate their good councells and holesome resolutions all to the aduancement of these mutines finally hauing made shewe that their countries good is displeasing vnto them and that they will in no sort diuert and preuent the mischiefe seeking rather to defend and maintaine these Spaniards their enemies vntill that new succors may bee sent them from Spaine Euery one may hereby easily â—…dge of the equity of the States cause in that they seeke councell and meanes to defend themselues against the tirany of the Spanish nation who by their pride despite and irreconciliable hatred which they haue long norrished and entertained as if they had presently conquered al the country by their armes thinke to dispose thereof at their pleasures imposing vpon them a perpetuall yoake of seruitude after they had spoiled them of their preuiledges and freedomes which hetherto wee haue preserued and maintained vnder the cruelties of the inquisition of Spaine To preuent the which and to resist them by all meanes possible the States of Brabant haue thought it sit to seize vpon the persones of such councellors being secret fauorers adherents to the enemies of the country vntill that the King may bee fully informed of the estate here as we hope he shall be shortly being resolued to aduertise him particularly and of our good intentions and the affection wee beare vnto our country who will neuer indure any thing that shall bee contrary to the duty of his Maiesties good and faithfull seruants At this time there was a great discontent betwixt the English the Zelanders who could not endure to see that the Marchants of the Netherlands vnder the K. of Spaines obedience should trafficke into Spaine in English ships vnder the name of Englishmens goods although they did belong to them of Antwerpe Tournay Lille Valencieâ—…es and other townes Of which ships the Zeelanders tooke some the which by the iudgâ—… of the Admiralty were adiuged good prize The complaints hereof being come into England and foure of the Zelanders ships being driuen in by fowle weather neere vnto Plimouth the English arrested them and kept the Captaines prisoners The marriners hauing found meanes to escape and to returne into Holland complained of that which had happened to their Captaines and ships durâ—…g this breache the Zeelanders tooke at diuers times 14. English ships whereof the English demanded â—…stitution for the which they sued in the Admiralty court so as in the end they did agree vpon certain conditions
Netherlāds into the hands of the King our Lord to settle an order for the affaires of the country in generall and in particular as well for the exercise of religion in the said countries of Holland Zeeland Bomell and other places associate as for the restitution of forts artillery ships other things belonging to his Maiestie which during the said troubles haue beene taken by them of Holland Zeeland or otherwise as it shall be found fit for the seruice of his Maiestie and the good and vnion of the country wherein there may not of any side bee giuen any contradiction delay or hinderance no more in regarde of the decrees declarations and resolutions that shall bee giuen and made there then in the execution thereof what-so euer they shall be wherevnto both parties doth faithfully and wholy submit themselues That hereafter the inhabitants and subiects of eyther side of what countrey estate qualitie or condition so euer may safely and freely hante frequent passe and repasse remaine and trafficke as a Marchant or otherwise Prouided alwayes that it shall not bee tollerable nor lawfull for them of Holland and Zeeland nor for any other of what countrie qualitie or condition soeuer to attempt any thing in these parts out of the Prouinces of Holland Zeeland and others their associates against the quiet and publike peace and especially against the Catholike and Romish religion and the exercise thereof nor to iniurie any one in word nor deed by reason thereof nor to scandalize them by like actes vpon paine to bee punished as disturbers of the publicke peace to the example of all others And to the end that no man in the meane time shall bee lightly exposed to any apprehension or subiect to danger all the Proclamations heretofore made and published for matter of heresie together with the criminall deerees made by the Duke of Alua and the execution thereof shall surcease and be suspended vntill it shall bee other-wise decreed by the generall Estates Prouided alwayes that no scandall happen thereby That the sayd Prince shall remaine Admirall generall of the Sea and Lieutenant for his Maiestie of Holland Zeeland Bommell and other places associate to command ouer all as hee doth at this present with the same Iudges Magistrates and Officers without any change or innouation without his liking and consent And this in regarde of the Townes and places which his Excellencie doth presently hold vntill it shall bee otherwise decreed after the retreate of the Spaniards But touching the Townes and places comprehended in the Commission which hee hath from his Maiestie the which are not at this present vnder his Excellencies obedience and commandement that point shall remaine in suspence vntill that the sayd Townes and places being vnited with the other S◅ates in this vnion and accord his excellencie shall haue giuen them satisfaction vpon the points Wherein they shall finde themselues interressed vnder his gouernment bee it in regard of the exercise of religion or otherwise to the end the Prouinees may not bee dismembred and to auoide all dissention and discord And in the meane time no Proclamations commandements prouisions nor exploits of Iustice shall haue place in the said countries and townes commanded and gouerned by the sayd Prince but such as shall bee allowed by his Excellencie or by the Councell Magistrates and Officers there resident without any preiudice to his Maiesties great councell in time to come It is also agreed that all prisoners by reason of the troubles past namely the Earle of Bossu shall be set freely at liberty without paying any ransome but onelie the charges of the prison vnlesse before the date of these presents the sayd ransomes were paied or argeed vppon Moreouer it is concluded that the sayd Prince and āll other Noblemen Knights and gentlemen priuate persons and subiects of what estate quality or condition soeuer together with their widows douagers children and heires of either side shall be restored to their good name fame and honor and may also enter into the possessions of all their Seigneuries goods prerogatiues actions and debts not beeing sold nor a◅ienated in the same estate as the goods bee at this present And to that end all defautes contemptes arrestes iudgementes seazures and executions giuen and made since the beginning of the troubles in the yeare of our Lord 1566. as well ◅or matter of Relligion as for the carrying of armes with that which hath followed shal be reuoked voide and of no effect And all proceedings writings and acts which haue beene made to that end shal be razed out of the regesters and it shall not be needfull to obtaine any other instruction or prouision then this present treatie notwith-standing any incorporations rightes customes preuiledges and prescriptions as well Legall conuentionall and customorie as Locale nor any other exceptions to the contrarie the which in this case and in all others concerning the sayd troubles shall cease and haue no place It is also vnderstood that the Countesse Palatin sometimes widow to the Lord of Brederode shal be comprehended herein and enioye the present benifit for as much as doth concerne Vianen and other goods wherevnto shee or hers may pretend any title or right In like sort the Earle of Buren shal be also comprehended so farre forth as it doth touch the towne castell and countrie of Buren to bee enioyed by the said Earle as his owne after the retreate of the garrison And all pillers trophees inscriptions and other markes which the duke of Alua hath caused to be erected and set vp to the dishonor and disgrace of the aboue named or of any other shal be defaced and beaten downe Touching the fruites of the sayd Seigneuries and goods the Courts of arrerages of Dowries fruites farmes and rentes assigned as well vpon his Maiestie as of his countries and townes and all others which before the date of these presents shall be expired and due and yet not paid nor receiued by his Maiesty shewing good cause euery one may respectiuely enioy and make profit of It is to be vnderstood that all that is fallen as well of the said inheritances and rents as of their goods sence the feast of Saint Iohn in the yeare 1576. last past shall remaine to the benifit of those that haue intrest therein not-with-standing that the receiuor of the confiscations hath receued any thing whereof in this case restitution shall be made But if any yeares of the said farmes rents or other reuenews were by title of confiscation seazed and receiued by his Maiesty euery one shall be for so many yeares freed and acquited of all reall charges assigned vpon his goods the which by reason of the troubles past hee could not enioy ratable for the time that he hath beene hindred by the aboue named occasion And for Ghattels and moueable goods which haue beene sold consumed or otherwise alenated of either side no man shal haue any restitution or recouery And as for immouable
Ciuill troubles in the sayd countries and doubting that the inuenters and dispersers of the said faulse sugiestions seeke by all possible meanes to induce her good brother the King of Spaine to beleeue the said faulse and malicious surmises to be true seeking thereby to make a breach and interruption of the good amity and league betwixt them Her Maiesty therefore hauing nothing more in recommendation then her honor and to be reputed a Prince which desireth to hold good correspondency with all Princes her neighbours what soeuer hath beene falsely sugiested to the contrary being able to iustifie her actions before God and the world as well concerning him as all other Princes her neighbors hath thought it very fit and conuenient hauing a great desire to giue satisfaction to the said King to make a declaration in writing such as she will maintaine to be true in the word of a Prince of her proceedings with the said Estats to the end that the King being duly informed thereof all causes of ielosie and suspition which may any way hinder the good amity that is betwixt them might be remoued and the same restored to as great perfection and integrity as hath beene heretofore betwixt any of their progenitors which declaration tending to that good end her maiesty hath also thought meet to accompany it aswell with an aduice vnto the King what course in her opinion were most fit for him to take for the continuance of the Netherlands vnder his obedience and the restoring of them to their former peace and tranquility as also with her resolution touching the Netherlands in case the saide King shall not yeeld to some good course of pacification according to her Maiesties most sincere and friendly aduice And first touching her proceeding with the Estates shee doubteth not but that if the King shall examine his owne knowledge and call to mind how often sence the first breaking out of this ciuill dissention in those countries her Maiesty hath moued as well by sondry ministers sent vnto him-selfe as vnto his vnder gouernors there fore-warning both him them of the inconueniences which were then happened and aduising him to take some speedy course for preuention He cannot with his honor but confesse that her Maiesty hath therein discharged the duty of a faithfull friend and good allie of which aduice if it might haue pleased him to haue made good vse those his countries being presently in a most lamentable Estate had beene preserued from apparent ruine his subiects had beene free from slaughter his rich townes continued vnspoyled and the gouernment kept from danger of alienation And if herein for her Maiesties full iustification neither these friendly offices nor the word and faith of a Prince may suffice yet her owne actions may serue to cleere her in the sight of all the world and will sufficiently shew that shee hath euer sought to continue those Countries vnder the King of Spaines obedience and hath not at any time intended to impatronize herselfe of any part thereof a matter perhapes which some Princes hauing like aduantages offred by some one part or other of his subiects would not haue resused and therefore might thinke her selfe very vnkindly delt withall in case so rare an example should bee so hardly or rather vnfriendly interpreted And as her Maiesty hath not left any good office vndone towards the King and his Ministers tending to pacification and the preseruation of those countries vnder his obedience so on the other side shee hath not omitted by sondry messengers sent both vnto the Prince of Orange and to the Estates as well to perswade them to cease their ciuill warres and to take some course of peace and reconciliation among them-selues as also to continue their ancient obedience vnder the saide King their naturall Lord and Soueraigne being moued there-vnto vppon secret and very true aduertisments giuen her of great offers made vnto them by some whome shee forbeareth to name for good respects to haue with-drawne them from their obedience And herein if besides many perswations vsed by messengers sent of purpose to aduise them to continue their due obedience to the King her Maiesty had not furnished them in the time of their necessity with a summe of mony as well to serue them for the speedy execution of the pacification then in hand betweene Don Iohn and them as to keepe them from casting them-selues desperatly into the hands of any other Prince it did manyfestly appeere that the pacification had not beene so soone made and they for want thereof should haue beene forced for their defence to haue put some part of those countries into the hands of such as would not haue beene easely remoued without the expence of many Millions and the losse of many thousand mens liues Her Maiesty is the more willing to make mention of the true cause of this suport for that shee is aduertised that notwithstanding her true and sincere intent in that behalfe other finister interpretations haue beene made of the same as of some other her proceedings Among the rest her Maiesty hath thought it fit to answer one calumniation contained in a letter fathered vpon Don Iohn and published in a booke lately set out by the Estates in their iustification by the which her Maiesty is charged to haue incorraged the Prince of Orange not to hold the pacification and with-all did for his better incorragement offer him any assistance she could yeeld a matter most slanderous and vntrue for that her Maiesty being giuen to vnderstand by the vicont of Gant sent vnto her from Don Iohn how hee found him-selfe greeued with the Prince of Orange for that as hee affirmed the Prince did not obserue the said pacification shee did presently dispatch an expresse messenger vnto the saide Prince both to intimate Don Iohns accusation vnto him as also to aduise him and that most effectuall duly to obserue the said paciflcation vsing some threats vnto him in case he should seeke to infring ir In whome shee could find no disposition to any alteration but that he was most desirous to hold euery point of the said pacification inuiolably as the onely meanes to end those long ciuill warres The like aduice shee did also giue vnto the Estates receiuing no lesse contentment of the pacification being ratefied first by Don Iohn and afterwards by the King then they to whome the benifit thereof did most properly belong Her Maiesties actions and procedings with the Prince and the Estates hauing such as haue beene formerly related shee doth appeale vnto the King him-selfe who shee thinketh will looke impartially into the truth of this action and to all others that shall not bee transported with passion whether the said proceedings are not to bee maintayned to bee both iust and honourable whatsoeuer hath beene falsly and malliciously suggested to the contrary And herein her Maiestie is perswaded that scarse any other Prince which hath in some sort beene so vnkindely
delt withall and found her aduice giuen both vnto the King and his Gouernors of those countries so little regarded or respected would haue delt in such friendly sort as shee hath done Notwithstanding all these discouragements her Maiestie thinking it honourable for her and meete for the place shee holdeth being the most ancient Allye which the Kings Progenitors as Dukes of Bourgongne haue to continue still her former course in giuing friendly aduice vnto the King cannot but proceed to the second point aboue mentioned which is to yeeld her aduice what course in her opinion is to be taken for the pacefying of these present troubles and the continuing of his subiects vnder his obedience First it is very apparant that the pacefication is broken and as great hostilitie intended on either side as may be whereof shee is heartily sorry The end if it continue will either be the ruine and desolation of the countrie or the losse or allyenation thereof from the Kings obedience For the preuenting whereof her Maiestie thinketh that there cannot bee a more expedient remedie then that it would please him to receiue his subiects into his grace and fauor that hee would suffer them to inioy their ancient liberties and freedomes command that the pacifiation might bee duly obserued and that hee would appoint such a Gouernor of his owne bloud as might bee pleasing vnto him-selfe and gratefull vnto them whereby they might willingly and with content yeeld him all due obedience continue in their religion according to his pleasure and do all things sette downe and agreed vppon in the pacification the which by reason of the great Iealousies betweene Don Iohn and them can neuer take effect so long as Don Iohn shall continue Gouernor For it seemes they haue put on a resolution that rather then they will indure the rigorous dealings which they expect during his gouernement they will put them-selues vnder the protection of any other Prince They charge him with the breach of the pacification and hee on the other side offers to iustisie him-selfe and layes the blame of this breach vppon them Her Maiestie hauing heard the allegations of the Ministers sent hether both from Don Iohn and the Estates meaneth not to bee a Iudge betweene them hauing rather a desire to reconcile them and to doe them good if shee could then to discouer the errors and imperfections of either partie To reconcile them shee findeth it impossible and therefore to preuent all further troubles that are otherwise like to insue the onely remedie will bee to make choyce of some other allyed to him in bloud to command vnder him in that gouernement By which temperate course the troubles may soone bee pacefied the great effusion of blood auoyded and those Prouinces continued vnder his obedience which other-wise are like to bee allyenated and distracted from him If hee shall like this aduice shee seeth no dispotition in the people to châ—…nge their King bing dutifully minded towards him hauing no intent so as they may bee releeued to innouate any thing but duly to obserue the late pacefication made at Gaunt And whereas for the contentment of the Estates and the pacefying of these troubles shee wisheth Don Iohns reuocation so considering how euill affected hee hath shewed him-selfe towards her as well by letters intercepted as by other secret practises which were very dangerous to the good and quiet of her Estate as the bearer can more amply informe him of diuers particularities in that behalfe shee cannot for the good amitie which shee wisheth might continue betweene the King and her Maiestie but presse the King more earnestly therevnto expecting no continuance of any good amitie and neighbourhood so long as a Minister so ill affected to her should reside there beeing desirous that such Ministers might be imployed on both sides as would rather seeke to increase the amitye then any way to infringe or breake it This her aduice tending to no other end but to maintaine those countries vnder her obedience and the continuance of good amitie betweene them shee hopeth the King will accept as friendly thereof as it is by her sincerely meant And in the meane time vntill his mind were knowne in that behalfe her Maiestie hearing the great forces prepared by Don Iohn with the assistance of the French already marching towards him will force her ancient friends the Estates of the Netherlands to one of these two extremities either to be ouercome by forraine soldiars and so subiected to forraine seruitude or else constrained for the preuenting thereof to giue them-selues ouer to some other Prince both which must needs bee preiudiciall and dangerous to the King for the present perillous to her Maiestie after and an vtter ruine to those countries Her Highnesse therefore for the Kings good and to preuent her owne danger vppon promise and assurance giuen by the said Estates to yeeld the King all due obedience and to make no further innouation in matters of religion but to obserue the pacification of Gand hath promised for the causes and respects aboue mentioned to yeeld them a support of money and men onely to keepe them from further danger of allyenation or of their ruine Which proceedings of hers if the King shall not bee induced to like of Whereby her Maiestie shall discouer that his intention is by force of armes to alter and dissolue the ancient forme of gouernement and by taking away their ancient Lawes and liberties to make it a land of conquest and to people it with garrisons of men of warre And that the end and scope of his disseignes should tend to that which is discouered by Escouedos letters wherein he writeth that the enterprise of England is of more facilitie then that of the Ilands wherby her Maiestie shall find the disposition of so bad a neighbour to her and her royall Estate then her Maiesties resolution is to imploy all the power shee shall bee able to make for the defence of her neigbours and preseruation of her owne Estate As on the other side if hee shall incline to their reasonable demands in giuing them such a Gouernor as they shall better like of then of Don Iohn and they notwithstanding shall continue in their disobedience against him and make other Innouations contrary to their protestations and promises made vnto her shee will then turne her forces against them and in assistance of the King yeelde him the best ayd shee can to bring them to reason and conformitie And in the meane season vntill shee may be throughly informed hereof shee hath thought good to auoyd the effusion of Christian bloud and for many other good and necessary respects to deale both with Don Iohn and the Estates for a surceance of armes which if he shall refuse to yeeld unto and the Estates shall be willing for that she doth plainely see that it doth much concerne the Kings honour and the good of his countrie she will not cease to proceed with the like
Iohn the 15. of February from thence the armie went before Bins two leagues from Mons the which yeelded without any force After the taking of Niuelle and Bins Don Iohn went to the little townes of Soignies Roeux Beaumont Walcourt and Maubenge in the countrie of Henault some hauing small garrisons others none at all as not deseruing to hazard any men in them all which yeelded to his obedience without any resistance Then he went to Chimay the which hauing endured a battery of sixe Cannons and an assault yeelded by composition This done Don Iohn did generally proclaime the commission which hee had from the King of Spaine touching his gouernment with a generall pardon declaring that all persons which remained in any towne castle or fort that were enemies vnto him might remaine free in their houses following their trafficke and trades And that all such as during these new troubles had followed the States and carried armes against the King should returne within twentie daies after the Proclamation and bee restored to all their Offices Estates dignities and honors without any reproch or imputation for that which was past Granting in like manner to all townes that would reconcile themselues their preuiledges as they had inioyed them in the time of the Emperor Charles the fift vpon this pardon many returned but in the beginning they were but of the baser sort In the meane time Collonel Steward returning from Dansyck with his Regiment of Scotishmen where hee had beene imploied for that towne against the King of Poland was entertained by the generall Estates The two and twenty day of March they of Friseland for some synister opinion which they had conceiued tooke prisoners Ingrames Aclum president of their great Councell and the Councellors Iulius de Roma Peter Fritsmo Focco Romaerts Anthony Leuali and others in whose place were chosen Francis Eysingna Focco Realda Iohn Van Staueren and others who were knowne to bee zealous and well affected to their countrie The first Bishop that euer was at Leuwarden called Cuneras Petri and some others were sent for vnto the Castle where they were deteined prisoners and some priuate men had their houses for prisons And as many murmured that their Magistrates were not very faithfull vnto their countrie the Officers of Iustice and others were changed in most part of the Townes in the Netherlands and among others Iohn of Saint Florise Seignior of Steenbeke Gouernour of Bapaumes was also made Gouernor of Lille Douay and Orchies in the place of Maximilian Vilai Siegnior of Rasenghem who was prisoner at Gant The seauenth of Aprill certaine companies of Wallons being in garrison at Masstricht mutining for their pay seazed vpon the Seignior of Heze their Collonell and Gouernor of the Towne and of all the Captaines Ancients and Officers of his Regiment conspiring to deliuer the Towne into the Spaniards hands But Nicholas of Palmier Seignior of Melroy beeing sent thether with their pay first hee contented and pacified the souldiers then hee caused them that were restrained of their libertie to bee deliuered and in the end beeing maister of the conspirators hee hanged some and drowned others putting in another garrison he assured the towne for the States The two and twentith of the same moneth there was published in Antwerp a new decree touching the entertainment of the Pacification of Gant to haue it sworne by all the inhabitants and such as were resident in the countries that were vnder the vnion of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer they were as well spirituall as temporall holding all them for enemies that should refuse to take the sayd oth All men obeyed as well Church-men as others except the Iesuites who were therefore wonderfully suspected The people of Antwerp incensed thereat rose in armes against them but through the good order of the Collonels of the Bourgers there was no harme done them onely it was resolued to conduct them quietly out of the towne as well for their priuate safetie as being suspected for the publicke cause the which was done vpon Whitsonday The Franciscan Fryars demanded a day to resolue but in the end seeing the other begging orders the Prelates the Cathedrall Church and all the Clergie obey the sayd commandement and Edict they resolued to doe the like Some among them as the Gardien and some others of that troope beeing very obstiâ—… and selfe-wild were in like sort thrust out of the Towne as men suspect Whilest these Friars were thus in suspence the discontented beeing in Armes some Souldiers offered to force them in their couentâ—… but the Seignior of Stralen Bourg maister of the towne arriuing made them to desist Wherevpon two indiscreet soldiers bent their Harguebuses against him with matches in the cockes but the trouble beeing pacified they were apprehended and their heads cut off About the same time were burnt in Gant by a sentence giuen by the court of Flanders foure Friars one Augustine and some whipt beeing conuicted of Sodomie the like was done at Bruges to three Friars and two were whipt for the like crimes They confest that long before an Italian Friar had infected them with this sinne There was then another Fryer in Bruges but not altogether so wicked called Cornellis Adriansen borne at Dordrecht in Holland an ordinary Preacher a seditious man and turbulent in his Sermons preaching with great vehemencie some-times against the Prince of Orange some-times against the States against the Magistrates against his owne Bishop yea and against whom hee pleased without any respect or shaâ—…e to name them openly against whome hee vsed villanous filthie and beastly termes with vnseemely and ridiculous exclamations as appeareth plainely by a true collection of his workes and Sermons set forth in publick Print to make the reader laugh This gallant had erected a little order of a particular religion consisting chiefelie in humilitie and correction among faire young wiues and Virgins poore simple creatures to whome hee preached nothing but humilitie and aboue all recommended innocencie if they committed the least fault in the dutie of obedience as he kept them in wonderfull awe and humility he tooke delight to whip them with a Foxes tayle causing them to strip them-selues naked pleasing himselfe to looke on them in this manner making them beleeue that Innocencie must be seene naked and that they should not be ashamed to discouer themselues This kind of discipline of this reuerent friar was in the end descouered by two of his deuout women who would not submit them-selues to this friars taile nor strippe themselues in that sort And by the report which they made he was publickly found infamous and was skorned of all the world Afterwards the descouery of his impostures and all his doing the profession of his order and his discipline were also set forth in print This yeare vpon the seauenth of May there was a great and solemne assembly of the Princes of the Empire holden at Worms in
made betweene the Duke of Aniou and the States their power hauing so great an army and mony like wise to maintaine the same saying that he might depart with honor when as his departure should be procured by the Mediation and intercession of the Emperor the King of France and the Queene of England which dying they said hee might assure the Netherlands vnto their naturall Prince and by that meanes procure the maintenance and furtherance of the Romish Catholiks religion touching the said articles the Ambassadors had many conferences and meetings betweene them the estates and Don Iohn speaking with Don Iohn him-selfe at Lovuain and there abouts but it was al in vaine for that Don Iohn would haue the states to giue ouer their armes to send the Prince of Orange into Holland and then he said he would harken to a peace yet telling them plainely that hee would permit no new religion and many things else and yet hee made a shew as that in regard of the miseries of the country hee would haue consented to a truce for a time that so hee might deale further about the conditions of peace propounded but this was done onely to winne time and in the meane while to gather more forces and to make the States weary but the States there affaires not permitting it would not harken to it Don Iohn likewise for his part hauing gotten more soldiars and being aduertised that the States men wanted pay at the last he made answeare to the Ambassadors that the King of Spaine had referred the whole dealing for the peace vnto the States only to whome full power and authority should bee giuen for the same being indeed some-what iealous of France and England and to that end hee shewed them lettters so thanking them for their paines hee tooke his leaue and departed and by that meanes that treatie of peace proued frutelesse The generall estates thinking verely that they had well secured and assured the Catholike Romish Religion by the new publication of the pacification at Gaunt found it to auaile them little for that they were forced neuer-the-lesse to satisfie and content the mindes of the peolpe in euery place thereby to maintaine the warres and that they had need of such soldiers as they might trust which they esteemed to be Hollanders and those of the religion and therefore in euery place they put such as were of the religion into offices within the townes as knowing them thereby to bee bound not onely for the loue and good will they bare vnto their natiue country but also in regard of the religion to bee faithfull trusty and true obseruing that it was not onely the meanes for them to defend their bodies liues goods wiues and children but chiefly for the honor of GOD as they were perswaded whereby many being of the reformed religion and aduanced to offices in diuers places of the Netherlands were forced by all the meanes they could to further the said religion although some through simple zeale dealt vnaduisedly therein From these and the like causes it fell out that they of the reformed religion imbouldned them-selues to present a request vnto the Arch duke Mathias and the generall estates bearing date the twenty two of Iune therein shewing that they desired to liue according to the reformed religion and that they had separated them-selues from the Romish Church for many causes as it appeared by diuers bookes put in Print containing the summe and contents of their faith which many had sealed with their bloods and that the more it had beene persecuted the more it had spred abroad and increased as it appeared by the tiranie of the Duke of Alua that had put eight-teene or nine-teene thousand persons to death by the hand of the executioner after whome followed Don Loys de Requesens the great Commaunder of Castile who also had driuen an innumerable number of good men out of the Netherlands and caused all traficke and good handycrafts wherein the chiefe riches of the land consisted to be caried into strange and forrene countries by which meanes the warres began shewing the Spaniards practises and desseignes and their reddinesse and willingnesse to defend their natiue country and that yet neuer-the-lesse they feared that they should bee once againe put to the slaughter after that the countrie should haue made vse of them and by expence and losse of their liues and goods gotten the victory which must of necessity procure great vnwillingnesse from whence many difficulties were to bee expected by nise vsing liberty amonst the Burgers and the townes men which difficulties and inconueniences by meanes of the free permission of the reformed Religion would be let and hindered where-as to the contrary the refusing and deniall thereof would bee the originall of all euill intents and of such enterprises which neither the Protestants would like of nor they them-selues bee well pleased withall They likewise showed that they were content to put in securitie to them of the Romish religion that they desired not to roote them out nor yet to take their goods from them nor to doe any thing that should bee contrary to the duties of good Townes-men and fellow Burgers but alwayes to bee ready for the common cause to defend and maintaine their natiue countrey whereby all discord beeing layd away a perfect peace might bee established They likewise hoped that touching the reformed religion some order would before that time haue beene taken by the generall estates which by many hinderances had beene put off and chiefly by the meanes and practises of the enemy or else by some that hoped the enemy being ouercome once againe to roast the Protestants at a fire and therefore they desired that no credit might bee giuen vnto such men as reiected the pacification of Gant thinking that two religions could not bee maintayned in one kingdome and that there could bee no securitie giuen to the spirituall persons saying further that the enemy had manifestly broken the pacification of Gant and that for as much as it concerned the land they might by common consent breake mitigate expound and declare the same for the good of their natiue countrey thereby to resist and with-stand the secret practises of the enemy yet they desired that it might not bee broken but that rather according to the contents thereof the point concerning the free exercise of their religion might bee discided by the generall estates Shewing further by their request that two religions might well bee indured in one countrey by examples of the first Christians and their Emperors and after that in our times permitted by foure Emperors and by the Kings of France Poland the great Turke and the King of Morocus and others yea and by the Pope himselfe that permitted the Iewes to haue their Synaguogues And touching the securitie for spirituall persons they desired that the States would set downe an order for the same and that they were ready according to their
abilities to performe it hoping that there would bee some Noble-men and Princes found that would giue both their words and bonds for their good behauiors therein But for that they got no answer presently here-vnto in regard of the waightinesse of the cause vpon the seauenth of Iuly being foureteene dayes after they gaue a second request wherein they sought to satisfie certaine doubts as if there were no securitie to bee found from the Protestants if they should graunt their request And therefore that there should bee no alteration they propounded and set downe that in euery towne some of the Magistrates might bee appointed to take particuler knowledge of all oppressions and abuses or certaine good Burgers men of good name and same ofâ—… both religions equall in number to whom should bee committed the inquiry and repayring of iniuries and wrongs offered on eyther side both by word and deede and that in euery Towne some of the principall Burgers on both sides should answere for their parties with promise that they should not protect not defend the peace breakers but rather vse all the diligence they could that they might bee punished And besides that all Preachers Elders and Deacons should likewise promise the same as on the contrary side the Priests Deanes Pastors Vicars and Treasurers of the Parishes should doe the like That they would also faithfully promise and protest before GOD not to practise to hurt nor trouble any of the Prelates or Spirituall persons that make profession or shew of the Romish Catholicke religion neither in their persons goods nor in the vse or exercise of their religion but as much as in them lyeth to hinder the same And that if it proceed so farre that any such thing should bee pretended and come vnto their knowledge that they would make it knowne vnto the Magistrate that order might bee taken therein as cause required Where-vnto the chiefest persons amongst them should make promise to performe the same in such places or townes where the free permision of the sayd religion should bee granted and in such number as they should thinke good Once againe promising according to the contents of the first request to intreate some great Lords or Princes to giue their words for them requiring the like of them that made profession of the contrary religion desiring nothing else but to liue peaceably vnder the protection of their Magistrates and that the breakers of the common peace might bee punished To pacifie and satisfie the people touching this request the Arche-duke Mathias the Prince of Orange the counsell of Estate and the generall estates after long and mature deliberation deuised a religious peace in Antwerp for all such townes as would desire the same the which did not in any sort contradict the pacification of Gant so that thereby the prouinces of Brabant Flanders Arthois and Henault were not bound one vnto the other but remained free at liberty amongst them to do as they should thinke conuenient and that so likewise they of Holland and Zeeland might not attempt any thing in the other prouinces against the Catholicke Romish religion and for that the pacification tended onely to the driuing out of the Spaniards and other strange garrisons they thought it a necessary peace and politicke vnion for that as then it was no time to trouble molest persecute kill or murther one the other for religion while they had so great a warre in hand Many and seuerall causes too long to beâ—… rehearsed mooued the sayd estates to yeeld there-vnto as by the sayd religious peace more at large appeareth and for that cause I haue set it downe verbatim as it was deuised Euery man apparantly knoweth that the tyrranous proclamations which had before beene made touching religion by the secret counsell and practises of strangers specially of the Spanish nation with-out hearing the estates of the Netherlands once speake therein and since that great rage and extremitie hath bin showne for the vpholding of the same which are the causes of all our present calamities for that by meanes thereof the priuileges rights and lawdable customes of the countrey haue in some sort beene broken and troden vnder-foote and in fine procured a miserable warre which is vndertaken by the enemies of our natiue countrey onely to bring vs into vtter ruine and slauerie and for that there was no other remedie to withstand the same but to bring all the Prouinces into one vnitie and accorde thereof proceeded the pacification of Gant which after many and seuerall deliberations and consultations taken therein as well by the Bishops and Diuines as by the counsell of estate and others from that time forward had beene approoued confirmed and by publicke oth sworne vnto not onely by the estates of all the Netherlands both spirituall and temporall in generall and particuler but also by Don. Iohn of Austria in the name of the King making an accord with the estates aforesayd touchching the pacifying of the warre and the auoyding of all other inconueniences and although wee hoped that in the obseruing of the same no faults would bee committed by the sayd Don Iohn whose office specially was as beeing appointed to gouerne and rule the sayd Netherlands to haue holden and maintained the same in peace and tranquillitie neuer-the-lesse dooing the contrary hee had broken the sayd pacification in many points and by diuerse meanes contrary to his oth made shewe hee would not bee satisfied there-with so that the afore-sayd warre is once againe renewed by him which hath for the preseruation of our naturall libertie and defence mutually to beare armes together beeing thereby and by meanes of the extremities where-into the sayd warre as the mother of all disorders and insolencies hath brought vs forced to doe and permit diuers things that are preiudiciall to religion and the obedience due vnto his Maiestie which wee otherwise neuer thought nor pretended and at this present cannot with-stand as at diuerse times before the begining of this warre we haue protested both by letters and Ambassadors sent vnto his Maiesty and also vnto the said Don Iohn and although wee want neither will nor meanes to procure our defence not-with-standing for that the diuersity of the prouinces and of mens opinions hinder the cause it is to bee douted that neither our good wills nor yet our abilities will preuaile vnlesse we proceed to a more strict and stronger band of amity indissoluble accord and vnion especially in the matter of religion for considering that not onely by reason of the warre but also in regard of the ineuitable frequentation and conseruation of the marchants and other inhabitants of the countries and Prouinces bordering vpon vs as of France England Germany and others hauing the pretended reformed religion amongst them the same religion hath for some time beene followed and maintained in diuers Prouinces of the Netherlands so it is much to be feared that if the liberty and exercise of the same as well as
their should bee published a lawe of amnesty or forgetfullnes to take away all doubts and that euery man may bee the more assured and content to the end that their hearts might be vnited and mutuall loue entertained These articles were approued by most of the Bourguers and Magistrats who intreated the Prince that hee would perswade the companies of trades and the members of the towne there-vnto that no man might make any difficulty for as for that which they pretended that two religions could not subsist in one towne that had beene sufficiently discoursed of in a petition touching liberty of religion exhibited by the protestants themselues in the moneths of Iune and Iuly going before vnto the Archduke Prince and States by the which they craue nothing more but that they might freely exercise their religion which free exercise being allowed them of Gant it was reason that therein they should agree with the Romish Catholikes whereby euery one might serue God according to his conscience and as he will answer at the day of Iudgment for the helth of his soule As for the transporting of the prisoners out of Gant to Antwerp or any other place where they pleased that they should make no further difficultie seeing the towne drawes no proffit thereby but only great charge and trouble to keep them the which they were not resolued to send into any neuter place without good caution and fideiussory bonds To induce the Ganthois therevnto the Prince alledged vnto them first the duty wherevnto they were bound the inconueniences that were like to growe if they were not vnited the neighbourhood of the Wallons Malcontents who practised a priuate reconciliation with the Spaniards the oppressions which the lesser townes of Flanders were forced to suffer to contribute besides their ordinary taxes to these wallons so as they of Oudembourg had for a long time paid eighteene hundred florins a day That the other members of Flanders would not depart from the obedience of the Archduke the Prince and States that the other Poruinces as Brabant Holland and Zeeland might abandon them in danger of their enemies who would soone bring them vnder to their totall ruine In the end so many goodly perswasions and reasons were made vnto them by the Prince and others well affected to their country as the sixteene of December they agreed and the free exercise of the Romish Relligion was established By reason whereof certaine Churches were restored to the Catholikes for their deuotion and seruice and liberty to go in procession within the Churches onely and to carry the Sacrament in the streets without bells or other ceremonies The religious men were restored to their Cloisters and couents but if any would not returne by reason of their consciences then the Magistrats should appoint them reasonable maintenance And that for the greater ease and releefe of their poore the foure orders of their begging friars should be excluded some other cloisters and monasteries were made Colledges and scholes for both religions none of the said religions might molest disquiet nor scandalize the other in word nor deed The Protestants might not enter into any Church of the Romish Relligion if they would not behaue and gouerne themselues as the rest vpon festiuall daies limited none should doe any worke publikly nor open any shoppe In regard of opening of the butchery and selling of flesh therein they should obserue the auncient Statutes and orders of the towne The subiects of both relligions should take an oth vnto their superiors to bee obedient and to helpe to punish the wicked especially the breakers of this decree And according to the same the Archduke Prince and States shall hould them vnder their defence and protection All commanders collonels captaines and officers present to come shal swere to entertaine al these points and articles as also the cheefe of trades and companies with the ministers those of consistories clergimen chapters colledges and couents shall also sweare the same As for the prisoners not any thing was determined but that nothing should be attempted against them without good knowledg of the cause After this accord the clergy-men returned euery one into the possession of his goods dignities Monasteries and Churches but this good vnion continued not long as we will show All things being thus reformed in the towne of Gant the Arch-duke Prince and States thought it good to treat and make an agrement with the Malcontents and Wallons that were at Menin wherein they imployed some noblemen and gentlemen whome they knew to haue some credit and authority among them with the best perswations they could deuise to pacifie them and to draw them to some good accord But nothing was effected for those that were the cheefe motiues of their alterasions for the kings seruice as they said that is Damp Iohn Sarasin Abbot of Saint Vaast of Arras the Seignior of Capres William of Vasseur Seignor of Valhuon and some others tending to desiunction as we haue said alleding that by this liberty of Religion graunted by the former articles the pacification of Gant and the vnion which had followed it were violated and were directly repugnant vnto them whereby they began to discouer that these alterations of the Malcontents sought some other subiect or collour to disioyne them from the generality then the payment of their entertainement which they had alwaies made great shew of The Marquis of Haurec and the councellor Meerkerke were sent vnto them but nothing preuayled and this mischeefe so increased as by little and little the said Abbot and others with the Seignior of la Motte woone sometimes one and sometimes an other And in the end the Vicont of Gant fearing to loose his gouernment of Arthois which he knew the Seignior of Capres Gouernor of Arras did affect ioyned with them The Earle of Lalain gouernor of Henault hauing suffered himselfe to bee perswaded thought also to draw his Brother the Seneshall of Henault vnto them being afterwards Prince of Espinoy The Ganthois on the other side imputing all these actions of the Malecontents where of the Seignior of Montigni Heze Capres la Motte and Alennes were the cheefe to mere ambition priuate profit desire of rule and hatred to the Protestants religion and for their parts hauing tasted the sweetnes of ecclesiasticall goods which they had formerly seazed on the which to fall to some agreement with the Malcontents they had left seeing the practises of these gettlemen to continue that moued them to stirre vp the comons againe against the clergy to breake and beat downe Images more then before and their insolencie grew so great as to breake vp tombes and to open the sepulkers of Princes among others that of the Queene of Denmarke sister to the Emperor Charles the fift to haue the lead she was wrapt in troubling the rest of the dead who lay for a time vpon the pauement without sepulkers Then they began to chase away all Preests Monks
should bee thought most fit and conuenient Not to attempt anie new thing or contrarie to the good of the common cause but vnder an expresse protestation to maintaine and deâ—…end themselues according vnto the termes of the sayd pacification and vnion against the more then barbarous insolencie exceeding the Spanish of the sayd sectaries and of their adherents and to preuent the rooting out as they pretend of our sayd faith and Religion of the Nobilitie and generally of all order and state Beeing a matter greatly to bee considered that the negligence of the good if thereby all bee supplanted and rooted out will purchase vnto them besides the irreparable losse a perpetuall infamie to haue bin so weake and faint hearted hauing so good a ground and foundation in the cause as it may rightly be termed pleasing vnto God helthfull vnto men and highly to bee commended before all Christian Princes yea of the Catholike King our Lord. Moreouer they should shew themselues vnworthie of the succors and assistance of my Lord the Duke of Aniou hauing so willingly imbraced the defence cause and quarrell of the Netherlands against their common enemies if they should saile to make demonstration how much they are displeased that a mercenarie beeing called by the sayd treacherous sectaries against the publike faith and the intention of the Prouinces and the generall Estates should take vpon him their protection his highnesse beeing called receiued and proclaymed with the title of Defender of the Belgike Lâ—…ertie as euery one knoweth Wherfore for that we vnderstand that the Prouinces of Holland Zeeland Flanders Geldres and others are entred into league it is fit after the example of those Heretikes which thus ioyne togither to doe euill that in like manner the Catholike Prouinces of Arthois Lille Douay Orchies Tournay Tournesis Valenciennes and Henault should ioyne and vnite themselues strictly togither and by a good and mutuall correspondency seeke to maintaine themselues defend the faith and withstand and suppresse all such violence The which being once vndertaken and published there is no doubt but the Catholikes that are driuen away and opprest yea many Catholike quarters and townes wherof there are yet many will declare themselues and ioyne also and assist withall their means and powre And although that this vnion and coniunction which is not new nor tending to any other end but to the preseruation execution of that which was so sollemnly sworne and allowed by the Prouinces wil be sinisterly interpreted by the fauorers of the sayd seditious Heretiks periured sectaries yet it is not fit to suffer things to run to ruine infamy nor wilfully to cast away our selues seeing that the end of this businesse wil be glorious and by Gods assistance fruitfull the ground being so iust and necessary wherfore seeing that it concernes the honor glory and seruice of God the preseruation of our holie faith and the Catholike Apostolike and Romish religion togither with the Nobility al good Catholiks and their honors liues wiues children possessions The said signior of Charpesteau shall do his best endeauor to represent them plainly effectually vnto the Estates of Tournay and Tournesis to worke in such sort as they may yeeld vnto the said coniunction vnion as well in generall as in particular laboring for their parts with the states and other Catholike Prouinces to ioyne also in the said vnion assuring them that they shal be therein faithfully seconded by the estates of Henault who will not faile to hold good and mutuall correspondence with them this busines requiring al dilligence for that the mischiefe is at the dore and that they may so long delay it as it wil be to late or impossible to preuent it desiring to haue as soone as may bee a good end and a fruitful resolution of their intention Made at Mons in an open assembly of the States the 13. 14. and 15. of October and signed vnderneath Carlier Vpon these points conteined in this instruction being so inuectiue and iniurious they of Henault Arthois Valenciennes Lille Douay and Orchies grounded their disiunction from the other Prouinces comprehended in the Pacification of Gant and wrought their reconciliation with the king laboring to draw the towne of Tournay and Tournesis into it but they did not consider that by this instruction they did secreatly pourchase the kings indignation in that they did so much protest against the retreat of the Spaniards and other Srangers his seruants in whome he most relyed for the preseruation of these countries the which being retired they spoyled the King of his forces and authority as if vnder collor of a reconciliation they would prescribe him a law And also in that they speake so heighly of the Duke of Aniou giuing him the Title of defender of the Belgicke liberty the which is a hatefull title to a naturall Prince and mutch suspected when it is giuen to a foraine Prince Iealousie holding no measure in that case although for a time they dissemble and wincke at it The Seignior of Chaerpesteau being come with this instruction to the Prince of Espinoy gouernor and to the States of Tournay and Tournesis he found but cold entertainement and small acceptance of his speeches notwithstanding that the Bishop of Tournay called Pentaflour made great instance and was very importunate with the States and Prince who being alwaies vnwilling to giue eare to priuate reconciliation answered that to attaine vnto a generall one hee would imploy both body and goods but he would neuer disioyne him-selfe That he had taken an oth vnto the Generality against Don Iohn and his adherents the which he would maintaine vnto the death vntill hee were absolued and despensed thereof of by the said generality that they knew wel the condition of Kings that hold them-selues wronged by their subiects that if hee had two heads he would hazard one of them for the Kings seruice but hee had but one no more then the Earle of Egmont Where-vpon the Bishoppe replyed they would seeke to obtaine a generall peace the Prince asked him how they would thinke of the question of relligion to attaine vnto the said peace the Bishop then answered alledging the parable of the husbandman who suffred the darnell to grow among the good corne vntill the day of haruest whervpon the Prince asked him againe when that haruest should be when as the King had subiected all the country vnto his will noe said the Bishop but at the last day of iudgment If then said the Prince you can effect that I will not spare any thing for my part to attaine vnto it where-vpon the Bishoppe being retired the Prince adressing his speeches to them that were in the chamber his familiar friends although there-were one that was a true Romish Catholike and so died said see how these men can apply the holy Scripture when as they thinke to make it serue their owne turnes Thus the said Prince remayned vnto his death
assembly wherunto the particular members ought to bee subiect Saying That it was sufficiently knowne vnto them how often he had desired and sought that they should entertaine certaine horse and footmen in continuall pay which if they had done the countrey of Tourney and West-Friseland should not haue fallen into so great extremitie as they then felt neither should the towne of Mastricht haue beene lost but they might haue beene able to set vpon the enemie or else haue caused him to haue broken vp his siege For that to make an army out of the garrisons he said it was impossible without a counsel of estate that had authoritie to dispose therof for that otherwise euery prouince and towne would discharge and send away their garrison hauing no need thereof and they that had need would not suffer their garrisons to depart out of their townes prouinces or commands and many other such like disorders he said would arise onely by that means which by a counsell of estate that had full and absolute authoritie might be preuented By the which and such like disorders he sayd That diuers good men were discontented and vnderstanding not the ground of the cause layed the blame vpon them that were most blamelesse whereby it fell out that they were forced to see and behold first one towne then another to reuolt and to be lost and that those that were most zealous became faint and weake hearted also that no prince potentate nor any strange nation offered to ioyne themselues with them neither yet any of the enemy once came to yeeld to them or take their parts all making excuses vpon their bad resolution so that it was to be wondered at that the countrey endured no greater losse Seeing then that their bad resolutions were the onely causes of the aforesaid difficulties and the bad accomplishing of that which was resolued vpon therfore he said it was requisit that the same should be foreseene and amended before all other things whatsoeuer for that there were yet many good people in the Netherlands that would earnestly proceed therein especially for that as then there was much more disorder found to be amongst the enemy than was amongst them as want of money powder and all kind of munition contention factions and deaâ—…h of all things amongst the souldiers wherewith their townes flowed whereby they might easily reape profit and commodity if the prouinces hauing means strength ynough would once determine to bring an armie into the field of foure thousand horse twelue thousand footmen and twelue hundred pioners with artillerie and munition fit for the same besides the garrisons in which case it were requisit to shew vnto the colonels captaines commaunders what means they had to pay their souldiers for that otherwise no good nor honest souldiers would offer their seruice and bad souldiers that come more to get meat and drinke with impouerishing of the land than of any good will or desire to do them seruice were not fit for their turnes at such a time and that if they could not well get any other horsemen but Dutch they should be carefull to take order what colonels they should chuse and that if they ought them any thing for their fore-passed seruices that they should see them satisfied In the collections of the contributions he said there was likewise great disorder for that euery prouince receiued and vsed their owne mony for their best aduantages and not for the profit and commoditie of the generalitie as also that some collected their common taxes with too much partialitie whether it were to draw more traffique vnto their townes or els by reason of negligence or carelesnesse That there should great respect bee had touching the oath that was vsually taken of the colonels captaines officers and common souldiers for that many of them which were in seruice were of opinion that by reason of the oath they had taken vnto the king they might enterprise and vndertake any thing against the estates And that therefore for more securitie there was a certaine forme to be vsed which was what style should bee obserued in all proclamations ordinances decrees and other acts touching the titles of the soueraigntie And for that by reason of the reuolting of the most part of the nobilitie and naturall borne gentlemen of the Netherlands vnto the enemie to his great griefe they were not sufficiently prouided of men of quality to be commanders they ought to be very carefull what colonels they should chuse and that they might be well vsed and payd thereby to encourage them to be the willinger to do the country good seruice Touching all these points he said it was more than requisite to be considered of and that many things would be repaired and amended if they would follow his aduice and chuse certaine persons that should haue the ordering and managing of al causes with assured and faithfull promise to be made by them which should be so chosen to be obedient in all things that they should not need so often to heare the ordinarie answere and excuse which hath disappointed and hindered all good counsels and resolutions which was that we haue no commission nor charge from our townes or prouinces not that we should sayd hee giue such deputies authoritie to appoint and ordaine new impositions or power to deale in all causes according to their owne wils and pleasures or such like things but onely to take order about the collection of the generall meanes of contributions publickly agreed vpon or that should be ordained and appointed and to dispose them for the most profite and aduantage of the countrey to cause the souldiers to assemble together and the same againe when occasion serued to send into garrisons and to take knowledge of all politicke causes for the seruice and welfare of the Netherlands And whensoeuer this should be done he doubted not but that in short time they should find a good alteration The deputies of the estates being assembled together in Antuerpe vpon the thirteenth of Ianuarie there was another matter propounded vnto them touching the changing of their soueraigne lord that they might make report thereof vnto their townes and prouinces that so the generall estates might once againe be assembled with full power and absolute authoritie to resolue thereupon which was in effect as hereafter followeth For that the present estate of the Netherlands was such as they could make nothing but a defensiue warre which was onely to defend their townes and prouinces and yet very hardly and with great difficultie by reason of the bad vnitie and concord which was amongst them together with the euill order which had beene taken touching the countries causes both for warre and otherwise as also the delaying and deferring of matters wherby all good occasions and oportunities were let slippe and neglected and although good order were taken in all things yet they could not as it is said before make nothing but a defensiue war which
manner of gouernment then did hee by his letters that were written in cyphers and with double instructions plainely and euidently shew that he attended but some more conuenient and fit meanes to vse his extreame rigour against the Netherlands as it appeared by his instructions sent to Dom Iohn and others It was likewise found by example and many histories That such kings and mightie potentates as he neuer or very sildome let their countries escape vnpunished when time and oportunitie serued although for a time they seemed to winke thereat For which cause king Salomon giueth vs warning saying That the kings wrath is a most certaine dore or entry vnto death as it appeared not long since in Fraunce whereas neither the peace of two yeres the deliuering ouer of all the townes forts and castles nor yet the mariage of the kings owne sister could moue the king to refraine from taking reuenge vpon the admirall and so great a number of gentlemen and other persons of diuers estates and qualities whom he caused to be murthered without compassion And in the Netherlands they themselues had seene That the emperor Maximilian grandfather to the deceased emperour Charles the fifth notwithstanding the peace which had been made by meanes of the princes of Germanie who had signed and sealed the same and Maximilian himselfe had bound it by an oath yet neuerthelesse hee was so reuenged vpon Bruges and thereby satisfied his humor as euery man that heareth therof yet vnto this day is stricken with feare and terror and yet Maximiltan was one of the most mild courteous princes that had liued in many hundred yeares What then was to be expected from the king of Spaine that would not hold nor keep his promise vnlesse it were to assure the countrey in time to come and not to fall again into such great costs and charges as all potentates vse to do when they feare a reuolt especially when as they thinke they haue receiued any disgrace or vndutifull seruice at their hands as the example of Gant in Anno 1539 well witnessed Besides that it was euidently knowne to euery man That all the proclamations promises contracts and oaths c. that could or might be deuised might be broken and disannulled by the Popes Bull as long as it was a certaine decree That no faith nor promise was to be holden with heretickes as he accounted them all to be And that in their gouernment it is holden for a Maxime or an vndoubted rule That whatsoeuer the king should promise and graunt vnto his subiects that were reuolted from him he was not bound nor tyed to obserue nor fulfill the same for that they were not esteemed nor accounted to be right and lawfull enemies but rebellious peace-breakers and as they call them traytors with whome according vnto the lawes of nature no man is bound to obserue any promise as those who at this day write against vs beeing both Diuines and Lawyers sufficiently declare as Cornelius Calidius Chrisopolitanus Iohannes Leuseius Cunerus bishop of Leeuwerden and many others And if it were so that the king were content to keepe his faith and promise yet it is manifest that the Pope of Rome and the Inquisition of Spaine would not suffer him but still would put him in feare of conscience and compell him to root out and vtterly extirpe all heretickes as it is well knowne that they brought the king of Fraunce thereunto so that without all doubt the massacre of Paris was first hatched and inuented both in Spaine and Italie Besides all this it was to be considered what thing had mooued the king vnto such wrath and bitternesse against the Netherlands for that if it were meerely of his owne nature and disposition then there was no hope of any better to be expected for that there is no suddaine action of man but that nature can expell it but if he be naturally giuen to be gracious peaceable mild and gentle as some men report him to be then it might be that hee was mooued thereunto through zeale of Religion or by the counsell and prouocation of those that are enemies vnto the Netherlands as the Pope and the Inquisition of Spaine If it were zeale of Religion that moued him thereunto then the same zeale was not diminished because hee was persuaded that Religion was the onely ground and foundation of all the rebellion but had rather attained vnto the highest degree Whereby from thenceforth it was apparent what was to be expected from him for that those that had persuaded and incited him thereunto were then more exasperated against the Netherlands and bare more hatred and malice vnto the same than euer they did esteeming the inhabitants to bee reuolters rebels heretickes peace-breakers and mutinous persons What securitie what freedome of the countrey and priuiledges and what libertie of conscience and Religion were there then to bee hoped for of the king and what the king might do in a countrey where he yet had so many townes vnder his commaund and so many adherents and well-willers the example of Dom Iohn had sufficiently declared when as hee might easily haue made himselfe master of the land if he could haue behaued himselfe somewhat closer and secretlyer for a while or that his letters by great fortune had not fallen into their hands or if that in steed of going to Mechelen he had gone to the castle of Antuerpe and had taken it Now it was to be examined on the other side if that those points might bee found in the duke of Aniou or not As for him he should haue much lesse meanes he being a stranger and suspected of the inhabitants hauing no correspondence in the Netherlands as also that he had neither towns forts nor any of the chiefe noblemen of the land at his commaund nor would not lightly vndertake any bad enterprise out of his owne countrey vnlesse he were better assured Touching his power it was alreadie declared concerning his will it was easie to be perceiued that it would stand him more vpon to win the hearts and good wils of the inhabitants of the Netherlands than to bring them into distrust or hatred against him and as he should be brought in by the good and well minded he should alwayes haue cause to bee fauourable vnto them as hauing no cause of bitternesse or reuenge against the countrey And touching the Religion hee was sufficiently accustomed to see the exercise of both the Religions in France yea and that in his owne house hauing diuers of the Religion that were his seruants and causing the religious peace to be obserued in his owne countrey so that both in matters of Religion and in politicke gouernment all securitie was to be expected at his hands in regard that good conditions contracts should be offered vnto him which by no means could be done with the king of Spaine Touching his nature and disposition he was reported to be peaceable and courteous hauing behaued himselfe in
very good sort both at the time of the massacre and in many other troubles hauing giuen good testimonie that he was displeased thereat not without the danger of his life yet at the last beeing mooued and prouoked he also bare armes against the Huguenots which was one of the causes of a peace which he sought to vphold and maintaine But howsoeuer it were such care and diligence might bee vsed and hee should haue such conditions prescribed vnto him as that if he would bee mooued or procured to follow any euill counsell he should not by any means be able to effect it and so much the rather for that he shall continually haue the kings followers and adherents opposite vnto him which will be a meanes to make him more desirous to win the peoples hearts and by that meanes he would also haue an especiall regard vnto those of the Religion in Fraunce and not seeke to molest them so that to speake after the maner of men there was no better nor conuenienter means in the world than that to cease the warres in the Netherlands for that the Spaniards hauing Fraunce their enemie would be wholly vnable to proceed with his warres as hauing their prouision munition and money most brought vnto them by the way of France as it appeared by their siege of Mastricht which by reason of their prouision gotten out of Fraunce was lost By that meanes likewise he should be barred from bringing of his Spanish and Italian souldiers and his money into the Netherlands especially if the king of France either secretly or openly would declare himselfe to be enemy vnto Spaine On the other side it were to be hoped that they of Arthois and Henault would seek to vnite themselues with the estates when they should see perceiue that it would be too chargeable for them to maintaine warre on both sides or that they could hardly let the states souldiers frō inuading them by which means they should get great store of forcible contribution from thē and so require the iniury done vnto those of Flanders The duke likewise should haue no cause to prefer the Wallons before other prouinces which vntill that time had most beene vsed and would be much more as it euidently appeared if the Spaniards once got the vpper hand and further it concerned the estates much carefully to take heed least the Wallons should procure the said duke to hold on their side And if any man should maintaine that the duke would not obserue the pacification of Gant or that the countrey might therby moue the Q. of England against them they said that it was very vnlikely that the duke would make any difficultie touching the pacification of Gant as being made most against the Spaniards Wherein the examples of the dukes of Burgundie might serue them for instruction which were likewise brethrē of France and with whom in times past the Netherlands made no difficultie to treat Touching the queene of England they knew she had rather haue the duke than the king of Spain to be her neighbor especially then whē as he had gotten the kingdome of Portugall whose power were to be feared being the onely lord both of the East and West Indies and so mightie a prince Besides the queene shewed her selfe not to haue any bad opinion of the duke in regard that she had proceeded so farre as to parle and did yet parle with him about a mariage to be made betweene them and although the same tooke no effect yet the English lords that were most addicted to the religion would not be displeased but rather desire to see some good proceedings in the affaires of the Netherlands Besides that it was to be thought that Spaine would prouide so much worke for Fraunce as England should not neede to feare Fraunce especially when as their intent was to include the queene of England in that contract And whereas some might perchance suspect That the said duke should haue secret intelligence with the king of Spain that was not likely but it was most true and without doubt that the king of Spaine would alwayes rather take the Netherlands againe into his owne hands vpon such conditions as thē were offered vnto him by the estates thā to stand to such hazard and after that be forced to receiue his country again at the king of France his brothers hands with many harder conditions than were then offered vnto him besides that all his dealings letters and actions shewed the contrary so that there was no cause why any such suspition should grow in any wise mans head Therefore the prouinces were requested once againe to resolue vpon that which they thought best to bee done that such meanes might be wrought as the Netherlands might once againe bee released and vnburthened of their continuall miseries feares troubles and warres These reasons and arguments being long debated and consulted vpon both by the townes and the generall estates at the last they resolued and agreed to accept the duke of Aniou for their soueraigne lord as hereafter shal be shewed In September past the captaine which commaunded for the estates in Bryel made a bargaine with the captaines male contents of Athois and Henault to deliuer vp vnto them the towne and Island of Bryel but it was with an intent to surprise thē the which they thinking to effect with some ships of Grauelinge appointed like vnto them of the Hollanders they approched neere vnto the Island but they were charged by them of Holland and all slaine or drowned The seignior of Alennes mad for the disgrace hee had receiued at Courtray which was redoubled by the losse of Menin dreamed of nothing but of reuenge for the effecting whereof he sent a captaine of Henault called Ieams Corbetiers who attyred like a pesant went to view the weakest parts of the towne the which he found to be betwixt the castle and the rampar of the towne D'Allennes meaning to make a tryall his enterprise succeeded so happily as for want of a greater garrison he became master thereof by force The 28 of Februarie the town was spoiled and the bourgers put to ransome A little before the foure members of Flanders had sent them four companies of Wallons thither but they excused themselues saying they had no need of them which was the cause of their ruine It happeneth so most commonly that to auoid a small discommoditie they fall into great miserie About the same time Monsieur de la Noue being generall of the Frenchmen and of all other souldiers that remained in Flanders hauing intelligence that the earle of Egmont with his wife mother and brother Charles with diuers other gentlemen were in Ninouen which is a small towne lying betwixt Alost and Geersbergh and not very strong nor very well manned th◅y tooke it in the night by scalado on the 28 of March with small losse on either side It was taken before the earle heard any alarme being in bed with his
the castle to yield vnto them which the Drossart Pipenpoy hauing receiued a good warrant and discharge from the prince of Orange deliuered vnto them which they presently without good aduice demanteled before they fortified the towne which afterward was their own disaduantage for by that means the earle of Rennenbergh tooke it from them againe This castle was first built by Albert of Leyden earle of Holland in anno 1397 and after that being cast downe in anno 1522 it was again new built by George Schenck in the emperour Charles the fifth his name and so had stood 57 yeares While this was done the earle of Rennenbergh being in Groning was in great perplexity perceiuing that he could not performe his promise with the prince of Parma which was to yeeld vp all his gouernment into the kings hands and that at his owne costs and charges But while he kept this close to himselfe he made complaint to euery man of the breaking of the religious peace the rebellion in Friseland and the great wrong disgrace that had bin done vnto him shewing his great seruices done for the Estates in Mechelen Valenciennes Groning and before Campen Deuenter and other places and that for recompence therof he had that great affront and dishonour done vnto him as if he had bin a traitor with many such like speeches Poppo Vlfkins and Iohn Cornput both well addicted to their country and the Estates and hauing great familiaritie with him gaue him counsel to go to Vtrecht to the prince of Orange whither he had bin sent for there to make his complaints and to remooue all suspition conceiued of him by that means the lost places should be restored vnto his gouernment againe And touching the breaking down of the castles they told him that he knew long since that the same rested at the will and pleasure of the Estates and had then bin done by their appointment that therfore he had no cause to complaine thereof but only of the manner and forme of the action for that it was done in his gouernment and without commission frō him Not long after as some of his practises were discouered and that he and his adherents sought to bereaue Poppo Vlfkins of his life the said Vlfkins left the town not without acquainting him with his proceedings in presence of the deputies of the country as also of his friends praying some of them namely captaine Cornput to giue the earle good counsell and to persuade him to be constant in regard that he shewed himselfe to be wauering which the said captain did praying him to take better order in his gouernment that the countrey people might not haue cause to turne their hearts from him and that from thenceforth he would be ruled by the generall Estates not follow the secret counsell of Oyenbrugghe Gruyter Cottereau Baly such like that were suspected by the country and especially that he should without all delay go to the prince and the deputies of the Estates at Vtrecht thereby to put himselfe out of all suspition if he could discharge himselfe thereof especially when as he might be persuaded that the king could not giue him more than he had already for that no prouince in all the Netherlāds was to be compared to that whereof he was gouernor the which besides so many fair towns was also enriched with fiue great and as many small sea ports whereby it was impossible to be wholly lost or taken from him by the warres for that if it so fell out that the country should be ouerrun yet these townes would be able to maintaine themselues by traffique at sea whereas to the contrary the places that were vnder the kings commaund must in the end of force be constrained to yeeld for that their champian country being spoiled all their hope traffique were gone for want of hauens to bring in necessary prouision saying that the king could giue nothing but bare titles that were no better than smoke and deare honors without profit And that if the Catholicke Religion moued him thereunto he might well suppose that he should bring no more to passe by force and with his owne ouerthrow than the kings of Spaine and France by so many fires executions and ruine of places had done and therefore he gaue him counsell to keepe that he had and so quench the fire that the houses of Lalain had begun to kindle remembring their deuice De Lalain sans reproche and to remain in the vnion with the prince and their associates and that if he did to the contrary it was to be feared that he should find himself ruined when he least suspected it The earle all this while hearkened vnto the said counsell with great patience oftentimes changing colour and at the last made answere with griefe in such sort that the teares fell from his eyes and said that he was desperat complaining of the obstinacie of the Friselanders and the disobedience of Bartel Entens making shew as then as if he would be constant vnto the Estates but his sister still heartened him on whensoeuer he seemed to make cōscience of his oath wherby he had bound himself vnto the Estates and yet he dissembled and concealed it as much as he could After that it fell out that the Estates sent letters and commissions vnto Abel Frankena Doctor of both the lawes which was gone to Groning about the Estates affaires which letters the earle of Renenbergh had caused to bee taken away from the post as he entred into Groning in the which letters he foūd the commission that the Estates had sent for Bartel Entens to commaund ouer his regiment which grieued him much for which cause he sent for Frankena and caused him to be kept prisoner in a chamber although it was told him by diuers that it was against the lawes of all nations to shew any such rigor to an embassadour but not long after Frankena got out at a window and so escaped away by which dealing the said earle sufficiently discouered his intent For which cause amongst others captaine Cornput who was also of the said earles regiment secretly counselled some of the magistrates and bourgers of Groning especially the bourger M. Iacob Hillebrand and others of the reformed Religion to make themselues masters of the town before their aduersaries should attempt it offering to be their leader and to put the earle in safe keeping but they made answer that as yet there was no need to do it and that they were the strongest party and would bee carefull ynough thereof whereupon he protested that he had giuen them sufficient warning and so should be discharged of their imminent ruine and that if they would not do it he said he would not hazard his life any longer in that place and so went out of the towne from whence Vlfkins not long before was likewise gone The earle for his part knew so well how to flatter with them of Groning who by reason
to shoot with field peeces for their defence which mounts beeing fully made if need were that the enemie should come to digge vnder the water and to vndermine the wall might bee ioyned together by a wall of earth made along from the one vnto the other and so would it be a new wall or fortification within the towne But those reasons could not sinke into the bourgers heads the captaines were willing thereunto and began the mounts but the bourgers to spare their houses were vnwilling and so the worke went slenderly forward captaine Cornput with the other captaines to make the souldiers willing to worke agreed that billes should be giuen them to pay them sixe pence a day for their worke after the towne should be releeued but the bourgomaster opposed himselfe yet at last beeing compelled by necessity and finding that the counterscarpes could not be missed in regard that it was hard frozen and that they must be forced to breake the yce vpon the seauenteenth day of Nouember they began in all hast to make the counterscarpes At which time once againe the impatienter sort within the towne wrot vnto the Estates for some reliefe but Cornput and Berenbroek wrot to the contrarie and willed them not to be too hastie but to worke wisely and securely Cornput also sent them his cyphers and also a meanes how to speake one vnto another with lanthorns and firepans and by day with broad clothes The Estates to make some shew of relieuing the towne sent captaine Stuper with his companie to Swart Sluys and sixe companies of Hegemens regiment to lie in a cloyster by Vollenhoue called S. Iohns campe which vpon the seauenteenth of Nouember were set vpon by the earle of Renenberghes forces where for that the cloyster hath no ditches although they defended themselues valiantly they were slaine taken prisoners and put to flight where three captains Iohn van Vianen Gedeon van Roderen and Hans Wichmans were taken prisoners wherby Stuper was forced to leaue Swart Sluys These were the fruits of the impatient letters written and sent out of the towne The eighteenth of Nouember the earle of Renenbergh began to batter the Gaâ—…house gate with the powder that they had taken from Hegemans souldiers and shot downe all the toppes or defences of the wals and after that the houses beeing discouered they shot 〈◊〉 bullets with wild fire into the towne which presently set the houses on fire and the sooner for that many of the houses were thatched and diuers of them full of strawe haie and turfe whereby the fire was growne great before they perceiued it they imagining that the fire had beene made by treason within the towne but at the last when they perceiued from whence it came the souldiers ranne all in armes vnto the walls the bourgers in the meane time doing their best to quench the fire and to saue their goods but by reason that the wind was great there was at the least threescore and tenne houses burned and certaine barnes with hay strawe riâ—… and barley and to say the truth a twelfth part of the towne The fire was so great by reason of a strong Easterly wind which then blewe as it 〈◊〉 the flame quite ouer the walls whereby the souldiers were forced to leaue a third part of the walls vndefended euen in the very same place where the yce in the ditches was not broken but although the enemie stood round about the towne ready to giue an assault yet because of the fire and flame they durst not venture thinking that they within would flie out of the flame vpon them as Foxes doe when men put fire in their holes but the souldiers stood like Lyons Doubtlesse it was a fearefull thing to see and yet a great mercie of God that the exhortations of the captaines gaue the souldiers such courage and the bourgers â—…o much comfort as also that it chaunced by day for if it had beene in the night time it had beene impossible but the enemie would haue taken the towne as eight and fiftie yeares before it happened in the moneth of December in Anno 1522 when as they of Guelderland after the old manner shot fire into it by night and by that meanes tooke and sacked it This was the second time that hath been heard of that such fire was shot with burning bullets into a towne for that it was done by Stephanus Battor king of Poleland against Danâ—…ke but in another manner it hath beene oftentimes done After this fire the earle of Renenbergh sent two trumpets to summon the towne to yeeld offering them all the grace and fauour he could but captaine Plaet answered boldly whereby at that time he did especiall good seruice to the towne for which cause the bourgers began to murmure and yet at the last got Plaet to agree with them and thought to haue had a generall assembly and to consult vpon the yeelding of the towne which Cornput refused saying That hee would not agree to deliuer vp a towne which was not theirs for that a young maid which beginneth to parle is halfe gotten with child and that hee would not yeeld neither for life nor death Berenbroeke and Lazarus Austria Olthof his lieutenant said the like so as after many words and much dispute it was agreed with hands and promises thereunto made and giuen That they would not yeeld vp the towne as long as there was any victuals within it to be had But the next day beeing the 20 of Nouember the bourgers fell into a mutinie and assembled together vpon the market place and with them diuers of the souldiers which captaine Cornput hearing of hee caused a great number of the souldiers to arme themselues and he himselfe beeing armed vnder his clothes went with Berenbroeke and them into the market place and spake to the bourgers who were encouraging one another to yeeld vp the towne saying Get you home to your houses you villaines and stand not prating and telling of lies here to discourage our souldiers who know what they haue to doe and are wiser than you thinke they are and when some of them went away and abutcher standing still said What shall bee done then when wee haue nothing more to eat captaine Cornput answered That time is not yet come and when it doth then wil we first eat such a knaue as thou and thy fellowes are before wee will yeeld With which words and many more they were all driuen home againe and all good order and discipline obserued by such as were of good gouernment They without shotte diuers times more fire into the towne but they within the towne tooke an order for the same that in euery street and house both night and day the bourgers kept watch and so did the women and children and when they saw where a bullet did light which the hole and the smoake shewed they drew the same with yron hookes out of the way and then hauing woollen gloues which
Nyenvenoort hauing made a contract with the Estates to leuie souldiers at his owne costs and charges the which he should entertaine by contribution enforced vpon the enemie the Estates wrot vnto him to helpe to relieue Steenwicke who to that end came with six companies of his owne and six Friseland companies vnder the conduct of Adrian Meningh lieutenant colonel to Merode to Blockziel with waggons and victuals being in all fifteene hundred men which the earle of Renenbergh vnderstanding hee went secretly away in the night time At his departure from the cloyster he left the wounded dead men and his prisoners and great store of victuals behind him hauing besieged the cloister three daies and burned the village of Griethorn After that there grew a great mutinie amongst his souldiers which within certaine daies was pacified with some money each souldier hauing receiued 21 styuers The last of Ianuarie Sir Iohn Norris came to Oldermarckt a myle from Steenwicke with all his troupes for which cause the earle of Renenbergh made diuers other sconces and left his lodging in Steenwicker Woldt they of the towne for that their gates were battered and annoyed with sconces resolued at the last to make a new gate betweene the wall and Ostergate on the North side which they called Cornputs gate because hee had alwaies giuen them counsell to make it there that they might receiue their victuals therein from Sir Iohn Norris The fourth of Februarie three Wood-cockes others say Partridges came flying into the market place of Steenwicke and were there taken by the souldiers and eaten Which being told to captaine Cornput he said presently God sent the vnbelieuing Israelites such kind of meat and he for certaine will relieue this towne but for that there are three so it shall not happen vntill three weekes be ended because we will not beleeue him This prophecie of Cornput which the common bourgers made more question of than the rest was taken in euill part as if that he would prescribe so long a time for their deliuerance which hee seemed to haue spoken onely to lessen the great longing and desire that the bourgers had thereunto neuerthelesse it appeareth that God spake by his mouth although he knew it not himselfe for it was true for that euen the same day three weekes after the towne was sufficiently victualled by Sir Iohn Norris The same day Sir Iohn Norris the earle of Nassau Merode Nienort Michiel Caulier Iselstein Hegeman and Stuper with sixe and fortie companies of footmen being about three thousand fiue hundred men strong and six cornets of horse went to Steenwicker Woldt and encamped himselfe in the East end in a conuenient place called Heddinbergh where there stood many small trees which serued for trenching or sconces but in the North end where it was open he made a defence of wagons they of the towne might discouer his ensignes and know them being but 2400 paces from thence and nothing betweene them but plaine fields medowes heaths and marishes in the middle wherof there stood a new sconce made there by Renenberghs souldiers vpon the 31 of Ianuarie To resist them the earle of Renenberghs souldiers put themselues in order of battaile and at the last after they had stood so vntill the next day after noone they went with their ordnance to assaile Sir Iohn Norris campe behind not thinking to find the Wagon sconce gaue a furious assault where captaine Hendrike Suater their leader was slaine they of the towne in the meane time issuing out into the enemies campe did them great hurt and got good store of bootie The sixt or seuenth of February there was a search made in euery house within the town to know what prouision of victuals they had and they found corne and other victuals sufficient to serue them two moneths as well amongst the rich as the poore who thought they should not haue bin so narrowly searched as the rich men each man being allowed 6 pound of bread a weeke for which cause captaine Cornput shewed the forestallers therof in what danger they had brought both the countrey and the towne for that the souldiers fearing want of victuals were like to haue fallen into a mutinie and bin discouraged and thereby made the enemie to thinke that they were in great necessity and gaue them more courage as also that the Estates through their impatient writing for reliefe had bin almost compelled to aduenture a battail which as it appeared would haue fallen out badly for them but notwithstanding al this they of the towne were still very impatient and wrot importunately for reliefe Euerie day they skirmished and the earle of Renenbergh stil made more sconces between Sir Iohn Norris campe and the towne which they first began vnder the defence of certain wagons laden with dung which they placed there by night and so made their trenches behind them All the heapes of turfe the earle of Renenbergh caused to be burnt that the way might be discouered yet for all their great light they could not intercept one letter or messenger that came out of the towne the which was verie strange At the last captaine Cornput caused certaine bullets to be made of two pound weight apeece thereby to preuent the danger of their messengers which bullets were shot into Sir Iohn Norris campe These bullets had two holes the one to thrust in the letter the other to put in the fire worke for that by the smoke thereof they might the better be found Vpon the fourteenth of Februarie Sir Iohn Norris sent them of the towne word that they should make three bridges ouer the riuer of Aa and he would giue the aduenture to releeue them appointing his men to place wagons along on both sides and so to conuey the victuals into the towne wherein captaine Cornput vsed great diligence to cause certaine sconces to bee made without the towne and it seemed as though hee would haue had sconces made cleane through from the towne to Sir Iohn Norris campe but all he desired was not done notwithstanding they within made sconces without the towne in the West part with great toyle hewing the hard frozen earth with hatchets and pickaxes made a bridge ouer the Aa and so lay in the field without the towne but after signes giuen on both sides touching the beginning of the enterprise Sir Iohn Norris in seeking to effect it found great difficultie which was that the wagons could not passe ouer the hard knobs of â—…osen earth which lay in the marshes neither could they effect it without great noyse and therefore for that time he staied but they of the towne finished their worke and hindered the enemy from making their sconces against them taking his dung wagons from him they kept the field night and day The seuenteenth of Februarie the great frost began to thaw which did much comfort them of the towne who were in good hope they should not now haue so much
Stuper and Berenbroeke to whom there was not much due were well paid But it was to be supposed that want of money was the cause of it Captaine Cornput with the rest of the valiant captains bourgers and souldiers got great honour prayse and glorie amongst all wise men in regard of their industrie constancie resolution diligence carefulnesse labour and dangers considering with what people they had to doe as also what small meanes they had beeing simple people that wanted a gouernour ordnance and horsemen During this siege Sonoy with a few souldiers had besieged both the houses of Vollenhove wherein the earle of Renenbergh had garrison which were soone yeelded vnto him The Englishmen Wallons and Iselsteins souldiers were sent vnto the Kuynder and there besieged the church which within few dayes vpon composition was yeelded vnto them The companies of the Friseland regiment vnder the lord of Merode went before Lemmer and Sloten which being battered yeelded vp and after that the Englishmen and Wallons were diuided into seuerall garrisons The lord of Nienoort went presently into the territories thereabouts wheras they of Groning had besieged his sconce at Winsum which heat his comming thither releeued by the which sconce at Winsum and those at Winsumerziel Warsum Warsumerziel and other places he held a great part of the countrey vnder contribution The earle of Renenberghes souldiers were then come into the territories of Steenwick and lay at Midlesum where the lord of Nienoort thought to hem them in but they beat him from thence and shut two companies conducted by Renoy and Vercken into a church who were forced to yeeld vpon safegard of life and goods because their captaines were absent Oyenbrugh whose reuolt was ascribed vnto the earle of Renenbergh at a skirmish before Loppersum was shot in the leg whereof he died in Groning The earle of Renenbergh himselfe with a companie of souldiers went into Zeeland and tooke the house of Boxburgh fortified Goore and other places and tooke great store of bootie with him Hauing related what was done in the campe before Steenwicke and in other places thereabouts I will now returne and shew what was done in the later part of the yeare 1580. The king of Spaine hauing setled it in his imagination that the prince of Orange was the onely man that crost his designes in the Netherlands and that he could not reduce Holland Zeeland and their associats vnder his obedience for as the secretarie Escouedo had written vnto him he must first begin with the islands hee thought that so long as the said prince should liue he should neuer see an end of those troubles Wherefore seeing he could not attaine vnto it by armes in the time of the duke of Alua and of Dom Louys de Requesens nor by the policie and practises of Dom Iohn whereas the townes of Holland and Zeeland in generall were not at the said princes deuotion nor allied with mightie neighbors as the prouinces of Gueldres Vtrecht Friseland and Ouerissel he resolued at what price soeuer and whatsoeuer shold chance vnto him to practise the meanes to attaine vnto his pretended end and to haue the said prince of Orange dispatched by what way soeuer yet something to colour and excuse the fact and the execution thereof he would vse a kind of forme of proceeding as depending vpon the order of iustice vsing first a proscription or banishment decreed against the said prince whom afterwards he leaues as a prey abandoning him to all the world Of which proscription we haue thought good for breuities sake to set downe the substance and chiefe points being proclaimed by the prince of Parma in two seuerall languages vpon the nineteenth day of Iune Philip by the grace of God King of Castile Duke of Bourgoigne Brabant c. Hee sheweth first how gratiously and fauourably the late deceased emperour Charles the fifth of famous memorie his lord and father had dealt with William van Nassau to procure him the succession of Rene of Chalons prince of Orange his cousin and although hee were a stranger had aduanced and furthered him in all he could as also the king himselfe hauing made him knight of the order of the golden Fleece and gouernour of Holland Zeeland Vtrecht and Bourgoigne colonell of a regiment of horsemen and a counsellor of Estate declaring further all other the fauours that had beene done him And to the contrarie how vnthankfull hee had beene in moouing and procuring the confederat gentlemen to present a petition vnto him bringing in of the reformed religion with the exercise of the same and the casting downe of images rooting out the Catholike Romish religion and chasing away the clergie And lastly bearing open armes against his soueraigne lord and that hee had resisted and withstood all treaties of peace and had broken the pacification of Gant and the perpetuall edict carrying himselfe in most tyrannous manner ill intreating all the chiefe nobilitie of the countrey that hee might rule and dominier more absolutely among a furious and tumultuous multitude the good being chased away And for that all this confusion and miserie which his subiects he said suffered are found to proceed from the counsel persuasion and instigation of that wicked hypocrite by his turbulent spirit who put all his felicitie in the trouble of his subiects For which causes being as he said iust reasonable and according vnto iustice vsing in that regard the authoritie which he had ouer him by vertue of the othes of fealtie and obedience which hee had often made vnto him for all his peruerse and wicked acts beeing the sole author head and contriuer of those troubles and the chiefe disturber of all his Estates he declared him a rebell heretike hypocrite like to Cain and Iudas hauing his conscience obdurat a villaine head of the Netherland tumults a plague to Christendome and an enemie to all mankind And as such a one did proscribe and banish him for euer out of his said countries and out of all his other estates realmes and seigniories forbidding all his subiects of what estate qualitie or condition soeuer to liue or conuerse talke or conferre with him openly or secretly nor to receiue nor lodge him in their houses nor yet to releeue him with meat drinke fire or any other necessaries Giuing all his goods lands life and liuing to them could take it And that it might bee the better effected and brought to passe and thereby to release and deliuer the poore people from his tyrannie desiring to reward and recompence all good actions and to punish and chastise the bad and such as are offendors and transgressors hee promised vpon the word of king and as the minister of Almightie God That if any one would bee of so generos a resolution and so zealously affected to his seruice and the publike good as to put in practise and execution the foresaid edict and decree and to free him from such a plague deliuering him the
of Spaine should take any exception a cepted He complained of the reuolting of the male-content Wallons who had taken vpon them to make warre against their vnited friends contrarie to their oths at such a time when the forreine souldiers and the enemie should haue beene driuen out of the countrey and the towne of Mastricht releeued He likewise complained of the reuolted noblemen and gentlemen who being descended of noble houses and antient families should discouer their lightnesse and inconstancie First seruing the duke of Alua and the great Commander like mercenarie slaues and making warre against him after that they reconciled themselues vnto him and became enemies to the Spaniards When Dom Iohn came into the countrey they followed him serued him and practised the princes ruine Dom Iohn hauing failed of his enterprise at Antuerpe they forsake him and call in the prince whom presently they abandon againe and without any counsell or aduice send in all hast for the arch duke Mathias whom they presently left and without his priuitie called in the duke of Aniou promising him wonders But seeing they could not persuade him to be their head against the Estates and them of the religion they forsake him and ioyne with the prince of Parma and their enemies whose counsellors they had so long held prisoners which shewed their lightnesse and inconstancie Whereas they obiected That he had made himselfe to be chosen by force and tumult gouernor of Brabant he shewed that he had refused it and that in regard of the lieutenant generals place he would not accept thereof without the consent of the commanders that were in the armie which they sent him signed vnder their hands The gouernment of Flanders he also refused notwithstanding the instance that was made vnto him by the foure members of the countrey And whereas this proscription found the vnion of Vtrecht of very hard disgestion he said There was no better remedie against the disunion of the male-contents than this vnion and no surer antidote against the poyson of discord than concord Confessing that he had procured aduanced and sought to entertaine it As touching the receit of money hee said he neuer medled therewith And the rest of the accusations as the chasing away of the nobilitie hypocrisie distrust and the offers that were made him being of lesse importance he refuted At the last he came to the sentence of banishment saying That al those stormes of thunder and lightning did not amaze him and that if any Spaniard or other affected to them of what qualitie or condition soeuer had said or should say as this infamous proscription had published that he is a traitor and a villaine had spoken falsely and against the truth And although the vse of water and fire was forbidden him yet he would vse the same so long as God should giue him leaue And touching the twentie fiue thousand crownes with recompence of gentry and pardon for all offences promised to him that should attempt to murder or poyson him hee said That he doubted not but God had and would preserue him so long as he pleased wherin his enemies had shewed their basenesse that not able to vanquish him by the due course of arms they seeke dishonourably to murder or poison him And although hee feared it not yet if it should so happen which he hoped God would not permit he said there was not so meane a gentleman to be found in any nation where they knew what belonged to gentrie that would eat and conuerse with such a wicked and infamous villaine as had murdered any man for money And that if the Spaniards esteemed such for gentlemen and that men by such meanes were aduanced to honour in Castile he said That it was no maruel if all the world beleeued that the most part of the Spaniards especially those that held themselues nobles and gentlemen descended from the Moores and Iews and obserue that good qualitie as ingrafted in them from their forefathers that betrayed our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ and gaue Iudas money to deliuer him vnto them that they might crucifie him For which cause he said he would beare that misfortune the more patiently if it so fell out Wherefore hee gaue the States to vnderstand that their peace and quiet depended vpon his death for that so long as hee was among them their warres should neuer haue end and therefore he wished that his death might free them from the miseries which his life procured the which should be a sweet and acceptable death vnto him That for their cause hee had suffered his lands and goods to be taken from him lost his brethren yea and his sonne and yet hee desired to purchase their freedome and libertie with his bloud and that if they thought it fit and conuenient they should presently command the same saying That his head was readie ouer which no prince nor potentat had any command but onely they whereof they might dispose as it pleased them for their welfare But if they thought good still to vse him and his experience woon by continuall toile and trauell together with his life and goods hee was desirous to imploy himselfe in theirs and the Netherlands seruice wherein he desired their resolution Whereunto the generall Estates vpon the seuenteenth of December made answer as followeth The generall Estates hauing not long since seene a certaine proscript made and published by the enemie against your Excellencies person whereby they seeke to charge you with some slanderous and vnworthy crimes thereby to bring you into hatred as if by vnlawfull meanes and practises your Excellencie should haue sought the dignities and gouernments which you now enioy and withal abandoning your person as a prey to them that would bereaue you of your life and thereby depriue you of your honour Hauing in like sort seene the answer made thereunto by your Excellencie wee find That for as much as concerneth the Netherlands it is plaine and manifest that the aforesaid crimes and false imputations are vniustly laid vpon you And touching the place of Lieutenant generall the particular gouernments which your Excellencie now enioyeth that a lawful choice and election being made of you you would not haue accepted thereof but at our earnest intreaties and desires and haue still continued therein at our requests with the full consent and liking of the countrey seeking the same at your Excellencies hands with intreatie still to continue and hold the same promising all helpe aid and assistance not sparing any of their meanes together with all obedience vnto your Excellencie And for that the said Estates are well sufficiently assured of your Excellencies good and true seruice done vnto the Netherlands and which from henceforth they expect and attend of you they offer and present vnto your Excellencie a cornet of horsemen for the better safetie and guard of your person desiring you to accept thereof from them who acknowledge themselues bound to
estate And euery one knowing how long hee hath dealt in the affaires of this countrie and of the councel of estate may persuade himselfe that it is not without reason that hee doth attribute vnto himselfe this knowledge And therefore bee intreats all men of iudgement especially those that make profession of the religion to allowe him something which cannot bee knowne but to such as haue pierst into the bowels of the affaires of Spaine as he hath often and long time done But hee is content that all good men which haue interest in the cause should consider of that which is set to the viewe of euery man and knowne to all the world and then iudge of the king of Spaines resolutions that is whether the beginning of this monarchie of Spaine bee not wholly grounded vpon the strict leagues intelligences and correspondencies which the kings of Castile and Aragon haue had heretofore with the Pope which amities beeing many yeares since begunne haue still increased by the continuance of mutuall offices which they haue done one vnto another the pope augmenting this crowne of Spaine and the king of Spaine embracing the popes quarrels against all the world without any reseruation The popes haue augmented the house of Aragon with the realmes of Naples and Sicile and haue made the way for the house of Spaine to conquer Lombardie and to hold the princes of Italie subiect at his deuotion some by citadels some by feare and some by practises alwaies managed and coloured by the popes So as if at any time the house of France hath practised some little fauour from the Pope presently the house of Spaine hath felt the foundations of his Seigniories in Italie to shake and readie to fall the historie whereof is well knowne to all men of state If then there were no other reason but this onely the house of Spaine knowing well of what importance the estate of Italie is would neuer attempt any thing but as he should be instructed by the spirit of the court of Rome with the which no good man can haue any greater familiaritie then Christ had with Belial But euery man knoweth that the great empire at the Indies which Spaine doth at this daie enioy is due by the Spaniards vnto the free gift of the Romish Sea and likewise the coniunction of the crownes of Aragon and Castile to the popes dispensation as also the conquest of the kingdome of Nauarre and of late of the kingdome of Portugall and countries subiect to the crowne For these reasons then we must thinke that neither the king of Spaine nor any of his successors after him will euer seperate themselues from the amitie of that sea and consequently he will be of necessitie an open enemie to the true religion the which can no more endure the the pope and his adherents than the sea doth a dead carcasse And for as much as all the dangers whereunto the said prince may be exposed with these countries the which are very great to iudge according vnto man are yet nothing in comparison of the ruine of the true religion whereof they that persecute it are enemies and the said prince should be treacherous if he should abandon it for these considerations hee is resolued with the helpe of God to continue constant in his first resolution vnto the end of his life and if God giue him the grace so to assure these countries as after his death he will leaue it able to defend it selfe against the power of Spaine and his adherents The said prince is not ignorant what reports are spread abroad by his enemies in regard of that which is treated betwixt the Estates of Holland and his person and that before that hee would yeeld vnto them he had foreseene and dulie considered both by himselfe and with many men of worth and reputation and moreouer hauing condescended thereunto he had protracted the busines to auoyd the slaunders of the wicked and the suspition of some who are not of themselues badde but may interpret the said treatie sinisterly not knowing the true cause and ground But the said prince beeing vnwilling to make any long discourse vpon this point wherein hee should do himselfe wrong for that it could not be so simply written but it would tend something to his praise he is content to say intreats monsieur Norris to assure her Maiesty the lords of her councel al good men that if the said prince had not bin persuaded by many pregnant reasons which haue beene propounded vnto him by many men of qualitie whose pietie to religion affection to their countrie and wisdome to iudge are well knowne vnto him that it was necessarie and conuenient for the preseruation of religion and to keepe so many good men from vniust deaths by the crueltie of their enemies and that others liuing in simplicitie and ignorance should not bee seduced by the practises of the children of this world hee had neuer proceeded further and yet matters being as they are if they can shew him a more safe way hee protests that he is ready to follow it and to march constantly after him that shall guide him The said prince doth intreat all good men so to temper their iudgements as they giue no place either to slaunders or false reports nor to opinions grounded onely vpon suspition hoping that his word shall be sooner credited than a bare suspition the which may bee as soone refuted as it growes in the spirit of man without ground and assurance Nothing then hath mooued the said prince to take that course which he hitherto followed but this holy resolution aboue mentioned And if it shall now please her Maiestie to vnderstand what meanes the said prince propounds vnto himselfe for the maintenance of so iust and yet so difficult a quarrell to obey her Maiestie to whom he desires to continue a most humble seruant and not to forget to aduertise her as much as he may of the estate of his affaires hee intreats the Seignior Norris to acquaint her Maiestie with that which followes That first of all the great and eternall power of God is knowne vnto him not onely by his holy doctrine where he hath learned it but also by many experiences which hee hath made and diuers effects which he hath felt in the aduancement preseruation of the true Church and first in the time of his ancestors in the kingdom of Bohemia and in his time in Germanie Switser-land England Scotland France and in the end in these countries and euen in his owne person And that in all these kingdoms and prouinces God hath made it visibly known to all the world that he suffered men to propound in their councels but he knew how to dis pose of all things and to him alone belonged the honour and glorie of the preseruation of his people And although that this resolution he setled in his heart and that he referres himselfe to his holy prouidence yet he knoweth the
as well as any man liuing for that I haue had speciall and long imployment in the affaires of these countries as also hauing vndertaken so necessarie and honourable a warre I haue for these many yeares felt them tried them and endured them and whereof I assure my selfe that this countrie with the helpe of God had beene long since discharged if they whom it concerned and were of the religion at the least made profession had not beene drawne some by their owne ambition and desire to commaund and manage the affaires after their owne fantasies although they had no experience neither in matters of warre nor of gouernment some beeing induced and persuaded by others who tooke pleasure to follow priuate counsels farre dissenting from mine and them of the publike if those I say had not armed the proper members of this countrie one against another and against their owne bodie by means whereof they haue againe drawne in the Spanish forces and the griefe is that such as haue committed these errors beeing not yet amended they giue the Spaniards meanes still to haue as many victories ouer them as they please and vntill theybe otherwise resolued they will run headlong into greater ruine I speake this to shew that these great forces are not inuincible seeing that we haue seene them in a manner readie to be wholly defeated and chased shamefully out of the countrie And in like sort seeing God hath giuen me the grace to withstand them so long it is no wonder if I know them well so as all these admonitions can teach me no new thing And as for that which concerneth my weakenesse the which I hope with the helpe of God and their good resolution which are determined to obey me is not so little as it hath beene neither do I expect that fourescore thousand men shall fall vpon mee led by a duke of Alua as heretofore when I was much weaker I haue felt them and yet God did not abandon me neither I hope will he at this daie But as I haue discoursed at large in my instructions which I haue sent to the Queene of England whereof I send you a copie I take the soueraigne guard of the vniuersall God for my chiefe foundation who hath hitherto made my weakenesse strong and I hope hee will continue it vnto the end And when I come to examine all these difficulties by my selfe that is when I come to compare the king of Spaines forces with my small meanes and what we commonly see in the alteration of mens mindes and when as I also discourse of that which may happen after me I must confesse plainely that if I tooke counsell of the flesh and humane vnderstanding that I should find great cause and subiect of amazement But seeing the question is for the glorie of God and for our consciences for the libertie of the countrie and the preseruation of the liues of so many good men ouer whom the crueltie of the Spaniards should passe like a deluge of waters if wee should suffer them to recouer the power they sometimes had ouer these countries I can resolue no other thing but that hauing recommended my selfe vnto God I conclude that there remaines nothing but to oppose against such dangers with constancie vnto the end resoluing that for me and mine there are no dangers comparable to a miserable desertion which I should make of so good a cause if I should abandon so holy and so honourable a partie the which I haue followed vnto this present daie And whereas he obiects that some of the religion loue me lesse than they should admit it were so it were no new thing the which I haue long since foreseene for what man is he that hath had a chiefe charge be it in the church or common-weale that hath not had many enemies not onely of them abroad but euen of such as followed their partie and tearmed themselues of the same religion Such an one was Moses who could not auoide the slaunders and mutining of Corath and Dathan such a one was Dauid who had his Semes such an one was Ieremie who was buffeted in the temple and such an one was S. Paul who was persecuted by them that preached Christ by contention yet none of them haue left to continue constantly in their charges knowing well that God was their rewarder and not men In like maner when I vndertooke this great charge I had no other hope hauing seene the like happen to many great personages who vpon semblable occasions had sustained the like quarrels in our time But I hope that such men who it may be are not abandoned to so great ingratitude so much through their owne malice as by the induction of others will not continue in that error but will remember themselues as many haue alreadie done being warned by their owne follies and so many losses which they haue had following their priuate affections And if they should continue vnto the end the which I hope not yet considering the great nūber of such as resolue with me I shal haue no great cause of discontentment for any other thing than for the ruine of those men who haue drawne more vpon them by their owne rashnes than the enemie by his force But that which hath beene hitherto toucht in the discourse is not the authors chiefe designe but me thinkes all this beginning is like vnto some trialls of the disposition of the bodie which fencers vse before they plaie in earnest or like vnto a musitians preludium for all these preparatiues are made to fall in the end vpon the alliance of France which is the chiefe and maine point the author meanes to treat of and for the which hee hath taken so exceeding great paines But I obserue in this part among other things want of iudgement in the author of this writing for as no man can denie it but that all doth proceede from the councell of Spaine or their partisans what is he but will presently iudge by the viewing and reading of this discourse that the Spaniard doth doubt and aboue all things feare lest the French king should vndertake this quarrell knowing sufficiently by the situation of the countries by the said kings forces and by the reason of his friends and seruants what meanes hee hath not only to aide vs but also to confine the king of Spaine beyond the Alpes and the Pyrene mountaines And as I can take no better counsell than of mine enemie to choose that which hee feareth and reiect that which he desireth so I confesse that if I had neuer so much as thought on the alliance of France that hauing no other inducements or persuasions this discourse would make me to affect it much and should giue me occasion to beleeue that this counsell to treat with the French is very good seeing that it is so much feared and distrusted of the enemie The chiefe reasons are that there is no assurance with the French that we shall be
which is to be eaten and other necessaries but shall in all things be intreated like other of the Estates souldiers 13 That the gouernours of the said townes shall bee paid their entertainment euery moneth which money her Maiestie shall cause to bee brought vnto the same townes and that the number of the souldiers shall not be greater than the number of the garrisons were sixe moneths before the deliuering ouer of the said townes and it shall not bee thought any wrong if it happen that the said paie bee sometimes brought eight or ten daies after the time of paiment due 14 That the gouernours and souldiers of the garrisons of the said townes shall haue the free exercise of religion as it is now vsed in England and to that end in euery of the said towns they shall haue a church appointed for them 15 That the said garrisons shall be vsed as other garrisons that haue lien there before them haue beene as well for their lodgings as victuals and the Estates shall take order that they shal haue victuals at as reasonable prices as the inhabitantes of the said townes haue and shal haue powder march and bullets in like quantity as the garrisons before them haue heretofore had and as other souldiers in other garrisons vsually haue 16 That it shall be lawfull for her Maiestie besides the gouernour generall that shall bee there to appoint two of her subiects to sit in the counsell of Estate beeing men of good qualitie and professors of the true christian religion and also in the marshals court as need shall require to iudge of all such persons as the gouernour and the counsell of Estate shall thinke good and as the cause shall require And that the two gouernours of the townes that shall haue the sayd garrisons aforesaid in them shall and may come into the counsell of Estate at any time when they shall thinke it most conuenient and necessarie for any matter of importance touching the seruice of her Maiestie and the benefit of the vnited Prouinces and yet shall not be accounted nor held for any members of the said counsell of Estate 17 That the gouernour aforesaid with the counsell of Estate shall haue power and authoritie to redresse all disorders and abuses committed in the Imposts and to cut off all excessiue fees of the officers and to see that the moneyes proceeding thereof be emploied to the most profit and commoditie of the countrey for the better resistance of the enemy both by water and by land 18 That the said gouernour generall with the counsell of Estate shall reforme the disorders in the mynts of the said vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands and reduce them to a conuenient number and that they shall not exchange the moneyes currant in those countries or any others thereby to inhaunce or raise the values thereof without the consent of her Maiestie or her gouernour 19 That her Maiestie or the generall gouernour of her forces aforesaid with the counsell of Estate shall take order for the reestablishment and restoring of publicke authoritie as also the vpholding and obseruing of martiall discipline the which at this time are both much decayed by reason of the equall powers and authorities of gouernors and multitudes or confusion of counsels 20 That her said gouernour generall with the counsell of Estate shall haue the ouersight and ordering of all things concerning the common vtilitie and welfare of the land prouided alwaies that they shall not take vpon them to alter any thing in the aforesaid true Christian religion neither in the lawes priuiledges customes freedomes statutes nor ordinances of the sayd Estates prouinces members townes colledges or inhabitants of the same in generall or particular 21 That neyther the Estates generall nor particular shall haue any dealing with the enemie without the knowledge and consent of her Maiestie nor yet with any forraine prince or potentate without her knowledge or the consent of her gouernour generall aforesaid 22 That her said Maiestie likewise shall not deale with the king of Spaine nor yet with any other enemie to the Estates concerning any cause or matter that toucheth the vnited Prouinces in generall or in particular without the aduice and consent of the generall Estates lawfully called thereunto 23 That the raising and paying of new forces which are to be raised for the defence of the land shall be done by the said gouernour generall and the counsell of estate with the consent of the generall Estates 24 That at the death or alteration of any prouinciall gouernours or of frontier townes the Estates or prouinces where any such alteration happeneth shall nominate two or three sufficient persons well addicted to the religion whereof the gouernour generall aforesaid and the counsell of Estate shall chuse one 25 That as often as her Maiestie for her defence and securitie shall send any shippes of warre to sea if the enemie send any fleet into the narrow seas betweene Fraunce and England or betweene England and the Netherlands the Estates shall send foorth as many shippes to sea as her Maiestie shall then doe so they exceede not in number and charge the limitted number in times past presented in Anno 1584 vnto the prince of Oâ—…nge by M. Dyer or more as the necessitie and the Estates vttermost meanes may reach vnto which shall ioyne with her Maiesties said fleet and bee vnder the commaund and appointment of the admirall of England with this prouiso that whatsoeuer shall be gotten or woon by that fleet shall be equally diuided according to the charges and expences disbursed by either partie 26 That her Maiesties shippes being at sea shall alwayes haue free egresse and regresse into the hauens and streames within the said Netherlands and there bee victualled at a reasonable price and that the ships of warre belonging to the Netherlands shall like wise enioy the same priuiledge and freedome in all the streames and hauens of England and others her Maiesties dominions 27 That the ordering and taking vp of all controuersies and contentions which may fall out and happen betweene any of the vnited Prouinces or any townes that cannot be ended by ordinarie course of iustice shall be sent vnto her Maiestie or to her gouernour generall to take order therein with the aforesaid counsell of Estate within the vnited Prouinces 28 That it shall be lawfull for her Maiesties subiects to carry their horses which they shall buy in the said countries of the Netherlands ouer into England paying the ordinarie customes and charges for the same vpon condition that they shall not carrie them elsewhere 29 That the English souldiers that are desirous to goe ouer into England shall passe freely without any other pasport than the generals signed and sealed with his hand conditionally that the number of the Englishmen be complete and that the Estates be not compelled to any further
intrappe the cheefe Commanders Collonels and Captaines of English This marchant adressing him-selfe to the Earle of Leicester and some of the deputies of the Estates giuing them to vnderstand that he had good intelligence with many officers and soldiars of the garrison of Graueling and that vnder coullor of carying of corne thether by sea bringing men into the hauen they might easely enter into the towne His desseigne was found reasonable and he had mony giuen him to buy corne and to imbarke it This exploit was to bee done by Sir Philip Sydney and other commanders But this marchant hauing bought and imbarckt his corne and brought it into the hauen hauing assured them that those hee carried with him and those of the garrison which were of his confederacie should open the port at a certaine houre appointed to Sir Philip and his men he being come neere the towne and finding the port wide open sooner then he expected hee began to doubt for that some things fayled which had beene concluded in this enterprise the which staied them from passing any further La Motte and his men who attended them with great deuotion were greedy of their prey and thought it long vntill they entred sending two or three soldiars to wish them to make hast but their marchant kept still within the towne and neuer shewed him-selfe which made them to doubt the more and in the end to retyre La Motte seeing this fell vpon them that were entred with the marchant who at the first were well entertained by them of the counterset and deceitfull faction but in the end they smarted for all the rest being about some thirtie of the English-men that were slaine The affaires of the vnited Prouinces were some-what impayred by the losse of Graue Venlo and other places the which the Prince of Parma had won who prospered more and more There fell out among the sayd Prouinces and some particular townes a secret iarre and disagreement as it happens often in an estate where as many command the one seeking to be freed from chage to day it vpon his companion And with all Collonel Schenke during the time that hee serued the King of Spaine had noted some men who gaue cause to suspect some of the estates as if they were not to bee trusted on the other side the Earle of Leicester newly made gouernor of diuers Prouinces euery one hauing seuerall preuiledges and freedomes being heretofore vnited together vnder one Prince by heriditary successions alliances of marriages guifts pourchase and otherwise retayning yet still their liberty and the preheminences of their estats hee perswaded him selfe that the authority which he ought to haue by reason of the place which he held in the said Prouinces was much diminished for that the gouernment and absolute command depended not vpon him alone nor of his councell but that the generall estats of the vnited country according to their ancient rights although that in the Duke of Aluas time this order had beene broken had in regard of them great authority to take knowledge of all things concerning their Estates This bred a ielousie and distrust the which was after-wards the cause of a greater mischiefe for Maister Paul Buys some-times aduocate of the particular Estates of Holland and appointed a Councellor to the Earle of Leicester beeing at Vtrecht was put in prison and there kept without proceeding iudicially against him nor knowing who was his aduerse partie The captaines which had taken him sayd they had done it by the Earles commandement the which he denied There were also some of the chiefe of the towne among others the signior Nicholas van Zuylen Scout or Baylife and some other priuate men who were dismist and commanded to depart the towne by sunne setting who retired into Holland from whence they sent their complaints in writing vnto the Earle who made himselfe ignorant of all so as no man could iudge whether it were by his commandment or not They of Vtrecht being more incensed against their Burguers that were sent away they banished them not onely out of their iurisdiction but also out of Holland and out of all the vnited Prouinces for a certaine time vpon paine of consiscation of such goods as they had in their signeury and Diocese The states of Holland seeing with what rigour they of Vtrecht proceeded against their fellow Cittizens would gladly haue pacified this spleene but not able to preuaile any thing many of these banished men past the Seas some going to liue in the East-countries and the rest in some other neutrall places some carelesse of this rigorous proscription remained in Holland In the meane time Maister Paul Buys remaining still a prisoner and no proceeding against him by practise or rather by suffrance of some of the prison found meanes to escape out of Vtrecht and to retire into Holland whereas his inlargement was confirmed being bound vpon the penalty of 25000 Florins to appeare and to answer to all that should bee obiected vnto him but neuer any man came to accuse him During these losses which the vnited Prouinces had susteined and the alteration in the gouernment of their affaires their mindes were much troubled with a new apprehension of feare being diuulged and spread abroad that the Queene of England was intended to make a priuate peace with the King of Spaine for her owne estates without any regarde of the safety and liberty of the vnited Prouinces her neighbors To satisfie their distracted mindes and to free them from these doubts and iealousies her Maiestie sent ouer Mr. Thomas Wilkes with letters to the councell of Estate whereof I haue thought good to inserte the coppy as followeth A Letter from the Queene of England to the estates of the vnited Prouinces sent by Mr. Thomas Wilkes the 19. of Iuly 1586. MY Maisters and our good friends wee haue beene aduertised of late that not-with-standing the assurance which wee haue already giuen you by Sir Thomas Hennedge of our firme resolution to proceed in this action wherein wee haue so willingly imbarkt our selues for your defence and preseruation there are some bad instruments among you who neither well affected to vs nor desirous of the publick good of their owne countries haue giuen it out that wee haue an intent to make an accorde with the King of Spaine and to yeeld to make a priuate peace for our owne proper aduantage not comprehending the vnited Prouinces nor caring any more for their safety and preseruation and that you could attend but one yeares succors from vs at the most with other such like inuentions rather maliciously deuised then grounded vpon any discourse of reason For it is apparent to all men of any sence or iudgement that there is such an indiuisible concurrence betwixt the estate of affaires and the publicke good of both countries as we cannot abandon your cause and leaue you to the mercie of your enemies being so farre ingaged in this action and
whom the contributions are to bee gathered might not be ouer much burthened That the garrisons might bee payd which the Commanders ouer them complained of fearing mutinies and reuolts in regard that the fourth part of the contribution gathered in Holland would suffise to pay their frontier garrisons and the halfe of the contribution of Zeeland for the garrisons of Zeeland and that therfore the three parts of the Hollanders contribution and the other halfe of the Zeland contribution would serue for the rest of the garrisons That no pioners nor laborers Wagons should bee forcibly taken out of the country villages contrary to the ordinances That according to their priuileges no man should be summoned to answere to the law out of the Netherlands That the authority of Magistrats which was much diminished and decaied namely of Vtrecht might be vpholden and restored againe That Vtrecht might not be seperated from Holland but be againe reduced vnder the gouernment of Prince Maurice That the proclamation dated the fourteenth of August concerning traficke and nauigation and the letters of the fiue and twenty of August forbidding the carrying forth of any kind of wares or marchandises tending to the ruine and ouerthrowe of the Netherlands might be called in againe and free liberty permitted vnto all men That the mony belonging to the admiralty should not bee distributed nor vsed to any other end then to the same for which it is appointed That new or strange manner of collection of contributions might no more be vsed and that no more question might be made against the administration of spirituall goods That concerning the contributions of Holland Zeeland and Friseland not touching matters of policie neither yet in the administration thereof there should bee no audience nor good credit giuen vnto any person what soeuer that had beene any dealer in the treasory of Brabant Flanders or other the enemies countries not hauing any knowledge or vnderstanding of the state of these Prouinces and that his Excelency in all causes concerning the contribution policie or such like affaires would vse the aduise and Councell of the sayd Prouinces Vnto these demandes and complaintes the Earle of Leicester made many excuses and diuerse faire promises that all should bee amended but that as now hee had some occasion to goe into England in regard that some matter of importance and great waight was then to bee handled in the high Court of Parliament in England The states sought all the meanes they could to stay him from going but it was in vaine and so the reformation was deferred tell his returne againe wherevpon they desired him to leaue some good order for the gouernment of the Netherlands during his absence for which cause vpon the three and twenty daie of Nouember hee made an act whereby hee committed the gouernment thereof to the Councell of Estate with this clause that all should bee done by aduise of the generall States authorising them with full powre to consult and dispose of all causes whatsoeuer with as full authoritie as if hee himselfe were personaly present not onelie for Marshall causes but also for policie according to their good discretions for the preseruation and welfare of the Netherlands common peace and quietnesse of the State and the resistance of the enemie with this prouiso that all dispatches and commissions should bee made and vnder written In his name with his expresse commaundement and authoritie by his Cousin Prince Maurice Earle of Nassaw and one of the Councell of the Noble Estate beeing there for the Queenes most excelent Maiestie or in their absence by two other of the sayd Councell of Estate and that the sayd Councell of Estate should deale in all other causes according to their ordinarie instructions without deminishing any of his authoritie and that the garrisons of townes and fortes should bee placed altered and changed according to their aduise and counsell but in his name and that the commissions and authorities of the same as also the passes and lodging of the souldiers in the champian countrie should in like sort be made in his name and no man to deale or meddle there-with notwithstanding any commission or commandement to the contrary and that the warre by Sea and the moneys appointed to that end should rest in the disposition of the Admirall and the counsell of the Admiraltie And further for the ordering of the warre the sayd counsell of estate should appoint a sufficient and experienced man that should sit and consult with them in the said counsell commanding all gouerners Coronels and Captaines of horse and foote both by sea and land and all Magistrates what-soeuer c. to bee obedient vnto the sayd counsell of estate as if he were personally present and that during his absence or till that it should bee otherwise appointed by the generall estates promising vpon his princely word to allow maintaine and ratifie and cause to be allowed maintained and ratified all and whatsoeuer the said counsell of estate in his absence should decree and ordaine Dated the 24. of Nouember 1586. subscribed Robert Leicester and vnder by order from his excellencie Signed Gilpin The same day the Earle of Leicester made an other act of restraint or recalling of the counsell of estates authoritie aforesaid the effect whereof was as followeth That although his Excellencie had committed the gouernment of the country vnto the counsell of estate with full power and authoritie both by water and by land commanding they should be obayed in all things as his owne person as by his act appeared yet his Excellencies intent and meaning was that neuerthelesse during his absence hee would reserue certaine causes to his owne will and disposition and therefore decreed by this other act that the aforesayd councell of estate notwithstanding the aforesayd commission and generall absolute and free power vnto them committed and granted should not alter nor change any thing touching the gouernment and command of places by his excellencie already giuen and bestowed nor touching the keeping of any Castles or Fortes as also that they should not meddle with the chiefe officers of armies as generalls of horse and foote nor their Lieutenants nor with any other principall officers vnlesse it were with the knowledge and consent first had from his Excellencie and when any one should chance to dye they should not put any other in his place but with prouiso They should not discharge any prisoners nor yet take any assurances They should not dispose of confiscations and spirituall goods without his knowledge or pre-consent And further that they should put to their helping hands that the order concerning the English companies may be obserued As also touching the carrying of victuals out of the Prouinces especially of that which groweth within the same that they should haue a speciall care regard that it were done as much as might be to the profit of the Netherlands and so he could bee well contented therewith and
hauing neither beene tilled nor inhabited for these many yeares Who will denie but the sayd countrie beeing as it is may profit vs as much as our enemie and more for the number of townes and places which wee hold there abouts But is there not a greater preiudice in the losse of the whole Estate which is prepared by the discontentment which they giue vnto her Maiesty by this sodaine change from the deuotion they were wont to beare her and the hope they had in her bounty and assistance when as shee shall vnderstand that they impute the treason and wickednesse of two to the whole Nation and that they wrongfully taxe the good for the bad and for that her Maiesty was serued by Stanley and his Excelency by Yorke they will impute the subiects fault to their Prince and the seruants to their Maister By what lawe reason or custome will they proue that this blame is well grounded and with what art will they keepe her Maiesties loue to them in taxing in such a sort both her and all the Nation As for Stanley it is well knowne that in former times hee had done good seruice in Ireland and euen since that hee came into this countrie he hath giuen good proofes of his valour and loyaltie And although that Yorke had heretofore committed a grosse error yet hee hath since carried himselfe corragiously at the enterprise of Axel and in these last exploites before Doesbourg and Zutphen hauing so often hazarded his life in the viewe of all the world as hee had giuen the Generall good cause to trust him Neither is it the first time that a Commander hath trusted after a fault confessed nor any new thing to see treasons treacheries and reuoltes in these countries but it is a new thing strange and beyonde all reason to impure vnto Commanders and Princes the faults of their souldiars and seruants and for the wickednesse of some to blame and taxe a whole Nation as they haue done heere They must then by the like absurditie of consequence condemne the French Nation for that a Prouensall did lately sell the castle of Vowe and the Scottish Nation for that one captaine Simpel deliuered the towne of Liere And to come to this Nation of the Netherlands how many places townes and whole Prouinces haue beene lost by the treacherie treason and reuolt of Noblemen Gentlemen Captaines and others who haue made marchandise of them as of the Earle of Rennenberg who deliuered Groningue the signior of Stakenbroek Breda the Lord of Berwoets who thought to haue betraied Berghen vp Zoom the Lord of Bours who deliuered the castle of Antwerp and afterwards Macklyn Iohn d'Imbise who would haue betraied Gant and Denremonde the Baylife of Courtray called Pottelberg who deliuered Courtray by treason Roeck Corpets Cauwegem and their consorts who deliuered the towne of Brusselles Collonel Tâ—…er who betraied Diest Captaine Vlyet who deliuered Westerloo Captaine Coenen who deliuered Hoochstraten the Earle of Lalain Vicont of Gant the Lords of Montigny Gognies la Motte and many others who were the cause of the defeate of Gemblours The Lord of Auchy brother to the Earle of Bossu who deliuered Alost the Seigniors of Hemmert Cobocke and Duban who deliuered the towne of Graue the Burgers of Venloo the Abbots of Saint Gertrude Manolles and others who betrayed the Estates Some of the Councell of the Estates of Brabant who deliuered Herentals The Prince of Chymay who was the cause of the reuolt almost of all Flanders and Stryeland Baylife of Waes who deliuered Ruppelmonde and all the Land of Waes whereby the enemy came to besiege Antwerp c. Wherefore it is against all right and the rule of Christian charity to thinke or saie that the whole nation is to bee blamed in the which there are some traitors is it likely that shee who so willingly did yeeld to that which other Princes could not or refused to doe who hath imploied so great summes of money for the succor of this countrie who hath beene contented to hazard the liues of so many Noblemen Gentlemen and others of all qualities of her realme and especially of the Earle of Leicester whose presence is so necessary in England Shee who was content to incur the hatred of so mightie a Prince as the King of Spaine and to imbarke herselfe in so deadly a warre with him for that at the instance of these men shee had vndertaken their defence who not to breake her promise made nor to make any accord with the King of Spaine but with the priuity and approbation of them of the Netherlands would neuer giue eare to the instances made vnto her by diuers Princes of Christendome to that end To conclude shee who had imbraced this poore people with such affection and long expected the comming of the deputies of this countrie to treat with them of the meanes to succor defend and deliuer this poore people from the oppression which did daylie threaten them Is there any apparance then that shee euer had any other deseigne or intent then the good and preseruation of this Estate Yet here they make complaintes and taxe her Maiestie as if shee had brought more harme then good vnto the countrie Yet they send to treat with her as if shee had first sought the protection of this countrie or to take the soueraignty the which it is well knowne shee hath often refused and as if her Maiestie and the Realme of England had the greatest interest in the preseruation of this Estate or that England could not defend it selfe without this countrie As for her Maiestie I hope shee will make the contrarie of this manifest and that shee will not forget the wrong and indignitie which is done to her and to the whole nation nor the ingratitude which they haue shewed in sundrie sorts as also to his Excelencie who hath so willingly exposed his life to a thousand daungers who had forsaken all his greatnesse pleasures and commodities in England to vndergoe so many cares toyles and discommodities which doe accompany a generall in so waighty and difficult a charge who hath lost his deerest Nephew and his next heire and who hath giuen such good proofes of his sincere loue vnto the people And as for the money which they haue graunted for the charges of the warre they of his Councell and some of the countrie hauing had the managing thereof I doubt not Sir but it shal be the more easie for him to giue a good account and of all the rest of his actions during the time of his aboade heere Whom they taxe to make him odious to all the people countrouling crossing and ouerthrowing his decrees letters and commandements as if all had not past by the aduice of the Councell of Estate Finally they shew great ingratitude to him and to the whole nation who haue so well deserued of this countrie seeing there is no benifit so great as to expose ones life for an other especially when hee comes
place which hee then had to take order for the same finding that his great patience serued to no other end but to encourage and fortifie the bad and to aduance their leagues and factions thereby to bring those Prouinces into misery and confusion After that he sent an other aduertisement vnto the Councell of Estate how that the Earle of Hohenlo continued still in his former pretence and that he had sent for soldiers out of Naerden and Viana and for certaine horsemen had sent some towards Lillo and to other places all by his owne authority These complaints bred a great alteration among the Councel of Estate and the generall Estates the which did threaten some great inconuenience But ten or twelue daies after vpon good information it was found to bee a meere practise of some pick-thankes and seditious persons for that Prince Maurice being demanded what it meant and they remembring themselues they found that the Earle of Hohenlo had gathered these soldiers together at William-stat to doe some great exployt vpon the enemy about Lillo neere Antwerp whereof Prince Maurice aduertised the Earle of Leicester wherevnto vpon the sixteene of September hee made answer and allowed of the sayd enterprise thanking him for his diligence therein wishing them all good successe But the Earle of Hohenlo being aduertised by some of his friends out of Holland that the Earle of Leicester tooke the pretence of that exploit in euill part he gaue it ouer and sent his soldiers back againe into their garrisons before hee could haue any intelligence of the Earle of Leicesters consent where-by it appeered that all mistakings and other dislikes proceeded onely from falce reports sinister conceits and ielousies the which began before the Earle of Leicesters going out of the vnited Prouinces and increased much in his absence by certaine accidents the which sence his returne were more agrauated and inflamed b◅ reason of the complaints on both sides and for that the Earle of Leicester had had little conference with the estate nor conuerst much with them sence his last comming ouer whereby the affaires of the country were much interessed and little or nothing was effected for want of good correspondency Of all these controuersies the Earle of Hohenlo caused an apology to bee printed whereas all his reasons are set downe at large against the Earle of Leicester answering that which hee had propounded in his declaration of the seauenth of September wherevnto for breuities sake I will referre the reader The Earle of Leicester being much moued with the declaration deliuered him at Dordrecht and with some other occations which past he made an answer in manner of a replycation to the estates being then at Dordrecht bearing date the seauenth of September Shewing that whereas the Queene of England and all other Princes had refused them pittying their estate being zealous to relligion and affecting the ancient law and league betwixt England and the house of Bourgongne had beene moued to ayde and assist them whose Maiesty at their instant su◅e had sent him ouer into those parts vpon whome they had imposed the gouernment thereof the which he preferring the loue he bare vnto those countries before his age which required rest had taken vpon him and did his best endeauor for the good of the common cause but being called into England vpon vrgent causes there happened during his absence the betraying of Deuenter Zutphen the which he excused and much greeued at He shewed moreouer that his honor and authority in those parts had beene brought in question and much restrained and withall that they had written letters vnto the Queene of the forth of February though not with full consent of all the Prouinces not onely to dishonor him thereby in those countries but also to bring him into disgrace with her Maiesty beingful of false slāderous reports yet hauing reconcyled al with her Maiesty he was now returned ouer againe He then excused the losse of Scluis through the want of men and mony which had bin promised laying the blame vpon the officers of the admiralty and the Captaines of ships He made mention of the quarrell betwixt him and the earle of Hohenlo and of the estate of the wars and how they should proceed therein As hee expected some resolution from them of all these things new matters were brought vnto him by their deputies touching the Soueraignty tending to the limitation and diminishing of his authority contrary to the act and the letters sent from Middlebourg vnto her Maiesty by which their shew of smal esteeme and crosse proceding there was great losse to be expected in Gelderland the which he protested ought not to be imputed vnto him being redy to doe his best endeauor to impeach it so as he might haue the men and money that were promised at Middlebourg But vnderstanding that the want of money and deferring of the soldiars was by some imputed to the need and pouerty of the Prouinces as vnable to beare so great a burthen by others to the treaty of peace which her Maiesty had begon with the duke of Parma hee therefore for the better ordring of their affayers to further their resolutions aduised them to make a generall assembly at the Hage and there to consider of their owne power and meanes and whether it were sufficient to maintaine the warres that hee might be certefied by a true information what their meanes were and that in so doing her Maiesty would continue her ayde if not there were no reason that her Maiesty if they were not able to mainetaine their warres should be forced to beare the whole burthen for they might well thinke her maiesty was to consume a great treasor for the defence of her Kingdomes of England and Ireland and that she had warres with the King of Spaine onely for their sakes wherfore if their meanes with her Maiesties succors were not sufficient there was some hope of a peace to be made with the duke of Parma which her maiesty ment not to yeeld vnto And wheras it was giuen forth that at the instance of the king of Denmarke she had proceeded there-in it was a faulse sugiestion the contrary where-of might appeere by her Maiesties sending of Sir Francis Drake into Spaine and his owne returne into the Netherlands so as they were able to proceede therein and yet her Maiestie was not restrained by the contract from any treatie of peace although shee bee content not to seeke any for these countries without their priuity and consent But if they could not raise sufficient means to maintaine their warres he demanded what they would haue him to do therein with her Maiesty or what they desired more If they thought good to continue the gouernment in him according to the act with the ordring of their contributions to bee at his and the councell of Estates disposition and that they could make it apparant vnto him that with her Maiesties ordinary
of Holland and Zealand will easilie finde that the authority of the Estates consisteth not in the presence power of thirty or forty persons more or lesse being assembled in one of their meetings And euen the Agents of the King of Spaine who with these and such like arguments haue allwaies sought to vnder-mine our priuiledges to bring the authority of the Estates into contempt hauing at no time found how much they haue bene deceiued in their opinions Now then for the better discouering from whence the authority of the Estates groweth and hath her beginning you must consider that the Princes which from time to time haue lawfully gouerned raigned haue not onely begun their gouernment by the consent loue of the cōmons but haue ruled with such moderation as the whole members body of the common weale whereof they were chosen to be the head were by them maintained vnited and inseperable the which could not be done Princes being often misliked by wicked and ambitious persons if that the commons had had no meanes to draw them to reason conformity at al times to oppose them-selues against al lewd wicked persons and for the maintenance of their liberties and priueledges in the behalfe of all the members not onely to admonish and aduise their Princes but whensoeuer any of them did gouerne tyranously by meanes and ayd of the country to oppose and resist them and for these respects the subiects of these Prouinces are diuided into two Estates that is the Nobles and the Townes The Nobility Gentlemen are accoumpted for one member in regard of their dignities and births the which without vanting is as ancient as any other for the honors which they inioy in these countries whereby most of them haue all sorts of Iurisdiction as well cryminall as ciuill where-vpon all occasions concurre agree togither concerning the estate of the country are present in all assemblies and there giue their opinions with the Deputies of the townes The townes for most part haue one kind of gouernment that is an assembly of Councellors or rulers called Wetschaps or the wise-men chosen out of the best Burgers of the same those in some townes are 40. in some 36 24. or 20 persons which manner of making such assemblies is as ancient as the townes them-selues be Such as are once chosen continue so while the liue or as long as they inhabit there and when any one dyeth or giueth ouer his place the said assembly with the consent of the Burgers chose an other to make vp their number This assemblie hath all power authority to consult resolue dispose of all matters concerning that countrie their owne townes and whatsoeuer the said Burgers do resolue decree is by all the Inhabitants obserued and done against the which not any of them once opposeth him-selfe or refuseth to obey By these assemblies the ordinary Magistrates are euery yeare chosen that is 4. 3. or 2. Burguemaisters 7. or 8. Schepen to serue for one yeare in some townes those elections are absolute in some by nominatiō of a double number of which the ordinary number is made full by the State-holder or the Princes Lieutenant The Burguemaisters officers to gouerne in al pollitick causes as wel concerning the treasor reuenues of the towne as the wel-fare preseruation of the same being committed to their charge and gouernement The Colledge of Schepen attend only vpon the ordinary administration of Iustice as well cryminal as ciuill and haue authority to execute the lawes in all causes what-soeuer By these Assemblies of Magistrates the absolute gouernment of the townes of Holland and West-Friseland is administred the Princes of the country not once medling with the gouernment but in the placing of one officer who in their names seeth Iustice duly executed This is a briefe description of the true forme of gouernment of the townes of Holland and Zeeland From whence you must vnderstand that those assemblies of Magistrates and Schepen being ioyned together with the nobilitie and gentlemen doe vndoubtedly represent the whole state and full body of all the country townes and commonalty and it cannot be thought that a better forme of gouerment can be diuised whereby with better intelligence of all the proceedings of the country matters may be resolued nor their resolutions with more vnity consent and authority better executed so as it is no wonder if these Prouinces haue continued so inseperable and as durable as any State whatsoeuer Now to bring these particular councels of nobilitie and townes into one assembly it cannot be done but by deputies appointed by them to supply their places to which end when as any matter of importance concerning the estate of the country is to be consulted of that it is requisit to call them together euery towne sets down what they meane to propound in the said assembly and so send such deputies as they best trust with such charge and commission as they thinke best for the good of the common-weale The nobility and gentlemen appeare in a competent number euery towne sendeth one Bourguemaister and a councellor or more as occasion and the importance of the cause requireth And more-ouer those deputies during the warres by reason of the multitude of businesse haue commission to consult vpon all causes concerning the preseruation of the countrie and therein to giue their aduise and resolution especially to maintaine the rights liberties and priuiledges of the same and to oppose themselues against all such as shall seeke to infringe them And these deputies thus assembled together represent the Estates of the country not that they themselues in their owne persons or by their owne authorities are the Estates but onely by the force and power of their commissions from the townes and places from whence they are deputed without presuming that any priuate man through his owne ambition and pride may prefer himselfe to be of that commission being not the nature of these coūtrymen to be ambitious but rather hate it and are enemies to all ambitious persons therefore there is no cause why any such thing should be doubted in so free an election and much lesse that any man during the troubles which it pleaseth God to send vpon these countries should affect any dealing or command in the country whereas there is nothing to be expected but trouble and dislike of the enemies of our cause who spare not to abuse the best qualified persons in the country with false reports often-times cause sinister opinions to bee held of those that haue done very good seruice to the country for which cause they are forced to accompt the accepting of the sayd commissions Inter munera necessaria And all those that haue had any intelligence of the affaires of this country can witnesse what dissention many times growes and with what difficulty the deputies are brought to accept of
ouer and aboue the charges disbursed for the maintenance of the shipps of warre a defensiue warr might be well maintayned and withall an army for certaine moneths euery yeare brought into the field so as the managing of the mony and contriâ—…utions might not be committed to priuate persons but to the noble councell of estate All this was presented by some vnto her Maiesty in manner of a declaration and that there ought no peace be spoken of as being altogether vncertaine and that the propositions of peace might be a meanes to seperate and breed diuision in in the vnited Prouinces as euery one by the first reconciliation would pretend their owne furtherance that the collonels captaines and soldiars would euery one seeke to be the first should make his composition and that the king of Spaine would gladly make peace with the vnited Prouinces that so he might with more ease ouer-runne and conquer England and that the kindome of England although it had many enemies by reason of the goodly scituation gneeded not to feare him much hauing Holland Zeland and Freezland for friends but the great number of shippes and saylers and the welth of the said Prouinces being ioyned with Spaine were dangerous for England as it appeared the last yeare by the bringing in of so many ships laden with corne of what power they are at sea and how they stop the riuers of Elbe and Ems with other hauens shewing allso what great meanes they had to impeach the trade of marchandize and the free venting of the English clothes and other commodities And if they were able to doe so much now being in a manner forsaken of all the world what will they doe when they shall bee ioyned to the power countenance and authority of the King of Spaine which would strike a great feare into Denmarke and other countryies and therfore they concluded that her Maiesty should do well not to forsake the vnited Prouinces neither yet to discomfort them least they should be constrayned to make a priuat peace The Queene of England finding that these diuisions partialities betwixt the Estates and the Earle of Leicester increased daily more and more sence his departure out of England into Holland she resolued to call him home into England and to make him giue ouer his gouernment In the meane time the councell of the estates laboured to make a reconciliation betwixt them whereof they were in great hope and to that end had written to the Earle of Leicester But the Queenes Maiesty all matters set a part sent for the Earle to come into England who before hee had receiued the said letter from the councell of estate did write vnto the generall estates on the 26 of Nouember saying THat he was much greeued that her Maiesty was so displeased with their bad cariage towards him without occasion hauing giuen no aduertisement thereof wherevpon her Maiesty had commanded him by one of her seruants to returne againe into England touching certaine especiall affayers saying that it greeued him much hee had not the meanes while he remayned there to aduenture his person in some seruice for the country as hee desired and had alwaies earnestly pretended protesting before God that hee should depart from thence with a good and a cleare conscience as hauing done no more thâ—…n his quality and place required leauing the rest to be answered by them that openly seeke the ouerthrowe of Gods Church and of so many poore people to satisfie their owne priuat willes and appetites but he ment not thereby to charge well minded men who hee hoped would conforme them-selues to her Maiesties good will and pleasure whome it had pleased to giue so fauorable ayde and assistance to these Prouinces as by the charge which her Maiesty had giuen to her Ambassador a Gentleman of good esteeme well affected to the good of the country more plainely will appeere He could be content to bee a meanes to further their cause to her Maiesty so as they made any accoumpt to hold and esteeme her as a friend according to the contract made with her with that which therevnto belonged as reason requireth vntil that by her Maiesty and a common consent it shall be otherwise determined whervnto he desired their answer with the first And as he found by the contract made with her Maiesty that the Gouernor generall appoynted by her should together with the councell of estate haue the ordring and managing of the chefest causes concerning the estate and the wars therefore he thought it conuenient in his absence that the authority should remaine in the hands of the councell of estate according to the contract where the said ambassador should be resident in her Maiesties name and that all dispatches shall bee signed by the cheefe of them there resident the which should continue vntill it were other wise prouided by her Maiesty wherof he would aduertise them with al conuenient speed and for the command of the English forces vnder the Queenes pay her Maiesty had appointed the Lord Willoughby to whome he had giuen in charge to hold good correspondency with them with the councell of the state and other commanders so he referred them to that which Maister Harbert had in her Maiesties behalfe to shew them Subscribed Your good friend ROBERT LEICESTER THis letter came vnto the Estates hands the second of December where-vpon the next day after the generall Estates wrot vnto the Earle of Leicester how that they vnderstood of his going into England beseeching him to recommend the estate of the country vnto her Maiesty saying they had written vnto the estates of the particular Prouinces to meet together who for want of sufficient authority were not yet al come at which their meeting they would resolue vpon certaine deputies to be sent into England to deale with her Maiesty about the affaires of the country So within few dayes after the Earle of Leicester departed out of the Netherlands leauing the Lord Willoughby generall of the English forces and Doctor Harbert her Maiesties Ambassador to sollicit the generall Estates toyeeld vnto a peace The Earle of Leicester beeing returned into England the Queene commanded him to resigne his gouernment of the Netherlands into the hands of the generall Estates from wome hee had receiued it the which hee did the seauenteenth of December by an Act vnder his hand as followeth ROBERT Earle of Leicester Baron of Denbighe c. Lieutenant for the Queenes Maiestie of England Gouernor and Captaine generall of the Vnited Prouinces To all to whome these presents shall come greeting As it was her Maiesties pleasure to giue vs the charge to bee her Lieutenant generall of all the forces sent by her for the ayde and assistance of the vnited Prouinces according to a contract made with the Estates concerning the same where-vppon the said generall Estates had also imposed vppon vs the gouernment of the said Prouinces both for matters polliticke
and of Iustice according to the commission and Act of declaration of the same gouernment Dated the first of February 1586. And for that the present Estate of this Kingdome requyring it wee were commanded to returne home into England for her Maiesties seruice And for that by reason of our absence wee cannot execute the authoritie as we should and as it is necessary to bee done for the good and prosperitie of the country Therefore wee giue you to vnder-stand that our desire is for the cause aforesaid to bee discharged and vnburthened of our said gouernment and place of Captaine generall of the said vnited Prouinces as also of the commission and charge giuen vs to that end and that by this Act signed and sealed with our hand wee haue resigned left hereby doe resigne and leaue the same In such sort that wee will from henceforth wholy leaue of and refuse to haue any dealing in the same commission giuen vnto vs by the aforesad Estates in what manner soeuer it were leauing it vnto them to proceed therein by aduice from her Maiestie as they shall find it necessary and conuenient for the good well-fare of those countries Giuen at London vnder our hand and seale the 17. of December 1587. Subcribed Leicester This Act was presented to the Estates by Sir Henry Killegrey vpon the first of Aprill 1588. being Agent there for her Maiestie With excuse that it came no sooner to his hands Which Resignation the Estates caused to bee generally proclaimed throughout all the Prouinces to the end that euery man might know hee was discharged of his oth to the Earle of Leicester remayning onely bound to the vnited Prouinces States and Townes c. So as after that no man would acknowledge any gouernment of that of the Estates and the soldiars no other Captaine generall then Prince Maurice and the Earle of Hohenloo his Lieutenant The twentith of December Collonell Schenck being at Rhynberghe hauing gathered out of the neighbour garrisons some foure hundred foote three hundred horse hee marcht neere vnto the towne of Zulpich in the Diocesse of Collogne vppon the frontiers of Iuilliers where hee lay quiet for three daies doing wrong to no man vntill that his troopes were fortified No man could iudge what his disseigne was many thinking it was but to spoile the Territories of Collogne against the which hee had a great spleene But on the two and twentith day being risen with his troopes he made a shew to march towards the quarter of Eyssell the brute whereof came presently to Bonne being foure leagues from Collogne But turning head hee past at noone day through a wood at the Village of Rhybourg and so marching on hee aduanced to the mid-way betwixt Bonne and Brulle Where hee made a stand in a little groue vntill that night approached Then taking the lower way by Buhell and Bourchem from whence they of the Castell shotte at his men passing close by their ditch the which they might heare easily at Bonne and to the end they of the towne should haue no adaduertisment he sent certaine horsemen before who staid all those they met Approching neere the towne about eight of the clocke at night he rested a while to feed his men and horses in the vilages of Transdorp and Endich Then comming neere vnto the towne with his ladders although hee vsed them not hauing past by Popeldorf wheras the Archbishops of Cologne haue a pallace he placed his footemen along the riuer of Rhine were not discouered nether by the keeper of Popeldorf nor by the gard of the towne for that the season was darke and rainy And to take away the noise of his men which were vnder the towne there was one of his soldiars gotten into a hogs coate beating the swine continually to make them cry And in this sort the collonell stayd vntill three of the clocke after midnight during the which he caused a great Petard to be made fast to a posterne gate towards the key of the riuer of Rhine close by the towle house the which was seldome opened where he lay still obseruing the rounds of the towne as they past by the light of a Lanterne and seeing no more to passe growing neere fower of the clocke imagining that night workes to be past and that the officers were gone to their rest he commanded them to set fier to the Petard the which gaue so great a blow as not onely the Port but a part of the wall was ouerthrowne by the which the soldiars entred in a throng vnto the second port the which was not so strong as the first which they beat downe sodenly with hatchets and pikeaxes Being entred into the towne some of his men ran vnto the rampars and the Boulwarks and others vnto the Market place the which they seazed on without any resistance there be ing neither captaine nor commander to put the soldiars and Bourgers in order for their defence or that did any thing except one Canonier who made a shot with the which he slue Hans Wichman and soone after the said canonier was ouerthrowne with a small shotte This being done they beat downe Stockem port by the which the Ritmaister Gerard van Balen entred with his cornet the other horsemen being alredy entred by the posterne The collonel who was entred at the first with the foot-men went then to horsebacke and ranne throughout all the quarters of the towne placing his sentinels and corps de gard forbidding vpon paine of death to spoyle vntill they were well assured The Bourgers hearing this great noyse and terror of the petard the trompets sounding and the drommes beating an alarum with the soldiers cryes kept them-selues close in their houses for wheresoeuer the soldiars discouered any light they shot through the doores and windoes Schencke placed his horse-men in the Bishops Pallace to preserue the chancery So after that hee had set all things in good order being maister of the towne he abandoned it to his soldiars who spoyled it and put the Bourgers to ransome intreating them no other-wise then it it had beene an enemies towne taken by assault Charles Bille gouernor of the towne hearing the noyse which the petard made the alarum escaped halfe drest and fled towards Confluence He had beene aduertised two daies before that Schenks men were lodged about Zulpich whervpon he sent a good part of the garrison to keepe the neighbour villages from spoyling yet he was sufficiently warned that there were mad lads would come to visit him wherevnto he answered that hee must take the care of it for the which Schenck did afterwards flowt him This towne of Bonne being well assured for Truchses Schenck resolued to keepe it causing it to be rampared and fortefied in all places and then did furnish it withall things necessary for a towne of warre withall he caused a fort to be presently built right opposit on the other side of the riuer
any profit wherefore it seemed expedient to the Princes of Germany not to oppose themselues against so mighty a King who is also one of the Empire being more fit to entertaine his loue and friendship Being very well knowne that some Princes of Germany had beene forward inough to succor the Prince of Orange against the said King whome they would no more incense nor bandy them-selues against him seeing that he pretended not to wrong them but onely to succor a Prince and Archbishoppe elector And the rather for that the French King sought his frendship and the Queene of England had sent her Ambassadors to Bourbourgh in Flanders to treat a peace with him and therefore it was not fit for the Germaines for Truchses pleasure to oppose them-selues against him knowing how their army had sped which they had sent vnto the King of Nauarre Whilest that Schenck was at this diet in Germany the Prince of Chymay was at the seege of Bonne where in the beginning Iohn Baptista Taxis an old soldiar was shot whereof he died and was honorably interred at Cologne they within the towne defended themselues valiantly there commanders being Otto Baron of Potlits Christopher Wolfe and others at the last hauing beene halfe a yeare beseeged and finding that there was no meanes to bee releeued and that more forces came against them vnder the command of the Earle of Mansteldt being sent out of Flanders as soone as euer the Spanish fleet was past vpon the twenty nine of September they yeelded vp the towne the garrison departing with their armes bagge and bagage The beginning of this yeare after the Earle of Leicesters retreat was full of troubles as well in Zeeland as in Holland and Vtrecht for as the said Earle vpon his last returne into England had beene at Campuere whereas he had fortefied the captaines of his party against the Estates as he had don in like manner at Arnemeuyen so as both these townes opposed them-selues against the Prince and the councell of estate refusing to acknowledge any other superiors then the Queene of England and the Earle of Leicester as her Lieutenant wherein Sir William Russell Lord gouernor of Flusshing and of Ramekins for the Queene after the Earles departure entertayned them daily as well by his owne words as by letters hauing commission from her Maiesty to keepe the Captaines and soldiars of those two townes of Campuere and Arnemuyden at her deuotion and the Bourgers them-selues desiring to be vnder her Maiesties command as Flushng was to the end that they might enioy the same priueledges in England that the Flushingers did But such as vnder-stood not the reasons of this negotiation did impute it to some dislike which Sir William Russel now Lord Russell had conceiued against the estates for that presently after the death of Sir Philip Sydney before he was chosen gouernor they had giuen away the Regiment of Zeeland to the Earle of Solms the which said they he expected for that Sir Philip his predecsseor had beene collonel thereof wherevpon they coniectured that hee grew in ielousie of the estates seeking to make himselfe maister of the Iland of Walchren the which was but a coniecture and is disauowed by him-selfe protesting that hee affected the Estates and the good of the generall cause and that hee honored Prince Maurice and the house of Nassau as much as any man And whereas at that time there was some doubt that the Duke of Parma would come into the Iland of Walchren with a great number of smal boats and Pinaces which he caused to bee built in Flanders the Estates thought it fit to send a cornet of horsemen into the Iland Wherevpon the said Sir William Russel required the Estates of Zeeland and after that the councell of estate being at the Hage that his compaine of horse which hee had in garrison at Berghen vp Zoom might be sent thether promising to keepe it in good disciplyne But in the meane time and whilest that hee expected an answer the marshall of Villiers company was sent thether The which did so discontent Sir William Russel as hee sent to Scotland and ouer all the Iland putting it to their owne choyce whether they would haue his companie or that of the Marshall of Villiers who was newly come out of prison from the enemie might be corrupted so as they freely make choyce of his company where-vppon hee writte letters vnto the councell of Estate by the which hee complained much of the wrong was done him in preserring an other company before his which gaue him iust occasion of distrust and to beleeue confidently that they practised some-thing against him For which consideration hee would not suffer that any garrison should enter into Walchren so neere the places of his gouernment saying that they had no reason to wonder if in so turbulent a time hee stood vppon his gard seeing that both his gouernment his honour and his life depended thereon To the which letters the councell of Estate made answer that they were sorry that the sending of the Marshall of Villiers company had giuen him any cause of distrust seeing that according to the Estate of the country and the concurrence of time nothing could happen more preiudiciall vnto them then mutuall iealosies for the which they thought they had giuen him no subiect For as for the said troope of horse it had beene sent by Prince Maurice and not by them hauing proceeded therein according to the order of his pattent and the authority which hee hath as Gouernor of Holland and Zealand onely for the conducting of the Peasants and them of the champian country to the gard of the Sea-coast fearing least the enemie should attempt something For the which seruice three score horses were sufficicient which small number could not attempt any thing against the places of his Gouernment Moreouer they held those horsemen to bee of no seruice there doing more harme then good wherefore they were resolued at prince Maurice returne to speake vnto him to call them backe Intreating him therefore not to importune them any further to haue his company there They said also that the protestation hee made by his letters not to indure any soldiers in Walchren nor about Flushing and Ramekens had much troubled them Hauing also forbidden at Sooetelandt not to receiue any of the Estates soldiers Wherein they would aduertise him that he opposed him-selfe directly to the Contract which they had made with his mistresse the Queene of England extending his authority and command ouer the Champian country of Walchren the which belongs onely to the Gouernor generall or to the particular of the Countrie Wherefore they intreated him in any case to forbeare to attempt any thing to the preiudice of the said contract for the inconueniences that might happen vnto him Intreating him also to lay aside all iealousies and bad impressions which hee might haue conceiued of them the which they neuer
with the Prince and the States to whome the Articles were deliuered with the which they returned so as there was great hope of an agreement But the souldiers hauing repayred this breach in the night and the waters being growne so high by a tempest as they could not vse their Ordinance perceiuing both by signes of fire out of the towne and by letters sent to Breda what secret dealing they had with the enemie as also by letters from the Duke of Parma from Brusselles bearing date the 24. day of March and from Breda of the 29. of March from Odoardo Lansavechio which they within the towne had receiued hearing also that the Duke of Parma was within few miles of the towne Prince Maurice resolued to with-drawe the siege that they might haue no iust occasion to pretend they had beene forced to yeeld the towne vnto the enemie hoping by that meanes to mooue the best minded soldiers to consider thereof and to bee better aduised and to that end on the second of Aprill he offred them againe all fauour and contentment shewing them that they were deceiued by the vaine speeches giuen out concerning the Queenes authority sending them diuers acts and discharges made to that end by her Maiesty letting them vnderstand what a dishonor these disordred dealings might be vnto her And vpon the fourth of Aprill he wrot vnto them by maister Leuinus the minister saying that hee sought not the life neither of officer nor soldier but assured them that as many as would continue in pay should bee still entertained and such as would not might depart whether they pleased withall they had so as they would assure the towne vnto him To whom they made answere the same day that their full resolution was to stay there in garrison and to doe the like seruice they had done before and that they would make choise of their owne Gouernor On the fift of Aprill Prince Maurice did againe offer them all security and to performe whatsoeuer they would else demande by contract desiring them to send their deputies vnto him but all was in vaine for that vpon the ninth of Aprill they receiued the Duke of Parmaes deputies into the towne with whom they compounded to yeeld the towne for fifteene monthes pay and not any of them would yeeld vnto Prince Maurice but onelie two soldiers such powre hath greedinesse of money whereas prodigalitie beareth sway and the feare of GOD is reiected and yet they cloakt their treacherie with a pretence of the Queene of Englands seruice The townesmen were kindly delt withall they had a generall pardon and licence to depart when they would or els to stay for the space of two yeares without any molestation of Religion and all their preuiledges confirmed so as they tended not to the preiudice of the Kings authoritie The souldiers were pardoned whatsoeuer they had committed promising to procure them the like in Germanie Luyke-land and Collen and for that the Duke professed to loue and honour good souldiers such as they were hee was content to accept and receiue them all into the Kings seruice with restitution of all their goods consiscate and such as desired not to serue should haue the like freedome and might staie sixe monethes within the towne and cause themselues to bee payd by lawfull meanes out of the assignation of contribution giuen them before by them of Brabant Holland and Zeeland And in recompence of the good seruice which they had done vnto the King therein hee gaue them ten monthes pay which the States ought them and for a rewarde fiue monthes pay more all in readie money that they might goe out with credit All such as had fled from the Kings seruice and were then there with them were pardoned for their sakes all prisoners should bee ransomed and vpon payment thereof made let goe except they were spirituall persons who should pay no ransome and that Sir Iohn Wingfield and Charles Honings should depart when they would with all their housholds goods and mouables and that they should haue pasports giuen them to that end This was concluded at Breda vpon the tenth of April 1589. The garrison being in this sort payd rewarded and gone out the same daie Charles Earle of Mansfieldt entred the towne The Estates of the vnited Prouinces proclayming both the Gouernor Captaines Officers and all the Souldiars Traytors and Rebells condemning them to be hanged where-soeuer they should bee found with promise of fiue poundes in rewarde for euerie priuate souldier and ten poundes for euerie Officer to them that could bring any of them to the Estates and their goods confiscate all their names beeing set downe in the proclamation beeing to the number of sixe hundred and fiftie persons These souldiars lyuing in the Duke of Parmaes armie were for a long time despised and skorned by the name of Marchants manie of them were afterwardes taken in the vnited Prouinces and presently hanged for example to others Sir Iohn Wingfield with Captaine Honnings retired themselues into England Hee is much taxed in this action by the Estate but it seemes hee had but the bare title of a Gouernor and no commanding powre ouer the garrison who compelled him to doe what they pleased the which seemes to bee true for that they set a gard ouer him during all the time of the seege as I haue heard himselfe affirme neither was it in his powre to yeeld the towne vnto Prince Maurice During the seeke of this towne there were slaine of the States side these captaines Wolffart van Brederod vander Aa Landas captaine of Prince Maurice his foote gard and Cornellis Adrianz Schaeps and aboue fiftie more there were hurt Peter vander Doës viceadmirall of Holland and captaine Sydenborch the marshall of Villiers was also shotte whereof he died not long after a good soldiar and one that had beene alwaies faithfull vnto the vnited Prouinces This losse of Gheertruydenberg did much preiudice the vnited Prouinces wherefore they presently stopt vp the riuer with shippes of warre both to hinder their fishing and passage out of the towne by water The thirteene of Aprill Cont Charles of Mansfeldt went with a small army from Gheertruydenberg into the quarter of Boisleduke by the Duke of Parmas commandement where he tooke the Castell of Lobben the which he was forced to leaue three daies after On the seauenteene of May hee also tooke the Castell of Daetoren neere vnto Heusden on the twenty one day passing out of Boisleduc his men tooke three ships of war of Holland lying at anchor in the riuer of Meuse aboue Buchouen and the next day he went before the castle of Hemert which he tooke The castle of Blenbeeke which collonel Schenck had held so long as his owne patrimoney being scituated in the vpper quarter of Gelderland was also yeelded vnto him the twenty fiue of Iune after that it had beene a while beseeged and the sixteenth of Iuly the castels of Puydroyen and
this inscription vnder the foundation called religion Hac nitimur and ouer the hat of libertie Hanc tuemur as if they would say By the force of truth and vnity grounded vpon religion with the helpe of God we enioye and maintaine our libertie For the generall gouernment of the Prouinces they had a counsell of Estate consisting of gentlemen and lawiers where the Queene of England was to haue two councellers but at that time there was but one which was Maister Thomas Bodley now a Knight and Maister Gilpin Secretarie of the sayd counsell this councell had the ordring of all causes in euery Prouince the generall Estates being not alwaies assembled who commanded ouer this councell of Estate and besides this euerie particular Prouince had their priuate councell After the death of the Prince of Orange they did chuse Prince Maurice Earle of Nassau Gouernor of Holland and Zeeland Admirall of the sea and Lieutenant generall of their forces and Philip Earle of Hohenlo an old souldiar and of great experience his Lieutenant Vtrecht Oueryssel and Gelderland did likewise at that time chuse Prince Maurice for their gouernor William Lodowike Earle of Nassau eldest sonne to Iohn Earle of Nassau was gouernor in Friseland a souldiar of good experience and polliticke Prince Maurice was from his youth trained vp by his father in the warres and in affaires of Estate and was his second sonne his eldest brother Philip William who is now Prince of Orange and Earle of Buren beeing yet kept prisoner in Spaine and for that cause beeing verie fit to supplie the place hee was chosen chiefe Generall and Commander ouer all their forces both by sea and land In matters concerning the land hee was to bee ruled by the aduise of the councell of Estate and touching the sea by the admiralitie and certaine Comities were appointed vnder him when any thing was to bee done concerning the countrie and the limmits of their liberties by whose aduice all causes touching the state were directed in the armie and the particular affaires concerning Gouernment and Pollicie by the Councell of warre chosen out of euerie Regiment and Nation seruing therein And for that Holland was the greatest strongest and mightiest of all the vnited Prouinces therefore many causes which were handled in the councell of Estate were done by the aduise and councell of Iohn van Ouden Barnevelt Lord of Crimpel Aduocate of Holland in regarde of his great wisdome and experience The Netherlanders haue as great meanes to bring in money for the mayntenance of their warres as euer was heard or seene in any Countrie the which is done willingly with a generall consent and with little hurt and preiudice to the Inhabitants and by that meanes the countrie grewe rich mighty and strong for they suffred any thing to bee carried vnto the enemie paying lycense for the same especially such things whereof they had aboundance and superfluitie and that there subiects by making working and carrying it thether may get any thing arysing or abating the rate of the license as they found the enemy to haue neede of their commodities moderating it in such sort as the enemy could not buy it better cheape in any place then of them They suffred the enemy to bring any thing vnto them that they had neede of especially such things as they could not well haue but from thence paying but small custome or lycense mony and contrarywise making them to pay great custome for things which they brought whereof they had no neede hauing still a great regard vnto their trade of marchandise and especially vnto their sea-faring and fishing Besides this they could so well husband their mony and imploy it to the best profit as all Potentates common weales and commanders in the warres might take example by them capitulating with their Collonels Captaines and soldiars as strictly as they could yet alwaies paying them wel which made the captaines to complaine oftentimes for that a captaine seruing vnder the enemy or in other places might reape more benifit by a Company of men then a Collonell vnder the Estates by ten companies but it was vncertaine And for that the vnited Prouinces did pay their men duely and truely there was very good discipline held among their soldiars so as wheresoeuer they past throughout the country they were well vsed and welcome in all places for that they found their necessaries alwaies redy for them the which was truely paied whensoeuer they dislodged to any other place and throughout all the Prouinces they did seuerely punish theeues and such as offred any violence They did not vsually entertaine any great forces but they had old valiant and well disciplined soldiars with the which they did many great exploits At that time they had about twenty thousand foote and two thousand horse besides the Bourgers whom in time of necessity they imployed and paied as soldiars They entertained about a hunderd shippes of warre at sea and within their riuers being all well appointed and whensoeuer they came from any seruice their men were presently to be paid Besides this ordinary charge of shippes saylers and soldiars they tooke order by a generall consent for a certaine prouision of money to be made for the entertayning of an army in the field for certaine monethes in the yeare with ordinance pioners and a supply of soldiars to make an offensiue warre to inlarge their fronters and also to aide the French King with money munition and men both by sea and land The Queene of England also paied to her souldiars in the garrisons of the Brill of Flushing and to those that aided the Estates within the country twelue thousand fiue hundred twenty six pounds starling euery moneth accounting 56. daies to the moneth according to the contract besides extraordinary charges for transportation of souldiars and the apparell both for horse and foote which was yearely to bee prouided By this prouident care and wise gouernment of the Estates and their assistants the vnited Prouinces were exceeding rich and mightie yea in the midest of their greatest warres which commonly makes any countrie poore and miserable and yet they robbed no man at sea but were rather robbed and at land they vsed but the ordinary course of warre and this is euident by their fare great and costly buildings in their townes their strong and great fortifications their aboundance of Ordinance and great numbers of rich and welthie inhabitants who for that their wanted houses for them to dwell in many were forced to dwell in shippes whereof they haue many in that country very sweete faire and necessary for that vse and some townes haue bene constrained to inlarge their walles for the building of more houses with such hauens walles bulwarkes gates and sumptuous workes as it were admirable to bee written the which may well bee seene by many townes from West-friseland along to Walchren in Zeeland In the beginning of this yeare a regiment of Spaniards
maintaineth at the cost of the neighbor countries whereas the estates to obserue good discipline to preuent al disorders in their soldiars and also to free their neighbors from al exaction do continually giue such reasonable pay according to their habilities as it might be doubted in so great and long a warre whether the greatest Potentate in Europe euer gaue better It is true that the Estates to their great charge entertaine ships of warre which lie at ancher not only in the sea but also in the riuers and common passages the which is not done to hinder or preiudice any man but for the necessary safegard of marriners and marchants against the force of the cōmon enemy who also maintaineth much shiping only to roue at sea to spoile passengers The estates haue greater cause to vse this kinde of defence then any other beeing a matter of great importance necessary for their Prouinces And in the meane time the subiects of the Empire and the country people reape no smal commodity by the said ships of war being paid kept in good discipline as they are And seeing that the seas and riuers be Iuris publici all men being allowed to he at anchor therein without offence there is no cause why this action of the Estates should be ill taken for that they only seeke to stop and hinder the enterprise and incursions of their enemies And whereas the Estates towards part of their charges which they are forced to vndergo to free the sea and riuers from Pirats are compelled to raise certaine conuoy and lycense mony vpon all goods and marchandise going out of the country it is done to their great greefe as being more preiudiciall to their Prouinces and the inhabitants therof then to any others wherevnto they would neuer haue giuen consent if necessity had not inforced them for that the prosperity of their Prouinces depended on the trade of marchandise the which si much hindred by such impositions and is as burthensome vnto the Prouinces them-selues as to their neighbors which conuoies and licenses are not vsed in any other places but in their owne hauens and pasages with all conuenient order In the meane time it seemes strange vnto the Estates that any should dislike of their proceding therein seeing that many Princes and common weales liuing in peace and free from all enemies doe without any vrgent necessitie impose the like exactions yet the Electors and other Princes of the Empire may rest well assured that these burthens wil be withdrawne the affaiers of the country being once reduced to their desined end and their necessities ceasing and if in the meane time any disorders shall be committed by the soldiers either by water or by land they shall be seuerely punished And to shew how much they dislike all disorders and spoyles the good orders which they had made in the fort of Sgrauenweerd sence the death of Collonell Schencke do sufficiently witnes where they haue discharged all Tolles and such like impositions which were exacted contrary to their wills Moreouer if any soldiars being in the Estates seruice either by water or by land shall be conuicted to haue slaine beaten or robbed any man burnt their houses or any way wronged their neighbors the Estates will by all meanes seeke to punish such offences as they deserue or will be content that due punishment shall bee done vpon them by the said Electors c. and other their neighbors so as it may be done without partiality recommending therein the mutuall correspondency which ought to bee betwixt friends and neighbors Thus much the Generall estates of the vnited Prouinces being requested by the Electors and other Princes and Estates of Germany thought good to giue for answer once againe desiring the high and mighty Princes Electors and others that they would vouchsafe to bee fauorable and assistant vnto the said vnited Prouinces of the Netherlands who as now stand as rampars and Bulwarks for them against the generall necessity of imminent danger They also intreated the Ambassadors to make a fauorable report of their answer vnto the high and mighty Princes Electors and others hoping that almighty GOD whose powerfull arme had hetherto wonderfully preserued these countries with the aide and assistance of their friends allyes and neighbors will send them a spedy happy and long expected issue in the affaires of their common welfare Lastly whereas the Noble contesse of Nieuwenar c. widow to the Noble Earle Adolph Earle of Nieuwenar Muaers c. complaineth that against the constitutions Lawes and Ordynances of the empire she hath contrary to all lawe and reason bene depriued and is yet of certaine Lands and goods belonging vnto her and lying in the confines of the Empire and vnder the protection of the same The said Estates desired the heigh and mighty Princes Electors of the Empire c. that through their authority order may bee taken for the restitution of the said lands goods and that the said countesse in her sorrofull widoes Estate may be no longer thus wrongfully opprest Giuen in the Hage the thirteene day of September in the yeare 1590. Vnto this answer made by the Estates vpon the twenty fiue of September the Ambassadors deliuered a replication wherein they promised to make a fauorable report of their answer but touching the fort of Sgrauenwert they sayd that they must according to their commission make answer that it seemed very strange to them to heare them pretend that it stood vpon the territories of the Duchie of Geldres whereas they were certainely informed that the sayd Sconse for the space of a hundred yeares beyond all memory of man had beene a certaine issue or current of water which ranne from the towne of Cleues into the Rhine as the land of Alwinch lying in the duchie of Cleues and that the Dukes of Cleaue had from time to time receiued rent for the same as being their owne inheritance and such as had hired it of them did enioye it peaceably without any molestation of them of Gelderland or any others for that before that time it was seperated from the firme land by a small water-mill the which hath beene since eaten away by the riuer of Rhine that at this time the sayd water or riuer is called Vossegat they of Gelderland neuer laying any title or claime therevnto as it also appeereth by a speciall contract made at Brusselles betweene the Emperor Charles the fift and the Duke of Cleaues in the yeare of our Lord 1545. the 2. of Ianuary which treaty was called the confirmation of lands of inheritance hauing in it an Article which maketh mention of the limmits wherein there is no mention made of Sgrauenweert being then in the possession of the sayd Duke as also in the treatie made before Maestricht in the yeare 1549. in October where mention is made of the sayd Sgrauenweert without any question betweene the sayd Princes touching the possession thereof And
the riuer of Breda which the Earle of Mansfeldt had built not many monethes before then hee tooke the Fort of Roosendael and after that beseeged the Towne of Stenbergh the which yeelded by composition Then he sent a part of the garrison of Breda and of Berghen vp Zoom to scoure the country who running ouer the countrey of Campeigny tooke the towne of Tillemont in Brabant by scaladoe but being a great thing and heard to keepe after they had spoyled it they left it and euery one being laden with bootie returned to his garrison The Bourgers of Venlo in Gelderland finding themselues tyranously opprest by the souldiars of their garrison and could not bee eased by any intreaties nor their complaintes heard in the end seeing the signior Bentinck their Gouernor absent they consulted togither how they might free themselues of their garrison which consisted of Italiens and Germaines but these were somewhat more modest then the Italiens The Bougers hauing acquainted them with their intent which was to driue out the Italiens the which done they should haue the more profit and therefore intreated them to assist them in this execution or at the least if by reason of their oth they might not doe it that they would stand still as Neuters and not put themselues in armes against the Bourgers The which hauing promised they of the towne beeing all in armes commanded the Italiens to depart if not they knewe well how to force them and so beeing retired the Bourgers would not disarme themselues nor leaue their gardes vntill they were all forth But the people were not satisfied to be so ridde of the Italiens but they would doe as much to the Germaines whome they chased away with all the reproches and indignitie that might bee Bentincke who was then busie about the raysing of a newe Regiment of foote would gladly haue beene reuenged of this indignitie But the Bourgers to bee ridde of him also caused his wife and all his familie to depart and so hee lost his gouernment and the King of Spaines fauour and with all his Regiment was soone after quite disperst whereof a part beeing sodenly surprized betwixt the townes of Aix and Mastricht was defeated by the Estates men Behold how Bentincke of a pettie companion grewe great and fell againe into the same Estate They of Venloo did write their excuses vnto the Earle of Mansfeldt and to the councell of Estate at Brusselles promising to continue constant in the Catholike religion and in the Kings obedience and not depart from the one nor the other neither had they chased away their garrison to seeke any innouation nor to attempt any thing against the Kings seruice but to free and deliuer themselues their wiues and children from the barbarous cruelties and execrable villanies of those Italien souldiars and others the which they could no longer endure And they intreated it might not bee misconstred not taken in euill part seeing that the King should not be thereby preiudiced and that they would keepe the towne vnder the Kings obedience and seruice without a garrison The Spaniard had at that time built a Fort ioyning to the town of Houy in the countrie of Leege to keepe the riuer of Meuse subiect from all which came from aboue in the which was captaine Grobbendonc but with a hundred men The Estates angrie that the Spaniards should play the maisters in that manner and hinder the nauigation of the riuer of Meuse they sent some eight hundred men who beeing camped before this Fort they prest the captaine to yeelde vpon the first sommons if not if they tooke it by force they would not leaue a man aliue The beseeged knowing themselues to weake for so great a number and that the place was not to bee held long against any great force hauing small hope of succors they offred to yeeld vpon condition to depart with their full armes bagge and baggage But the States-men knowing that the place was filled with the goods of the neighbour villages brought thether for refuge they would make no other composition but to depart with white wands as they were forced to doe beeing gone forth the Fort was raized to the ground the Estates men returning into Holland laden with spoile and the others with emptie hands into Brabant They of Zeeland had at that time an enterprize vpon Dunkerke which they thought to surprize by scaladoe in the night The desseigne had not beene ill plotted by Collonel Nicholas Meetkerke with three thousand foote and one hundred horse which were imbarked but the winde beeing contrarie and driuing them backe vpon the coast of Flanders it made the Flemings growe into suspition and so they were discouered Yet hauing landed the sayd Meetkerke shewing vnto the Earle of Solms and to Sir Francis Vere the place where hee ment to assaile it beeing vpon the edge of the ditche they were all three hurt with shot Sixe daies before the garrison of Ostende surprized the towne of Oudenbourg neere vnto Bruges in Flanders where there were about the number of foure hundred souldiars the which they spoyled and burnt The nine and twenty day of October the Spaniards sought to surprize the towne of Lochem with three cartes laden with haie euery one hauing two or three souldiars by it attired like Pesants with forkes The first beeing past ouer the drawe bridge the porters sonne and an other boy as it is their custome and right beganne to pull as much haie as they could whilest the cartes were betwixt the two bridges And the cart making no hast one of them tooke a souldiar that was hidden vnder the haie by the foote and presently cryied out treason treason wherevpon the souldiars leaping out of the cartes slue them that were in the Court of garde But the Townesmen putting themselues in armes Francis Ballochi Sargeant Maior made head against them and boate them backe beyond the bridge the which was presently drawne vp and so this enterprize fayled for want of horsemen The Sargeant Maior of Zutphen was the vndertaker who was slaine within the towne and buried there In the end of December the Earle of Ouerstein entred with a good troupe of horse into the countrie of Westphalia for that they did still maintaine the Spanish faction and spoyled many villages about Munster and the Diocese of Paterborne The like did the Spaniards in the countrie of Liege without any mercy Where the Bishoppes councell complained at Brusselles first to the Earle of Mansfeldt and then to the Duke of Parma at his returne from France But they had small succor or comfort nay it was told them that if their Prince and Bishoppe were not a good Spaniard that his countrie must endure more And that they had no cause to compaine for what was past seeing that they and the King of Spaine maintayned one quarrell for the defence of the Catholike and Romish religion The Duke of Parma had certaine intelligences in the towne of
condemned and doe condemne the said prisoner to bee led to the place of exemplarie Iustice of this Court there to be executed by the sword vntill he be dead then his bodie to be cut in foure quarters and hung vp at foure waies comming to the Hage and his head set vpon a stake for al men to behold declaring his goods to bee confiscate This sentence was pronounced vnto the prisoner in open audience of the Court of Holland the 3. of Iune 1594. and executed the same day In the beginning of Maie the Arch-duke Ernest to purge him-selfe of the accusations wherewith Michaell Renichon the Apostat priest had charged him in his confession vnder coullor of writing concerning a peace to the general Estates he sent Otto Hartius and Ierome Coeman-Lawiers vnto them with letters as followeth MY maisters the loue and naturall inclination which we haue had from our birth to the good and publike quiet of these Netherlands the great displeasure we haue alwaies had for the troubles dissentions and calamities thereof haue beene the chiefe and greatest occasion to perswade and moue vs to vndertake the gouernement thereof Trusting fully that the Almightie will giue vs the grace in the end to deliuer them from this burthensome destroying and ruinous war the which hath continued so many yeares to the great dissolution and spoile of the said countries and the preiudice of all Christendome for if we shall consider their prosperitie past in the which they were maintained whilest they were vnited in good peace and concord vnder the lawfull and due obedience of the house of Burgongne and Austria the good order which was then in all things as well in matters of Iustice pollicie and martiall discipline by which they haue bin renowned and preferred before all other Kingdomes and common weales togither with the great riches which they did inioy by meanes of the treaties alliances confederations nauigations and trafficke which the had with Portugal Spaine and the Indies wee are assured that there is not any man of iudgement but is very much grieued to see this lamentable alteration which hath hapned in these countries within 25. or 30. yeares besides an infinite number of charges taxations and waighty burthens where-with the poore commons are surcharged are at this time forced to beare in diuers quarters And who with all doth not desire that some good meanes may bee speedilie put in practise for the reducing of the said countries to their ancient Estate publike quiet and concord where-vnto all our thoughts are also bent Being come into these parts with that inclination and intent leauing the good companie of his Imperial Maiestie our most honored Lord our other Bretheren Kinsfolks and friends the place of our birth and breeding the gouernment of so many goodly Kingdomes Prouinces whereof the charge was committed vnto vs and many other goodly and great commodities which are not needful to repeat hoping that we should finde you tractable readie to yeeld to our desire and intention And although wee doubt not but this is well known vnto you as well by common fame as by the report of some men and that it is not as pleasing vnto you the which we desire withall our hearts to see your selues and all your posteritie in assured peace and tranquilitie yet we would not faile to make an offer thereof vnto you by these presents as well to root out all old Iealousies and distrusts as to let you vnderstand more particularly our good and sincere inclination and what you may freely attend of vs. And as the matter doth touch you neerest so it is your duties to lay before your eyes and before all them that are vnder you the happinesse prosperitie and safety which both you and the whole countrie may reape thereby hauing beene so long afflicted and almost ruined by these continuall warres As for the happie successe which you haue had these yeares past as the euents of war are variable and vncertaine which may make some forget their former losses and miseries and not to remember those which are to come and so perswade them-selues that they are secure and safe neglecting the good occasion that is offered Wherefore it were most expedient to call to minde many things past and diuers examples remembring that they could not obtaine that by intreatie and praiers which a little before might haue beene had with honour and reputation Wherefore wee intreat you louingly and friendly that after you haue duly consulted and considered you your selues will propound vnto vs such honourable reasonable and tollerable conditions as thereby we may the sooner the better know that you seeke not the continuance and prolongation of this war which brings with it besides many other discommodities nothing but oppression of the people as it is well knowne to all men But rather that by these meanes we may attaine vnto a good happy firme peace For our parts we wil lette you vnderstand by the effects that there is nothing counterfeyt hidden in vs as not seeking a dissembled but a true and firme peace So as all our actions are iust and sincere to the aduancement of the publike good And if in like manner for your parts you carry the like zeale good affection you will shew in what estimation you hold vs that you desire to prouide for that which is most requisite profitable as the like shal be more amply declared vnto you by Maister Otto Hartius Ierome Coemans Lawiers the bearers hereof to whome we refer our selues with offers of our loue to you Praying God to send you a good happy life From Brussels the 6. of Maie 1594. These two Lawiers being come to the Hage in Holland and the cause of their comming knowne they had audience in the Assemblie of the generall Estates the 16. of the moneth whereas Doctor Hartius spake after this manner My Lords whereas of late we haue had pasport frō the Councel of Estate to come into these parts to treat of some priuate busines for the which wee most humbly thanke them al those that haue therein imployed themselues with seruiceable offers of acknowledgement in our quarters to those that shall haue any need of vs. This beeing come to the knowledge of my Lord the Arch-duke Ernest it pleased him to charge vs to salute your Lordships on his behalfe with offer of his loue and to let you vnderstād that the chiefe cause which moued him to come into these parts was the singular loue natural inclination which he hath alwaies had to the good quiet of these countries hoping that God would giue him the grace to see them by his meanes vnited again restored to a good peace and sincere amitie as they were before the beginning of these intestine troubles to which end and the better to make his intention knowne he commanded vs to bring the letters which we deliuered vnto your Lordships the 12. of
haue and doe seeke against equitie right and reason to oppresse and ruine the Inhabitants thereof to bring them to perpetuall bondage and to make them slaues for euer 3 Item they of Groning shal hold and inioy al their priuiledges libertles rights and freedomes 4 Item the towne and the Ommelands comming to appeare and to giue their voice vnto the generalitie with all that may depend thereon they shall gouerne them-selues according vnto the which after hearing of the cause shal be set downe and decreed by the generall Estates 5 That the most Noble William Lewis Earle of Nassau shall be receiued and held for Gouernor of the towne and country of Groning according to the commission which hee hath receiued from the said generall Estates And that the controuersie which is betwixt the Towne and the Ommelands or that may grow shall remayne suspended vntill it bee ended by the said generall Estates or their Committies 6 That in the towne and countrie of Groning there shall bee no other excercise but of the reformed religion such as is at this present vsed throughout all the Prouinces and that no man shall bee disquieted nor molested for his conscience And that all Monasteries and Clergie men shall remaine in the estate they are in at this present vntill that the Estates haue sufficiently redrest the Estate of the towne and countrie of Groning And then order shall bee giuen for the inioying of the goods and entertayning of Clergie men prouided alwaies that the Commanderies of Wyrsum Wytâ—…ert and Osterwyrum shal be held intreated as other Commanderies lying in the vnited Prouinces 7 That for assurance of the generalitie and of the towne and to preuent all inconueniences betwixt the Burgers and Inhabitants they of Groning shall receiue 5. or 6. companies of the generalitie and with the aduice of the Magistrate and with the least oppression of the Inhabitants that may be they shall haue money furnished them at such a rate as shall be hereafter agreed vppon by the said Cont William and the towne and country togither 8 Touching the razing of Forts it shall bee done as need shall require and with the knowledge of the said generall Estates 9 That the towne and countrie of Groning shal for the leuying of meanes and contributions for the good of the common cause be bound to conforme themselues hereafter with other Prouinces that are contributary 10 All taxations and contributions which vnto this day haue beene contributed and receiued as also the reuenues whereof accountes hath beene made the accountes shall bee held good and that which hath not beene brought they shall come and accoumpt for before the old Law but yet they shall haue no authority to receiue the remainder 11 That all such as are fled or banished out of Groning or the Ommelands or their heires shall be restored to all their goods that are not alienated wherein modesty shal be vsed 12 And in regard of moueable goods which haue beene alienated bee it for debt or for morgage as also those which haue beene confisked the interessed may take their goods againe vnto them redeeming them for their owne vses within foure yeares restoring the money that was payed and the rent of the money Out of the which they shall defalke the reuenues which the purchaser hath receiued And if there grow any question they shal bee referred to the decision of a competent and ordinary Iudge 13 It shal be lawful for al Burgers and Inhabitants of the â—…wne of Groning Clergy or Secular to remaine freely within the towne or to retire into any other neutrall townes and places where they shall thinke good and there reside inioying their owne proper goods but not go to the enemies party 14 In this treatie shall bee comprehended al strangers of what qualitie or nation soeuer remaining at this present in the said towâ—… and there to continue their residence taking the oth of fidelitie or else they may retyre againe to a neutrall place 15 All letters of rent morgages pensions debts and charges of all Abbots Prelates and ecclesiasticall persons as well strangers as naturall being during the troubles retired into the towne of Groning appointment for their nourishment and intertainement shall remaine at the decision of the Estates or the Magistrate of the Prouince or towne vnder which those Monasteries or Colledges are scituated from whence they grow to doe as they shall thinke fit according vnto right and equitie 16 The Deputies of this Towne of Groning beeing at Brusselles in commission with their seruants and goods shall be also held for reconciled and comprehended in this accord prouided alwaies that they returne within three moneths 17 The Burgers that were taken prisoners during the seege shal be set at liberty paying their ransomes 18 The gouernement of the Towne shall belong vnto the Magistrate Prouided notwithstanding that the said magestrate and the Iurates of the commons shall for this time only be established by his Excelency and the said Cont William with the aduice of the councell of Estates And from that time forward the election of them of the Law shall be made according to the ancient custome 19. They may not by conformity of vnion transport nor resigne the towne of Groning to any Kings Princes Lords townes or common weales without his good liking and common consent nor yet build any cittadells 20. Those of the Magistrate Burgers and Inhabitants of Gronning shall take the oth of fidelity required to the generality as other townes haue done 21. All prouisions be it of mony or munition of warres victualls artillery or other things sent into Groning or belonging vnto the King of Spaine or that haue beene otherwise brought in during this warre shall bee deliuered vnto the generality or to their commissaries The accord for the men of warre the which was made with captaine Lankama lieutenant to Collonel Verdugo captaines and officers as well for them-selues as for their soldiars hauing beene in garrison in the towne of Groning and at Schuyten-dyep was after this manner First that the said Lieutenant Collonel all the capaines officers and soldiars except such as had serued vnder the Estates their wiues followers and baggage may freely depart with their ful armes without any molestation or stay to their persons or goods onely they shall be bound to deliuer their Enseigns into his Excellencies hands which done they shall be safely conducted by the Drent towards the Gouernor Verdugo wheresoeuer he shall be found to haue planted his campe and from thence beyond the riuer of Rhine with promise for 3 moneths they shall not serue on this side that riuer His Excelency for the more easie transporting of their baggage wiues children sicke and hurt men the which may endure to be carried in wagons shall cause them to be furnished with eighty wagons to serue them and to be led by a comissary and a safe conuoy such as it shall please his Excelency to appoint the
no answer vppon the receipt of this letter the Prouinces vnder the Kings obedience assembled at Brusselles vpon the first of Ianuary 1595. only the Clergie the Nobilitie but not the Townes Where at their first cession the Arch-duke made a declaration in Spanish the effect was that the King had written vnto him and charged him as his good Brother and Cousin that hee should indeauour by all possible meanes to vnite the countrie by peace and to free it from the spoiles and miseries it had so long indured for which cause alone hee had left his ease and was come thether to effect his Maiesties good desire as appeared by the letters written with his Maiesties owne hand the which so moued him as hee could not but summon the Estates to appeare there before him to impart these good newes vnto them and that they had considered vppon a very good course to attayne there-vnto Where-with they should bee made acquainted the next day following by the President Richardot There were present in this Assemblie Stephano D'ybarra and Don Diego de Varra but the Earle of Fuentes came not for that the Duke of Arschot had protested hee would not giue him the place next to the Archduke which honour the Emperour and his Maiestie had giuen him the which hee would not suffer a stranger to take from him Where-vppon the Earle of Fuentes and Charles Earle of Mansfeldt who tooke the Dukes part therein meeting togither they beheld each other without any salutations on either part But nothing was done at all the first daie the which was spent in complements after the high Dutch manner VVhereat many of the Assemblie especially the Bishops and Clergie murmured The next day the Duke of Arschot laid open the generall necessities of the countries of Arthois and Henault and the miseries they indured by reason of the French inuasions and how requisit it was his Highnesse should prouide some speedy remedie for these mischiefes the which for many vrgent considerations ought not to bee deferred Saying that they had long since vnderstood his Maiesties good will the which should bee apparant to all the world if they might once taste the fruites thereof which it seemed the Archduke would indeauor to procure them but when it was in manner too late the whole country beeing readie to reuolt if they once swarued in the least poynt of seruice concerning their indifferent duties They had long since complained and made their great wants and necessities knowne vnto the King who by the lawes of nature was bound to heare them and to defend and protect his subiects And that if their cries and complaints vnto his Maiestie could not bee heard by reason of the great distance betwixt him and them nor the imminent dangers and mischiefes which now threatned them much more then the forepassed bee preuented they should bee forced to take some speedy course therein themselues and that hauing brought the same to passe they would yeeld such reasons of their Action vnto his Maiestie submitting themselues therein to the iudgement of all Christendome and calling them to witnesse as no man should haue iust cause to charge them that they had done more then what nature and necessitie had taught them The which they had resolued to shew in effect if they did not hope for some speedy helpe by this present Assemblie Hauing deliuered these wordes very eloquently and plainely all the Clergie cryed out Amen saying that it was their whole intent and that it required a very speedie execution There was also many Noblemen as the Prince of Chymay the Dukes Sonne the Earles of Arembergh Bossu Solue Barlaymont Ligni and others who all consented heerevnto togither Then the Duke of Arschot made further complaint in the behalfe of the Prouinces touching the great burthens which were laid vppon them by strange soldiers especially by the Spaniards who were countenanced and incouraged by the Earle of Fuentes and other strangers which ought to giue place to the naturall borne subiects of the country and follow the councel of the Nobility thereof who were best acquaihted with the affaires o◅ the same or else they would with-draw themselues both frō the Kings and the countries seruice and regard their owne particuler with many other reasons all tending to a peace with the vnited Prouinces the which the sayd might easily be effected if the forraine soldiars might bee sent away into Turky thereby freeing the vnited Prouince from all suspition and so they might treat with them as with neighbors and not as Rebells The Archduke Ernestus seeing the Estates to presse him thus vnto a peace hee let them vnderstand how much hee had labored to reconcile the vnited Prouinces who would by no meanes harken vnto it and that he could not proceed any further therein without some preiudice and blemish to his Maiesties authority and honor And therefore hee desired their aduice in three points First whether the necessity were so great as the King must of force doe it The second if it were fit and conuenient to offer more vnto the enemy then had beene already offred as to referre the conditions of peace vnto their owne discretions The third whether any other treatie of peace were to bee made and how that might bee effected Wherevnto the Estates made a full answere in writing shewing that peace was both reasonable necessarie honorable and easie to bee concluded Wherevnto the Archduke as it seemed consented promising to recommend it in such sort as hee doubted not but the King of Spaine would bee easily perswaded therevnto And that hee would also mooue the Pope and Emperor therein who had alreadie demaunded the opinions of diuers learned men who were well acquainted with the question of the Netherlands and among the rest of the learned councellor Wesenbeeke as then remayning in Wittenbergh what they thought thereof wherein all Christendome seemed to consent and agree desyring them in the meane time to persist in their accustomed duties and ancient vnitie vntill that hee receiued an answere from the King concerning the same but notwithstanding all these good words and faire hopes the Archduke Ernestus letters sent vnto the King of Spaine in September beeing intercepted by the vnited Prouinces contained nothing els but that there was not any thing to bee done in the Netherlands but by force and violence To the like effect were the letters written by Don Guillaume of Saint Clement from the Emperors Court the which were intercepted that the rebels should bee brought to that extremitiy as they must bee forced to seeke and sue for a peace c. But their resolution pleased not the Archduke neuerthelesse his seeming to consent and his faire promises satisfied the assembly for that time so as by reason of his death which followed not long after all alterations were preuented The French King seeing that they of Arthois and Henault did not vouchsafe to make any answere to these his letters hee caused
and breaking open one of the Ports about fiue of the clocke in the morning hee drew in his horsemen and the rest of his foote Against whom Alonso de luna Gouernor of the towne made some resistance in the Market place and at the towne-house but finding him-selfe to weake he retired ouer one of the Ports with his men resoluing to make it good vntill hee had some succors from Antwerp whether he had sent with all speed the which arriued the same day by the same Port whilest that Herauguieres men who should haue laboured to dislodge them and pursued their victory were most buisie to rob and spoile and hee not able to rallie them in time being dispersed here and there he resolued to saue himselfe with as many of his men as he could Thus the spoilers were spoiled and defeated after that they had beene maisters of the towne aboue eight houres not caring to winne the said port and yet Herauguiere did cry out importune threaten and strike There were aboue 500. of them slaine besides prisoners and the losse of horses This should serue as an example for all other vndertakers Cardinall Albertus being vpon the way towards the Netherlands and bringing with him Phillip of Nassau Prince of Orange and Earle of Buren the Estates of the Vnited Prouinces being aduertised thereof they wrot a letter vnto the Prince bearing date the 22. of December 1595 as followeth My Lord it was no small ioy and contentment vnto vs all to heare of your deliuerie from so long and vndeserued imprisonment as well in remembrance of the great seruices which this Estate hath receiued from my Lord the Prince of Orange your father of famous memory as in regard of the murther which was committed vpon his person which considerations do continually bind vs to loue and affect all such as haue the honour to belong vnto him especially your Lordship who haue so pittifully spent not only your youth but euen the best time of your life in the tedious and melancholy prison the which you could not beare without great griefe for the death of your honourable father the which was procured as vniustly as your imprisonment yet your Lordship hath therein shewed great constancy as the necessity of the time cause required in regard wherof we thought fit to congratulate your liberty but my Lord as we are informed the enemie preteÌ„ds to effect great disseigns by this action of your honors deliuery to the great preiudice of this Estate for that it wil be no smal griefe discontent vnto vs to haue any cause to alter and withdraw that entire loue and affection which we beare vnto you although we do confidently beleeue that your Lordship wil neuer be made an Instrument for the Spaniards to vndermine and ouerthrow our freedome built vp with such great care dilligence and wisdome by your honourable Father the Prince of Orange who for the maintenance and defence thereof was so cruelly murthered and thereby to blemish that worthie memory which is euerlastingly to be had of him For which cause they haue thought good to intreat you that if your Lordship should haue any desire to come into these Prouinces that it would please you to stay your iourney for a while vntill a more fit and conuenient time whereof we will aduertise your honor send you to that end fit assurance according to the orders which we haue set downe all along our frontiers not suffering any one to enter into these our vnited Prouinces without our pasport And so assuring our selues that your Lordship will take this aduertisement in good part we will here-with end beseeching GOD to send your honor long life and happy daies This letter being deliuered to the Prince comming to Luxembourg he made answer there-vnto bearing date the first of February as followeth My good Lords I thanke you most hartily for the contentment you receiue by my libertie and for the good remembrance you haue of me as appeareth by your letters And although vntill this time I haue not beene allowed to make my loue knowne vnto you who haue alwaies so well deserued yet I hope by this good occasion of my deliuery to shew you such effects to your good likings and contents as you shall haue no cause to complaine or bee discontented there-with And when-soeuer any occasion shall be offered whereby I may let you know how much I desire to do you seruice as he that affecteth nothing more in this world then to see his poore oppressed countrie restored to her ancient florishing Estate I will not vndertake any thing but with your good likings and to your content And I hope that you for your parts will not refuse any dutie and seruice that may helpe to settle a peace make an end of so great troubles and miseries to the generall good of all these Prouinces which God graunt may succeed for this seruice and giue you my Lords the full fruition of all your good desires recommending my selfe most earnestly vnto you all From Luxembourg Signed Philippe William of Nassau The Executors of his fathers testament vppon the last day of December against his comming sent him ten thousand gilders in ready money as part of his owne goods and in October after at the said princes instance by meanes of intercessors it was concluded that there should bee a meeting in the Duchie of Cleues betweene him and his own sister by the mothers side now Countesse of Hohenlo where they did salute visit each other conferring about their patrimoniall goods where she had licence to send him tapistry hangings and other houshold stuffe making great shewes of loue friendship one vnto an other The generall Estates sent Mounsier Hessels one of the Councel vnto him to congratulate his comming and to let him vnderstand what order had bin taken about their reuenues in Breda least he should haue some false reports made concerning the same ALBERTVS CARDINALL OF AVStria Lieutenant and Captaine generall for the King of Spaine in the Netherlands ALBERTVS D. G. ARCHIDVX AVSTRIAE BELG PROVIN GVBERNATOR Fifth brother of the house Imperiall Of Austria was I borne and seeing fate Fail'd â—…ne in lands and meanes proportionate To my great birth became a Cardinall But my great Cousin hauing euermore From my greene yeares accepted my aduise In points of statisme by his Kingly choyce Grac'd me with place of chiefe Inquisitor And thinking none of all his linage bore Perfection fitting such a match of price As Isabel chose me but first of all Stil'd me these lands Lieuténant generall THE Cardinall Albertus of Austria long attended with great deuotion in the Netherlands by the King of Spaines subiects all beleeuing that hee would bring a good peace and an assured reconciliation with the vnited Prouinces arriued at Brusselles the eleauenth of February bringing with him Philip of Nassau Prince of Orange elder brother to Prince Maurice hauing beene kept
place of their assembly at Veruine where they continued long before they could resolue The Queene of England and the generall Estates sent their Ambassadors into France concerning this treatie as nothing pleased with this conformitie of the French King with the Spaniards but they returned with-out any effect The Estates Embassadors by reason of the contrary windes came too late the Treatie of peace being concluded with the Spaniard Yet going to the king to Nantes they were welcomed much made of and had priuate audience whereas the king assured them of his loue and good affection to the sayd Prouinces so as they returned reasonablie well satisfied from his Maiestie Yet the Estates sent other ambassadours to the Queene of England to conferre of that which was to be done or not done concerning this peace the said ambassadors were Iohn Duyvenvorae knight Siegnior of Warmont Admirall and great forrester of Holland Maister Iohn Vanderwerck Councellor of the Estates of Zeeland and Iohn Hottinga a Squire both Deputies of the generall Estates And although it seemed according to the league made in the yeare 1596. betwixt France and England in the which the vnited Prouinces were comprehended that the King should not haue proceeded in this treatie of peace with the Spaniard without the consent of his allyes yet the French King thought himselfe sufficiently discharged in that behalfe to haue inuited and summoned the Queene and the said Estates who by their refusall or delayes could not bridle his will hauing giuen the Ambassadors both of the one and the other sufficiently to vnderstand how necessary peace was for his kingdome to restore and put his poore subiects in breath his condition being contrary to the Queenes and the Estates who preserued and maintained them-selues by warre and hee on the other side did but ruine his realme thereby In the end hee concluded the sayd peace with the Cardinalls Deputies in the name of the King of Spaine their Maister the articles whereof I haue set downe briefly and succinctly as followeth 1. First it is agreed that the Treatie of peace concluded and resolued betwixt the said Kings Henry the fourth and Philip the second in confirmation of the articles conteined in the treatie of peace made at Chasteau Cambresis 1559. betwixt the sayd Catholicke King and Henry the second the French king deceased of high and worthy memorie which treatie the sayd Deputies haue a new confirmed in all points without innouating any thing but all shall remaine firme except that which shall bee expresly derogated by this present Treatie 2. According to the which from the day of the date of this present treatie betwixt the said Kings their children borne or to be borne heires and successors realmes countries and subiects there shall be a good firme sure and stable peace confederation perpetuall league and amitie they shall loue one another as bretheren procuring by all meanes the good honor and reputation one of another and shall auoyde as much as they may the hurt one of another They shall not fauor nor maintaine any person to the preiudice one of another and from this day they shall cease all acts of hostilitie forgetting all things past the which shall remaine abolished without any future mention thereof Renouncing by this present treatie all practises leagues and intelligences which may tend to the preiudice of the one or the other either of them promising neuer to doe any thing nor to procure to bee done that may tend to the hurt and preiudice of the other nor to suffer their vassailes or subiects to doe it directly or indirectly And if here-after any of what qualitie or condition soeuer they bee shall goe against it and serue by land or sea or in any other sort to ayde and assist to the preiudice of eyther of the sayd Kings the other shall bee bound to oppose him-selfe and to punish them seuerely as breakers of this Treatie and troublers of the publick quiet 3. And by meanes of the sayd peace and strict amitie the subiects of either side whatsoeuer may in keeping the lawes and customes of the countrie goe come remaine frequent conuerse and returne in peace from one vnto the other in trade of Marchandise or conuersing and treating together as they shall thinke good by land sea or riuers And their subiects shall bee defended and maintained paying the duties in all accustomed places which shall bee appointed by their Maiesties and their successors 4. All letters of Marke aâ—…d reprisall which haue been giuen for what cause so-euer shall be suspended and here-after none shall be giuen by either of them to the preiudice of the others subiects but against the chiefe offenders their goods and adherents and that in case of manifest deniall of Iustice whereof and of the letters of sommation and requisition thereof those that pursue the said letters of Marke and reprisall shall make proofe as it is required by law 5. The townes subiects and inhabitants of the Counties of Flanders Arthois and other Prouinces of the Netherlands together with the realmes of Spaine shall enioy the preuiledges freedomes and liberties which haue beene granted by the Kings of France predecessors to the most Christian King and in like maner the townes subiects and inhabitants of the realme of France shall also enioy the preuiledges freedomes liberties which they haue in the said Netherlands and in the realme of Spaine as euerie one hath hereâ—…ofore inioyed and vsed them and as they did enioy them by vertue of the Treatie made in the yeare 1559. and other former Treaties 6 It is also agreed in case the catholick King should giue or transferre by testament donation or resignation or by any other title whatsoeuer to the noble Infanta the lady Isabella his eldest daughter or to any other all his Prouinces of the Netherlands with the counties of Bourgongue and Charolois that all the said Prouinces and Counties are meant to be comprehended in this present treatie as they were in the yeare 1559. together with the sayd Lady Infanta or hee in whose fauour the sayd King hath disposed it neither shall it bee needfull to make a new treatie to that effect 7. The subiects of eyther Prince as well cleargie as secular men shall returne although they haue serued the contrary party into their benefices and offices to the which they were preferred before the end of December 1588. except Curates others being cannonically called and to the enioying of their immoueable goods rents and annuities seazed on and held by reason of the warre begun in the sayd yeare 1588. to enioye them from the publication of this peace and in like manner of those which are since fallen vnto them by succession or otherwise with-out making any question or demanding of any of the fruites before time receiued since the seazure and holding of the sayd immoueable goods vnto the publication of this present Treatie nor of the debts which haue beene consumed before the
contained therein All this time they talked of nothing but of peace in England many and diuers discourses were made thereon the Queene finding her selfe prest the French king beeing disbanded from the vnion and the vnited prouinces not to be persuaded to submit themselues vnder the obedience of Spaine holding the transport of the Netherlands made vnto the Infanta in suspition sent sir Francis Vere vnto the generall Estates of the said prouinces beeing generall of all their English forces to vnderstand plainely what their resolution was either to peace or warre if not to peace then what meanes they had ioyntly with her to beare the burthen of the warre whereof shee demanded a speedie and absolute resolution whereof she desired to be duely informed by men well qualified hauing full charge and commission to deliuer their resolutions Whereupon the Estates meaning to aduice and resolue in their generall assemblie all difficulties and discommodities on either side beeing propounded debated and well ballanced seeming rather inclined and resolued to warre than to a doubtfull peace were it neuer so beneficiall they had at that instant newes brought them that the seignior Daniel vander Meulen of Antuerpe remaining at Leyden in Holland had suddainly beene sent for with a pasport from the archduke the which came from his brother in law who fained himselfe to be extreamely sicke to conferre with him before his death that he should come to Antuerpe where being arriued he was sent for to Brussels as he was a very sufficient man and well acquainted with affaires of Estate before the counsellors Richardot and Assonuille the abbot of Marolles and the marquesse of Haurec one after another who demaunded of him if there were no meanes to make a generall peace among all the prouinces of the Netherlands this was only to heare his opinion whereunto he answered That concerning that matter he had not any charge Then they declared vnto him to the end he might tell it againe That the king of Spaine and the archduke Albert were intended to make a peace in what sort soeuer and thereof to giue such assurance as should well content them they would leaue vnto the vnited prouinces their Religion their forme of gouernment and they should haue contentment giuen them from the least point vnto the greatest They said moreouer That the king was wonderfully affected to prince Maurice held him in great esteeme and desired not to impaire his estate but rather to confirme and make it greater yea he would gladly see him Generall of the armie against the Turke so much he was esteemed of all men for his vertues and valour That they would suffer all them that were in the gouernment of the vnited Prouinces to continue still in their offices estates and dignities and would promise to continue their children in them being capable if they would onely giue eare vnto a peace and acknowledge the said archduke Albert for their lord and prince These and such like speeches were vsed vnto him being carried before the archduke he sayd as much to him in Latine entreating him that he would make a good report thereof when it should be fitting All this being vnderstood by the Estates they presently conceiued that these baits tended to no other end but to breed some diuision in the countrey and to mooue the commons as if they desired to continue the warres without cause or reason whilest that they might according to their saying enter into an assured way of peace They did easily beleeue that both the king and the cardinall would gladly haue seene prince Maurice in Hongarie and that to him and the vnited Prouinces there should be made what promises they could desire if they could onely get but that point of them as to acknowledge the said archduke for their prince supposing if that were done that hee should easily become master first of them that had charge of the gouernment and managing of affaires who would presently seeke to creepe into his fauour and then generally of the gouernment of the Prouinces Some thought these speeches were but a common bruit to draw the Estates to giue eare to a parle and to enter into conference as some yeares before they had in the like manner circumuented them of Bruges and Gant which they caused to be bruited abroad onely to make a triall and then goe backe from it when they thought good such speeches seruing to no other end Thither were also brought vnto the Estates certaine letters intercepted both in Fraunce and in England by the which the king of Spaine gaue contrary instructions vnto the cardinall archduke which were That in the treatie of peace with France his Rebels for so he called the vnited Estates should not bee comprehended but vpon condition that the Romish Catholicke religion should bee receiued and established in all places the kings soueraignetie and dignitie maintained the old officers which had been displaced and chased away restored and that those which remained being capable and fit might be admitted if they were Catholickes and not heretickes and besides they might promise them a generall pardon that the French king ought not to procure any thing else if he were as he should be that is a Catholicke This instruction conferred with the former speech with many other aduertisements the Estates seeing how they sought with faire words to abuse circumuent them conceiued that there could nothing grow of such a peace but a change of religion and a translation of the gouernment out of their hands vnto banished men and Spaniolized more couetous of reuenge than the Spaniards thēselues And therfore not any one hauing serued or had any office in the said Prouinces might remaine knowing that with such conditions no other they should be yeelded to the Infanta who would bridle thē in the same manner that the Spaniard had done Wherupon the Estates nobilitie and towns in generall resolued not to giue eare to any peace or truce but to support the burthen of the warre to the extremitie and to attend such an issue as it should please God to send them rather than to abandon their countrey and to receiue their enemies into the gouernment thereof but rather to procure and aduance what they should find needfull for them especially to giue contentment to the Queene of England Hereupon they appointed a greater number of deputies in their colledges and in the generall Estates sending into England as her Maiestie had required certaine notable embassadors to induce her to continue the warre with them against the Spaniards the which were Iohn van Duyuen Woorde knight seigniour of Warmont of Woud c. Iohn van Oldenbarneuelt seigniour of Tempel first councellor and aduocate for the Estates and keeper of the seale of Holland and west Friseland Iohn van den Werke councellor and orator of Middlebourg Iohn van Hotting a esquier councellor and deputie for the generall Estates Andrew Hessels chiefe councellor of the councell
dueties in all they may do for the aduancement of the German estate And we haue in like manner written vnto the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces That for their parts they should depart out of the limits of the empire and forbeare to attempt any thing against it the which is to be hoped By reason whereof wee that are seated vpon the Rhine by the knowledge which is giuen vs of these disorders are forced openly and without dissimulation to beseech your imperiall Maiestie to interpose your authoritie after full information of all That it would therefore please your imperiall Maiestie whereunto wee know you are wholly inclined to seeke to pacifie these dangerous inconueniences and to remember how earnestly and with what zeale the generall Estates of the empire did propound it and intreated you at the last diet at Ratisbone as also that the voluntarie contributions were not graunted to any other end but to preuent all courses passages lodging and spoyles And that against such violences your imperiall Maiestie should vse authoritie that the holy empire fall not into contempt to haue abandoned the countrey to the spoyle of strange souldiers and that beeing sodainely surprised it should come to ruine and desolation but that it would please him to deale so by mild meanes as these poore afflicted countries may bee freed from their intollerable miseries And besides that all the other prouinces of the empire may bee preserued and assured from such inuasions And as wee remember that your imperiall Maiestie and the generall Estates of the empire had an intent heretofore to send embassadours to both parties that make warre wee would now make the same prayer and instant request and will most humbly beseech your imperiall Maiestie not to neglect it but to seeke by all meanes to suppresse such extraordinarie insolencies hoping that God will put to his blessed hand and send vs a more happie season than we haue hitherto had and that therby there may follow a good peace as wel for the holy empire as for the two parties that make warre The which for the care wee haue of the good and quiet of the empire wee could not forbeare to shew vnto your imperiall Maiestie with all humilitie hoping you will not take it in ill part but rather will excuse vs by reason of the importance of the cause and that of your imperiall clemencie you will prouide for this publike mischiefe so as the poore countries afflicted may bee relieued and eased that the generall reputation of the holy empire may bee kept to the protection of those prouinces that depend thereon And seeing that the Estates of the circle of Westphalia by vertue of the imperiall constitutions haue required vs and the princes electors of the vpper circle of the Rhine to assemble our selues on the tenth day of Ianuarie nextcomming in the citie of Cologne to resolue vpon these important affaires Wee therefore most humbly beseech your imperiall Maiestie that you would bee pleased at the same time and place to send if it be possible your Maiesties gratious resolution or declare if that wee with the aforesayd circles may not aduise and seeke by all possible meanes to diuert this mischiefe And in case wee may not haue this charge and commission and that a more ample declaration from the holy empire bee required that it would please you to aduise the deputies of the deputies of the sayd Estates in case they bee required by them that are oppressed or others to call vnto their succours or counsell the other circles and giue charge to the deputies touching that matter for the next assemblie wherein your imperiall Maiestie shall doe a worke worthie of his clemencie the which may serue for the assurance and quiet of the afflicted countries and of all those of the Empire Praying God c. In the meane time and before these letters were sent vnto the emperour M. Charles Nutzel seigniour of Sonderspuhel commissioner and counsellor to his imperiall Maiestie being come by his commission to preserue the countrey of Cleues to haue all things restored and to treat of the dukes mariage with the princesse of Lorraine he writ vnto the admirall the last of October from Cleues By the which hee complained That according vnto the promise which he had made vnto him in the towne of Gueldres to restore the towne of Orsoy to the duke that was lord thereof within ten twelue or twentie daies at the most and that after he had taken the towne of Rhineberck all his troupes should bee sent out of the countrey yet hauing trusted too much vnto his promises and the word of a prince hee found himselfe circumuented and deceiued hauing receiued nothing but words full of ayre and seene the effects full of hostilitie reproaching him that hee had gone in person from one towne vnto another ransoming them some for great summes of money others for victuals and munition the which hee sayd hee had seene with his eyes Being a question how this will bee taken by the emperor in whose name he said he remained there to preserue the countrey and not onely of the other princes of the empire but of all Europe whom it doth concerne in generall the which they may easily conceiue who hauing their lands and iurisdictions thus afflicted would gladly see them freed and assured hereafter That the houses of Cleues and Lorraine were now presently allyed by mariage and that of Lorraine with the crowne of France besides other alliances with other neighbor princes all which will be amazed and great wounds which are not yet well cured will be reuiued all which being well affected as he said vnto the Spaniards be brought into consideration That now a Catholike prince who with all his meanes with a Catholike zeale hath preserued and maintained the Catholike Religion should bee in that sort troden vnder foot yea in a manner deuoured quicke when as leauing the enemie at rest they come and powre out all the discommodities of warre vpon the kings owne kinsmen when as churches are abused religious women forced and all that was consecrated vnto God prophaned when as they offer force and violence to embassadours who by the lawes of nations should bee free and assured as it is said did happen vnto other embassadours of the duke descending downe the Rhine to come vnto the towne of Cleues who would not say but as this tends chiefely to the preiudice and contempt of religion and of that which doth most concerne the honour and reputation of the house of Austria the which according to the saying of Hystorians through mildnesse and sinceritie haue beene happie in their enterprises and successe procuring with all their meanes the which not friends onely but enemies will confesse that they might not bee taxed to haue raysed or mannaged an vniust warre to blemish them and to make them odious and contemptible to all the world And not onely to prouoke the wrath and vengeance of God against
how they haue since yeelded the townes of Alpen and Moeurs without restitution of any one peny of that which they had layd out to conquer them and how they had offered to do as much for the towne of Berck with the declaration of the true meanes to entertaine the limits of the empire in peace so farre foorth as the enemie who did all hee could to the contrarie did not hinder it which their good and sincere intention hath beene so much the more apparant for that according to the order set downe by prince Maurice their generall to chase away the enemies garrisons out of the towne of Emmeric they haue done it and being satisfied therewith haue yeelded the towne vnto his prince Whereby your excellencies and other princes may iudge of the sinceritie of their actions without any doubt or distrust of them but that you would rather seeke the meanes by the which the Spaniards and their adherents might be chased out of all Germanie and preuented of their pretended monarchy driuing them euen beyond the Alpes to the end that the members and subiects of the empire may be deliuered and freed from so great troubles and dangers wherein for these many yeres we haue pretended and done our best indeuours and are yet resolued so to do wherein wee hope and trust that God will moue the hearts of kings princes potentats and commonweals and opening the eyes of their vnderstanding they wil take the defence of their common cause in hand running all ioyntly to quench this fire which begins now to flame For the which we pray vnto his diuine Maiestie both night and day beseeching most humbly that it would please your excellencies and the other princes to take and interpret our reasons and iustifications here set downe in good part and as the sincerenesse thereof doe deserue Praying the Almightie c. During all these rescriptions and iustifications of either side the Spaniards had like harbingers with chalke in their hands run ouer and forraged the frontiers of Germanie in Westphalia Cleueland Marck and Bergh the which neither writing nor threats could make them forbeare making their greatest excuse that they would first haue the Estates deliuer vp that little which they held vpon the confines of the empire as the Tolhus and the fort of Grauenwerd By reason whereof the deputies of the circles of Franconia of the Rhine of base Germanie of Westphalia and of base Saxonie assembled at Conflans to consult what was to be done to reduce Germanie to quietnesse and to cause the Spaniards retire freeing as wel those places which were scituated vpon the riuer of Rhine from their garrisons as all other places of the territories of the empire And in like maner those which the Estates of the vnited prouinces held with reparation of damages and spoils made by either partie vpon the territories of the empire According to the which they did write vnto the said Estates the tenth of Aprill commaunding them in the emperours name and the princes to retire their garrisons out of the confines of the empire to deliuer vp the townes and to ruine the forts which they had built namely that of Grauenwerd to repaire the damages done by them to punish the breakers of the peace and the perturbers of the publike quiet of Germanie to restraine the courses and spoyles of their souldiers that hereafter the territories of the empire may bee freed from such spoyles and oppressions and that the traffique and commerce may be restored Whereunto answer was made by the said confederat Estates That they had hoped and did verily beleeue that they had giuen contentment vpon the like points vnto his imperiall Maiestie and to the princes by their precedent letters whereof they sent a copie vnto the said deputies for that nothing had been since attempted by them vpon the territories of the empire hauing no other intent but to make head against the admirall and to resist his mightie armie by preoccupation of those places where their troups were lodged of the which without doubt the admirall would haue seized that by the fauour thereof he might get an entrie into their prouinces Assuring the said deputies that they had neuer any intention to seize vpon any one foot of land belonging to the empire nor to any country that was neuter but haue rather sought to win and entertaine with good friendship and neighbourhood all princes potentats and commonweales wherein they desire to continue as much as may be and the assurance of their estate may beare as in effect they had sufficiently declared when as notwithstanding all the barbarous insolencies which the Spaniards practised before their eyes in the duchies of Cleues and Mont and in the diocesses of Cologne and Munster they had carried themselues temperatly and modestly and had done more if the Spaniards had not brought their garrisons so neere for which cause they could not restraine their souldiers but they must sometimes go to discouer them and to skirmish with them so as the deputies had no iust cause to distrust their good and sincere intention Assuring them that as for those places which they held and were of necessitie to hold for their safetie vpon the territories of the empire that as soone as euer they had abandoned those quarters that they also for their parts would quit them and giue order for the excursions of their men of warre And whereas the deputies required That the Estates would abandon and ruin the fortof Grauenweerd they shewed that the countrey and iurisdiction of the duchie of Geldre had alwayes maintained and did yet that that place is of the seigniorie and dependance of Geldre and not of Cleues And if the duke of Cleues would not be therewith contented that in that case they would be mediators to the Estates of Geldres and the county of Zutphen which are of their vnion that they would consent to haue this controuersie decided by the said deputies according to the treaty past in the yeare 1544 betwixt the emperour and the duke of Cleues by the which the sayd difference hath remained vnto this day vndecided so as they cannot now do otherwise They intreated them that their answer and sincere declaration might be taken in good part and that they would be mediators vnto the emperor the princes and estates of the empire that the Spaniards might effectually leaue the townes and places which they held vpon the confines of the empire that in the like case they might for their parts deliuer all and giue more cause of contentment to the emperour This answer was sent from the Hage in Holland the 12 of May 1599. The said deputies of the circles being again assembled at Munster writ their letters vnto the generall Estates of the vnited prouinces on the 15 of May insisting chiefly vpō the restitution and abandoning of those places which the Estates held vpon the confines of the empire especially for the fort Grauenweerd the which
the fifteenth of August they had audience in the counsell of warre before the said cont Vander Lippe Otto Van Starchedel lieutenant of Cassel for the landtgraue of Hessen Isaack Craft for them of Brandebourg Christopher Conincx Merck for the duke of Brunswic doctor Amandus Rutterscheir chancelor of the said armie At which audience of Bruninck and Vander Meulen there were propounded foure points the first was The restitution of Grauenweerd the second was The reparation and restitution of dammages which the Estates men had done vpon the territories of the empire the third Libertie of commerce and cassation of licences and the fourth was Caution that hereafter there should bee no more oppressions nor incursions made by their souldiers To all which points there was an ample and pertinent answer made by the Estates deputies Three of them were but faintly maintained by the Generall and his assistants yea it seemed they were reasonable well satisfied with the allegations of the said deputies But the reparation of damages and oppressions was disputed with great vehemency for the Estates commissioners did lay before them did aggrauat the great damage and losses which the Estates of their vnited prouinces had receiued from the enemy by the land of the empire who not onelie vsed it for a passage but to ease his country where he commanded and to entertaine his armie there for many monethes making it his rendez vous and the seat of war wherfore the Estates could do no lesse than to seeke the enemy where he was That if by any such occasion their men had at any time exceeded that they were sorie for it and had done what they could to redresse it causing restitution to be made punishing the offenders but that which the Spaniard had done was with a purposed intent The imperiall deputies maintained That if the Spaniard did ill in seazing vpō the land of the empire yet the Estates shold not do the like but they should haue attended their enemy in their own limits Wherunto answer was made That the lands held by the enemie was not the empires so long as they held them and that it was against reason to bind them to hold that place as neuter which made war against them that it was not for the Estates to dispute by what title or with what authoritie the enemie had vsurped the said places but it did belong vnto the said imperiall deputies who hauing taken order for the dislodging of the enemie the Estates would let all their neighbours see by the effects what difference there is betwixt their neighbourhood and the Spaniards But the deputies of the Estates did coniecture that vnder colour of these restitutions and reparations of damages the German did hope to draw some money from the Estates but there was no mention made there of any restitution of places held of the empire and vsurped by the emperor Charles 5 nor of the towne of Emden neither yet of the countesse of Moeurs which as yet seemed serued but for matter of cauillation wherof mention is so often made in the letters written by the said imperiall deputies to the vnited Estates The Estates had a day or two before the arriuall of their deputies at the imperiall campe deliuered vp vnto the Germans the fort of Tolhus the towne of Seuenter and some other forts there abouts as afterward the Spaniards to shew some willingnes of their parts abandoned but it may be being forced thereunto knowing the preparations that were made for the towne of Genep The Deputies of the Estates hearing that the German army was leuied but for three monethes the which being expired might perchance be continued three moneths longer they did represent vnto the earle of Hohenloo for the duke of Brunswic to the earle of Solins for the landtgraue of Hessen and to the baron of Creange for the marques of Ausbach the difficulties which would grow by this continuation the small likelihood there was for them to win any honour and to assure the credit and the Estates of their princes without the coniunction directly or indirectly of the German armie with prince Maurice whereby they should haue meanes to ruine the enemie and to settle Germanie at quiet but there was need of a speedie resolution for that all hope of good successe consisted in celeritie and that not making this coniunction in time to purpose they might loose both their charge and paines making them soon subiect to reproches slanders wherfore they shold do wel not to loose any time but to send speedily vnto their princes to aduertise them of the true estate of the affairs and of their danger in case they suffered themselues to be abused by any treatie with the enemie The said generall and imperial commissioners did importune the commanders of the Spanish armie with cōplaints no lesse than they had done the vnited Estates vpon the same points of reparation of damages restitution of places held by them libertie of commerce vpon the Rhine and caution for the preuenting of such oppressions hereafter Whereunto the Spaniards made diuers euasions In the mean time the general approched his army neere vnto Rees Doctor Yenburch was sent by the Spaniards vnto the general and the imperial commissioners on the 16 of August at his arriuall he talked to euerie man of the reparation of damages and the charge he had to deliuer vp Rees but the next day he denied all saying That hee had no such commission intreating them that they would giue him three dayes time to aduertise his masters euery man knowing that the Spaniard sought nothing but to win time so as they were discontented with this kind of proceeding yet after they had disputed much against him and threatned him with the coniunction of the Estates armie with that of the princes circles of the empire in the end they granted him these three daies for there was no shew that they would begin to force the towne of Rees hauing no preparation but what the Estates had lent them and sent them besides the iealousies and distrusts which were in the said camp were the cause that they imputed those things to practises and malice which haply proceeded from the ignorance and want of experience of the generall being accused of some as if from the beginning he had had a bad intent that in leading the armie vp and downe here and there hee had caused them to spend two moneths and aduanced nothing and that he had a meaning to dissolue the armie and make the companies disband and that him selfe had solicited the emperor to be imployed in a treatie of peace Others spake wel of him that he had a good mind and that they did what they would with him but they complained of his insufficiencie which was the only cause of these disorders the which after the retreat of the army were better known In the mean time all agreed That there were some dangerous people
violence by murthering spoyling burning and other execrable actions against the territories and subiects of the empire as also in changing and altering of lawes policies and religion which proceedings should be displeasing vnto the archduke yet they keepe still the townes of the empire in their possession and bragge that they haue gotten a great victorie against the forces of the empire as it may be sufficiently prooued hauing no intent to yeeld vp the said townes so vsurped but to hold them for their owne vse and commoditie Moreouer it was neuer more apparant than at this present that the Spaniards and their adherents designe is perpetually to disturbe and subuert the Estates rights and priuiledges of the Netherlands and vtterly to ruine them to the vnspeakable preiudice of all neighbour kings princes and common weals but especially of the Estates of the empire whom they seeke to ouerrule to keep the archduke with the Infanta their heires in perpetuall subiection not allowing them authoritie to yeeld any thing vnto the petitions of the Netherlands and the inhabitants thereof concerning the Catholike religion and other principall points belonging to the wel fare of the same We shal not need to speake of the letters by the which it is agreed that alwaies foure or more of the chiefe townes or forts in the Netherlands shall haue Spanish garrisons in them nor yet of the secret aduice giuen by the late deceased king of Spaine vnto the king that now is shewing by what meanes hee may alwaies take occasion to regaine the Netherlands but it shall suffice to produce the said pretended donation whereby the archduke the Infanta and their successors haue for euer promised and bound themselues by oath to follow the wills and appetites of the Spaniards not onely in regard of the freedomes rights and priuiledges of these countries but also for the disposition of the succession of the Netherlands the protection and bringing vp of their heires by the Spaniards and the power and prerogatiue which the kings of Spaine will haue to dispose of them and their childrens mariages or to giue in mariage to whom they please to hold the Netherlands of them in chiefe and to restraine them from their free nauigation and trading by sea and all and euery of these points vpon forfeiture of the same adding hereunto that they and their heires shall be bound to hold and maintaine the catholike Romish religion vpon the like penaltie as doth plainely appeare by the articles of the said donation hereunto annexed so as there is small reason for the emperours Maiestie the empire or these prouinces if they will maintaine their respectiue freedomes priuiledges and religion to enter into any treatie of peace with the archduke considering the late rigorous proceedings both in the Netherlands and vpon the frontiers of the empire And it is manifest that the treatie not long since made betweene the Queene of England the Spaniards and the archduke was according to their old manner vnder colour of a treatie to effect some further designe as the armie sent of late yeares out of Spaine to inuade England doth sufficiently witnesse as also in August last the like should haue beene done if almightie God by his grace had not diuerted that pretence forcing them to employ that fleet to follow our ships of warre which were then sent out vpon the coast of Spaine Besides the archduke and the Infanta haue such great spirits as notwithstanding they cannot pretend any right to the vnited prouinces by the said gift or by any other title yet by their proclamations they publish hold them for rebels actions vnworthie of so great princes the which can neuer bee forgotten Touching the second point wee hope not onely by presentation but actually to haue made manifest our iust and true intents vnto the emperours maiestie the princes electors and the Estates of the empire so as it seemeth strange to vs wee should be further molested and troubled for that wee seeke to bring our common enemie to reason and to abate his pride By these and many other reasons it may be thought vnnecessarie that for the preseruation of the honor of the emperors maiestie and of the whole empire your lordships should come hither to treat of the said points which wee also thinke not fit wherefore wee haue not sent you any pasport to that end hoping that the emperour and the Estates of the empire hauing seene these our letters will conceiue our meanings herein which is that wee hereby desire to ease your lordships of the paines and trouble which you may indure in this iourney humbly beseeching the emperours maiestie and your honours to haue a good conceit of vs and to aduance the cause of the Netherlands wherein the welfare of the emperour the seruice of the empire and our good consisteth and we will not faile alwaies to acknowledge and requite the same vnto the honours c. Dated in the Hage the seauenth of December 1599. This letter beeing deliuered to the emperours embassadours they returned an answer on the 8 of December as followeth Right honourable wee haue receiued your letters and vnderstand by the contents therof that you are informed ex relatione aliorum of our comming and of the effect of our embassage wee must confesse that touching the restitution of places belonging vnto the holy empire and the dammages receiued thereby we haue especiall charge to sollicite both parties in all friendly manner but concerning the other point it is not intended that we by the emperours commandement should enter into any new treaty of peace with you but onely for the furtherance of a treatie which was begun at Regsensborgh in the yeare 1594 the which the princes electors and the electors of the Estates of the empire referred to some other conuenient time And concerning the other points contained in your letters and copies touching the doubts risen betweene the kings Maiestie of Spaine and the Netherlands to the great dishonour and preiudice of all Christendome experience hath taught vs to iudge thereof as time and occasion shall serue And although wee haue commission from the emperours maiestie our gratious lord and soueraigne prince to treat with either partie yet you may assure your selues the emperours maiestie the princes electors and other Estates of the empire know how to remedie the wrongs done both by the Spaniards for their parts and by you of the vnited prouinces not to free the empire but also the oppressed members thereof from all vnneighbourly force and inuasion yet his Maiestie at the earnest request of the princes electors and Estates of the empire hath thought good to impose this commission vpon vs as your honours at our comming shall vnderstand more at large And although according to these our instructions gratiously giuen vs by the emperour we may not as it seemes by your letters be heard at this time nor allowed to shew thē vnto the general Estates yet we
doubt not but you will dutifully consider them and not vpon any colour or presence whatsoeuer contrary to the commendable custome of all nations and to the blemishing of the emperors authoritie and reputation refuse to giue vs a pasport and without hearing vs speake so skornfully reiect the instructions sent vnto you by the emperours maiestie and the whole empire the which are done with a good intent but rather accept friendly and thankfully thereof and take them in good part whereby the cause may be aduanced and so without further delay we may proceed to a neighbourly audience of you and the discharge of the commission and embassage receiued by vs the which according to our instructions wee are to deliuer vnto you The consideration whereof in all friendly manner we recommend vnto your honours c. and therewith we commit you to the protection of the almightie and our selues vnto your friendly censures Dated as aforesaid c. The generall Estates hauing receiued this letter from the embassadors they made a reply the which for that it is very long in manner a repetition of the former I haue thought good for breuities sake to omit and to touch onely at the principal points First hauing made protestation of their duties and seruice to the emperours maiestie the holy empire they insist that for many vrgent reasons they could neither directly nor indirectly enter into any treatie of peace with the king of Spaine or the archduke and Infanta that not onely in regard of the welfare of the vnited prouinces and the inhabitants thereof but in respect of the Queene of England and other princes and common weales their neighbours and the good of all the inhabitants of the Netherlands sighing vnder the burthen of the Spanish yoake Touching the restitution of certaine places which was demanded they answered that they held them for their owne safeties the emperors seruice not onely to free the vnited prouinces but also the territories of the empire from the inuasions and oppressions of the Spaniards in which places they entertained garrisons at their owne charge for their necessarie defence That they would giue contentment to certaine embassadors which were at that instant come from Cleues Iuilliers and other territories of the empire to the same end so as the emperours maiestie nor the Estates of the empire should haue no cause to dislike of them protesting that they had no desire to hold any lands out of the vnited prouinces nor to doe any wrong vnto their neighbour countries offering to deliuer vp Emmeric and the Tolhus as soone as the enemie should doe the like and to giue securitie not to take any place vpon the frontiers of the empire nor to build any skonces nor to make any incursions vpon the territories of the empire so as the enemie would make the like promise giue the like securitie After that they make an ample relatiō of the Spaniards proceedings for the space of 15 months and the great insolencies committed by them vpon the territories of the empire all which they had done as they said in contempt of the emperours maiestie and of the holy empire In the end they persuade the princes electors other estates of the empire to oppose themselues against the enemie and to reuenge the wrongs done vnto the empire that hereafter he should not dare to attempt the like Lastly they desire them to censure of their proceedings as tōding onely to the seruice of the holy empire and that they would giue the emperours maiestie the princes electors and all the Estates of the empire to vnderstand in what honourable respect they held thē wold be alwaies ready to do the like vnto their honors to their best abilities Whilest the Estates were framing of this answer the embassadors came to Brussels to deliuer their charge whereupon the first of Februarie they had open audience of the archdukes they being accompanied with the admirall the prince of Orange diuers other noblemen Charles Nutzel made the speech the effect of his oration was that they did congratulate in the emperour their brothers name the archdukes comming into the Netherlands shewing how much the emperour desired to plant peace and quietnesse in the Netherlands who was bound by his office to defend the friends and allies of the empire from all force and inuasion then hee passed to the restitution which the archdukes were to make of the towne of Rhineberck to the elector of Cologne and the satisfying of them of Westphalia the countries of Cleues Marke and others for the wrongs and oppressions done vnto them the yeare past Whereunto the archduke made answere in generall termes That he thanked the emperor for his great loue and kindnesse promising to send him an answer in writing whereby the sincerity of his heart vnto the holy empire might be the better knowne wherof he said he was no vnprofitable member and how much he desired the peace and good of those countries which as then were his and that there should not bee any defect in him to enter into any honourable condition of peace that he might not be the cause as it was neuer his intent why his neighbors should endure any harme or wrong by his souldiers the contrary effects wherof were to be ascribed to the condition and fruits of warre and not to the disposition wilful suffrance of the commanders c. And so being feasted by the archdukes receiuing diuers presents they returned backe to the emperor by whom not long after they were sent againe about the same subiect After the archdukes comming into the Netherlands he wrote a letter with his owne hand vnto the Q. of England aduertising her M. of their arriuall in the Netherlands and what great desire he had to make a peace with his neighbors to renue the old league alliance which their house for many yeares held with the K. of England for the effecting whereof he said he had full power from the king of Spaine Whereunto the Q. of England made answere That she had alwaies sought that peace which might tend to the general good of all Christēdome wherunto she would willingly giue eare seeing they said they had authoritie from the king of Spaine to treat but that she was bound in honor as the vnited prouinces in like sort were not to enter into any treatie before she had first made them acquainted therwith and known their resolution if they meant to be comprehended therein to whom she would send to know if they would ioyne with her or that she should treat alone by her selfe the which whē time serued should be made knowne vnto them Moreouer her Ma. did congratulate the archdukes cōming into the Netherlands the rather for that she had had an vncle of their bloud who had done her great honour and therefore she wished the Infanta all good These letters with others being sent to and fro by 2 brethren called
being an open contempt against the emperor and empire And as touching the sconce of Grauenweerd commonly called Schencks sconce which the estates did pretend to stand vpon the territories of Gueldres seeing it stil remained sublite pendente it was requisit it shold be deliuered into the duke of Cleues hands or else by forme of sequestration it should be put in some neutrall hands vntill the law had determined of the scituation thereof They also demaunded restitution of the ransomes and other booties gotten by them from the subiects of the empire and assurance that no such excesse should be committed hereafter Moreouer they said That they had expresse commission to complaine of the wrongs done by their souldiers in the territories of Aix whereas they made the peasants to pay contribution euen vnto the gates of the towne as in like maner in Westphalia Iuilliers and the territories of Cleues as also of a sentence giuen by them against those of Gelekerke Besides that the rents of the Foukers of Ausbourg were detained from them in Friseland wiâ—…h such like complaints wherefore they desired there might be certaine committees appointed to take order therein and that in the meane time there might bee a truce or surceasing from armes hoping that by the intercession of the emperor and the empire the aduerse party would be drawne to consent and agree thereunto Whereunto the Estates of the vnited prouinces made answer on the seuenth of Iune saying That they humbly thanked the emperor and the princes of the empire for the great care they had of the Netherlands and that for their parts they had alwaies sought to yeeld all due respect and honor vnto the said princes and to the empire according to their best means with restitution and satisfaction according to the order set downe at Renisbourgh c. being much grieued to heare that the emperor should be so falsely informed of their taking of any new places since the Spaniard had deliuered vp those places which he had held And as for Emmeric they desired them to consider that the towne was not yeelded vp againe by the Spaniard but the Spaniard holding it by force from the empire their generall prince Maurice had taken it from them in the yeare 1598 and deliuered it vnto the duke of Cleues to whom it belonged with condition not to suffer any Spanish garrison to enter any more into it and that when as in the yeare 1599 the Spaniards tooke Genep and Rees and attempted to take it againe the bourgers of the towne desired them to send in certaine souldiers for their defence where they haue euer since continued Touching the castle of Lobith they said it was neuer in the Spaniards power but in the yere past when as the Spanish army marcht that way they were forced to put a garrison into it for their owne securities as they did in Seuenar and other places which garrisons as soone as the Spaniards were gone to Bomelerweert they retired againe the which they were also readie to do at Emmeric if the Spaniards would promise not to take it againe and would leaue Rhineberck with other places which they still detained and that the duke of Cleues would suffer prince Maurice and the earle of Solins quietly to enioy the lands of the countesse of Nieuwenar and Moeurs giuen vnto them by her last will and testament They said they had thrice since the yeare 1597 restored such places to the empire as the Spaniards had taken from it and therefore they hoped that now the fourth time they would not vrge them to make restitution before the Spaniards did the like As for their title to Grauenweerd sconce they said That wheras in the yere 1586 the Spaniards had resolued to build a sconce in that place therby to haue an entry into Guelderland and into Cleueland they were preuented by them who had built a sort there for their defence without any complaint of them of Cleueland as beeing vpon the territories of Gueldres at the last they of Cleueland pretended to haue certaine ciuill iurisdiction ouer the same and yet the soueraigntie of Gueldres was not any thing preiudiced thereby The fort being made in the yeare 1590 the Estates of the vnited prouinces informed the emperour what right they had thereunto wherein as then there was nothing done so as they proceeded in the fortification of the place and therefore they hoped that seeing it was built vpon a void peece of ground adlegitimam defensionem they might hold the possession thereof and for that it was a place which concerned their enemie much and that the duke at that time made no complaint touching the same they were of opinion therefore that hee made no motion for the restitution thereof but onely by the practises and persuasions of the Spaniards And as for putting of the place into the hands of some neutrall persons and they to bee charged with the garrison that would onely be a meanes to pleasure the Spaniards Touching restitution of damages they said That they thought the Spaniards ought to do it who wilfully had entred into the confines of the empire to make it their passage into Holland so as they were vnwillingly forced to oppose themselues and if thereby any incursions were made into the empire it was done against their wils and contrarie to their proclamations and if they had not suffered the Spaniards to enter into their territories no such inconueniences had happened Concerning them of Aix they promised to take so good order therein as they should haue no cause to complaine so as they would remaine neutrall and not more partiall to one partie than to another The like they answered for them of Cologne Iuilliers and others protesting to be sorie for any wrongs that had beene done vnto them And as for the Foukers rents in Friseland if it were found they had any right thereunto they would take order they should haue speedie iustice Touching the foresaid embassage determined on at Renisbourgh tending to the making of a peace they said That it appeared that both the deceased king of Spaine and the king that now liueth sought nothing else but to bring the countries of the Netherlands vnder the Spanish yoake the which was especially intended by the donation of the sayd countries vnto the Infanta by the which gift the Archduke and Infanta are bound by othe to gouerne according to the will and disposition of the king of Spaine contrarie to the priuiledges and laudable customes of the Netherlands as also that the protectorship and mariage of the princes of the Netherlands is reserued to the pleasure and disposition of the king of Spaine the countries freedome being infringed and thereby made feudatorie in perpetuum to the crowne of Spaine the libertie of nauigation restrained and at the king of Spaines disposition beeing also sworne for euer to maintaine the Romish Religion and none else and that all those conditions should bee so strictly obserued as for
the least breach they should forfeit the sayd countries Besides that the donation of the Netherlands serued them for a iustification and to proue that there was no good meant therby as it appeared in the beginning of their gouernment for that the king of Spaine had violated fiden publicam by committing so many sailers and seafaring men of the Netherlands to prison whom his father suffered to come into Spaine for his owne good and profit And that the archduke also since his entrie into the possession of the Netherlands had broken his pasports and safeconducts commanding that the poore fishermen should be spoyled at sea during the time of their pasports Moreouer That the admirall of Arragon had entred in hostile manner into his neighbours countries forciblie taken their townes vsed all cruelties towards the inhabitants proclaiming others that haue nothing to do with him rebels c. All which beeing duely considered by them they had great reason to thinke that it could neither bee honourable nor profitable for them to acknowledge the archduke nor yet to treat with him nor the king of Spaine And therefore they humbly besought the emperor and the empire to consider of all these things with equitie and reason After this the emperors embassadors persisted to haue thē grant liberty for the embassadors appointed by the estates of the empire to come make relatiō of their embassage who might haue other reasons to alledge wishing them to consider of all they had deliuered Whereunto the Estates replied on the 12 of Iune That they had sufficiently considered of the points concerning restitution and reparation and found by the proceeding of things since the yere 1594 that the resolution taken at Rhineberck was not good nor profitable neither for the empire nor for the Netherlands desiring them to presse the Spaniards to repaire the hurt which they had done in the countrey of Moeurs and that for their parts they would doe their best endeuors to giue the emperor contentment and take order to preuent all future incursions There was also a motion made by the embassadors to haue the towne of Wachtendonck made neutrall thereby to preuent all incursions which the Estates held to be an vnreasonable demand it being theirs by conquest taken from their enemies in Guelderland In the end the emperors embassadors dealt in such sort with the Estates of the vnited prouinces as they did willingly consent to deliuer the towne of Emmeric to the duke of Cleues vpon promise That the emperors Maiestie and the empire should procure the archduke to yeeld vp the towne of Rhineberck vnto the prince elector of Cologne and so both parties to free the frontiers of the empire from further molestation and trouble Shewing by the effects that they desired nothing but friendship and good correspondencie with the empire protesting not to hold any thing belonging vnto the empire vnlesse it were Grauenweerd wheron they had built Schencks sconce which weert or peece of land beeing in question to whom it should belong they pretended to hold it vntill the cause were decided And so the towne of Emmeric was deliuered vp to the duke of Cleues the lord therof in Iune 1600 to the contentment of the said duke and embassadors who went from the Hage to Antuerpe and so to Brussels to procure the restitution of Rhineberck vnto the elector of Cologne but the archduke was gone into Flanders about the war there so as the embassadors were forced to follow him to Gant where vpon the 14 of Iuly they with other embassadors desired him That Rhineberck might be restored vnto the elector of Cologne as the vnited prouinces had already done vpon their words but they could not then obtaine it the matter beeing referred to a conference which by meanes of the embassadors was concluded betweene the deputies of the vnited prouinces and the committees for the Estates vnder the archdukes command as Brabant Flanders c. About that time the seignior of Briaute a yong gentleman of good esteeme in France captaine of a companie of horse in the Estates seruice verie valiant exceeding iealous of his honor was in garrison in Gheertruydenbergh vpon certaine words of disgrace as wel against his owne person in particular as against the whole French nation in general simply reported and vainly spoken by a souldier who had fled from the Estates partie called Lekerbitken that is to say a delicat morsel for his valor being made lieutenant of a horse companie to Grobendonc gouernor of Boisleduc Briaute doing therein wrong to his reputation to make question to a base traitor for words of so smal moment being vsual among souldiers for he was one of them which had sold Gheertruydenbergh to the duke of Parma hee sent him a challenge to fight with him single fiue to fiue ten or twentie This was accepted by Lekerbitken of twentie to twentie on horsebacke and with such armes as they vsed in the warres The day and place appointed prince Maurice sought to dissuade him shewing the sleightnesse of the quarrell and the disproportion to equall his person with a traitor and renegado but no persuasions could preuaile Briaute made choyce of nineteene almost all French men and went out of his garrison giuing the gouernour to vnderstand that it was with the princes consent and hauing giuen him in case he were slaine in this combat his best arms the which were as faire rich and as curiously wrought as any prince could weare hee went out of the towne to the place appointed for the combat midway betwixt Boisleduc and Gheertruydenbergh where finding not his enemie courage and heat made him aduance further than he should haue done meeting him about halfe a league from Boisleduc Vpon their approach they charged equally Briaute and his companie with two long pistols onely and Lekerbitken with petronels and long pistols the two champions hauing before giuen markes how to know one another Briaute by a great white plume and the other by a red Briaute hauing chosen his aduersarie charged him furiously with his troupe and notwithstanding all their harguebusadoes shot him in at the beauer and ouerthrew him Lekerbitkens brother was likewise slaine and two or three more of his companie so as it seemed that Briaute should remaine victor but they of Boisleduc to reuenge the death of their cōmander charged more furiously than before the which terrified some of the French so as they fled and left their captaine in danger who was taken prisoner with a kinsman of his the rest were slaine or put to rout Briaute and three of his companie beeing led prisoners to Boisleduc Grobendonc being before the port attending the returne of his men and to know with the first how the combat went seeing not his lieutenant hee demaunded where he was Answer being made him That both he and his brother were slaine He replyed And why haue you not slaine these men at which words his men fell vpon Briaute
that mony to the poore which would be much more acceptable vnto God And so Geertruy denbergh was freed from that practise THE XVI BOOKE The Argument THe castle of Crapoll surprised by the Estates Incursions made by them of Rhineberke into Cleues and Iuilliers The gouernour of Stralen ouerthrowne and taken The castle of Cracowe taken for prince Maurice The force of the vnited prouinces at sea An enterprise vpon Flessingue The duke of Neuers title to the duchie of Brabant Mutinies among the archdukes souldiers A practise to sacke Antuerpe The Estates prepare to go to field Rhineberck besieged The archduke resolues to besiege Oostend The description of Oostend Hee inuests it The prince sends to Oostend Rhineberck yeelded to prince Maurice He takes Moeurs Dom Catris generall of the Spanish armie slaine before Oostend Monsieur Chastillon slaine with a canon Vander Noot gouernor of Oostend leaues the towne A fire in the archdukes for t Aduertisements out of the campe The archdukes losse before Oostend The Estates resolue to besiege Boisleduc The archduke prepares to releeue Boisleduc The Estates raise their siege from thence Mastricht refuseth to receiue souldiers Oostend in danger to be taken They of Oostend parle with the archduke The treatie broken off The archduke giues a generall assault at Oostend His losse at it Sir Francis Veer retires from Oostend The sea ouerflowes Oostend Mutinie in the archdukes campe The Estates prepare to go to field Prince Maurice offers battaile to the admirall of Arragon The prince besiegeth Graue The admirall camps by him Graue yeelded to prince Maurice The mutiners of the admirals armie seize vpon Hoochstraten The admirall discharged of his generals place The mutiners of Hoochstraten banished Their answer to the proscription The popes Nuntio sent vnto them Eight cornets of the archdukes horses defeated Frederic Spinola brings six gallies into the Netherlands They are defeated by the Netherlandships The Estates make an incursion into Luxembourg A fight betwixt the gallies and the Estates ships Frederic Spinola slaine in the gallies The archduke besiegeth the mutiners in Hoochstraten Prince Maurice rayseth the siege He brings his armie before Boisleduc The archdukes armie followes him Marquesse Spinola reformes the armie Prince Maurice retires from Boisleduc The gouernour of Oostend slaine The Estates land with an armie in Flandes they take diuers forts neere to Sluce besiege Isendike and take it by composition Sluce besieged by the prince A generall assault at Oostend The mutiners reconciled to the archduke The marquesse Spinola comes to releeue Sluce he is repulst and the towne yeelded to the prince Oostend yeelded to the archduke A treatie of peace betwixt England and Spaine A discourse touching the peace in the Netherlands The earle of Hertfords embassage to the archduke An enterprise made by the prince vpon the Scheld and the taking of Wowe Spinola takes Linghen An enterprise vpon Berghen Spinola goes into Spaine Grol taken by composition Rhineberck yeelded to Spinola An enterprise vpon Sluce A tumult in Antuerpe Groningue castle rased The earle of Bronk murthered by the Spaniards A fight in the straits of Gibraltar betwixt the Spaniards and the Hollanders ships A treatie of peace betwixt the archduke and the vnited prouinces their deputies meet at the Hage The breaking off of the treatie ABout the fifteenth of Ianuarie 80 horse and some footmen of the Estates men surprised the castle of Crapoll in Lembourg forcing open the port with a petard where they found a good bootie of money iewels and plate which had beene brought by such as had fled thither for safetie There they tooke Harman Sohuyl the drossart brother to the rent-master carrying the best of the goods away with them and so left the castle beeing presently pursued by foure or fiue hundred horse as farre as the countrey of Iuilliers where they met some of their owne troupes who releeued them The Spanish garrisons lying in Rhineberck and in Gueldre all this winter made incursions into the countries of Iuilliers and Cleues the which they spoyled taking certain wagons belonging vnto the duke of Cleues the which they carried to Rhineberck and made good prize thereof for which cause the duke commaunded certaine ships of Berck to be staid at Duysseldorp Besides these iniuries the mutinous souldiers of Hamont to whom the towne and castle of Weert had beene deliuered for their securitie did wonderfully oppresse them of Iuilliers forcing them vpon some pretences to pay fortie thousand gulderns for which cause the garrisons vnder prince Maurice demanded the like summe in regard they gaue so much vnto the Spaniards their enemies and did not remaine neuters as they had promised so as the countrey was miserably oppressed and spoiled whereupon many townes and seigniories leuied men for their defence seeking by all the meanes they could to free the Rhine and offering a good summe of money for the same sometimes getting pasports from them of Rhineberck to passe vp to Cologne with ships laden with herring butter and cheese c. The house and castle of Cracowe with the lordship thereof being giuen as we haue said by the countesse of Moeurs vnto prince Maurice it belonging vnto the earledome of Moeurs was before in the yeare 1586 giuen by the duke of Parma vnto Salentin earle of Isenbourgh vpon some pretence which the said earl had euer since holden in his possession and now there lay one captaine Longehuyuen in it with 15 or 16 men it being a strong fort seated in a marsh Prince Maurice vnderstanding that this winter the ice in the ditches was not broken nor kept open he caused captaine Cloet to attempt to surprise it with 300 horse out of Nimeghen and some foot out of Wachtendonc and to that end Cloet went with his horsemen to Nieukerke on the 8 of Februarie Whereof Dulcken gouernor of Stralen being aduertised hee followed him with 400 horse and 4 or 500 foot and in the morning before sun-rising he sodainly charged Cloets companies in the village so as there were 40 of his horsemen wounded and taken before the rest by reason of the noise of people and barking of dogs could arme and get out of the village who being once out they put themselues in order of battaile but Stralen followed them not retiring with his troups by a deepe way which was of great aduantage to defend his footmen against Cloets horsemen hauing taken 30 of his men prisoners most being of prince Maurice his companie the which were soone taken from them againe for Cloet beeing much discōtented with this losse fetcht a compasse about by another way where he met with them entring vpon a heath charging them both before and behind he slew many both horse and foot vpon the place the rest fled into a certaine place where hee presently besieged them and forced them to yeeld vpō composition paying their ransoms he suffered 370 of the common souldiers to depart onely retaining Dulcken gouernor of Stralen
hee was intrencht on the one and twentieth of August in the night hee resolued to make an attempt vpon the campe betwixt the princes and cont Williams quarters but while they were bringing their ladders shouels pickaxes baskets and other instruments they were discouered so as all the princes armie stood readie in armes to entertaine them whereupon hee retired hastily making all the speed hee could leauing all those implements behind him and on the three and twentieth day he brake vp his campe hauing sent away his carriages before earely in the morning Monsieur Grobendonc gouernour of Boisleduc intreated the admirall to march with his armie to Rauestein where hee might haue more store of victuals and stop the ships which came with prouision out of Holland vnto prince Maurice his campe the which for some other considerations hee neglected and went to Venloo with his armie Whereupon prince Maurice followed him with his horsemen and fearing hee should attempt Berck or Moeurs hee sent Ernest earle of Nassau thither with certaine men but the admirall sought to get into Venloo in the which there was but a weake garrison but they would not suffer him to enter and so he went to Mastricht for that the whole armie began to mutine by reason of want especially the new Italians who could not shift without money whereupon diuers of them went and offered their seruice vnto prince Maurice They within Graue were in some doubt of the admirals retreat yet did their vttermost endeuours to defend themselues many of them notwithstanding got out of the towne in the night and yeelded themselues to prince Maurice letting him vnderstand That they wanted not any thing but men and that the feare of reliefe made many of them to faint Prince Maurice gaue pasports to all them that fled from the enemie and a gulderne a peece and so they went into Cleueland or into Zeeland and returned home into their countrey through France After many sallies and incounters the besieged hauing forsaken al their workes without the town and the princes men being come on the fourteenth of September to the rampar of one of the bulwarks of the towne lying vpon the Meuse with some losse of men they within gaue notice thereof vnto the neighbour townes by fire made in their tower tops but no reliefe being at hand and their men decreasing daily fearing also that the galleries on the other side of the towne would be also brought vnder their rampars within fiue dayes they offered a parle vnto whom monsieur Sydlenisky was sent by whose meanes they of the towne sent their deputies to prince Maurice and receiued hostages for them and so vpon the nineteenth of September a composition was made for the yeelding vp of the towne the which the prince did the more willingly agree vnto for that the riuer of Meuse began to swell whereby his trenches and galleries might haue beene much indamaged And so after two moneths siege it was deliuered The conditions were That the gouernour and souldiers should depart with their armes and baggage and ensignes displayed they should haue an hundred and fiftie wagons for their carriages to Dyest leauing hostages for them That such as had runne from the Estates should enioy the benâ—…t of the same conditions That the hurt and sicke might if they would goe by ship to Mastricht That all victuals ordnance and munition should bee deliuered vnto the princes commissaries without spoyle or diminishing That the souldiers should depart the towne the next day or else suffer two hundred men to enter into the castle and the bulwarkes And that the gouernor should procure the archduke to pay the magistrats and the bourgers of the towne all such summes of money as they had lent to him and his souldiers The next day they left the Graue and the bourgers intreated prince Maurice as their lord to receiue them into grace to forgiue what was past to protect and defend them and to confirme their priuiledges Concerning religion it was agreed That euerie one should liue according to his conscience without any molestation yet there should be no exercise of religion but as it was obserued in the vnited prouinces There were six moneths time granted vnto the bourgers to follow the archdukes court to recouer their debts and longer so it were with the consent of the gouernour or magistrat All spirituall and temporall men should haue three yeares respit to leaue the towne and to returne againe to dispose of their lands as they thought good and most conuenient With other articles concerning the towne in particular This composition thus made vpon the twentieth of September the Spanish garrison went forth beeing eight hundred men strong and two hundred hurt men the remainder of fifteene hundred Prince Maurice had many men also slaine whereof there were foure hundred English And many sicke men were sent into diuers hospitals for that there was a discase among them little better than the plague Vpon the eight and twentieth of September prince Maurice was installed lord of the towne and of the land of Cuyck and then came the deputies of the generall Estates both into the towne and armie to take order for the breaking vp of the same discharging the Reisters and giuing to euerie one halfe a moneths pay besides his due to beare his charges taking an order also for such as fled from the admirall being verie many Prince Maurice made monsieur Sidlenisky gouernour of the Graue beeing a wise and a valiant gentleman who had beene sergeant maior of the armie and had long serued the vnited prouinces faithfully in many good places Mabuse was made sergeant maior in his stead The souldiers in the archdukes armie vnder the admirall of Arragon were much discontented for want of pay especially the old souldiers for the new Italians ran away for which cause the admirall retired further from the enemie beeing not much beloued but rather contemned and hated of his souldiers who called him El gran Capitan del Rosario in regard of his deuotion who seeking to suppresse their mutinies by seueritie ten or twelue hundred of them forsooke the armie and tooke a small towne in the countrey of Liege called Hamont whereas the admirall did thinke to assayle them with such horse and foot as hee did most trust but they refused that charge Among these mutiners there was a banished souldier of Geertruydenbergh called Papanken who sent word vnto prince Maurice that hee would draw a good number of horse and foot from the enemie to serue the vnited Prouinces This offer was neither accepted nor reiected but all fauour promised them so as they would gouerne themselues well and faithfully c. Whereupon they entred into Grobendonc in Brabant their number still increasing and in the end seized vpon the strong castle of Hoochstraten whereas they made good orders among themselues and forced the boors round about to pay them contribution The archduke to preuent these
in the Netherlands which the archduke and the Infanta hold to be their owne proper inheritance wherewith they may deale as they thinke good they shall haue the libertie of religion allowed them or thinke you that the duke in his voyage to Spaine hath altered his mind or that the pope of Rome with whom he spake at Ferara hath inspired him with a more peaceable spirit or that the Spanish Inquisitors and Iesuire counsell haue turned his heart Beleeue the contrarie without al doubt and that al these do stil counsel him vnto a more strict seuere course It may be some wil say That haply he hath receiued other counsell and aduice from his brother the emperor But looke into the emperors actions where you shall see that the towne of Aix which by vertue of the lawes of the empire had long enioyed the exercise of both religions was abandoned by him in prey vnto the enemy and who also did looke on and said nothing to the admirals proceedings who vsed so great force and violence against all right and reason vpon the territories of the empire Examin the actions of the rest of the house of Austria how the archduke Ferdinando not long since hath by force banished the religion out of Styrmarke and Carinthia which had bin allowed therein since the time of the emperor Ferdinando his grandfather making no account of the complaints protestations of the Estates of the countrey but esteemeth them as wind which is an introduction to a ciuile war and a meanes to lose the whole countrie wherin neither the authoritie of his grandfather and father the bloudy wars in France and the Netherlands nor yet the neerenesse of the Turke that bordereth vpon him can moue him to any tolleration touching religion neither will he once remember how vnreasonable a thing it is to force and restraine his subiects in that which the Turke himselfe permitteth vnto his which example agreeth with the answer made by the K. of Spaine to Charls archduke of Austria for that when as the emperor Maximilian a peaceable prince and no persecutor of the religion but temperat in all his actions sent his brother Charls archduke of Austria into Spain to moue the king vnto the like temperance setting before his eyes the commendable example of the emperor Charls 5 his father who had allowed the religious peace in Germanie and willed all men to obserue it before that the common people were brought into dispaire and were quite fallen from him He made a full and a resolute answer That he would rather lose the countrie for euer than endure the least wrong that might be offered touching religion You know well also in the peace of Cologne in an 1579 what fauor he granted to them of the religion which was that he would neither burne nor hang them but that they should be banished out of the countrey and must seeke for harbor and protection like the Iewes misbeleeuing Heathen in other countries This is the meaning of all the house of Austria at this present all moderation and mildnesse dyed with the emperor Maximilian and his sonnes haue suckt a bitter hatred out of their Spanish mothers brest against the religion and by their daily conuersation with the Iesuites are more more confirmed therin This is that which in the contracts of mariage made between the archduke the Infanta and was openly sold in Brabant so as there is no doubt of the authoritie therof was so firmly set downe That they shold make no alteration in religion vpon paine of forfeiture of the said countries which in such a case the king of Spaine may lawfully seize into his hands againe shewing without all doubt or dissimulation how firmely they will hold with the Inquisition of Spaine touching that point so that it would be a ten fold blindnesse and madnesse in any man to thinke that the archduke the Infanta in regard they haue a vain hope at one time or other to be masters of Holland Zeeland would conforme themselues in religion and grant them any libertie therein for the prophesie saith That necessarily the last Monarchy must be erected in Spaine as in the beginning the one succeeded the other out of the East into the West that is out of Asia into Grecia from thence to Rome the which is so imprinted in the hearts of the king and the Spanish counsell as they esteeme all meanes of accommodation to be needlesse and do constantly beleeue that they shall be masters ouer all and at last in spight of al the world shall satisfie their desires And they are persuaded that by means of such accommodation in religion they should break all correspondencie with the pope and thereby ouerthrow all hope of their expected Monarchy Neuerthelesse if according to the necessitie of the time hee seemeth to be any thing conformable therein and granteth some libertie to religion it will be no other thing for you but for a while to saue you from ruine the which shal be broken againe when as the Spanish and Iesuiticall counsell whereunto he is so strictly bound shal thinke the necessitie past according to the old canon That they are not bound to haue any faith or promise with heretikes which they name rebels who as the Spaniards say haue falsified their faithes both to God and to the king Look what doctor Ayda a Spaniard auditor generall of the prince of Parma's armie writeth in his booke of Martiall Law printed in Antuerp saying That all contracts and treaties made betweene the prince his subiects that beare armes against him are of no force nor power and that the subiects cannot helpe the same but they shall do wisely by humble petitions to craue pardon at their princes and lords hands and to commit their cause to his discretion Which Spanish doctor you ought heartily to thanke for his so true round and vpright dealing with you and to gouerne your selues thereafter if not at some time or other you may wrongfully complaine that you were deceiued for that doctor Ayda can plainly tell you that he had warned you thereof before and that you despised his counsell But to returne to our former matter Marke what good meanes they haue on the other side to deceiue you and to make al promises with a grace and faire shew to be of no effect for that when you shall haue obtained any freedome in religion which neuerthelesse shall neuer be the duke of Brabant may plainly say thus vnto you Seeing I haue let you enioy the freedome of your consciences because you haue alwayes said That God onely ought to rule ouer the same yet at the least shew me obedience in other worldly matters And so if he can by your simplicitie attaine thereunto to place all the officers judges and magistrats in towns and prouinces that he may haue the forts and strength in his owne power and become master of the whole then assure your selues to haue the
apprehend their forces for that you haue not to do with the Duke of Alua with Don Iohn nor the Duke of Parma whose wise conduct experience in armes diligence and fortune was to bee feared whome you neuerthelesse haue valiantly withstood but with yong and vnexperienced Commanders and Leaders vnder whose gouernment you may already marke an alteration in the enemies marshall discipline and counsels and consequently in his proceedings whereas to the contrary you are blest of God with such a generall of your Armie as you neuer had before whose seruice the Empire of Rome requireth against the Turke and such a one as the King of Spaine with all his treasure although it were ten times greater cannot equall You haue the fauour and good will of all neighbour Princes and Potentates who although they aide you not with open armes yet they wish your good for the feare they haue of the Spaniard so as all furtherance is on your side The enemies Prouinces lye open to you and yours by meanes of the riche water land and strong townes shutte from them His hauens in Spaine Indies Brasilia and America are knowne vnto you and easily to bee sayled vnto so as at your pleasures you can enterprise any thing against them but hee hath prooued and tryed that your Hauens and Sea-townes need not to care for his fleetes Sea-faring meanes for money experience of the warres and authoritie are increased amongst you and decayed with him your cause the longer the more it is fauoured his from yeare to yeare is worse because hee incenseth first one and then another as not many yeares since hee did vppon the Lords of the Empire Besides all this you are to put your trust in the equitie of your cause and in Gods fauour who here-to-fore hath sundry times assisted you in greater necessitie whom you besides incurring the shame and disgrace of all the world both to you and your posteritie shall offend and make him with-drawe his fauours from you if that forgetting his benefits and distrusting his fauour now without cause either to spare your purses or vpon an immagined further rest and ease you will leaue and forsake his word and true religion as the Gargasens because of their Swine intreated Iesus Christ to depart out of the countrie for that as God and Belial cannot agree together so cannot you by meanes of the true religion at this time obtaine a peace with the King of Spaine the Arch-duke Albertus and the Infanta whome I place all in one degree but through your valiant resolution and continuance in armes you now remaine assured of religion and your freedome and in time are also to hope of a good peace with Spaine and all his friends no lesse then that which the Switzers obtained from the house of Austria where-vnto God almightie send you his grace with wise counsell and mutuall loue and vnitie And you Romish Catholikes amongst whome I know that there are many that wish and desire the freedome of your natiue countrie bee not perswaded that in regarde of your religion your burthens and charges vnder the Spaniards gouernment shall bee any thing diminished for there will bee still some cause of offence found against them that haue any thing to loose as beeing friends and wel-willers to Protestants were it onely but for that they haue not done their indeuours made resistance nor borne armes against their neighbours and kinsmen This is the crime of omission for the which the whole nation of the Netherlands were condemned by the King and the Spanish Inquisition and the execution thereof committed to the Duke of Alua as the Histories written by Catholikes themselues in honor of the King sufficiently declare This is that which Vergas President of the bloudie councell in the Duke of Aluas time sayd Heretici fraxerunt templa Boni nihil fecerunt contra ergo debent omnes patibulare that is The heretickes brake downe the Churches the good did not seeke to hinder nor let them and therefore they must all bee hanged For these reasons Iohn Baptista Taxis in Anno 1595. wrote vnto the King from Brussels that his Maiestie ought by no meanes to consent by any contract of peace that the Spanish garrisons should depart out of the countrie for that it would bee a blemish to his authoritie for sayd hee your Maiestie cannot build vpon those of the Catholike religion in regard that deuotion is onely found amongst a few old men and women which cannot fight the rest will altogether thrust their heads into one hood And although Taxis had not so plainly shewed this distrust which is had of you vnto the King and his counsell yet the deeds themselues declare it for all the world knowes that the Noblemen of the Netherlands notwithstanding their reconciliation with the King are not trusted but with hearts griefe must see yea and frette that the Spaniards are preferred not onely to bee Councellors but to the highest dignities to gouernment and other preserments and they despised reiected and badly dealt withall It preuailed Lamorall Earle of Egmont nothing at all that hee laboured to chase away the Preachers and that in all things hee shewed himselfe to bee a deuoute Catholike for notwithstanding all this hee lost his head His sonne who to winne more credit with the Spaniards openly sayd that his Father had his iust rewarde being in prison was despised and after long imprisonment was at last hardly released by the King in exchange with a Gentleman called Mounsieur la Noue and others likewise were released by the like vnequall exchange And when as the Baron De Selles Champigni the Bishop of Ypre and the Lord of Auchi were prisoners to the Estates the Duke of Parma was so slowe in seeking their deliuerie as the Barron De Selles dyed in prison with melancholie and griefe complaining that he and his brother the Barron De Noircarmes seruices were badly rewarded The Barron Van Hese was beheaded vpon a surmised crime many others were made away here and there in diuers places as Vrias was and little lamented Charles Earle of Mansfield had such strong Pepper giuen him by the Spaniards that hee left the Kings seruice in the Netherlands and went to serue against the Turke in Hungarie where hee dyed It is needlesse to rehearse many examples you see before your eyes how that they of Antwarpe Gant and other places haue gotten nothing by liuing like faithfull Catholike subiects vnder the King for that notwithstanding they must bee slaues to the Spanish nation and beare the intollerable abuses wrongs molestations iniuries of the Spanish garrisons yet their complaints cannot be heard nor any iustice done vpon the offenders which may serue for an example and fore-warning vnto all Catholiks that haue dwelt in the vnited Prouinces vnder the command of hereticks as the Spaniards Iesuits call them what good intertainment they were to expect if the Spaniards were absolute maisters yet they haue a strōger
and assistance of the Emperors Maiestie Princes Estates and commonalties of Germanie for the maintenance and support of their resolued vndertaken and now for many yeares continued gouernment might obtaine the meanes to chase away from their frontiers all such as seeke the subuersion of the Netherlands they would acknowledge it for a great grace and fauour whereof if they might bee assured they would vppon their request make a more plaine and ample declaration and let them know by the effects how much they did grieue at these bloudie warres But if the sayd Treatie tended to no other end they then intreated the Emperor Princes and Townes in regarde of the good of the Netherlands and the reputation of the whole Empire to take their refusall of a pasport with the time and place of meeting in good part Touching any wrongs done or insolencies committed by their souldiers vpon the frontiers of the Empire as also concerning the raising of new licences tolles and other Imposts they sayd that they did hope to take such a course as they should haue no iust cause of complaint But in the troublesome time to giue ouer any townes and Fortes which they for the good and seruice of the Empire and ◅o withstand the enemies inuasion had beene forced to take to their great charge and till then held they did presume that the Emperor Princes and Townes would hold it to bee contrarie to all pollicie and lawes of Estate and so much the rather for that the Marquis Spinolas desseigne was to passe his armie ouer the Rhine from whom the frontiers of the Empire were to expect no better then they had found at the hands of the Admirall of Arragon in the yeare 1598. This was the Estates answer vnto the proposition made by the Emperor Princes and Townes desiring Maximilian de Co◅hi to make a fauourable report of their sayd answer their letter bearing date the last of May 1605. In March this yeare Cont Frederic Vanden Berghe Brother to Cont Herman had a certaine enterprise vpon Rhinberk the which beeing discouered fayled so as hee was forced to retire yet without any losse of his men This yeare in Aprill the King of England sent his Ambassador into Spaine to see the King sweare the peace and at the same time hee sent Edward Lord Seymor Earle of Hertford sonne to the Duke of Somerset vnto the Archdukes to the same effect who arriuing at Dunkirke with a gallant traine of Noblemen and Gentlemen were honourably receiued there by Diego Ortes Gouernor of the Towne The Baron of barbanson brother to the Earle of Arenbergh Captaine of their Highnesse Archers attended him there All the Ordinance of the Towne was shotte off in a manner against the Estates shippes of warre which laye before it who in like manner to doe the Earle honor discharged all their Ordinance Hee had the like reception giuen him at Nieuport by Dom Pedro d'Alega the Gouernor and at Bruges by Monsieur de Croselles of the house of Montmorencie Gouernor of the Towne and great Bayliffe of Franke. Thether the Earle of Busquoy Maister of the Ordinance was sent to entertaine him The Earle comming to Alost hee was mette by the Earle of Ligny the Baron of La Bastie a French-man with diuerse other Gentlemen whether the Duke of Aumale sent a Gentleman with letters of congratulation vnto the Earle The Earle approching neere vnto Brussells within a mile of the towne hee was first mette by the Duke of Aumaule then by the Duke of Arschot the Marquis Spinola two Poland Dukes the Marquis of Hauerec the Earle of Aremberg the Prince of Palestrina the Prince of Caserte Dom Louis de Velasco Cont Theodore Trivulce Cont Frederick Vanden Berghe and many other Noblemen and Gentlemen The next day after his arriuall at Brussells hee was visited by the Marquis of Laguna sonne to the Duke of Medina Caeli Ambassador for the King of Spaine with the Archdukes At the Earle of Hertfords comming to Brussells the Archdukes were attended on with great estate wherof I will make some particular relation and first of the Inf◅ntaes ladies without any distinctiō of precedence First there was the Lady Iohanna of Chassincourt her Chamberlaine the chiefe of her Ladies of honor were the Countesses of Vsedale Busquoy and La Fere her Maides of honor were the Lady Claudia Catherina Liuia her Sewer and cousin to her Chamberlaine the Lady of Croy her Caruer the Lady of Selles the Lady of Montmorencie the Lady Maria Manuel a Spanish Ladie the Lady Magdeline de Bye the Lady of Marle the Lady Vincentia of Ferrara the Ladyes Ermesyna and Clara daughters to the Earle of Aremberghe the Lady of Balanson Cousin to Varambon the Lady Marguerite of Bourgondie Cousin to the Earle of Busquoy with twelue other waighting women most of them Spaniards There were then also present to honor the Infanta the Countesse of Mansfeldt daughter to the Earle of Egmond the Countesse of Aremberghe the Marquesse of Berghen the Countesse of Egmont the Countesses of Barlaimont Lalaine Solue Bossu Fontenay Berghe Bye Essingen Fressin and Bruay the Countesse of Saint Aldegonde the Countesse of Bassigny and the Countesse of Malespina The Lady of Brabanson the ◅ady of Liekerke the Lady of Terrayse the Lady of Blancheual the Lady of Liques the Lady of Chassey the Lady of Liliers and diuers others Vpon the Archduke their attended the Earle of Essengen the Earle of Saint Aldegond the Marquis of Monte-negro his Mayordomo Don Pedro de Ponce the Vicont Octauio his chiefe chamberlaine DonGaston Spinola vice chamberlaine Don Innigo de Mendosa Don Diego de Mexia Don Diego d' Acuna Don Alonzo d' Aualos Don Inigo de Borgia Brother to the Duke of Gandia and Captaine of the Castle of Antwerp the Earle Enenbergh Cont Frederic vander Berghe captaine of the garde the Lord of Brabanson brother to the Earle of Arembergh captaine of the Archers with many others Besides al these attendants there were diuers knights of the order of the golden fleece as the Duke of Arschot the Marquis of Haurec the Earle of Aremberg the Marquis Spinola There were also the Earle of Egmont the Earle of Solme the Marquis of Robaix sonne to the Earle of Ligny the Marquis of Renty sonne to the Earle of Solme the Earle of Busquoy Henin Hochstrate Rassingen Isenburgh Bee Euerbergh Bossu and Fresin most of them young Earles The Lord of Seuenbergen Sonne to the Earle of Arembergh the Lord of Chalon Nephew to the Earle or Mansfeldt the Lord of Wesemael the Lord of Vendesy of the house of Montmorency Of strange noblemen there were the Duke d' Aumale the Duke of Ossuna Don Iohn de Medicis base brother to the Duke of Florence the Prince of Caserta a Neopolitaine the Prince of Palsterino a Columnese the Marquis of Malespina of the house of Paluoisin Cont Thedore Triuultio Don Louis de velasco generall of the light horsemen with many
captaine as hee bent his pistoll vpon him which hee likewise did to him but both fayled wherewith the Spanish captaine thought to haue taken hold of the Earles scarse and for to haue pulled him to him the which Bax perceiuing hee bent his pistoll at him thinking to shoote him into the face but with ouer great hast hee shot him lower in the armor and their they sat both on horse-backe hardly be-sted amongst their enemies and but weakely releeued by meanes of the noise and cries which the Earles horsemen had caused amongst them they had manie shot made at them but in the end Baxes Nephew came and releeued them and by that meanes they gathered some horses together and once againe charged the head of a troupe but were againe put backe and in that sort they fought for the space of seauen houres In the meane time Prince Maurice came on with three field peeces and some troupes of footemen which as then were more necessarie then the horsemen who beeing ledde on by Cont Ernestus and collonel Marquette they discharged a volley of shot amongst the Spaniards at which time Earle Theodoro Trivultio was slaine beeing Lieutenant generall of those troupes a braue souldier and of a Noble house and therewith certaine horsemen led on by the Earle Henrick giuing a new charge the Spaniards were once againe put to flight and were driuen vp a hill some ranne into the wood and many saued themselues in the house of Brooke which at the first they tooke by policie but it was taken from them againe and for want of good order they recouered it againe and so it serued them for a good retraict many were taken and slaine in the flight and diuers horses wonne but such as fled into the wood heareing of Spinolaes comming from Roeroort with the whole armie gathered together againe After this long and tedious fight Prince Maurice hearing of Spinolaes approch hee caused his men to returne willing Bax to staie there to fauour the retraict as hee did but was ill seconded by the other horsemen the Spaniards hauing gotten fresh supplies fell vpon them againe and the horsemen getting ouer Roere the Spaniards fell vpon the English foote who valiantly defended themselues as long as they had any powder but the Earle of Chastillion standing with two troupes vpon the Roere about a hedge shot so fiercely as the Marquises horsemen were forced to retire and so they made an orderly retraict the Spaniards following them still shooting but comming to a heath they left each other where as Prince Maurice called for those horsemen which had fled giuing them many reprochful speeches and shewed them what confusion they had made amongst his men whereas he put his greatest trust in them and by that meanes mist so good and faire an occasion to ouerthrow his enemy It was thought in this fight there were about fiue hundred of Spynolas men slaine whereof one was the Earle Theodoro Trivultio whose body beeing imbalmed was the next yeare sent vnto Milane where hee was borne and Gambarotta and others of account amongst the prisoners one was Nicholas Doria cousin to Spinola and others hauing two cornets taken from them and of Prince Maurices side they lost two Ensignes and about two hundred men amongst the which Mousier Dumdeville was one and certaine captaines the prisoners were Mounsier de Bethune who was presently exchanged for Nicholas Doria as also captaine Sald captaine Pigot and captaine Ratclif but Sir Henrie Carie a gallant Gentleman and Maister of the Iewell house to the King of England after his father was put to a great ransome for that hee serued as voluntarie and was not contained in the quarter This was donne vpon the nineth daie of October which gaue Prince Maurice great cause not to put so great confidence in his horsemen beeing as then but weake of foote so as after that hee durst not by any meanes hazard the like againe This Winter there was little done in the Netherlands touching the warres onely that the garrisons on either side made many enterprises one vpon an other as vpon Nuys Graue Erckelens Deuenter especially ouer the Ice during the frost but they tooke no effect the feare thereof beeing the cause which made the generall Marquis Spinola to staie longer in the Netherlands then hee thought to haue done so as it was the first daie of Ianuary before he tooke poast to passe through France into Spaine where on the waie hee was hindered by sickenesse and beeing in Spaine hee found more want of money then hee expected by the bad traficke in Spaine for that the East and West Indian fleetes were not come as also in regard of the dearth in Spaine whereby al the Spanish ryalles were paied and carried away for corne which was brought thether in great aboundance out of France England and other countries so as in Spaine they were forced to vse most copper money the which was wont to bee as plentifull of siluer as any other countrie In this winter also the counsell of warre assembled in the Hage to giue their censure vpon the gouernor and captaines of Linghen for that they had so basely yeelded vp the towne this counsell consisting of the Earles Henricke Ernest and Iohn of Nassaw the young Earle of Solms the Lord Vander Noote gouernor in Flanders Emerie van Lidie gouernor of Williams Stat Mounsier van Lookeren with some English and Scots Colonels and other captaines with Collonel Warner du Bois as president which met the last of Ianuary They of Gelderland with certaine of the Barron van Hemerts kindred who was beheaded in the Earle of Leicesters time by rigor of lawe said that if they were not beheaded that then the said Barron of Heemert had great wrong offered him for that hee had endured three assaultes giuen against the towne of Graue and receiued aboue a thousand eight hundred cannon shot whereas they to the contrary suffered three bridges to bee laid ouer the towne ditches in the daie time without any resistance and that therefore if they would proceed seuerely against the one and not against them they should then haue good cause to apeale against the Iudgement giuen vpon the Barron de Hemert This counsell sitting tell the 11. day of February at last they gaue sentence that the gouernor of Lynghen called Marten Cobbe and captaine Iohn Witte should bee dismist and with ignominy declared vncapable euer after to beare armes and that the Drosart Albert of Itersome Iohn Ruysch Iohn van Dyck Ernestus Mellinga Nichalas Audaert and the Licentiate Iuthiema should bee deposed from their places cassiered and should serue vnder such companies as they should be appointed vnto to recouer their credits againe if they could This sentence was much spoken of for that many were of opinion that if at the first these men had beene censured they had beene likely to haue lost their heads but so much time passing ouer before they
alteration in the meane time for that they of Reinbergh beeing out of hope of releefe and perceiuing that the enemie had gotten so neere vnto the towne as they were in great danger thereof vpon the same day beeing the first of October they compounded with Spinola to yeeld the towne vnto him Cont Henricke being before Venlo with his Petards brake open the gate before day light but the alarme was to soone giuen within the towne for that the same euening there was a company of horsemen ledde by Mounsier Van Etten Generall of the victuals come into the Towne whereby it hapned that some of Cont Henricks men beeing alreadie entred into the Towne were by the sayd horsemen with some losse driuen out againe and forced to retire Prince Maurice also lay on the waie but to no end for that Spinola had commanded that no man should that night go out of the campe They of Reinbergh agreed with Spinola to depart the towne with armes and baggage like souldiers and with three peeces of ordinance that laie in the Weert as also the new Geusen or Saint Andreas souldiers but they must leaue al the shippes puntes bridges and the rest of the ordinance and so vpon the second daie of October there issued three thousand men with three companies of Ruyters with the dead bodie of general Edmonds it is thought there were fiue hundred lost within the towne both dead and wounded The French gentlemen also departed from thence with their honours as also the gouernor and the Lord of Sweten it seemeth that the greatest cause of the giuing ouer of the towne was that they saw no hope of releife and therefore without staying to trie the vttermost extreamitie they made a composition in time pretending some feare to want powder whereof at the first they had great store and had beene verie prodigall for they had aboue a hundred thousand pound of powder which as then they had brought to thirty thousand pound and there withall they had a kinde of feare so as they durst not trie the last euent of armes It was thought there were many of the enemies slaine before the towne and amongst the rest three Engeneurs or maisters of the fortifications Pompeio Romano their chiefe Engeneur wounded before it also was slaine Collonel de Tores who had the regiment of Catrice and the Lieutenant Collonel of the Barron of Achicourt with diuers others of great quality as the cousins of Spinola and the Earle of Busquoy Their losse of men was found to bee so great at also by reason of the disease and wetnesse of the weather as their companies at the musters were found to bee but fortie or fiftie strong so as many regiments as amongst the rest two Italian regiments one Cont Guydo St. Georgios the other Pompeto Iustinianios were lesse by a third part then they should bee By meanes of the winning of this towne Spinola had great aduantage and much helpe for thereby hee had meanes to haue victualls follow him from the towne of Cologne and the country of Cleaue and all little inough by reason that the waies by meanes of the great store of raine that had fallen were so foule and deepe as they had no sourage for their horses the corne in many places with the raine and foule wether beeing beaten flat vpon the ground and by the many and diuers enterprises made by the souldiers on both sides a great number of places were vtterly ruined and spoiled and therefore the shippes ship-bridges ponts and ordinance which they got in Reinberghe came well to passe for them Spinola was in all places commended for the good order and discipline hee obserued amongst all his souldiers and in these Netherland warres no man better deserued it which was the cause that his army was not euill thought-on in the newterall countries The losse of Reinberghe caused no small feare in the vnited Prouinces each towne obseruing and iudging of his owne weaknesse that maxime or oppinion long holden by them beeing then broken which is that a towne which is besieged beeing well furnished with good store of braue souldiers and seconded with an army to aide them might bee esteemed inuincible but these our warres haue many and often times prooued the contrary for which cause many faint-hearted people complained of the long warres and the great charges thereof wherevnto it was a great furtherance that the old stoute resolute men which had felt the Spanish yoake were most of them dead and that the gouernment of the state is not now in the hands of such zealous persons The Marquis Spinola hauing wonne honour in the taking of Rhine-Berck went and lodged his armie in the countrie of Iuilliers in the Diocesse of Cologne and thereabouts the which Prince Maurice vnderstanding hee raised his campe and marcht with all spâ—…ed before Grol with an intent to recouer it againe lodging his men in the towne ditches without any one cannon shot But Spinola aduertised of this desseigne hee presently gathers his forces together and what with faire promises and some little money he perswaded them to march for the freeing of that Towne which the Prince vnderstanding and winter drawing on hee raised his campe and so both the Armies returned to their garrisons to winter and rest their men this was in Nouember The mutines of Dyest continued all this time in their mutinie seeking to drawe contribution from all the frontiers euen out of Germanie vntill they were payed The which the Prince Elector of Mentz vnderstanding hee caused a dyet of the Circles to bee held at Ouerwezel to ptouide some meanes to stop their incursions but there was nothing effected but in the end the King of Spaine and the Arch-dukes were forced to giue them contentment More-ouer Dom Ihon de Medicis hauing three and twentie companies of foote and foure Cornets of horse entred into the countrie of Mont Iean belonging vnto the Duke of Cleues and so into the Duchie of Iuilliers his men were Italians and new come committing all the spoiles and insolencies they could deuise This did adde more to the miseries of those quarters who had nothing common with the warres of the Netherlands In Ianuary 1607. the mutines of Dyest made a roade euen vnto the suburbes of Liere the which they sayd was friend to the King of Spaine and to the Arch-dukes and therefore subiect to contribution as well as the Netherlands whereof thâ—…y came to doe execution by Lont-recht as they call it which is as much to say as Militarie Iustice. But the Townes-men who are giuen to armes tooke armes and chased them away with the losse of foure of them and fiue and twentie of the mutines which made them retire spoiling some farmes there-abouts But in other places they did so terrifie them with threats as they forced them of the Duchie of Iuilliers to giue them ten thousand rycx Dallers they of Cologne seauen thousand the Abbot of Duyts eight
of the vnited Prouinces into his hands which the vnited Prouinces would not yeeld vnto only they thought it good to put certayne townes into his hands for his securitie thereby to procure further ayd from him For this cause the French King sent the President Ianin Mounsier de Roussy and Mounsier Buzenuall as Ambassadours into the vnited Prouinces who arriued there vpon the foure and twenty day of May and vpon the eight and twenty of the same month had audience where first they showed what aide their King had giuen vnto the vnited Prouinces and then they complained that the Estates had delt so secretly with their enemy concerning a truce without their Kings aduice offering withall their Kings fauor and further aide vnto them with a presentation of an ordinary prouision to aide them as long as they continued warre or if they made a peace that hee might deliuer his aduise therein and giue consent to the effecting thereof To which end they desired them to appoint certaine deputies on their behalfes that might treate with them touching all causes not onely concerning the Estate of the countrie and the meanes thereof but also touching the reasons and considerations that might bee most necessary and conuenient to be propounded in the treaty of peace and best to preserue their Estate in freedome Wherevnto there were certaine committies appointed out of euery Prouince as for Holland Mounsieur Barneuelt for Zeland Mounsieur de Maeldere so of other Prouinces who vpon the 29. of May with Mounsieur de Beye the treasorer hauing full instruction they began to conferre with the French ambassadors and concluded that they should stay there in the Kings behalfe to aide them in the treaty of peace and to further the same The like aide and assistance they desired of the King of England who willed them first to send certaine deputies vnto him to giue him full instructions of their Estate and meanes to which end in Iuly they sent Iohn Berck counselor and pentionar of the towne of Dort for Holland and for Zeland Sir Iacob van Maldere knight into England accompanied with their ordinary ambasador Sir Noel Caron who vpon the 16. day of Iuly had priuat audience of the King and after that seuerall times of his councell beeing well and honorably entertained and feasted in euery place especially in London with the King and the Prince at Marchant-taylors hall where they were honored with certaine freedomes belonging vnto the sayd company of Marchant-taylors whereby did appeere the old mutuall affection and inward contracts of friendship made betweene the Netherlands and the Realme of England at last they tooke their leaues of the King and the Prince with satisfaction according to their desires and promise from the King to aide the vnited prouinces both with counsell and otherwise especially in their proceeding with the treatie of peace promising to send Sir Richard Spencer and Sir Raphe Winwood ambassadors into the vnited Prouinces and so the ambassadors hauing either of them a chaine of gold giuen them one of them being also made knight tooke shipping and vpon the tenth day of August ariued in Zeeland I showed before that within three monethes the King of Spaines agreation of the truce made for eight monthes was to bee brought vnto the Estates out of Spaine and to that end the Archdukes vsed all the dilligence they could to procure the same which at the last was obtained and vpon the sixteene day of Iuly Spinola wrot vnto the Estates of the vnited Prouinces to certifie them that his Secretary Birago had brought the said agreation out of Spaine desiring a pasport for Mounsieur Vereycken to come into Holland to deliuer the sayd agreations and withall to proceed to some pointes touching the treatie in hand which letter vpon the eight day of Iulie was by Spinolaes trumpet brought to the Hage and the next day a pasport was made accordingly whereby the sayd Vereycken vpon the foure and twenty day of Iulie came to the Hage and that daie had audience of the generall Estates where hee shewed them the King of Spaines agreation placed vnder the acts made the foure and twenty day of Aprill and the first of Iune written in Spanish bearing date the last of Iune the contents thereof being that his Maiesty hauing seene the contents of those acts sent him by his deare brother and sister the Archdukes Albertus and the Infanta Clara Eugenia Princes and soueraigne Lords of the Netherlands touching the truce and abstinance from armes for the space of eight monthes with ceasing from surprising of all townes and sorts inuading of countries and making of new forts during the said time as also of an intent on both sides to cause certaine deputies to assemble together about the concluding of a generall peace or long truce as the same at large declarethâ—… hauing well and duelie considered thereof declareth that not to restraine withhold nor any wayes to hinder the good that is to be expected thereby hee not onely hath commended approued and ratified the aforesaid abstinance from armes and by these presents doth commend approue ratifie and confirme in all points the said abstinance from armes as much as it concerneth him promising vpon his Princely word and faith to hold and maintaine the same in euery point as well as if he had consented therevnto at the first and that the matter had beene begun and treated by his consent and authoritie without any contradiction of the same In witnesse whereof he had signed the same sealed it with his seale dated in Valiodolid the first of Iune That which stood vnder the act of the first of Iune was of the same substance and almost verbatim as neere as might bee but both the acts vnder the which those agreations stood were written in French wherein especially in the acte of the foure and twenty of Aprill in the chiefest and most substanciall clause there was forgotten or left out these words Vniâ—…s en qualite et comme les tenans pour pais prouinces c. The aforesaid agreation being also written in paper sealed with the small seale and signed Io el Rey and to auoide all further difficulties a motion was made that the Estates would countermaund and call home all their shippes of warre from the coast of Spaine The Estates for their partes dislâ—…ked much that by the said agreation the Arch-dukes should bee termed Soueraigne Lordes of all the Netherlands and withall they found out the aforesayd error not knowing whether ignorantly or of purpose it had beene so omitted and there-vpon they showed him with what abuse such a fault had beene committed in the principall acte which hee confessed to haue beene perceiued and found out also in Brussels saying that it was but the writers fault who in coppying the same negligently omitted a whole line and for that the agreation was generall the Arch-dukes thought good to send it onely to let them know
which they said they would send into Spaine and Brabant that so they might get a further and larger commission touching the same with exception that the said articles should bee so qualified as they in Spaine might like thereof and not receiue more offence thereby and that their princes reputations might not bee thereby impaired And for that they did not well vnderstand the point propounded touching traffique to Antuerpe and other townes and places vnder the archdukes obedience they desired the Estates to permit Martin de la Faille with two or three other merchants of Antuerpe to haue accesse vnto the Hage that they might ioyne with them in consultation about that point that so it might bee fully resolued vpon Wherein the Estates deputies desired time to consider thereon and after much consultation had about the drawing of the said articles and the assurance to bee made they were of opinion That their best securitie was to haue readie money deliuered into their hands And after they had well considered thereof they caused two articles to bee drawne the one for nine yeares trade into the Indies and the other touching their trade and traffique in Europe and at last they concluded to demaund for their securitie of traffique in Europe from the king of Spaine and the archdukes the summe of fifteene hundred thousand duckets to be deliuered in readie money in the vnited prouinces as a caution thereof and that the Estates for their parts would leaue the summe of fiue hundred thousand duckets in readie money either in Spaine or in any other countrey for an assurance of the other traffiques The said articles being drawne and set downe vpon the seuenteenth of March in the afternoone the deputies on both sides met together whereas the deputies for the Estates deliuered the Spanish deputies the said two articles drawne by them which they tooke and said they would consider thereof and for their parts they deliuered a long discourse to the Estates deputies touching traffique to Antuerpe and other places vnder the archdukes obedience containing their opinions how they vnderstood the same and with what libertie and freedome it should bee permitted which was That their ships being full laden might freely sayle out or from any of their townes to any kingdome or countrey in Europe and with their ladings come backe againe and passe through the Estates streames without any further trouble or let than hath of antient time beene vsed as also to vnlade their wares and merchandises in the Estates streames into their owne ships or warehouses by their owne men and so to carrie the sayd wares from thence againe without any further charge and that no right of staple shall take place against any goods or wares if they belong vnto the countries and prouinces wherein the places of staple are contained Against the which the Estates deputies protested and especially touching the point concerning the staple right and after much conference and disputation had betweene them touching the same as also about the articles and other things each partie tooke time to consider thereof The Spanish deputies saying That they could not in any sort determine nor conclude vpon that treatie before they had sent into Spaine to haue their commission amplified and for that the last prolongation of the truce began to expire they said they were content to prolong the same againe for two moneths more beginning vpon the first of Aprill which the Estates deputies consented vnto and thereupon prolonged the said truce vntill the end of the moneth of May. The 20 of March the said deputies assembled together againe where the deputies for the king and the archdukes mooued many difficulties touching the article concerning the time of nine yeares to be allowed for the Indian trade saying that they could not allow thereof much lesse permit that in the said act any mention should bee made of the tropicke of Cancer which goeth round about the world which in that case would breed a canker in Spaine withall they deliuered vnto the Estates deputies a certain draught concerning the same made to their most aduantage whereupon much disputation and contention grew again between them for that therein they seemed to adde such a condition as at the end of the said 9 yeares the vnited prouinces should haue small hope of any further trade into those parts and that within the said nine years also they should loose a good part of the said trade yet the Estates deputies receiued the said draught to consider thereon And proceeding further to the point of securitie the Spanish deputies said that it was neuer heard of before that any money should bee deliuered for caution in such a case and therefore they could not allow of that point to be set downe in such order and the rather for that they had consumed all their money in the warres and therefore knew not how to get any more money or to put in any such securitie neuerthelesse Richardot said that the marquesse had credit enough if hee would become caution for the same and so in iesting manner seemed to refuse that point touching securitie yet notwithstanding many men were of opinion that it was a matter of great importance Touching the article for traffique in Europe they made no great question for that they expected certaine marchants to come from Antuerpe about the same whose pasports they laboured with great instance to procure The Estates finding that the article touching their trade into the Indies was not well liked of by the deputies for the king and archdukes and hauing that in their hands which they had deliuered vnto them thought it not good to stand too much vpon their owne opinions neither yet in that respect to breake the treatie begunne with good hope and expectation of so many men but rather to yeeld somewhat in that respect to accomodate themselues neerer vnto the desires of their aduerse parties and for that cause they consulted seriously amongst themselues touching that point to see how they might best frame the same that so the countrey might not be wholly debarred from the said trade but at the end of the said 9 yeares they might remaine in as much freedome concerning the same as they did before wherein many difficulties were propounded by diuers men beeing of opinion that whatsoeuer should not be well and plainely expressed in that article the vnited prouinces should be depriued thereof as in the like cases it commonly falleth out with the weakest partie for that the mightier partie doth presently take and iudge the obscure points to tend to their most aduantage and so seeke to put them in practise whereas the weaker partie which is loath to begin warres againe cannot withstand it but of force must endure it especially in a gouernment consisting of so many parts and members as the gouernment of the Estates is whereas the members that beare no part of the losse are hardly to be persuaded in regard of their
own other mens hurts and hindrances which neuerthelesse are sometimes by many persuasions and iealousies wonne to stirre therein to grant to the disbursing of any great summes of money or to begin warre and therefore their strict standing vpon the nicenesse of that article was not so well liked of by all the prouinces They also agreed to make an other draught touching their trade in the Netherlands and other parts of Europe thereby also to reduce it vnto a neerer conformitie more agreeable vnto the writing deliuered vnto them by the Spanish and the archdukes deputies which hauing done they caused pasports to be drawne for two or three marchants of Antuerpe After that the deputies on both sides met againe vpon the 25 of March in the afternoone where the said draughts were againe read and considered of but the Spanish deputies would not as then accept of them so as after many disputations had betweene them they brake vp for that time to the end that euery man might consider the better thereon The Estates deputies vnderstanding better the Spanish deputies meaning what they chiefly desired and would be brought vnto in that respect once againe perused and mended their said draught which they restrained and limited as neere as the said article might by any meanes be drawne and deuised with least preiudice and while they were busied about it Richardot thereby to stirre vp and persuade such persons as were against it vnto a better liking therof and to dispose their mindes thereunto desired to speake with them which they allowed him who beeing alone amongest them beganne to complaine of the Estates precisenesse in that point saying that the marquesse and he were much grieued that they had beene employed in that matter concerning a treatie of peace seeing they were like to loose their labours for that the Estates in those points sought onely to haue their owne willes and thereby would be the cause to hinder and breake off so good an action as the making of peace was and would bee desiring them therefore most earnestly so to set downe and accommodate these articles touching the traffique into the Indies and the trade and traffique in the Netherlands and Europe in such points and tearmes as in Spaine they might bee liked and accepted of whereas to the contrarie it was to bee expected that they would not onely bee disliked but wholly reiected and that thereby the said treatie would presently bee broken off for the which hee seemed to be so much grieued as the teares fell from his eies thereby to mooue them thereunto producing withall many reasons why the Estates ought rather to bee a meanes to further the said treatie than by ouer much precisenesse to cause it to bee broken off and made fruitlesse which speeches vsed by him were no small meanes to mooue them to frame the said articles in a more indifferent manner and the rather for that many men were of opinion that it behooued them to drawe vnto an end that they might see the vttermost aduantage and benefit that the prouinces were to expect from and by the said treatie of peace and what burthens the Spaniards and archdukes would offer to impose vpon these countries in recompence of the title by them giuen and graunted vnto those prouinces especially for that many of them were of opinion if that they could make the vnited prouinces free from all pretences of soueraigntie of the house of Burgondie and withall procure a peace and discontinuance of and from those long and bloodie warre for that cause onely vndertaken and maintained that then they had fought a good fight and brought the matter to the desired end and their shippe to a safe and an assured port and for that cause they drew the said articles to as strict points and tearmes as possibly they could deuise by any meanes And so vpon the last day of March in the afternoone they met together on both sides where they sate long and there the last draughts of the said articles were read and deliuered and after many discourses had betweene them touching the same thereby to shewe the reasons thereof the marquesse determined to send them into Spaine by frier Iohn Nayen asking thirtie eight daies time to effect the same for that as hee past through Fraunce he was to stay there certaine daies and hoped in that time to bring a finall answer out of Spaine touching the same The substance of the article made concerning traffique to the Indies whereon the greatest disputation arose betweene them was that the inhabitants of the vnited prouinces should continue their nauigation into the Indies after the manner of marchants and traffique there for the space of nine yeares from the time of the truce graunted and set downe if that the treatie proceeded and were fully finished and determined and to that end it was agreed that the said nine yeares should beginne on this side the cape de bona speranza vpon the first day of September in the yeare 1608 and on the other side of the said cape de bona speranza vpon the first day of September in the yeare 1609 and that they should traffique into all the places hauens townes and forts of the Indies which at the end of the aforesaid truce shall not absolutely be vnder the power of the king of Spaine nor his lieutenants and in those places hauens townes or forts that are belonging vnto the said king of Spaine they shall neither enter nor traffique into them but by the licence and consent of those that haue authoritie and shall commaund therein for the said king of Spaine vnlesse it bee vpon some great extreamitie in which case they shall bee vsed there like friends as the subiects of the king of Spaine in like manner shall bee vsed in the townes forts and places that belong vnto the said States And that during the said nine yeares all acts of hostilitie vsed in those parts shall cease as well betweene the subiects of the king of Spaine the archdukes and those of the Estates as of all the kings lords towns and places that shal as then be in friendship and league with the one or the other partie whose names shall within three yeres bee certified by the king of Spaine and the archdukes vnto the Estates in the Hage and on the Estates behalfe the sayd names shall also bee certified vnto the said king and archdukes within the said time in the towne of Brussels as it is inserted and set downe in the treatie and that all wrongs and dammages done and suffered to bee done to the contrarie shall bee demaunded sued for and repaired in the places where they were done and committed or in the places where those that haue done the said wrongs and iniuries dwell and remaine without dealing or medling therein in any other places or forts or by reprisals than onely in the places aforesaid And that two yeares before the time of expiration of the aforesaid
The Emperors letter to the princes â—…lectors The Emâ—…erors departure out of the Netherlands 1556 King Philips age King Philips proceeding after the emperors departure King Philip makes an excessiue demaÌ„d of the Netherlanders A great famin in the Netherlands The king coâ—…es out of â—…ngland to â—…is A fight at sea betweene the Hollanders the FrenchmeÌ„ Mary queen of England â—…roclaimeth open war against France S. Quintains besieged by king Philip. The battaile of 〈◊〉 Quintines The names of the noblemen of France thâ—…t were sâ—…e taken prisoners S. Quintine won the admiral of France with monsieur Daudelot his brother taken prisoners Peace made with the pope Calis taken by 〈◊〉 French meÌ„ * E. Demetrius 1558 Guynes woon by the French men Mary queen of Scots maried to the Dolphin of France Theonuille woon by the French men Duynkâ—…rke woâ—…n by the â—…nch men The battaileoâ—… Graueling in Flanders Mary queen of England died The death of queen â—…enor and queen Mary sistâ—…rs to â—…he emperour Charles the 5. The death of the emperour Charles the 5. Treatie of peace between France and Spaine Articles of the peace made at Cambresis Heâ—…ry king of France slâ—…ine aâ—… a running at 〈◊〉 The death of Pope Paule the fourth The lady Marguerite aduanced to the gouernment by the Cardinals meanes A petition mâ—…de by the states to king Philip to send the Spaniards out of the Netherlands King Philip 〈◊〉 from Vlishâ—…g into Spaine The Bible called Complutensis printed in Antuerpe at the costs and charges of K. Philip. A briefe declaration of the priuiledges of Brabant The libâ—…ralitie of thâ—… NetherlaÌ„dâ—…s to their lords and princes The emperour Charls thoght to haue reduced the Netherlands all into one kingdome Vnder pretence of religion othermeans were sought to take the priuiledges of the Netherlands from them The Inquâ—…tion nâ—…t suffered to proceed in the NetherlaÌ„ds oy means of Mary queen of Hungarie Inquisitors of the Faith made Thâ—… liâ—… of cardâ—…l 〈◊〉 His â—…randfather Hâ—…s father â—…is 〈◊〉 to hâ—…ue thâ—… king 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of â—…s couâ—…sel How he preuented the enuy of the couâ—… The cardinalâ—… priuat life His adultery luxury The Cardinals codpisse Hath made the king Golette misse His inchantments and witchcrâ—…t His contempt of the word of God The clergie at debate for the new bishops Deputies sent from Antuâ—…rpe to the king of Spâ—…ne touching the bishops The lord of Monâ—… sent â—…to Spain 1563 Letters of complâ—…int vntâ—… 〈◊〉 â—…g agâ—… the cardinall The kings answer The noblemens reply The cardinal called back into Spaine The pâ—…ution oâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ster 1564 Difference betwixt England and the Netherlands The abbey of Ouwergâ—…m â—…obd The earle of Egmont sent into Spaine 1565 The kings letters other than were expected Execution of the edicts Introduction of the Inquisition To put tâ—…e couâ—…ll of Treâ—…t in praâ—…e The Gouernesse sâ—…ters to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The prince of Oranges letter to the dutches Touching the execution of edicts The prince excuseâ—…h himself fâ—…oÌ„ this châ—…rge The Gouernesse sends for the prince of Orange to come to Brussels The magistrat of Antuerpe sendeth to the Gouernesse A bloudie resolution A dâ—…scourse of Fâ—…s Baudwins teaching the meanes to â—…uent the trouâ—…s Definition of this word Reâ—…on The minds of men cannot be commanded by force Couetousnes and ambition doe more than torments They must giue audience to them of the religion Mahumet forbids to dispute of his religion They of the reliâ—…on neuer heard with patience The holy Scripture as powerful now as euer to confute heresies Counsels reiâ—…cted by some bishops The word of God must determine of controuersies If it were fit to hinder the exercise of Religion Abuse in the Church the cause of great 〈◊〉 The christians in old timâ—…s assembled in the deserts He that is disloyâ—…ll vnto God wil be also vnto the king Fuseâ—…ius in the life of Constantine Emperor A good consideration touching the 〈◊〉 of the Netherlands No sorts maintaine kings so much as the loue of their subiects The cause of the troubles in France Great numbers haue forsaken the Netherlands for Religion Thâ—…t those of the 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 â—…ll of base condâ—…on Most oâ—… the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and best wâ—…ts â—…re of the 〈◊〉 In the end they shall be forced to grant liberâ—…e of religion Obiections against â—…ee excrâ—…se of â—…ligion Answer to the first obiection It is no new 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…row 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the diuersitie oâ—…â—…ons 〈…〉 pâ—…ons Note this counsell An assembly of the nobles at the mariage of the prince of Parma The noblemen assemble at S. Trudon touching the troubles A compromise of the nobles of the Netherlands Diuers opinions of the confederation of the Netherlands The verie words of the Inquisitors commission The vaunts and threats of priests and preachers incenseth the people Prouinces of the Netherlands confederats with the empire Six chiefe articles in the priuiledges of Brabant Deputies of the nobles with a petition at an imperiall Diet. The gouernors â—…nd knights of the order sent for to court The Gouernesse writes to the king all the â—…res of the Netherlands The Gouernâ—… pâ—…th thâ—…â—…es oâ—…â—…bant A proiect to moderat the edicts A petition sent by them of Brabant to the king of Spaine They would hâ—…ue Brabant â—…or an enemy by reason of their priuiledges 〈…〉 An ambiguous and rigoróus apostile to the petition of them of Flanders A second petition made by them of Flanders against the Inquisition The beginning of the Gueux by the which the protestants in the Netherlands were called The lord of Brederode his speech presenting the petition The petition of the nobles against the Inquisition c. The petition of the nobles interpreted to rebellion The Gouernesse answere to the petition of the nobles The Gouernesse policie The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 The contents of the moderation of the proclâ—…tion for Religion The commission of the embassadors of the Netherlands declared vnto the king An answer of the â—…obles to the duâ—…sse excuse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 The earle of Megen and others The duchesse perplexed for the answer of the nobles Two factions in Antuerpe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A petition made by the reformed churches to the magistrat of Antuerpe The prince of Orange seekes to order things 〈◊〉 Antuerpe Dist ust the cause of troubles in Antuerpe The prince requires a leuie of 1200 men in Antuerpe The answer of the great counsell and the members of Antuerpe to the princes proposition Another occasion of trouble in Antuerpe It seemes the duchesse deâ—… to â—…at the people for small matters An explanation oâ—…â—…o blâ—… answer to the duchesse The noblemen insist vpon their assurance The prince of Orange and the earles of Egmont and Horne The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Goueâ—… nâ—…se â—…s to the townes of the Netherlands Troubles in Antuerpe Foure reasons why they kept their preaching in Antuerp Iust â—…tion of the commons sent vnto the prince touching the preaching The breaking of images begâ—…n iâ—…
cause to feare their enemies horsemen The 18 of Februarie Sir Iohn Norris began to make a trench of a thousand paces without his camp along by the old Aa which was done with great labour toile for want of pioners and necessarie prouision This trench was battered and assailed by the earle of Renenberghes souldiers but to no end The twentieth of February a bourger and foure souldiers about noone time went out of the towne and past betweene the enemies centinels and the trenches yet were not hurt although they were shot at and pursued from all places round about them whereby Sir Iohn Norris souldiers were shewed the way how they should releeue the towne and vpon the one and twentieth of Februarie Sir Iohn Norris by the same way sent certaine souldiers with those fiue persons laden with an hundred and fiftie cheeses three hundred and fifty loaues of bread with powder and match bound together who hauing thrown it or laid it all vpon the bridge went presently backe againe for the preuenting whereof the earle of Renenberghes men came thither but it was too late The diligence and resolution of these fiue men was rewarded by the captaines with certaine peeces of gold The next night Sir Iohn Norris made another trench of two hundred seuentie two paces long which drew somewhat neerer the towne whereby his trenches and the towne trenches were but eight hundred ninetie six paces one from the other the earle of Renenberghes sconceslying betweene them distant from the towne seuen hundred seuentie six paces the enemie seeking to draw their ordnance through certaine places of the Aa where it might stand better and do more seruice but it sunke so as they could hardly get it out againe And the same night they made another defence of dung wagons ouer against the new bridge thinking to make a new sconce which they of the towne sought by all the meanes they could to hinder them from effecting it They of the towne going on with their trenches vpon the two and twentieth of Februarie there happened a skirmish on all sides for that Sir Iohn Norris began to skirmish in diuers places prouoking the enemie to issue forth whereupon they placed themselues in order of battaile In the meane time they within the towne passing ouer the new bridge carried away all the enemies dung wagons into the towne wherewith the skirmish grew hot on all sides the ordnance thundering on both parts They of the towne also fell vpon the enemie in diuers places and yet were many times driuen backe by the enemies horsemen but by means of their trenches they alwayes got safely and with aduantage in againe in regard that it thawed so fast that the horsmen could not passe alouer the way This continued for a while with great furie whereby it seemed they would fall to a generall battaile The enemies began to bee wearie and to bee hungry which began about noone time and so they drew backward especially the footmen who after their old maner in a thousand diuers names cryed out for money so that the horsemen could make no longer resistance but withdrew themselues after the losse of many of them Three howers after noone when they had scarce rested themselues they of the towne perceiuing Sir Iohn Norris souldiers to issue out of their trenches came out with diuers hurdles and drawing them along the bridge laid them vpon the morish slipperie way being neerer to Sir Iohn Norris trenches than the towne whereby men might perceiue the diligence of those that were in extremitie and such as were willing to helpe themselues Which done diuers of Sir Iohn Norris horsemen and a great number of peasants horses came foreward all laden with corne meale and powder wherewith they went vnto the bridge and casting it downe vpon straw that lay there ran to fetch more Many footmen also brought bread and cheeses While this was doing the sconces that lay in the way were assailed by captaine Cornput and certaine souldiers in the which they threw great store of straw and burning pitched ropes shooting brauely into them with two companies of souldiers that fought like Lyons but they of the next sconces shot lustily at them yet the townes-men gaue it not ouer hauing gotten the ordnance wherewith they shot at the bridge which they began to draw towards the towne but the earle of Renenberghes horsemen being sent thither forced them to retire againe into the towne hauing slaine and wounded many men within the said sconces whereof the next day they found seuenteene dead In the meane time it began to be darke and euery man withdrew himselfe The earle of Renenbergh being moued at this furious assayling of his sconces and for that it began to thaw verie fast finding his men also vnwilling to lie any longer and the town twice victualed before his face he determined to raise his siege causing his ordnance and other prouision to be secretly gathered together in the night time abandoning all his sconces hee assembled his men in West-Wicke which neither they within the town nor Sir Iohn Norris did once discouer by reason of the darke night hauing also no thought of his retreat and so vpon the three and twentieth of Februarie hee left the towne of Steenwicke and went to a place called Onnen marching in order of battaile all that day In the morning Sir Iohn Norris comming to the towne went after him but yet found it not conuenient to charge him They within the towne entred into the enemies forsaken campe where they found many beasts flesh wine and beere and the foure and twentieth of Februarie all the victuals that Sir Iohn Norris had brought with him was carried into the towne And by that meanes the towne was deliuered from the siege vpon the last day of the three weekes as captaine Cornput had foretold it after they had beene besieged foure moneths and then was all the hidden corne and other victuals brought forth the bourgers complaining of their great impatience and yet the money they laid out was repaied them againe by the Estates and meanes made vnto places round about in charitie to releeue them and besides that they were acquited of all burthens with the generalitie But they enioyed their goods not long for the which they were in so great feare and care for that the most part of them within one yeare after died of the plague which happened in the towne by reason of the stinke of bloud and of the dead bodies that lay vnburied in diuers place and the goods that they left fell afterwards into the hands of their enemies So that this distrust in God without cause was not left vnpunished as it had beene shewed them out of the holy Scriptures The souldiers that had so long defended Steenwicke thought they should haue had some reward giuen by the Estates but captaine Cornput and Olthof after long attendance could hardly get their pay yet the other two companies of Dutch men vnder